How "Granola" are you?

Becky - posted on 01/10/2011

We use cloth nappies, breast-feed,recycle, eat sell by date food, cook from scratch,camp for our holidays in a field in norfolk, and bye most stuff secondhand.
I started off doing this so i could afford to be a stay at home mum and then it became an eco thing to. I love it!

Sapphire - posted on 01/09/2011

I really suck at being green compared to the rest of you!
There is no recycling here although my community has asked for it for years. We're willing to pay for it! At one point we had a local recycling center, but then it turned into a huge garbage dump where homeless people started to "live" so that was shut down. So as a consequence, everything gets thrown into the general trash.

We have to drive everywhere since nothing is "local" or in walking distance.

We're terrible in using our leftovers and most of the time they get tossed in the garbage. That's one resolution I'd like to improve on-using our leftovers!

Sal - posted on 01/09/2011

i do what most people do i guess, i recycle, i try to buy things with little or no packaging, use my own shopping bags when i remember turn off lights etc, reuse what i can and also am an avid second hander (either passed from friends and famiy or op shops) buy recycled papers, kitchen printer or loo, but really we could do more, we live somewhere with high rainfall so never really worry about how much water we use, it is cold and i have no issue turning the heater or electric blankets on ot lighting the fire, our car isn't as environmental as it could be, but we really needed a bigger car, i am so glad we live where we do when i see other peoples bins full of food waste and the associated incect problem as my pets eat all scraps, chooks eat the veg and turn it into compost and the dog and cats eat the table scraps which stops waste going in the bin but also limits the amount of food and there for packaging i need to buy, should try harder i guess, maybe that will be my new years resolution....

Jenn - posted on 01/09/2011

"You could exchange your "regular" car for a hybrid Toyota Prius and, by doing so, prevent about 1 ton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year, but according to the University of Chicago, being vegan is more effective in the fight against global warming; a vegan is responsible for the release of approximately 1.5 fewer tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year than is a meat-eater." this is from the PETA website, and I know some people will say that they have their "agenda" or whatever, but the information remains true.

Charlie - posted on 01/08/2011

Nikki all states have the recycle bin ( yellow ) but I do not believe they all have green waste and other states do not have the seperate paper waste ( blue lid ) bins .

Julianne - posted on 01/08/2011

I use the diva cup too, its the best thing EVER.
I really wanted to cloth diaper. Circumstances prevented me. I didn't have a washer, So going to the laundry mat every day to wash them was out of the question, :(:(

Julianne - posted on 01/08/2011

meat is not the culprit itself -- its how the animals are raised and fed


yep, and the fact cows fart too much...

Jocelyn - posted on 01/08/2011

I recycle everything!!! I use green cleaners (or more commonly just vinegar and water). I used cloth diapers for 3 years (I've fallen off the wagon for that tho, 9/10ths of my diapers have fallen apart :( it sucks) I use a Diva Cup (well I did, but thanks to Mirena, no more periods! yay! lol) I'm learning how to garden. I am a vegetarian. I try and walk whenever possible (you will NEVER see me driving to the park) I use energy efficient light bulbs. I prefer second hand furniture (the feeling you get when you find a 1920's dresser in almost perfect condition, it's wonderful!--and stemming from that I use water based stains and green strippers to refinish my treasures!) I am also looking into buying a hybrid :)



I think that every person makes a difference!

Ooo - posted on 01/08/2011

I do everything I can. I'm not sure that I make much of a difference, but I do it anyway because of my personal conscience. I believe in ethical living and I'll always keep my waste and carbon footprint as low as I can regardless of what everyone else does.



I try not to buy much in the first place. I try to buy things with minimum packaging, I reuse, I recycle and I compost. I also keep my driving to a minimum, I try not to run my engine when the car is parked and I walk when I can.



I'll also add that we don't have a trash collection in our area because we don't have to pay property tax. The choice is either to pay a private company or recycle/ compost.



EDIT

I forgot to add that I'm vegetarian. I'm not sure that I make much difference in that respect because my boys eat meat.

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

Wasn't even thinking of the farming part of it -- we lived on a small dairy farm, when i was younger -- the impact of it, was almost nil - i forget about the big farms/factories.
In light of this information - i will still eat my meat products -- but something should be done about the land being wasted away by it.
I wanted to make a point -- grass fed animals are better, with healthier and leaner meat - and have higher amounts of omega IIIs in them -- meat is not the culprit itself -- its how the animals are raised and fed -- hormones are bullshit, and grainfeeding animals is mainly to fatten them up.

Julianne - posted on 01/08/2011

http://www.circleofmoms.com/informative-...





heres some information veronica about how vegetarianism is better for the environment.

Petra - posted on 01/08/2011

Farming, dude. I've met a lot of political vegetarians. The toll factory and large-scale farming takes on the planet is obscene.

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

Im not quite sure Im understanding how being vegan is more greener - and how eating animals has a massive environmental impact??? Explain this please!

Jenn - posted on 01/08/2011

I recycle everything that I can and have been known to pick things out of the garbage if they are recyclable. I try to conserve energy where I can. Honestly I really don't feel like I try that hard at all and could probably do a lot more than I do. I have a friend who is vegan and thinks it's the only moral thing to do because otherwise it animal torture and she likes to refer to it as "stuffing corpses and animal excretions down your throat", and because of the massive environmental impact. She does make a very good argument, and ethically speaking and morally speaking it's true. Doesn't mean I can or will do it though, just one way to look at things.

Stifler's - posted on 01/08/2011

We recycle everything that can be. Everyone here has a recycling bin too. We also turn everything off at the wall etc. and try not to run the aircon unless it's absolutely boiling hot.

Amanda - posted on 01/08/2011

we recycle, use the energy efficient light bulbs, clean with vinegar, baking soda and steam, use soap nuts for laundry, use reusable cloth shopping bags, and use cloth diapers and wipes and nursing pads...... i think every one person makes a difference :)

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

im a tad confused, how is being a vegetarian, greener??

Julianne - posted on 01/08/2011

I'm a vegetarian. Which apparently is good. Mostly organic, which is good. Rapidly approaching vegan, even better.





never thought of this being green too, so i'll add that to my list.

LaCi - posted on 01/08/2011

I clean with vinegar and baking soda.

I use eco-friendly laundry detergent and dish soap.

I drive as little as possible, spending roughly $10 in gas per week as a household (when I have classes, breaks I spend 0) which is a huge improvement over the 10-20 per day I used to spend.

I'm a vegetarian. Which apparently is good. Mostly organic, which is good. Rapidly approaching vegan, even better.

Carbon footprint still isn't the best. Though it's half the US average its still twice the world average. Working on that though. As of now we (as a household) are at 40, avg US household (of 3) is 80. So I'll pat myself on the back for at least being better than that. according to nature.org.

I do pick up trash when I see it, not even because of the environmental impact just because it pisses me off. There are trash receptacles EVERYWHERE. There is no need to dirty up the fucking landscape. It's ugly and gross.



I garden, taking the bees and butterflies into consideration. And I really am building bumble bee boxes next week.

Feed the birds n squirrels. Not to mention the fact that I didn't chop down this god awful bradford pear which, although totally gorgeous when it blooms, smells of SHIT. but the birds eat the "pears" when they run out of mulberries in the back yard. So whatever. I'm actually surprised the stupid tree hasn't fallen over with our crazy freakin' weather. I'm cursed with it.

Our town doesn't mandate recycling, but they do give out bins to every household and collect recyclables on trash day.

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

We have to have white or clear trash bags.

Nikki - posted on 01/08/2011

I think pretty much the whole country had recycling bins? Everywhere I have been in Australia anyway. I recycle, I try to conserve energy and water. I pick up rubbish in public, I hate litter!

Bonnie - posted on 01/08/2011

We have a blue box (for glass jars, plastic bottles and styrofoam) and a grey box (for paper, cardboard, boxboard, and plastic bags). We do a heck of a lot of recycling in our household every week. I believe every person makes a difference. Here they are actually thinking of possibly making it mandatory to have to use clear garbage bags that you have to purchase through the city so they can keep a watch and if they notice too many households putting recyclables in the garbage they will have to do something about it.

Julianne - posted on 01/08/2011

Thats awesome your state makes it mandatory to recycle :P



I try not to use disposable anything, use green cleaners, reduce power and water usage in my home, I walk everywhere. I don't usually have food waste, since i cook just enough, or make leftovers the next day.I also use my crock pot every day :) unless i NEED the oven, for cookies or bread, specific things. I plant trees on earth day. One for each family member. I recycle compost and clean up garbage if i see it laying around. I have books about recycling and environmental issues for kids that i read to gabby so she learns to be green.

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

yes, every person makes a difference. I will pick up garbage when i see it too. And we have yard waste pickup (from the garden, any clippings, and even when we rake leaves, they come and pick that up too)

Veronica - posted on 01/08/2011

I recycle as much as I can - cans, tin, glass and plastic. I will choose paper over plastic (if I forget my cloth shopping bags) - then use the paper bags to put recycling in. I will recycle boxes too. I use regular dishes - on rare occassions, i will go for paper over styrafoam (spelling). I use non-toxic household cleaning products; my kids get baths together (boys and girls seperated of course) to save on water; I do use a dishwasher - but its energy efficient - but I always have a full dishwasher, or I will just do the dishes by hand - to save on more energy. I will use a crockpot over the oven (unless the particular food, has to be cooked in the oven). I am teaching my children how to turn off and unplug whats not being used - including lights!! They like to leave their room lights on, when they arent in there!! In the summer, i will hang my laundry over using the dryer. im a sucker to using plastic containers from foods (cottage cheese, lunch meat containers) for storage things - instead of throwing them out. Food never goes to waste, as i cook either enough just for supper, or enough for leftovers for lunch/supper the next night. Can't do much for vehicle-wise though, as we have an expedition and its a gas guzzler - not sure how much it messes with pollution -- but I do group my travel together - if I have errands to run, and grocery shopping - I will group it all together in one day/run - rather than running a number a times a day or week.
Not sure what else I do that i can think of - maybe i will add more as I go.

Charlie - posted on 01/08/2011

Well first off in our state we have three seperate bins red lid for unrecyclables , yellow for recyclables and green for green waste such as clippings and such , you can get fined for putting the wrong stuff in the wrong bin so pretty much everyone has to recycle .

I always pick up rubbish from the street and the beaches , use energy and water saving devices , turn power off at the wall , use green cleaners ( vinegar , bi carb , orange oil) and I walk almost everywhere .

Every person makes a difference .