Reduce my ecological footprint

After pondering water bottles for some time, I finally decided on a Nagalene. It is BPA free and made in the USA. I was going to get a Kleen Kanteen or something like it because it was stainless steel instead of plastic. However they are made in China. Given that the plastic is well made and free of toxins, I choose to support our country over China any day.

I’m regularly taking a trip to the recycling center, and I almost have completely stopped using paper towels (composting most of what I do use). My garden is starting to come in, and I canned some pickes last week. Going to do more canning which means less grocery shopping later.

I need to get a kleen kanteen as soon as I get paid and stop getting disposable water bottles. We need to get the house caulked up, but I’m not sure what else I can do on the cheap. There’s lots I will do once we get out of debt and have more money. I’m willing to take suggestions.

So, I need more clothespins, but I’m line drying 90% of my clothes. I only use the dryer one or two loads per week. Hopefully that will be even more reduced.

I need to focus more on buying local food. My garden is starting to produce, and I’ve gone on a banana strike. However, I still get tempted by certain fruits from far and away.

I now have a box to set my junk mail in for recycling, and I need to set out another bag for the few glass bottles that come in the house. So, that’s my real focus right now recycling/composting more and throwing away less. And, saying no to nonlocal produce.

Finally got my reusable bags a couple of weeks ago, and am getting in the habit of using them all the time. It amazes me how much stuff fits in them!

I’m recycling some as I compost & save a bunch of stuff like plastic jugs, newspapers and egg cartons for garden use. I do also set aside what plastic bags I don’t reuse and the rare aluminum can that comes in our house. I wish our local recycle center would take plastic, but not yet.

Now that it’s spring, I believe my next step should be putting up a clothes line. I’m also starting to focus on eating even more locally. I just came upon the 100 mile diet. I don’t know if I’ll ever be at 100% but I’m taking babysteps. http://100milediet.org/home/

Take cloth shopping bags instead of getting all those wasteful plastic ones at the checkout.