Guess What We Did Yesterday

You know what we did yesterday? We didn't buy anything new. You know what we did the day before that? We didn't buy anything new. Want to guess what we did the day before that, and even the day before that? Yep. That's right. No new stuff buying.

This isn't even difficult in the least. I thought it might be more so. I had thought that maybe the kids would feel burdened by our compact. I thought I would maybe see something and feel deep regret that I wouldn't be able to purchase it. But, no. This is easy. It really is.

We have chosen this lifestyle as a challenge for the next year. We willingly decided to forgo new purchases and to find creative ways to get whatever we need through out the year. As the year progresses, we're finding it easier and easier to naturally think in the ways that living like this necessitates you do. We have to anticipate a little bit more. We have to look a little bit more.

Some of the good feelings derived by all of this self denial come in realizing that we don't have to be enslaved by our possessions or the pursuit of having more. It's freeing, if its chosen. We have chosen this. We also know that at the end of the year, if we'd like to go get something new, we easily can. We don't feel deprived.

When I have gone to thrift shops, I have noticed people who it seems are not there by choice. They are there because that's the only way they'll ever get anything. They are poor and need to shop there. They can't get their daughters kicky little striped outfits from Hannah Anderson, or an i-phone, or whatever the "in" thing is even if they wanted to. Their purchasing used things is not a fun life challenge that will help them realize the overwhelming consumer ethos that encompasses this country. It's not to evade any kind of external pressure to buy, buy, buy!!
It's because the only way they're going to get clothes on their backs and on their children's backs, is if they shop at Goodwill. That's not a free choice there. It's not bad--not being able to get anything at goodwill would be bad...But, for people who have nothing but used, slightly broken down, worn around the edges stuff, I can see how that could be dulling in this country of new, new, new, get, get, get. The pressures to be "in" are huge around here.

You know what I'm going to do later today? Not buy anything. You know what I'm going to do tomorrow? Not buy anything. You know what I'm going to do at any upcoming homeschooling conferences? Buy stuff! Ha! Fooled you!! You thought I wasn't, but I am.

Generally, we don't buy it. Sometimes, we do...

Poll Results About Largest Environmental Concerns

As in previous poll results, I'm going to pretend that each vote actually represents 1,000 people. It has more impact that way. Not that the people who actually did vote in the poll don't matter--because you do. And now, your import is even more so in that you each represent 1,000 people!!

14,000 people voted in the poll, What Are the 2 Biggest Environmental Concerns?

There was a three-way tie for what was deemed the most critical environmental concern: 35% of you, 5,000 people, thought that a Clean Water Supply and Clean Oceans, Air Pollution, and Factory Farming (with its use of GMOs and antibiotics) were the most concerning.

Climate Change and Deforestation were both next in line with the greatest concern from 28% of you, 4,000 people.

14% of you, 2,000 people, thought that Urban Sprawl was the most egregious concern.

As with the highest vote getters of most concerning issues, the issues with the least votes also resulted in a three-way tie. 7%, or 1,000 people, thought that Toxic Waste, Nuclear Waste and Strip Mining were most worrisome.

No one cared AT ALL about Acid Rain. Well, at least no one thought it was one of the 2 biggest environmental concerns. It's really kind of a form of air pollution caused by various emissions.

This was kind of a difficult poll, wasn't it? Everything has such great impact on other issues. It's almost as if they are all equally important. We need the trees that are being cut down at such an alarming rate to continue to pump out oxygen and prevent erosion. We need a clean food supply, so that GMOs don't cross pollinate and kill pollinators like butterflies and bees. Do the powers-that-be realize that butterflies don't like that Monsanto crap?! We need clean water, and livable environments that support us and nature. We need places for water run-off to be absorbed and filtered and go back to the water supply instead of another strip mall with a Subway, Blockbuster or apartment building. We need to breathe.

Come on, powers-that-be. Enact some policies that effect how we do business here in America and around the world. Create policies that help us all preserve for our progeny what was given to all of us.

Come on, people. See where you can make changes that can make a difference. People start pollution. People can stop it.

Thanks for participating. Rock the vote!

Mah-na Mah-na Monday

Mah-na Mah-na.

That is all.

Freecycle--Save an Object From Landfill

Do you guys all know about Freecycle? It is sort of like bartering, except you just give your stuff away without any expectation in return...Yep. And then, if you want something, and someone has posted an offering, you answer, and maybe they'll pick you and you'll get it. Easy peasy. Huh? Is this not clear? Let me start at the beginning.

Freecycle formed several years ago in Arizona and now has groups all over the world. The whole point of it is to give away stuff to people who want it and save it from filling up landfills. People post offerings to the freecycle group online, people answer the post and then the offerer chooses who they would like to have it. If you really need a goldenrod breadbox from the 70's, you can post a wanted post and someone may answer you and give it to you. This freecycle system is a great way to join up people who have stuff that would otherwise go to landfill with people who can really use your stuff.

We have given away: our screen door after we got a new one, a bicycle, crystal Irish coffee mugs (not my scene), a Krups bagel toaster, the Burley bicycle kids' trailer that we got at a bike swap and that still had a lot of life left in it.

We have received: a bunch of cut wood for our fireplace, a bicycle for my son, an upright freezer to store our grass-fed beef, a floor plant, a set of encyclopedias from the early 90's but still have accurate information about things like minerals and seeds etc.

There has been criticism with the original founders of Freecycle wanting to control what is really an autonomous, grassroots, local effort. Many people have broken away from Freecycle and have formed their own groups. Here is a Wikipedia article about how Freecycle got started and how it has had problems.

If you are interested in getting things that you can use, and in getting rid of things you can't, check and see if there's a freecycle, or freecycle-like group in your area.

I'm sure all of the overcrowded landfills will thank you.