Happy Green Year!

"We do not inhertit the planet from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~Anonymous

I was recently inspired by someone in Hollywood. Her name is Alicia Silverstone and she starred in "Clueless" in the 90's. She, although not limited in monetary resources, decided to make some changes to be more responsible to the environment. She now buys everything she can second hand as well as eats organic foods, among other things. I love it! She does it out of love for the Earth and to give her children a gift: a healthier environment.

So, I decided to list a few of the things our family has been doing to be more environmentally responsible, just in time for the New Year.

1. We meet our household's needs mostly second-hand.
- Thrift stores are amazing for clothing, decorative items and even gifts.
- Craig's List has blown us away as far as what you can get for your money. Ridiculous prices for gently used furniture and appliances. Heck, I even got my maternity clothes from there!

2. We buy a share from a local farm.
- Flavorful, organic and seasonal veggies for a fraction of what you would pay at the store.
- Supports local farms.
- Teaches our children the value of foods and how to eat in a healthy way.
- Keeps me on my toes in the kitchen and helps me learn how to cook all kinds of veggies.

3. We grow our own foods.
- It's been so fun for our family to grow, tend and eat from a garden.
- Great, timeless lessons for our sons and super, healthy food. You can taste the sunshine!

4. Barter or trade with neighbors and friends.
- We paid nothing for our "latest" (not new) vehicle because a friend needed ours and we
needed his. We just traded!

5. Obvious, ok, but RECYCLE!!
- So much more can be recycled than we know.

6. Buy organic.
- We consume so many toxins and pesticides than aren't found in or on organic foods.

7. Which leads me to my next one: cut down on the box, bag or can.
- I find it almost impossible to do away with certain prepackaged goods, but KNOWING what
goes into our meals at home gives me great peace of mind.
- Less packaging to end up in the landfill.
- Less chemicals to end up in our bodies and brains.
- Whole food cooking and eating is just good for our general health, helping us to fight off
diseases and turn back the clock.

8. Wear layers at home.
- We really don't need to overheat our homes if we layer even inside.
- Saves on energy and cuts down on those beloved bills.

9. Use what you have.
- Often I find what I need right at home if I look hard enough.
- Become need driven instead of want driven.

10. Donate what you aren't using.
- Your local Goodwill or ARC will thank you for helping their cause with your wonderful, gently
used items that no longer fit, are needed or go with your decor.

It really feels good to live this way. I know it's not for everyone, but it's amazing how much money we have saved and how good we feel about these changes. Next stop: COMPOSTING!! I'm just not there yet...

Happy Green Year!
What have you done to GO GREEN? I would love to know...