| As many of us know, it can be difficult to face the | | | | realized how to affect someone elses green living |
| truth about the dangerous precipice upon which our | | | | potential. For each cleaning or health care item on my |
| fragile eco support system now balances. It is truly | | | | Moms' list, I just picked up a bottle or box of the non |
| frightening once you start to inform yourself about the | | | | toxic green alternative and handed it to her. I pointed |
| real situation. As parents, we can get ourselves pretty | | | | out how easy it was to just switch one product for |
| scared of the future if we think about it much. | | | | another. It seems us humans are such creatures of |
| Instead of fretting about the perils of an increasingly | | | | habit, that someone must physically walk us through |
| toxic planet, we have always just taken another little | | | | even the smallest of changes. So be it. Stop preaching |
| green step towards making our own lives as green as | | | | to the deaf; take your friends & family shopping |
| possible. I'm sure there are millions of green mavericks | | | | and put the green tools right into their hands. |
| out there who have done & will do more for our | | | | 4. Buy ONLY organic shampoo, soap, makeup, |
| earth that my family is able to do. For instance, one of | | | | moisturizer, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste and |
| my extreme green friends recycles every single twist | | | | other personal health care products. Before buying any |
| tie that comes his way by first dividing each one into | | | | over the counter medicine, look into possible herbal or |
| its' two components; metal inner 7 plastic or paper | | | | homeopathic products that will work as well or better |
| outer. He then recycles the two components into their | | | | without long term negative side effects to our bodies |
| separate bins. We will not be going as far as that, but | | | | or our planet. |
| this year on the eve of January 1, 2009 we made | | | | 5. Buy only Green, Eco Friendly, Sustainable Products |
| another ten green resolutions that we plan to start right | | | | as gifts for friends & family, including childrens' |
| away and keep for good. | | | | birthday party gifts, shower & wedding gifts, |
| 1. Use only non toxic cleaning products for our home | | | | house warming, Christmas etc. Make sure the recipient |
| and stop spraying, pouring, wiping and dumping toxic | | | | knows how and where to buy these kinds of products |
| chemicals all over everything in our home and garden. | | | | for themselves. |
| Zero more purchases of toxic products of any kind. If | | | | 6. Green up the pets! Yes, our pets could use some |
| we can't find a green alternative for any product we | | | | greening up and there are lots of suppliers of organic |
| buy, we will make it ourselves from the many on-line | | | | pet food, treats, clothes, beds, & natural grooming |
| recipes for green homemade products. | | | | & health care products for dogs & cats. |
| 2. Buy ONLY organic clothing, organic bedding & | | | | Even organic toxin free kitty litter! |
| organic bath towels. All further purchases of clothing, | | | | 7. Eat out at natural food restaurants even when |
| bedding and other items made of fabric will be made | | | | craving a trip to the drive thru hole in the wall where |
| from stores or websites that carry organic clothing | | | | we traditionally get our comfort food while in town. No |
| & home fabrics. | | | | more golden arches. This will be hard. We will eat at |
| 3. Spread the word about making green choices while | | | | the raw bar or the whole grain bakeshop in town from |
| shopping. Shopping with friends and family is a national | | | | now on. As part of this we will be speaking to the |
| past time and it's a great opportunity to help others | | | | manager at McD's, A&Dubya, Wendees and Tims |
| realize a greener lifestyle by showing them where the | | | | about our plan. We have spent thousands at these |
| green alternatives are. I've already done this with my | | | | franchises and we will be sorely missed. |
| 85 year old mother who has probably spent millions of | | | | 8. Green Carwash - use only eco friendly car wash |
| dollars in her lifetime on stuff like bleach, comet, | | | | soaps & shine products. |
| Windex, sic & span, Mr. clean etc etc. | | | | 9. Organize our 13 km trips to town and back so that |
| Over the last many years I have spoken hundreds of | | | | we are always combining trips to save on fuel. |
| times to my parents about how toxic these products | | | | 10. Use ONLY Organic Gardening Products in our |
| are for us, the fish, the water and the atmosphere; all | | | | landscape and lawn areas as well as our vegie & |
| to no avail. Lately, I have been having to give her a | | | | fruit gardens. |
| hand with the grocery shopping and that is when I | | | | |