The back of the van was full of stuff to recycle. I'm pretty good about taking stuff in to the recycle center on a regular basis, but now as we (cram) fit Pat's office into our basement we are being a little more ruthless in getting rid of stuff.
Only the 'dump man' was at the center. He helped me unload the van - probably 50+ pounds of cardboard/glossy paper/office paper. All this went into a paper masher to be baled and taken...somewhere.
I also had some bottles, cans and plastic containers. This went into full to over-flowing bins.
Although I am very thankful that so many people are recycling, I am also appalled at the waste generated in our little community over a few days. And this is just the tip of the iceberg I am sure. Many don't recycle, many have their garbage picked up at home.
And some, with no regard to beauty or the environment, simply toss their trash out their car windows to litter the highways and byways.
My point? I don't know, I guess I'm just ranting. It does take extra time to rinse out bottles, remove labels from cans, etc. I'm trying more than ever to keep garbage from even coming into the house. I don't buy bottled water (except when we go to Cornerstone), I rarely buy pop, I make most food from scratch eliminating excessive packaging from ready made foods.
I like to buy food from our local bulk food places where most stuff is packaged in simple plastic bags. I reuse most of these, eliminating the need to buy ziploc type bags.
I'm even carrying some of my recycling ideas over to Sunday school. For many years I have been bothered by the fact that the kid's Sunday school lesson papers often litter the parking lot or the church hallways.
This year, each child has a sketchbook. Each week as we teach the lesson, they draw what they learned. They love this. I love this. They will have something at the end of the year that will be a keepsake. The parents seem to love this too.
They are quite creative in the way they depict some of the stories of Jesus. I'll have to take some pictures and show you one of these days.....
Rant over.
Showing posts with label the environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the environment. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
"there is going to be...
weather today, " predicted the meteorologist.
I stood near the radio, hoping he would fill in a few more helpful details.
Hail, thunderstorms, high of 85 today, high of 58 tomorrow. Potential for severe weather.
I guess I won't bike into town today.
But I did on Saturday. I put on my helmet and sunglasses and attached my canvas bag and water bottle to the back of my bike. I have an ancient, but perfectly functional bike with collapsible baskets on the back. With gas prices at $3.29 a gallon, I plan to try to do my in- town errands on bike.
Did I look like a dork? Yep.
Did I care? Nope, I was not only helping the environment, I was saving money and getting exercise. Win, win win.
Besides , I figured with my helmet and sunglasses, no one would recognize me anyway.
"Hi, Cheri!!!" called the voice from way across the grocery store parking lot. Alright, so I wasn't as incognito as I thought.
B. came over and noted my bike and canvas bag, "My, aren't you green?" he said.
Yes and no. I try to do la lot of little things, but then on Wednesday I will hop into the van and heedlessly run to the cities to pick up the boy and all his stuff.
The bike ride to town and back was thoroughly enjoyable. Lovely weather, little traffic on the back roads (I avoid the highway). In Martha's words, "It's a good thing."
Jon wanted to see a picture of the newly painted kitchen. This one looks a little washed out, but hopefully gives you an idea of the new color.
I stood near the radio, hoping he would fill in a few more helpful details.
Hail, thunderstorms, high of 85 today, high of 58 tomorrow. Potential for severe weather.
I guess I won't bike into town today.
But I did on Saturday. I put on my helmet and sunglasses and attached my canvas bag and water bottle to the back of my bike. I have an ancient, but perfectly functional bike with collapsible baskets on the back. With gas prices at $3.29 a gallon, I plan to try to do my in- town errands on bike.
Did I look like a dork? Yep.
Did I care? Nope, I was not only helping the environment, I was saving money and getting exercise. Win, win win.
Besides , I figured with my helmet and sunglasses, no one would recognize me anyway.
"Hi, Cheri!!!" called the voice from way across the grocery store parking lot. Alright, so I wasn't as incognito as I thought.
B. came over and noted my bike and canvas bag, "My, aren't you green?" he said.
Yes and no. I try to do la lot of little things, but then on Wednesday I will hop into the van and heedlessly run to the cities to pick up the boy and all his stuff.
The bike ride to town and back was thoroughly enjoyable. Lovely weather, little traffic on the back roads (I avoid the highway). In Martha's words, "It's a good thing."
Jon wanted to see a picture of the newly painted kitchen. This one looks a little washed out, but hopefully gives you an idea of the new color.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
true confessions
As we sat down to dinner last night, I told Pat I had a confession to make.
"I've been reading some blogs that would surprise you," I said.
"Oh?" he responded.
I went on to tell him about the guy in Manhattan who, along with his wife and little daughter are trying to make no negative impact on the earth for a year. Then there is the gal who is trying to live plastic-free (no I'm not talking about credit cards - she is trying not to buy anything that has plastic in it, on it or around it) for a year. I didn't realize until I started reading her blog how difficult a task that would be. There are a few others I check in on now and then - me a religious conservative reading liberal environmentalist's blogs.
Shocking, I know. I don't agree with everything in these blogs, but I do appreciate their attempt to be careful with what they have been given.
I am not trying to save the earth. The earth is in God's hands and He has promised:
"As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease."
Genesis 8:22
I'm not trying to save the earth by being careful with what I buy or don't buy, I'm trying to be careful with what I buy or don't buy to care for the resources God has graciously bestowed on us.
Today is a no-car day. I'm going to try to have three no car days a week. I have plenty of garden chores to keep me occupied here at home. Planting and transplanting and weeding. The tomatoes are coming up nicely as are the nasturtiums and lettuce. Jon's crabapple tree is in full bloom and has a wonderful fragrance. The bumblebees are very active in the tree doing their part to make sure we (or the next owners) have plenty of crabapples in the fall.
~~~~
Speaking of Jon, check out his blog to see if you can identify the picture he posted. Also leave a comment to let him know you are praying that their closing goes well today. Their first home!
Exciting times.
In other family news...guess who is now a motorcycle mama? And she blames it on me!
It is a beautiful day today - can't wait to get out and get my hands dirty!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
not so bad
rhodies on the rocks
"I work for the DNR," she said.
"What kind of work do you do for them?" I asked.
"Pick up road kill," she said.
I wasn't quite sure how to respond. Perhaps she was kidding . But perhaps she wasn't . I didn't want to risk offending her.
"Tell me about that, " I said.
"I only pick up deer carcasses. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) tests them for CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease)."
"Oh," I said.
"Yeah," she continued, "I don't pick up the whole carcass, I just cut off the head and drag the body into the woods. The DNR tests the lymph nodes in the head for CWD. I get some really funny looks as I walk back to my truck carrying a saw and a deer head."
I would think so.
Suddenly picking up the beer bottles, cigarette packs, pop cans, fast food containers and coffee cups in the ditch in front of our house didn't seem so bad.
[Sorry if you are squeamish, years of being married to a fisherman who keeps leeches in the fridge and cleans fish on the kitchen counter have made me less squeamish - BTW if you are raiding our refrigerator - the cottage cheese container may not necessarily contain cottage cheese.]
~~~~~
After MOPS yesterday, I stopped at the grocery store, canvas bag in hand. I bought several things and as I checked over my receipt, I noticed that I got a $.05 discount for Bringing My Own Bag. Woohoo!
I will share one other tightwad/environmental thing I do, just in case anyone is still reading this after the deer head thing.
I prefer to buy items for baking at a bulk food store about 25 miles from here. Good prices, good quality. Of course, I don't make a special trip there , but stock up when I have to be in the 'big city' for other reasons. They package all their stuff themselves in sturdy little plastic bags. I save these bags and use them for packing lunches, wrapping up things for the freezer and dozens of other uses. I haven't bought baggie/ziploc type bags for quite a long time and should be set for a long time yet to come.
Certified tightwad? Yep and proud of it!
"What kind of work do you do for them?" I asked.
"Pick up road kill," she said.
I wasn't quite sure how to respond. Perhaps she was kidding . But perhaps she wasn't . I didn't want to risk offending her.
"Tell me about that, " I said.
"I only pick up deer carcasses. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) tests them for CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease)."
"Oh," I said.
"Yeah," she continued, "I don't pick up the whole carcass, I just cut off the head and drag the body into the woods. The DNR tests the lymph nodes in the head for CWD. I get some really funny looks as I walk back to my truck carrying a saw and a deer head."
I would think so.
Suddenly picking up the beer bottles, cigarette packs, pop cans, fast food containers and coffee cups in the ditch in front of our house didn't seem so bad.
[Sorry if you are squeamish, years of being married to a fisherman who keeps leeches in the fridge and cleans fish on the kitchen counter have made me less squeamish - BTW if you are raiding our refrigerator - the cottage cheese container may not necessarily contain cottage cheese.]
~~~~~
After MOPS yesterday, I stopped at the grocery store, canvas bag in hand. I bought several things and as I checked over my receipt, I noticed that I got a $.05 discount for Bringing My Own Bag. Woohoo!
I will share one other tightwad/environmental thing I do, just in case anyone is still reading this after the deer head thing.
I prefer to buy items for baking at a bulk food store about 25 miles from here. Good prices, good quality. Of course, I don't make a special trip there , but stock up when I have to be in the 'big city' for other reasons. They package all their stuff themselves in sturdy little plastic bags. I save these bags and use them for packing lunches, wrapping up things for the freezer and dozens of other uses. I haven't bought baggie/ziploc type bags for quite a long time and should be set for a long time yet to come.
Certified tightwad? Yep and proud of it!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
trash talk
As we drove back and forth from Tennessee, I noticed them. They spoil an otherwise beautiful scene. I love pastoral landscapes, fields, barns, cows, growing crops, long fence lines. But invariably you will see a plastic bag or two or ten, stuck on a barbed wire fence, blowing in the wind.
When we got home from our trip, there was even a bag on the corner, stuck in a tree, just out of reach.
The ditch that runs along our road is full of beer bottles, cigarette packages, pop cans, fast food containers, coffee cups. I don't understand how people can just toss this stuff out of their cars and leave it for someone else to clean up.
My to-do list for the week includes cleaning up the ditch.
I remember as a child standing behind my grandparent's garage. There was a big pit behind the garage and that was where they put their trash. I'm fuzzy on the details here, so hopefully DOD will comment and fill us in on trash disposal in the 50's. What I do remember seeing was just a few broken bottles and a few tin cans. Hardly anything. I'm guessing paper garbage was burned and kitchen scraps were composted. Plastic? Hardly anything came in plastic back then. Grandma did a lot of canning so there was very little post consumer waste in the kitchen. Milk came in bottles that were returned to the dairy and refilled.
Today we recycle everything we can. Magazines, newspapers, plastic recyclable containers, tin cans, aluminum. I don't, as a rule, buy soda or bottled water. When we are traveling I bring a thermos of our water, the best tasting water I have ever had. We have a wonderful well. I try to limit the need for recycling by not buying stuff that will need to be recycled.
I have been known to fish garbage out of the garbage can to wash it for recycling. I have brought stuff home from the church kitchen just to make sure it gets recycled and not simply tossed.
I wash disposable plates and 'silver'ware. When Nate graduated from high school in 1998, I bought plastic spoons, forks and knives. We still use those when we have crowds here.
I am a rabid recycler.
Now the plastic bag thing is getting to me. Some West Coast communities have recently banned the use of plastic bags. Paper bags aren't much better as it takes more energy to produce a paper bag than a plastic one, though they do biodegrade a lot faster.
So now, I am getting in the habit of BYOB. Bring your own bag. I have a nice size canvas bag and two smaller denim bags. These will now accompany me to the store. So far the clerks and baggers have been accommodating and supportive.
We produce a lot more garbage, in more ways than one, than we did in my grandparent's day. I'm trying to do my part to minimize the garbage I leave behind. Care to join me?
~~~~~
Today's title 'trash talk' was designed to get your attention. I really don't talk trash. Just as I don't want to leave a lot of litter around, I also want to be careful with the words that come out of my mouth.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. "
Ephesians 4:29
We have dozens of these vibrant and charming goldfinches in the yard every day. They bring colorful sights and beautiful sounds to the neighborhood. Pat said, "It sounds like we live in an aviary!"
When we got home from our trip, there was even a bag on the corner, stuck in a tree, just out of reach.
The ditch that runs along our road is full of beer bottles, cigarette packages, pop cans, fast food containers, coffee cups. I don't understand how people can just toss this stuff out of their cars and leave it for someone else to clean up.
My to-do list for the week includes cleaning up the ditch.
I remember as a child standing behind my grandparent's garage. There was a big pit behind the garage and that was where they put their trash. I'm fuzzy on the details here, so hopefully DOD will comment and fill us in on trash disposal in the 50's. What I do remember seeing was just a few broken bottles and a few tin cans. Hardly anything. I'm guessing paper garbage was burned and kitchen scraps were composted. Plastic? Hardly anything came in plastic back then. Grandma did a lot of canning so there was very little post consumer waste in the kitchen. Milk came in bottles that were returned to the dairy and refilled.
Today we recycle everything we can. Magazines, newspapers, plastic recyclable containers, tin cans, aluminum. I don't, as a rule, buy soda or bottled water. When we are traveling I bring a thermos of our water, the best tasting water I have ever had. We have a wonderful well. I try to limit the need for recycling by not buying stuff that will need to be recycled.
I have been known to fish garbage out of the garbage can to wash it for recycling. I have brought stuff home from the church kitchen just to make sure it gets recycled and not simply tossed.
I wash disposable plates and 'silver'ware. When Nate graduated from high school in 1998, I bought plastic spoons, forks and knives. We still use those when we have crowds here.
I am a rabid recycler.
Now the plastic bag thing is getting to me. Some West Coast communities have recently banned the use of plastic bags. Paper bags aren't much better as it takes more energy to produce a paper bag than a plastic one, though they do biodegrade a lot faster.
So now, I am getting in the habit of BYOB. Bring your own bag. I have a nice size canvas bag and two smaller denim bags. These will now accompany me to the store. So far the clerks and baggers have been accommodating and supportive.
We produce a lot more garbage, in more ways than one, than we did in my grandparent's day. I'm trying to do my part to minimize the garbage I leave behind. Care to join me?
~~~~~
Today's title 'trash talk' was designed to get your attention. I really don't talk trash. Just as I don't want to leave a lot of litter around, I also want to be careful with the words that come out of my mouth.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. "
Ephesians 4:29
We have dozens of these vibrant and charming goldfinches in the yard every day. They bring colorful sights and beautiful sounds to the neighborhood. Pat said, "It sounds like we live in an aviary!"
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