Living Green Anyone?

[PEACE FROG]

I am very interested in sustainable living, permaculture, alternative eco- friendly lifestyles. Is there any of you with the same interests? Solar, Straw bale homes, biodiesel, anything green, what do you do? What are you into? Please share, I'm sure it would be facinating. ;) :cool:

[***peace_and_love***]

:cool: my name is serena, and i like sustanable living! for a couple of years now, i have lived an earth friendly lifestyle! tell me about something imperticular you are interested in! ill tell u one thing, my favorite peaceful thing to do is tree-sitt! awsome experience!
you got one life to live
live it up!

[zvezdy]

I live relatively earth-friendly. Most of the people here in Lake Victoria ride their bikes, or walk to planes unless they're going into town, which isn't that far anyway. Public transportation is pretty much the ONLY transportation, so the city isn't polluted. Personally, I ride a bike where ever I go. People can't afford to grow non-reusable plants (ie Broccoli, Cauliflower, carrots), so I eat a fruitarian diet. And, there really aren't any chemicals used around here--except by the government (pesticides...read an article about Kenya, we have a big mosquito problem, if you haven't heard), but they don't harm the crops. That's up to the bad water :)! Plus, this village is an African Commune in itself, so yay! Earth Friendly, and peaceful. Good Loving you guys.

[perseidchild]

I love the fact that with green-living, every little thing you do helps. And that you can continually evolve to become more and more earth friendly.

-we grow lots of our own food during the warmer months
-we compost year round
-i don't own a car or drive: its always walking, biking, taking the bus, or carpooling
-i don't eat meat
-i consume a lot less than the average amerikan (this is a really important one- i think sometimes people even tend to get hooked on buying lots of earth friendly products, when i think our goal should be to consume less overall)
-purchase clothes at thrift stores or get them otherwise secondhand
-recycle
-solar panels heat a portion of our water
-portion of energy for the house comes from wind-energy
-permaculture

i know there's lots more, but this is at least a start of some of the things we do.

[Chixor]

I'm also really interested in earth-friendly living.

I'm vegan [except for occasional cheeze :(].
We don't use toxic housecleaners.
We compost, and grow some of our own food, and buy from the farmer's market instead of the grocery store.
I walk frequently instead of using a car.
I don't wear anything made from leather etc...
I compost and recycle...

We use hydroelectricity in my community. :/
I'd like to know more about other things I can do...

[ladywithafan]

I try to live a sustainable lifestyle:

I ride my bike or walk when I can
I buy used clothes before I go to the store, or sew my own. If I can't find it then I look for free trade clothes
I use cruelty free soaps and makeup
I used to recycle, but the town I am living at automatically recycles the garbage that you throw out- it was really weird throwing out plastics and cans. But they actually recycle more things than what you can when you go to the recycling center. More towns need to look at this option.
I buy clothes that don't come from an animal
I buy my food from the farmer's market/natural foods store before I go to the regular grocer's
I can my own food when the food is in season, and I also grow my own food when possible (the last town I lived in had a community garden, so you could plant the veggies that you wanted, and everyone would contribute to keeping it nice)

I don't own a house yet, but I have a list of eco-friendly things i would like to do with it i.e.-solar power, rain water system, compost pile and root cellars to name a few. My bf and I are waiting until I am done with nursing school and then look at where we would like to live and where we would like to build a house :) If you would like to learn of other ways to help out with the earth, Mother Earth News is a great magazine to read. It has a lot of ideas that you can use to help out with the environment. Peace :)

[2veggiebabes]

My family and I
-Both my husban and I drive VW Jettas ran on Biodiesel
-Are vegetarians
-Recycle everything we can and compost the rest
-clothing swap with other moms for our children
-When we buy new clothing try to support stay at home Mamas and purchase or barter for items needed.
-crudity free pet food
-Our dream is to build a Straw bale home in the next few years!

[xcx]

cool thread!
we walk and ride our bikes just about everywhere, recycle, vegetarian (nearly vegan), we get our clothes from goodwill, use only products that are not tested on animals....

[theREALsun]

I am very interested in living a green lifestyle
I am not quite there, does anyone have any advice for moving it along?
I make or buy all of my clothes at second hand or fairtrade markets
I don't eat meat unless it is from a family farm, where I know how the animals were raised.
I use non-toxic cleaning products, take public transportation to and from work and school
I am trying
I will admit I am intimidated by the idea, yet enthralled
Anyone have any suggestions?

[xcx]

theREALsun,
its great that you are living as green as you can!
i'm not giving you shit for eating meat, but you say that you eat meat that has been raised on family farms so that you know how they were raised, which is good for your health, but you know, these animals are still killed, which is not good for THEIR lives!
i don't think that a chicken who lives on a sweet family farm dies any happier than a factory farmed chicken.
just something to think about.
cheers, xcx

[theREALsun]

its okay
you can give me shit for eating meat
i don't mind
i honestly don't even eat it very often
but i can't say that i don't at all.

without meat in your diet, what are the best ways to obtain protein?

[zvezdy]

I'm not going to give you any shit for being a meat-eater, but I will say this....the protein issue is the lamest excuse for being an omnivore. You can obtain natural, healthier protein through eating raw soybeans (edemame), and by snacking on raw sunflower seeds, not to mention the thousands of supplements available in every store you go into. And really, not even half the population really gives a shit about their dietary needs until the meat-protein issue comes up.

[xcx]

i LOVE peanut butter, and its a good source of protein, too.

[theREALsun]

I'm not going to give you any shit for being a meat-eater, but I will say this....the protein issue is the lamest excuse for being an omnivore. You can obtain natural, healthier protein through eating raw soybeans (edemame), and by snacking on raw sunflower seeds, not to mention the thousands of supplements available in every store you go into. And really, not even half the population really gives a shit about their dietary needs until the meat-protein issue comes up.

He he he
i love how twice people are like *don't wanna give you shit*
yet it would appear that you are dying to :D
like i said before, no big deal
you can't offend me
just for the record
i didn't say that protein was my excuse
and i guess you inadvertantly answered my question
which was HOW to obtain protein.....
so thank you for the info.
and i do give a shit about my dietary needs
if i don't balance my protein and sugars
my blood sugar gets too low....... :(
and then bad stuff happens

thanks for the advice about soy and such
i am slowly learning
it takes time though, ya know?
and its nice actually to get some perspectives of those who do practice such a green lifestyle
Happy Day, Everyone!

[BandAide]

This post is really irritating to me.

theREALsun, I commend you for doing the best that you can in order to make a difference.

As far as meat is concerned, I suggest that you, and all the people who felt it necessary to comment on your diet read this article. Perhaps it will help to clarify this issue for all!

http://www.consciouschoice.com/issues/cc1511/vegvsmeat1511.html

I find it amusing that anyone should begin a statement with, "I'm not going to give you shit," and then proceed to poop all over you. Amusing, bewildering, condescending, hypocritical, confusing, confounding, vegocentric and pompous... oh, I could go on and on for hours.

[perseidchild]

perhaps i could help a little...

theREALsun said:
i honestly don't even eat it very often
but i can't say that i don't at all.

without meat in your diet, what are the best ways to obtain protein?
thats excellent that you don't eat that much of it- i think that every little bit you decide to pass on makes a huge difference...imagine if everyone in Amerika decided to not eat meat for one day of the week! such changes:)

there are lots of great vegetarian and vegan sources of protein. things like:
-beans: regular ol' cooked beans, hummus, etc.
-nuts and seeds: raw nuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds etc.
-tofu/meat analogues
-soy or rice dairy alternatives
-even vegetables have some

if you do an internet search there are lots of websites that give more specific examples and have recipes and everything. there are plenty of resources out there that would do a better job than i have. also, check at your local library- there's lots of great books out there on "how to" as well as recipes.

i'm pretty sure it is quite difficult to not get enough protein unless you are either not eating enough calories or you aren't eating enough nutrient-rich foods (in other words, if you eat too much junk food- which you can do on any kind of diet).

hope this helps a tiny bit:)
have a great day!

okay, so lets talk about some of the other things we do...

2veggiebabes: i'm interested in hearing more about your biodiesel vehicle!

miscellaneous:
*green cleaning- baking soda or vinegar are a lot easier on the environment than harsh chemicals

*green living resources-
http://pathtofreedom.com/
anyone else have any great websites?

anyone make their own natural care products- like soap, shampoo, moisturizer, conditioner, etc.? please share any ideas / recipes.

okay, thats all for now.
peace.

[LIBRA]

I agree with your outlook I too live in the country in the middle of no where I love it though, not to many place I can walk to though, and I am surrounded by local farmers who are good people, dont abuse there animals (some may ya never really know) I dont know all of them but most. there is a local butcher who on an occasion I will buy meat from, and I feel better about that then grocery store processed where the cows never even see sun light meat!! I grow my own veggies can them and freeze them for winter what I dont grow I buy from a little local produce stand in the summer and stock for winter. make my own blankets and heat with a corn stove which I love, you can burn wood pelletts in it or coal I cant remember which but I prefer corn of course! at night in the winter I rarely have lights on, oil lamps and candles Its also very cozy!! so anyway I try to live as "green as I can" there are other things too I am adiicted to lip balm so I make my own. use my own bags at the markets, a very rugged hemp sack! most anything else boughten I try to buy from someone who appreciates its worth not walmart!!!!

[PEACE FROG]

Libra I'd love to hear more about your corn stove. I havent heard of that. :) Have you guys seen the movie Super Size Me, or how about a visit to the Peta website( where they talk about factory farming ) :eek: YIKES :eek: good encouragement for anyone struggling with a vegan diet. Know what I smoked cigarettes for a number of years and no one said a word, started eating a healthy vegan diet they were outraged. Go Figure! :rolleyes:

[ladywithafan]

Yeah, I just fell of the wagon called vegetarianism this last Thanksgiving. I was vegetarian for 3 years :o I still make a lot of things that I ate that was veggie i.e.- tofu, tempeh, hummus, falafel... But now I add a little bit of meat in my diet as well. And I hate to admit it,but I love it :) I agree with the people that say if you are going to go eat meat, go to some old farmer that isn't going to pump antibiotics and god knows what else in their animal. You are also actually helping them make a living, as opposed to helping the agribusinesses when you go to the grocery store. And when you eat "organic" meat, it tastes so much cleaner. I don't know how else to describe it. But, I don't eat at fast food chains, and I did watch super size me. That movie was insane! And the sad thing is is that people go to those places on a regular basis.

And perseidchild- I make a scrub for my face with oatmeal, yogurt, and crushed walnut shells (I think those are the ingredients! I don't make it often, and I always have to look @ the recipe). And I make simple bath salts with rock salt and then you put the essential oil of your choice- lavendar, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary. You can either use it for a bath, or you can use the strong oils (eucalyptus, peppermint) for a foot bath. They feel so good when you had a long day at work and you want to relax. I also make vinegar rinses (for when I want to clarify my hair), and I make soaks for my nails. Peroxide is really good to clean your nails. I will look for my scrapbook for more recipes!

[LIBRA]

my corn stove is really a wood pellet stove but it can burn corn, like farm corn some older stoves cant but the newer ones do ya just have to ask before you buy it , its a really great heat and I buy the corn in bulk from a local agriculture store ( feed store). thats about all I dont know the make of the stove but hope that helps.


D :)

[treehugger]

I would LOVE to start living more green. Around here most power plants run on natural gas. So..not only do you end up using up limited resources for heating fuel, but your electricity is also using it up!

Is the idea that follows, feasible in terms of laws/restrictions, etc?

I live on a millpond with an old dam. My house is pretty much right on the upper part of the dam (the water goes away from me). I do NOT own the dam. But like I said my house is only like twenty feet away from it.

Anybody know what the legality of me putting my own like waterwheel kind of deal out there to turn a turbine to generate my own electricity? I can't imagine it'd be too difficult....

I'd love to be able to do it...if I knew I wouldn't get in trouble for it. I'd switch all my furnaces to electric if I could make my own!

(edited to add...geez I just re-read my post and I just want to make sure people realize I'm not one of those yuppie overconsumers). Just because my house happens to be on water (I know most of those are overblown Mc Mansions)...mine's an old dilapidated little shack I rescued from near-death. LOL!

The floors are all rickety and the windows all rattle. I'm slowly replacing windows and fixing it up...but it takes time.

I try to live as green as possible. I'm turning my yard into a wildlife friendly area...much of it I'm trying to make native prairie. The birds love it....

I am also a veggie "wanna be" but I've been unable to give up fish and seafood. I've tried but without having some fish...I am just hungry all day.

[Sunshine_Girl]

Libra, I love your corn stove idea. My partner and I try to live a very green lifestyle and are always up for new ideas to try. We have just bought our own little place and are thinking about otherways to heat besides oil. There are a lot of others in our village that are burning wood but I just can't bring myself to cut down the trees! We were thinking about gathering dead wood and using that but i don't really know how much we will find.
A few little things that we do to live a greener life:
- we walk to the store instead of drive
- we use cold water in the washing machine or wash by hand
- hang clothes out on the line to dry
- use our porch (which stays very cool) as a fridge
- buy veggies at from local organic farmers
- only use environmentally friendly, biodegradable soap for washing our clothes and dishes
- we buy toilet tissues that is made from recycled paper without the use of chlorine
- we recycle and compost
- we wear second hand clothing

Now we are starting to get into home repairs. Does anyone have any suggestions to help us make our home greener on a very low income?
All suggestions are greatly appreciated! :D

[PEACE FROG]

Hey Sunshine it sounds like you are doing an awsome job!!!If you ever need advice on home repairs, that's my bag, feel free to ask. :)

[Sunshine_Girl]

Thanks Peace Frog. :D

[theREALsun]

i am in the process of changing my lifestyle
i have never felt better about it either

i don't want to get ahead of myself, so i am going to take it slow
baby steps
but i hope to be on my way to a greener lifestyle!

Happy New Year! :D
peace

[LIBRA]

I Work In The Plumbing And Heating Field And We Always Have Lots Of Scrap Sheet Metal, Copper Piping, Pvc Piping And Fittings Too. The Copper They Scrap For $though. If Anyones In The Northeastern Area Of Pa Or Southerntier Of Ny Let Me Know.
I Just Bought My First Home And In A Month Or So I Will Be Putting In Floor Radiant Heat In And That Is Wonderfull And Effecient And Use My Corn Stove Too. Also You CAN Buy Water Saver Faucets &Toilets Most Of Them Come That Way Now Anyway.
Well Thats All I Had To Add I Guess!!

D

[Sunshine_Girl]

Thanks for all of the tips Cowboy and Libra :D

[redthewitch75]

I would love to be living green. I think the only thing I do at this point is get my clothes from Goodwill or other thrift stores. Unfortunately, I am not a vegetarian. I can't help it (well, I am sure I could...), but I love meat. And cheese. I don't normally wear leather. I one pair of sandals that are leather, and I always wear my Converse. I would like to grow some of my own veggies, but my yard is not ideal for a veggie garden. A lot of my customers have brought us veggies from their gardens, tho. So that was nice. My mom and her gf used to have a HUGE veggie garden, but they recently moved. Hopefully they can get one going this spring!

I am so impressed by all of you who are doing what you can to be living green lifestyles. And I feel awfully guilty right now!

[granolamomma]

I am slowly becoming more green, but nowhere near where some of you are. :)
I'm a vegetarian (not vegan though), cloth diaper my kids, buy used clothes as much as we can, recycle everything (my dh laughs at me becasue I will dig through our garbage to pull out something he threw away that could have been recycled), and I am working on going paperless in the kitchen, and using more natural cleaning products. I also want to start a small vegetable garden this year, but I don't have much of a green thumb, so it probably won't go well. I'd love to be self sustaining one day.

[PEACE FROG]

Yeah but you still manage to do more than most Granola, I would like to eat vegan, I don't eat meat but can resist a piece of fish now and then. And unless you cook everything from scratch milk, eggs and the like seem to find there way in. Not to mention all the fake processed crap that's just not good for you. Ya'll guys keep up the good work. :) Peace, Love and Tofu

[LIBRA]

on the not so cold days I have been taking walks with my son and we bring garbage bags and picking anything that doesnt belong (garbage). I am trying to start him young on the importance of not littering. he totally gets it too, we will be driving down the road and he will want me to pull over to pick up some mcdonalds bag he spotted, its funny and yes I pull over and grab it. we live on a dirt road and there is always garbage to be picked up!! its amazing that people cant wait to get home to throw something away, there cars are more important to keep clean!!!
here to starting the next generation of GREEN!!!

[Pedata]

on the not so cold days I have been taking walks with my son and we bring garbage bags and picking anything that doesnt belong (garbage). I am trying to start him young on the importance of not littering. he totally gets it too, we will be driving down the road and he will want me to pull over to pick up some mcdonalds bag he spotted, its funny and yes I pull over and grab it. we live on a dirt road and there is always garbage to be picked up!! its amazing that people cant wait to get home to throw something away, there cars are more important to keep clean!!!
here to starting the next generation of GREEN!!!

I see a lot of trash out here, also in the middle of nowhere. Once we saw a unknown pickup truck loaded with trash and just knew they were looking for somewhere to dump it. We followed them everywhere they went until they gave up and went back to the highway. And we kept following them until they got on the interstate :p .

Part of my land has a road running along it. I regularly go out there to pick up bottles and cans on the edge of the woods. Some lazy person once dumped a tv!

Peace,
Pedata

[forrest]

Does green beer qualify as living green? :D

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/189500/189793EJlI_w.jpg

[toman]

I'd say I was living green, but at the moment my buds are looking kind of orange and purple. :bandit:

[OrganicGauntlet]

I'd hate to see my ecological footprint. Christ - I'm probably burning my own hole in the ozone.

I try to do a bit - recycle (mostly because my wife makes me) but living green is just so damn inconvenient.

[angymnast247]

i try hard to live as green as possible. im 17 right now so i dont own a home but i am looking at the options online for a sustainable home. i also do a few things to help out our earth.
purchase second hand clothing and stuff like furniture ect. from yard sales and thrift stores.
recycle all i can
buy organic food or from farmers market (im not a vegitarian just yet but meat is almost totally out of my diet)
bike anywere within close range of my home
low consumer
i love learning and becoming more environmentally friendly each and every day. i try to teach others around me the importance of it too. i love the earth. i just wanna hug it and tell it at least some people care about you.

anyway i love to see how many others are so environmentally friendly. i hope to be like that too ;)

[toman]

i love lerning

I hate to be a dick, but I couldn't pass this one up. Somebody spank me! :group_hug

[OrganicGauntlet]

I hate to be a dick, but I couldn't pass this one up. Somebody spank me! :group_hug

How hard??

[LIBRA]

I hate to be a dick, but I couldn't pass this one up. Somebody spank me! :group_hug


LOL


I spotted that too, ha ha ha!!! But I wasnt gonna, glad you did though!! :p

[forrest]

I hate to be a dick, but I couldn't pass this one up. Somebody spank me! :group_hug

Is Our Children Learning?---George W. Bush ;)

[angymnast247]

wow i feel stupid now. sorry about that. i was typing fast and didnt fix it. dont hit toman for that one, im the one that needs a spankin.

peace and love
~alyssa

[LIBRA]

wow i feel stupid now. sorry about that. i was typing fast and didnt fix it. dont hit toman for that one, im the one that needs a spankin.

peace and love
~alyssa


We dont spank round these parts,lol

Its ok just had to pick on ya!! ;)

[OrganicGauntlet]

^ speak for yourself, Libra. A little light spankage goes a long, long way!

Woot - 50 posts. Yay me! Now that Burntforest Stenchcloud is banned again I may actually post without fear of the punctuation police.

[forrest]

^ speak for yourself, Libra. A little light spankage goes a long, long way!

Woot - 50 posts. Yay me! Now that Burntforest Stenchcloud is banned again I may actually post without fear of the punctuation police.

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=10233363739063116502

[LIBRA]

He is banned again, what did I miss??? I knew it was coming though, he is a strange one.

[OrganicGauntlet]

He is banned again, what did I miss??? I knew it was coming though, he is a strange one.


Strange, indeed - but kind of amusing. I was actually feeling a little bond there, as it was my punctuation he chose to pick on.

I believe I'm having separation anxiety.

[LIBRA]

Strange, indeed - but kind of amusing. I was actually feeling a little bond there, as it was my punctuation he chose to pick on.

I believe I'm having separation anxiety.


Well I was going to comfort you, but I find no grammical errors, so Im sorry I cant help ease your pain!!! Next time screw up your post a bit and I will pick it apart for you, ya know for old time sakes!!