The Duggar thread got me to thinking and I really didn't want to put this on the market board.

I don't agree with the idea that larger families are inherently harder on the environment but I don't know how to articulate my thoughts. So I thought I would put it out here where hopefully I won't get flamed. :lol:

We have a family of six in an area where most people have 2 children at the most. So we are 1.5 the size of most families. While most people in our area have 2 cars, we only recently got a second car and then only because it was given to us. We still only drive one car during the week. Dh uses his truck for the one day a week he works his second job and that leaves me with a vehicle in case we need something. So as far as driving go we always consolidate trips and there are only certain times that we drive with only one person in the car.

We live in a large home by our standards (previous apartment dwellers) but by the standards in our areas (and others) it is still pretty modest especially for our family size. Where the norm is homes between 2000-3000 sq feet again for a family of 4, we probaby live in about 2000. I am guess on this because I really don't know the sq feet on our home. Our home is not new. I think all the new building is a huge waste of resources so I see living in an older home to be a benefit. It is also well insulated. We have a well and septic system.

Other things we do is recycle things, like clothing, toys, school supplies. W wears clothes that all three other boys have worn also. That is not to say that I don't buy new stuff but usually it is because they need something (say socks), not because they are an only child and the outfit is cute. I know that if I only had 2 children (a boy and girl) that I would have spent alot more on clothes just because I wouldn't have been able to recycle nearly what I do.

I just know from looking around that most large families are "wasting" resources (or at least the ones I know) and I think I just let that bother me on the MD thread.

What are your thoughts and how/what do you do to be environmentally friendly?

I never gave it much serious thought until we moved to Hawaii. Here we are on this little island in the middle of the Pacific... and the school is using toss away trays for school lunches!!! Where does the trash go?

Our family is working on being much more aware of what can be recycled and getting it to the proper place. We also are trying to get our weekly trash output down to 1/2 of the can, instead of overflowing. We were able to see quite a few much smaller families who were throwing away at least 2x what we were on a weekly basis. It was sad to realize that.

As far as everything else... car, we've only ever had one vehicle and we've MADE it work. We don't use toss away paper products like paper plates, plastic silverware, paper napkins, paper towels, etc. Clothing... well... my kids never outgrow stuff, so what they have wears out and I have to buy MORE in the same size! lol