The big Green elephant in the room

Going green has been on my mind for a very long time. No, I'm not referring to my latent desires to rub myself in spinach and run through central park, I am of course referring to the Global Warming epidemic and what I can do to aid in the solution.


While searching some new songs on iTunes yesterday, I ran across a neat little podcast called More Hip than Hippie. With a name like that, I could not resist.


At first it sounded like two moms trying to create their own show, but as they got going (and perhaps as the beer and chocolate they were indulging in at 8:30 in the morning started to take effect) they became more enthralling.


In between discussions of sodium laurel sulfate and renewable energy credits, the topic came up of challenging others to list 5 things they are doing to help the environment. I hoped I had at least 5, considering how much I think I do. So, I made a list. It was a tad difficult to figure out exactly what counted, so I just listed it all in hopes that it did.


1. Using a reusable bag at the health food shoppe
2. Not buying water bottles, and using a re-usable poly bottle instead.
3. Recycling-duh!
4. All of our light bulbs are Compact Fluorescent
5. Driving less and turning the car off when I'm in pick up/drop off line for school
6. Using a CSA to support local farmers and get healthy organic produce
7. Buying natural products, mostly for the kids, for hair, bath etc.
8. Turning lights and appliance off when not in use


Is it bragging to list more than 5? oops.



But actually 8 is freaking measly and I need to step up! Here is the list of things I want to accomplish in 2008:


1. Go completely natural in our house cleaning/laundry products
2. Use organic fertilizer on our lawn (first application down, lots more to go)
3. Organic paint
4. Bamboo flooring alternatives and/or other natural building materials
5. Find packaging alternatives for DipSticks that are recycled or environmentally friendly
6. Find local sources of products used for DipSticks
7. Create green pretzel and donate funds to environmental charities
8. Composting


I know there are people out there who still question the existence, or at least the severity, of Global Warming. My thought for you is this. In 30 years what would you like to feel? Confident that you can say I told you so, or sorrowful that you hadn't done anything when you had the chance? Doing something now that might turn out to be unnecessary isn't going to hurt anyone. But, not doing something could very well end up hurting millions.


Make your list today and let me know what your top 5 (or more if you feel like bragging!) earth saving practices are.