On Monday I had the honor of getting to speak at the local MOPS group about Going Green.  When I received an email asking if I’d be willing to be part of a panel of women talking about their efforts at bringing green living into their households, I was supremely flattered … and a bit nervous.  Why do they think that *I* know anything?  Don’t they realize that I’m librarian in nature:  sharing information that I don’t *necessarily* apply to my life?  Now I’ll be responsible for my words and actions:  well, crap.  But the idea of getting to hang out with the lovely ladies (and drop my children off in child care for a bit) won out, and I agreed to participate.

The first woman spoke on the benefits of purchasing organic cotton and the negatives of wearing non-organic cotton.  She had props.  And printed-off information.  And statistics.  What did I have?  A shoddy note-book, less than six hours of sleep, and my smart-ass wit:  a fairly typical day.    But it seemed to go well:  people were engaged, asking questions, not getting up to move to the craft table early or throwing jelly beans at each other – success!

Here’s a bit of what I shared.

In a theology class I read a book about consumerism.  One point talked about the industrial revolution and how that changed the role of mothers from being creators/producers to being “managers of consumption” — which I *hate* being, and which puts a whole lot of pressure on mothers.

Ways I’ve Tried to Go Green:

REDUCE what I bring into my home

• Toys, clothes – use or give away
• Heat – keep at 66 – use sweaters
• Library – get most materials (books, music, dvds), put holds online for easier pickup
• Meal plan – use what I have rather than buy more
• Trash/Recycling – links to my area garbage service, explains what can and can’t be recycled in the can or on the premises
• Baking Day – try to bake breakfast foods one morning, freeze – reduces oven time
• Car & Trips – only have one car, reduced trips into town, spend more family time together, spend more time in the neighborhood

REUSE what I already have

• Grocery sacks/bulk sacks – buying in bulk is GREAT – WinCo, Freddies, Bob’s Red Mill
• Meal plan – google items that are close to going bad to use them up
• Cleaning products – reuse containers, make my own cleaners out of stuff I already have
• Breast/menstrual pads
• Wash cloths – instead of paper towels
• Swaps w/friends – books, kids’ books, cookbooks, baby items, clothes, etc.

REPURPOSE what I have into what I need

• Spaghetti jars/yogurt tubs – hold bulk items, kids toys, craft items
• Veggies/chicken bones – turn into stock in the crockpot
• Community eating – either through a meal swap or a CSA

Going green, and life in general, is meant to be lived in community:  we can’t do this alone.

Make choices out of love, not out of fear.

Think of the larger pictures:  I may choose to reduce the animal products I eat because I don’t like the potential toxins, OR I may choose to reduce the animal products I eat because the industry puts animals and people into horrible conditions that are soul-sucking – I don’t want to support something so deameaning to all involved.

Give yourself grace.

Find life and joy.

Here are some other links that might be helpful:

Oregon Master Recycling

Little House in the Suburbs

Angry Chicken

Eat Wild

Oregon Farmer’s Markets

I hope it’s helpful, and I’d love to hear things you’ve found useful!

Random Remarks