Mommy Adventures in ‘Going Green’

I don’t like to think of myself as a hypocritical environmentalist.   But I guess that’s what you could call me. 

I care deeply about our planet and the earth and about my community, but I’m probably not as hardcore as I could be.  I recycle, and I never leave the water running while I’m brushing my teeth.  I turn the lights off when I’m not in the room and we’ve even switched to those new strange looking energy-efficient light bulbs.  I usually participate in my neighborhood trash clean-ups, too.  But for someone well-versed in the massive problems our planet is facing, it seems hardly enough.

Ok…  I drive an SUV.  Let’s just get that out of the way.   It’s not a massive get-out-of-my-way-or-die sort of SUV.  It’s just a nice, small one.   But still, that nagging fact that keeps me feeling as if I’m not doing enough.  If you want to walk the walk you’ve got to talk the talk, right?  I remind myself regularly that it helps me carry around my young daughter and her friends and all their gear.  I know I should probably drive a smaller car, but I haven’t been able to swallow that step just yet.

So what can an aspiring enviro-mommy do?   I write to my local representatives about issues I feel are important and I’ve stopped using those dreadful little plastic baggies in my daughter’s lunches - so convenient but SO wasteful!

But we can all do more.   I’m determined to continue making a difference for the environment and for my community.   So here are a few steps I’m taking to make myself a better friend to the Earth.  I want to show my daughter how easy it is to make a difference... and how even the little things we do can make an impact.

I just joined a local food co-op.  This helps support local farmers and cuts down on the carbon footprint left behind by companies that transport your produce across the country and across the globe.  The one I chose is The Local Food Stop.  They actually deliver your custom order of fresh produce to work once a week.  I can’t wait to get my first order!   

I also renewed my membership to our local community garden.  It’s amazing to see how the Oakhurst Community Garden (now the Wylde Center) brings people together in a beautiful space and my daughter loves running around the gardens and exploring.

A recent study published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine finds that young children are spending less and less time outside with their families.  These gardens are a wonderful place for kids and adults to get their hands dirty and grow something positive together.

Next, I renewed my membership to the Sierra Club.  As one of the largest and oldest grass-roots environmental organizations, the Sierra Club supports the things I believe in and they have local chapters across the country.   They host outdoor exploring, hiking and travel adventures and run campaigns to promote clean energy and sustainability.  These are things I want to support on a local, state and national level.

Now, what else can I do?  I may just plant my own garden and spend some more time volunteering.  (I’d love to see Decatur and Atlanta do away with plastic grocery bags – so maybe that’s my next challenge…)  

Then of course... that SUV is still sitting out in the driveway...   Lots to do!

• Tell me:  What are some of the things you’re doing to go
green?

• Check out some of the places I
mention in my post:

www.localfoodstop.com

www.oakhurstgarden.org

www.sierraclub.org

Happy Earth Day!