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Wednesday, April 24, 2019

my fellow earthlings!

My old computer and Magnum's old non-working drill sit behind me, ready for the Earth Day haul.  Magnum's employer has a free electronics recycling haul each year around Earth Day, which was this past Monday. 

He reminded me of the Earth Day festivities with the "Endangered Animals Quiz" he brought home from the office.  Complete the quiz and be entered for a chance to win a prize  - gift card plus endangered species plush.  Oooh, I want the plush! 

How earth friendly are you?  I'd confidently guess that I'm well below the average American when it comes to carbon footprint.  It's not fully out of concentrated effort to be environmentally friendly, but mainly a by-product of a generally frugal, simple, and efficient lifestyle.  When I left my professional career, many years ago, to be a stay-at-home mom, we learned all kinds of ways to make that work for us. And frugality is typically good for the environment.

One small example is that I don't use my dryer.  When I was a kid, my parents didn't even own a dryer.  When I first started living on my own, I loved having a dryer.  As I got older, I just didn't see the point.  Colorado has a dry climate.  I have a drying rack that takes up little space, and we also have a clothesline out back.  Stuff dries in a few hours or less.  And I think it helps keep me from putting off doing laundry.

What about shopping?  What about supporting environmentally friendly companies?  Today I came across an article featuring environmentally sustainable brands, so thought I'd check out their offerings such as:





This sleep set is entirely vegan and will arrive in a recycled box, for a mere $180.





$89.50 for this lovely polo shirt made entirely of recycled water bottles.





This jewelry is made from mercury-free and recycled 14K gold.  The price of these earrings is not listed, probably because, if I have to ask, I can't afford them.











Okay, well despite my environmentally friendly lifestyle, I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not the target market for any of these brands *ahem

I will mention that I do support Patagonia and REI, both for their quality and environmental sustainability efforts - in case anyone wants to gift me something for earth day. 

In the meantime, I'm gonna go take that quiz.  I've got a plush to win!


5 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

Is that a carrot hanging from her ear?

We do use a dryer, but I also hang out clothes to dry as well. Here in the UK that can take days! :D

Abby said...

Joey, I'm guessing it's a 14 karat carrot?
Air drying didn't work out so well for us in upstate New York...

Annsterw said...

I am SO jealous of your laundry line!!! I would love to have one but I live in a condo and am not allowed :-(
Those earrings are adorable but I am betting you are right; if you have to ask then they are usually very expensive!!! Have a great week Abby!

Chatty Crone said...

I wish I had a laundry line.
Also who can afford to be healthy and buy those clothes.
My computer died and I did get a new one.
I could not comment on the kind of comments you had before because it was not supported and too old.
All this to tell you my new computer can comment on those and if you really liked it the other way - you could go back.
Thank you.!

Abby said...

Ann, clothesline rules, I hadn't thought of that. When we go camping, I always feel like it isn't "home" until I've hung the clothesline!

Chatty, I thought it odd that those expensive items were more in the reach of jet-setting mansion-living people (hugely impacting the environment) than of the average tree hugger ;).
And thanks for letting me know about your new computer capability! Congratulations! I think I'll switch back to embedded comments.