Happy Earth Day!

Today's day was meant for enjoying all of the colors of the season, all of the splendor of spring. We didn't do a lot of thinking/talking about the polar bears, or global warming, or plastics, or waste disposal. We noticed plants on our walk home from Norah's afternoon class, we picked some dandelions, and we talked about flowers. What colors we saw and loved! And then, well, Norah melted down and I spent the remainder of the 20-40 minute walk, policing the Harvey and Norah in the stroller in between her wails.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about ways that we as a family can live lighter on this planet and here are some of the actions I have taken::

:: bring tupperware to use for a take out container. The amount of trash that we accumulate when we take out dinner is truly disturbing. Many places here in Portland offer compostable take-out "boxes" but most still offer the standard plastic. So I bring my own when we call in an order and arrive early. I am also trying to remember to keep a container in the car so that if/when we eat out and want to take food home, I will have something to use.

::actually use those reusable grocery bags of mine.

:: buy in bulk. I swore off singer serving containers a couple of years ago, but I still have loads of plastic that accumulates from condiments, yogurt containers, and snack foods. I am going to invest in a Costco membership when we get back east.

:: buy food from local farmers


And here are some ideas I have for our our new house::

:: start composting again. This time we will build a pile that is not the eye sore that our old pile was.

:: harvest our rain water to use for the garden.

:: replace our lawn with native plants and vegetables.

And so much more, but one step at a time...