With all due respect to my boy Kermit, it is, in fact, very easy to be green. “Living Green” is simply a matter of choice. If we CHOOSE to do our part to save the planet, we will CHOOSE to make positive decisions. Every decision we make, after all, affects the world we live in for the better or for the worse.
Living green is what responsible, caring, and giving people do. Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt and can, actually be pretty fun. Below are some ways to add more green to your life and, in turn, add more green to our beautiful earth.
- Reduce the number of “Packages” you buy. When possible, buy bulk (think Sam’s Club). This also is a sound decision financially – it’ll save you some green while you live green.
- Be informed. Frequently check out websites such as Conservation International. CI will keep you informed on the effects your lifestyle has on our environment.
- When we were first married, my husband was in the Air Force and money was about as tight as it could get. I bought a book (yard sale!) about saving money/spending less. It had a quote that jumped off the page at me and has stayed with me since. While I’ve always used it in regards to spending/not spending, it also carries a lot of weight when it comes to living green. Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without. I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the book (we’re talking YEARS ago!), let alone the name of the author, but the little verse is a great one. One of the most important things we can do is to consume less.
- Choose products (printer paper, canvas totes for groceries, clothes) that are made of recycled material or can be reused or recycled. Little changes add up.
- Give your business to companies that have proven to be eco-conscious. A few that I know of, off hand are Office Depot, McDonald’s, and Starbucks. (I’ll add to this list as I find more.)
- Another change I’ve personally implemented – Use glass plates, glasses and cloth napkins, even when the temptation for paper or plastic is at an all-time high. We have a large family, so I know how tempting it is to grab plastic cups, paper towels and plates, but it’s another of those small changes that pile up, and I’d rather pile up small changes than trash our planet has to find something to do with.
- Reduce toxicity by reusing your batteries and use batteries with reduced mercury.
- Find fun, creative uses for old products before throwing them out. Be sure to get every possible use from everything you have! Old table? Dress it with a table cloth and a gorgeous plant and give it a new lease on life.
- Buy furniture, toys, clothes, etc that’ll hold up and stand the test of time.
- When planting trees, flowers, herbs, and shrubs in your yard – keep in mind that all living things (from bees and butterflies to frogs and birds) contribute to a healthy environment. Each has a role they play and a purpose they serve.
- Buy food that in no way harms threatened species or habitats. Remember: Clearing forest for agriculture is one of the leading causes of global deforestation and habitat destruction. (Conservation International.org)
- Buy your produce as locally as possible. Not only is it just a great idea to support your own community, when you buy locally, less fuel is used to deliver the produce.
- Make living green a topic of conversation. Discuss it with everyone you know. After all, the more people who are doing their part, the more of an impact we’ll all have.
- Find out if there are any threatened species in your community and see what you can do to help.
- Whenever you travel – whether it’s walking at a local park or vacationing someplace a little more exotic, be sure you only TAKE photographs, only MAKE memories, and only LEAVE footprints. Don’t even take one acorn – that’s something’s lunch! Make sure children don’t make a mess by leaving wrappers, napkins or other culprits lying around. Things they think nothing of can be disasterous.
* The list above will grow as more information becomes available.
Click HERE to see how Starbucks is doing their part on Earth Day! As if I didn’t already love them enough. Sigh.
Photo Credits:
The top picture is from Land Between the Lakes (Kentucky) and is courtesy of a guy I know, Mike.
The bottom picture is used, with permission, from a collection photographed by Petr Kratochvil.
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