A very successful year!

It's hard to believe that over a year has passed since I started this challenge.  I've learned so much from you, my readers - thank you so much for your support, encouragement and comments!   Although I didn't manage to make 366 changes in one year (my original goal), I am very proud that I added an additional 128 changes to my family's repertoire. Some of them didn't work out, but most of them have been lasting changes.

Because of the number of changes to date, I'm only going to highlight the ones that didn't stick.  Everything else has been added, relatively smoothly, and has now become habit about 90% of the time.

Here's what I couldn't keep doing:

2. Environmentally-friendly ant killer
8. Buy environmentally and body friendly face moisturizer
13. No more disposable coffee cups
15. Eliminate baths for kids; have showers instead
17. Use GoodSearch for Internet
21. No more plastic takeout containers
25. Only buy ethically farmed/fished seafood
27. Carbon off-set all vacation travel
30. Make my own hand soap
35. Use vinegar/water to clean eyeglasses
53. Ban Styrofoam
62. Only use dishwasher at night
63. Turn off "heat dry" feature on dishwasher
67. Get rid of mould in shower with hydrogen peroxide
81. Place compost bags in all rooms
120. Return plastic pots to nursery
123. Bring my own containers to bulk store

Not bad, eh?  (Eco Mama pats herself on the back).  I'll keep striving to implement changes that work for my family, and continue to improve current habits to try to get 100% compliancy.

Spend time everyday researching "green" issues (Day 23)

Whoops!  I forgot to post yesterday, too. So technically, Day 23 is really Day 22 and vise-versa, but you get the drift.  I made a change both days, right?   :)

Yesterday, I decided to add an educational component to my lifestyle (because I have nothing better to do), and spend part of every day learning about green changes, the environmental movement and other related issues. 

So far, I have found two new (to me) blogs - The Clean Bin Project (http://cleanbinproject.com/) and The Best Green Blogs Directory (http://www.bestgreenblogs.com/about/).   As well, I watched a really interesting video by the makers of the Story of Stuff, about the cosmetics industry  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000AF1i8&feature=player_embedded).   I haven't seen the Story of Stuff yet, but it is on my list on things to do.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=channel)

If anyone can suggest good websites, articles, books or videos, please drop me a line.

Add a "green" tip to my email signature (Day 22)

Whew - I love travelling but it is always exhausting.   Got home around supper time tonight and put the kids to bed a little while ago.  Put some laundry on, cleaned up the kitchen, starting unpacking.

Then realized that I haven't updated my blog today.  Sigh.

I searched Vanessa's list quickly and found this change - adding a "green" tip to her email signature.  I can do that.

In fact, I'll even change it every so often so my friends, family and co-workers don't get bored of reading the same tip every day.  If any readers have favourite eco-quotes or tips, please pass them on!

366 Changes

[note - due to a mix-up on my part, this post should be read BEFORE "It hurts...]

It's going to take a lot of work to think of 366 changes to make to my family's lifestyle. As mentioned in previous posts, I am starting with the changes made by Vanessa Farquharson, and moving on from there.

There isn't enough space in this post to list all of the things she has done. I invite you to check out her blog at http://www.greenasathistle.com/.

I am starting with "March" - 31 changes in total. Well, for us, that really amounts to 15 of her changes to implement. We already either practice (14) or "do not apply" (2). (FYI, we do not have a cat, therefore no need for cat litter, and do not use dryer sheets, so no need to switch types).

As for the other 14, we already use recycled paper towels, don't use the heating pad except in emergencies, turn down our thermostat, rarely use bottled water, check tire pressure, use a phosphate-free dish detergent, am not going to buy any more electronic gym equipment, use tote bags, use recycled toilet paper, use vinegar/water to clean glass, belong to the Freecycle network, turn off all lights before leaving home, don't use disposable cutlery/plates, and don't use lint removers.

Once we implement her 15 changes, I then need to come up with another 16 for the month.

Oh my stars. The reality of this is starting to set in. Ok, don't panic. Take a slow, deep breath. One change at a time....

Houston, we may have a problem.....

DH noticed my introductory blog submission last night.

Uh oh.

"Hmmm", he said. "Are you blogging now?", with the implication, you don't have time for that nonsense.

"No," I replied somewhat truthfully, "not yet". I hadn't posted yet, so I wasn't really lying, was I?

"Hm." was the response. "Don't be getting any crazy ideas."

DD, DS, and DD thought my ideas were great, until they realized they would have to be involved.

"But mummy, I don't want to lose my TV and movies!" "Mummy, I want treats!" "Does this mean we don't get any more presents?"

So much for family buy-in. I guess I'll just have to apply the stealth method for the first few changes, until someone notices.

How green is my valley?

I just finished reading Vanessa Farquharson's book Sleeping Naked is Green, and I must say, I'm impressed. Here is a woman that sought to change her environmental footprint, one small step at a time, and succeeded. One change a day, for 366 days. At the end of her year, she allowed herself to revert back to her "old" ways. Surprisingly (or not), she managed to keep about 74% of her changes.


I thought about the changes she made, and began to analyze my own "greenness". She has made changes that we haven't and didn't make some that we have.


As I mentally tried to apply her changes to my family, it made me wonder, how PRACTICAL and REALISTIC are her changes for my family?


We are a family of 5 with three children under the age of 8. DH works a 40 minute drive away. I am a stay-at-home mom with an on-call job at the public library.


Can we really eat more local and organic food without breaking the bank? Is it really reasonable to get rid of satellite TV, not use the car on weekends, or not use staples?


A friend recently told me that she thought we were the most environmentally-friendly family she had met. But are we really? Is there anything else we can do to reduce our carbon footprint while acknowledging the realities of suburban life in 2010?


I have decided to take a leaf from Vanessa's book, and will make one change a day for the next 366 days. I want to see if we can improve our environment and our future. I will use Vanessa's book as our starting point, and hopefully come up with other changes.  Her website is http://www.greenasathistle.com/ - all of her changes are posted there.


I invite you along for the fun. The adventure is just beginning......