Green as a Thistle

Here’s a running tally of all the green changes I’ve made so far:

1. Switching to recycled, unbleached paper towels
2. Giving up my electric heating pad
3. Banning all styrofoam
4. Switching to a recyclable toothbrush
5. Turning down my thermostat
6. No more bottled water
7. Switching to organic conditioner
8. Switching from disposable tape-based lint rollers to felt ones
9. Eating ‘locally’ (within Canada and the U.S.)
10. Making all my bills electronic
11. Checking tire pressure on my car
12. Not buying a microwave (yes, disputable, see post for comments)
13. Switching to natural, biodegradable handwash with recyclable container
14. Switching to non-toxic, phosphate-free dishwasher detergent
15. Running outside only (no treadmill)
16. Using tote bags, no more plastic bags
17. Switching to recycled toilet paper
18. Cancelling my cable
19. Switching to corn-based, biodegradable cat litter
20. Giving up disposable tissues, using handkerchiefs
21. Using only natural, organic body lotions
22. Permanently getting rid of any aerosol cans at home
23. Changing over to natural glass and surface cleaner
24. Signing up with my local Freecycle Network
25. Making sure all the lights are turned off before I leave home
26. Switching to natural body wash
27. Using chemical-free, reusable cloth static-cling sheets in the dryer
28. Unplugging anything that isn’t in use
29. No more disposable plastic cutlery or plates
30. Not driving my car on weekends
31. Putting away my humidifier for good
32. Using a thermos for coffee and tea
33. No more gift wrap
34. Changing all my light bulbs to CFLs
35. Switching to Eco-Dent floss
36. Only drinking fair-trade, organic, locally roasted coffee
37. Using only beeswax candles; or soy-based, as long as there’s no paraffin
38. Returning my wine bottles to the Beer Store so they’re recycled properly
39. Switching to natural toothpaste
40. Changing over to a natural laundry detergent
41. Eating only free-range, organic, hormone-free (and if possible local) meat, restricting my intake of beef and chicken to no more than once per week
42. Not buying any more petroleum-based bath poufs and loufas
43. Signing up at GreenDimes.com to block junk mail and plant a tree every month
44. Being conscientious about how much water I use; only turning on the taps at a “trickle” when washing hands or brushing teeth and keeping showers to five minutes
45. Using the air-dry function on my dishwasher
46. Consuming only locally brewed beer, organic when possible
47. No more using paper towels or hand-dryers in public bathrooms
48. Investing in permanent laser hair removal rather than shaving or waxing forever
49. Only local and fair-trade chocolate
50. Turning off my freezer
51. Picking up litter when I see it
52. Properly disposing of my used batteries at a local hazardous waste depot
53. Switching to eco-friendly dish detergent
54. Changing to natural, paraben-free lip balm
55. Only consuming locally grown, produced and cellared wine (from within Ontario)
56. Purchasing “green” baking soda, incorporating it into household cleaning in place of harsher chemicals like bleach
57. Switching to natural shaving cream
58. Switching to recycled (and recyclable) razors
59. Only using one glass per day for water/milk/juice, one mug for coffee/tea and one wine glass
60. Spending part of each day educating myself about environmental issues
61. Using stainless steel rather than non-stick frying pan (takes less time to heat up)
62. Not buying any more Q-tips
63. Switching to natural deodorant
64. Recycling my used wine corks through the Bag-a-Cork program
65. Giving up gum (especially the over-packaged kind)
66. Not buying any more makeup remover pads
67. Turning my oven off for good
68. Using a natural bronzer
69. Only buying loose-leaf tea in refillable packets
70. Switching to natural, organic shampoo
71. Only filling my kettle with the exact amount of water needed
72. Shutting down my computer every day at work instead of just logging off
73. Not using the air-conditioning in my car
74. Following the “If it’s yellow, let it mellow…” rule
75. Using matches instead of lighters
76. Carbon-offsetting all of my air travel
77. Using only the herbs and spices I can grow at home
78. Unplugging my whole fridge
79. Weekly lobbying, letter-writing and petitioning on behalf of various environmental campaigns
80. Requesting that my in-flight meals be vegetarian
81. Not buying books from Amazon or Chapters/Indigo; only local, independent bookstores and only when necessary
82. Purchasing all my music in mp3 format rather than CDs
83. Getting allergy shots instead of buying packs of antihistamine pills, eye drops and nasal sprays
84. Making sure there’s always at least one ‘green’ element in the gifts I give
85. Switching to an all-natural acne ointment
86. No more ordering food by delivery
87. No more take-out, unless I bring my own containers
88. Always asking for no receipt, unless I really need one
89. Refilling all possible bottles (toilettries and household cleaning products); bringing my own plastic food containers to the bulk bins at the grocery store
90. Switching to eco-friendly dry cleaners
91. Using a PVC-free shower curtain liner
92. Turning off my air-conditioning during the summer
93. Recycling anything and everything that can be recycled — no excuses
94. Switching to natural, minimally packaged eyeshadow
95. Switching to a natural bar soap and investing in a recyclable travelling case for it
96. Sleeping naked
97. Using a natural, mineral-based suntan lotion
98. Not having any more baths
99. Letting my hair air dry
100. Getting rid of face wash and makeup remover, using my bar soap instead
101. Ordering smaller, more eco-friendly business cards
102. Not using nail polish (or nail polish remover)
103. Only watering my plants with greywater
104. Only going to eco-friendly spas
105. Picking weeds (in mom’s garden) by hand rather than with pesticide
106. Using gauze instead of band-aids for minor cuts
107. Switching to natural cat food
108. Limiting my use of elevators
109. Using cloths instead of paper towels for household cleaning
110. Switching to natural hair dyes
111. Raising environmental awareness through stickers, blogs and other media
112. Using GoodSearch instead of Google
113. No plastic barf bags or packages of Gravol when hungover
114. Natural healing of sunburns (no more after-sun lotions)
115. Only renting cars from companies that offer hybrids
116. Cancelling my subscription to a secondary newspaper
117. Selling the car!
118. Handwashing all my dishes
119. Buying tokens for public transit rather than tickets
120. Only buying cereal in bulk
121. Using plastic-free, eco-friendly photo albums
122. Limiting my ironing time/heat
123. Not using my hair-straightening iron anymore
124. Composting
125. Keeping the light in the bathroom off each morning while showering and brushing my teeth
126. Using the same fork or spoon I’ve stirred with to eat
127. Not using any more straws
128. Cutting my hair and keeping it short (so I need less product)
129. Buying an all-natural kitchen/bathroom cleaner
130. Using biodegradable pens
131. Developing my photos in bigger batches/fewer deliveries
132. No more Swiffer products
133. No more tabloids or trashy magazines
134. Only staying at eco-friendly hotels
135. Only buying sustainable and/or local clothing
136. Not drinking anymore canned beverages
137. Not drinking anymore bottled beverages
138. Purchasing only fair-trade and if possible local flowers
139. Giving regularly to a green cause
140. Only drinking organic hard liquor
141. Only eating free-range eggs from accountable farms
142. Restricting myself to organic dairy
143. No more recreational driving/boating/etc
144. No more gyms, all exercise must be outdoors
145. Eating food straight from the pot or pan
146. Fixing something if it’s broken rather than getting a new one
147. Bringing my own headphones for the plane
148. Using corn-based BioBags for the garbage bins
149. Volunteering regularly with a green organization
150. Investing in eco-friendly cat litter tray liners
151. Switching to a natural toilet bowl cleaner
152. No more smoking whatsoever
153. Buying organic cotton or bamboo bedsheets
154. Enforcing the shoes-off-at-the-door policy
155. Using hand-held fans instead of electric ones
156. Not buying any leather
157. Making sure my house sitter agrees to the green rules
158. Only buying eco-friendly jewellery
159. Washing all my clothes in cold water
160. Feeding my cat natural treats
161. Showering in lukewarm, rather than hot, water
162. No more gift cards unless they’re homemade from scrap paper
163. Printing on both sides of the page
164. Not using anymore Wite-Out
165. Buying all my spices in bulk
166. Putting a bottle of water in the toilet tank to reduce the amount used per flush
167. Only buying eco-friendly shoes
168. Using a hand-held bicycle pump rather than CO2 cylinders
169. Using biodegradable soy-based peanuts or popcorn when sending packages in the mail
170. Not wearing a gown at the doctor’s office
171. Buying and donating clothes to Goodwill and other thrift stores
172. Not using staples
173. Using wind-up or solar-powered flashlights
174. Getting indoor plants
175. Only using natural perfume
176. Only getting hand massages rather than using massage chairs or gadgets
177. Using services like Brown Paper Ticket for shows and concerts
178. Declining press kits at film screenings to save paper
179. Eating only organic tubers (squash, eggplant, etc.)
180. Greening my dating through GreenSingles.com or Green Drinks
181. Not using anymore paper napkins
182. Preserving jams and canning fruits
183. Only buying used sports equipment
184. Using all-natural, locally produced face cream
185. Using revolving doors wherever possible
186. Grooming my cat more often to prevent hairballs (and thus use less paper towel and water to clean them up)
187. Buying alcohol in bulk (ie. kegs, 2L bottles of wine, etc)
188. Using coconut oil instead of K-Y jelly
189. Wearing items of clothing twice or more, as long as they’re not dirty or smelly
190. Taking smaller notes and using both sides of the page during interviews
191. Not using toilet paper for peeing
192. Natural bug extermination, ie. drowning fruit flies in wine or syrup
193. Switching to a natural mouthwash
194. No more using the Internet after dinner (unless it’s to update this blog)
195. Not buying anymore DVDs
196. Decreasing the margins on my Word documents
197. Not going back on the birth control pill
198. Signing up with a CSA for weekly delivery of local, organic produce
199. Only purchasing ceramics from potters who recycle their clay
200. Reusing envelopes
201. Using towels a minimum of five times before washing them
202. Eating only ethically raised and caught fish
203. Cutting the end off the toothpaste tube when it’s almost done to scrape the last little bit out
204. Hanging the Do Not Disturb sign on hotel room doors so housekeeping doesn’t need to vacuum, change linens, replace toilettries, etc.
205. Using incense or candles instead of artificial room fresheners
206. Using chalkboards instead of whiteboards or flip charts
207. Watering my outdoor plants at night instead of during the day
208. Shaving in the sink instead of in the shower
209. Cooking at a gentle boil instead of a rolling boil
210. Using only sustainably made cutting boards
211. Using water or homemade saline solution instead of synthetic eye drops
212. Using Lunapads rather than disposable pads
213. Getting my ice cream in a cone instead of a disposable cup
214. Sticking to designated paths while hiking
215. Working from home at least two days a week
216. Towelling off in the shower before stepping onto the bathmat
217. Smiling at one person I don’t know every day
218. Using parchment paper or cheesecloth instead of cling wrap
219. Only buying wooden hangers, preferably used
220. Swimming in natural bodies of water, not public pools
221. Pulling the shower curtain open when finished so it dries properly and requires less cleaning
222. Turning down the temperature on my water heater
223. Using cash instead of credit or debit to minimize receipts
224. Getting cooking smells off my fingers with used green tea leaves rather than soap
225. Voting for the Green Party
226. Making sure I don’t pour grease down the drain
227. Borrowing and sharing
228. Soaking my dishes overnight so less water is needed to clean the tough stuff off
229. Navy showers
230. Letting my clothes air-dry on a rack, not in the dryer
231. Not taking anymore supplements, vitamins, detox shakes, etc.
232. Using scouring pads made from recycled plastic
233. Only buying organic cotton underwear
234. Making sure to use every last bit of shampoo/ketchup/etc in the bottle, using the “hit and swish” technique with some water
235. Consuming every part of the pumpkin I carve for Halloween
236. Going by the 10-second rule whenever I drop food on the floor
237. Sharing my living space with a roommate whenever possible
238. Using the Diva Cup instead of tampons
239. Bringing my own reusable bib to the dentist’s
240. Setting my desktop wallpaper to black, which uses less energy
241. Eating my apple cores (and pear cores, etc) to waste less food
242. Only buying and playing eco-friendly games
243. Chopping food up extra small before putting it in the food processor
244. Not using anymore hand sanitizer
245. Making a Halloween costume/decorations from clothes I already have
246. Not using Post-It notes; scrap paper instead
247. Emptying lint traps, cleaning filters on a regular basis
248. No more Dustbuster
249. Natural aloe-coated condoms instead of Trojan or Durex
250. Not using any toothpicks
251. Not buying anymore cheap umbrellas; using a sturdy big one and sharing it whenever possible
252. Getting others to do green stuff that I can’t
253. Drinking green tea instead of prescription drugs when having a nervous breakdown
254. Enforced quiet time (no radio, stereo or other music)
255. Using old socks and T-shirts for dish rags
256. Switching to a natural carpet cleaner
257. Not using the fan in my bathroom
258. Properly disposing of electrical waste like old computers and cell phones
259. Backing up my work with a USB stick rather than CDs
260. Not bothering with any rubber charity wristbands or ribbon campaigns
261. Reusing old floppy discs as coasters
262. Driving the speed limit when I rent a Zipcar
263. Drinking straight from the bottle
264. Not using fruit and veggie wash or rinsing things for more than a second
265. Knitting scarves instead of buying them
266. Holding my hair up with a pen, chopstick or rubber band from my newspaper instead of buying more elastic bands or other hair accessories
267. Polishing silverware with baking soda
268. Cancelling magazine subscriptions, donating extras to the doctor’s office
269. Buying used furniture and recovering it rather than getting new stuff
270. Learning to sew and mend my own clothes
271. Reusing a fake Christmas tree from last year, not buying ornaments
272. Asking that others only buy me eco-friendly gifts
273. Keeping my addresses on my computer rather than buying a paper notebook
274. Using an all-natural shoe polish, like coconut oil
275. Making my own soup broth instead of buying it
276. Not using anymore tape
277. Not shaving my legs anymore
278. Not consuming anything that contains or is manufactured with genetically modified corn (ie. high-fructose corn syrup, corn starch, ethanol, corn-fed beef, etc)
279. Not using soap to wash my dishes unless there’s oil residue
280. Only buying my beans dry, in bulk
281. Having a regular “inside day”, staying at home and not buying anything
282. Adding an eco-friendly tip to my email signature
283. Only drinking fair-trade tea
284. Not buying any individually wrapped food
285. No more downhill skiing (unless I carpool there, then haul my own ass up the hill)
286. Only taking cabs fueled by natural gas
287. Sticking to organic, raw honey
288. Using couriers that use bikes, walking or public transit instead of cars and trucks
289. Letting my dishes dry in the dishwasher rack with my houseplants beneath to collect the excess water dripping off
290. Hand-whipping my whipped cream instead of using an electric blender
291. Only buying organic, unbleached cotton towels
292. Using up my change at the cash register
293. Using a broom and dustpan instead of a vacuum
294. Packing carry-on rather than check-in luggage
295. No more paper towels
296. Using scrap paper as bookmarks instead of buying new ones
297. Using manual tools rather than electric or battery-powered ones
298. Using natural lipstick
299. Organizing my stuff so I don’t lose things (and therefore don’t need to repurchase them)
300. Going to the bathroom before I go on the plane
301. Only using a crank-up and/or solar-powered radio
302. No more highlighters
303. Making my own cosmetics and beauty products
304. Using old books and shoe boxes as storage containers
305. Only purchasing used kitchenware and appliances
306. Restricting myself to cold water only for washing hands, face and dishes
307. Using biodegradable chain lube for my bike
308. Not buying anymore plastic whatsoever
309. Choosing to use the subway transfers printed on recycled paper rather than the ones that come on laminated coloured paper
310. Using a soap dish made from reclaimed chopsticks
311. Collecting the elastic bands from my newspaper each morning and returning them to the delivery boy/girl
312. Opting for a green-minded real estate company when buying/selling my house
313. Only eating at restaurants that serve local and/or organic food, and offer eco-friendly take-out options
314. Using Coccoina, an all-natural glue
315. Getting used boxes for moving day
316. Using organic cotton produce bags and bulk-bin sacks
317. Framing my art with reclaimed barn board and recycled glass
318. Buying 100% recycled CD sleeves instead of jewel cases
319. Going to an eco-conscious bike repair shop
320. Shopping at green malls
321. Only using the small burners on my stove
322. Sending out electronic invites rather than paper ones
323. Making fenders for my bike from old water bottles
324. Having a green moving party — using cargo bikes, trolleys. man power and other carbon-free alternatives to vans and trucks
325. Eating all my skins (potato, carrot, cucumber, etc)
326. Switching to an eco-conscious accountant for tax season
327. Only buying handmade, bamboo or organic cotton blankets
328. Commenting on other people’s decisions that aren’t very green, educating them about why it’s important to consider alternatives
329. Learning shorthand, so I take smaller notes and thus save paper
330. Squeegee my shower tiles each day to prevent mildew and mould
331. Enrolling in a butchering class to confront my meat-eating ways
332. Only consuming organic maple syrup
333. Buying a used mattress and boxspring
334. Screening my future tenants to ensure green practices throughout the household
335. Signing up with Bullfrog Power, which puts wind and other green forms of power back onto the main energy grid
336. Using a natural pumice stone to remove pilly fluff from sweaters instead of sending them to the drycleaners
337. Planning out my routes, double-checking maps and directions to avoid getting lost on road trips (and thus preventing excess CO2 being emitted by the car)
338. Shovelling snow and using sand instead of corrosive salt or antifreeze
339. Installing a dual-flush toilet
340. Buying low-VOC paints
341. Setting up a rain barrel to collect water for plants, etc.
342. Not wearing anymore makeup
343. Using real, leftover wood for fires instead of artificial firelogs
344. Not running lots of applications on my computer at once
345. Restricting my diet to food within Ontario
346. Using rechargeable batteries
347. Closing my curtains at night to insulate the house
348. Signing up for the local PeakSaver program to minimize pressure on the energy grid during peak hours
349. Only buying recycled glass
350. Taking the most direct flight instead of cheaper ones with stopovers
351. Using natural, homemade furniture polish
352. Purifying my indoor air without using a plug-in air purifier
353. Tucking my pants into boots/socks to prevent them getting dirty
354. Buying recycled wallpaper and homemade glue, or using stencils
355. Using a service like Green Map when touring a city
356. Going skinny dipping
357. Helping push stuck cars out of the snow
358. Covering holes in the wall with pictures instead of buying plaster
359. Writing an eco-friendly funeral into my will
360. Making my own stamps, or using lickable ones instead of stickers
361. Writing poetry in haiku form only
362. Recycling my old running shoes
363. Deleting all spam and stale emails from my Gmail inbox
364. Only buying fair-trade vanilla products
365. Fixing other people’s green mistakes
366. Sleeping more