Posted by Laura Tamayo on May.29, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - cinoby

Does anyone else have a super green friend that puts you to shame? No? Just me, huh? Well, in case there’s an anonymous someone out there that doesn’t recycle everything or always remember to bring a reusable grocery bag: You’re not alone.

That’s right, it’s you and me and the complicated world we navigate while trying to consume fewer harmful substances (pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics) and leave a lighter carbon footprint on the planet.

Oddly enough, despite the high prices of clean food (don’t get me started on how much that doesn’t make sense), the recession is helping at least this consumer eat better. Basically, I cook more and eat seasonal food. Food that is in season tends to cost less than food that is out of season food because out of season products cover more territory to get to us. That means all manner of shipping and handling charges that have to be added to the price.

I wish I could tell you that I buy all organic all the time, but that’s just not the case. The purse strings don’t always allow, and frankly, neither does the chaos sometimes. So instead I play the odds and only worry about buying organic with foods that are more likely to be contaminated.

Which ones would those be? There are several lists out there, so at first it can be confusing. Personally I look for the overlapping items–the ones that show up on all the lists. There may be doubts on the others, but for my money, the repeated ones are clear culprits. Here are a few you might find useful:

Organic Food: Is it Worth the Extra Money?

7 Foods You Must Eat Organic

Organic food: When it isn’t worth it

Anyway, back to my non-green transgressions. My most common slip is forgetting the reusable bag. Yes, I admit, there are plastic bags in my house. I’m sure there are none in yours, but if one were to find its way past the threshold, perhaps I can share some ideas of how I delay the trip to the landfill.

-Food: When I do remember the reusable bag, I keep some of the plastic ones in there and use them over when I go to purchase new produce. Yes, I get a weird look or two, but no one has ever tried to stopped me.

-Packing suitcases: I wrap shoes, hold bottles with lotion or liquids, and separate dirty laundry from clean laundry.

-Packing boxes: When moving, they’re great for wrapping all sorts of things that need extra protection.

-Trash: I line trash cans. And in the same vein, while I have no pets, I hear they’re handy lining for the kitty litter box as well.

-Share: Pass those baggies on! I’m sure there are a ton of ideas I haven’t had for putting those bags to use at least one more time before sending them on with the garbage truck.

Speaking of other ideas–and I’m not saying that you have these vile plastic atrocities in your home–but if you did… what other uses might you suggest for those of us still working toward a greener life?

Share

Posted under Eco-Friendly Ideas, Living.