A week or so ago a read a comment somewhere in reply to a blog about being 'crunchy' and how it's not always easy. How it takes thought and planning and even more money to be 'crunchy' and 'green.' The reply was something to the effect of: No, it's not more expensive. You just do without the nice makeup/lotions/shampoo/phone/computer etc, make your own cleaning supplies, grow and can your own vegetables, and this frees up money to buy local and organic.
Well then.
Color me purple. Because I am very, very not green. This comment made me all kinds of angry.
I do not have to give up my fancy make up, or nice lotion, or a good phone to be green. I do not have to give up feeling beautiful to be eco friendly. I will not buy all my clothes from resale shops so I can buy only local produce. For me? That is extreme. For this woman? Perhaps not.
I grew up with styrofoam containers from McDonalds. When Dad changed his oil he poured it out on the shoulder of the road. Dirt roads were oiled on a regular basis to keep the dust down. Peanut butter came in a glass jar that may or may not have gotten reused. We also drank from the neighbors hose when we got thirsty.
So, you see, we've come a long way.
I am actively trying to 'reduce my carbon footprint.' We recycle what we can. I cloth diapered. I buy organic and local when I can. But I'll be totally honest with you. In the middle of July when I get a craving for grapes? I'm buying them. Right now I can't get enough avocados. So I just made some guacamole. (I did eat it with organic tortilla chips.) During the summer I frequent all the local farm stands. But organic milk is almost twice that of non organic, and we go through, on average 4 gallons a week. Organic eggs are also at least twice the cost of regular. (But they look so.much.better.) The local farm has farm fresh eggs . . . for about $3.00 a dozen. That's a weekend breakfast. What do I do for the rest of the week?
Also, it is 2011. And while I firmly believe we have to be 'green' and take care of the earth and ourselves, we are also so blessed to have access to foods from all over the world at any given time. And I take advantage of this.
I do buy organic. I do buy local. I do buy all natural. But I do not believe I have to starve myself of what I find pleasing and beautiful to do that.
I don't know. This woman may not have found it difficult to give up those things. 'Fancy' make up may not have been a big deal for her. But for me? I will cut you if you take away my Bare Minerals. I need that concealer on a daily basis.
Update: . . . while 'formulating' this post I watched a little show called 'Undercover Boss' about water treatment plants . . . which led to research about 'bio-solids' which led to defining what they are and what is 'organic.' You do not want to miss this!
Like you, we are trying to be more eco-conscious. We re-use everything we can and we re-cycle anything possible. I try to limit my use of things that I tend to abuse...like paper towels. I will sometimes go to the farmers' market, but it's not always convenient when I'm chained to my desk for 10 hours a day. I do what I can and I'm so much more aware of what I'm doing and how I'm using things. But I agree with you...I'm not giving up my favorite shampoo or my makeup. And that doesn't make me a bad person.
ReplyDeleteWe recycle and use CFC bulbs, but I also drive a huge Suburban and I buy what I want. I don't see that changing in the near future.
ReplyDeleteOkay....my brother is all for local and organic, but he doesn't have kids and CAN AFFORD IT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLike you, we try to do that when we can. We DO buy organic milk, but we only go through 1.5 gallons in a week, because Chris is on Lactaid milk and that isn't available in organic (where I live anyway), so it's just Nick.
We do get farm fresh eggs, and we recycle when we can. I'd LOVE to buy ALL organic stuff, but you know what, I have 2 kids, and a house, and my hours just got cut at work. So, I do what I can.
You know I get this. I do so many things that are green but also so many ungreen things that would make the ultra crunchies fall over dead.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tough thing to balance.
::runs with Clorox wipes::
Uh, yes. I was all proud of myself for joining the carpool, but then dropped out when I had to add daycare drop off to my morning... my point being that some sacrifices are easy and some end up impractical, but doing something is better than doing nothing!
ReplyDeleteBare Minerals is made with MINERALS though! That has be "natural" right? :)
YES! Being green is pricey. And NO I have a busy, working life and will not give up my makeup, grow my own vegetables, etc etc etc. It's just not practical for us but I do what I can to make the tiniest difference. It all adds up. Right?
ReplyDeleteUgh, eco-mom movement is great, but a little over-bearing at times. No one told me...
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, you can still be green, but moderately un-green at times too.
I blogged about it awhile ago, organic sleepers too??? What???
http://www.amountainmomma.com/2010/08/17/how-to-beat-the-heat/
I completely agree with you. I think some people tend to go overboard with the whole organic and being green thing.
ReplyDeleteI try to buy local produce when I can. I even join a CSA for a local farm from June - October. And I have a garden in my backyard but it doesn't produce nearly enough of anything for my family of 4.
I am completely paperless in my kitchen though. We use cloth napkins and cloth paper towels. It's been about 2 years of doing that and I don't think I'll ever go back to using paper.
I also cloth diapered one of my kids.
Organic foods/products are so much more expensive to buy. It's just not really possible when you're on a strict budget. I think that if you do what you can, when you can and atleast make an effort that's fine. :)
Kim, I love this post & if I remember tonight I'm going to tweet it-it is tweet worthy! I just nodded my head with everything!
ReplyDeleteWe will *hopefully* cloth diaper with the 2nd kiddo. I have Todd talked into it, we are both nervous about it though!
amen lady. you have to do what you can and be okay with what you can't. since living in mexico (which is waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond way behind in the 'green' department) i've had to totally relax about this issue and just do what i can. which is not much at all.
ReplyDeleteoh well. :)
Yeah, I'm defnintely not making the 'green' cut over here, I'm sure. You're definintely doing better than I am!
ReplyDeleteRe-usable paper towels, wow. Where do you find those, and how do you use them? I use 'wash cloths' to wipe down the counter and wash dishes, but I still keep paper towels around for spills and faces. And you're so right, it doesn't make you a bad person. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get my husband to change to the cfc bulbs - but's he's so resistant to change. The new hallway lights I picked out take ONLY cfc light bulbs. That's going to be fun.
ReplyDeleteHow does Nick drink only 1.5 gallons of milk a week?? OMG. John drinks that in 2 days. And he's 4. How much are your eggs? The farm fresh eggs look so much better, it's just frightening. And shouldn't doing what we can be enough? But maybe this woman was doing what she can . . . and it just pissed me off.
ReplyDeleteWell, as I spray my sink w/ bleach because it HAS to glisten prettily white I also shove every piece of cardboard I can find in the house into recycle. Then I scrub the tub w/ more bleach based cleaner b/c my kids bums are sitting on that, so I compost the crap out of my food. Can we cancel the bad out with the good?
ReplyDeleteYou're right -- it is minerals! Look at me, being all 'green' with my make up! And yes, if it's totally impractical, then how can we do it long term?
ReplyDeleteRight! If we're all doing our part, no matter how small, then it's good. Plus, we're teaching our kids. And that is so important.
ReplyDeleteOrganic sleepers? What?? I'm on my way.
ReplyDeleteWhat csa did you do? I'm doing a veggie garden at Bellvue w/ 3 other girlfriends, and some potatos and carrots here in our yard. But I know that won't get us through the summer/fall w/ produce. Plus, I've heard those csa's introduce you to great new veggies. And how do you do cloth paper towels? Are they like wash cloths? Do you get the feeling that you are going to be teaching me about cloth paper toweling just like you taught me about cloth dipering??
ReplyDeleteKate, I loved cloth diapering!! I started Sarah at about 4 months, I think. The Jen C, above your comment, taught me. It was great. I continued with John until the depression got the better of me, when he was about 6 1/2 -7 months old. It was great -- and really not so much work. I know lots of mama's out here that do it, and started fresh w/ infants having never done it before. And, a cloth diapered bum is SO cute!! And you think this it tweet worthy? You're tweeting me? I so adore you. You're support means the world to me. I can't wait to come see your new place!
ReplyDeletehuh, somehow I thought Mexico was ahead of us in being 'green.' I guess b/c of the farming etc. That's really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI only do what I can/think is important. So many times people say, "oh I do ---" and I'm like "whaaaat?? I didn't even know that was possible!!" Plus, I always think an idea is super great for like 2 days, drive my husband crazy with it, then totally forget about it!
ReplyDeleteI am suspicious of anyone that tells me what I "should" give up! Like you, I try to be conscious of my choices and make healthy, local, and organic choices when I can.
ReplyDeleteBut I tried cleaning with white vinegar. Then we got norovirus, and I went back to bleach and Lysol and haven't gone back to "natural".
I live in Michigan. Buying organic berries right now would cost more than some full meals. And my daughter loves berries, so I plop down the cash for Mexican/non-organic fruit.
And wait, isn't Bare Minerals ok? Minerals are natural, right (LOL)
The blog post I linked with my name kind of touches on some of the things you mention. My final thought was "If you truly believe you are making the best decision you can for your family right now, it shouldn't matter what other parents are doing differently from you."
ReplyDeleteI happen to find it easy to do many "green" things because it's less expensive. Borax, baking soda & white vinegar are cheaper than most (all?) commercial cleaners, "green" or not. Recycling? Easy, unless you don't have a local recycling center. Composting? Easy, unless you live in an apartment - and you don't need a crazy expensive contraption to do it. Cloth diapers? Heck of a lot easier than I thought it would be and significantly cheaper, which was the motivating factor.
If someone gets their panties in a wad because you'd rather buy expensive makeup than organic milk, ignore them. In the meantime, I will be driving to the local Farmer's Market to pick up my CSA produce while driving my hybrid SUV & rockin' out to Jimmy Buffet on my iPhone and probably taking a detour to Walmart on the way back. Balance. ;-)
This was one of the first posts of yours I read!! The reason I fell for you! Hear that sound? That's me yelling, "YES, yes, yes!"
ReplyDeleteAw shucks...you know how to make a girl blush...
ReplyDeleteLOL! CLoth paper towels is EASY! I just use microfiber towels (like the ones for cars.....exactly like the ones I used to use as inserts in pocket dipes) I found some at the target dollar spot one times so I bought them and I've added to it. I have about 20 of them and it's enough. They work really well!! I do keep paper towels in the house to use for gross things (like dog vomit...UGH!). I belong to the SIW Veggies CSA. It's up on Rt. 100 North. I like it better than the one at Highlands because it's a farm stand and you actually pick your own stuff out. There's a sign that tells you what you get and how much (i.e. - 2 lbs of squash, 2 lbs of eggplant, 2 lbs of green beans, etc). You choose and weigh your own stuff. I would get 2 reusable grocery bags of stuff every week. It's AWESOME! I share it with a friend though cause it's a lot of stuff. It's around $550 for the season (June 1 - Oct 31).
ReplyDeleteOoh, but Michigan berries are like the best! I grew up in Michigan and picking berries there . . yum-o! And yeah, right now I've got 2 pints of strawberries in my fridge. I think they're from CA, but still. Some would get on me b/c that means they were flown in. gah. And I'm totally going w/ my make up being natural b/c of the minearals. Totally!!
ReplyDeleteI love the visual of you driving to the Farmers Market, baby clad in cloth, in the hybrid, on the iphone, rockin' to Buffet, stopping at Walmart. I'd add in a Starbucks, that my kids totally ordered (oh yeah) and call it awesome!! Visited your place, and OMG, can I say I love you with out you running, screaming, into the night??
ReplyDeleteOh girlfriend, I feel ya. I feel so much pressure. Funny enough it's from blogging. I read all these wonderful eco-friendly blogs and I wish and hope I can be like them. We take one small step and then take another.
ReplyDeleteI tried to cloth diaper. I tried three times! But it just didn't work for us.
When we move I am making a better effort about making our household cleaners. Mostly because of Brigham's breathing problems. Otherwise I'm not sure I would have even thought about changing those harsh cleaners out for more eco-friendly ones.
I feel good about where we are but I know we could do better. I agree with you. It's definitely not easy being green.
Totally agree with you on this one! I try to be crunchy when I can but it's not affordable and I am not sacrificing my Bare Minerals or addiction to baby shoes to make some kind of green martyr of myself. I'd rather have a Coach purse then go out of my way to buy only organic and local.
ReplyDeleteIt's winter in Michigan. You know what I'm talking about. We eat blueberries, avocados, bananas and grapes all. year. long. Cause we can!! But at the same time I buy organic milk and get eggs from a local farm cause once we tried them we liked the taste better and not it's not really about being green so much as being food snobs! lol
But really, what's the point of living a life that isn't full of whatever comforts us? Life is way too short to be so dogmatic about anything. This lady sounds like she has an obsession. Or maybe she just doesn't like to look good?