We are aggressive greenies. Now that you've been reminded to recycle, reuse, find freecycle, etc. I thought I'd share some important other things you can do.
1. Purchase recycled paper, plastic (clothing, Garden tools, etc.), wood flooring, construction surplus. There are warehouses filled with used newspapers and plastic bottles. You can find recycled construction materials on Craigs list or, here in Denver, at Buds. Recycling is not enough. We must create a strong demand for recycled products.
2. Support local agriculture. It may shock you, but it's almost impossible to get financing for an organic farm. Organic farmers rely on Community Supported Agriculture to finance their farms.** There's one in every community. Even organic food is shipping from Mexico to each individual Whole Foods market.
3. Stop the bleeding. Insulate your home. Look for gaps in your weather protection. Get storm windows and doors or replace those leaking windows. Look for leaking water bibs, faucets and toilets. (The Walking Man has great suggestions for water reduction.)
4. Plant an organic row. It's not that hard to grow a plant or two. Try it. Every time you pick a tomato or a cucumber for your salad, you have saved the environment from trucking fumes and gasoline waste.
5. Do not eat feed lot beef. Period. Of course, it's carcinogenic. Beyond that, one steer costs over 1,000 gallons of crude oil. That's more than you will use commuting to work in a month.
6. Get off the grid. There are excellent programs now for homeowners to convert to solar. Our utility company will even buy back excess electricity. Get an estimate and stop the madness. (Our hope is to be off within the next 2 years. Currently we are 100% wind.)
Just a few ideas to continue your Earth day glow.
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**Farms rely on financing to support their growing season. They pay back that money after harvest. Non-organic farming is supported by plush government programs. We have organic farmer friends, people you'd recognize, that only stay afloat on the money they make at farmer's markets.
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