The Environmental Challenge

[zenithblue]

One of the things I've learned in the past few years is that it's easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed by all the practices and habits you'd have to change in order to live a more environmentally sustainable life. In order to combat this, last year I started a project: every two months, I'd focus on one little aspect of my life to change. At the end of two months, I'd have embraced the new habit, and I could move on to a new one. It's hardly a hard-liner approach, but it's been more successful for me.

The move sort of interrupted my progress, but I'm ready to get back to it. I've decided in January/February my goal is to really remember to take reusable bags when grocery shopping (Hodge and I were great about this in Portland but here we've just been too frazzled to remember so far here).

So here's why I'm posting: I thought I'd issue a similar challenge to all of you on my f-list. Is there some small detail in your life you could change? It may be a tiny change, but it may also open the way for larger alterations. Comment and tell me what habit you're going to make more sustainable in the coming months.

Comments

Eco Friend List

[hartofak.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

I was trying to think of some new green thing I could do and I realized using the reusable bags I have would be a start. I was pretty excited until we were checking out at Fred Meyer's tonight and once again the bags were still safely in the car.
So, that's my new green goal. Do whatever zenithblue is doing.

Re: Eco Friend List

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

I always do this. It's either nice and safe in the car or right by the door at home. I'm usually so frazzled and unhappy by the time I'm forced to go to the grocery store anyway it doesn't help.

So I set you up to comment freely. Congrats, you're legit. :)

Eco Friend List

[hartofak.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

By the way, what do you have to do to be on your friend list?

[johnnybrainwash.livejournal.com]

Doesn't really involve personal habits, but I'm going to start giving monthly donations to the Sea Shepherd Society with my next check. Because they kick ass.

Oh, and I plan to put some plastic over my windows this weekend, because right now I might as well just put my heaters outside.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

There was a write up on the Shepherds in the New Yorker a few months ago. It was interesting stuff. I thought of you.

Though I think you're more attracted to the mayhem than the whales, personally.

[johnnybrainwash.livejournal.com]

You understand.

[decemberthirty.livejournal.com]

This is a good idea. I sometimes catch myself thinking that because I already take reusable bags to the store and have switched out my incandescent bulbs that there are no more little changes I need to make, but this is totally untrue! I think the thing I should try to tackle now is my water use, so I will now officially resolve to take shorter showers. Thanks for the inspiration to do this.

[bedlover.livejournal.com]

we always unplug everything at night that has a clock or light on. i.e. vcr/dvd, stereo system, micro. etc.
it makes a significant difference in electric bill, too.
although not environmentally related (maybe in the long run) i always stretch my body every day and evening, even if only for a few minutes. keeps me feeling alive and keeps my joints and muscles happy. :)

[te-amo-azul.livejournal.com]

If I could sew, I'd do this:



But since I cannot, I'll try to avoid styrofoam wrapped meat for the pettums. Styrofoam hell is on the way home from work, and it will be raining through April, but I'm getting rain pants this week, and then the side trips to places where they'll put meat in my recycled plastic containers won't be so gawdawful.