Posts Tagged mother earth
Mother Earth likes it when you foam up, baby.
Posted by Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom in Making A Difference, My Son, Project Support Beauty in Nature on March 9, 2009
Sometimes you realize that something is kind of Eco-Friendly after the fact.
Like, after you do it because you are a cheap bastard. 
Last year, I decided to really start teaching Braden to wash his hands on his own – meaning that he’d do all steps without my assistance/intervention. Previously, I’d turn on the water, put the soap in his hands, rub them together… you get the drift.
In order to make it easier on him and cheaper on our budget, I decided that a foaming soap dispenser was a good idea. That way he’d have instant lather, instead of having to create it from goopy soap. I figured it would really save on soap, too, since he wouldn’t be sliming his hands excessively if he had the foam.
I was right. It was easier on him not having to create lather. Now, figuring out that he had to have the other hand under the pump when he pressed it down? THAT WAS THE HARD PART. Hah!
By the time he was a pro at it, the dispenser was almost empty. I eyed the bottle of Method Green Tea & Aloe Hand Soap that was up on top of the cabinet where he couldn’t reach it, longingly. But no, I didn’t want him Gooping!
Then it hit me: the stuff in the foaming dispenser really just looked like heavily watered down soap. So I tried it… I put in a small amount of soap and filled the rest of the dispenser up with water.
TOTALLY WORKED. And now we all wash our hands with that soap! We’re using way less soap for hand washing, which is cool and it falls under the “Reduce” category of Eco-Friendliness.
It will also save ya some bucks. They charge way more than they should for the watered down soap in the foam dispensers, so just buy that ONCE and then refill it yourself. And of course, if you choose an Eco-Safer soap like Method, or Lemon-Brite, you’re also treating Mother Earth kind by not dumping chemicals all up on her shiznite.
Do you have an article or post about something “green” that you do in your home, or on Eco-Friendly tips? Please feel free to link to it on the Mr. Linky below.
I used to do this type of post once a month, and it’s called Project Support Beauty in Nature. You can click that link (or the tab on the navigation bar under the website header) to read all about it, how it developed, and see a list of past posts and participants. I have had the project on hiatus for several months while I tried to find the emotional energy to write more again.
I’m happy to say, the project is back up and “airs” the 2nd Monday of every month.
Please feel free to add your “green” link to the Mr. Linky (just below) in this post anytime for the rest of this week.
Potty training can be green, too.
Posted by Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom in Making A Difference on November 10, 2008
John and I switched Braden to cloth diapers way back in February (Bum Genius 3.0) and our only regret was that we didn’t do it from day one. We are already planning on bringing up our next child in them from the very start. If you click the above link and read, you’ll see that cloth diapering is good for the earth and your wallet. The initial cost is nothing compared to the huge amount you’ll save in the long run.
But does the good stuff have to end during potty training? Must you run out a buy disposable potty training pants to get by?
Heck no. There are cloth training pants out there, people! And I can give you a personal recommendation because we’ve already tried some of them. Braden played around with potty training earlier this year and was doing very well for some time. He has since regressed and decided he’s not interested in full time potty-training anymore, so he’s back in diapers to take the stress off of all of us. We check in with him from time to time, and we know he’ll be ready eventually.
HOWEVER! We ordered “Dri Days Training Pants” from OneStepAhead.com. I was a bit nervous, not sure of what was going to show up or how I’d feel about them, but they are excellent. I was never worried that Braden would be standing in a puddle at any time while he was wearing these – they are incredibly absorbent for little underpants! At the same time, the absorbent pad is directly in contact with the child’s body, so the child can feel the wetness and learn to respond. Braden always seemed very comfortable while wearing them.
I was so pleased to find something that we could wash and use over and over again, rather than adding disposable training pants to the landfills out there. They are $9.95 a piece, so not cheap, but if you buy a handful and use them over and over again, you’ll end up spending less than on package after package of the disposable training pants (and use them over with more than one child!) and you can feel good that you’re doing the right thing, which is invaluable, truly.
The linky below is open to anyone who wants to link in any type of “green” post they have written within the past month, or in the next couple of weeks. Please link in anything you’ve written that’s applicable, and thank you in advance!
PSBN Update
Posted by Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom in Making A Difference on July 14, 2008
When I started this whole PSBN thing, I was really revved up about making changes in my family’s lifestyle that would result in a better outcome for the earth we live on. We made the decision to “Go Green(er)” in small steps, consistently, over time.
Some changes require no more than a re-ordering of the way you do things and a little conscious effort.
Other changes require a bit of financial investment.
We’ve done some of each of those kinds of things. I have, in fact, planned quite a lot of changes for us over the months to come. The only reason why we have to spread them out instead of doing them all at once is the cost factor of many of them.
I thought I’d give a running list of some of the changes we’ve made so far.
So far we:
- Went on a Trash Cleanup Walk in our old neighborhood. I plan on doing this again in our new neighborhood. Probably in the Fall, when we won’t die of a heatstroke.
- Started recycling our garbage at the curb again. (This was easy for us. Just one call and a Recycle Dumpster was delivered to us free of charge. Check with your local trash association to see what you can do. It never hurts to look into it!)
- Separate out all glass, since they won’t accept it at the curb, and save it to take to the Recycling Center ourselves. We’ll be making our first trip with a glass load this week.
- Switched from disposable to cloth diapers. Our only regret has been that we didn’t do cloth from the very beginning. (We’ve also started hanging these out to dry in the back yard instead of using the machine to dry them. Woot!)
- Conserve previously wasted shower water (cold water at the start goes in a bucket).
- Have gotten back to using more eco-friendly cleaners in our home.
- Started using rechargeable batteries. (haven’t posted about it yet, stayed tuned for future posts!)
- Bring reusable bags with us to the grocery store. (haven’t posted about it yet, stayed tuned for future posts!)
- Have become Energy Misers. Thermostat, lights, appliance, plugs, you name it!
- Switched over almost 100% of our incandescents for CFLs. Ongoing project since before PSBN, actually.
- Eat organic when we can… cost influences this greatly. We mind the list of things that are most important to buy organic. (haven’t posted about it yet, stayed tuned for future posts!)
- Plan all our errands in groups whenever we can, since we have to drive and burn fuel. With the price of gas lately, this is a huge money saver now, as well. I have always really wanted to get a bike with a kiddo seat, but it is really not safe to ride that way around here.
Future endeavors:
- Install a clothesline and procure a clothes wringer.
- Purchase and install rain collection barrells. (I want this so badly RIGHT NOW, it makes me twitch, but they’re expensive.)
- Finally purchase one-string produce bags (see where I mentioned them here) to take along with the reusable grocery bags.
- Start composting
There’s always more, of course, but those are the big ones I have in mind. John and I have agreed, it’s like a game now, almost. It’s fun to think up what we can do next and then meet the challenge.
Currently, we’re working on reducing the amount of toilet paper we use. We’re in Phase Two of the TP Challenge. By next month’s PSBN Scheduled Posting on August 11th, I’ll have some results for you and let you know how the whole thing went around here. I hope some of you are still taking this challenge with us! It really is a challenge. Who knew how mindless TP Grabbing on the crapper was?
As always, please link to your green articles here today. (Click through to see Mr. Linky.) And remember, there’s always more you can do, and it’s always worth it.
Could ya think of me when you wee?
Posted by Lotus, aka Sarcastic Mom in Making A Difference on June 9, 2008
When was the last time you really looked at what was in your hand when you’re sitting on the toilet?
If it’s anything but toilet paper, I don’t want to hear about it.
But how MUCH toilet paper are you using? John and I have agreed that over time, it’s easy to form a bad habit of grabbing way more than you need. And we’re pretty sure we could stand to use less.
For 4 weeks, we’re going to see how much TP we use. Then, for the next 4 weeks, we’re going to pay attention to what we “grab out of habit” and reduce it a little each time.
And I’m challenging you ALL to do this with us. You can think of me every time you sit on the crapper. What could be more fun?
It’ll be easy: just count up all the TP rolls in the house when you start, and keep track of anything that comes in during that time (TP purchases). When the first 4 weeks are up, take stock. The difference is how many rolls you used during the four weeks.
For the second half of the challenge, just make a conscious effort to use a little less than what you would normally “grab out of habit” when you’re using the toilet. At the end of four weeks, determine the difference between what you had to start with and what you’re left with, again.
With this TP CHallenge we’ll see what just a little change can do to save resources.
Start date for the First Four Weeks is Wednesday, June 11, 2008. End date is July 8, 2008.
Start date for the Second Four Weeks is July 9, 2008. End date is August 6, 2008.
The PSBN post for August is scheduled for August 11, 2008. I would love for you all to take this challenge and then post about it on August 11. Link in to my post that day and let’s share our results. It’s really a very easy step to take. It costs you absolutely no money, and barely any effort.
Are you with me? Let’s see what a small change in habit can save us.
Money on toilet paper, for sure. And you know what else?
I really like these thingies:
And maybe we can save some of them, if we change our habits indefinitely. Whatcha think?
Leave me a comment telling me you’re in.
(Mr. Linky is here so you can add links to any PSBN or any type of “Green” posts you’ve done. Thanks!)
Yeah, I know, lists/ugh. I've always been bad at accepting compliments, and this is no different. I was surprised and honored by this - someone thinks I've done a good job. Icky Listness aside, that makes me smile. :-)lotus works
lotus supports
lotus is impressed by her friends
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