Comments on: Sunday Reflection-The Good Life

By: Rebecca (living sustainably and felting in rural Ireland)

Rebecca (living sustainably and felting in rural Ireland) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:31:34 +0000

Although we now live sustainably in rural Leitrim, Ireland we did live city life for a long time too. I often read Living the Simple Life I Want Blog which is full of tips for ongoing sustainable living tips in Dublin.
http://livingthesimplelifeiwant.blogspot.com/

By: Lien

Lien — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:17:05 +0000

Well, Cheryl, you said it all, I think. We can only try to do our best. There’s a market in the square of our town, and we get most of our fruit and veg there. There’s absolutely no hint of it being organic or local, but in general we figure it’s better than the supermarkets that are the only alternatives.
And now that I have money to buy clothes and random stuff, I’m trying hard not to buy things for the sake of buying things, and try to avoid most of the high street. I’m sure there’s more I could be doing, but…

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:26:18 +0000

Well said my dear…thank you for showing me that I am not the only one at this crossroads!

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:55:42 +0000

I think the most important thing is the effort itself. Let’s face it, preventing the use of five plastic bags when I go shopping doesn’t do a heck of a lot. But others seeing me use my own sacks makes it all the easier for them to do the same. And the more people others see, the more “mainstream” it becomes. So I don’t beat myself up for the egg shells that may have slipped past the compost pile.

Think about it — if we were really sincere about “saving the planet,” we’d be getting into issues of population control that I doubt anyone wants to deal with (remember: “Soylent Green is PEOPLE!”).

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:43:55 +0000

Okay, I just want you to post a picture of your hair, front and back. I love the cut, and I want to see what my hairdresser says. I cruised back through your blog to see what your hair used to look like, and I was floored! You don’t even look like the same person! I love your style and natural color now. Going with the grey was a great move, and you have a great stylist!

By: Angie

Angie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:35:33 +0000

This has been gnawing at me as well this winter - how personally sustainable could I become, living in a northern clime (Minnesota)? I love our Farmer’s Markets, loathe the MallWart, and find myself in conflict with both when trying to be budget-conscious to boot. Baby steps, is what I coach myself. Maybe I try canning/preserving some FM purchases this summer and fall…

One of my resolutions this New Year is not only to do my part, but to teach my 3-year-old stewardship and responsibility. Granted, the finer points of global warming would be lost on her wee brain, but she does notice things like recycling and using reusable shopping bags and containers. I think educating others is one of the biggest ways we can have an impact.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:20:21 +0000

Awareness is the first step. After hearing a report on National Public Radio concerning an island of 10 miles of plastic bags out in the middle of nowhere in the Atlantic, I don’t want to use plastic bags anymore. I always have used paper bags to bring my groceries home, but that story brought the use of all plastic bags in the grocery to the forefront of my mind–i.e., the plastic bags to package your produce in, the enormous amount of plastic used in packaging, etc.
Working in the computer field, I am certainly not a Luddite, I appreciate the advantages that the development of plastics bring to modern civilization, but now the importance of reducing the use of extraneous plastic as much as possible is a top priority for me. I’ve started using more glass containers rather than plastic, waxed paper instead of plastic wrap, and I try to buy items that have as little extraneous packaging as possible. I think my next step is to use reusable cloth totes to bring the food home. Each step is small, but they all add up to a more eco-friendly world.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:33:23 +0000

I can relate completely to your dilemma. My current take on it, though, is that it is better to do the things I am able…make the small changes where I can and the big ones when I’m able…than to make no changes at all because it all seems so overwhelming. Not saying it doesn’t take effort and it will all be easy, but I’m trying not to beat myself up over not being perfect. :}

By: Tanya

Tanya — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:44:29 +0000

you expressed it well. I grew up on a new england dairy farm where we grew it, processed it, ate it. Clothing..we sewed it. I didn’t know what fast food was until i was almost a teenager. My husband still laughs at the thought of my being 21 and never having been to most any fast food places (i didn’t eat anything they sold). My jobs involved baking/cooking in natural foods rest/bakerys, working in natural foods stores, etc. I just did not buy things, etc that were not whole or environmentlly friendly. I still recycle most everything (i am always amazed that our family of 3 produces more recycling i the bins than our neighbors with 5-6 kids…and i know we use more fresh produce, hence less cans etc) But it was good to see you express my thoughts so well. The vicious circle of thought when trying to live right, within your means, healthy, etc. Well put. I am so jealous of your being over there! My bank fund is slowly gaining for a trip to ireland, we’re murphy’s what can i say!

By: tinker

tinker — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:38:30 +0000

No, there are no simple solutions. All you can do is do the best you can, and if you ’slip up’, well, tomorrow is another day.