TBT -- A question for Earth Day

Earth Day 2015 has come and gone. But that doesn't mean it's time for us to stop caring for the earth or start coming up with ways to live greener, more earth-friendly lives, right? For today's Throwback Thursday, I want to share just a bit of a post from Earth Day 2013. Perhaps it will spur you on. After all, everyone needs a little prodding now and then, don't you agree?

Photo by Green Grandma

On Earth Day this year, I resolve to ________________.

 

So, how would you complete that sentence? Is there anything you've been doing that hasn't been particularly earth-friendly? Perhaps you're still using too many paper towels (rags work just as well). Are you a cloth diapering mama who's gotten lazy and been using way too many disposables? Have you been forgetting your reusable bags too often when you go to the grocery store? Are you still using fabric softener (GASP!)? Are you tossing your sheets into the dryer when you could let the sun and breeze dry them just as easily (and much more fragrantly)? Are you driving when you could be walking? Have you been tossing cans and plastic bottles into the trash can at work where there's no recycling, rather than taking them home with you and putting them in your own recycling bin? Are you throwing away paper instead of taking it to a paper recycling collection bin in your community? Are you still cleaning with toxins when vinegar, lemon, and baking soda work just as effectively?

 

Remember to keep it green... for you, for your family, for future generations, and for the earth.

 

 

An Earth Day contest from Freecycle.org

This is from Freecycle.org:

In honor of Earth Day, we have decided to have a SAVE THINGS FROM THE LANDFILL contest.

We want you to clean out your attic, basement, spare room, garage and anywhere you have extra stuff and post those items on Pittsburgh Freecycle!

For every OFFER that you post on FRIDAY April 23rd, we'll enter you into a drawing to win one of several upcycled prizes donated by TerraCycle. The more OFFERs you post, the more chances you have to win!

Contest Rules:

Contest runs from 12:01am to 11:59pm on April 23rd.

For households that have more than one membership, only one will be entered into the drawing.

Your post must follow all Freecycle rules. If the post is sent back to you, it will not count.

Any member caught making false OFFERs will be disqualified.

Prize will be chosen at random and the winner will be contacted via email on Monday April 26.

Winner must provide mailing address to the moderators within 48 hours of winning notification or prize will be forfeited.

Prize will be chosen by the mods and shipped to the winner at no cost.

The difference in our lives

A riddle: What do March 17th and April 22nd have in common? Answer: The color green. While St. Patrick's Day involves shamrocks and green beer, Earth Day focuses on environmental issues and is day when young and old join forces to go green.

This year, there will be more attention given to Earth Day as we celebrate its 40th anniversary. Kids will come home from school asking you to help them with projects related to going green.

It makes me wish my kids were still little. They're projects may be simple, but they can pack an environmental punch, be it ever so small.

See, that's the thing about Earth Day. It's not always about the reforms in the laws, corporate initiatives, etc. It's also about the small things everyone of us does to make a difference.

"What can I do?" you may be asking. "How much of a difference can I make?"

The answer to those questions is why I do this blog. I'm not out to change the world. My goal is to encourage each of you to make a change or two in how you do things. I know not everyone who reads this will follow every one of my suggestions. It would be bizarre to expect you to. But just maybe you've read something and thought, "I can do that!" Something like:

• switched from disposables to cloth diapers
• started using Freecycle or taking things to Goodwill rather than adding to the increasing landfill problem
• protected your little ones from the dangers of BPA
• considered having dad stay home with the kids rather than placing them in daycare
• started buying organic milk and other products
• replaced your chemically-laden cleaning products with vinegar
• given more hugs to those you love
• considered adoption as an answer to an unplanned pregnancy
• bought earth-friendly and child-friendly products
• started taking vitamin D
• cut back on your energy usage
• read more labels
• signed a petittion
• reduced the amount of junk mail you receive
• been more creative and earth-friendly in your gift giving and wrapping
• not freaked out when there was a turd in the tub
• decided to circumcize, or not to
• forgiven someone
• reconsidered wind power
• decided to breastfeed
• opted for a gluten-free diet
• wasted less food
• used more cloth bags when shopping
• started eCycling
• got rid of mice the natural and kinder way
• discovered the benefits of hemp
• got a better night's sleep
• turned off the TV
• accepted the fact that going green is non-partisan
• realized it's all about common sense!

If you've made any changes in your thinking, your life, your family, your part of the world, because of what you've read here, I'm humbled and thrilled. If you could leave a comment and let me know what they were, I'd be grateful.

Let's encourage each other with our stories as Earth Day approaches. We're in this together. If you're looking for a prior post about one of the above subjects, there's a convenient search bar near the bottom of the page. While there, why not participate in the poll located there.

Keeping it green, keeping it healthy, keeping it real,

Hana