So,  let’s rewind once more. I made 3 commitments for 2009:

• Reduce – buy a reusable coffee filter and reduce paper waste. – Done!
• Reuse – Work at remembering my reusable shopping bags when I go to the store! – Still working on it.
• Recycle – I would like to try to start a compost pile. I’d love to have one of those cool expensive tumblers, but I guess I’ll go the old fashion route. – As of today this is DONE!

Yep, I really took my time on the last one.  However, this morning my girls were “pretending” to plant flowers in the dirt we will one day call grass and as I headed to town promising to bring them back a treat I decided to buy them something real to grow. So, while I walked around Target grabbing some flower seeds and gardening tools I came across some biodegradable paper bags for leaf composting. There was 5 in the pack for $2.99 , how could I pass that up.

So, as the girls broke up the dirt around our twin oak (it starts as one and splits into two trees) my son and I loaded up 5 huge compost bags full of leaves. Then I went in the house, shredded cardboard in the recycle pile, grabbed coffee grounds from the coffee maker and cut tops off 2 quarts of strawberries. Finally spraying it all down with water. There we go, let’s see what we get as we continue to add to the bags!

Moving forward, I plan to ask Troy  to take some of the trees left in the back of the property and make a Lincoln log type bin to dump all my efforts in.

We’ll see how it goes from here and keep you posted!
Grow Green!

Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Got Trash?

What? No it’s only March, but I thought we could take a look back at where we have been so far this year, a little accountability? At the end of last year and beginning of this year I had a series of posts to help my readers and I green up the new year. Some of them include:

• Green Steps for 2009
• Picking Directions in 2009
• Not-So-Green Confessions

I DID get a reusable coffee filter and I love it, after asking around I went with the gold tone mesh it was about $5, about the price of 2 packs of paper coffee filters.  It has a five year warrenty and can be thrown in the dishwasher or rinsed, how easy was that??

Composting hasn’t started yet.  Buster (our outside dog) usually got all scraps so it wasn’t a huge deal. Unfortunately, he was hit and killed by the mail lady the other day.  It was sad to stand in the kitchen with leftovers last night, he was about the ugliest and stupidest dog I ever came across, but part of the family no less.

Doing better with my bags, but there is still room for improvement.

Eco-Office Gals business directions were to be more organized.  I have gotten a little better with this, but once again there is room for improvement. Flaunt It! Monday has grown in popularity and I am so happy to see people respond so well to the great green companies I bring to them.

I wrote my first post for 5 Minutes for Going Green last month and I have also become the South Carolina Green Parent Resource for The Green Parent.  By the way, The Green Parent is looking for a Green Parent for each state, so if you’re interested, fill out her form.  I have also been tweaking my Blog theme skills and revisiting the services I offer, so you may see some changes in the future.

Finally, let’s not forget about Lori’s not-so-green confessions.  Did you share yours? Have you worked on them?

Your turn.  What have you done? What needs to be done? Any advice for Eco-Office Gals and my readers? Leave a comment below and share with us your advances, tips or even where you have fallen short.  Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

2009 Revisited

So, what will your Green Steps be for 2009?  I have the 3 R’s covered for 2009:

• Reduce – buy a reusable coffee filter and reduce paper waste.
• Reuse – Work at remembering my reusable shopping bags when I go to the store!
• Recycle - I would like to try to start a compost pile.  I’d love to have one of those cool expensive tumblers, but I guess I’ll go the old fashion route.

What green steps will you try to make in 2009? Please share by leaving a comment below!  All the best in 2009!

Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Your Green Steps for 2009?