Spring Green

I just love all of the green popping out around me. Our trees have all these beautiful green leaf buds and it's as if creation is about to explode with extravagant green at any moment. It makes me feel so alive and thankful for the Lord's elaborate use of color in His creation.

As I view the beginnings of spring green around me, it has made me evaluate more of my journey into the beginnings of green living. I have sought to be more eco-minded this past year and have enjoyed reading many articles, books, and blogs on "creation care". I want to be a wise and kind steward of the world the Lord has made and treat it with love and respect. It is to His glory and for our good that we take steps to walk lightly on the earth. Christians should be leading the way in environmental concerns, but sadly we consume just as much as every one else and tend to have either the "it's all gonna burn" philosophy OR "the world was created for my disposal" mentality.

Here are some ways I have become more "green" in the past few years:

• Switch from paper towels, paper plates, paper napkins to cloth bar mops, regular plates, and cloth napkins. I also view the switch as being a way to contribute greater beauty and aesthetic pleasure to my home
• Buy toilet paper and other paper goods made by recycled materials
  
• Use dishwashing soap, dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent that is eco-friendly. I have begun using Seventh Generation and am able to buy it at a great price through Frontier.
• Begun using vinegar/water, baking soda and lemons for natural cleaning and also the Method line of cleaners that you can purchase at Target
• Begun using rechargable batteries
• Recycle paper, plastic bags, cardboard, egg cartons, glass, plastic containers, newspaper, magazines
• Use cloth diapers. I only do this while we are at home all day, but use disposables at night and when we are out and about. Have you looked at how amazing they are now?
• Make my own wipes solution and use with baby washcloths
  
• Breastfeed Will
  
• Use cloth bags when grocery shopping. I have a great selection of cloth tote bags that I have found at local thrift shops. I go through the check-out and hand them my cloth bags immediately and most places gladly put all of my things inside. Then I don't have the additional hassle of storing/recycling a bunch of plastic bags and it makes my life easier. These are really cool ones too.
• Shop at Goodwill, thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales. You can find amazing treasures and you are keeping these things out of landfills and giving new life to something tossed away! Reuse!
• Donate to Freecycle or local charities
  
• Buy products with less packaging where possible.
• Reuse postal shipping materials we have received.
  
• Beginning to switch to energy-efficient lighting
• Turn off lights when not in room or when leaving the house
• Use a/c sparingly
• Use air dry setting on dishwasher instead of heated dry
• Use natural body care products
• Walk to church on warm Sundays
• Shop at local businesses/support local farmers. We have an organic farmer's market twice a month in our downtown area. We buy local raw milk and meats there.
  
• Turn off water while brushing teeth
• Beginning to replace plastic storage containers with glass
• Teach my children about environmental responsibility
• Have the children wear the same pajamas two nights in a row
  
• Consume less, produce more

Every man is a consumer, and ought to be a producer. --Emerson

For the summer my goals are to:

• Try to barter/trade items with other families
• Borrow/share items with other families instead of purchasing new
• Install a retractable clothesline outside
  
• Reduce junk mail
• Read magazines at the library instead of subscribing
• Read news on-line
  
• Use eco-friendly paint
• Use the bulk bins at my local natural foods store
• Start a garden
• Compost!!
• Buy a Diva Cup
• Switch my Teflon cookware to cast-iron cookware and stainless steel
• Begin using flex-fuel in our minivan

The main thing is to begin to take baby steps and figure out just one thing this week that you could begin doing differently or deliberately. It feels good to begin to live with a broader perspective of stewardship and ways I can honor the Lord in the simple choices I make. For me it is an act of simple worship to my Creator when I take care of His creation.

Go green this Spring!