Going "green" is currently an evolution, and certainly more than a fad. I say it's evolving because it really is a simple, step-by-step process. Often, I learn to recycle an item I hadn't considered before, or use a new method to replace products I once bought, or I do something for the first time that actually works that I can continue doing. I don't think of it merely as a lifestyle. It's how to preserve life. The great thing about this process is that anyone can do it, regardless of age or formal education, and that it's open to new ideas. It's conservative without being political. These are some personal examples:
1. When I became old enough to drive, I couldn't afford a car. (At that time, I didn't also think about the fact that it would pollute.) I was accustomed to walking, and taking DART buses, and catching rides with friends when possible, giving them a little gas money when I could. I'm from Dallas, so this was all considered unusual in our local culture. Perhaps it goes without saying that I yearned for a little more convenience and independence, and I did eventually find a mode that allowed that. I had borrowed a bike from a friend, and the experience was so gratifying that I bought it from her only a short time afterward. 17 years later, I still ride a bike to most places I go.
2. I noticed how many food scraps I was putting into the garbage, and I became irked by it. Not only was it wasteful, but I didn't want to attract insects. I realized that if I simply froze the scraps in small amounts in reusable containers, and then later emptied those in a small pile in the yard, covering it with dead leaves also from the yard, I would have compost that would eventually become rich soil. It only takes several weeks of turning it for it to become useful for plants. (NOTE: Meat & fish must never go into the pile. That would attract animals, and it takes much longer to decompose.)
3. I didn't even know about recycling 20 years ago. Nevertheless, I wrote on both sides of sheets of paper, and would save used envelopes for scrap paper, rather than tossing them in the trash.
In all of these examples, I didn't seek to be environmentally conscientious; these were just little things that made sense. Going "green" is taking easy steps like these, and remembering to use them every day. These tiny measures do make a difference.
It's when I need products or services that I try to be aware of what could be affected. What's the point of recycling if I don't buy recycled items? Organically-produced foods do taste better. I would rather support local businesses in old buildings than big-box stores on mega-lots. Why should I buy synthetic chemicals when vinegar and baking soda won't ruin the water?
