Organic Follow-Up

Back in May, Dave and I started to make some strides in our attempt to go organic in our eating. Here it is, almost 2 months later, so I thought I'd update ya on how it's gone. You're welcome. ;-)

Anyhoo, for real, I think we've done pretty well. We're eating several all-organic meals a week, at least one meatless dinner (at times lunches and breakfasts, too), and most of our other meals include some organic ingredients or from-the-garden goodies. As you saw in my last post our lettuce has been growing like nuts (or would it be...like weeds? Not sure how fast nuts grow...), so we've been using a lot of that, as well as our parsley, rosemary and basil. I've turned to shopping pretty much 90% at Hannaford, which isn't always cost-effective, but it definitely helps me make better organic choices. However, I don't want it to sound like it's been expensive -- I still grab the occasional "less dirty" foods from Aldi (and on sale at Hannaford), and we are incredibly conscientious about what we're buying. It's been, overall, wonderful.

We've been to several farmers markets, but honestly I'd LOVE to utilize them more. The summer's just gotten away from me! I'm also doing more research on investing in a CSA for next year, especially for our local meats and poultry.

HOWEVER, what I've REALLY been doing a lot of research in is the rest of greendom -- figuring out how to lessen our footprint, bulk up our health quotient, and get into the green habit for our future kiddies. So, while I feel like it's a slow process, I'm truly enjoying learning new ways to live greener.

Some future goals? Oh, of course, you know I'll share them -- and get back to you when we haven't accomplished them completely, hee hee:
- Future renovation projects will be green-minded: For example, low- or no-VOC stain when we refinish/have our floors refinished (and using natural fiber throw rugs when it's done).
- Collect rainwater for garden watering.
- Think through the stuff we grow in the garden next year -- and start canning for winter. (This Irish girl is GOING to grow potatoes. Stubborn? Yes.)
- Finish up replacing our windows -- BUT finding creative ways to use the leftover window frames. I've got ideas a-flowin'! Can't wait.
- Antiquing, antiquing, antiquing. Oh, and Salvation Army & Craigslist searching. :-D
- Buying eco-friendly cleaning products or making our own.
- Purchasing sustainable clothes -- and other fabrics.
- I've gotta learn how to eco-design.
- Buying a hybrid after one of our cars kick the bucket.
- Hand-wash more often
- Soooo many more...

What are we already doing?
- From Day One here at the Crooked House, Dave used energy efficient lightbulbs. Check!
- We're using more eco-friendly bath supplies, a low-flow toilet and showerhead, and are going to get into the habit of flushing less (don't make me explain further -- just #1, though). Check!
- Saving up for Energy Star appliances, when it's time to replace what we've got now. Oh, and before that day comes, we only wash a full load -- and I'm trying to use the clothesline as much as possible.
- While it's gotten a little water-logged lately, I'm hoping to amend my compost pile to be used in next year's planting. Check!
- Boy, do we have a lot of hand-me-downs, whether we like 'em or not. Check!
- Water filter + stainless steel water bottles = Check!
- Growing our own salads (among other things)! Check!

Hey. BTW. "B" (as I call him, along with Boo) eats organic -- and he LOVES it. When we gave him the new organic crunchies, he turned his nose up at the old wet stuff -- which was organic, too. Let's hope the kids follow suit! :-)