Resolution #1...Go Green(ish)
Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 12:02AM Mrs. G. Mrs. G. adores fresh starts and new beginnings. She likes the excitement of the first day of school and the tender purple crocuses announcing the prelude to spring. But nothing, nothing compares to the thrill and promise of a brand new year.
Around this time each year, once the glittered dust of Christmas finally settles, Mrs. G. starts planning the new and improved version of Mrs. G. The one who flosses and moisturizes every day. The one who will finally read The Brothers Karamazov and jog her way to a firmer ass. Romantic? Yes. Unrealistic? Perhaps. But Mrs. G. is a devout student of the you-never-know-so-give-it-a-shot school of reasoning. One of these years, she's going to surprise herself and evolve into a woman so spectacular, so kick-assable that she will be able take a couple of years off from self improvement and recline on her laurels. Well, damn it all, people, in the spirit of the new year and blue sky optimism, Mrs. G. is just going to say it: reader, this is that year!
Mrs. G's rose colored glasses
Mrs. G's New Year's Resolution #1 is to try and tread a little lighter on the earth. Yes, Mrs. G. has placed those energy efficient light bulbs in all of Derfwad Manor's sockets and has made peace with the inferior, sucky light they throw off. She drives a compact car and in deference to her not-so-secret boyfriend, Jimmy Carter, keeps her thermostat at a chilly 63 degrees. But after watching Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, Mrs. G. had to face the fact that when it came to leaving a lighter carbon footprint, she was cutting major corners in an attempt to prevent her eco-friendly contributions from being too, er, inconvenient. Mrs. G. has been known to chuck an empty glass mayonnaise jar into the trash simply because the recycling bin was full, and she was too lazy to walk outside and empty it. In October, she purchased ten canvas grocery bags to eliminate the need for paper or plastic, and she has used them exactly once because each time she goes grocery shopping, she forgets to bring them into the store. By the time she is at the checkout stand and realizes her error, she thinks to hell with it, because she is too lazy to walk out to her car and get them. Next time, she thinks to herself, next time. It's always next time. Are you noticing the running theme here? Lazy. Ass. This year, Mrs. G. is going to consciously think of concrete ways to cut waste and reduce excess and then do them.
So, she has been reading this book, and
she will follow the recipes for household cleaners in this book and eliminate the chemical laden ones that are potentially toxic to her family and the local water runoff. This will be a toughie, because Mrs. G. has had a long standing love affair with the Scrubbing Bubbles.
She will try to cut down on excessive packaging and buy more in bulk.
As much as possible, Mrs. G. will buy local produce, meat and dairy. In the spring, she will subscribe to a family share of a CSA (community supported agriculture).
she will drive less and walk more.2008 is the year Mrs. G. will quit bitching about how other people are destroying the planet and take a good, hard look in her own backyard....where, come spring, there will be fresh herbs, baby lettuce and big fat tomatoes growing.
And when she is feeling selfish and lazy, Mrs. G. will think of this big guy and how she can assist his safe passage.
Blogging
Reader Comments (46)
You go, Mrs. G!
I, too, am guilty of the "lazy recycling habits". If I see that the bin is full, I throw it in the trash.
*blush*
I have made a "Green" tote for shopping but alas, the hubbie does all the shopping and of course, he is just a bit too comfortable with his manhood for that accessory in public.
How 'bout always keeping it rolled up, in your purse?
As far as purchasing "handmade", hmmmmm...seems like.....I know someone.....that might..
;)
And I am afraid my ecstasy runs to deep and passionate to break up with Mr. Clean. I don't know if I could handle the withdrawal.
HAPPY WINTER, Mrs. G!!
Yay! Mrs. G! Hmmm...I recycle, but I've been too lazy to compost...and I think I should look at those non-toxic cleaning recipes too, if only for the sake of Bad and his penchant for putting all manner of inappropriate matter in his mouth.
You can do it! You go, girl!
Good luck with your Resolutin #1, Mrs. G. You are already a pretty kickass woman. You'll just be even more kickasser. I think I'm going to check out those books (not The Brothers Karamazov) you mentioned.
Brava! I am finally getting green enough that I remember to use my cleaned out mayonaise jars and yogurt tubs to store the bulk items, and to keep my few plastic grocery and produce bags for storing my CSA items in the fridge, AND for bringing with me (just the washed out produce ones) to the co-op to fill with the bulk items. But . . . I do loathe washing out plastic bags.
I do just stick with the Seventh Generation cleaning stuff, though...
Inspire me! As for resolutions I usually make them just to break them.
We're pretty green, some of our friends would say we are just Way Too Berkeley about it. We definately don't use chemicals in the house or yard. We compost, grow veggies, etc.
There is that little issue of driving back and forth between the Bay and Mts. tho - even in a car with good gas milage.
Darla
Okay. I will remember to bring my canvas bags to the store if you will!
BK's book insprired me and I am going to be as much of a locavore this year as possible (easier done in South Texas than Oregon, I guess).
I love the fresh start of a new year too!
Hey, this is a club that I belong to as well. Glad to have you joining, Mrs. G! ;)
http://www.jodianderson.com" REL="nofollow">jodianderson.com
All the cool kids are doing it.
I buy the bulk foods because they're cheaper, but I doubt I'm saving on packaging. The stores don't let you bring in the containers you'd be storing, say, the flour or the oatmeal in; so you have to use a plastic bag to transport it home anyway. And those darn reusable shopping bags! They are always in the car or in the house or filled with library books or holding wet swim clothes. They're almost too useful for their own good and they never, ever hold any groceries.
Our CSA fills up by mid-February - so you might want to get on that one sooner. And you'd better like greens, lots of greens.
I'll give up anything, as long as I get to keep my Magic Eraser. Sorry.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Instead of worrying about what other people are not doing, best to look right in our own backyards.
I, too, am better than most. But I've also decided "better than most" isn't good enough for my daughter's future.
Once you start getting away from the cleaning chemicals, you won't be able to go back. The smell,if nothing else, will bowl you over.
You go, girl. I'm all about making resolutions that just might not happen, what the hell, it's the thought that counts.
New calendars, new planners, new notebooks? Hmmmmm, I love the potential all the blank little pages bring.
I'm so happy you're planning on joining a CSA, it warms my heart that the news is spreading about this 'best kept secret'. Hope you love it as much as we love new members!
We should start doing some sort of weekly post for people to share what GREEN thing they did that week, kind of a way for us to help each other stick-to-it. Another resolution that might fade away, but at least we're thinking, right?
Have a Wonderful New Year.
I, too, will try to improve my habits. I started greening a few years ago and unfortunately still have a way to go. I have the composting, bulk buying, green bagging, lighting, gardening, and heating and cooling thing down. We still have yet to find a consistent and permanent solution to recycling glass and plastic (card board and paper are done) since we have to haul the recyclables 70 miles to recycle. You are correct. Making it a priority is the key.
That's my resolution this year, too. Much better than "losing weight" or any of the other things people say. The funny thing is...I DON'T make resolutions, but this one...just feels right!
Good luck!
From your lips to all God's children's ears. We should join you in this.
You're a good woman. Please keep us posted.
I am with Mrs G......we should have a going greener and greener support group!
I thought I was alone, closing my eyes on Dec. 25th and dreaming about the new year - love thinking about the possibilities.
(We are going out of town the first week of January, to visit my in-laws. It will be a good time, I'm sure, but I'm obsessed with my plans.)
Anyway, I too have those bags, conveniently in my car, but I tend to leave them in the car too.
I am going to work on my lazy ass ways too.
Good for you! Buy local! Atta way! And we've belonged to a CSA and LOVED it. It was cheaper than the farmers market and worth every penny. Brought wonderful benefits too.
I'm also trying to buy more handmade this year. All your resolutions just make me more...well...RESOLVED;)
Those are great resolutions!!! I am working toward the same goals and hopefully I can do it.
Cheers!
Andrea
Those are great resolutions!!! I am working toward the same goals and hopefully I can do it.
Cheers!
Andrea
Go Mrs. G!!! I'll jump on the bandwagon too. I do a few green things, but will be more dilligent in my efforts in 2008. I'll actually use the cloth bags I have, recycle more glass and plastic, and change out the rest of our bulbs to CFL.
Thanks for the gentle reminder. :)
Okay, okay. If you're going to have a shot at it, then I can, too. Although, the scrubbing bubbles are actually some of my secret-boyfriends. I don't know if I will get the same satisfaction from baking soda, also known as the nerdy boyfriend from high school, the one who actually amounts to something and does something good for the world. I'm still wild-eyed for the sexy scrubbing guys and the masculine way that they drag scum right down the side of the tub.
(By the way, LOVE the new do!)
Yay for you! I'm also a HUGE fan of New Year, although I'm not that good at resolutions. Maybe I'll give it a whirl this time around.
We've been getting better about going green. Himself takes the train to work, instead of driving (saves us a good 300 dollars every month on gas alone!). Now that composting is available around here, I've been utilizing that instead of throwing all those science experiments from the fridge into the garbage.
I'm thinking a nice garden might be in order this year as well.
Oh, now look what you've done...!
That's so admirable. You're setting a good example, one that I should certainly follow. I'm afraid "should" is the key word...
Please let us know if you like any of the homemade cleaning products. My husband is a neat freak and cleans A LOT and I worry about the toxic chemicals.
P.S. You're not lazy, it's just obvious that a superior, creative mind like yours is too busy with other things to be bothered with trivial stuff like cleaning.
I've tagged you with a meme because you ARE so kick-assable!
This inspires me to write about Fast Food Nation - the movie profoundly impacted me, much more so than the book (which did,too). Anyway, just so you know: this sort of change is possible! I cant' remember what year - maybe four or five ago -- that I pledged to just start recycling! I had been too lazy to do this small thing. But I actually hadn't fully appreciated the need for conservation, all sort, until that moment. The change was made here in Minnesota! Good luck!!
Yay Mrs. G! I'm with you, sweetheart.
Awesome! I work for an environmental engineering firm and even though we try so very hard - you wouldn't believe the waste we have in our very own office. Just keep reminding yourself EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! Truly.
Your list is very ambitious and very inspiring. Good luck!
Ah we are all in the same boat, I just bought some reusable grocery bags and am having a hard time remembering to take them in the store. I feel really good that I bought them though! By the way, my niece and I had our first Johnny Depp-a-thon today, glorious! I still havent seen all of his work but I did think of you as we sat down to begin. Sorry you couldn't be here:>)
"One of these years, she's going to surprise herself and evolve into a woman so spectacular, so kick-assable that she will be able take a couple of years off from self improvement and recline on her laurels."
Woman, you are already spectacular.
But! I do love the idea of an eco-spectacular Mrs. G., so good luck with the going green stuff. We already do most of those things and it's really not that hard, trust me.
way to go, Mrs G! I do use canvas bags and reuse handled brown paper ones. We make hand crafted pottery and have chickens and a garden. We use compact fluorescents and our county has a recycling center (so we don't have to sort anything but paper and cardboard. I'm good about the newspaper but the cardboard.....
Happy New Year all
You are a good potential environmentalist greenish person Mrs G! Perhaps I could start such a plan AFTER I have used up all the disposable plates and cutlery at my NYE bash this year... oops.
i like your resolutions...
i'll be too busy losing ten pounds by feb. 29 to go green.
maybe march 1 i will??
Good for you, inspiring hundreds of blogospherites!
As Oprah said Maya Angelou said, "When you know better, you do better." We're all learnin'. Like my dear husband when I asked what he was doing with the plastic bags he surrounds the paper compost bags with: "throwing them in the trash." Good lord.
Seriously, though--sixty-three degrees? I've been thinking about that all day! BRRRRRR! I don't think I can do that one.
Just today, I looked into a CSA share for the spring and summer and HOLY HELL it was expensive. I'm also unsure I could manage a sudden influx of turnips into my life. I will likey spend the entire week fretting about the pros/cons of CSA shares.
Alright Mrs. G., I know I tell you how much YOU ROCK, but now you're a GREEN ROCK!! Good luck with this, and keep us posted on how it is working for ya!! ;)
Mrs. G - I love your blog! You are far from being fully Lazy - the blog is something to brag about!
I just want to chime in on my new-found green-ness. I have given up animal products and I hear that it is the single biggest contribution to save the environment that I can make. I don't want to sound preachy (eek) - but it's worth doing some research!
You've got a new do, you're ass kicking and kickass, you're honest and you've started your quest for greenish. You are ready to ring it in!
I, myself, also leave those canvas bags in the car almost EVERY time. And I was feeling so proud...
Hey there Mrs. G...you are inspiring all of us to do better! I'm also doing what I can...here in Japan, some of the stores are actually helping us by giving a small discount if you bring your own bags...one store even goes so far as to charge for shopping bags!! I have so many of my own canvas bags, I have a hard time choosing which one to use!!!
More please on the cleaning products!! As I can't really read the Japanese writing, I have no clue, except by smelling, what I am using!!
Grungy showers and smudgy windows are waiting....
Excellent - so glad you're not only going greener, but sharing it and inspiring others too. I have my areas that need work, too, but I've always got washed plastic bags drying on my windowsill for all to see.
Honestly, I cringe when I watch people throw recycleables into the trash... I mean, out of all the changes, that one is so easy to make! It really flakes me out.
But then, as I said, I have my own areas that need work, before my arm gets too sore from patting myself on the back...
You go! Every little bit helps, and that photo of the polar bear helps us remember.
Congrats Mrs. G! A great resolution that gets easier with time. If you're not so much in the mood to make your own 'greener' cleaning products check out Method products (available at Target- NOT local) or, as a good friend and new blogger posts on her blog (see the SHSNE blogroll) 7th Generation coupons are available online.
Hooray for you!
Belated Merry Christmas and a premature Happy New Year :-)
Yay Mrs. G! I'm a big one for greening - it's a long-standing issue for us and for years I managed to feel quite good about my footprint. I took public transport to school and work for 26 years.
Alas, moving to NZ has us in the car far more, and we've got to do something about it. There's a project in the offing, though, involving death-defying traffic avoidance stunts.
My two biggest tips are home-composting, and only using the tumble-drier when it is absolutely necessary.
i have the cleaning products bit down pat. i can never, ever remember to buy them at the store, so i have had to learn about how vineger and baking soda can clean...um...anything.