When it comes to memes, I’m generally in the “been there, done that” camp. However, yesterday I read a meme over at Kristi’s and I just can’t resist this one. It’s pretty simple: make a list of the things you’re doing to help our environment.
~I knit with green yarn. Okay, so this isn’t really an environmental thing but I wanted to show you how the Early Spring Maple yarn I dyed is knitting up. And let’s face it, all that wool I have around my house must be acting as some sort of insulation. Right?
~ I signed up for Green Dimes. Not only are they reducing my junk mail but they are also planting a tree in my name every month.
~I use a company called Green Earth Cleaning for my house cleaning services. This company is owned by my two sisters-in-law Mary (the one I knit socks for) and Jen (the one who finds spinning wheels at yard sales). They use only natural cleaners and essential oils and everything is environmentally friendly. No harsh chemicals for my home, thankyouverymuch.
~Dale wrapped our hot water heater in an insulated blanket.
~We switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs. This one is a no brainer, people.
~We wash only full loads of laundry, in cold water, and hang things outside on a clothes line whenever possible.
~We recycle everything that can be recycled. Curb side recycling in our town has made this very simple.
~Dale installed a digital programmable thermostat for our furnace but we primarily heat with wood. And our wood stove has a catalytic converter. We also have ceiling fans.
~Our refrigerator and dishwasher are both new and have great energy efficiency ratings.
~We joined a CSA this year. We expect to pick up our first share next week and are really excited about this. We also eat local beef as we have friends who raise their own beef.
~Dale and I work to make our schedules compatible in the summer months so that we can carpool to work. This one involves some sacrifices on both our parts but it really helps with the gas bill.
As you can see, most of the things we do at Chez Carole Knits are very basic and pretty simple. But, there might be something new to you on this list and that’s why I think this is a really worthwhile meme. So go on, show me your green list. I bet I’ll get some great new ideas.
You’re a good grrl, Carole;-)
Love how those socks are knitting up!
You’re a good grrl, Carole;-)
There are some really good ideas in there that I hadn’t thought about.
The sock yarn looks great knit up!
Good on you guys!
Great post, that’s definitely a meme I can get behind.
Lots of great ideas :-)…….so important in today’s world to treat our earth the best that we can.
Great ideas…and links! I’ll be checking out those I haven’t already started!
Thanks!!!
Uh oh. I have really bad timing.
you rock. your post has encouraged me. I was reading No Impact Man yesterday and got totally discouraged and freaked out. I get the feeling that there are a lot of people who are doing NOTHING and some who feel that this is their god-given right to do whatever the hell they want. I’m trying to be in the optimistic do-er camp rather than the entitled jerk camp.
Now this one’s a great meme!
You have a good list there! And your yarn is incredible! You did such a nice job dyeing it and it looks great knit up.
Oh you are soooo good! I can totally get with the green wool thing.
You rock grrl. – you’re doin’ great with the green 🙂
Love how your sock yarn turned out – it’s knitting up so sweet.
Pretty yarn!! Do you use electricity to cook? I think that’s pretty “green” though I use gas myself.
Love that Green Maple yarn Carole!! 🙂
I am not green! Oh no! Well, maybe green with envy over those socks!
Firstly I have to say I love the yarn Carole; the dyeing you did looks superb in the pattern. I am definitely going to check out the Green Dimes site. Congrats on the greening….it’s amazing how each little thing helps.
I admit, we tried CF bulbs about 5 years ago and we all agreed that we HATED the quality of the light. The color, the extremely long time it took for them to come up to “speed,” the color, the level of brightness, the color . . . and really, most of all, the color of the light, so artificial and really hard on the eyes. Have they improved since then? Because I’d give them another try, but . . . headaches! Eyestrain! Much as I love the planet, constant headaches are not a good tradeoff…..
I’d like to know where to go to buy locally raised beef. We’re in southern NH.
Hi Carole- thanks for mentioning GreenDimes in your post! We really appreciate your taking the time to tell your readers about our service. Make sure you check the site from time to time and see what new ideas and projects we are working on to help make a difference in this world. Take good care and thanks again for your post!
Best,
Kendra
http://www.greendimes.com
Hi Carole- thanks for mentioning GreenDimes in your post! We really appreciate your taking the time to tell your readers about our service. Make sure you check the site from time to time and see what new ideas and projects we are working on to help make a difference in this world. Take good care and thanks again for your post!
Best,
Kendra
http://www.greendimes.com
Some great and important tips. You are right, the CFLs are such an easy step. I wonder if we have a green cleaning service around here… that is cool!
Now *that* is a totally delectable colorway! I love it. 🙂
Way to go, Carole! Your post is the perfect reminder that going green doesn’t need to be difficult. And to answer Deb’s question, the CFLs have gotten a LOT better. Look for ones that are marked ‘warm’ and have more lumens. It also may help to move up to a higher wattage equivalent to get the same light (you’re still saving because CFLs use 1/4 the electricity of incandescents!)
But, it also shows how far we have to go before all these green activities are more normalized…. 49 comments for some lovely mansocks, but only 23 to save the planet? sigh. 😉
Oh, you’re so good. I’m terrible actually. Well not terrible, but not as good as you. I need to go get some bins so I can start recycling. I don’t have curbside anything, but still.
I love how that yarn is knitting up.
I also love me some little fluorescent bulbs. Great list, Carole! Thanks.
I’d come knit at your library, but I’m in Washington State. My sister is a librarian and I’m going to suggest a knit night to her, if hter isn’t one already. Thanks for the great idea!
About the man socks on size five needles, I need to find that pattern. I wear a women’s size ten (men’s nine) shoe, and want some (almost) instant gratification with the sock knitting. My first sock took ten years!
Keep up the great green work.
Erica
Do you suppose your SILs would consent to let you list the cleaners they like? I have a private individual who cleans our place, and we provide the cleansers. I dunno what works and what doesn’t, green-wise, and since a lot of that stuff is uber-expensive, trial and error (and having to throw away a bunch of crap that doesn’t work) seems counterproductive.
I think it’s great that your SILs have a green cleaning business! I’ve been reading up on natural household cleaners, because some of those chemicals are really scary. Thanks for sharing your list.
My DirecWay connection is being completely stupid today so I don’t get to see the colorway *sniffle* Stupid internets.
This is one of the few memes I don’t mind doing. Thanks for the good ideas!
Fantastic! I think we do mostly the same as you, though our dishwasher isn’t new. But we don’t use the dry cycle on it and with two of us it is only run a couple times a week. Thanks for making us stop and think about this!
Hey – cool green beans Carol – thanks for spreading the green 😉
Good for you! I’m definitely wanting to get a cleaning service and so I’ll find one that is “green”. I never thought of it until you mentioned it. Thanks!
That IS a great meme, and you have quite an impressive list with which to answer it. It’s amazing how easy some of the changes are…I think I need to go get an insulated blanket for our water heater.
Great green tips! I’ve belonged to a CSA for three years and I love it. Almost veggie time of year again! I get so excited every week when I pick up my share.
Great post Carole!
I’m gonna join Green Dimes! With the amount of crap I get I think I can personally stop global warming!
I hope there is no one NOT using compact fluorescents – like you said a total no brainer and totally easy for EVERYONE to do!
My fingernails are green, does that count? 🙂
I live in Germany and everything (almost) is recycled. Separate bins for paper, glass, plastic/metal is in one in our town, but separated in other places and a bin just for compostable stuff. What isn’t is incinerated (black bin) is used to make steam heating and electricity (15% of the electricity in our Large town – Würzburg). When we’re back in the States in the summer, the amount of recycling kind of pales. A note about the compost bin. We actually pay to have them haul it away as ‘trash’ and then go to the compost recyling place and pay to buy it back as compost…amusing. Who says you can’t make money with trash? I’ve taken some of my students through the various recycling/trash services and its pretty interesting.
As to the socks and your early maples color…wonderful. I’ve been thinking about those shades in yarn, will try at a workshop this summer. Anyone know that there is a Midwest Fiber and Folk Fest in Crystal Lake, Illinois this summer in July (19-21). (Just outside Chicago is a place called Illinois.) This is the first (hopefully) annual festival. The main organizer is the lady who makes the ‘lollipop’ drop spindles. Hope to see you there. Sorry this got long.
Love your yarn. Go Green Girl.
i love that sock yarn; it’s knitting up to be gorgeous!