Going Green - Need Help!

For me, the biggest thing I wish I would have taught my kids, that I did growing up, was the wonders of walking, biking, car pooling/riding sharing, and mass transit. It involves: 1) Taking time to schedule the additional time it takes to walk, bike, or bus; 2) Thinking outside the box: "who in our neighborhood is also going to this event? Can I call them and offer a ride?" (you'd be surprised how many people love to do this just as a social thing ... and they will return the favor!). 3) Take alternate routes, either walking or biking, so your kid learns to take the safest route (not always the shortest!) 4) Be involved in your mass transit community. I recently got a new bus route put in to service one of the largest urban centers in a Seattle suburb, because the bus people didn't know our little community had developed -- they were too busy focusing on "downtown". 5) Same goes for bike paths and walking trails. Use them! Push for new ones! 6) Lastly, I eco (hahahaah! I just made that up!) what someone said earlier: I want to make a bumper sticker and put it on my old beater VW (30 mpg!) that says "I recycle cars!".

My dad was a forest ranger back when the Forest Service was a good thing, so we grew up green. I think one of the biggest things people do is to "overthink" how to do it. I read how someone was waiting to compost because they wanted to read up on creating a worm compost pile for one person. Unless you're in an apartment - just find some dirt in your backyard and start throwing scraps and clippings and "stuff" onto it. The worms will come. Same with everything else... don't overstudy it. Just start. 7) Okay, I wasn't done. Your kid? Make her in charge of reminding YOU to take the reusable shopping bag when you go shopping! That's the one I always forget.. but my kids remind me! 8) Oh, yeah.. .one more thing: Composting? Don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for their lawn clippings, leaf piles, and other yard waste. I regularily "trade" my small branches and waxy leaf Rhoadie clippings for my neighbor's maple tree leaves... putting my clippings in her container after emptying it out into my compost pile! Dave Kuhns www.cyranowriter.com

I wish our footprint could be abit smaller as well. Here are some things that we have done.

Last car I purchased I bought a Ford Escape Hybrid - I love it and although this may sound weird I enjoy trying to increase my fuel milleage by driving more efficiently and getting the engine to transfer over to battery only. I can understand the argument for the beat up old Dodge; however, you also have to keep in mind emmisions, repair costs, etc.

For the office (and this is a bit of a plug) buy envrionemntally freindly office products. Paper, pens and pencils are obvious ones. If you buy any promotional products for marketing you would be surprised how eco-conscious that market has become. The plug - my company can provide those promotional products. When we order products we try to consolidate shipping as much as possible - it may cause more work when entering the books but we can sometimes reduce 5 UPS deliveries in to 1.

In the home we try to buy locally grown organic products. The recycling thing is obvious. We recently replaced an old AC and an old dryer; although it cost us upfront I can not believe how much we reduced our electrical needs. Although insulation and high efficiancy windows are a great idea weatherstripping will make a huge impact.

We are a family of six and have found that reducing our footprint comes in many shapes and sizes. Our family used to get a new cup or glass out everytime we wanted a drink - you can not possibly have enough cups to cover that demand. We implemented a law around the house that you will use one cup a day (two if we are nice) rinse and reuse.

Well as a "green company" it really just about the small thing. All the products i use are free of harsh chemicals. I buy from a local supplier, i dont buy thing that have an excess amount of packaging.

Congratulations Brianna, for all you're doing. It starts with each of us, that's for sure. One area most people forget to consider when they are making changes is holidays and celebrations. That's our area of expertise. You don't have to buy our book, "Celebrate Green!" to get lots of ideas. You can visit our website, www.CelebrateGreen.net or our blog, www.CelebrateGreen.net/blog for loads of free info.

I realize that people may be somewhat skeptical about applying green principles to holidays and celebrations, but the fact is, the impact of our celebrating on people and the planet is enormous.

Just a couple of small examples. The average American buys and sends 30 greeting cards through the year. If Americans would wrap just three Christmas gifts in an alternative to paper, we'd save 45,000 football fields of paper every year.

We celebrate a lot in this country--all the major holidays--Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Mother's and Father's Day, July 4th, then add the special occasions like weddings, graduations, baby showers, office parties etc. and you can begin to see the problem.

Just as you are doing, there are small steps we can all take that can have a big impact.

Enjoy, celebrate and make a difference too!

Warmly, Lynn

Here is a really great magazine that has information about "going green" and all kinds of other stuff about living your life with less impact on the planet: http://www.yesmagazine.com/

Eat plants not animals

Don't have more kids

Take a look at The Natural Step for the Four Conditions so you can evaluate all the other choices you make in terms of true sustainability.

Hi again Brianna,

Afraid of Frankenfoods & Monsanto's chemical hand in everything you eat...and the impact that has on our environment, as well as our health? Pls sign this petition ASAP...Congress needs to know how that the public won't stand for this. http://tiny.cc/petition50

Hi Brianna,

Really sorry to be so opportunist by suggesting you to go see advertisements in the bottom of my website. One of the sites in the pub banner suggests you to establish your ecological footprint and gives you tracks of improvement according to your consuming habits. Good initiative !

Martin

foretnordique.com