new here- suggestions?

Starshiney

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, but I'm super interested in living more "green."  So far, all DH & I really do is use a programmable thermostat & turn off lights when possible.  I've read some about using vinegar to clean, but I haven't used it yet. 

So where do I start?  I want to use more green cleaning products, have a garden (we have a 1/2 acre lot), can/preserve food, etc.

TIA!

fireytiger

Hi, welcome! There are a TON of suggestions that people around here can offer! BTW, I'm still new here too, so I'm still learning quite a bit myself. I do recommend you lurk around and see posts that others have made, I've learned quite a bit of things that I found useful for my own life, that I didn't think even applied to me! 

 I've personally come to learn that it's best to start small. For example, the other day FH and I actually went through and took ALL the plastic grocery bags we'd piled up from the grocery stores, and recycled them at the local Target (I think Wal-Mart has bins for plastic bags too). We then replaced them with cloth tote bags that we purchased on reuseit.com. That site has a LOT of good reusable products to reduce waste, including cleaning products.

I would say for you, if those three things you listed are the main things you want to do, I would start with the cleaning products. Just slowly switch out the things that you normally use, for things that you find are better. Other people on here will probably be able to tell you the best things to use. I have seen vinegar come up often. I used to clean houses for a living and my manager had us use a spray bottle with half vinegar, half water mix, to clean glass and windows with a microfiber towel, so I know that at least works. Good luck!

Jen&Joe06

Welcome!

I would take a look at your home/life and figure out where you can start to make some changes. Then research products/local companies etc and start seeing what works for you.

GRKaters

I have a link to a "Green living reading list" in my sig. GL!

 

Lisa78

Hi and welcome!

Going green is super fun, just don't feel like you have to do everything all at once. That green reading list PP mentioned is great. Many people around here have blogs, too (me included - appologies for being a AW) but I always get great ideas from cruising Nestie's personal blogs.

elviebird

Another suggestion would be to buy local food!  It's hard at first to find places that sell them, but now that I've gotten to know my local farmer's market I love to go and see what's for sale every weekend. 

As for cleaning, vinegar works great for almost everything (don't use if you have marble or natural stone surfaces).  Baking soda or salt is good for scouring surfaces.  Hot water gets out a shocking number of stains too.

IfferMarie

I am new as well. Vinegar is definitely a great multipurpose product.

SuperGreen

Hello and welcome!  In my opinion, to start living green it's better to begin with the big thing that's most important to you rather than focusing on the details of small individual steps.  So what is the most important to you?  Healthy food?  Getting your heating/cooling bill down?  Reducing your landfill impact?  Cutting down on your carbon footprint to reduce global warming?  Once you find the "green topic" that's the most important to you, then you can work on the steps to accomplish that goal.  Let's take healthy food for example.  You could start by buying organic off the Dirty Dozen list.  Once that's easy to do, you could incorporate more local food, like going to the Farmer's Market or joining a CSA.  Once you're in love with fresh, local food, you could start canning or drying the summer's bounty.  And voila!  You're producing your own healthy food that wasn't shipped halfway across the world, so you've also reduced your carbon footprint.  A lot of green goals kill two birds with one stone, but you don't realize it if you focus on small, individual details.  I think some people think of living green as a checklist, rather than a lifestyle.  "Making own cleaning products? Check.  Using cloth rags instead of paper towels? Check."  While those little details are good, if you start with the details in the beginning of your green journey it seems like a lot to take in.  I recommend focusing on one "big goal" at a time, rather than trying to do a bunch of little things at once.

Daisy07gray

Hi and welcome.  I'm kind of new & in & out during the week. 
I love vinegar (& use grapefruit oil) & will be gardering & learning to can this year too! 

Just go a canner, but I know you can do the boil method.  Send me a message if you want to learn together/ try recipes out.  It'd be fun toshare & compare