Aya_Rosen's Profile

Even though being green is a worthy cause, you husband don't really need to abide by your rules. We all do things that are not in our best interest, like eat unhealthy food or smoke or decide to invest money in a new pair of shoes we don't need instead of saving it for a rainy day. Your husband have every right in the world to not choose to be green.

If being green is important to you, then there are many ways you, without his contribution or involvement can go green, and without spending money and actually saving money like:

1. Are you responsible for the food making in your family, if so - skip one meat\chicken meal a week. A vegetarian curry or a beans chilly makes a great meal and is much more environmentally friendly then meat.

2. Do you use fabric softener - don't. Use borax instead, it's cheaper (about 4$ a box), more effective and non toxic. While you are at it, use borax for cleaning your bathroom, stove, dishes and just about anything. Also - when it comes to laundry, don't use the hot water, borax and cold water are enough, your cloths would last longer and your electricity bill will decrease drastically.

3. buy second hand - there are so many goodwill \ salvation army stores out there. I buy all of my cloths second hand, I but most of the books I read second hand - especially if you have kids who grow out of cloths in 3 months or so, it makes a lot of sense to buy used stuff instead of new.

4. resell or donate your old cloths \ furniture \ books. Again, goodwill \ salvation army \ school \ homeless shelters would love to have anything you can donate. You'll be producing less garbage.

5. Do you shower every day?! skip one shower a week (save on water, electricity to heating the water, water and electricity in washing your towel, soap and shampoo and all that).

6. Buy less (do you really need another pair of sandals for this summer?)

7. pay your utility bills online - most companies will not even send a paper bill if you ask them not to, this will save on paper, postal fuel (and postal money).

8. Walk - this is good for the environment, your gas bill and your body. If your son's school is walking distance, walk them there instead of taking the car. how about the grocery store? is it walkable distance? how about going to work? If this is too difficult to do all the time, commit to out day out of the week of walking (to work \ school \ store) instead of driving your car.

9. Turn the light off (and heater \ AC and TV) when not in a room.

Don't get upset with your husband if he doesn't want to do any of those things, just do them yourself and be understanding to him not wanting to take part, just like living by any type of ideal (like religion for instance or being vegan) it's not for everyone. You can create s big difference on your own, as a person.

Hi Cindy,
The way I see it, even though you have a very good goal for your family at heart, your husband also have the right to live by his ideas of what's the right thing to do, you changing everything is scary not just because he needs to change now, but also, because it's always scary to see the people we love change, even in a good way.

My advice - start slow, that means that even if you really wanted to get that composting toilet, maybe this needs to wait till a later stage of this process. Also, at least for starts, I would avoid buying all those green cleaning products that are expensive or investing in designer fabric bags.

There are a lot of things you can do that will be green AND save money. Like using borax or vinegar as cleaning product. Borax costs about 4$ a box and is great for cleaning bathroom, laundry , dishes and basically everything, we go through a box in about 5 month. It's totally non toxic.
Try reusing the ordinary plastic shopping bags you get at the grocery store. I put a few in my bag (some people in their cars) and instead of getting new ones every time you shop, use the old ones. They don't need to last forever, even if you use them 2-3 times for shopping and then as garbage bags, you make a difference.

A lot of times being green is not about what you do or buy but what you don't do or don't buy, in that regard, being green can save you money - try letting towels dry after the shower and using them several times before washing them for instance, or walk to the store or school instead of using the car (good for the environment, your gas bill and your body). Eat less meat - replace one meat dinner a week with a vegetarian chilly or curry, this is a big thing for both body and environment.

And - don't force your husband, or be too pushy, or be angry or ct all superior.

The best bathroom related thing you can do - shower less, either cut your showers short or skip one shower a week.

Less electricity spend on heating water, less water wasted.

This is really lovely! I just voted for you.
Also, if like me you can't bring yourself to wait 2 weeks for anything, it's pretty easy to make this using tracing paper and either a craft knife or scissors (though lines would not be as crisp).

Wow! I'm really impressed! This is so cool. Actually the only re-nest project (mine included) that makes a serious contribution for the environment.

Stickycretingurl - Are you sure it was the same? There is a couple of other product by the same company that looks exactly like those only have different names, one is the Vitrea that's meant for glass and the other is Pebeo Ceramic, that's used for, well, ceramic. I've never used the glass one, but I know that the ceramic is toxic and should not be used to paint dishes that are meant to hold food, the packaging is exactly the same.

I have asked in the store I bought the paint in, and I've re-read the instructions on the paint now, and my packaging doesn't say anything about not use on food touching surfaces.

You can read more about the products on their site:
http://www.pebeo.com/us/index.htm

Persiana! You rock! thanks!

CZ - Yes you can! I made some plates with birds on them that can be used for eating.

This is really sweet! a luxury condo for bunnies, this is bigger then some NY apartments I've seen...

A great tip about getting cheap and nice white porcelain pieces - try restaurant supply stores! if you are in NYC there are a ton of them in Bowery st. If not, there are a lot of stores online (Though I personally have a thing about paying for shipping...) Most of those stores will sell 6 pieces or 12 and you wouldn't need to get a 72 crate (though some wont).
I just got 12 cups and 12 saucers for less then 30$ I can't wait to start working on those!

artsharkdesigns - thanks for the tip, it makes a lot of sense!