Spirited Sons - Going Green?

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Schooling two active boys has never been more... interesting. That's the word I'm looking for! I love my boys! God has given them the blessing of strong, active bodies and minds. We continually pray the first will remain intact, and the second will remain engaged with Him first, and then the school work. You'll meet my sweet sons, both entirely different, but both loving God to the best of their ability in the way He made them. I lovingly refer to them as my Bell Pepper Boy and my Habanero or Hambone. That should say it all! This blog is an eclectic mix. The events, conversations, and the thoughts behind it all will be in here. Every once in a while I'll try to capture something I don't want to forget. I hope you find things you enjoy. Please let me know if you do! Blessings!

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Mystery of History vol. 1
Saxon 5/4
Horizons Grade 2
A Beka Language
Spelling Power
Apologia Zoology 1

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The Bible
Adam and His Kin by Beechick
It by Groeschel

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Going Green?

Posted in School Things

I had to laugh a little bit. A friend of mine was sharing the other night about her experience with "going green" in her world. She has three very lovely daughters, the oldest of which is becoming much more aware of the recycling opportunities around her. She was so moved, she took boxes (more than one) to be used as a recycling center in their garage. That wasn't enough. She took it a step further and sorted the already pitched garbage to show how much they could have been recycling. (We both giggled at that. My friend made mention of the "cult" she thought was occurring.)

All that aside, I'm starting to think. I know I'm not the only one turning this over in her mind. Some of you have been going green for months...maybe years! Me? I'm an anemic shade of chartreuse at this point, I suppose. So, what should I be doing? I'm not sure yet.

I think we'll be focusing on this some more in the near future. Any ideas? (Without the scary, mean "recycle or else the planet is going to blow up or implode" kind of pressure, please.)

Thanks!

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Comments

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - Baby steps

Posted by jenn4him

We are fortunate to have curb side pick up here for recycling, so we've done that now for more than 5 years. I have noticed that for our family of 5, we tend to put out half as many trash cans as our neighbors with only 4 in their families. This year, as you may recall, we started composting, another way to reduce, recycle and reuse. And I have made the decision to buy one of those $1 canvas shopping bags each week until I have enough so that I don't need the plastic bags anymore. I did always recycle them, but I think it is best not to have to produce them in the first place. We also don't use lawn chemicals. That saves money too. Maybe some of these will spark ideas that you can do. If I had unlimited funds, I'd have a green house built with windmills and all!
Jenn

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - Whoops!

Posted by MayTheyBeMightyMen

Okay, I'm pretty lame. I've never even looked up the recycling guidelines for my town. As icanhascheeseburger.com says, "U'r doin' it wrong!"

Newspaper
Newspaper (including all the inserts in the daily weekend editions) must be brown bagged or bundled and placed on top of other recyclable.

Magazine and Phone Books
Magazine and phone books must be brown- bagged or bundled.

Junk Mail
Junk mail must be brown-bagged. Do not bundle with newspaper, magazines, or phone books.

Corrugated Cardboard
Pieces should not be larger than 2 feet by 2 feet. Corrugated containers (packing or storage boxes) bundled or brown-bagged.

Glass Containers
Only glass bottles or jars used for food/liquid are acceptable. Rinse with water. NO window glass, light bulbs, plates or ceramics are accepted.

Tin, Steel. & Aluminum Can
Tin steel and aluminum cans used for food or beverages. Rinse clean of all food residue. Labels can be left on. No scrap aluminum or steel accepted.

Plastics
Plastic food and beverage containers marked 1 -5 on the bottom can be recycled. No container that held toxic products such as automotive oil or anti-freeze can be recycled.

Chipboard/Paperboard
Cereal boxes, paper tubes, soda and beer cartons, bundled or brown bagged.

Aside from the typos that WasteManagement has on the website, I found it informative. Now I know what to recycle and how to do it. I'm a little frustrated by the bagging and bundling thing. We have a huge, wheeled can for recycling. And I need to track down some way to bag and bundle in that thing? *Insert raspberry sound here.*

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by naturalpaths

Wow - I can't believe you have to bag and bundle all those things! We have curbside (roadside in our case) pickup (and we have to pay for it too whether we recycle or not). They provide us with 3 small bins, but we added a large Rubbermaid tote to the mix as well. Just in the last year they expanded what we can recycle. Now they take all plastics (before it was #1 and #2 only), glass, aluminum cans, newspaper, and cardboard (this one is new). I admit that I am much more concerned with recycling than dh and I do go behind him and dig things out of the garbage and put them in the bins. LOL

My best suggestion - baby steps! Pick one area to focus on, get the hang of it and then expand to something else. Do what appeals to you or it won't be any fun.

Some sites to check out...

http://www.thegreenguide.com/
http://www.treehugger.com/
http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Sawickis

Thanks for you sweet comment on my blog.

It's nice to now I'm not the only one who is just now getting a clue about recycling.

I'll have to check out my city guidelines, what a great idea.

I'll also be looking at the other sites mentioned in your comments. I especially like the advice you got to take baby steps. I think this will be the best way to go about starting this. Or else I'll just get frustrated by the whole thing and go back to what I was doing which was nothing.

I think if I get my kids involved it might become a fun project. We'll see.

*Kristie*

P.S. I always love to read your posts because they are so honest.

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Thursday, April 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by CrossView

"Going green" for us is all tied up with the saving money idea. =)
Cloth napkins- they look nicer, actually help with table manners, save money and we don't have the trash.
Empty containers- like the huge ice cream buckets, become outside waterers for animals or an organizing tool for games, puzzles, etc.
Oil drums- those get pressure washed and hold feed for the critters. And one is going to soon become a rainbarrel for gardening.
Laundry- weather permitting, I hang my clothes out to dry.
I know there's more, but I need more coffee to jump start my brain... *sigh*

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