Earth Day

The coming of Earth Day has had me thinking.  It is like a New Years Day for the environment. I look back at how we are living and the choices we make in our daily life. Are we living responsibly? Are we living sustainably?  What legacy are we leaving for our children and grandchildren?  This is a time to assess and perhaps set new goals.

I like to think my family is doing a good job but I know we can do more.

We have cut back a lot on our meat consumption and grow much of our own fruit and vegetables.

We heat our home with a renewable fuel (corn) purchased from a farm less than two miles from our house.

Making our own yogurt has really cut back on the amount of trash we accumulate. Milk jugs are recyclable and the yogurt containers aren't.

In the last twenty years we have planted hundreds and hundreds of trees on our property.

We wash dishes by hand.

We are using some salvaged materials in the renovation of our house, our new toilets will be low water use, and we have switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

My dislike of shopping is also a big plus. We are not big consumers. Shopping at thrift stores and repairing items that are old and worn out are also good strategies.

Things to work on:

Avoid bottled water. This is not a habit but with better planning we could eliminate the use of disposable water bottles when we are away from home.

Drive the car less. Combine trips to town and do errands in groups. Some errands really can wait until another day.

Use the clothesline more. I do like to use the line but I will try to take better advantage of good days for laundry and try to use the line more on chilly days even if I have to pin the clothes while wearing gloves.

Plant a little more variety in our garden.

Be more diligent about eating local food. 

Dress warm in the winter - (I'll have to knit wool sweaters and socks preferably from locally grow sheep or alpacas)

Put in rainwater collection and storage system that will collect from the big barn roof.

And, maybe, someday, we'll put up a windmill.

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As I look over this list I notice several things. Environmentally responsible choices are usually less expensive and healthier choices. They also tend to help the local population. It is a win, win, win plan.

Here are a few interesting links:

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

350 - The most important number on the planet and an action plan.

How much water does it take to make...I had already read much of this information before but this one was new to me:

"Individual Bottled Water
This irony shouldn't be lost on anyone: it takes 1.85 gallons of water to manufacture the plastic for the bottle in the average commercial bottle of water."

This is just crazy and must be part of the reason Oberlin has eliminated the sales of water bottles.

Here are a couple of films I highly recommend:

Manufactured Landscapes, a documentary on the world and work of renowned artist Edward Burtynsky, is a beautiful yet thought provoking film.

Rivers and Tides, a film with Andy Goldsworthy, will inspire you with new ways to appreciate your natural surroundings.

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What are your favorite sustainable living tips?