Eco Things

It’s Easy Being Green

I have been asked to write a newsletter article on sustainability for a childcare group- Little Peoples – that have facilities all around NSW. Great to see organisations interested in incorporating green and sustainable ideas into their policies and resources. Nice work Little Peoples! Thought I’d share the short article here as well.

It’s Easy Being Green

Daydreaming about our children’s future is a treasured pastime of all parents. What kind of adult will they be? What role in society will they play? What will make them happy? And will they come and visit me?!  I also wonder about the type of world that they’ll be living in when they’re adults. For me, being ‘sustainable’ is all about the kind of planet we are leaving for our children and grandchildren…. And I’m excited!

As I read books to my children about the importance of recycling, endangered species or explain to them why we aren’t going to buy the coolest Ben 10 plastic toothbrush they’ve ever seen, I look forward to the day when all the toothbrush options are compostable, when all the cleaning products are eco-friendly and when the concept of landfill and non-renewable energy will be in my grandchildren’s storybooks – reminding them of our wayward past.

Why am I excited?  Because I no longer need to daydream. Our society has all the answers and options for living sustainably for our planet and we can do it affordably and without giving up life’s luxuries.

 

If you are interested in making your environmental footprint, and those of your children, smaller – then here are a few easy steps to get you going in the right direction.

*Follow the 3Rs. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce the amount of ‘things’ you buy. Reuse things you do buy – eg. Food jars into storage containers or vases, used pallets into tables, beds, fences, compost bins etc, etc. And anything you can’t find a new use for, recycle it.

*When you buy, look for eco-friendly options. Eg. Cleaning products, clothing, sustainable timbers, eco-paint, second-hand goods.

*Compost

*Grow your own ORGANIC fruit and vegetables.

*Energy use – try and minimise consumption as much as possible. Turn the heater down, use fans not air-con, hang out your washing to dry rather than using a dryer, turn off the lights. Opt to buy ‘green power’, put up solar panels or solar hot water. Or, do as my husband is doing, build your own solar heater to warm up your house for free!

*Offset some of the ‘footprint’ you are leaving by planting trees. Trees soak up lots of carbon dioxide – great in the battle against global warming.

*Buying for kids. Yep, kids are expensive, but let’s not make them cost the earth as well. Buy biodegradable disposable nappies and wipes (normal disposables take 500 – 600 years to break down), buy compostable toothbrushes. And I know it’s hard, buy TRY and avoid plastic!! There are many beautiful and educational toys out there made of wood or recycled materials!

 

There are so many ways that we can all make a positive impact on the future of this planet, and with so many people wanting the best possible future for their children, I have no doubt the future is clean and green!

 

 

One Comment

  • Fiona

    Amen & well said Kirst. Al and I don’t have babes but I look forward to the day when we retire to a house in a more regional area. I’m already getting excited about the type of house we will build or renovate with hemp building products , recycled building materials and green technologies. I want to have chooks, grow veges and compost. In the meantime we live in a 3 bedroom apartment 3 stories up….. So I recently purchased from Bunnings some compostable garbage bags for all my vege scraps. I’m changing my cleaning products to greener choices and am trying to be a little more conscious about what lights we have on. I save all my jars and Heather one of my girlfriends and I are planning a jam and pickle making day in the future. I am also going to one of the local veg markets to try and reduce the kilometres my vege travel to my table…..guess what everything is tasting better and I think we are saving a bit of money……and doing our bit to help protect the planet….. Very satisfying for the body and the soul xx

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