Baby Steps to Becoming Green
While having a conversation with my relatives, I said that it’s really very hard to have no plastic bags at all. They instantaneously charged on me and told me that it’s actually very easy – all you require is lifestyle change. Well, hats off to them as it’s so easy for them. I’m guessing that for some (may be most) people like me we can’t wake up one morning and say that I am going to change my lifestyle and be green. Probably that’s why a vast majority of people in America, where it’s most easy to become green, are still struggling to even recycle. For me, it’s very hard to change my lifestyle in order to become green and so, I have been taking baby steps towards that goal. So, if you are like me I encourage you to start with baby steps towards becoming green. Here is what I did.
I started with recycling just papers. As soon as it became a part of my routine, I started to recycle all that is allowed. As I became comfortable, I got cloth bags and used it only for grocery store and gradually expanded it for all stores. I confess that I do need and use plastic bags for various purposes. So as soon as I run out of plastic bags, I get my grocery in plastic bags. So, I haven’t yet been able to live completely without a single plastic bag.
Last year, we planted four herb plants. Three of them survived and hence it encouraged me to add four more vegetable/ herb plants this year. I plan to add four vegetable/fruit/herb plants per year. Also, we planted one tree this year. If it’s successful, we will try to plant one tree each year.
Since we moved to our current house about two years ago, we have been changing bulbs to the energy efficient ones as the bulbs die in our house. Also, I plan my trips to run errands such that I use gas and car as wisely as I can. In addition, I use my washing machine and dish washer only when I have full loads.
We have always been very prudent about electricity and paper usage as we have been brought up in India. Although, I was using paper towels like crazy since I moved to America. Now, I am trying to cut down my usage of paper towels. I have been trying to use cloth rags instead. Once I am able to avoid using paper towels, I will move on to next step on becoming green. So, please wish me luck!
P.S. Advice on my baby steps towards becoming green will be appreciated.
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Dear Shruti,
I applaud your greening effort, and am glad that you are sharing it with your friends…to raise our consciousness.
I keep plastic bags because I don’t know how else to bag the garbage. When I’ve used paper bags, I noticed that the squirrels jump inside the street trash can (which my landlord doesn’t cover) and make a mess all over the sidewalk. My landlord also doesn’t provide us with paper recycling information, so I am now taking my papers to a client’s bins, as she lives in a big complex which separates all the papers for recycling.
However, I will be more aware of wasting electricity. I live in a one-bedroom apt. and navigate from room to room frequently, so I must admit, I keep one lamp going in each room.
As Sahaja Yogis we must also be careful to use recyclable plates and cups when we have large gatherings, and at the ashram, we usually are.
We had a self-realization on Earth Day at Grand Central Station. A huge crowd showed up during the two days we were there, so they will hopefully remember our association with the Greening of America displays.
Love,
Rama (aka sonja)
Hi Shruti,
I am taking baby steps to becoming green too. I have started using cloth bags for my weekly trip to Kroger. I plan to take the cloth bags when I do my monthy Walmart shopping too. One tip: I keep the cloth bags in my van. That way when I am at the store, I can just take the bags inside. When I kept them inside the house, I would always forget to take them to the store!
We use the plastic bags for trash and kitty litter.
My next baby step is to recycle our water bottles. Since we don’t have curbside recycling out here in the country, I need to find out where I can drop off the plastic bottles in town.
Have a joyful day!