I am not a die-hard green girl but I honestly enjoy paying attention to the impact that I am having. It's a start. In the last few years, I've bought a second-hand hybrid. I rarely accept a shopping bag when I make purchases from a store, and I try to be ruthless about turning off lights. We also rarely get take-out in part because I hate all the packaging. In addition, my felted wool sweater, accessory and houseware line, The Hole Thing, is made solely from recycled sweaters.
Years ago I also decided that I prefer the simplicity of just having two bras (one black, one white) and only a few pair of jeans going at a time. This was before anyone was worrying about the environment. I did it simply because it is easier to keep track of fewer things and it suits me. And it's inexpensive.
Americans SHOP and SHOP and SHOP and it's so disgusting. It's ruining our planet. We are a culture of consumers who shop to make ourselves feel better and to fill emotional voids, or to keep up with the Joneses. It's so pathetic.
I can be guilty of this too....
If you have not yet seen the documentary No Impact Man, about a Manhattan family that takes a year off and rides only bikes and scooters and doesn't buy ANYTHING but locally grown food, it is a very entertaining and fun film to watch. Great for all ages. You won't be disappointed.
And if you have not yet seen Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff you can watch it on YouTube if you're interested. It is out in book form now as well.
Also Kim Urig, a former Lines of Beauty beauty of the week, has a great green blog called Our Daily Green that you might enjoy too. Not to mention my dear cyber buddy Aldra and her fabulous blog Consciously Frugal out there on the left coast.
