tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post2816056753606415339..comments2024-01-17T02:39:06.048-05:00Comments on rude truth: thinking aheadJJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14920416765778868736noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-2963020683709571382009-02-02T17:32:00.000-05:002009-02-02T17:32:00.000-05:00I just read Lauren's comment. Lauren, you are not ...I just read Lauren's comment. Lauren, you are not alone. All of us, especially those of us living on a budget, all face those struggles. My motto is, every little bit helps. I can't buy all organic, but I do buy some organic and I think it makes a difference. I can support local farmers, I can use home made cleaning products, etc. I might not be able, like you said, to get energy effiecient windows, but I am responsible in where I set my thermostat. Every little bit helps. Don't be too hard on yourself, but think about what efforts you want and are able to make. <BR/><BR/>Hope that helps! Blessings!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-57371133554185191002009-02-02T17:26:00.000-05:002009-02-02T17:26:00.000-05:00I'm with you on the ziplocks. I have recently been...I'm with you on the ziplocks. I have recently been reminded of the how terrible they are and I need to steer clear. And I didn't know about mama bites. I need to check into that, thanks! <BR/><BR/>Good luck with the potty training, writing and planning of the future!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-4243338669273944182009-01-25T18:56:00.000-05:002009-01-25T18:56:00.000-05:00I'm curious as to your thoughts on possible confli...I'm curious as to your thoughts on possible conflicts between #4 and #5. Obviously there are numerous things you can do to green your household that don't cost money (like recycling and carrying reusable grocery bags) or that even save money (like growing your own produce or using tupperware in place of ziplocs). We do those things, and we get produce from a CSA, which I think financially probably comes out to be only slightly pricier than grocery store veggies. But it seems that so many of the things I could, would, should be doing are just financially out of my reach. I routinely compare the cost of organic and conventional options in the grocery store, and usually the organics are 2 - 3 times more expensive. As are the paper towels made from recycled paper and the eco-friendly diapers. We've tried getting sustainably raised beef and chicken from local farms, and again, the cost is 2 - 3 times what we pay at the local Kroger. We live in a drafty, 110 year old Victorian house with gappy windows and poor insulation. We priced upgrading the insulation. The cost was substantial, and we estimated 15 to 20 years before we would make up the cost in reduced power bills. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. I feel like I'm caught between wanting to be financially responsible with my families resources and wanting to be environmentally responsible with my purchasing choices and that the two are at odds. So I do what I feel makes the most impact with the dollars I have, but I still feel like a hypocrite when I bypass the $5 organic butter for the $2 store brand.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17408579761569864393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-43592493204653467962009-01-24T15:15:00.000-05:002009-01-24T15:15:00.000-05:00Here's one more thing to stunt you in the grocery ...Here's one more thing to stunt you in the grocery aisle...while you're considering the cans of tomatoes, take into account not only the cost, but the way they were grown (organic?), where they were grown (local?), and how they were grown (sustainable?). Hard to tell from a can, but with the organic label, you've got a start. Then if you really want to get nutso, you can start looking into business practices and farmworker justice...it's enough to make you only buy in season and learn to can!Stasihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10864458542635159512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-23617546246180921932009-01-22T14:38:00.000-05:002009-01-22T14:38:00.000-05:00I'm so proud of you! All of these are difficult to...I'm so proud of you! All of these are difficult topics. Greening is a fun challenge and its nice that you don't have to figure it all out at once. <BR/><BR/>As for PTing. Ugh! That really is one of THE hardest things in parenting for us so far. I'm pretty big into not attempting it until they're ready and excited about it. (All 3 of my girls were 30-32 months) Then, when they're ready it is not a big deal, its not a fight, and it is a celebratory accomplishment. Yes, I know on most parts of the world babies are out of diapers by their 1st birthday. In our household, they are out by their 3rd birthday. But awfully close!mom23https://www.blogger.com/profile/04525578469808073258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-79271619966227944822009-01-22T10:28:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:28:00.000-05:00I hate zip lock bags too, although when I'm freezi...I hate zip lock bags too, although when I'm freezing soup they seem to be a necessary evil. I don't know if it's much better, but I put my lunch sandwiches in <A HREF="http://tinyurl.com/algx36" REL="nofollow"> waxed paper bags (PDF)</A>, or sometimes just wrapped in wax paper. At least the plastic taste doesn't leach into my food that way.Steven Bairdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17585328660264805058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-75086587147785080682009-01-21T23:54:00.000-05:002009-01-21T23:54:00.000-05:00growing tomatoes would be great, for all of us to ...growing tomatoes would be great, for all of us to do. i'm with you on the ziplocks. i'm trying to eliminate all disposable plastic and avoiding all plastic when there's any alternative. i really like pyrex with the rubber lids. anyway, i like reusablebags.com and grist.org.kelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609192331050268743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-10402012269800616382009-01-21T23:12:00.000-05:002009-01-21T23:12:00.000-05:00I don't really see any reason to eliminate zip loc...I don't really see any reason to eliminate zip lock bags. I just reuse them. They last just about as long as the alternatives in my experience.Indie Pereirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00337834296068863923noreply@blogger.com