Comments on: What is the Biggest Thing You’ve Done for the Planet? http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/ Earth Friendly, Budget Friendly Sun, 20 May 2012 15:21:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Audrey http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-723 Audrey Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:28:17 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-723 I have decided to take up gardening (in our apartment! Yay for window gardening!), I hang most of my clothes (once again.... apartment, can't line-dry outside, but I hang it all in random places in the house!), we buy as many organic products as possible, I've switched to a menstrual cup, we stopped driving our second vehicle, and we've given up Teflon. Next projects: Homemade bread and cloth diapers! It's the little things that count! I have decided to take up gardening (in our apartment! Yay for window gardening!), I hang most of my clothes (once again…. apartment, can’t line-dry outside, but I hang it all in random places in the house!), we buy as many organic products as possible, I’ve switched to a menstrual cup, we stopped driving our second vehicle, and we’ve given up Teflon.

Next projects: Homemade bread and cloth diapers!

It’s the little things that count!

]]> By: Christine http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-708 Christine Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:42:19 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-708 My favorite is our house's experiment in ditching paper towels and using rags instead! We keep them in a bin under the sink, then keep the dirty ones in a second bin & wash them separately. Works like a charm! My favorite is our house’s experiment in ditching paper towels and using rags instead!
We keep them in a bin under the sink, then keep the dirty ones in a second bin & wash them separately. Works like a charm!

]]> By: rebecca http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-707 rebecca Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:51:47 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-707 <strong>Cinnamon</strong>, you have inspired me to shop at the farmers' market more regularly. And next year I am definitely planting a garden, too. <strong>Fern</strong>, finding a nice walkable place to live is an excellent way to reduce your impact. I love being able to walk everywhere to "satisfy most of the needs of daily life." I just wish my husband's workplace were closer. Ugh. <strong>Frugal Babe</strong>, I'm really impressed by your solar panel fund! The price might come down soon, making them more affordable for everyone. I hope so. <strong>Cathy</strong>, I heard that fewer and fewer kids walk to school these days, contributing to childhood obesity. So you'll be saving the planet and getting some exercise at the same time by walking your son to school! <strong>Nancy</strong> and <strong>Madeline</strong>, that is a good reminder about consolidating errands. I know when we do errands by car we do not always do it as efficiently as possible. Thanks for all the comments so far. They are very inspiring! Cinnamon, you have inspired me to shop at the farmers’ market more regularly. And next year I am definitely planting a garden, too.

Fern, finding a nice walkable place to live is an excellent way to reduce your impact. I love being able to walk everywhere to “satisfy most of the needs of daily life.” I just wish my husband’s workplace were closer. Ugh.

Frugal Babe, I’m really impressed by your solar panel fund! The price might come down soon, making them more affordable for everyone. I hope so.

Cathy, I heard that fewer and fewer kids walk to school these days, contributing to childhood obesity. So you’ll be saving the planet and getting some exercise at the same time by walking your son to school!

Nancy and Madeline, that is a good reminder about consolidating errands. I know when we do errands by car we do not always do it as efficiently as possible.

Thanks for all the comments so far. They are very inspiring!

]]> By: Madeline http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-705 Madeline Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:51:55 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-705 We've made a total switch to line-drying laundry outside. If it's a rainy day, we wait to do laundry. This summer we've kept the thermostat on 82 so the a/c works a lot less--which is a big deal here where a typical day is in the high 90s. We're making little green choices all over our lives like giving up paper towels, not buying bottled cleaning products and carefully combining errands out in the car. All of those little things combine I think have greatly reduced our waste/negative environmental impact. We’ve made a total switch to line-drying laundry outside. If it’s a rainy day, we wait to do laundry. This summer we’ve kept the thermostat on 82 so the a/c works a lot less–which is a big deal here where a typical day is in the high 90s. We’re making little green choices all over our lives like giving up paper towels, not buying bottled cleaning products and carefully combining errands out in the car. All of those little things combine I think have greatly reduced our waste/negative environmental impact.

]]> By: Nancy http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-702 Nancy Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:23:53 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-702 I bought a used 1996 Honda Civic for $7000 with only 68K miles on it. It gets great gas mileage! My hubby is a teacher and home for the summer and I'm a stay at home mom. We try to do at least 2-3 errands together instead of jumping in the car whenever we need to do something. We do have a bigger car, a Honda Element, but we save that for trips to visit family or for winter driving. I bought a used 1996 Honda Civic for $7000 with only 68K miles on it. It gets great gas mileage! My hubby is a teacher and home for the summer and I’m a stay at home mom. We try to do at least 2-3 errands together instead of jumping in the car whenever we need to do something. We do have a bigger car, a Honda Element, but we save that for trips to visit family or for winter driving.

]]> By: Cathy http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-701 Cathy Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:34:46 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-701 Saving for solar panels is a great idea. We really want some, but can't take on that kind of debt to install them. We're growing vegetables, composting, hanging our clothes up to dry, and have only used our AC one week this summer. My next big goal is to walk my first-grader to school instead of driving him. Saving for solar panels is a great idea. We really want some, but can’t take on that kind of debt to install them. We’re growing vegetables, composting, hanging our clothes up to dry, and have only used our AC one week this summer. My next big goal is to walk my first-grader to school instead of driving him.

]]> By: Frugal Babe http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-700 Frugal Babe Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:06:49 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-700 Cloth diapers and wipes. Biking or walking anywhere within a four mile radius of my house (I have a basket on my bike for groceries). Going vegetarian (haven't quite gotten to vegan yet, although I eat a lot less dairy than I used to)... this has been a gradual process for us. right now we're saving $300/month in a solar panel fund. we should be able to afford them by 2010/2011. That will be a sweet day! Cloth diapers and wipes. Biking or walking anywhere within a four mile radius of my house (I have a basket on my bike for groceries). Going vegetarian (haven’t quite gotten to vegan yet, although I eat a lot less dairy than I used to)… this has been a gradual process for us. right now we’re saving $300/month in a solar panel fund. we should be able to afford them by 2010/2011. That will be a sweet day!

]]> By: Fern http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-699 Fern Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:02:54 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-699 We didn't go as far as Barbara K., but when we were faced with moving for my husband's job, we made access to mass transit a top priority, followed by a neighborhood where we could walk to satisfy most of the needs of daily life. 18 months ago, we drove at least 30 or 40 miles a day; now we rarely drive that far in one week. Not only have we cut down our environmental impact, we're both far healthier for all the exercise, er, commuting, we're doing. We didn’t go as far as Barbara K., but when we were faced with moving for my husband’s job, we made access to mass transit a top priority, followed by a neighborhood where we could walk to satisfy most of the needs of daily life. 18 months ago, we drove at least 30 or 40 miles a day; now we rarely drive that far in one week. Not only have we cut down our environmental impact, we’re both far healthier for all the exercise, er, commuting, we’re doing.

]]> By: Cinnamon http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-698 Cinnamon Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:28:12 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-698 I recently acquired 3 canvas bags that I take in to the grocery store with me to avoid using plastic or paper. I also don't print out ATM receipts and ask the cashiers not to print out any receipts I don't need (Starbucks is really good about this). The biggest thing our family has done is limited our grocery store shopping, and instead, get all our produce from our local farmers. Both my husband and I haven't felt better, and we are supporting the local community. I also planted a kitchen garden this year (never planted anything except roses before) and it's amazing to walk out and pull some carrots for dinner! The best part of all this is how great it all feels to know we're doing our small part. I recently acquired 3 canvas bags that I take in to the grocery store with me to avoid using plastic or paper. I also don’t print out ATM receipts and ask the cashiers not to print out any receipts I don’t need (Starbucks is really good about this). The biggest thing our family has done is limited our grocery store shopping, and instead, get all our produce from our local farmers. Both my husband and I haven’t felt better, and we are supporting the local community. I also planted a kitchen garden this year (never planted anything except roses before) and it’s amazing to walk out and pull some carrots for dinner! The best part of all this is how great it all feels to know we’re doing our small part.

]]> By: rebecca http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/08/15/what-is-the-biggest-thing-youve-done-for-the-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-697 rebecca Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:24:44 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=452#comment-697 It's good to hear you made the switch, Rebecca (with a capital "R"). I'm always surprised how many cloth-diapering parents don't take it one step further with cloth wipes. I figure my cloth wipes have saved me at least $80 (probably more), not to mention box after box that would have to be recycled or thrown away. It’s good to hear you made the switch, Rebecca (with a capital “R”). I’m always surprised how many cloth-diapering parents don’t take it one step further with cloth wipes. I figure my cloth wipes have saved me at least $80 (probably more), not to mention box after box that would have to be recycled or thrown away.

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