LIttle Heathens

If you want to get motivated to re-use, recycle and reduce this 2009, I highly recommend reading Little Heathens.  This book was a great inspiration to me when I read it earlier this year. Set on a farm in the 1930s, it highlights a lost way of life where simplicity reigned supreme.  Absolutely nothing was wasted, and so much of the excesses we accept as a way of life would have been unimaginable to those scrimping to get by during this time. 

On that note, I offer some simple tips for reducing your waste in 2009 that I am trying to follow, too:

1. Buy a reusable water bottle, such as the eco canteen.  Fill it with the filtered water from your fridge and stop buying those cases of plastic water bottles.  If you don't have a source of filtered water, you can purchase a Countertop Water Filtration System.
2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store.  
3. Plant a garden or shop for local fruits and veggies at the Farmer's market! Local Harvest is a great source for finding local organic food. Mr. GGG is hard at work on his own garden, and has enlisted the help of Silverlake Farms to make sure it gets done correctly. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

There are so many little things we can do that not only help the environment, but help our finances as well.  I think this is the silver lining in this economy - it forces us to reassess what is essential and what isn't.  Perhaps we can rediscover some of the self sufficiency and reliance as illustrated in Little Heathens.