I don't use toilet paper!

When Kyle and I worked on a farm in Hawaii, the man we worked for didn’t believe in buying paper products. Therefore, he did not buy toilet paper for his workers. This was the craziest thing I had ever heard of. We are so used to using toilet paper and the thought of not using it disgusts us.

Kyle was open to the idea of not using toilet paper when we moved to Vermont. I was apprehensive and did not agree to it. However, since moving here we have changed many things about how we live. We do not buy napkins or paper towels, we compost, I started using a moon cup, and we are currently living without using lights for a week. I keep thinking of ways that I could live a greener life and not using toilet paper came to mind. Toilet paper is a huge waste of paper. Even though I felt weird about not using toilet paper I agreed. You don’t know how something is going to work until you try it!

*Americans use over 20,000 sheets of toilet paper per year.

*Making a roll of toilet paper uses 1.5 pounds of wood, 37 gallons of water and 1.3 KWh of electricity.

*Using a bidet is cleaner, healthier, and saves water.

We decided to set up a homemade bidet. We went to Ace Hardware and got a kitchen sink sprayer. Here are directions:  http://gidgetgoeshome.com/2008/08/25/diy-tutorial-make-your-own-diaper-sprayer/ After going to the bathroom we just spray and then pat our bottoms dry with a towel. We have been living without toilet paper for a week. It is a lot easier and better than I thought it would be.

You can also buy a bidet at http://www.bluebidet.com/

Some people also use reusable cloth wipes instead of toilet paper. You can use old washcloths, cut up some cloth diapers, or buy special cloth toilet wipes. You keep a container next to the toilet and the used wipes are tossed in there and washed. If using the wipes for poop is just too gross for you, you can use cloth wipes for urine only and save the toilet paper for poop. You can also use a squirt bottle or a cup of water.

And remember, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down.”

7 week plan to reduce our impact on the environment and to live simply!

1^st week (1/23-1/29): Go the entire week without using lights. We will use candles and an oil lamp. This will not be possible when we are at work. However, we will be conscious of lights and make sure that lights are turned off whenever possible.

2^nd week (1/30-2/05): Go without television. We decided that we can still watch television on the internet.

3^rd and 4^th weeks (2/6-2/19): Go without buying anything. This includes gas, groceries, etc.

5^th week (2/20-2/26): We will go without facebook, hulu, twitter, internet surfing, blogging, etc. We have decided that it will be okay to check our e-mail due to our jobs.

6^th week (2/27-3/4): We will go without television, lights, and computer.

7^th week (3/5-3/11): We will go without the stove, oven, microwave and anything that has to be plugged in.

*During these 7 weeks we will make at least 1 shopping trip where we do not buy anything that has packaging. We will utilize the bulk section by bringing in our own reusable bags.

Environmentally friendly alternatives to tampons and pads

I am continuing my journey to living as green as possible. I decided to stop using tampons and pads! I never knew there was an alternative to tampons. They are not in the grocery store and no one talks about it. I found out there was an alternative by reading the books, “Moneyless Man” and “No Impact Man.” The idea of reusing a cup seemed weird to me and I didn’t know exactly how it worked. However, I did some research online and after learning more I decided to buy a moon cup. I have already used it for one cycle. I feel comfortable using it and I am so happy that I made the switch. It is so much better for the environment and I save a lot of money!

●On average, one woman will use over 11,000 tampons or pads in their lifetime, which will end up in the landfill or in the sea.

●An estimated 12 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dumped into the North American environment each year.

Benefits:

1.       It is cheaper! One woman uses 22 items of sanitary protection every period. Regardless of your flow, you only need to buy 1 cup, and it lasts for years and years!

2.       It is greener!

3.       It is safer! Tampons can cause dryness and leave fibers behind. These alternative cups contain no dyes, BPA, toxins, or bleaches.

4.       There is no leakage or odor!

5.       These cups have never been associated with toxic shock syndrome!

6.       It is convenient! You only need one so you don’t need to carry spares or worry about disposal.

Products:

1.       Mooncup www.mooncup.co.uk This is a reusable cup, around 2 inches long and made from soft medical grade silicone. It is worn internally a lot lower than a tampon and it collects fluid instead of absorbing it. It is inserted, removed, rinsed and reinserted up to every 8 hours. You can use it overnight, and when exercising and swimming. $30

2.       Softcup www.softcup.com

3.       The DivaCup www.divacup.com

4.       Keeper www.keeper.com

5.       Luna pads http://lunapads.com/ These are washable pads. They can be reused for 3-5 years.

Please give it a try! You can make a difference for the environment!

7 things you can do to save $731!

How much money can you save in a year?

1.       Cancel one magazine subscription. Read the magazine at the library. A 1 year subscription to People magazine is $116 as stated on amazon.com.

2.       Use paper cloths instead of paper towels. You can buy a set of 4 dish towels for $4. Paper towels cost about $2 for 3 rolls. The average family uses 52 rolls of paper towels a year costing them about $35.

3.       Use a moon cup instead of tampons or pads. A moon cup is $30 and can last for years. You would use 21 tampons at most for each cycle. A pack of 20 is around $5. Tampons cost $60 a year.

4.       Wear glasses instead of contacts. A year supply of contacts cost about $125. Contact solution costs about $50 a year. One pair of glasses cost about $150 with an eye exam. Remember that glasses will probably last longer than a year.

5.       Cancel your cable and watch television online. The most popular Directv cable subscription is $360 a year.

6.       Don’t buy books. Get them from the library. Let’s say you buy 10 books a year at $15 each. You would spend $150 a year.

7.       Take a 5 minute shower instead of a 15 minute shower. You will use 35 gallons for a 5 minute shower and 105 gallons for a 15 minute shower. You will use 6370 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 5 minutes. You will use 19,110 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 15 minutes. By saving 12,740 gallons a year you will save about $19 assuming the water rate is $1.50 per 1000 gallons. This does not include heating the water. Remember this is just for one person!

Total Savings: $731!!!

Don’t throw your Christmas tree away!

1.       Instead of throwing your Christmas tree away, consider recycling it. When you are ready to get rid of your tree, contact your local recycling center or division of waste management to see if they are accepting trees. Remove all of your decorations before bringing them in. The trees will be turned into compost. In some cities, the division of waste management will pick up your tree. Often times the tree needs to be cut up or cut in half. Please note that many cities will not accept artificial trees.

2.       If you have property or know someone who does, consider laying the tree outside. Christmas trees can make a great home for mice and birds during the winter.

3.       Rent or share a shredder that will turn the tree into compost. Please note that shredded pine shouldn’t be put directly around plants.

4.       Burn your tree. Use caution because when evergreens dry out they become explosively flammable.

5.       Donate your artificial tree to thrift stores, reuse facilities, churches, schools or community organizations.

6.       If you have a pond, you can place cut-up pieces of your Christmas tree on the bottom to create places for fish to hide.

7.       Start a new compost pile with your tree. The best base for a new compost pile is a layer of thin branches.

Going green with makeup

Many of us want to look good. We use makeup to cover imperfections and enhance our looks. But, we don’t think about what is in our makeup. Many makeup products are toxic and bad for the environment.

●The average woman’s morning routine puts her in contact with a hundred chemicals before breakfast!

●Only 11% of 10,500 ingredients in beauty products have been tested for safety.

 However, there are many makeup products that are less toxic and more environmentally friendly. They may be more expensive but I can tell you it is well worth it!

1.       Organic Wear by Physicians Formula 100% free of harsh chemicals, 100% free of parabens, 100% free of synthetic colors and fragrances, 100% cruelty free. The packaging for compacts has 93% less plastic than conventional compacts. www.organicwearmakeup.com

2.       Sephora

3.       Saffron Rouge This company makes organic and natural cosmetics. They are made from mineral pigments and organic plant extracts. These products do not contain synthetic colors, artificial fragrances, or petrochemicals. http://www.saffronrouge.com/makeup.

4.       Ecco Bella This company provides cruelty free organic cosmetics. There is no animal testing. www.eccobella.com

5.       Stript This is a vegan makeup line. All the products are paraben free. www.striptmakeup.com

*Whole Foods carry many brands of organic and natural makeup.

My transition into living green

●There is always something more you can do to live green.

●It is easier if you make a gradual change into living green.

●Do as much or as little as you want.

●You can even make a change by doing one thing.

Here are the stages I took to living green:

Stage 1:

I made my first changes in college when I learned that I could do more to help this planet.

1.       I stopped getting magazine subscriptions.

2.       I stopped using trays in the cafeteria.

3.       I only washed my clothes when I had a full load. I also started using cold water instead of hot.

4.       I bought reusable bags for groceries.

5.       I started paying bills online.

Stage 2:

These are changes that I made when I lived in Fort Collins.

1.       I started buying used clothes.

2.       We started buying in bulk. We put bulk items in old glass jars and containers instead of throwing them away.

3.       To keep our apartment cool in the summer we shaded our windows. At night we opened the windows. In winter we kept the blinds open so that the sun could come through.

4.       We took our recyclables to the recycling center.

5.       I decided to no longer give material gifts to people. I will now only give food, money, gift cards, concert tickets, etc. to people.

6.       We became vegan! This certainly helps the environment.

7.       We only flush when we poop. We became more conscious of how much toilet paper we were using.

Stage 3:

I made further changes when I moved to Vermont with Kyle.

1.       We stopped buying paper towels and napkins.

2.       I ride the bus to work and walk to town to go to the library, bank, etc.

3.       We stopped using a dishwasher. We have 2 of everything: bowls, plates, utensils, etc. When we finish eating, we clean right away.

4.       We started composting!

5.       I bring a water bottle to work.

6.       We bought seventh generation laundry detergent.

7.       I bought glasses and will eventually wear glasses all the time. I am using contacts right now when I teach skiing. Contacts and saline solution are more things that are added to the dump.

8.       We stopped using bags at the produce section. (I never thought about this for some reason. I guess I just always watched my mom use bags at the produce section.)

Future goals:

1.       Buy reusable bags for bulk.

2.       We are provided lunch at work but they use disposable plates, cups, etc. I want to bring my own Tupperware and utensils.

3.       Use a moon cup instead of tampons/pads. I already bought one onlineJ

4.       Bring our own coffee mugs and Tupperware when we drink and eat out.

5.       I want to use oil lamps and candles instead of using electricity.

6.       I want to start timing my showers and keep them under 5 minutes.

A little farther down the road:

1.       Stop using toilet paper.

2.       Use poop as compost. Think about how much water is used so that we can use the bathroom.

3.       Grow our own fruits and vegetables.

4.       Live off the grid.