Easy Green Living is the idea of living green without too much effort. Just subtle changes can make a big difference for the planet and for us. I keep trying to find ways to live a little greener and pass on these ideas to you.
Water
Water is our most precious resource. The main reason is that we cannot live without it. That said, we must try to conserve this life-giving liquid.
One way I have been saving water is by turning off the water when I brush my teeth. This does not mean that you do not use water, of course not. I only have the water when I need it, other than that it’s off. I don’t know how much this saves, but over a lifetime I’m sure it will help immensely. Teach this to your children, remember that they will be here much longer than us.
Another way to conserve is to take shorter showers or shower with your better half. There are benefits to both ideas. You’ll find out on your own, I’m sure.
Find out how much you really need to water your lawn. Most cities have this information available or you can look it up online. Another option is landscaping without water. This is using materials and products that use little or no water.
Remember to turn off the automatic sprinklers when it rains (I have a hard time doing that) and most of the time you can leave them off for a couple of days after the storm has passed.
Wash larger loads of laundry. A friend once told me “the longer you take to do your laundry, the less you have to do it.” He is a wise man.
Recycle
I know you’ve heard this since the second grade picnic, but do you really do it?
Recycling has come a long way over the years. Now it’s easy to do. There are companies that will come pick you up for a small fee. Most cities now have recycling centers where you can drop off your products. It’s easy to do nowadays, all we have to do is do it.
eat local
Think of the distance the food you buy from major chain stores has to travel to reach the shelves where you live.
Farmers markets are a great place to shop, not only do you get great food but you also save on fuel. Most of the food sold at a farmer’s market is grown by hand, not by a machine that uses fuel. Also, the product doesn’t travel as far to get to the store. Most people who sell at a farmers market avoid petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers, which makes it better for you and the earth.
Grow your own, yes, this is possible. There is a great deal of knowledge on the net and in the library about gardening. For those who live in apartments or condos, I’ve seen these community farms where you can rent a small piece of land to grow whatever you want. There will also be other people or farmers in these places who will be more than willing to give you advice, just remember not to push your limits.
Remember that it is up to us to keep the planet clean.