What do YOU do to simplify (i.e., "green-ify") your life?

[RWMorris]

Keep in mind that Jesus cautioned us that if we fast, we should do so without telling anyone what we are doing.

If we give to the poor, don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.

And the question as posed implies that simplification is the same as “green-ifying”.

Not so. Not so.

Putting a earth/sod roof on your house may not be such a hot idea.

That was exactly my point, Al - that “greenifying” is NOT the same thing as simplifying. I believe that to greenify your life is a good thing, so much as it lies in one’s capabilities.
My main point would be better perhaps stated as a question of stewardship - and that includes good stewardship of the earth.
What do we do with all of our time, money, and resources? Do we consume without end? Do we recycle? Do we step lightly on the earth in some important way?

 

[Pug]

The way ground water recharge works (and it is an established and well founded procedure) is that there are varying degrees of waste water treatment.

There is primary, secondary and tertiary treatment available depending on the particulars of the situation. In addition, further direct treatment is also available including special membranes, etc.

In any event, the treated effluent is NOT directly injected into the aquifers. It is considered to be non-potable water. And used for irrigation (as in golf courses, for example) or for special detention and retention ponds. The ponds have been planted to specfic types of vegetation that are known to extract the specific remaining impurities in the treated effluent.

I do understand the processes you describe. Well, I understand them at some level of principle. I’m not an engineer. I meant that they do not dump raw effluent onto golf courses, at least, not around here that I know of. It will have been treated to some extent prior to this. I was remarking that to dump it on a golf course likely requires more treatment than to dump it into the ocean. I agree, though, that dumping water on a golf course will treat the water as it trickles down. Trickling is one of the ways to treat water. In fact, just the simple act of letting it settle is a primary way to treat water. Also, evaporation will treat it as well. It is quite cool how low tech a sewage treatment plant is.

Maybe what you were trying to talk about is building a huge artificial, yet natural-in-action reservoir that you could dump stuff in and then as it trickled down, enough would happen to it to make it potable.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I think that if a family uses its blessings from God in a wise manner then they are doing their part to keep earth in the manner God meant it to be kept.

We are a generational family. So we only have one house when in todays society we would have two. This means less electricity use and cost. We hang out the laundry when we can and use a front loading washer to use less water and energy. One phone line, one internet connection and the list goes on. We don’t use many (some are necessary) chemicals and cook our own food mostly (little takeout it is a luxury and prepackaged is not worth the money) we cook in large batches to conserve time and money.

Our children are home schooled (the school bus does not have to come out our road so that save lots of diesel fuel). We live in the country. LOL I knew there was a “green” reason to home school.

We refuse to use the LOW ENERGY bulbs as disposal is bad for the environment (toxic metals).

We use a heat pump to heat and cool the house as needed 8 months out of the year. We use wood/coal the other four months when the heat-pump is not as efficient. Again this is cost efficient for us because it became toooo costly to use oil.

We keep our cars till they die of use and/or old age. (uses less resources and energy to produce the newer models and enables me to be a stay at home nanna and my daughter to be a stay at home mother) We also make each trip to the stores do double duty. Stores, library and then visiting etc.

A garden, canning and sewing help us use our blessing wisely. And yes we have tv’s, radios. and most of the other modern toys others have. Contrary to some thought we are not Amish (private joke).

 

[Pug]

So what do we do in OUR lifetimes to help the poor? What do we do to simplify (implicit in Jesus’ teaching, “Go out and sell all you have, and give to the poor”.)?

We can give away clothing and furniture and objects that we don’t need and others can use. We can give time to a charity that delivers these objects directly to people. We can forgo certain things and give the resulting savings to a charity that helps the poor. We can donate our services to the poor if we are someone who has a service to give, like a doctor or a tax consultant or, oh, I don’t know, lots of people.

Are you a good steward of what you have?

No. For example, I don’t take the time to manage my savings as cleverly as I could. I have a house that I have become too ill to care for as well as should be. It was a reasonable choice when I go it, though. I don’t make optimal use of the resources that I have. I could eat out a little less. My life is not perfectly balanced. It tends to sway one way or the other from time to time, partly as a result of my lack of discipline. I could pray more for others than I do, and I could study more (poor stewardship of time). I don’t offer up my sufferings as much as I have opportunity (I don’t utilize grace as I ought). I could fertilize and build relationships in my family and amongst friends, especially with an eye to my responsibility to be a light on a hill, but I let opportunities slide there as well. I often seek my own way instead of offering service to those around me in little things. I guess that one goes with the grace thing I already mentioned. The answer is no.

42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?
43 "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
44 "Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 "But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;
46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

 

[Holland]

My husband and I grow all of the vegetables we eat. We freeze the excess and have plenty to last through the winter. We hunt and fish to provide the protein we need. We also have chickens that supply our eggs. It really helps us as we live 120 miles from the nearest grocery store.

 

[Al_Masetti]

That was exactly my point, Al - that “greenifying” is NOT the same thing as simplifying. I believe that to greenify your life is a good thing, so much as it lies in one’s capabilities.
My main point would be better perhaps stated as a question of stewardship - and that includes good stewardship of the earth.
What do we do with all of our time, money, and resources? Do we consume without end? Do we recycle? Do we step lightly on the earth in some important way?

The “problem” is that “greenifying” is not necessarily a good thing.

Using stuff up, wearing it out, and making do, is just good economic sense for the majority of ordinary folks.

But a lot of “greenifying” stuff is really bad economically.

One very small example: the new compact fluorescent bulbs. They use less electricity than an ordinary light bulb. So there is a clamor to outlaw the regular incandescent light bulbs.

BUT, the “crossover” point where it makes economic sense to use a fluorescent bulb versus an incandescent bulb only occurs at around THREE HOURS OF USAGE A DAY. If you use lights in places that get illuminated less than three hours a day, then it is MORE EFFICIENT TO USE AN INCANDESCENT BULB.

So, … bathrooms … closets … basements if not used as living space … garages if only used for car storage (using the lights only while getting into and out of cars) … other storage facilities, if not used THREE HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

There are also “strategic” reasons for NOT USING those compact fluorescent bulbs. Believe it or not. We don’t make those compact fluorescent bulbs in the United States. They all come from the Peoples Republic of China. Do we want to get rid of our entire illumination industry to a country that has demonstrated it can destroy our satellites and is daily launching cyber attacks on our country?

 

[Al_Masetti]

I do understand the processes you describe. Well, I understand them at some level of principle. I’m not an engineer. I meant that they do not dump raw effluent onto golf courses, at least, not around here that I know of. It will have been treated to some extent prior to this. I was remarking that to dump it on a golf course likely requires more treatment than to dump it into the ocean. I agree, though, that dumping water on a golf course will treat the water as it trickles down. Trickling is one of the ways to treat water. In fact, just the simple act of letting it settle is a primary way to treat water. Also, evaporation will treat it as well. It is quite cool how low tech a sewage treatment plant is.

Maybe what you were trying to talk about is building a huge artificial, yet natural-in-action reservoir that you could dump stuff in and then as it trickled down, enough would happen to it to make it potable.

Nobody dumps raw sewage anymore*. That went out decades ago. The “problem” is that we treat raw sewage until it is highly cleaned up … AND THEN WE DUMP IT instead of recycling the water in a safe manner. So we lose the water, which is a valuable resource … instead of using it as a source for ground water recharge. Not that difficult to do.

• the reason for the asterisk is that some large cities have “combined systems” … they mix their rain runoff water from storm drains with their sewerage … and when there are storms that exceed treatment capacity, they do indeed dump their untreated, if diluted sewerage … Chicago just did that recently.

Pretty disgusting if you ask me. But then big city politicians have never been noted for adhering to especially beneficial policies, unless there is a photo opportunity in it for them. Their constituents always want the cheapest way out.

 

[Pug]

• the reason for the asterisk is that some large cities have “combined systems” … they mix their rain runoff water from storm drains with their sewerage … and when there are storms that exceed treatment capacity, they do indeed dump their untreated, if diluted sewerage … Chicago just did that recently.

It isn’t just large cities. I have a combined sewer near the end of my driveway. And you are quite right. If it rains too much and they have to bypass, it goes straight out untreated, but diluted.

I agree with you about politicians. At times they seem too directed by other concerns, and aren’t concerned about the best way to deal with a situation over the long haul. Perhaps becoming politically active ought to be listed on this thread as one of the better ways to conserve or simplify or improve the world or do stewardship, etc. But then, I don’t know. Sometimes the things advocated by certain groups are ill-thought. I guess you need to pick the right group to support.

 

[RWMorris]

We drive our cars until they wear out. We recycle…and not just trash. We give belongings to charities. We don’t overconsume, buying stuff we don’t need.
We even, until last year, raised our own eggs, meat, and vegetables. I made many of my kids’ clothes on a sewing machine. I breast-fed our children when they were babies.
We share rides rather than all drive all the time. We try to plan our trips to town to save on gas.
Probably more importantly, we try to give. We give to our parish church. We give to the diocese. We sponsor a lay missionary in Mexico. We are now planning to help Catholic Answers financially.
I say all this not to say how great we are, but to elicit readers’ views on how best to simplify our lives.

 

[lizaanne]

I drive a new vehicle every two years to ensure that I’m not driving a car with a poor exhaust system and one that has the most current fuel effecient technology. (I drive about 8,500 miles/year)

We installed new insulated siding and windows on our home so we can turn the thermostat down in the winter (hopefully).

I take my own bags to the grocery store. I’m finally getting a good enough collection to be able to do this, it took some time to get there though.

We recycle glass, plastic, metal.

I am the queen of leftovers - I can make a single chicken last for three meals.

I repair my shoes rather than replace them when they are worn.

I buy from estate sales and resale shops - I’m not too proud to wear something someone else decided they are tired of owning. Also clearance racks and sales. I hate paying full price for anything.

I work from home 2-3 days a week to reduce use of the vehicle.

We own only one vehicle and I drive DH to work and back every day.

I tried using a natural kitty litter but that was a horrible messy disaster. But we did try.

~Liza

 

[KathleenElsie]

We maintain our cars so they don’t produce excess exhaust and get the best possible gas mileage.

We care four our bodies so we don’t become ill because of our own negligence.

 

[He_Man]

Meaning, what do you do to create less trash; do you recycle? Drive hybrid cars or live close to work? Live in a small house rather than a McMansion? Garden?

Those are good ideas, but not simplifying by a long shot.

It is more simple for me to not worry about any of that, and just live. It is simpler to just throw trash away than to recycle, for instance.

So I don’t see the connection to this making your life more simple.

 

[RWMorris]

I drive a new vehicle every two years to ensure that I’m not driving a car with a poor exhaust system and one that has the most current fuel effecient technology. (I drive about 8,500 miles/year)

We installed new insulated siding and windows on our home so we can turn the thermostat down in the winter (hopefully).

I take my own bags to the grocery store. I’m finally getting a good enough collection to be able to do this, it took some time to get there though.

We recycle glass, plastic, metal.

I am the queen of leftovers - I can make a single chicken last for three meals.

I repair my shoes rather than replace them when they are worn.

I buy from estate sales and resale shops - I’m not too proud to wear something someone else decided they are tired of owning. Also clearance racks and sales. I hate paying full price for anything.

I work from home 2-3 days a week to reduce use of the vehicle.

We own only one vehicle and I drive DH to work and back every day.

I tried using a natural kitty litter but that was a horrible messy disaster. But we did try.

~Liza

Like me, you hate paying full price! I’m with ya, sister!
BTW, what do you do about Christmas? I’m trying to simplify Christmas this year. I have lots of kids to buy for as well as grandparents, etc. What should I do? I am thinking of saying everyone gets ONE gift, period. What do you think?

 

[lizaanne]

Like me, you hate paying full price! I’m with ya, sister!
BTW, what do you do about Christmas? I’m trying to simplify Christmas this year. I have lots of kids to buy for as well as grandparents, etc. What should I do? I am thinking of saying everyone gets ONE gift, period. What do you think?

My mom and I like the same things so I find the majority of her things at estate sales - we both love kitchen linens and items from the 1950’s, and bed linens with hand made lace, so she’s easy. I just pretend I’m shopping for myself. Everyone else we just do small things - but we choose names on my dad’s side of the family, so that makes it easy. I have one grandmother who I shop for, and only a small handful of kids, so it’s not really that bad for us. I think keeping it to ONE small item per person is key to keeping that part of your life simple and not totally INSANE. Have not decided what we will be sending to DH’s family in England this year - last year shipping just about killed me!

~Liza

 

[KathleenElsie]

In our family we have a small gift for every child at Christmastime. The adults do a “pick a name” so we each get one thing.

The bigger stuff is birthdays and even then it might be used or new depending on the want and need.

 

[KarenNC]

At home we do one or two gifts for our daughter and one to each other on Solstice, and we all get a stocking with fruit, some candy, nuts and a small toy or two, maybe a book, on Christmas morning. Not infrequently the books and toys are handmade or stuff in really good shape from a thrift store.

Among some friends we have known for 20 years, we decided a few years ago to do donations to charity in each others’ names.

For my family, we did drawing names among the adults for several years with a set price limit, then a few years ago they decided to go to that gift stealing game, with also a set price limit. I much prefer either the drawing names or the donation to charity or just a “our gift to each other is to spend time together”.

We opted out of the stealing game last year and will do so again this year. To me it is the antithesis of what they are celebrating (they are all very devout Christian) as it is consumerism simply for the sake of consumerism. There is no way to make a thoughtful choice for anyone, it is just buy something under a certain price limit then see who can steal the “best” things that show up and get mad if you think what you brought was better than what you ended up with. The last three years it has been a mad grab for the couple of gift cards that some folks brought and there were hurt feelings, accusations that those of the family who were more well off financially shouldn’t have tried to get them (that were more than 3/4 serious rather than jokes, even though the price limit was the same for everyone), etc. To my mind, one might as well just keep the money and go buy something for oneself.

For the children under 6th grade, everyone gets them a dollar store gift. As my parents give everyone money at Thanksgiving for their main holiday gift, then a token to the adults (all the women get the same thing, all the men get the same thing), and they give money to the parents of the young children to pick up something and say it’s from the grandparents, I could easily do without the additional toys, etc.

It is a stepfamily situation and the adult children of the two families (who now have children and grandchildren) have not ever been close, so it really seems so much of a farce. I would rather simply go and give my parents a gift and all of us (the extended family) have dinner together.