From Submissive Journal Prompts:
Do you practice green living? What recycling do you do? Any tips you’d like to pass on?
I’ve been really thinking lately of how I can make a smaller impact in the earth. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to work out how to live better. I’ve asked Master if he’s okay with beginning to recycle. I feel it will be a better step to make my service mean even more, not just to my Master, but with the world.
I never grew up in a house that cared about any recycling other than pop bottles because of the cash refund on the bottles. We had a lot of trash every single week. Now I have about 3 bags a week for the 2 of us. To me that is 2 too many. I’d like to cut it down to 1 bag a week, which means a lot of recycling. Hopefully I can get a list of what items the city picks up and what I can drop off at recycling centers around the area.
I’m working on getting this all organized to start next month.
For cleaning I have started buying the green ‘natural’ cleaning products. I know I could go even more green and use the old fashioned cleaners of bleach, vinegar, baking soda and so forth. I don’t clean as often as I could, but when I do I feel that even the smaller changes I can make will make a difference. I started making my own knitted dishcloths which I really like. I’m thinking they will be Christmas presents next year if I get better at my knitting.
Since I live in Iowa, there is 10% ethanol in the unleaded gasoline and it’s usually 10 cents cheaper. I’ve always purchased it. Just that slight change makes me feel good. At work I recycle my paper and toner when I can.
Anyone else have any small changes they have done or plan to do to make living on this earth a bit greener?
–luna
Theresa says:
I’ve found that some of the “green” chemicals require you use more thus you spend more. Some aren’t as strong or as effective. I stick with the regular stuff. The Palmolive “eco” stuff is junk. Don’t bother with it for the dishwasher. It doesn’t rinse off cleanly.
I use some of the newspaper to line the bottom of my catpan. I don’t use paper towels, instead I have rags to do the bathrooms and such. I just wash them with the regular towels, and have them marked with stitching in the corners.
We use the milk gallon bottles for salt for the drive way and for bird seed or grass seed. I store my wet sponges in bottoms that I cut off and my toothbrushes that I use for cleaning corners and such.
I use old scented candles with the wicks too short to light and put them in my tart warmer. I figure the wax still smells good, may as well use it.
I take old clothes and make hair scrunchies for my daughter and I.
I try to find creative new uses for the stuff thats here. Oh and always get paperbags at the grocery store.
Btw, whats with the new WP Update? You know how WP illiterate I am.
luna says:
Theresa,
You don’t have to update, but there there are a lot of changes to the administration and it looks very different. If you are comfortable with what it does now, then stick with it.
Sexorcism says:
I try to choose the greenest option at any given time. Rechargeable toys are one of my favorite green choices. I also choose natural, organic lube. I make my coffee in a travel press that doesn’t require filters. I bring my own thermal cup to the cafe instead of using a paper cup every time that I visit. I’ve limited the number of pairs of pants, shirts, etc. that I own. I give things away when I am finished with them but they could still serve someone else. When shopping I consider these criteria: What purpose will this item serve? Is it organic? Will it last? Is it fair trade?