Comments on: Another silly contest. Year 2, Week 24 Results: 2.2 oz of plastic waste.

By: psuklinkie

psuklinkie — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:02:00 +0000

My favorite way to be green and frugal is to cook almost all our food at home and to take lunches everyday to work. Instead of shelling out $5/person everyday for lunch, we have “free,” healthy leftovers in reusable lunchboxes. And I love making bread! It’s liberating to be able to control the flavor, amount and, very importantly, contents of our food. Besides, I can save on heating by leaving the oven open (and off) when I’m done baking — the remaining heat adds some extra coziness to our home!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:26:00 +0000

i think ICON is madonna’s fan club isn’t it?

I used to be a huge fan!!

By: Tanya Seaman

Tanya Seaman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Yes, I have my own economic concerns due to leaving my company in the summer and now freelancing. (Brilliant timing.) Living sustainably (bulk goods and home preparation instead of processed & packaged) is the least expensive way, and this is certainly the opportunity to share that with others who may be struggling. Growing fruit and veggies in my flower boxes is the plan for Spring.

By: nollij

nollij — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Madonna, natch. I’m not a fan, but the wife is and a simple google search turns her up as top hit.

Coffee and bicycles go hand in hand and if you don’t believe me, see http://bicyclecoffeesystems.com/ . Steven Sharf knows a LOT about how to carry coffee on bicycles and he’s got LOTS of other great DIY info about bicycle lighting, etc.

Inre: economic woes: We are tightening our belts around here… dumping the organic would cheapen things, but I’ve got the health of a 4 year old to consider…

By: knutty knitter

knutty knitter — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:42:00 +0000

I've come to the conclusion that you can't cut back on nothing and that's what we have. I think I've struck every unlucky patch there is but its looking even worse for the kids.

On the other hand, the economic crisis hasn't impacted on us because we are already at the bottom pretty much. The wider family and friends are there for us which is great and is also why I think community is so important.

We will survive :)

viv in nz

By: Clif

Clif — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:01:00 +0000

I think luck/accident has as much to do with what happens in life as do effort or conscious decision making and I'm not belittling those!

I was born in 1950, grew up in the boom years, missed Vietnam due to a high draft lottery number, went into broadcast TV just as videotape was taking over from film and local news was exploding so enjoyed the good income that followed for the next 23 years, was a union member before unions fell from grace, got a house when prices were depressed (though mortgage interest was 17%!!!) and now have been retired for 2 years with 2 IRA's and the old fashioned defined benefit pension still to come.

So life is good but I am not about to give myself a big pat on the back for it - I was in the right place, the right country, at the right time. It's my kids I am concerned about because the Big Party is over. So my work with environmentalism is my way of taking some responsibility for the incredible wastefulness and excess of my generation.

You, Beth, are a good one for us to rally around because you take the effort so seriously. You have the kind of conscience we all should develop.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Very much so.. we have changed a lot. We are living entirely off of one income and saving every penny of the other income (plus some.. we’ve been doing an awesome job of cutting back!). We’re scared… his job is pretty stable, as he’s a teacher in a stable area and district… but as a musician I’m dependant on other’s willingness to pay for music.

As far as the environment… we are buying much less (like nothing), making our own bread, granola, beans, cookies, etc… darning socks instead of tossing them and buying new ones… keeping heating costs as low as possible. We are driving less, and have rearranged things.

In contrast, though, we have essentially stopped buying organic foods. We are buying things much less prepared, and are making our own, and buying local and in season… but organic has fallen by the wayside as too expensive right now.

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Hi Kim. It's a Suede bike made by Giant. I wrote about it here:

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/07/check-out-my-brand-spankin-new-bike.html

By: KLund

KLund — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:51:00 +0000

ICON is Madonna’a official fan club site. So, I am also guessing Madonna.

By: Billie

Billie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:34:00 +0000

If I lose my job… we risk losing everything. If my husband loses his job? His kids/ex will be primarily affected. I can afford our bills on my income but wouldn’t be able to come up with his child support.

So yeah… I worry like you wouldn’t believe. We have not been affected yet other than the fact that my husband’s overtime has disappeared and he has had a week or two of cheques below 40 hours.