I’d like to share ideas on how we each choose to reduce our ecological impact. I’ll be doing a separate post on each of these things, just wanted to get this out there. Here are some things I do:

- I have reduced the amount of garbage I add to landfills by composting organic waste including food waste, yard waste like leaves, grass, and garden clippings, and paper. I recycle most of the plastic that comes into my household. Doing this has reduced our weekly garbage output from 3 full cans of garbage to a half can.

- I grow and can food. Gardening/farming does contribute to soil erosion, however a small home garden does less damage than paying into a factory farm system that has a huge impact on the environment. And it’s a great way to get incredibly fresh organic food for pennies.

- I make a lot of the things I want and need. For example I make my own cloth pads, tablecloths, pot holders, etc. I needed a new apron for the longest time and made one. I want new kitchen mats and I’m making 2 out of plastic grocery bags (we usually bring our own cloth bags sometimes we get a plastic bag. I never throw these out and I have a lot to reuse). I want a new fluffy bathroom mat and I’m making one out of old clothes. I want a new purse and I’m making one with the help of my daughter out of old clothes. We need new curtains and I’m making these also with the help of my daughter. I need new bookshelves for my store and I’m building them partly out of recycled material from the dump. When I think of all the stuff I make rather than buy, I am amazed at how much money I have saved…I have spent less than $5 for the needles and thread I have used (I got a big bag of over 20 different colored threads at a thrift store for $3) this year. Come to think of it, I bought the pack of needles last year, ha.

- We have reduced our water usage and soap usage considerably this year. For example we have reduced how often we bathe/shower and we generally only use half the recommended amount of soap when washing clothes, dishes, etc. Shampoo is the only exception because I have very thick waist length hair and thus use twice the recommended amount, LOL.

- I air dry our clothes most of the time.

- My daughter started college and though she is living at home, due to mine and my husband’s work schedule and her work schedule she needs her own car. We had got down to being a one car family, now fairly soon we are going to be a 3 car family. My car I’m converting to run on vegetable oil. My daughter would like to wait and see how it goes before we convert her car. My husband is ambivalent about it right now.

- I encourage my kids to make their own toys and/or trade toys. This holiday season I am going to request of relatives to reduce the amount of toys they buy for my kids.

- I keep large plants in every room of the house to keep the air nice and cut down on odors rather than use air fresheners or plug-ins or whatever.

- I use baking soda and vinegar to clean and occasionally peppermint or orange oil soap.

There are a lot of things I don’t do and I’m pretty passive about agitating for better pollution control from area factories and what-not. I can do better on letter writing and other things that hold large corporations accountable. My city also won’t accept certain plastics and other recyclable materials for the curbside recycling program, and I have been passive about finding out what the deal is on that. Another thing I’d like to work on is cosmetics, because I LOVE makeup and go through it…I’m gonna figure out ways to have less of an impact there (other than not wearing it, ha).

What are some ways you choose to reduce your ecological impact?

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