So anyone bought the "Gorgeously Green" book yet?

[fudge stripe cookays]

I picked up a copy the other day, and I'm really enjoying it.

http://www.amazon.com/Gorgeously-Green-Simple-Steps-Earth-Friendly/dp/0061575569/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215308582&sr=8-1

Yeah, it's kind of trendy and all, but I like the fact that she spells out the bad stuff to look for in cleaning products, laundry items, beauty products, etc no phosphates!).

reprehensor and I made a little agreement. I'm putting a lot of our older products on Freecycle for someone who may need them, and I went to the organic co-op today and picked up everything from Borax and essential oils to CFL light bulbs, reusable cloth grocery bags, reusable produce bags, and some other healthy stuff for dinner. I also picked up some fresh herbs to pot. I miss my herb patch back in Texas (and my old composter!). We're renting now, so as soon as we get our own place and I can begin composting again, I'm going to. And put in another herb bed and a vegetable patch. Right now, I'll at least have tomatoes and herbs on the front porch.

It was just the thing to give me the kick in the tush I needed to take the plunge as we try to go as renewable as possible. :D

[hippywife]

1. Wonderful, cookays!

Way to go! It's kind of fun to see how many ways you can change your life to be more environmentally responsible. Now if I can always remember to take the shopping bags. LOL. Had them for two years and only remember to take them about half the time, even when they are right beside me in the passenger seat of the car. :crazy:

Hope you have your own place again, soon. :hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Thanks sweetie!

I even paid more attention when I made our dinner last night. When I drained the potatoes, I saved the water, and then when I washed the veg, I poured water into a bowl first instead of letting it run the whole time.

Then I took all of this, poured into a small plastic wastebasket and saved it for today, when I pot my herbs.

And I usually use a MESS of paper towels. I'm not to zero yet, but I did reduce my quantity quite a bit. Yay me! :D

[hippywife]

3. You really can make

a little mind-challenging game of it and it doesn't seem like work at all, does it?

Yes, yay you! :hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. I'm shamelessly kicking this.

Because it, and Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Vegetable Miracle" have changed my life. (Thanks doloamber for the reco on the Kingsolver...)

:hi:

[hippywife]

5. That's the book

that got me started on trying to eat as locally and be as self-sustaining as possible. We're working on it by steps and really enjoying it. I went on to read and enjoy Michael Pollan's books The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Also Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Diet for a Dead Planet by Christopher D. Cook. That last one really made me mad as hell at this countries farming and food aid policies. :mad:

Have you read Plenty:One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally yet?

http://www.amazon.com/Plenty-Woman-Raucous-Eating-Locally/dp/030734732X

They went really hardcore and limited themselves to a 100-mi. diet, and with no idea of what they were really doing to start with. Was an interesting read.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. I'll put that one on my list.

I just found a used copy of the Pollan this weekend.

I also bought "Local Flavors" by Deborah Madison based on Kingsolver's recommendation in HER book.

:hi:

[hippywife]

8. Which

Pollan book did you find? I tell you all of the books we've talked about so far are truly life changing.

Local Flavors is a really nice book, too. I checked it out of the library. :)

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. The Omnivore's Dilemma...

and something that gave me hope....

it was marked up with highlighter and pen, college style, which means that someone appears to be teaching it, maybe in the Milwaukee area.

Whoever you are, blessed prof, you need a medal for educating more young folks to these issues!

[MJW]

6. I just put it on my wish list

I have books arriving Wednesday . I still haven't read the last batch I ordered . I am hopeless when it comes to books :hi: :loveya:



Barbara Kingsolver is my hero!

[hippywife]

10. Whatever you do

don't get this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Green-Living-Ultimate-Eco-Friendly/dp/1594867925

For one thing, she writes like a teenager at times! (Golly gee!) And for another it will have you wanting to strip everything out of your house and starting over. Or even leveling it and rebuilding.

She goes through ever little thing from toilet paper to personal care items to linens. No room in the home is sacred!

I'm only about a fifth of the way through it and I'm taking it back to the library without reading the rest of it. As hard as we work to be very conscientious about all of this, it made me feel like we weren't doing enough. I don't have the time or the money to take on anymore at the moment.

Knowledge is a good thing but this is a tad overwhelming. :crazy: