Wellness Wednesday

Motivation to continue keeping New Year's Resolutions:

Michael Pollan on Organic Food

Monday Morning Amusement

Quote for the Day

"Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell others."

~Mary Oliver

Wasting Gasoline

This infographic is very eye-opening.  Growing up I was taught that turning your engine off and back on wasted more energy than letting it idle.  I think that was a rumor started by the oil companies.  (I was told the same thing about turning off the lights in a room.)

Eco Review

Since it's a new year, I've decided to reflect on my journey to live as environmentally sustainable as possible.  Below are some of things I do to reduce my footprint on the earth.  I've included a few items that I want to incorporate into my routine in 2014.  

Energy

• heat with wood using dead wood from the farm and wood given to us from tree trimming
• 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
• transitioning to compact fluorescent lights
• unplug energy vampires
• plan errands to save on gas
• don't use unnecessary appliances (e.g. electric can opener)
• plan to buy used toaster oven to reduce energy use with regular oven

Shopping

• plan/group errands to save on gas
• use own shopping bags
• don't buy frivolous items or engage in recreational shopping
• buy used items when possible
• buy paper products made from recycled paper

Pets

• use wheat-based or pine-based kitty litter that comes in paper bag or box
• discard spent kitty litter in woods
• don't use flea preparations unless absolutely necessary
• use empty plastic food bags to scoop kitty litter
• use old plastic dog food bags as trashcan liner (she's is on special diet)
• only get necessary vaccinations for pets
• plan to make own dog food from venison hunted on farm

Laundry

• make laundry soap with soap nuts and essential oils
• compost spent soap nuts
• buy environmentally-friendly laundry detergent for heavily soiled clothes
• use an environmentally-friendly stain remover
• hang most of my clothes to dry
• wash/dry full loads
• wear jeans and sweaters more than once
• compost dryer lint
• recycle any containers
• plan to install clothesline
• plan to make own laundry soap for heavily soiled clothes

Bathroom

• make my own cleaners
• use rags for cleaning
• use toilet paper made from recycled paper

Personal Care

• use bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner
• use carrier oils to moisturize
• make own deodorant
• make own toothpaste
• 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
• stopped highlighting hair
• plan to make own eyeshadow
• plan to try the "no poo" shampoo method that uses baking soda and apple cider vinegar
• plan to switch to bar soap for hands in the master bathroom

Kitchen

• grow much of our own food
• Bill hunts, fishes, and raises his own animals for meat
• compost
• cook from scratch
• make rice milk
• bake bread
• make croutons from homemade bread
• grow micro-greens and sprouts inside
• make salad dressing
• make vanilla extract
• make vegetable stock
• brew tea from organic, fair trade, loose tea leaves 
• buy milk in glass bottles from Virginia dairy
• buy in bulk using own containers
• 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
• wash and reuse ziplock bags
• plan to use dried beans

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

General

• recycle whenever possible
• reduce packaging (especially plastic) whenever possible
• compost whenever possible
• drive only when necessary
• limit spending to necessities
• buy energy efficient appliances and electronics when old ones need replacing
• As this is a journey, I'm always looking for new ideas and suggestions and would love to hear what others are doing.

Happy New Year!

Time is the New Year's bountiful blessing:

three hundred sixty-five bright mornings and star-lit evenings;

fifty-two promising weeks;

twelve transformative months full of beautiful possibilities;

and four splended seasons.

A simply abundant year to be savored.

~Sarah Ban Breathnach