Those of us who walk this Earth often see nothing but endless seas, fields of golden grain, and clear lakes. And yes, America does have those things, even if most of the rest of the world does not. It is hard for us to imagine ever running out of water, wood, or air, and all the rest of the abundant resources we have. But you know, all good things must come to an end, they say.
We have one planet with limited – not endless- resources. Sustainable is the new catch word. Sustainabilty means to not use resources faster than they can regenerate. Ooops. How many millions of years did it take to create our coal and oil fields, our diamond mines, and our incredible forests? Do our children, grandchildren and subsequent generations have that much time to wait for these things to replenish themselves? The answer is no.
So, the first reason that we reduce, reuse, recycle is to delay the certain demise of our resources.
How does recycling help? By reducing the amount of energy needed to manufacture the stuff we need. Products made from recycled material require far less energy expense…in transport, in processing, and in harvesting.
So, the Second reason to recycle: we will use less of our precious energy (which costs us a fortune)
When we throw things away, they are often out of our conscious thought. But they go somewhere. It used to be that we could burn things, but now our trash is not organic; it’s full of plastic and other commodities made from stuff that will pollute the air if burned. Now we take it to landfills. Out of sight, out of mind. But, how long is that going to last? Landfills do fill up, and often the land over them is no longer suitable for everyday use. So, rather than throw it on the ground, burn it, or send to a landfill, we can recycle or compost about 84% of our trash.
But the reason that affects you directly, is that recycling saves you money in the long run. Yes, it is true. Because manufacturers don’t have to dig up ore and other materials, but can receive them in ready to process form, the cost of the product goes down. Also, it costs a lot of money to get rid of trash. An 84% reduction in trash has got to make a difference in your removal expense and your local taxes.
So. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Not only is the right thing to do, but also it is the smart thing to do.
“De-Stuff” Yourself!
Accompanying July is this crazy heat. I for one want nothing to do with heat and humidity in the blazing summer unless there is a pool involved.
In order to beat the heat, I’m working inside more than ever and have begun the arduous task of what I am calling, “The Great De-Stuff of 2010.” I have decided that I have too much stuff. Not necessarily clutter, but stuff that I don’t need to live a sustainable lifestyle.
I have decided that throughout the month I am going to go room by room and gather all of my belongings that I don’t need or use and either donate, sell or re-gift. I have begun in the kitchen and already donated many drinking glasses to a local charity. I even re-gifted a set of never been used martini glasses to my mother. She just happened to be helping me on the kitchen day and received these as my gift for helping me in my “De-Stuffing.”
Take a moment and think about all of the extra “stuff” you live with. Wouldn’t it be easier to live without all the “stuff?”
Long ago I read something that will always stick with me. If you purchase one thing you must go home and get rid of three. It sounds crazy but I think the same holds true for living sustainably. What are you giving up for that new thing in your life? Is it worth it or can you live with less? What footprints are you making in the name of stuff and who could benefit from what you have to discard?
Litter is visual pollution. Manufacturing may cause air pollution or water pollution, but at least there is some usable product derived from the process…some benefit to mankind. Litter offers no benefit whatsoever. None. Litter can also contaminate the ground water and can harm wildlife. A triple whammy.
One wonders why someone would throw something out a car window instead of waiting to find a trash receptacle. If it is a cigarette butt,…duh… that is why the car makers installed an ashtray. If it is a drink cup, beer can, or hamburger wrapper, shame on you!
I grew up in the era of the weeping Indian on television and in print. He was so sad to see our beautiful land despoiled. When we saw that tear running down his super macho cheek, we understood the impact of our careless actions and vowed never to litter!
This is not a uniquely American problem. A quick internet check will show that countries all over the world are struggling with litter. Frankly, no one has yet come up with a good solution. Hefty fines can be a deterrent, but catching the culprit in action is often tough to do. A reward system of varying types has been attempted in some areas, but has had mixed results.
What it all comes down to is that it is a matter of personal responsibility, which we all know is somewhat lacking in today’s world. This Goddess recommends that you JUST DON’T LITTER….and pick up whatever you see whenever you can. Those of us who depend on others to pick it up…local governments, correctional inmates, or just somebody else in general…may be contributing to the problem.
When attending one of the many local events…use the trash barrels. Better yet, because the barrels get full between pickups, take a plastic bag for your waste. Take another one for recyclables….cans, glass, and plastic bottles.
Don’t be part of the problem. Let’s work together to address the problem. That is the only way it is ever going to get any better.
Do you remember when you were younger, learning about Native Americans – or Indians- as they were called then? Maybe you were a Boy or Girl Scout, maybe it was in school in history class. Although the Pilgrims and other early American settlers believed them to be savages, and not civilized, we now know that those folks were wise beyond our snooty abilities to understand.
The thing I most remember, other than that they introduced us to maize – now known as our delectable corn on the cob – at the First Thanksgiving…was that they tried to leave an area – the woods, a creek, a prairie – just as they found it, leaving no evidence that they had ever been there.
That concept intrigued me. How could that be? I would imagine a group of hunters carefully refreshing downtrodden weeds, killing the campfire and spreading any traces of burned material, and slipping silently away. Since I’m not the most graceful soul in the world, I wondered how they slipped silently away for one thing. But, really, how could they…and why did they…eliminate any modicum of leftover humanness where they were?
You know, we haven’t done a very good job with this great land that we inherited. We should have been heeding that advice. Now we are beginning to think about our impact on nature and realize what a burden we have added to the Earth.
Rachel Carson was the first to bring this stuff to our attention. Her book, “Silent Spring,” warned us about how our pesticides and other chemicals were damaging the life around us. Now, of course, we realize that those early chemicals and products were harming us as well, not just the keepers of nature. Farmers learned early on to rotate crops in order to revive farmland. We probably need to start re-thinking our other intrusions on the Earth.
I love this quote: ‘We have forgotten how to be good guests…how to walk lightly on the Earth as its othr creatures do.’ You know, we really have. In our arrogance and pride of ownership of this Earth, we presume that we couldn’t really be bothering things too much…we think that if we don’t see it, it isn’t there.
Did you know that there are huge swirls of trash in the middle of each of our oceans? No, we don’t see it, so what do we care? Well, for one thing, a shiny piece of plastic may look mighty tasty to a fish or bird, but when they ingest it, it kills them. Other sea life is strangled by the vast amounts of our Earth junk that floats and then maybe sinks.
I don’t know, it just seems that we ought to be doing a better job of looking after things. Our kids and grandkids are facing a big mess, with the balance of Nature horribly affected by what we do…or don’t do.
Here’s another quote I like, and very telling: ‘Our environment – the world in which we live and work – is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations.’ Look what a horrible attitude we have…and evidently no expectations for the future.
Global warming is talked about all the time, and that may or may not be happening; but what is happening is that we are very careless about the gifts that we have been given. We are chopping down trees, and digging up ground, ditching tires behind bushes, spewing all sorts of junk into the air, throwing papers and cigarette butts on the ground, and boring into the center of the Earth, with only recent concern for how we are affecting things.
Let’s try to think as our American forebears thought: Walk lightly on the Earth…be a Good Guest.
Ah, worms….
They just keep chuggin’ away, those little worms. I’ve been tossing in some smelly old vegetables and some coffee grounds, eggshells, and whatever organic other thing I can find and the little babes have rewarded me with a third batch of lovely compost!
After the first two batches that I reaped, I found out what it is made of….worm poop. Yes, they eat the veggies, absorb what they need in the way of nutrition, and pass it out their little hineys, just like all of God’s creatures. And, like some of God’s other creatures, their waste product is full of vitamins and minerals and other treats for use in growing other veggies and plants.
In order to harvest the compost, I must remove the worms from the aquarium in the Discovery Center, and transfer them to a new ‘nest’, a bin full of freshly shredded newspaper, more veggies, lots of water, and some dirt. I have to say, it takes hours to get those little squigglers from one container to another…one by one. There are about 200 of them.
For the second batch, I recruited some 5th graders from South Ripley to help. They loved it, of course, although most insisted on wearing latex gloves to dig into the aquarium. Worms don’t like light and they sure don’t like having someone come between them and their lunch, so they dive to the most remote areas of the bin. Frankly, I move the larger chunks of undigested newspaper gunk to the new bin, so if they are hiding in there, they make the transfer with little agitation….not knowing what happened…and probably not caring, as long as they can continue munching and pooping.
As I sat there sorting, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat like the Deity as I determined their fate. I wanted to assure them that they would have a better life where they were going, but they really didn’t listen, and continued to dodge my probing fingers. Of course, some were successful in their effort to be left behind in the compost and now live outside in a plastic bag waiting to be worked into some earth. I’m sure they aren’t very happy…maybe even dead…but I tried to tell them!
Remodeling gives us an opportunity to be wasteful or to make some small changes that may have a big impact on our wallets and the environment. In our kitchen, we knew right away that we wanted to install a new floor that would be considered environmentally sustainable, so, at this point, we are looking at bamboo and cork, both abundant and easy to harvest and regrow. Each has its pluses and minuses – the big minus is that we are having trouble deciding.
Fluorescent lighting and LEDs are easier on the electric bill, so that is a no-brainer. The new dishwasher is Energy Star rated. And new laundry appliances will also be Energy Star. We will have an aerator on the kitchen faucet to reduce unnecessary water use. We are replacing the cabinet doors instead of the cabinets themselves. The new countertop is made with some recycled material.
In the bathroom, we need all new fixtures for the new space. So what do we do with the ones we are no longer using? Actually, they are in pretty good condition, so we might donate them to an organization that can use them, like the Salvation Army or Goodwill or Habitat or even offer them on freecycle.com. Did you know the average household uses 75% of its water in the bathroom? So our new toilet will be a low-flow choice – maybe one of those that gives us a choice about how much water we need to flush. The vinyl flooring might be a problem to get rid of. I wonder if there is a good way to reuse it? Because it isn’t very big, maybe we could use it as a work mat in the basement or art studio.
Decisions, decisions. Any time that we change things up, we need to think about the right way to do it to protect Mother Earth. We may not be able to do everything exactly right, but we can make some choices that lessen the impact of our lives on Nature. It makes good sense for the pocketbook and for the future of our children.
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Holiday time means lots of lights, good food, presents, decorations and lots of extras. You don’t have to give up a thing to be kind to the Earth this holiday season…Christmas is the best time of year! Here are a couple of ideas that will save Mother Earth and save you some dough.
Consider spending a bit more up front to save a ton on your January light bill. LED lights use only a fraction of the energy that regular Christmas lights use. You can feel good about enjoying your twinkly tree instead of worrying about the cost.
Another Earth-friendly step is to purchase gift and greeting cards, wrapping paper, and gift bags made from recycled paper. Then save some money by recycling the cards and paper and reusing the bags for other gifts next year. Or save the cards and use them as gift tags next Christmas.
Handmade ornaments don’t cost very much and often become family favorites to use year after year. Paint some gourds or burnt-out light bulbs for a personal and eco-friendly touch.
Be sure to buy rechargeable batteries for those electronic gifts and add a battery charger to your Christmas list. Rechargeable batteries are recyclable! And be sure to donate or recycle the old electronics when the holidays are over.
When you are out supporting the retail economy, be sure to select gifts with minimal packaging, or those packed in recycled or recyclable materials, such as cardboard.
Remember to share what you have with others this season and throughout the rest of the year. We all own more than we need. Someone needs that item, even if you don’t! The Salvation Army and Goodwill are great places to offer the ‘reuse’ of your unwanted items.
Have a ‘sustainable’ holiday…a Green Christmas. And Remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Happy Holidays!
To help the environment, you can do some little things, and little things add up. If everyone did some little things, there would be huge difference! A man named David Suzuki has come up with a list of things kids can do and you can do them too. We have added some to his list:
1. Recycle! Recycling saves energy and our natural resources. Check your garbage to see if you’ve thrown something away that could have been recycled.
2. Turn things off and unplug them! TVs, computers, stereos and video game units all draw power, even when turned off.
3. Play outside! By exploring the great outdoors, you’ll learn about nature and save electricity at the same time.
4. Be an energy detective! Are you careful about closing doors? Is valuable heat escaping from your home? Do you have a drippy faucet? Find ways to stop wasting energy and tell your family what you have discovered. Saving energy saves money!
5. Choose foods grown on local farms. Your lunch may have traveled a long way! The next time you go grocery shopping choose foods grown on local farms, or nearby areas. You will help reduce pollution from food transportation. Go to the Farmers Market!
6. How do you get around? Use kid power! Walk, bike, skateboard, scooter, carpool, or take the bus to get around. You will have fun and get some exercise too.
7. Explore your neighborhood! Make a map showing all of your regular stops, such as school, grocery stores, libraries, and after-school activities. Find ways to avoid having to drive to these places.
8. Get involved! Be part of the solution! Write, paint, draw or make a video…use your imagination to express how you feel about nature. Making art from old materials is another good way to reuse and recycle.
9. Share your items that you no longer need with someone who does! Re-using is a very important part of saving the environment.
There! Those things don’t seem too hard, but they can really make a difference if each of you do them. You can do your part to help, even if you are just one person. Mother Nature thanks you.
Today, I’ve been thinking about water. Years ago, if anyone had asked me, I would have said that water came out of the faucet and went down the drain. That was all I needed to know about water. Then I had a job in which I learned that water has a mind of its own, and will go where it wants to, unless we force it to do something else. So, water now has a will! Who knew? We live in an area of plentiful water. Most of the water we drink in Southeastern Indiana is drawn from a massive aquifer which lies under Indiana and Kentucky. This water is so pure and so clean, it really doesn’t need much treatment before we drink it…a little chlorine, a little fluoride and there you have it. Louisville draws their water from the Ohio River itself, and treats it so well before it is distributed that the City water has won national taste tests. New York City, with all its city grit and dirt and air pollution and other negative environmental concerns, also has prize winning water. I’m not sure, but I think that water is drawn from reservoirs and lakes upstate. So, our water is plentiful, tasty and clean. However, that is not the case in most of the world. Because it is not an issue for us, we have difficulty imagining life without adequate water. Did you know that 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water and ice? That sounds great, but less than 1/2 % of that is suitable for drinking. The Great Lakes Region is one of the largest repositories of water in the world, but the United States has some areas with little or no natural water resources. Fortunately, we have the technology and financial resources to pipe it where it is needed. Most of us Americans don’t even think about our water…unless it gets shut off for some reason or there is a ‘boil water’ advisory. We are blessed on many levels here, but availability of clean water may be the greatest. Blessed as we are, we have to be careful about how we take care of our water supply. Everything we throw away, dump, or drop, will eventually affect the underground water table. Everything. There is an effort to prevent pollution from landfills with the use of liners; but still… We are so casual about water that we let the shower run for 30 minutes at a time, ignore water drips until we get a big bill, and throw trash in the river and along our roads…and not even think twice about it. The USA uses more water than any other country, even though we have less than Canada or Russia. Toilet flushes are a huge use of water. Did you know that toilets made after 1993 use 1.6 gallons per flush…and those made before that can use up to 8 gallons per flush! There are now toilets that use even less water and we need to be considering those when we build or remodel our homes. Anyway, try to think about water…appreciate it and take care of it.
Of the 3 Rs, I think ‘reducing’ is the hardest…no snickers please. I don’t mean dieting. I mean reducing what we buy, how it is packaged, checking its recyclability, etc. We recently opened our Environmental Discovery Center here at SISWD with one of the exhibits a ’store’ at which kids are to select the better choice for the environment: which cereal packaging, which fruit drink, which mustard, which shopping bag, etc. In order to make a good choice, it is necessary to examine the product pretty carefully. Most of us don’t really want to do that, so it is hard to create a new habit. However, we also didn’t ever want to take time to look at nutritional labels, and now we do, so I guess we can learn and change. For example, just about all cereal boxes can be recycled, but we also need to check to see if it is manufactured out of recycled material. In many areas, only #1 and #2 plastics can be recycled, so we need to check the bottom of plastic food containers to see the number. It can be a hard decision to pay a few cents more for a product in a recyclable container, but it generally pays for itself in reduced garbage. Generally speaking, it is good to buy in bulk…large boxes of cereal, for example, instead of individual boxes. It is all recyclable, but there can be less packaging in the larger quantity. That’s “reduce.” Recycling and reusing require some thought, but are fairly easy to do – unless you are out in a rural area. “Reducing” will require a lot of behavioral change. I guess ‘recycling’ did too, but it is a self-rewarding behavior, so it doesn’t take long to train yourself. ‘Reducing’ may take longer to realize a benefit, but it is just as important as the other ‘R’s’.