in the beginning

fifteen minutes. starting 8:51 a.m.

i wanted a place to talk about my accomplishments lately plus whatever else is going on in my head.

this weekend:
~changed to low flow shower head
~added soak and soap valve to shower
~added aerators to kitchen and bathroom sinks
~did not drive anywhere in our car

our plants are doing well. the tomato that got run over by mr. mustang out front has a bunch of leaves growing back on it, and the herbs from seeds are finally starting to look like they're differentiating from one another.

recently:
~planted a pot garden with >2 dozen plants
~switched to cfl bulbs in five of our lights in the house
~started unplugging everything when it's not in use
~are hanging out laundry to dry in the back yard
~using soapnuts to wash our clothes
~shopping at local farm markets
~using mass transit more and car less
~composting in the back yard!
~switched our electric company to wind power
~joined the sunnyside csa (community supported agriculture)
~i've started baking bread on sundays, though i have yet to perfect my recipe
~plus all the things above that we did this weekend

it's funny to me the way it seems like everyone finally has begun to DO something now. like, right NOW. it's like we've been bombarded with information for a long time, and it finally reached a tipping point where the tide starts to change in noticeable ways. it makes me want to actually read the book 'the tipping point' even though i don't really know what it's even about. the guy sitting next to me on the subway was reading it yesterday.

so with all these baby steps starting to add up, i'm wondering what else i could do without/change. we're looking forward to participating in a "low impact week" where we try something a little more extreme. it's happening in june, and two of the things we're considering are no a/c at home, and unplugging the refrigerator. greenpa says he's been living without a refrigerator for the last thirty years. it can be done. it just takes some thought and planning. no keeping food around for weeks without eating it. we'd be going to the store more often (maybe) for things like milk and um... other keep-cold-ables. but with our garden coming along well, and our participation in the csa this year (first pickup is thursday may 31!), i'm thinking we'll be buying less at the stores anyway. it's a thought.

and you know what? i feel more relaxed and rested now that we're doing all these things the "inconvenient" way (hanging laundry up, baking my own bread, taking mass transit, etc). it's really really nice. weekends have started to feel like two-day vacations. bliss in slowing down. go figure. speaking of which, i've also begun to read a book that teresa sent me ages ago called "take your time" by eknath easwaran.

fifteen minutes is up!