Being Green And Simple

The Being Green And Simple website is dedicated to finding ways to live a more simple life through a simple, back to basics plan. In The simple life people will be doing more than just their “bit” for the environment. We will be finding ways to live with creating as little waste as possible, use much less energy and protect our natural resources for future generations.

Linda is a retired piano teacher living in Scarborough with her retired husband, their dog Rusty and cat Dusty. This is her journal page from New Year 2006:

“This year my New Year resolution is to become more aware and to do everything I personally, can do to help the environmental situation”.

Around that time, a young councillor in Scarborough, Glenn DeBaermaker, was on the CTV News. He was going around with the garbage truck, dressed in all the gear and was in the back of the truck ripping some bags open and showing the news camera how they are not recycling. If one of our elected politicians can do this and really give his attention to this important issue, the least I could do was to do my best as well.

While taking stock of things, I found it easier than I thought. Inspired by Glenn my first task was to recycle everything possible. Up until now we have recycled, but many things were going by the wayside. I took the Garbage calendar, which contains all the information regarding the recycling program and renovated our household program. In re thinking this issue, I recalled my childhood when plastic bags had not been heard of. Paper towels and paper products in general were either unheard of or for the “rich” people. We even carried cloth handkerchiefs.

It is unbelievable how many things go into the blue or green bins. I made a pact with myself that I would only fill one green “garbage” bag every two weeks. This being the absolute trash that can’t be recycled anywhere else. Then I started on cutting down on the recycling materials.

From there I looked at the electricity, water, natural gas, household hazardous cleaners and also the way we have been doing things in our home. It’s a big issue, but if you take things one at a time; see each problem as it is now and give each some thought, you will find ways to improve and you will be taking a big step in being a more responsible citizen as well as living a more simple life.

In the articles and newsletters in Being Green And Simple, we will be discussing all the simple ways to accomplish these tasks. One by one, one step at a time.