Quote:
Originally Posted by Tully Mars
As for living green I don't really do much intentionally, more just changes since moving south of the border. I walk more here. Back in Oregon it was 10 miles to the nearest store or restaurant. So walking wasn't much of an option. Here almost everything is in walking distance. Also Oregon, least the area I lived in, didn't have a bus or mass transit system. So I drove everywhere. Here I take the bus a lot. I can get anywhere by bus. It's cheaper and I'd guess safer then driving.
The one thing I'd say I've changed to live more green is I bought reusable shopping bags. Those flimsy plastic bags drive me nuts. They break, they tear into my hands when carrying them and they liter the streets everywhere down here. I've actually bought the same bags a couple times. Turns out if you don't have them tagged on the way into the store you'll buy them again regardless of how well worn they look.
|
I try to avoid driving if it's at all possible. In my Oregon community, it's easy to ride the bus, ride a bike, or walk. The bus stop is across the street. I take it twice a week or so. I wish it ran a bit later, so I could take it to and from work in the winter. Now the weather is good enough that I can ride my bike. We also try to buy local food whenever possible, use reusable shopping bags, use reusable water bottles, and use our travel coffee cups on a regular basis. We do a lot of stuff around the house, but really, none of it is to "be green." Most of it is just habit--I mean, I was the kid back in 1990 with the book
50 Ways Kids Can Save the Planet who insisted Dad start recycling. People around these parts have been recycling and composting and turning off the lights for a long time now. We're just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up. Here we actually celebrate a whole Earth Week, not just a day--this is what happens when you have a community full of old hippies (real hippies, not the people in Eugene who wish they were hippies).
Those of you checking out this thread who don't have reusable shopping bags yet, or are looking for a different kind of bag beyond the usual canvas, check out this:
ChicoBag I have two Chico Bags, and I love both of them. They're incredibly durable and strong!
Happy Earth Day!