PBS is running a series of environmental/green programming for Earth Day. I was watching a few days ago and caught Bag It: the Movie, a documentary about all the plastic we use. All the free plastic that is really costing us all big time. They will air the movie again on my local PBS station; they might be showing it on yours, too, and if they are I strongly advise watching it. You have to know these things!!
The movie has led me to my Earth Day Resolution for 2011. I've been taking my own bags to the grocery for years now, I even use my own bags at other types of stores as well, but I am going to go it one better this year. I am going to take my own produce bags and bulk item jars, too. Apparently some stores that sell bulk items will let you weigh your container before filling it, then deduct that weight at the register. I can take my own jars for the fresh peanut butter my son loves. (They have machines to grind the peanuts at two stores we frequent.) I can take the containers I dump my raisins and organic popcorn and walnuts into as soon as I get home; saves me a step so it's all good.
We are also getting ready for hurricane season. I spoke with our tree trimmer and he's given us an estimate. His guys will be out next week to give our trees their annual pruning, which helps them weather any storms that may come our way. It's important to have them trimmed properly; I won't let anyone but this guy trim my trees. He's a trained arborist and even teaches classes for professional licensing. He's a natural born teacher, too. I always feel like I've learned a lot when he gets done walking around with me as he's working out the estimate. He fusses at me EVERY YEAR for not having proper tree rings around some of my trees, and every year I promise to do better. (I think I need to add that to my Earth Day Resolutions; I need to take proper care of my trees!) He also fusses about trees that are planted too deeply. When planting a tree you have to see the flare at the base of the trunk before it goes into the dirt. If you see straight trunk all the way into the ground you are seeing a tree that will not live out a full life span. The roots need to be able to take in oxygen and they can't do that if they are completely buried.
To wrap up, see Bag It, make your Earth Day Resolutions, and make sure you don't bury any trees you may plant too deeply.
Happy Earth Day!
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Happy Earth Day!
I love Earth Day, although today wasn't a big one as Earth Days have gone for our family. DH had to go to work so we couldn't really do anything special. I bought some more plants for the butterflies and took the kids on a bike ride so we were out enjoying this day on our planet. I've also decided on my Earth Day Resolution. I want to start composting. I saw some sleek composters on a gardener's supply website, along with little trash cans to use for vegetable waste in the kitchen, so I'm planning to order those shortly.
We should do really well with composting; unfortunately we generate a lot of waste. I'm trying to improve, really and truly, by shopping more carefully but it's hard. My biggest issue is buying just the right amount of fresh produce, then getting it home and getting it eaten before it goes bad. Rather my biggest issue is NOT buying the right amount, I over-buy, then it doesn't get eaten, and it rots. Very distressing. If we're composting at least that produce will be put to good use!
What are your Earth Day Resolutions? Rambling Family Manager wants to know! :)
We should do really well with composting; unfortunately we generate a lot of waste. I'm trying to improve, really and truly, by shopping more carefully but it's hard. My biggest issue is buying just the right amount of fresh produce, then getting it home and getting it eaten before it goes bad. Rather my biggest issue is NOT buying the right amount, I over-buy, then it doesn't get eaten, and it rots. Very distressing. If we're composting at least that produce will be put to good use!
What are your Earth Day Resolutions? Rambling Family Manager wants to know! :)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Earth Day
Happy Earth Day!
Do you celebrate the day or do you ignore it? I think Earth Day is a wonderful holiday and I'm making efforts to elevate it to the status of the 4th of July or at least Halloween around my house. Since holidays usually have special foods attached to them I've decided we will eat vegetarian for the day, to start with. (Well I try; The Youngest ate leftover chicken tenders earlier, but eating leftovers reduces waste so I guess that can fit the theme!) We also make Earth Day Resolutions, similar to New Year's Resolutions only green. A few years ago, before it really caught on, I made a resolution to use canvas bags at the grocery. I was the only one at the time- the store employees where I shop started calling me The Bag Lady. Now everyone does it; I started a fad! ;) (Yes, I know I didn't start it, but I jumped on the bandwagon a lot earlier than most.) I'm so glad it's hip now, no matter who got it started.
Last year, hmmm, I just remembered- my resolution was to take shorter showers. Major fail on that one, but it's hard. It's heat therapy for me and soothes the fibromyalgia. Guess I need to make two resolutions this year to make up for it! I'm not quite sure what I want to focus on for the upcoming year. I've been trying to eat local but it's challenging around here since this isn't an agricultural area. I buy organic whenever possible and I'm hoping to get some tomatoes from the bush I've planted in our little teeny herb garden. My weight loss has also helped the planet- who knew that could happen? I find I get cold easily now that I'm thinner so we're keeping the thermostat warmer. (I live in a hot climate so warmer for us uses less AC.) DH isn't always happy about that but when he's at work it's toasty in my house! We use fluorescent light bulbs in most of our light fixtures (except for the computer room where it makes the screens go buggy) but that was something DH handled.
OK, OK, I've got it; first resolution- I'm going to try to find more vegetarian meals that my family will enjoy. Oprah had the author of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" on her show today and he suggested eating vegetarian one day per week. Right now we're eating one meal per week (the Black Bean Cakes- I have to post that recipe now that I have permission!!) so I want to increase that over the upcoming year to at least a full day. He said his family has "Meatless Mondays" and that sounds like a really good idea to me.
Second resolution- prior to Earth Day 2010, get the new energy efficient windows we need for our house. We have the money set aside so now I have to do the leg work to find a contractor and actually have the work done. That's something that will really make a difference in our energy consumption since we have the WORST windows! The gaps are large enough that lizards get in on a regular basis- shudder. It's a one time thing that will make an ongoing difference so I think that's a great second resolution. (And I still need to try to take shorter showers; sigh.)
Do you celebrate the day or do you ignore it? I think Earth Day is a wonderful holiday and I'm making efforts to elevate it to the status of the 4th of July or at least Halloween around my house. Since holidays usually have special foods attached to them I've decided we will eat vegetarian for the day, to start with. (Well I try; The Youngest ate leftover chicken tenders earlier, but eating leftovers reduces waste so I guess that can fit the theme!) We also make Earth Day Resolutions, similar to New Year's Resolutions only green. A few years ago, before it really caught on, I made a resolution to use canvas bags at the grocery. I was the only one at the time- the store employees where I shop started calling me The Bag Lady. Now everyone does it; I started a fad! ;) (Yes, I know I didn't start it, but I jumped on the bandwagon a lot earlier than most.) I'm so glad it's hip now, no matter who got it started.
Last year, hmmm, I just remembered- my resolution was to take shorter showers. Major fail on that one, but it's hard. It's heat therapy for me and soothes the fibromyalgia. Guess I need to make two resolutions this year to make up for it! I'm not quite sure what I want to focus on for the upcoming year. I've been trying to eat local but it's challenging around here since this isn't an agricultural area. I buy organic whenever possible and I'm hoping to get some tomatoes from the bush I've planted in our little teeny herb garden. My weight loss has also helped the planet- who knew that could happen? I find I get cold easily now that I'm thinner so we're keeping the thermostat warmer. (I live in a hot climate so warmer for us uses less AC.) DH isn't always happy about that but when he's at work it's toasty in my house! We use fluorescent light bulbs in most of our light fixtures (except for the computer room where it makes the screens go buggy) but that was something DH handled.
OK, OK, I've got it; first resolution- I'm going to try to find more vegetarian meals that my family will enjoy. Oprah had the author of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" on her show today and he suggested eating vegetarian one day per week. Right now we're eating one meal per week (the Black Bean Cakes- I have to post that recipe now that I have permission!!) so I want to increase that over the upcoming year to at least a full day. He said his family has "Meatless Mondays" and that sounds like a really good idea to me.
Second resolution- prior to Earth Day 2010, get the new energy efficient windows we need for our house. We have the money set aside so now I have to do the leg work to find a contractor and actually have the work done. That's something that will really make a difference in our energy consumption since we have the WORST windows! The gaps are large enough that lizards get in on a regular basis- shudder. It's a one time thing that will make an ongoing difference so I think that's a great second resolution. (And I still need to try to take shorter showers; sigh.)
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