Well the G3club of San Diego met yesterday – well two of us met and had a great conversation. Granted not all of it was about shopping, but we did get a chance to talk about a few things that have been more difficult for us to find/do/figure out, as well as some good conversation with Jenn’s roommate who passed through our conversation a few times.
One of the things that still baffles us is this whole recycling thing. I think it is one of those issues that the more you know the less you know. So we continue to tackle that subject, especially with plastic. For an interesting website visit life without plastic Can we move to a world w/o plastic – I for one think that would be a huge challenge.
The other thing that we decided to do here – since food seems to be more important to us than clothes at the moment – is that Jenn and I are going to make a local and seasonal food list. There are a few in the area – but it seems hard to find ones that makes sense to us. So we are compiling a monthly list of in season and local fruits and veggies. (local is within 100 miles) Wish us luck – we are starting with just July and August and see where that takes us.
What I have found so far from “reading” this book with others is that we are all interested in ways that we can be involved with being greener – whatever that might look like. AND the more we talk about living more sustainably in our lives the more it becomes infectious in the lives of those around us. This is getting more and more exciting!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Our collective green power!!!
Rachel: Erin - we had a small G3 meeting here in MN - but one with great conversation and awesome ideas!!! We did revisit the exercise chapter, since we did not meet last month. We found that each of us comfortable with the physcial part of exercise - but less so with the mediation and quiet pieces. It got me thinking about our conversation about nuturing ourselves through doing someting mental, physical, spiritual and emtional every day. I will put some more thought into that - and we can share with the group.
We did get on to talking about shopping. We all felt as though we are much more mindful about what we are bringing into our homes. Bethanie shared her loved of second-hand stores and tips to shopping there. We also talked about the differences between buying something second-hand and buying organic made products. Out of the entire discussion came the commitment that we are going to do a Green Girls Clothing Swap here in MN!!! :) I have been doing some research - and we are planning on having it sometime this summer. Maybe we can do it when you are home. So - to all of the MN Green Girls more information to come.
Mom noted at the end of the meeting that groups of women certainly can do powerful things. We are all on our own journey of green"ness" - but together we can make such a bigger impact. So - I am in awe of all of the power we have individually - but how that is maginfied when we work together.
We did get on to talking about shopping. We all felt as though we are much more mindful about what we are bringing into our homes. Bethanie shared her loved of second-hand stores and tips to shopping there. We also talked about the differences between buying something second-hand and buying organic made products. Out of the entire discussion came the commitment that we are going to do a Green Girls Clothing Swap here in MN!!! :) I have been doing some research - and we are planning on having it sometime this summer. Maybe we can do it when you are home. So - to all of the MN Green Girls more information to come.
Mom noted at the end of the meeting that groups of women certainly can do powerful things. We are all on our own journey of green"ness" - but together we can make such a bigger impact. So - I am in awe of all of the power we have individually - but how that is maginfied when we work together.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Traveling and Being Green
It is nice to be back home after a whirlwind visit to our nation's capitol. Traveling certainly made me ultra-conscious of how difficult it is to maintain a gorgeously green lifestyle. The excess of food, water bottles, gift bags, paper handouts etc. was overwhelming. I did bring along my own water bottle and was able to use that throughout the day and made sure to hang up my towels so that they didn't get washed. It dawned on me that my culmulative actions at home are becoming easier - but when I am out of my element it is easy to slip back into prior habits.
How does everyone else maintain their G3 status when traveling?
Back on the homefront my garden is growing (as is the grass .... need to mow!), the compost it composting and I am intent on seeking out some nice second-hand stores for when the "need" for a new outfit strikes!! I would love to hear from everyone else how they are doing.
How does everyone else maintain their G3 status when traveling?
Back on the homefront my garden is growing (as is the grass .... need to mow!), the compost it composting and I am intent on seeking out some nice second-hand stores for when the "need" for a new outfit strikes!! I would love to hear from everyone else how they are doing.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
shopping and TMI/S
Erin: Rachel, I have been thinking a lot about shopping and what things I bring into my house and then have to take care of. In the past few years I have spent a lot of time trying to weed through all the things that Tim and I both brought into our marriage and what things I cared to keep moving around. (can you believe that we have moved 4 times in the last 5 years!) All that packing makes me hyper aware of STUFF. IN addition to which we now have added "necessities" for Dara. It can get to be over whelming. TOO MUCH STUFF
One of the women in my church commented to me the other day that even though she tries to keep on top of it all she feels there is just too much information coming at her. So she would rather just not do anything, but then there is all this guilt. Which makes me think of a few things.
1 - What makes becoming "gorgeously green" more do-able?
2 - What gives people the courage and/or energy to make the necessary changes?
Wherever people are on this journey, I think the questions still are important to ask. For me, right now, I am inspired by the women in these discussions, I am inspired by the more eco-friendly products that I see - which brings me back to shopping and too much information/stuff.
I think it is important that we share our conversations and stories, but I also think it is important to remind each other that no one person can save the world. If we can each take ONE opportunity, learn ONE new habit, share ONE success then we are well on the way to a greener lifestyle - What do you think?
Rachel: Erin, yes - I need to remind myself that it really is about ONE thing at a time. I too am struggling a bit with the shopping thing. I think that I really don't buy very much stuff - but then why do I have so much garbage? And why aren't all of my closets nice and roomy? Uggg .... I have to constantly remind myself to reuse/repurpose the things that I already have. I thought a bit about the San Francisco Compact - where the group didn't buy anything new for a whole year (except for necessities)!!!! Now, I don't think that I am ready to go that far --- but what I am going to commit to in June is to scope out some second-hand clothing stores .... but the cool ones!!! When I lived in San Franciso there were some great places to shop for second-hand clothing (some never worn) but it felt like you were in a hip boutique. I know they must exist here - so I am going to do some scoping. Plus, maybe I can get some stuff that I could NEVER afford new. Again, it isn't completely ceasing to be part of the economy - just doing my ONE thing to be gorgeous and green!!! :)
The other thing that I neeed to remember - is that this is a process. It is not about doing something one month - and then stopping while doing something new. It is about making small changes that turn into my lifestyle. I am still using coconut oil every day on my skin - and as a deep moisturizer for my hair. And I LOVE how my skin looks. I still am struggling with other products .... but am making some progress. I will put out my plea again for a great sunscreen!!!! I am meditating irregularly - but better than nothing at all - and the same with my sun salutations. I have yet to go to the Bikram Yoga class - out of total fear of looking stupid. .... So I need to get over myself and just do it. I know that I have all of the G3 girls behind me!! I am faithfully going to the library, bringing my own bags not only to the grocery store but to Nordstrom, buying as much local food as I can (too bad bananas don't grow in MN!!!), composting, trying to not use my car if my destination is less than 10 miles away, using green cleaning products, tending to my garden and I have not used my dryer in the past 6 weeks (and, yes, mom, I have done laundry!!). I have not turned on my AC (even when it was 97 in MN in May!!!) and am using my push reel mower - even if it only bends over the dandelions. So -- all of my ONE things have turned into a greener lifestyle. All of the ONE things do add up --- and I would love to hear from everyone else what their ONE thing is.
One of the women in my church commented to me the other day that even though she tries to keep on top of it all she feels there is just too much information coming at her. So she would rather just not do anything, but then there is all this guilt. Which makes me think of a few things.
1 - What makes becoming "gorgeously green" more do-able?
2 - What gives people the courage and/or energy to make the necessary changes?
Wherever people are on this journey, I think the questions still are important to ask. For me, right now, I am inspired by the women in these discussions, I am inspired by the more eco-friendly products that I see - which brings me back to shopping and too much information/stuff.
I think it is important that we share our conversations and stories, but I also think it is important to remind each other that no one person can save the world. If we can each take ONE opportunity, learn ONE new habit, share ONE success then we are well on the way to a greener lifestyle - What do you think?
Rachel: Erin, yes - I need to remind myself that it really is about ONE thing at a time. I too am struggling a bit with the shopping thing. I think that I really don't buy very much stuff - but then why do I have so much garbage? And why aren't all of my closets nice and roomy? Uggg .... I have to constantly remind myself to reuse/repurpose the things that I already have. I thought a bit about the San Francisco Compact - where the group didn't buy anything new for a whole year (except for necessities)!!!! Now, I don't think that I am ready to go that far --- but what I am going to commit to in June is to scope out some second-hand clothing stores .... but the cool ones!!! When I lived in San Franciso there were some great places to shop for second-hand clothing (some never worn) but it felt like you were in a hip boutique. I know they must exist here - so I am going to do some scoping. Plus, maybe I can get some stuff that I could NEVER afford new. Again, it isn't completely ceasing to be part of the economy - just doing my ONE thing to be gorgeous and green!!! :)
The other thing that I neeed to remember - is that this is a process. It is not about doing something one month - and then stopping while doing something new. It is about making small changes that turn into my lifestyle. I am still using coconut oil every day on my skin - and as a deep moisturizer for my hair. And I LOVE how my skin looks. I still am struggling with other products .... but am making some progress. I will put out my plea again for a great sunscreen!!!! I am meditating irregularly - but better than nothing at all - and the same with my sun salutations. I have yet to go to the Bikram Yoga class - out of total fear of looking stupid. .... So I need to get over myself and just do it. I know that I have all of the G3 girls behind me!! I am faithfully going to the library, bringing my own bags not only to the grocery store but to Nordstrom, buying as much local food as I can (too bad bananas don't grow in MN!!!), composting, trying to not use my car if my destination is less than 10 miles away, using green cleaning products, tending to my garden and I have not used my dryer in the past 6 weeks (and, yes, mom, I have done laundry!!). I have not turned on my AC (even when it was 97 in MN in May!!!) and am using my push reel mower - even if it only bends over the dandelions. So -- all of my ONE things have turned into a greener lifestyle. All of the ONE things do add up --- and I would love to hear from everyone else what their ONE thing is.
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