Spring Forward: The Next Steps in My Green Living Journey
Newton, MA Farmers' Market
One of the things I’ve discovered on my green living journey is that each season presents unique challenges to and opportunities for making sustainable choices. Summer is time for enjoying local food. Winter a time for tracking energy bills.
Of course, many of my green practices do not fluctuate: remembering reusable bags is something I try to do all year. But many of my practices do shift with the seasons, such as line drying my clothes (spring-fall) and using fans as much as possible to cool my house (summer). Over time, I’ve learned that these shifts present opportunities to reassess my green goals and to plot the next steps in my green journey.
Each new season I take a moment to consider those areas of my life that I have not yet “greenified” and ask myself whether the time is right take on new goals, or re-dedicate myself to earlier commitments. What opportunities does this season offer to live more sustainably? And what can I do to seize the moment?
Here’s how I’m answering these questions this spring:
- I’ve become vigilant about protecting my family from chemicals in food and consumer products– everyone, that is, except my dog (Sorry Butter! If you only knew…). Every month, from early spring through late fall, I treat Butter with the same chemical flea and tick treatments that I always have. But lately it’s gotten harder to do this in good conscience (click here to learn more). Now that I’ve kicked the chemicals from most other areas of our lives, it’s time to protect my pup. While I’m at it, I’ll investigate alternatives to “conventional” dog food too.
- OK, I have to confess there is one other area of my life where I continue to rely on chemicals. I kill the mice that find their way into my home every fall and winter. I hire a pest company (gasp!) to lay pet and kid-proof bait boxes with poison. When the mice eat the poison they get thirsty and exit the house in search of water. Sometime after that they bleed to death internally. Not very humane, I know–not to mention that it introduces poison into the food chain (was anyone else horrified to read about owls dying from eating poisoned rats?). I will never tolerate mice living in my house–they are too much of a health and safety hazard (pdf)–but there’s got to be a better way to “treat” for them. I’ve taken some preventative measures already (e.g., pest screen) but I’m going to find out if there are others. And I’m going to test out more ecologically-sound methods of eliminating mice that may continue to get in (total prevention with a field stone foundation may prove impossible). I’ve got about 6-8 months before they again seek refuge in my home…
- Last but not least, I’m going on a book buying hiatus. For a while last year I had gotten into a good groove of visiting the library for kids’ books. But I never stopped buying my own books and so, slowly, I went back to buying books for my kids too. I would be in the bookstore buying a book for myself and would pick up 1 or 2 or 3 books for my kids. And soon our bookshelves were overflowing with Rainbow Fairy and Rangers Apprentice books that are simply NOT worth owning. So from now on there’s a book rule. Unless it’s a classic or spectacular work, we’ll get it at the library, through a swap, or from a second hand bookshop.
In addition to pursuing these green goals, I’ll also be using Practically Green, looking out for other seasonal opportunities to spring forward in my green journey. If you aren’t yet a member, I urge you to join: it’s free, it’s fun, and it allows you to keep up with your friends’ green journeys.
In the meantime… I invite your thoughts and comments on my next steps: Do you have any mice prevention tips for homes that can’t be completely sealed? Have you found a natural flea & tick care treatment that really works?
I also invite you to share your next steps in your green journey. How will you spring forward this season?
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Love your newsletter. We used an effective natural herbicide from a green company in Orange, VA, near Charlottesville, that might also offer a natural flea and tick product. Can’t remember the name of the company. ML
Comment by May Lynn — April 20, 2011 @ 8:33 pm