Earth Day

Source

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd share an update of the post I did here where I shared some of the ways I try to live lightly and sustainably on the earth.

Energy

• heat with wood using dead wood from the farm and wood given to us from tree trimming
• turn down the heat at night to save wood
• use flannel sheets in the winter; smooth cotton in the summer
• turn off lights when not in a room
• turn on lights only when necessary
• set thermostat to 81 degrees in summer
• use ceiling fans in summer
• transitioned to compact fluorescent lights for the lights we use regularly
• unplug energy vampires
• plan errands to save on gas
• don't use unnecessary appliances (e.g. electric can opener)

Shopping

• plan/group errands to save on gas
• use own shopping bags
• shop for groceries at Aldi when I can't buy in bulk because shoppers are expected to use their own bags (or pay for them if you don't) and because I like the corporate ethic
• don't buy frivolous items or engage in recreational shopping
• buy used items when possible
• buy paper products made from recycled paper

Pets

• our current cat doesn't use a litter box and goes outside to do his business
• don't use flea preparations unless absolutely necessary
• only get necessary vaccinations for pets
• make dog food from venison and vegetables from farm, supplemented with brown rice and oatmeal
• plan to make dog shampoo using soapnuts, essential oils, and neem oil to deter fleas

Laundry

• have been using 7th Generation powdered detergent that comes in cardboard boxes (need to return to using soap nuts and essential oils)
• use an environmentally-friendly stain remover
• hang most of our laundry to dry by hanging clothes on new outdoor clothesline, hangers in laundry room, and laundry rack set up in bathtub
• wash/dry full loads
• wear jeans and sweaters more than once
• compost dryer lint
• recycle any containers
• still plan to make own laundry soap for heavily soiled clothes

Bathroom

• make my own cleaners
• use rags for cleaning (made from worn out t-shirts, sheets, and towels)
• use toilet paper made from recycled paper

Personal Care

• use bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner (the soap and shampoo are packaged in paper; I need to find a source that packages conditioner bars in paper)
• tried locally made bar soap on my hair with no negative results so I might eliminate the bar shampoo
• might try the "no poo" shampoo method that uses baking soda and apple cider vinegar, although if plain soap becomes a good substitute for the bar shampoo, I might just try the vinegar rinse to replace the conditioner bar
• use carrier oils to moisturize my face and body (I'm using the last of my almond oil and will find a more environmentally friendly oil to replace it)
• make makeup remover
• make deodorant
• make toothpaste
• plan to try olive oil based soap a recommended by Ariana Schwartz in Paris to Go
• make own liquid hand soap
• buy natural mascara
• use other cosmetics sparingly and buy organic when possible
• let hair air dry
• use paper-based cotton swabs
• have embraced my graying hair
• still plan to switch to bar soap for hands in the master bathroom
• Bill uses a safety razor, shaving soap, mug, and brush
• bought a vintage Lady Gillette and use it with regular double-edged razor blades
• shave with bar soap

Kitchen

• grow much of our own food using chemical-free methods, of course
• Bill hunts, fishes, and raises his own animals for meat
• compost
• cook from scratch
• need to return to making rice milk once my replacement part for my blender arrives
• bake bread and do it in bulk to conserve energy
• make croutons from homemade bread
• grow micro-greens and sprouts inside
• make salad dressing
• make vanilla extract
• need to return to making vegetable stock
• brew iced tea from organic, fair trade, loose tea leaves using green and black teas, plus rooibos
• plan to make my own hot tea blends (I bought bulk herbs to do this and did a swap of excess with a friend)
• need to return to buying milk in glass bottles from Virginia dairy
• buy in bulk using own containers
• buy online when it makes sense to save the gas and wear on vehicle, and instead to let the regular UPS truck deliver the goods
• use cloth napkins
• avoid use of paper/plastic cups, plates, utensils when we entertain a crowd
• make my own cleaners
• use rags
• use paper towels made from recycled paper when necessary
• store leftovers in reusable, lidded containers
• wash and reuse ziplock bags when possible
• wash and reuse aluminum foil
• use dried beans most of the time, purchased in bulk when possible
• use kitchen cloths rather than synthetic sponges
• use copper scrubbers that can be recycled when worn out (this I learned from reading Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home)
• use produce netting (such as from onions) as scrubbers when the copper is too harsh
• use dishwasher to wash full loads of dishes

Office

• buy printer paper made from recycled paper
• use printer only when necessary
• recycle ink cartridges
• print in greyscale/draft mode whenever possible
• use scrap paper
• print 2-sided when possible
• turn off printer when not in use
• turn off laptop at night
• receive paperless statements for credit cards
• pay bills online when possible
• use refillable mechanical pencil
• I've tried using electronic sources for my various lists and calendar but it doesn't work for me; I need to see it on paper

General

• recycle whenever possible
• reduce packaging (especially plastic) whenever possible
• compost whenever possible
• use various used plastic bags to line trashcans
• drive only when necessary and plan trips to take care of several errands at one time
• limit spending to necessities plus an occasional treat
• buy energy efficient appliances and electronics when old ones need replacing
• buy used electronics when possible (just replaced my e-reader with one I bought on Ebay)
• keep vehicles as long as possible by doing routine maintenance
• use library resources, including ebooks and online magazines
• have some living plants in the house to clean the air

Any tips or suggestions?