Going Green: 13 tips to make it easy to be green!

The phrases 'Being Green" or "Going Green" can mean several things, to several people. However, to truly live a green life, it means more than just being "environmentally friendly". Being green means more than just switching your paper towels to those made with post consumer recyclables, or using reusable bags instead of plastic. It means to try to make your impact here on this Earth, leave as little of a foot print as possible. It involves the idea that all of our natural resources, fossil fuels especially, be treated and thought of as finite. It means, trying to be extremely aware of every impact you make, and lessening those impacts that are negative.


There are some basic principles of being green and some of them are:

• Using products that are not harmful to animals or humans. 
• Trying not be wasteful in your consumption of energy and other natural resources. 
• To not cause excess waste, and to try to limit the amount of waste you already consume.
• To not purchase or use products that are harmful or cruel to animals.
• To not make choices, or use products that are harmful to the Earth.
  

Being Green means doing what you can to make this happen every single time that you can. 

                                                            Some ways to be green:

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• Compost your kitchen waste. Any type of food, minus meats, fish, the bones of animals, diseased plants that you've pulled, your pet waste, or human waste should not be composted. Everything else is fair game. Even things like your morning coffee grounds and filter can be composted, though I use mine on my blueberry plants to help them grow and stave off disease. 
• Buy green products. This includes items made from minimal packaging and biodegradable cleaners and soaps/shampoos, and using recyclable batteries. Even if you have to buy packaged items, look for those items that the entire package can be recycled. 
• Use your own reusable bags at the grocery. Most grocery stores have made this easy for you, as they sell them at the checkouts.
• Buy locally from other farmers and your local farmers markets.  Try to buy only in season fruits and veggies when you do shop at the grocery, as they will have traveled less of a distance to get to you, thus making their carbon footprint smaller.   
• Stop using paper products in your home, and replace them with cotton alternatives, like dishtowels and hand towels for your kitchen instead of plastic scrubbies or paper towels. Once, again, check your farmer's market. Every one I've ever been too, there's been at least one lady selling her hand knit cotton towels and cloths.  
• When you do use chemicals, try to get ones that aren't aerosol sprays, such as hair spray.  
• Conserve your water. Install water aerators, and fix leaks immediately.  
• Turn down the heat, and up the A/C at night, when you're sleeping. Also, try to only use the AC when it's absolutely necessary. Programmable thermostats make this solution easier.  
• Try to use a smaller, more fuel efficient car, or better yet, if you live in an area that's bike-able, buy a bike and ditch the car. You can even buy trailers to tote children around in, making biking an easy choice. And when there's no kids in the trailer, it doubles as a way to bring home groceries! 
• Try to, when you can afford to, buy furniture and flooring that is made with sustainable, natural fibers and woods. Bamboo is a good choice, and of course, only replace items when needed, and only buy what you need.
•  Use low VOC paints. Not only will they not have toxins, they don't stink up your rooms when you paint. There are now several brands that carry a no or low VOC choice. 
•  Don't use chemicals on your garden, or on your lawn. Also, don't water your lawn, and only water your garden when necessary. One bonus to not watering your lawn, you get to cut it less often! Also, consider investing in a reel mower. Hubby and I have one, and we swear by it. There are no electrical parts to break, no gas, and therefore no pollution and they do just as good of a job as the motorized kind! 
• When you can't reuse or reduce, try to recycle anytime you can.