@laynara. Thank you for finding this amazing piece of news. Never in a million years could anyone have imagined this could happen voluntarily. Now how to keep it going down, down, down.
@laynara. Thank you for finding this amazing piece of news. Never in a million years could anyone have imagined this could happen voluntarily. Now how to keep it going down, down, down.
I completely agree! Seeing that it can happen will hopefully motivate others to help our environment
Eco Wake Up Call
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/americans-have-been-transformed-by-eco-wake-up-calls-during-covid/
Hundreds of cities turning streets into pedestrian walking and bicycling
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/streets-converted-to-cycleways-to-remain-after-quarantine/
Hi Everyone!
I would love to hear your own feedback on the poll below.
In the Eco article in which @laynara posted a link above, I found the way in which people noted changes in their daily lives interesting. I am aware of differences in mine as well and was wondering if our community members here noted any changes as well.
ECO-FRIENDLY CHANGES RESPONDENTS HAVE MADE SINCE COVID-19 STARTED
1. Reduced the amount of food they’re wasting 44%
2. Used paper products more sparingly 43%
3. Been more careful of where they buy meat 38%
4. Shopped more sustainably 36%
5. Recycled more often 36%
6. Reduced my water usage 35%
7. Video chatting instead of traveling to see friends and family 29%
8. Reduced my commute 28%
9. Used time to read books instead of solely streaming shows 25%
10. Started using a community garden—or their own garden 19%
For me (or my family in general) I would agree with almost everything listed. I am WAY more conscious of how I use food, much less waist. I am also very aware of paper consumption. While I haven't started a new garden, I have spent more time working in mine. I haven't read more actual books, though I bought one to read recently and I am on my computer less in general. Also, while I am not recycling more per say, I am up-cycling more and reusing items in different ways.
Unfortunately my water usage has increased. We already are very conscious of how we use water as desert dwellers, but we are eating at home more which means washing more dishes. I have had my college attending daughter at home since the virus too which means more water usage( showers and laundry). Lastly, we are all washing our hands more often.
Another thing which we did before the pandemic was bring our own reusable bags to the grocery store which isn't allowed anymore, understandably. Figuring out how to use the bags now entering my home is a bit challenging. Sometimes I throw them away because I don't want to take the chance of Covid entering my home. Other times I will let the plastic ones sit in my garage for awhile and reuse them as doggie poop bags for when I take my dog for a walk.
An additional change noticed is our lack of buying new items across, the board. No new clothes for 2 months now, when we purchase non-food items, they tend to be for the betterment of the family, like a 2,000 piece puzzle or crafting activities. We are also making continued purchases that "support" businesses or causes we care about. The occasional restaurant "to go" orders are from places we appreciate for their thoughtful food sources and how they treat their employees. I have avoided Amazon entirely so far. Intentionally.
The month of May finds our household celebrating 2 birthdays and Mother's Day. We have honored these special occasions with a smaller footprint than normal but with outreach to our friends and relatives across the country by celebrating with them on Zoom and getting creative in doing so. For instance, we had a virtual Mother's Day tea with my mom which was a lot of fun.
So, what have you noticed in your own homes?
I've been cooking almost all my meals at home since the lockdown began. Every other week or so, I'll buy soup or a sandwich from the cafe on my corner, if I'm tired and just don't want to cook that day, but also to support the cafe (whose owners live a block over from me, a truly local business!). It's shocking how much I was spending on prepared foods before, and I don't intend to go back to those wasteful ways once I return to the office. I'm eating healthier than I have in years–lots more vegetables and fruit–even though my bread and sweets consumption has gone up a bit (as a stress reliever and out of boredom).
I've been reducing my meat intake over the course of the past year, but the stories of the workers in the meat-packing plants have made me resolve more than ever to limit how much meat I consume and, when I do eat meat, to know where it comes from.
The only things I've spent money on besides bills and food are my ongoing language lessons, a few books and a small appliance, and birthday gifts for family members and a colleague. It looks like our office may be working from home until August, so I'll be spending a minimal amount on summer clothes. I'm not sure when I'll feel secure going to the salon to get my hair done. And any larger purchases are on hold until I see how the economy goes.
@lovendures I love this thread. Also @laynara, I love all your posts here! It all makes me so happy.
I find that I'm using home remedies rather than buying things pre-made. Today I decided to clean some hand-woven rugs which had been rolled up in the garage. I didn't want to go to the hardware store for rug cleaner. So instead I looked up online for a home recipe for rug cleaners and discovered that I have all the ingredients! Did you know that Windex is perfect for cleaning rugs? But I didn't use it. I had better things that were getting old in the cupboard. I used a mixture of laundry detergent, white vinegar, essential oil, spot remover, and hot water. The rugs look great! The essential oils got some use and the spot remover had been sitting around for 20 years.
As for my veggie garden, I'm using more seeds this year rather than buying little plants in flats. That means less plastic pots, less cost, less driving to garden nurseries and less likely to plant veggies I don't eat but they're cool and I thought I'd just watch them grow. I'm going to plant spinach and lettuce and herbs in waves this time from seed so I have a continuous harvest to enjoy all summer. And I'm harvesting the seeds from the plants we eat, like cucumbers and squash, rather than going to the store and buying seed packs. Yay.
@jeanne-mayell I'm glad they make you smile, they also brought joy to my heart knowing there is good out there ?
I've noticed we use less water
Recycle (we have always done this so not new)
Made less clothing purchases (except for tunic tops with pockets and stretch pants lol)
Use less makeup and hair spray
(spend less money)
Walk more
Reading more
Planting a "deck garden" of tomatoes, small peppers and about 6 herbs
Haven't driven my car in 2 months, so unfortunately found out the battery is dead so have to replace it LOL
Use less gasoline
Cook more and even baked bread for the first time!
Waste less food (freeze left overs or use them for lunch since we are home)
Shop more sustainably
Thanks for this thread! ? ?
@lovendures thank you for starting this ?
We spend more time together as a family
We use less water and when there is water laying around somewhere I try to water my flower with it.
We have started eating less
we have been paying more attention to nature and its beauty
we only make shopping trios if necessary
I have started getting out my books and would rather read, we don't have Wi-Fi since we moved and signal out here is terrible, but at the same time its a blessing.
I call my family more often than before