I am the Going Green Guru

{imagine Robert Downey Jr and an overly arrogant smirk on my face}

As part of weaning myself from Coke Zero, I also felt a the tiniest compulsion to be a better steward.  There is something about living abroad in a smaller world that challenges my usual way of thinking.  I posted last summer about our recent commitment to recycling and our newer venture into composting.  {I was still pretty bitter about having to compost…}  Well, we are still recycling, though substantially less plastic as I am not guzzling 6 litres of Coke Zero a week.  But, just like when we were staying in Banchory, our rubbish lorry only comes fortnightly now {read that- our trash truck comes every 2 weeks}.  So, we were compelled to compost again.  This time, though, I am really loving it!  The city council supplied this cool compost bin, and I keep it under my sink.  You put anything that’s food in it {uneaten food on plates, trimmings, peelings, meat, bones, and even tea bags!}

Compost bin

Under the sink, with a lock on the handle.

So, I take the compost out to a special rubbish bin we have and a different rubbish lorry picks it up, also on a fortnightly basis.  And, due to its design, I only have to empty the green bin once it’s full {versus every day}.  I have been shocked how much less rubbish we collect, and I feel like I’m being a better steward.

…Which brings me to my next point.  There’s something about scraping food off your plates and intentionally collecting it in a special box under your sink that breaks you down.   All of a sudden, you are open to considering a whole new world of going green.

Shocking what's recyclable!

Recycle bags.

So, what started as a measure to get around an overflowing trash can morphed into an introspective questioning of self.  I realized that I wanted to be a better steward…not just of my own body, but also of God’s creation.  I find myself all of a sudden caring about…stuff and what’s in it and where it’s going.  I recycle.  I compost.  Sometimes, I even buy stuff that’s organic…I’m practically a Going Green Guru, right?  Well, obviously not, but I am experimenting with a few things and am finding going green is not as daunting as I originally suspected.

Easy ways to go green

• Shut off lights when not in use.
• If you’re in the UK, turn off the switches themselves, too, when not in use.
• Recycle.
• Reuse printed paper for crafts/lists.  Josh prints out a ton of papers for me to edit and I keep them (and any google maps, etc) for the kids to color on or for me to make grocery lists on.
• Compost- call 0845 608 0919 for a green box
• Use a “green” power strip- you can set a master socket that automatically turns off all the other sockets (TV, DVD player, Play Station or Computer, scanner, printer, etc.)
• Walk when you can.
• Turn off fans/heaters when not in use
• Use windows well- open the windows for ventilation in the summer, and open the blinds for extra heat in the winter.  Instead of turning on the heat, layer when cold.  We sleep the kids in 2 sets of pajamas and under blankets in the winter because we can’t afford to keep the heat on all day and night.  I also use 2-piece pj’s as long johns for them.
• Line dry clothes when possible.

Thanks to Shadley for these extra tips left in the comments!

• Buy Local (saves transportation fuel and emissions)
• Eat fresh foods (Farmer’s Market)
• Eat vegetarian a couple times a week (livestock are heavy on the carbon footprint)
• Cloth diaper, even part-time!
• Stop buying napkins and paper towels and use cloth, or by 100% recycled paper items

A few more from Sarah:

• I’d say buy meat/eggs direct from farmers. We’ve get our meat from a farmer here in Iowa that slaughters in field and then has them sent to the abattoir for processing. I love meat and would have a hard time going full vegetarian {not to mention Jonathan wouldn’t last two days without it!}. But, I make a strong effort to eat humanely raised/humanely killed animals.

Green Power Strip Give-Away!!!

The folks at Ergonomics Made Easy are super-generous and are offering one of my readers a green power strip!  {It is for US plugs, but if you’re a UK friend you could give it away or save it for when you return!  Ergonomics Made Easy will mail it to a US address.}

This new product “goes green” by using a master socket that controls the other outlets on the The Energy Saver Green Power Strip. Meaning when the device such as a TV is plugged into the master socket is turned on, the other sockets with your cable box, DVD player, and sound system will then be powered on. The reverse happens when you power down your TV turning off the power to the other sockets. This saves you on electricity and therefore money.

Green Power Strip

To enter- you have until Sunday night!

1. Leave a comment= 1 entry!
2. FB/Tweet about the give-away, linking to this post=2 entries!!
3. Blog it, linking to the green power strip AND this post in your post=3 entries!!!

Do you have any suggestions for easing into greener, more organic living???  I’d love to hear them!

For more TILT, check out Diaper Diaries.