My overall goal is to get a little greener around here.

I'm going to start easy with cleaning products. So first up is to do some research around this, and hopefully find solutions beyond buying really expensive "Seventh Generation" stuff - like find out how I can use truly green stuff like vinegar and baking soda and such.

A larger goal is to cut down on general consumption. I'm not much of a shopper, and still ... we have too much stuff. First up here is to find a local children's consignment store and get into the habit of shopping there first, esp for clothes. I'd also like to find a women's consignment place where I can pick up basic stuff like t-shirts, jackets, etc. In grad school, I used to get stuff at a kick-ass consignment place, but since we've moved, I've gotten out of the habit.

So I'll start with these couple of things.

RachelD

I go really easy on cleaning products....uh, since I rarely clean, ha ha.

Definite agree on the consumption.  

One of my resolutions is to stop spending so much money on stupid stuff.  Stuff that I really don't need, stuff that ends up cluttering up my house and closets.  Also, to stop spending so much on premade food, take out, eating out.

All of these things dovetail of course....overconsumption hurts my wallet, my waistline, my clutter quotient.  

So for the next two weeks, I would like to not buy anything except necessities.

On a separate note, I can't believe how overwhelmed my house is again with plastic toys.  We just had a birthday and Christmas of course, and we are just overloaded again.  It's so stressful, all waiting to be organized and processed.

as they want different kinds of things.  But along those lines I've resolved and tried to hold true to spending my limited money on experiences more than 'things" -- concert tickets. show tickets. a trip to a zoo, aquarium etc... rather than another toy.  The one thing I have no self control over is books. I'd buy a book every day if I could!

This is an area where I'd also like to improve.  First off, I REALLY want to start eating more organic foods.  It's gotten easier as major supermarket chains have begun to offer more options.  There's also a Trader Joe's being built down the street...that will help.  A big problem, of course....cost!  Found a helpful list in Bon Appetit last month--the 12 MOST contaminated fruits and veggies and the 12 LEAST contaminated.  The article suggested always buying organic for the top 12 and buying conventional produce for the bottom twelve.

FYI--The lists!

Buy Organic:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

Buy Conventional:
Onions
Avocados
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mangoes
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (Frozen)
Kiwis
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papayas

Anyone know of high fructose free bread brands?

This year we made donation to the Save Darfur Coalition for teacher/miscellaneous gifts (read: cousins). These donations always receive a great response. What I need to do is physically do something for social justice this year. Writing a check is, I'm sure, appreciated, but I've never gotten involved personally. Our church sponsors a trip to Nicaragua every summer for adults and teens, I just have to get out of my comfort zone. I also want to look into things I can do locally.

I've been pondering my goal of consuming differently: greener and overall less. The relationship of what we buy to social justice for me is something I read a few years ago, and I wish I could find the article now.

It was an article about the American economy in general, and it stated that women make about 80% of decisions about consumer goods, and then in turn, the entire US economy is way more than half based on consumer spending. So every purchasing decision we MTs make (at the drugstore, the grocery store, clothing, appliances, cars, gifts, furniture, it's amazing really ....!) can be used for change, if we so choose. When Safeway and Walmart are carrying organic goods, we know we can influence change over time.

So some ideas for making purchases more socially effective? I read that the Gap and several other retailers have this new brand called Red which contributes money for AIDS drugs in Africa. Bono of U2 is involved. That's one example. Others?

RachelD

I guess I want to do two things:

1. Get into new habits at home that are more socially responsible and ecologically responsible.

2. Volunteer personal time to causes that I stew over but don't physically do anything about.

For the first I have a few goals:

Foodwise we already do a organic CSA box but I'd like to start a bit of gardening ourselves.  We just purchased a quarter of a cow from a local, organic farmer and I'd like to start getting our pork, chicken & eggs from her as well.  It'll cost more but once we start doing it we'll just budget accordingly -- fewer lattes ;-)

We do green cleaning and have energy efficient appliances but we've put off the biggies.  I need to get quotes on insulating our house.

I lump errands together but I'd like to get my husband taking the bus more often and my daughter and I walking a bit more.  Hee hee, maybe I need to freeze the car keys??

For the second, aaaargh...  It's so hard with such a bizarre schedule!

Ellen starts preschool this Friday (!!!) so I'll have a few hours once a week that are free.  I'll see if there's a nearby place that would appreciate my time.  Probably volunteering at one of the elementary schools would be a nobrainer.  I could also see if there is any public health outreach for new moms - it'd be a good use of my nursing background and a good fit with my interest in breastfeeding support.

We also keep meaning to get involved with the local Unitarian Universalist church.  They have an active social justice committee.  While husband and daughter go to their Sunday class I should head on over to the church and make a few new friends.  It wouldn't kill me ;-)