My environmental commitment.

My actual purpose for doing this blog was to make a more serious commitment to the environment. Of course that is not all I plan to write about but, the environment and getting green is really the point of the blog's name Get Green Things. I was composing a list of things 50 that I am committed to try at least once in an effort to clean up my impact on the planet. I was trying to get 100 but, I am not that creative. This is a start. Here goes-

1. Use less paper towels and Switch to post consumed paper towels

2. Making something useful out of trash.

3. Switch to post consumed toilet paper

4. switch to post consumed tissues

5. Grow three herbs

6. Go to a farmers market

7. Get 10 pieces of clothing at good will (that I wear regularly)

8. Get 5 pieces of organic clothing

9. Find three meatless meals my family will eat

10. Shorten shower time (with timer)

11. Take cloth bags to grocery store

12. Check tire pressure on car

13. Bring foil and bag for leftovers when I eat out

14. move dog door

15. Donate stuff to goodwill

16. Take a cup to Starbucks to refill

17. Find Environmentally friendly pest control

18. Find a green investment

19. Donate to a green cause

20. walk to the store

21. donate books

22. set some books “free”

23. hang clothes to dry

24. write a letter to my congressman

25. have an energy audit on my home

26. research more about vegetarian diet impact on the planet

27. use public transportation

28. find an environmental group in my area (meeting)

29. walk into the store with my bike and shop

30. reduce my junk mail

31. take earth day quiz

32. Find environmentally friendly cleaners

33. Use my printer less

34. learn about buying CO2 offsets

35. Plant a tree

36. learn about 5 major companies commitment to the environment

37. Bring cloth bags to the store for my groceries

38. Learn about composting

39. Take more nature pictures

40. Learn about the 100 mile diet

41. Learn more about local food sources

42. Switch to organic toiletries

43. Learn what the plastic recycling numbers mean

44. Take an environmentally friendly vacation (whatever that means)

45. Learn ways to waste less water

46. Learn about 5 species that are endangered right now

47. Adopt a dog from the pound

48. Clean our air filters (or get my honey to do it)

49. Find energy alternatives that might work for my home (and won't piss off my HOA)

50. Volunteer somewhere to help people and/or the environment

Whoo! That is a lot of stuff I need to try and learn about, I know. I am committed. Even though I haven't done the things on the list I am doing other things,(and somethings I am already slowly starting to do on on the list of 50, I just need to complete them) I list them below. I just know that if I want really lighten my foot print, I need to do and know more.

(Not to toot my own horn but, I am known by my family and friends as a fairly environmentally aware person)

Things I already do-

Drive a hybrid

recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and metal

Use energy efficient light bulbs (all of our bulbs in the entire house are EF)

Had extra insulation put in our home

Sun screens on all the windows and double pane windows

Installed programmable thermostats

Buy furniture from environmentally responsible vendor

Buy used furniture

Water conserving shower heads

Water conserving toilets

Shut off water when I brush my teeth

Put automatic shutting hinges on front door and garage door

Insulated the garage door

Use reusable plastic bottles for water (big and small)

Eat organic when ever possible

We work from home, less commuting

Combine errands together as much as possible

Donate to Goodwill

Buy recycled paper for printer

Try to buy things with recyclable or less packaging when ever possible

Dead pigeons

Lately, on my walks, I have noticed a lot of dead pigeons. They are not all in the same spot either. Today, there was one floating in the canal and just a wing (of a different bird) on the walking path. The other day, a baby bird, dead out side of my house, and another adult bird dead on the street a little ways down. I have even seen a few on the street when I am driving. I can't bring myself to photograph any of them to show you. That would be sick.
I know in recent years, Arizona has been seeing more and more pigeons. A few houses in my area have had problems with them nesting on their roofs and making a huge mess. I wonder if it possible that someone is poisoning them. Could all these birds be getting sick? Call me a tad paranoid in the day of the "bird flu" and West Nile virus. I also saw on the news we have a new breed of mosquito that is more aggressive and harder to get rid of then the usual ones. Super bugs? Oh my!
I was looking around on line and in Arizona, they said to call animal control for all birds, except for pigeons. So, is it just expected that they will be dead all over the city, so who cares?
Another possibility; I am cursed and this is the first sign? I don't remember crossing a black cat, breaking a mirror, or getting hexed by a witch so, who knows, maybe I wasn't paying attention. Though, I don't know which is worse, the environment is cursed or just me.
A flower for the sacrificed ones.

Stay Educated

Last night I was watching 20/20 and they were busting all kinds of common myths.One of the myths was that ethanol is a good earth friendly alternative to fossil fuels. The shock for me, was the claim that the growth and production of ethanol could hurt the environment more than help it. Then, I ran across this article on the USA today web site.
I think that the point here is that we have to keep pushing ahead and stay educated. The best thing to do is use less gas. It is easy to do. Get a car with good gas mileage, and drive less.
Shame on our politicians on both sides of the isle for pushing something down our throat that surely won't help anyone except the corn farmers and the producers of the ethanol! If we let them get away with this, even they will regret the short lifespan of the planet. Even if they got rich doing it!!!
If you are wondering, that is my Prius.

Feeling green today!

I am feeling a little green today. My son wanted to go to his friend's house today so, my and my husband took him via bike ride. His friend is about three miles away. It was fun except, my son complained a bit about how I was going the wrong way half the time. I know the earth really appreciated it so it was worth it. After that, my husband and I road down the canal behind our home. It is so pretty back there. There is miles and miles of bicycle paths. We did 17 miles when it was all said and done! We passed dogs, horses, cows, bulls, ducks (and other birds) and Lamas (yes, there is a lama rescue near my house and I didn't even know it until a a week or two ago)!! Amazing! You would think that I live out in the country, but I don't.

I think that biking is my new favorite thing to do! It really is fun. Actually, funner than when I was a kid because, now I can go as far as I want to. I was so depressed recently, that I couldn't run anymore (due to back problems) but, I think that I can do this the rest of my life! Yippy! The photo is of a portion of the canal near my home. I plan on taking my camera with me on a ride so I can share the wonder that is near my home. My only problem is, my husband gets bored when I am taking so many photos. Can't blame him. He is just stuck waiting around. Happy weekend!!!