Ask the Readers: What Are Your Green Habits?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Monique, Shari, and Jennifer for winning this week's contest!

There are many ways to be green. You can grow your own organic garden, use homemade or natural cleaners, or even just drink from a reusable water bottle. And not only are eco-friendly practices good for the earth, they can be good for your wallet, too!

What are your green habits? What are the costs and benefits of these habits? Do they help you save money?

Tell us about your green habits and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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  • Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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Good Luck!

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Guest's picture
Therese

I walk to work every day and I refill my water bottle at work.

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Jon

I ride my bike to work as much as possible. The obvious benefits are gas savings and a small workout. Problem is I spend more on bikes and parts than I save in gas!

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Tina in NJ

We recycle, use cloth grocery bags, turn off lights, etc. DH uses reusable containers for his lunch. Our cars get in the upper 20s for mpg. DH's commute is only 20 minutes each way instead of an hour or more. Pretty standard stuff.

Guest's picture

Over a year ago, I gave up my car. Yes, it saved us insurance, maintenance, and gas. But we've also saved tons on dining out. When it's harder to just hop in the car and go somewhere, we're more likely to eat at home.

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Christie

We definitely recycle (they pick it up curbside for free! Why not? Saves us over $50 a year on trash pick-up!!) and we try to use and reuse whatever possible. Instead of throwing useful things away, we try to give them away or donate them to a resale shop so someone else can make use of them. Also works in the kitchen: bread ends no one will eat turn into bread crumbs for coating chicken and fish, fruit no one will eat becomes a smoothie, and rotation of food helps us save money by using it instead of throwing things away. There's always a way to save more, you just have to be creative.

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Sara C

We recycle, use re-usable grocery bags, buy meat and produce from local farmers and compost our kitchen waste.

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Nicholas

I recycle as much as I can. My work has paper bins and a battery recycle box where we can throw our old batteries away. Generally there is no cost to recycle for me since I am going to work anyways. The only time I get money back is if I take my plastic bottles to a recycle drop-off location.

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Mary Happymommy

I reuse old milk jugs for my childrens' art projects.

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NJJ

Yes, I have a lot of green habits for example, my house is energy efficient I have smart surge protectors that turn off electricity to vampire devices, black out curtains that block sun and heat, and I use all LED bulbs instead of fluorescent ones When shopping I also try to use tote bags instead of plastic bags, I make my own car fresheners and I recycle what I can whenever I can Off hand I'd say yes, having green habits has saved me money especially on the utility bills.

Guest's picture
Jamie

Nalgenes! Always have one in the car and always take one on travel (just remember to empty it before you hit airport security). I have a nice glass 1/2L beer stein I keep on my desk at work just to keep the same concept but a little classier.

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Jennifer P

Hope I'm answering it in the correct place. I do what I can to be green, recycle everything that can be recycled that comes into this house, I try not to buy items in non-recyclable packaging and with the least packaging that I can if possible, use efficient bulbs and have everything on surge protectors that can shut everything down when not in use, plus so much more. All of it adds up to quite a savings on my utility bills, really wish I was completely solar!! Also gives me a feeling of relief and feel good about doing my part to save nature. The relief is that at least something is being done and one day it will spread to everyone and all will be green out of habit.

Guest's picture
Nancy

I do many small things that I hope contribute to a healthier planet. Use CFL and LED light bulbs; line-dry many clothes; turn off unused lights and appliances; plan errands to reduce driving; almost never buy bottled water; bring my own shopping bags. Most recently, I have begun composting kitchen scraps. I already save and freeze wilted celery, onion ends, carrot tops, etc. for soup stock. Now I compost everything else that used to go in the garbage. My city has a recycling program for green waste, but they don't take coffee grounds, eggs shells, veggie peels and such, so I made a compost bin out of a big trash can and a kitchen compost pail out of a coffee can and the charcoal filter for kitty litter box. Coming next: hardscaping for the front yard to replace grass and reduce water use. We already salvaged the flagstones and are saving for the labor costs.

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Elena

I recycle bottles and cans. It helps me to to get some money and be green at the same time

Guest's picture
Catherine Robinson

What are our green habits? We are members of our local CSA, from which we can get organic fruits and vegetables (and other foods, as well) grown regionally all year long. We also buy organic products at the grocery store most of the time (on sale and with coupons!). We recycle and repurpose as much as possible. We don't use plastic grocery bags and we use resusable water bottles. When we do get plastic bags, we recycle them. I am trying my hand at composting, and this year, I am hoping to grow a few more vegetables. That is a new undertaking. We use very few paper towels and almost no paper napkins. We line dry our clothes most of the time. When possible, I walk to do errands in the strip mall that is close to our house. I also walk to a few other things that are close to our house. I try to combine errands. We used to have a Prius, but it was totaled in an accident (not my fault!), and we got a Scion because it was the best deal we could find at the time and not have car payments. A good deal of this saves us money. Obviously, we could get groceries for less if we didn't buy organic, but we're trying to stick to this value because it is very important to us. Clearly, using the CSA allows us to have organic produce of a very high quality for less money.

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@icysupreme

My green habits are reusing, recycling, and breastfeeding!

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Maggie

I eat a 100% vegan diet! There's a dozen different figures, but it boils down to the fact that meat production uses 5-30 times the resources - calorie for calorie - as grain/veg/fruit production. I also am investing in my first CSA box this summer and plan to get most of the rest of my food from the local farmer's market. An added benefit is that produce uses WAY less packaging than processed foods, so I save a lot of waste that way. I also use my own grocery bags to cut back on plastic consumption - I have a zillion of them in the trunk of my car.

So yeah, all the aspects of veganism. That's probably the biggest thing for me. Good for my health, good for my wallet, good for the planet!

(for the record, I do know there's really good-quality sustainable meat out there, but I like the vegan thing - to each their own!)

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Shari C

We recycle and use cloth grocery bags. We use and plastic bags we get as garbage bags instead of buying new ones.

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Guest

We recycle paper, glass, cardboard, anything we can. We compost scraps when we can. I bought microfiber towels and save rag items so we don't use paper towels very much. I make my own coffee and use reusable mugs and water bottles. I use reusable shopping bags. I repurpose some items when we can. We eat less processed food and cook from scratch (less packaging and healthier and cheaper). We take short showers. We try to conserve our trips in the car....these are the things we do.

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Dixie

We have all but eliminated using paper napkins at our home. We use cloth napkins. Napkins can usually be used for more than one meal, and it takes no extra time or energy to throw them in with the regular wash. It also adds a bit of elegance to our everyday dinners.

Guest's picture

recycle, walk and ride a bike.

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Diane

I switched to all cfl lightbulbs a couple of years ago, which made a huge difference in our electric bill. We recently installed low-flush toilets and low flow shower heads to save on water. We are currently planning to replace our old leaky windows with energy efficient ones. Anything we replace in the house, we try to get a more energy efficient version.

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Tabathia B

Well we do recycle cans and water bottles, my kids all use recyclable water bottles

Donna Freedman's picture

Recycling, shopping mostly at thrift stores/yard sales, monitoring water usage, cooking from scratch, buying in bulk, turning leftovers into second (and third!) meals, recycling ink cartridges, using cloth napkins, fixing items instead of throwing them away, foraging wild or gone-wild fruit for jam and freezing, turning worn-out clothes into cleaning rags, writing letters on backs of old printouts, bringing my own grocery bags, hanging all laundry to dry, use LED bulbs.
My new partner and I keep the thermostat between 60 and 65 degrees (even during an Alaska winter). We have started a compost bin and will be gardening this summer: some to eat fresh, some to store for winter. He plans to build a greenhouse in the near future.
I have been using the same flip phone for five years and the same computer for more than three years. When I moved in he built an ergonomically friendly computer stand for me out of scrap wood.
Green isn't just eco-friendly. It's one giant frugal hack.

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Nandi Di

Bebing green, to me, isn't about being fanatical, frugal or hugging a tree. It's all about common sense... which ultimately leads me to actually being frugal. As a retiree, my hubby and I chose to move to Panama, leaving behind family and friends but allowing us more freedom and breathing room with our fixed retirement funds. While not everything here is cheaper than the U.S., our lifestyle is much improved and greener as well.
We live in a much smaller house and live mostly outside on one of two terraces. We don't have to heat the house because "hey, this is the tropics." We've found that as we've adjusted to the local climate, we use fans instead of air conditioning... only using the air conditioner to cool the bedroom prior to sleep. We are close enough to town to walk to everything so the car sits alot. A tank of gas can last me 6 weeks instead of six days. I only drive to the city once every 3 or 4 months to take advantage of PriceMart... purchasing in bulk things that are used frequently. I take a Tamar Adlar approach to cooking... the water used to cook broccoli, cauliflower, etc becomes the base for tomorrow's luncheon soup. I do the bulk of my shopping once a month, with a list that I stick to. If the carrots look good, then I'll buy several pounds and roast them along with whatever else is in season. My vegetables don't go bad... it's quicker to cook dinner... and I only turn on the oven once for multiple cooking projects. I make cookie dough and freeze it and when I know the oven will be in use, I finish it up with warm cookies. I use a good faucet filter so no bottled water. With all the fresh fruit growing around, there are healthy smoothies every day and iced tea... no soda. I make most of our cleaning products. Not because of cost(although it does save money) but because I find them to be more effective and don't endanger our health. I make several of my own beauty products as well. Jars are reused and I know exactly what I'm putting on my skin. My husband is very good and creative at revitalizing anything that's broken... those kind of things that most people would toss and replace. I've learned to utilize the things and products that are around me instead of paying dearly for items to be ordered and sent here. The actual cost is astronomical but it also saves that product taking up space on a plane or ship as well as the fuel involved. As an avid book lover, I never thought I'd depart from my beloved bound paper. But books don't hold up well in the tropics. So rather than purchase a Kindle, I simply downloaded the Kindle app onto my laptop and get books, mostly free. I read at least 2 books a week and truthfully, haven't missed the paper. As someone who has been involved in alternative medicine for many years, I'm delighted to find so many plants, trees and herbs here that I can take advantage of. Instead of paying for a 1 ounce bottle of a healing tincture, I can make a quart at a time, usually just for being nice and talking to someone who has a guanabana tree in their back yard. That wouldn't work for everyone, but it's wonderfully green for us. We haven't returned to the states in 3+ years... we don't miss the consumer driven frenzy... nor the compulsive/impulsive buying that U.S. marketing imposes upon the people. We are very capable of making green decisions that help us and our community. We enjoy and delight in our ability to do what we feel is right for us... it is not a chore nor is it an actual choice. It is the lifestyle we've chosen.

Guest's picture
Guest

I bring a glass water bottle to work everyday to refill instead of getting the plastic water bottles they offer here.

Guest's picture
de

Buy used. Use things up or wear them out. Recycle and up cycle. Moderate heating and cooling. Solar lighting. Combining errand trips. Take public trans when possible. Organic garden. Turn off the water when brushing my teeth.

Guest's picture
Amber Storck

CFL Bulbs, hang laundry to dry, keep water heater at low setting, have recycled carpet, refurbish furniture instead of buying new, grow my own garden, pick up cans and bottles at work for recycling, make my own coffee, use cruise control on my 36mpg car, don't water my lawn, wash my car with a spray bottle, shower every other day, use energy efficient setting for laundry, soak dishes in bowl, don't use dishwasher, wear clothing twice before washing, compost, use push mower, not gas powered, never buy new clothes, use vinegar and baking soda to clean-no harsh chemicals, use coconut butter as lotion instead of petro chemically made lotion, etc. etc. etc. I'm a green machine!

Guest's picture
Debra

We recycle. We also have a small garden. We have a water pitcher and use water bottles. We also have an electric lawn mower.

Guest's picture
Kelli

I recycle as much as possible (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.) I also print on both sides of sheets of paper, or use old documents as scratch paper if one side is still unused. I try not to buy things until I need them. I turn off lights, electronics, and appliances when I leave the room. I also have a pretty fuel-efficient car.

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Lisa

I carpool to work with three other people. It saves me a tremendous amount of money!

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Bethany

We buy a lot from consignment and thrift stores.

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Garon

I'm planting a garden this year, and I carpool as often as I can

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RebeccaM

Use a steel water bottle, use cloth towels instead of paper towels (whenever possible), and recycle plastic grocery bags, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.

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Jen

I recycle whatever I can, live 4 miles away from work, use reusable shopping bags, drink from a refillable water bottle, and have chosen to not have children.

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Andre Miller

I have given up bottled water and now just use a filter and tap water. Sold my car before moving in December. Made a desk using milk crates and some leftover wood and zip ties.

Guest's picture

Recycle! We put nearly everything we can into the recycle bin. My goal this summer is to try to grow some veggies!

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monique

Walking or taking the bus around town, cooking at home from bulk ingredients, recycling and reusing items, using the library instead of buying more stuff. For me, greener habits to tend to save a bit of money!

Guest's picture
Gemma

we use reusable water bottles, and we reuse plastic bags at LEAST once... we use (or try to as best we can) use cotton napkins versus paper. It's the little things we try to do each day that we hope will make a difference. At the least, it makes us stop and rethink about what to with our stuff.....

Guest's picture
Guest

I save on printer ink by using the Print Friendly site so that I print only the information and pictures that I need. Also, I shop at thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales. I try not to use my car at least two days per week. I donate my used books to the library book exchange where I also go to get "new" books for me to read.

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Amanda Sakovitz

We recycle and I recently started growing tomatoes and herbs.

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steff

i recycle & use cloth rags and napkins!

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Sara

I reuse plastic bags and water bottles.

Guest's picture
Guest

Always, always, always turning off lights when I leave a room. Even at work. This might be equal parts green and cheap.

Guest's picture
Laura

What do I do? I walk or take the bus everywhere, make my own laundry detergent (the plus is that since it's made of water, fels naptha soap, borax & washing soda it can be used to clean things other than laundry can't say that about commercial laundry detergents), use vinegar for almost all of my cleaning, dilute one to two cups of liquid fabric softener with a gallon of vinegar for use in my downy ball, have switched to "paper" towels made from diaper cloth, cloth menstrual pads & cloth baby wipes for my toiletpaper (still use the paper tp for guests & solids), make my own soda using soda stream instead of buying an endless stream of cans & bottles, recycle what I can, re-purpose things when I can, use cloth shopping bags & have no problem shopping thrift stores for things I want (scored a $50 ice cream maker for $2.50 at one years ago, had all it's parts except for the directions which I got online for free & years later it still works).

Guest's picture
Grace

Last year I gave up my car, and now I mainly go by bike, use public transportation, or the occasional Car2Go or Zip Car. I also recycle, compost, grow organic vegetables in a community garden, shop at the farmers market, and make my own cleaning supplies with nontoxic ingredients.

Guest's picture
Ben

I refill my bottle at work.

Guest's picture

We recycle, re-fill water bottles, and try to consolidate errands, so that we're not making a bunch of trips in the car. I also turn off lights, tvs, and gaming systems when not in-use. Cold water for laundry! Mostly, these are money savings (gas, electricity), but recycling lessens garbage in a landfill, too.

Guest's picture
Lynda

i recycle and carpool with my husband to work. also we stopped using bottled waters

Guest's picture
Guest

We do curbside recycling, we repurpose items around the house if possible, instead of throwing them away (like old shirts and wash cloths for cleaning messes), reusable water bottles, reusable lunch bags, I use the wax bag that cereal comes in as a food wrap in place of buying plastic wrap.

Guest's picture
Amber

We recycle glass, paper and plastic at our house. We also reuse or repurpose a lot of items like old T-shirts into necklaces, scarves and yarn. We have a 250 foot organic garden and try to put up as much of our own food as possible, but the biggest thing we do is to try and establish the difference between want and need with everything we buy. Unfortunately, we live out in the country and have to drive everywhere :(

Guest's picture
Tiffany

When there's no snow and ice I try to walk or bike to work as much as possible which saves me $ on gas, reduces pollution, and forces me to get some exercise. I also recycle both refundable and nonrefundable items...the refundables earn me a little extra cash. Thrift shopping is another activity that is both more environmentally friendly and saves money. I also do things like turning off lights when they're not in use, programming the thermostat, using reusable shopping bags, washing clothes with cold water, hang drying some clothes, and growing vegetables in the summer.

Guest's picture
Kristine E.

We recycle every week and try to re-use items around the house. It's amazing what you can repurpose and save a lot of money.

Guest's picture
Lyn Brooks

I've been trying to reduce my carbon footprint for some time. We changed to CFLs to lower our consumption of electricity. We prepare most meals at home so that we aren't using the plastic packaging that comes from eating out at fast food places. We got rid of our second car, so we carpool together to work. We grow a sizeable amount of our fresh produce in summer months so that we aren't contributing to pollution caused by mass produced food. my husband changed jobs so he is only diving 15 miles vs 45 one way each day to work, the less the car runs the less is pollutes.

Guest's picture
Jacqueline

Well we have what's called a belkin conserving adapter it tells us how many kilowatts were using on all electrical items in our home/how many trees were saving and how much money we'll pay on any particular electrical device! love it! we recently made the switch to tracfone prepaid service and ditched our contract, we don't buy paper towels, we use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning as well as borax, we use a steamer for cleaning floors, we also have led bulbs for all used lighting fixtures, we use a Brita water pitcher for filtering our households drinking water, we wash our cars at home(I run out right before it rains and soap my car down and let the rainwater rinse it!) lol! It works all the time! We use washable produce bags, reusable grocery bags as well, we Freecycle EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT STILL HAS USE, I make all facial masks from fruits and veggies at home! I have 3 special recycling bags one for glass, one for plastic/ cardboard, and one for aluminum! Too many to list here!

Guest's picture

A few years ago, I began using small washcloths rather than paper towels. I use these for cleaning the house, dusting, mopping up messes, washing windows--everything! I now only use paper towels for super germy messes, such as when meat juice gets on the counter. At this point, I barely use one roll of paper towel in a year. Love it!

Guest's picture
piko

My green act is for the most part I buy things used or damaged cosmetically from ebay/craigslist. Less things to trash and keep the national/local economy.I hope that counts.

Guest's picture
Jae

I go on foot to run errands as much as possible. I also use stuff like toilet paper rollers and old magazines for my child's crafts, instead of running out to buy craft supplies.

Guest's picture
Guest

We eat as much organic food as we can afford, we take the bus whenever possible, we buy as many recycled products as we can, we try to use as little gasoline as possible by finding things to do closer to home. We try to limit our use of plastic bags and other stuff that just clogs landfills.

Guest's picture
Meredith

We recycle everything we can, use reusable bags, turn off our electronics when we're not using them, use reusable containers for lunches, not turn on the heat and open the blinds during the day to warm the apartment (it's still 35 degrees here, but that's what blankets are for!), and not turn on the a/c until we can't take it any longer (usually june when it hits 85/90--blech) and open the windows and use a fan to create a breeze.

Guest's picture
Rebecca B. A. R.

I recycle like crazy, plastics, glass, cans, paper, cardboard, etc., just for environmental reasons. I try to conserve water as much as possible, b/c it costs us twice as much where we live here than anywhere else we've ever lived. I shop at thrift stores for second hand items, to save money and not support unfair overseas pay and labor practices. I keep our thermostat high in summer and low in winter to save money and use less carbon producing energy. I try to do a lot of things for environmental, frugal and moral reasons, at least as much as possible.

Guest's picture
Brenda Faulkner

I recycle plastic as much as possible.

Guest's picture
Happy Love

We recycle, compost, grow garden veggies, use canvas grocery bags, use CFLs, and buy energy star appliances.

Guest's picture
Betty D.

I no longer buy bottled water. I drink tap in a reusable bottle. I also try to eat whole foods, which cuts down on packaging garbage.

Guest's picture
Raina

I drink out of a reusable water bottle and recycle everything. Recycling doesn't save me money, and in fact ends up costing me because I have to drive to the recycling center, but I guess reusing a water bottle saves a bit since I'm not buying new bottles all the time.

Guest's picture

I bring a reusable steel water bottle to work that I refill at home. We use cloth napkins and bring our own bags for any shopping trip. We reuse before recycling. We eat red meat rarely and drive as little as possible. Since we live near the beach, we are hyper-aware of all the plastic that ends up in the ocean so we really try to minimize our one-use plastic purchases. It's very challenging to live without plastic but I try to reuse glass and plastic containers a few times before tossing into the land and water.

Guest's picture
Angie P.

I love to recycle. I use the backs of all my papers, return my pop cans for the deposit, and save all the cardboard and tin to bring to our local recycling center.
It's important to me that I leave this Earth beautiful for my children.

Guest's picture
Tori Ross

Instead of paying for recycling, I found an educational craft center nearby that accepts donations for crafts like paper towel rolls, milk jugs, yogurt cups and magazines. Not only am I recycling, but I'm also saving money.

In addition, I clean everything with vinegar including putting it into a downy ball as fabric softener. We use cloth diapers when convenient, limit water use, buy local meat and produce when available. (Obviously bananas are not grown local to us) and do not use chemicals on our lawn. We also purchased a push lawn mower to cut down on gas for mowing. Talk about neighbors looking at you funny. We get some finger pointing when people drive by.

Guest's picture
Joey

I always bring a mason jar (my water bottle) full of water everywhere I go so I don't suddenly find myself thirsty and having to purchase a plastic bottled beverage, among other things.

Guest's picture
Maura

When I shop I use my own reusable bags.
I walk or bike to and from work everyday no matter the weather.
I curbside recycle.
I compost.
I use all fluorescent bulbs.
For lunch I use all reusable containers.
I keep my furnace set below 65 in winter.
I use my own water bottle.
And so much more...

Guest's picture
DeeDee

Compost, recycle, use cloth bags, LED bulbs, plant a garden, combine trips, take a thermos to work, pack reusable containers for lunch

Guest's picture
Christa P.

We recycle, bring our own bags to the grocery store and use public transportation.

Guest's picture
Courtney

My biggest green habits are: eating a vegan diet, using reusable bags at the grocery store (even for my produce and my bulk food buys), and using a menstrual cup. I know the last one is a bit personal but if you think about all the waste disposable menstrual products create, a menstrual cup is a great way to cut down on that waste. Plus it helps save money, which isn't that the point of this blog? I spent $36 on my menstrual cup (I purchased a Lunette) and it's supposed to last AT LEAST 5-7 years. Considering one can spend around $48+ over a year buying disposable products, I definitely think I'm coming out ahead.

Guest's picture
MarioGreat

My greenest trait is my hatred of snail mail. Whenever possible, I get EVERYTHING done by email and always try to opt out of paper mail. As far as I'm concerned, the widespread 'paperless' drive is one of the best things to ever happen.

When I find a way to opt out of those spam mail, then I'll be a happy man.

Guest's picture
Guest: Darryl L. Coleman

Green : Since we moved 2 the 'country' we have a vegetable garden. We have planted fruit trees... Apple, Cherry, Peach, Plum & pear. We have a well, so we don't deal with Chlorine & FLUORIDE in our water... We buy "GRASS FED beef". I also just got into making my own bread. I bought a wheat grinder and buy NON-GMO wheat berries 4 the bread...! We added a Solar array to our roof - we buy from the electric co & at the same time we SELL to the same company - sometimes having a credit 4 an electric bill, sometimes just a few $$! Heat 4 the house : wood burning 'Country' (brand) Fireplace. The ash from the fireplace goes into the garden 2 add minerals to the soil. AND a friend of mine is raising chicks, so we will also grow Chickens 2 have eggs & meat. Livestock - not yet, although have thought of milking goats, as I get raw cows milk locally.

Guest's picture
BRB

Gardening, thrift shopping, recycling, buying local and in season, reusable shopping bags, creative projects.

Guest's picture
Carmen

We try and stay green by NOT buying items - no plastic water bottles, we make a lot of our own staples and food items so less packaging.

Guest's picture
Cory

1. Turn shower on
2. Get wet
3. Turn shower off
4. Lather with soap and shampoo
5. Rinse and turn shower off

Showering in this way only uses about 2 minutes of water. A 2-minute shower! This reduces electricity consumption, GHG emissions, helps conserve the freshwater supply, and saves money. Win-win-win-win.

Guest's picture
Patricia Morales

I belong to a CSA. Recycle, use cloth grocery bags, bring my lunch to work every day and use mass transit to commute or walk.

Guest's picture
The Scoutmaster

Our family started going GREEN a few years ago. After I scored several down comforters at 80% off and wool sweaters at yard sales we turned the ac/heater off. Since we live in Florida the winters have not been much of a challenge but the summers have been the last 2 years. The boys wear stylish bathing suit shorts that double as regular shorts since we are often hitting water events such as tubing & going to the beach nearby to keep cool. Our utility bill is < 1/3 rd of what it used to be.
I car pool with friends to yard sales, go shopping in the next city etc..walk when we can.
We stock our car with healthy snacks and always bring our personal water bottles along instead of fast food (with all the plastic and throw aways) when out and about & traveling.
We have a garden & fruit trees. When we have a bummer crop, we give the extra to friends and the local food bank. We use a push mower (No gas or electric) on our yard.
We use cheap washclothes for cleaning & nice ones for napkins.
Cloth bags tote our grocery finds.
Since almost all our dinners our made from scratch, there is very little packaging waste.
I made our own baby food (froze it in icecube trays, then transfered it to containers) and breastfed all our kids.
When We clean out some of our stuff, I put them in a large box by the crub with a sign marked "Free". Some of the greenist things you can do is grow a smile on someone's face and make their day.

Guest's picture
Guest

I use a reuseable portable cup to transport tea to and from work, and while at work to avoid using multiple paper coffee cups all day long at the office. It's also saved me hundreds of dollars per year buying tea at the local coffee shops. We recycle everything possible at home, and grow our own herbs in our garden. We also just did a home energy audit and, as a result, insulated the crawlspaces under the house to make it more energy efficient.

Guest's picture
Thomas Murphy

I ride my bike as much as possible and recycle