Happy Earth Day 2009!!!
For the past couple years, my husband and I have used Earth Day as a chance to make a resolution for the upcoming year. We have resolved to make many lifestyle changes that are better for the earth and our family. Here are some of the environmentally friendly things we’ve done in the past. There are lots of great ideas in that post if you’re looking for some ways to green up your life.
But as the years go by, I find it harder and harder to think of changes we can make. Sometimes it feels like there’s not much left we could change. Of course there are things, but it’s harder to think of them. A couple weeks ago, I encouraged readers of this blog to start thinking about a change they’d like to make. Since then, I have been trying to think of something good to change for the upcoming year and I’ve got it!!!
Drum roll please…… I’m going to fix up my bike and start biking to the gym. Years ago, my bike was my only means of transportation. But since having kids and moving to a bigger city, I either use the stroller or drive. We live in a very walkable neighborhood and when the weather is good, I find that there can be weeks when the only driving I do is to go to the grocery store and to take my son to preschool. And then I also drive to the gym. Three to four times a week! My gym is about 1.5 miles from my house and I find that walking takes a bit too long (other mothers know that it’s hard enough to find an hour to workout most days, much less an extra 50-60 min to walk to and from). I have tried jogging, but then I feel like I have to workout less hard at the gym to make sure I have the energy to get home. But 3 miles roundtrip is the perfect biking distance, the weather is warming up, and I already have a bike (it just needs a tune-up!) So in honor of earth day, I’m going to ask my husband to tune up my bike and start biking to the gym instead of driving.
And those of you that read regularly will also note that we have joined a CSA this year as well. We are very excited about that!
How about you? Will you try to change anything in honor of Earth Day? If so, please comment below. If you have made any changes in the past year that you’d like to share, please do. I love getting more ideas!!
Posted by Brittany on May 4, 2009 at 10:12 am
I know it’s kind of a shameful cop-out, but since I have to travel for work every week, I started carbon offsetting a couple of years ago. I feel pretty terrible about my carbon footprint (my commute is 395 miles each way), so I found TerraPass, which is one of the more reputable carbon offset companies out there. I offset my mileage, our house, and my office and hotel habits. It’s a bit costly, but since I get reimbursed for mileage, I just assume the annual cost as part of that expense.