Resolutions for a green new year

Every moment presents an opportunity to create a fresh start by reinventing the way we live, but there’s something about a new year that emboldens us to really wipe the slate clean. Four seasons coming full circle just carries that kind of clout, inspiring us to give tired old habits the boot and invite a more positive sense of purpose into our daily living. So with 2009 upon us, it’s never too late to muster all of those good intentions we’ve pocketed throughout the past year and gear up for the opportunity to “go green.” The whole concept of going green or making environmentally responsible lifestyle changes can be mind-boggling. There are so many suggestions out there and so many products proclaiming planet-friendliness that it’s sometimes easier just to stick with the status quo than to try and figure out where to start. That’s why I’ve come up with five New Year’s resolutions that provide simple ways to green your home, from the food pantry to the cleaning closet. Clip this column and post it on your fridge or bulletin board — someplace where you’ll have it as a handy reminder of how a few little changes can end up making a big difference. You can even check ‘em off as you go. Remember, no matter how resolved we are, lifestyle changes don’t happen overnight. Go easy on yourself and stay positive. This is an ongoing process that gains momentum by simply putting one foot in front of the other. Resolutions: 1. I will store one reusable tote bag in my vehicle and bring it into the store the next time I go shopping. Those plastic bags that stores dole out by the zillions are made from petroleum, and only about 1 percent of them are recycled throughout the world each year. Most end up in landfills or in the oceans, where they wreak havoc on sea life. One good deed leads to another, and soon you may be toting all of your groceries home in reusable bags. 2. I will replace one nonorganic food on my weekly grocery list with organic. The trick is to focus on those foods that have the biggest health effects. Meat, eggs, or dairy products would be a great place to start because they some can contain pesticide residues, whereas others can include growth-promoting hormones and antibiotics. But if you regularly buy certain fruits and veggies, you might want to concentrate on switching one of these staples. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers an easy-to-use guide featuring the 12 fruits and vegetables with the most and the least pesticides so you’ll know which ones are best to buy organic, and which conventionally grown ones are OK when organic isn’t available. Get the guide here: www.foodnews.org. 3. I will stop buying paper towels, period. Americans go through about 2.5 million tons of paper towels annually, and even the ones made from recycled materials usually end up in landfills. So ditch the paper altogether and start using microfiber towels instead. They don’t scratch, they attract dirt and dust like a magnet, they’re super absorbent, and they’re washable. Waste not, want not, right? Try the Norwex Enviro Cloth (www.norwexonline.com). 4. I will refill a water bottle each day instead of buying new ones. Not only are billions of plastic water bottles landfill-bound in the US each year, but the water they contain is generally no better for you than the stuff that comes from your own kitchen sink (especially if you use a filter), and it costs up to 10,000 times the price of tap water! Opt for a glass or stainless steel bottle, and refill it as needed, for free. Check out the variety of stainless steel bottles available from Klean Kanteen (www.kleankanteen.com). 5. Starting this month, I will grow one green thing that I can eat. The quickest and easiest way to start growing your own food is sprouting. Sprouts are super easy and they offer superb nutrition that costs less than any other fresh grocery store food. Sprouting doesn’t require soil, sunshine or even a green thumb. Ready to eat in three to five days, sprouts equal oranges and tomatoes in Vitamin C and a hamburger patty in protein! Check out my simple sprouting how-to at www.maryjanesfarm.org/column For daily tips and reminders about greening your lifestyle, treat yourself to the Living Green Page-A-Day 2009 Desk Calendar available for $11.99 at www.calendars.com. The calendar offers a full year of fun, doable daily tips for saving energy, recycling, buying organic and more.