Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! I have a little bit of treehugger in me so in honor of today, I wanted to pass along what we are teaching Jack here at, Our Postma Home, about how to be responsible with the beautiful Earth God gave us. Jacky Bear, not going to lie once you were added to our family it made going green all around a little harder. I just couldn't talk Mike or Mom (or myself if I'm honest) into the whole cloth diaper thing. So many more green things I dream of doing, but here are our daily staples that I am trying to teach Jack to do everyday. Almost everything I learned from my Mom and my Oma, green is not a fad for our family, my Oma doesn't even know what she has been doing since she came over from Germany is called "trendy" these days:)

1. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Use the natural light when you can.
2. Don't use air or heat unless we absolutley have too. My big exciting purchase last month was screens, I LOVE having the windows open and that cross breeze reduces the need for fake air.
3. No purchasing of bottled water. We only break this rule in August and September here when we have house guests. Besides that bottled water does not enter our cart. Water is always with us but in reusable containers (like adult sippy cups).
4. Don't use the car for short distances use your feet.
5. Recycle. Mike is really good at enforcing this. It totally turns me on.
6. Buy organic and local when we can. Whole Foods is far from us and the farmer markets are not open in the winter months. But when we can we buy organic and local. Once we settle down in a house I am starting a garden asap.
7. Use green cleaning products. This includes the mixes of just water and vinegar, water and baking soda, lemons. But also I go for Mrs. Meyers & Seventh Generation.
8. Reuse plastic bags for diaper bags. I used to use them as our kitchen trash bags too, but Mike finally made me cave and buy the large normal kitchen bags. Love taking reusuable bags, but I need my poop bags.
9. Turn off the water when we brush our teeth or wash our face.
10. Carpool with your buddies...Jack is learning to "strollerpool"

Lastly, it has been a blessing to be living with Jack in this mild climate so that he can spend as much time outside as possible. If he enjoys the outdoors he will care for it more. At least thats what this Mom learned from hers and hoping it will be passed on!