Some thoughts on the changes I’ve made that have turned out to be mind-blowingly easy, and that I will most likely stick with even after my 365 days are up…
MY RE-UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS - I’m trying not to buy any new furniture when I move into my new house; recently I scored a couple tub chairs from this warehouse specializing in old hotel furniture. I took them to a local upholsterer with some funky fabric, and just got them back today.
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MY LUNCH - Lots of people assume I must eat bland, boring food all the time what with all my victual restrictions. But just because I don’t use my fridge, freezer or oven and am limited to the U.S., Canada, and organic, free-range, hormone-free options, doesn’t mean my meals look that different. For example, the other day, my lunch consisted of some steamed green beans with organic butter, stored in my butter bell, as well as an omelette with aged cheddar cheese, baby tomatoes and herbs. I had some locally made bread along with it, and the entire meal was delish! (I thought it looked delish enough to take a pic, too, so here you go):
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MY WEEKLY CSA DELIVERY - I finally got my first shipment of organic, local produce from a company called Green Earth Organics and it was awesome! At first, I really didn’t think I’d be into someone else (ie. the seasons) determining what I was going to be eating each week, but it’s kind of like a cool surprise and a bit of a challenge, too. Peaches, plums and apples are easy to deal with, of course. The corn, potatoes, green pepper, lettuce and tomatoes could all be tossed together into a salad. I think I might try to fry up the cabbage with some organic butter or olive oil, and that just leaves the Delicata squash — I’ve only ever bought butternut before, and I don’t have an oven, but I think I might try and make some soup with it. Here’s a photo of my bounty:
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MY BALCONY TOMATOES - I don’t know why I ever thought that it would be possible to grow organic cherry tomatoes in a tiny herb box on my mostly shady balcony. But it worked! Hoorah! I couldn’t believe it when the first little guy appeared (he was probably all, “Wha? Where am I?”), but then more came, and they all started turning red. Now I have about six bunches of them and they’re delish. Best of all, I know there’s no pesticide on them whatsoever. Some smog, maybe, but still — 99.9% natural and as local as food gets. Here’s a picture of them:
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MY ELECTRICITY BILL - I’ve been keeping tabs recently on how many kilowatt hours I’m going through every month to see whether or not the rate is going down. Granted, it’s always going to be less in the summer compared to the winter, but that doesn’t mean I’m not thrilled at the fact that I’m now down to an average of 6.4 kWh per day. Compare that to last September, when I was at 10.2 kWh a day, or my worst month ever, last February, when I was chugging a whopping 19.3 kWh every day. Maybe it’s the unplugged fridge; perhaps it’s the compact fluorescent light bulbs. Whatever it is, I feel a little bit lighter because of it.
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THIS INTERWEB THING - I still can’t say the word ‘blog’ without cringing, but one thing I really love about having to drag my ass online every day is being reminded of all the other eco-conscious people in the world who aren’t single city gals like me, and therefore have a slew of completely different green changes to make.
Take Caroline in New Hampshire, for instance, who has found ways to green everything from her congregation at Church to the way she milks her goats. Or Greenpa at Little Blog in the Big Woods, who’s been living without running water and completely fridge-free for decades and, as far as I know, hasn’t suffered any major withdrawal symptoms from a lack of chilly vegetables. And then there’s Lori down in Texas with her husband, kids and bazillion pets, who obviously cannot just unplug her fridge and hope for the best but finds other ways to make a difference.
I’ve never liked doing things in groups, but there is definitely something rewarding about being part of this online green community.
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THE WILTED SPINACH - Hoorah! I tried one Thistle reader’s suggestion and put my spinach in some cold water, in hopes that it wouldn’t wilt by the next day (as I’m no longer using my fridge), and it worked like a charm:
Tasted just as good as the day before, too.
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THE TOTE BAG - When I bought my collapsible nylon tote bag — which folds into a pouch smaller than my fist but expands to full size at the flick of a wrist (rhyming not intended) — I thought it would help cut down on my plastic bag consumption, but figured I’d still end up needing a few every now and then for big grocery trips or bulk purchases.
Well, turns out I have yet to use a single plastic bag. Somehow, everything seems to fit in this tote; and if it doesn’t, I usually question whether or not I actually need it, then conclude almost every single time that I don’t, or that I can get it later, and put it back on the shelf.
If I had to recommend a purchase that’s made the most noticeable green difference in my life so far, I’d have to say it’s this one. So take my advice and rock the tote, people, rock the tote.
May 20, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Tell us where to purchase them or if they are only available imported, show a pic or draw a pattern so we can make our own.
May 21, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Um, I’m not going to draw a pattern for a tote bag. The one I have is by a company called Three Wishes but I already tried to look online for them and can’t find any site where they sell the bags. I got mine from a store in Toronto called the Outer Layer, which does have a website, but doesn’t sell them through it, so again, that’s why I haven’t linked to anything. But I’m sure if you just Google “compact tote” or “collapsible tote” you’ll be able to find something comparable.
June 3, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I haven’t been able to read online (my laptop died a slow death last week & then my family invaded my already-full house) for a while. This makes me smile!
(See?)
June 6, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I like your red walls. The spinach looks tasty too.
June 19, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Wondo, I’m not sure where you’re from, but I have a tiny tote from an unlikely source: The Container Store. I carry full-size canvas totes from Whole Foods when I’m deliberately going shopping, but for the times I forget them or purchase something impulsively, this tote is great, and it fits very well in my fairly small purse: http://tinyurl.com/3dbeej (That will link you to the Container Store page.) You can also go to reusablebags.com for a WONDERFUL assortment of items. I don’t have any of their totes, though, so I can’t personally vouch for them.
June 22, 2007 at 9:45 pm
You might want to have a look on Etsy for a tote -a lot of makers there using vintage fabric to make them so you’d be doubly green…
What perplexes me though is don’t you get envirobags shoved at you pretty much everytime you go shopping these days or is that just an Australian thing? Our op shops now have tons of them and are selling them at 50 cents each, which is kind of ironic since they were free to begin with!
June 22, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Sorry - forgot to mention these as well: http://usa.envirosax.com/pages/products.php?icat=1#14
June 29, 2007 at 7:14 am
Hi Vanessa
Just to let you know I wrote my (rather long) blog piece that I had mentioned earlier.
The blog is here at:
http://www.2thinknow.com/innovation/
The post is at http://2thinknow.com/innovation/index.php/2007/06/29/canada-us-australia-the-west-environment-innovation-down-to-citizens-consumers/
Which, yes is one long url.
I started learning to write via ad copywriting when i was a designer years ago.
Anyway, I think what you are doing is great, and it gave me inspiration for my innovation blog post.
Regards,
Christopher Hire
August 2, 2007 at 4:39 am
It is all about http://www.reusablebags.com/ they have so many bags, there is a bag for everyone, including the bag in a baggie. I have a couple of them, one for my purse and one for my car so I don’t have an excuses for not always having it other then my disorganization, sigh.
August 4, 2007 at 3:30 pm
if you go to http://www.greenfeet.com, they have the chico bag, which folds into a pouch. they’re awesome. even my anti-green little sister uses hers.
August 21, 2007 at 7:41 pm
While I find this blog inspiring and full of valuble green info, I also greatly enjoy your writing and humor.
Thank you!
Debbie
September 28, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I have visited your site 236-times
September 28, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Your site found in Google: position839
October 20, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Delicata squash, my favorite! Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, steam it cut side down until tender and then serve with Tamari sauce. I discovered Delicata when I was getting a massage at a holistic retreat. My tummy must have rumbled because the woman gave me a plate of Delicata squash to eat. I look forward to it every fall. Daryl
November 18, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Just incase you’re looking for great green gift product ideas I have one that is my gift of choice plus friendly to the environment. You need to check-out Way Out Wax Candles.
This is the perfect gift for mom to sit back and relax after a long day of being on duty or for you or a friend.
What’s so nice about Way Out Wax candle products is that they’re not made from any synthetics or artificial coloring.
I think that they are the best aroma therapy candles in the market. Clean and green!
December 26, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Your chair looks great, and your stuffed whatever-that-is, is really cute.
January 25, 2008 at 9:42 pm
We starting using bullfrog power about 2 months ago. In our 1100 sq foot condo we pay 5.34$ a month and it’s really nice to know that we are using clean energy.
January 25, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I have had nothing but heartache after my attempts to grow cherry tomatoes on my balcony: the squirrels got all but 8 of the tomatoes the first summer. They were fairly good about leaving herbs alone (and it’s lovely to be able to step outside my kitchen in the summer for fresh basil and thyme) but ate every single chili pepper. Ergo the supposedly animal friendly ’sprinkle it with chili powder’ form of pest control turns out not to be the solution. I’m moving next summer, so I may give it another shot.
February 21, 2008 at 4:04 am
[...] was really Thistle’s photo and review of her CSA experience that solidified my decision [...]
March 4, 2008 at 1:17 pm
[...] things she loved and will keep [...]
March 13, 2008 at 1:31 am
Check this out to reduce junk mail for free using Canada Post’s red dot system. http://www.reddotcampaign.ca/
How do you recycle running shoes?
I enjoyed reading all your ideas and I think will use them as the basis for a lesson plan for my gr 7 and my gr 8 science classes!
Keep up the inspirational changes!
April 30, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Heh Sarah: Not sure if you are still paying attention to your blog but I remember that somewhere you talked about a nylon bag that folds down small and you can put it in your purse. We are thinking of getting them for our store and would like to find out how to get them. I can’t find the blog that relates to it. Thanks Lisa
July 12, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Hi there,
I too LOVE my collapsible bag from three wishes and am REALLY wanting more to give as gifts.
All collapsible bags are NOT created equal. My first criteria is how light are they because I do carry more than one in my rather large shoulder bag and that shoulder bag can get heavy fast if I’m not careful. The container store ones are way bigger and way heavier and most are not the kind you can sling over your shoulder which is necess. in my book.
Anyway, so far my research shows that three wishes is distrib. in Canada by:
HRS Enterprises Ltd.
11720 Horseshoe Way
Richmond, BC, Canada
V7A 4V5
website: hrsgifts.com
Tho, the collapsible bag doesn’t seem to be in their catalogue–but maybe some live in a warehouse somewhere?
I got mine in Calif. at a cute store in Solona Beach nr. San Diego.
Please email me if you get an inside scoop!
Astrid
Boston MA
November 5, 2008 at 4:08 am
You said you found the Chico bag in a cute little store in Solana Beach. What is the name of the store? I have been looking everywhere to buy a Chico bag (vs. buying on line).