It is everywhere, on your TV, in your magazines, in your head. You can't escape it...GO GREEN. This catchy little slogan has gone past trendy and is now a permanent fixture of our current society. But how many of us actually live a "green" life? And what does that even mean? I'm sure it has a different meaning for everyone, but for me it means making realistic and smart lifestyle choices that benefit my family and mother nature. Back in the day before being green was a cultural phenomenon, my dad was recycling everything under the sun and by the time I graduated high school, I could not get his "turn the light off when you leave the room, Jessica!" phrase out of my head. Recycle and conserve energy by flipping a light switch, how easy is that?! Once I became a homeowner and began paying our electric bill, my dad's phrase had a little more meaning to me than it did as an adolescent with an attitude!
Recycling would always be a part of our routine at home, but for a lazy Lou like me, I was always finding an excuse to put off the monthly trip to the recycling center. Then my prayers were answered, and Green Door Recycling joined the Emporia business community. Unlike other areas, our city does not provide recycling pick up, along with the trash--although they should! Enter Green Door Recycling, a curbside pickup service. Amy Becker & her crew provide service with a smile and have recycled a ridiculous amount of otherwise trash in just a few short years. Emporians, check it out! www.greendoorrecycling.com
B and I also love to garden, and love the tasty benefits of growing produce right in our backyard. We are still beginning gardeners, and usually stick to staples like tomatoes, onions, lettuce and peppers but we dream of the day when we have a nice chunk of land for corn, okra, beans, squash, melons, eggplant, strawberries and anything else that can survive the Kansas summer sun! In the meantime, we supplement our produce with goods from the Farmers' Market, which has grown exponentially the last two years. How lucky are we to live in a small community with individuals that are dedicated to providing LOCAL, fresh food?! I mean, what is more important than what we put into our bodies? Although not everything is organic, the produce is free of preservatives, hasn't traveled thousands of miles from a mass-producing farm in Mexico or California, and is in season, which means the flavor is beyond anything you will ever find at Wal-Mart. Emporia's organic food selection is pretty darn crappy, and I will use any excuse I can to make a Whole Foods run to KC from late fall to early spring.
I can't wait to get Owen out in the garden pulling weeds with Mama (seriously, it is rewarding and relaxing---call me crazy!) and planting seeds in the spring. I want to teach him that food should be as natural as possible and not come from a box or a drive thru--although we do still indulge in the occasional Taco Bell or Subway yumminess. Everything in moderation, right?!
Now that I'm a mama, I am looking for even more ways to live a cleaner, greener life. I have long been a fan of Burt's Bees lotions, body washes, etc. and I would say 95% of my natural care products, including makeup, is all natural, paraben and phthalate free. Happy to see the big box stores like Target starting to carry these brands, which makes shopping easier. I am also going to try to green up my laundry routine. I just ordered some wooly dryer balls from www.hipmountainmama.com, which take the place of disposable dryer sheets and last for 3-4 years. They absorb moisture, which makes drying time shorter, and also help make clothes super soft. We will see! I also ordered Soap Nuts, which is a biodegradable laundry soap made from a dried fruit--I am a little more skeptical about these, but still excited to wash my clothes with nuts :)
We aren't perfect; my husband drives a gas guzzlin' Ford and the lighting from fluorescent light bulbs give me a headache, but like everything else, we are a work in progress just trying to live a simple and happy life. Saving money and saving the planet is just an added bonus! Always excited to learn about new green products, choices and routines at home...please share yours!
