First things first, any tips on what to start converting first. Imagine someone is mainstream and wants to go crunchy, what would be the first things you'd recommend to them?
Originally posted by erm2170 Do you guys think that other stores would let me use my cloth bag instead of thier plastic ones?
everyone does around here...a lot of times it means they want me to bag my own stuff. (because using a cloth bag is sooo much more complicated )
i hardly go to walmart...but if i do..i don't bother them with it b/c they look at me like i'm a space monster! but target is fine about it...and other little stores.
- stop using disposable stuff like dishes, napkins, all that disposable cleaning junk (tossable toilet bowl scrubbers, common!)
- I 2nd the cloth bags. Get some pretty ones that you'll like using & showing off. Donate your plastic bags somewhere. Our library collects the used plastic ones for people to carry their books home in.
- Get a set of recycling bins and use them, use them, use them.
- get to know your local farmers market & join a CSA if you can. ie: support local & organic farmers.
Chole
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The first thing I did was start educating myself. Read up on things... literally, this NATURALLY set me up to be more conscience and crunchy. I am far from the crunchy queen... but I feel as though I do my part, and I am educated about what I DO do... does that make sense? Like I totally allow my children to watch tv on the weekends, and we are really lax about what they can watch... but they don't watch comercials. I know the damages of tv... I have read about it... and I see it in my kids. But living in America it has been hard for me not to socialise them at the same time keeping these ideals. So I research. I know that a lot is bad... and that none is best... but I find somewhere in between... not for the sake of crunch, but for the sake of me.
That is where I would start.
Love Val
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Val; Living the dream we have been working towards for over 5 years.
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If you were making your choices solely based on enviromental impact and money was no object then this is what I would suggest
1) Switch to a whole food, organic, locally made vegan diet. No packaging and sustainably grown.
2) Cut your garbage output to as little as possible. Compost, recycle, don't use disposable products.
3)Make as many energy conservation moves as you can in your own home. A low flow shower head and compact floresent lightbulbs are good steps in the right direction. Let the house get colder in the winter and warmer in the summer by three degrees is suppose to be a big help too.
4) Really look at your modes of transportation. The less flying, driving and the like that you do helps the enviroment. The more natural forms of transit - walking and biking and the like - also help the enviroment. Help your car get teh best gas millage it can by getting it regularly serviced.
5) Reduce the amount of laundry you do. Line dry as often as possible.
6) When doing gardening plant native and low water using plants.
I guess the thing I always fight is junk mail and mail in general. I call and get removed from all the things I *don't* want sent to me. I make sure they don't sell my name even after they remove my name from their lists. I just had a catalog removed from this address from the *last* owners, who sold this home in 1998!
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Elizabeth
Mama to Annabelle who is making me feel ancient now that she's EIGHT!
; Analiyse, 6 
; Josephine, 3 
and Luna, 7~5~08 
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