So why do I try so hard to live green?
1. I care about children. I care about my own child and want to protect him from unnecessary chemicals, hormones, and other unsavory things that might influence his development. I also care about the current generation of children who depend on me to make choices that will allow them clean air to breathe, water to drink, and a planet capable of providing food for all of them.
2. I like saving money. Many of the eco-friendly choices we make are also budget friendly! I line-dry our laundry, keep the thermostat low, and take quick showers more because they save money than because they save resources. I am not bringing home a pay check, but by making some simple choices, I can help my husband's pay check go further.
3. It feels good. I admit it, I like to pat myself on the back. (Figuratively.) I don't get excited about making green choices, but when I do it, it's fun to know I am making a difference. Also, being eco-friendly grants me membership to the online community of people who have all kinds of awesome ideas of how to save resources. I like those people. :-)
I'm green where it makes sense. Living with near 90% humidity means no line drying here, everything would mildew and I'm allergic. But where the climate is dry enough I love the way line dried clothing smells.
ReplyDeleteSo many things touted as "green" are not really any better for the environment and cost more-- so I refuse to bother with those.
But putting an older item back to work so as to avoid the environmental impact of manufacturing a new one-- oh yes, it is cost effective and green in a very real sense. Like the $15 spent on an old microscope for home school-- that new cost several hundred dollars and the cost of manufacturing those lenses and the heavy frame of metal have already been paid by the environment--so by purchasing it and keeping it in use, I am being green because that is one more set of environmental costs that does not have to be repeated because I am using one that was already made!
Hubby does a lot like that, watching and waiting to buy a working version of what he needs that is used so that a new one does not have to be manufactured.
Green is good provided it is reasonable. You sound like a very reasonably green person!
Love the picture of the darling little one in the ivy.
Thank you for the thoughtful feedback. We do enjoy thrift stores for just that reason! I suppose "all things in moderation" also applies to green living, making reasonable choices instead of doing something just because it's trendy in the green community.
ReplyDelete