Things I Didn’t Know, But Should’ve…
Posted by Abbey Lile-Taylor on Growers & Grocers.
I’m pretty new to this whole…”green living”…thing. I’ve lived most of my life in a very sheltered little bubble where Abbey did what Abbey wanted to do. But, I guess I’ve grown up recently, because now I suddenly see the world in a while new light.
As I’ve begun my own personal journey into making our world survive a little longer, I’ve learned a few things… things that should have been obvious to me… But at least I’m learning them now so I can do something to change them.
*Eating locally doesn’t just help our local organic farmers… we’re also helping out Mother Earth.
Rich Pirog of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture reports that the average fresh food item on our dinner table travels 1,500 miles to get there. Buying locally produced food eliminates the need for all that fuel-guzzling transportation. [from about.com]
*Plastic Bags are piling up… and they aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Bring Your Own Bag!!
…Americans throw away almost 100 billion plastic bags each year and only 1% to 3% are recycled. Environmentalists warn paper is not much better than plastic because trees have to be cut down and energy expended to make them. They also say cutting back a little could make a big difference. The Sierra Club estimated that if every person in New York City used one less grocery bag per year, it would reduce waste by 5 million pounds and save $250,000 on disposal. [from usatoday.com]
* Cleaning products should be environmentally friendly… not just for your own health, but for the health of our groundwater.
After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not… [from thegreenguide.com]
Slowly, but surely, I am learning what I need to know to keep my earth beautiful. What about you??
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A little quiz: How many worlds will you need if you keep living the exact same way you are now? Play the Consumer Consequences Game…
Photo from Photoshopsupport.com.
