7.29.2007

it's not easy being green...


stevie bevie is going to get a kick out of this, but since he decided to call me a poser environmentalist the other i decided i'd try and go back to my hard-core hippie ways just to spite him (okay, and because it makes me feel better about myself)! granted, it's not going to be easy (especially when living with a man whose diet consists mainly of bratwurst, dill pickle chips, and mountain dew). but then again, what better time than now-when we are about to lose an income and incur a small fortune worth of debt courtesy of the U of U law school. what better time to get creative... "reduce, reuse, recyle"... and in what better place than SLC (don't answer that, i know there are many better places-BUT at least SLC has a recycling program, unlike some places).

i started easy venturing to the grocery store and buying all organics and no meat (that's right-i am going back to my veggie ways). i was thrilled to discover that target offers organic everything (almost) at reasonable prices. then,today, msn featured an article (was it meant to be?) on the cost of vegetarianism (in case you don't read the article-it's low)!

i found a few books online about green living and ordered several to get me motivated (used, of course). i plan to check the rest out at the SLC library once i secure my membership. one i'm very excited about is about green home rennovation. another is about being a lazy environmentalist-talks about all the little things we can do that are simple but can have a great impact, like not getting ATM receipts. inspired just by the book's amazon preview, i ordered some cloth shopping bags (only downfall to this is that we won't have plastic baggies for LL3 poop patrol). but never fear, the new yard has room for composting! and a garden!

i haven't really done a whole lot aside from making a list of areas i (we?) can improve, but i already feel better just making the conscious decision to do my part. and i guess the reason i'm sharing this with you, my bloggy friends, is so that i feel more commited (so you can stick it to me if i don't follow through).

14 comments:

Jill said...

Is it weird that I have no desire to be "green"?? Not that I am against people who "reduce, reuse and recyle". As a matter a fact, I think its great when people do. But I will be the first to admit, I will probably never be one of those people. I'm sorry, I hope we can still be friends you hippie :)

Wendy said...

great blog....I too an somewhat addicted. it's nice getting to know so much more about you!

Melanie said...

I am sporadically inspired as well, so it's nice to see you sticking to your guns. I don't think Utah has a Trader Joe's, but I found some good re-usable bags there. My advice would be to leave the bags in your car, otherwise you may forget to pack them each time you head to the grocery store! (I always do!) Also, I know Target is way cooler than Wal Mart, but Wal Mart offers a lot of organic foods (I like their eggs) for a low low Wal Mart price, which may help with the law school budget. Keep sharing new tips if you find them! Maybe my sporadic inspiration will become steadfast...

{lizzythebotanist} said...

ooh, buddens-wal mart? i'm not so sure...i mean, yeah i shop there a tad now (because it's the only grocery store within five miles) but...it seems a little hypocritical to me. i don't know.....i'll have to give it some serious thought and see where it is physically located in comparison to wild oats and others at the new place..

Mel said...

farmers markets and gardens are the way to go. Support the ma and pa stores and not chain stores. that's the way to go.

Jewels said...

I am a huge supporter of Target, so yes - I know that going to Wal-Mart is a stretch, I'm so with you there. I must applaud you for your dedication to being green. Good for you! I am not as green as I should be, but hearing your goals is quite inspiring. I have no doubt that you'll stay strong!

Alifinale said...

Good for you. You need to move to Eugene. It is harder to NOT recycle there. I kind of miss it.

Jeff said...

There are things that everyone can do to be more green. 1 change your light bulbs Yes the new bulbs put off a harsh light but they will save money and use less electricity, 2 Look at your fridge, is it older then 10 years? If so replace it. Older fridges are hogs and can be replaced cheaply with a huge savings to your pocket book. 3 think green, when you can, recycle walk or ride the bike rather then drive.Take the bus.

You can do things like go with Solar panels or Geo thermal or wind power as well, but they are all a big investment but it will pay for itself.

Two Wheeler said...

Nice post Lizzie (I haven't even met you yet, but like ya already :-). The composting caught my eye and while first off, I'm jealous that you guys even have a compost pile, I just thought I'd offer up this tidbit of a suggestion for diapers (if you're not already using them)... gdiapers.com I don't have personal experience though, and they may work out to be more pricey than regulars.

They're a flushable or compost-able (is that a word?) diaper that supposedly works quite well. They're completely biodegradable which is great since regular diapers take a few hundred years to decompose and they don't use as much water as cloth diapers do.

Two Wheeler said...

BTW, if Steve hasn't told you yet, I'm one of his crazy friends.

{lizzythebotanist} said...

two wheeler-we don't actually have a compost pile yet-we just barely got ourselves a yard big enough for a garden last week. the composting will begin shortly! steve's been trying to get ahold of you....email him: gimpyhippy@yahoo.com. we're in the big city now so we should meet up sometime soon!

{lizzythebotanist} said...

oh, and gdiapers (and bum genius) are highway robbery when compared to costco diapers! i know, i know, i'm a hypocrite. but maybe if i make up for it in other ways i won't feel so guitly about the truckloads of diapers i will undoubtedly throw away in my lifetime.

Two Wheeler said...

I know how you feel (me being a student and all), and they are quite expensive. From the sounds of it, you're already doing more than most people in trying to use the environment instead of abuse it, way to go!

emailing Steve right now... thanks for his email. Feel free to edit the comment and take his email off of it, or he might get more spam than he really would care for, haha.

gina bina said...

Yeah!!! We are always so excited when folks move up to the big city. I belong to two wheeler (or does he belong to me?). Welcome to the neighborhood!