Okay, Kermit the frog was right. It isn’t easy being green! It takes lots of research, dedication and discipline. I am also learning, it takes some green (money) to be green. I have heard over the years many pros and cons to being green, but I like to think of it as a great opportunity of creating new businesses, new jobs and hopefully leaving our planet in much better condition for our future and our children’s future.
I started on my green quest quite a few years ago, long before it became the politically correct thing to do. We first moved to our hometown of Longmont, Colorado over 30 years ago. I remember it well because I gave birth to my son on moving day!*laughs* Not the best way to get out of moving, but it worked. This being our second child and neither of us having very stable full-time jobs at the time, we found ourselves to be financially challenged on occasion. So, we would save up all of our aluminum cans and take them to the aluminum recycling truck for cash. I wasn’t even aware that I was being green at the time. We just needed the money. It wasn’t to long before the City of Longmont put everyone on a recycle program. Guess they needed the money too! This program was where you sorted papers, cans and glass bottles into the appropriate marked stack-able bins, then put them out by the trash on recycle pick up day. Funny thing I did notice however, that when they picked up the recyclable’s they were all dumped together into one truck! So why was I sorting everything? Eventually, the city changed to a larger recycle container for pickup. They must have gotten several complaints. Each year they have gradually increased what used to be considered trash items, such as cereal boxes, cardboard boxes and some of the other plastics are now all recyclable. I have noticed that the contents of my trash container seems to be getting smaller and smaller. I just got back from visiting some friends in Pueblo West and was shocked that they didn’t have any type of recycle program in effect. I guess it will take some time for the smaller cities to create recycle programs, as it does cost money and they do have smaller budgets. Maybe this is something our government could help with somehow.
My first conscience attempt at being green, was trying to find foods and shopping items that were organic and Eco friendly, which used less packaging materials, packaged in recycled materials or used packaging that was recyclable. I started buying organic products for health reasons about 5 years ago and I am also very sensitive to chemicals and odors in many products. I had heard that it was going to be very expensive to buy organic food, but I soon discovered that I am actually spending less money. I was less tempted to buy sale items that I really didn’t need, or junk foods and convenient foods, which was also much healthier for me. Before long I was buying organic foods for not only health reason, but for ethical and social responsibility reasons.
The foods I buy in bulk, let’s say like a bulk bag of brown rice, will last many times longer than 1 box or bag of quick rice which only has a few servings, excess sodium, additives, and little nutritional value. I can add broth, mushrooms, chopped veggies, protein and more, to make almost anything from just plain basic brown rice. It will be healthier for me and will taste so much better than that from a box. It also uses less packaging than the convenient foods.
One thing that I find that does frustrate me is that sometimes the packaging that some of the health foods come in, are not recyclable. I am always a little suspicious of a business that sells an organic food product that is sold in a plastic container that is not recyclable or in a container that is not made from recycled materials. Another pet peeve of mine is that some of these containers are also next to impossible to open. Vacuum packed luncheon meat being one of these items. If you have any arthritis or weakness in you hands you are at its mercy.
My favorite organic store is our local Vitamin Cottage or Natural Grocers, as it is also called. The clerks are always friendly and helpful if you need to find or order something special. The store is very small and crowded, but well stocked and I don’t feel like I have run a marathon after shopping. I have had Fibromyalgia for several years and the big super stores just wear me out. I have been able to find rice, oats, wheat, flour, pasta, sugar, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and many other items, that can be bought in bulk here. These items are wrapped in a single simple clear plastic bag. Flour is usually double bagged. However the bags these foods come in are not recyclable. Sometimes you have to make choices that aren’t 100% green. At least you can see what you are getting and there are no hidden surprises. Unlike purchasing a bag or box full of mostly air, which sometimes comes with a disclaimer that says, “contents may settle in shipping”, then why not fill it all the way and then it won’t have room to settle! Food also tends to be much more economical when bought in bulk. The con side in buying bulk food, is that you have to learn how to cook things from scratch. If you are working and don’t have much time to fix dinner when you get home, you can always cook large amounts of rice, beans, etc. on the weekends and freeze them into convenient portions. The pro side would be that it is much healthier for you, rather than buying a box or can full of sodium, artificial ingredients, preservatives and who knows what else.
I am also a big supporter of our local Longmont Farmers Market, which is held from May 2nd until October 31st (rain or shine), on Saturdays from 8am – 2pm at the Boulder County Fair Grounds. This year they are also having a Winter Farmers Market and Holiday show, December 5th from 9am – 4pm in the Exhibit building. It is the best when it comes to buying freshly picked organic fruits, vegetables, goat cheese, honey and other products. I have always preferred to buy locally when ever possible and I feel good about helping out our Colorado farmers. You also get to meet some of your local farmers, sample products, get some fresh and sunshine, visit with friends and neighbors, and on occasion they have live music to listen to. They also have on certain dates, the Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Fair, along with the Longmont Farmers Market. You can purchase candles, ceramics, hand-made jewelry, hand-spun garments and much more. Visit the Longmont Farmers Market on-line at:
http://www.longmontfarmers.com/longmont/longmont-event.htm
Well, this is my very first attempt at a blog about being green. Oh yes . . . I am a blog virgin! *laughs* So please be gentle with me! I hope that by doing this blog maybe I can help some of you with some economical green choices and maybe help to promote some of our local green businesses.
“Although I may not be the greenest crayon in the box, at least I am trying!”
Vickie Jo Higgins
Okay, Kermit the frog was right. It isn’t easy being green! It takes lots of research, dedication and discipline. I am also learning, it takes some green (money) to be green. I have heard over the years many pros and cons to being green, but I like to think of it as a great opportunity of creating new businesses, new jobs and hopefully leaving our planet in much better condition for our future and our children’s future.
I started on my green quest quite a few years ago, long before it became the politically correct thing to do. We first moved to our hometown of Longmont, Colorado over 30 years ago. I remember it well because I gave birth to my son on moving day!*laughs* Not the best way to get out of moving, but it worked. This being our second child and neither of us having very stable full-time jobs at the time, we found ourselves to be financially challenged on occasion. So, we would save up all of our aluminum cans and take them to the aluminum recycling truck for cash. I wasn’t even aware that I was being green at the time. We just needed the money. It wasn’t to long before the City of Longmont put everyone on a recycle program. Guess they needed the money too! This program was where you sorted papers, cans and glass bottles into the appropriate marked stack-able bins, then put them out by the trash on recycle pick up day. Funny thing I did notice however, that when they picked up the recyclable’s they were all dumped together into one truck! So why was I sorting everything? Eventually, the city changed to a larger recycle container for pickup. They must have gotten several complaints. Each year they have gradually increased what used to be considered trash items, such as cereal boxes, cardboard boxes and some of the other plastics are now all recyclable. I have noticed that the contents of my trash container seems to be getting smaller and smaller. I just got back from visiting some friends in Pueblo West and was shocked that they didn’t have any type of recycle program in effect. I guess it will take some time for the smaller cities to create recycle programs, as it does cost money and they do have smaller budgets. Maybe this is something our government could help with somehow.
My first conscience attempt at being green, was trying to find foods and shopping items that were organic and Eco friendly, which used less packaging materials, packaged in recycled materials or used packaging that was recyclable. I started buying organic products for health reasons about 5 years ago and I am also very sensitive to chemicals and odors in many products. I had heard that it was going to be very expensive to buy organic food, but I soon discovered that I am actually spending less money. I was less tempted to buy sale items that I really didn’t need, or junk foods and convenient foods, which was also much healthier for me. Before long I was buying organic foods for not only health reason, but for ethical and social responsibility reasons.
The foods I buy in bulk, let’s say like a bulk bag of brown rice, will last many times longer than 1 box or bag of quick rice which only has a few servings, excess sodium, additives, and little nutritional value. I can add broth, mushrooms, chopped veggies, protein and more, to make almost anything from just plain basic brown rice. It will be healthier for me and will taste so much better than that from a box. It also uses less packaging than the convenient foods.
One thing that I find that does frustrate me is that sometimes the packaging that some of the health foods come in, are not recyclable. I am always a little suspicious of a business that sells an organic food product that is sold in a plastic container that is not recyclable or in a container that is not made from recycled materials. Another pet peeve of mine is that some of these containers are also next to impossible to open. Vacuum packed luncheon meat being one of these items. If you have any arthritis or weakness in you hands you are at its mercy.
My favorite organic store is our local Vitamin Cottage or Natural Grocers, as it is also called. The clerks are always friendly and helpful if you need to find or order something special. The store is very small and crowded, but well stocked and I don’t feel like I have run a marathon after shopping. I have had Fibromyalgia for several years and the big super stores just wear me out. I have been able to find rice, oats, wheat, flour, pasta, sugar, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and many other items, that can be bought in bulk here. These items are wrapped in a single simple clear plastic bag. Flour is usually double bagged. However the bags these foods come in are not recyclable. Sometimes you have to make choices that aren’t 100% green. At least you can see what you are getting and there are no hidden surprises. Unlike purchasing a bag or box full of mostly air, which sometimes comes with a disclaimer that says, “contents may settle in shipping”, then why not fill it all the way and then it won’t have room to settle! Food also tends to be much more economical when bought in bulk. The con side in buying bulk food, is that you have to learn how to cook things from scratch. If you are working and don’t have much time to fix dinner when you get home, you can always cook large amounts of rice, beans, etc. on the weekends and freeze them into convenient portions. The pro side would be that it is much healthier for you, rather than buying a box or can full of sodium, artificial ingredients, preservatives and who knows what else.
I am also a big supporter of our local Longmont Farmers Market, which is held from May 2nd until October 31st (rain or shine), on Saturdays from 8am – 2pm at the Boulder County Fair Grounds. This year they are also having a Winter Farmers Market and Holiday show, December 5th from 9am – 4pm in the Exhibit building. It is the best when it comes to buying freshly picked organic fruits, vegetables, goat cheese, honey and other products. I have always preferred to buy locally when ever possible and I feel good about helping out our Colorado farmers. You also get to meet some of your local farmers, sample products, get some fresh and sunshine, visit with friends and neighbors, and on occasion they have live music to listen to. They also have on certain dates, the Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Fair, along with the Longmont Farmers Market. You can purchase candles, ceramics, hand-made jewelry, hand-spun garments and much more. Visit the Longmont Farmers Market on-line at:
http://www.longmontfarmers.com/longmont/longmont-event.htm
Well, this is my very first attempt at a blog about being green. Oh yes . . . I am a blog virgin! *laughs* So please be gentle with me! I hope that by doing this blog maybe I can help some of you with some economical green choices and maybe help to promote some of our local green businesses.
“Although I may not be the greenest crayon in the box, at least I am trying!”
Coloring Me Green – Vickie Jo Higgins
