Talk - How we go green

I think some states allow you to be more green than others. When we lived in California recycling was mandatory on base. When we lived in Idaho if you brought something to the recycling center that could be recycled they paid you. Where we are now...no such luck. There are two dumpster sized area where you can recycle newspaper, pop cans, and cardboard...that's it.

So living green is much different here.
While living in town we were pretty much forced to buy bottled water because the water quality in town is so bad that my kids wouldn't bathe without color tabs in the water because seriously if it looks like it belongs in the toilet should you be drinking it? We are out of town and the water is better, but we filter it through the fridge if we are going to drink it.

So this leads me to my point "How or family is going green?"
As you can imagine as a business owner, review and giveaway blogger I am receiving a ton of packages every day. I have mounds and mounds of boxes waiting for a new anything. Before I recycle these at the recycle drop off I turn them into other things. I made Halloween costumes for my girls, I use them for cake trays, signs for work, and playhouses.

My first tip: Double jeopardy. If you can use something more than once go for it. It saves you money in the long run and if your in the right location you could even profit from it. Donate the items you can't recycle like glasses and shoes. There are programs out there and people in need.

We have a septic tank now...Wow...life is different with one. I am not a careless with stuff, but it does make more trash in some aspects. I used to dump a ton of food down the garbage disposal, but not anymore.

My second tip: Compost pile...Doing this scared me at first. All I was thinking about was the smell. I was wrong. There are certain things you can't put in, but in turn you can fertilize your garden...cutting back on items that use packaging that might not be recyclable. Cheaper living is green right?!

I know we have all thought about how much water is wasted when we shower, and sometimes bathing is not in the picture. I think about it as I wash dishes. I have heard of brown water tanks (catches water from showering, laundry rinsing)...although I was not able to explain it so someone here could understand me enough to do it.

My third tip: Recycle water. I do shop vac the water out of the bathtub when my kids bathe. I know kind of yucky, but my plants don't care. The soap even helps to keep the bugs off the plants. We do have shower days because we have lived in areas with drought restrictions and we don't have a lawn yet to water, but I might go extreme and shop vac the shower too when that happens because if I can recycle the bath water I can do two things for the price of one!

Airwear reminded me about my biggest recycle project...well, it was my idea..My stairway banister is made with glass that came from a recycle shop. It is custom cut, but the practices were there plus we did save some trees (except that walnut one our builder cut and shaped out of 2x4s).


Thanks to Beth, Airwear and TwitterMoms for this great idea sharing. We could all use a little green in our lives in both forms.