Earth day

cuddlymarm

As today is earth day I though it might me a nice idea to talk about eco ways of cutting down. Using less power, making things go further, and amazingly enough saving money by doing it. Please join in if you would like. I’ll start off with a few of my ways.

Walk more ( or use trams and buses ) 
If it’s chilly put on extra layers or a throw rather than the heating.
Open windows rather than using extractor fans
Use veg leaves and scraps and leftovers for soup
Freeze a lot of your fresh meat and fish to save waste
Freeze leftovers. Even little bits can be added to another meal.
Try to eat fresh and local if you can afford to save on food miles ( not always possible but every little bit helps)
Wear clothes more than once 
Eat less meat 
Use the oven less and energy savers like slow cookers more
Wear the life out of your clothes. Then when too scruffy use as cleaning cloths.

Well that’s a start. Happy Earth day everybody.

goldfinches

Here's one I hadn't thought of until I read a comment below an article in the Guardian recently.
Look after your teeth. You buying and using brush heads, interdental brushes, floss etc. has an environmental impact but dental appointments for treatment have a huge environmental impact especially with the amount of single use ppe surgeries have to use because of Covid.
Instruments are individually vacuum packed and sterilised, aprons are disposable and gowns have to be single use for many procedures and the waste is chemically incinerated.
So if you have been thinking that all those plastic bits you were buying weren't very green think again, avoiding extra visits to the dentist and the hygienist is the greenest behaviour by miles.

retiredinfrance

Avoid plastic.
Avoid man made fabric.
Buy things made to last.
Buy second-hand..

Keep  safe everyone.

-taff

Wee in the shower. Saves water flushing....

cuddlymarm

He he 
I’m not so sure about weeing in the shower but everyone to their own 😂
I have started buying cotton and linen clothes, unfortunately I’m not overly good at washing wool, I tend to shrink it but intend to try.

goldfinches

Here's my other thought.
Try cutting down just a little on the things you use most often such as milk, tea, coffee, loo paper and so on.
I've started using a measuring cup for the milk in my coffee and surprise, surprise the milk lasts much longer than if I pour it in by eye.
If I keep doing that, the savings will mount up over the months and years and tackling your most frequently used consumables with this sort of approach seems a good tactic to me.

mandy47

I've started measuring rice and pasta. I always managed to cook too much, not now.
I chop broccoli stalks and freeze for use in soup and stew.
 

Wraithlady

I assume, cuddlymarm, you mean 'wear clothes more than once before washing' as I can't see anyone on these boards being a devotee of fast  disposable fashion

A good 60% of my wardrobe is second-hand or home-made - I have stuff that used to be my mum's, including a green denim jacket I wore at Uni in the 80's.

My OH was once asked what he did with his old clothes, to which he replied 'I wear them'. Given the state of some of his t-shirts, he ain't kidding!

-taff

Wraithlady said:

My OH was once asked what he did with his old clothes, to which he replied 'I wear them'. Given the state of some of his t-shirts, he ain't kidding!

Is he my OHs brother? He still has and wears a T Shrt he had in the mid nineties...

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I did mean wearing more than once 😂 I’ve got clothes that are my after work clothes which I am thoroughly sick of but they don’t show the muck so only get washed after 3 or 4 days.
OH has so many t shirts, he’s even got one older than our youngest who is 34 tomorrow but he can’t wear it any more because 1 it doesn’t fit and 2 it would disintegrate if I needed to wash it.
I did cull my wardrobe a couple of years back but that was because I lost 3 stone. Unfortunately during lock down I’ve put weight on but I’m determined not to buy bigger clothes.
It was reassuring to see that Biden wants to cut emissions and hopefully it will lead other countries to follow suit. The problem comes when big business doesn’t want to play but hopefully they will realise that cutting the use of fossil fuels and putting money into green businesses can make them money. We shall see.

goldfinches

-taff said:

Wraithlady said:

My OH was once asked what he did with his old clothes, to which he replied 'I wear them'. Given the state of some of his t-shirts, he ain't kidding!

Is he my OHs brother? He still has and wears a T Shrt he had in the mid nineties...

Am I your OHs sister? I still have and wear a fleece I bought in '94 from M&S and although showing its age by being faded and worn in places it keeps me warm on chilly evenings.