Global warming, that is. It’s all over the internet on message boards and blogs, as well as in the news. You know me~I can’t help but put my .02 where it’s unwanted! LOL!
As a conservative Christian, I’m just not a big believer in global warming. HOWEVER, the Bible does tell us to care for the earth and our animals. I’m not stupid! I can easily see that our air is polluted, that our waters are polluted, that our landfills are being filled with too many plastic bags, etc. I LIKE the idea of reducing the amount of waste we produce as a family! I don’t quite understand why anyone would disagree with that being best!
As I’ve followed links to different ideas, I’ve found some really great products and creative thoughts. I bought an old craft book from the library, and it had a pattern for making grocery bags from old thrift store curtains and jeans. I have a rug book (shared about it elsewhere) that has a pattern for a crocheted rug~made out of plastic bags! This blog gives instructions on how to crochet your own water bottle holder from plastic bags. I really love this reusable sandwich wrap and wonder about making one from vinyl baby bib material? Now this idea for housing sounds pretty drastic to many of us with our American hoarding tendencies, but OH how CUTE! (For a small family, single dwelling, or married couple.) My dulcimer friend Marcy made the cutest doll from an old T-shirt!
Anyway, I am inspired! I can share that in some ways I’m doing pretty good in reducing waste (cloth diapering), and in some ways I still have a long way to go (don’t yet have sandwich mats and reusable shopping bags and cloth napkins and OH NO! I shamefully must tell the truth that I sometimes use paper plates! ACK!) Some of these ideas do take an initial investment (even when trying to make them yourself), and that does slow me down more than I’d like.
Here are two interesting blogs on people going green in simple and drastic ways (and there’s a plenty more links in their sidebar to click on!). Please always read my suggestions at your own risk~I realize that not everyone shares my beliefs, and I still like to read around. Ya don’t hafta believe what I do fer me to love ya! I enjoy how we’re all different (and weird) and take what I can use, discarding what won’t work for my family.
Confessions of a Closet Environmentalist
I would love to learn more about reducing energy with solar or wind power. I already enjoy hanging out the laundry and handwashing dishes, but I cannot credit it to reducing waste~it has been purely financial! Now I am learning to see it as a GOOD THING though! It’s always a good thing when it helps the budget, isn’t it? So I guess I see being a good steward of the earth as a double blessing….
(((((HUGS))))) sandi
ETA: OH WOW! The site with the water bottle holder~stay and look around a while! There is SO MUCH MORE! I want to learn to crochet so I can do the bib and the grocery bag!
EDITED AGAIN, because I *cannot believe* that I did an entire post on this subject, and it didn’t even *cross my mind* to promote myself! I used to make all my own cleaners (just ask and I’ll share recipes!), but I’ve come to find that this lasts so long it is just as economical! WOOHOOO!
Thanks for the link, Sandi!
I’ve also used old T-shirts for our cloth napkins! Cut big squares out of the backs (and fronts if there’s no graphics) and hemmed them.
I know you’re a fellow Freecycler, too — might be a good source for shopping bags.
Okay …. I need to go back and read this post but I wanted to respond to what you said in the comments on my blog.
So … you want Reading Made Easy do you?? I shall be your fairy Godmother for the day and grant you this one wish!
But Scaredy Cat is mine and I have already sold it to someone else when I am done with it. Actually, She opened the box oohed and ahhed over, declared it was hers before I even saw it. I should have wondered more about why she decided to stop by THAT day and was never going home. LOL!!! Now if only she would order something I want so I can return the favor. Bwahhaahaaa (practicing my evil laugh)
Back to Reading Made Easy ……………..
Well…………… I will gladly send you the copy I have of it that has been sitting on my shelf collecting dust for years. I have tried to sell it locally but no takers. Now… I just would like to see it go to a happy home.
Email me your address and I will get it out to you. I am sticking it in a box right now and its waiting for a label.
As a Christian woman, I have to agree with you about global warming. I feel many use it to further their own agendas but we do need to care and try to preserve our world. I love crafting with recycled materials, cloth diapering, hanging out my clothes to dry, and generally trying to do my small part in caring for our environment and conserving our resources.
Thanks so much for sharing my link and your great ideas in your blog.
Cindy
http://www.myrecycledbags.com
I cannot hang laundry here where we live =( but I do wash my dishes by hands, I don’t use paper plates or paper towels. If I can only convince my husband not to use toilet paper but do it the Filipino way..haha I recycle my grocery bag & I tried to avoid anything disposable… but wished I had done the cloth diapering, I just didn’t know any options at that time. I will however do that to my next babies =)
Btw, do you know the Maxwells are coming to Hampton Roads? One of the kids instruments are dulcimer and they’re doing a Gospel singing night on Friday evening. Check out their website. I’d like to go & if you don’t come to the beach, we can meet there. Think about it =)
Dear Hugs,
The problem with “green” people is that they are looking for answers in the wrong place. The refuse to believe that this is Father’s world and even though He has given us freedoms, there is a limit. Puny man against the world He created?? I dont think so. We are a tiny blip on Creator’s screen. As you say, we are called to be good stewards of what’s in our life and that is not an unpleasant thing. God’s way is always good.
The tiny house was cute. I have a birdhouse in my backyard that looks remarkable like the one pictured – ‘cept it doesn’t have a door, red or otherwise. I wouldn’t mind living in less space [ie: less work]. Then I could waste more time without guilt… :>)
I really like the sandwich wrap — thanks for sharing! I love bloggers who do all the work for me and bring me the rewards of thier efforts… :>)
Love and Thoughts,
Miss Meg [also one who is generous with opinions, worth from one cent up to a quarter]
I’m a Christian, too. I’m not sure I see the connection between our faith and our thinking about global warming. Yes, the concept has been used and abused by people with agendas, but whether or not there is such a thing as global warming is a scientific one, not a political one. I’m not convinced by either side yet, but that’s not because of my faith.
I don’t go along with the new age Gaea worship known as the environmental movement. However, I do take my role as a steward of God’s creation seriously.
We have been planning maximum energy efficiency into our dream home (hopefully to be built in 3-5 years). But for now we have limited our use of disposable plastics, we recycle, we are replacing our old cars with newer cars that get 32 and 40+ mpg, respectively. When we replace our roof we will be using shingle made from recycled car tires- they look surprisingly good and they are super strong and have a 25+ year warranty. We are always on the look out for new ways to save energy and money.
Here’s another blog you might like:
http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/
She’s a crunchy, Christian mama – and she is quite radical! But a great, thought-provoking read!
Blessings ~ Diane
Sandi –
I think I’ve beaten this topic to death already, but I too am inspired by all the other blogs out there by people taking drastic steps to help the environment. It just makes it seem like if they can do all that, well, I can recycle.
I’d like to learn about things I can make myself too – I’ve never been very crafty, but I would LIKE to be!
HUGS!
Terra
HELP!!!!!! Sandi, sorry to bug you Hon, but I’m in need of advice from fellow Mom’s!!! So come on over, and invite EVERYBODY you know to come too!!!
This is big time stuff for me, and I really need you!!!
Link provided for the entry that I’m talking about…
Thanks a million!!!!!
http://prairierosesamongthorns.com/vblog/2007/08/06/desperate-plea-for-help/
I am a recycling queen. My husband is not, so I do constrain myself so as not to drive him nuts.
We’ve used cloth napkins since my daughter was old enough to learn to fold them. I used the napkins to train my kids to fold and put laundry away. We never stopped.
Sometimes we get the why question. Why do you use them? Are they just for company? But my very thin 1980s blue napkins tell the true story. We use them all the time.
From your napkin loving friend,
amanda
Sandi,
I enjoyed this post. This is something I read, think and blog about often. Thanks for sharing about your efforts, and for being honest about how you feel about global warming.
I clicked on the links and really liked the “Confessions” blog and have bookmarked it to check again.
HI! I came over from Absolutely Bananas. I agree totally about global warming. I have read over and over how those that are screaming about it really think it’s because the earth is overpopulated! It’s us! We are the problem and to solve the problem there needs to be fewer of us. Sad. God wants us to be good stewards until He takes us home to be with Him. (soon I hope)
Just for the record~I don’t believe in overpopulation either! LOL! (((((HUGS))))) sandi~so glad you visited!
sorry I came over from Families are like Fudge….:)
I agree with what you’re saying about stewardship. I’ve realized, though, that I can’t be about “saving the planet,” but I can take care of my “immediate environment” hopefully by making good choices. Anyway, I appreciate the like to the site that uses recycled plastic bag yarn. When I finish my latest project, I may have to make that “plarn” tote bag!
How can you get 15 comments in 1 post?!! Gosh! I have a really famous friend!
I love this topic, and I love the plastic bag crochet projects! How cool is that? My husband is very skeptical, but, once I improve my crochet skills, I am going to make a plastic bag bag. Thanks for the link.
Great post! We use reusable bags for the grocery store. I love it!
Oh here is a great blog to check out….
She is a Christian and an environmentalist
http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/
So T2 wants to learn to crochet? *waves magic wand*
Love,
Red.
I hope this means you’ll visit and teach me yourself? Come on! MAKE MY DAY! ~smile~ (((((HUGS))))) sandi
I wish I could, sweetie, but you’ll just have to make do with what the pixie dust brings to you
*innocent look*
Red.
I have also felt the tug to be more responsible in how I live, partly because it is our job (ordained by God) to care for the earth but also because our consumption mentality steals much away from our ability to focus on God.
I see it as much larger than just recycling or downsizing (I love those Tumbleweed homes! My brother-in-law told me about them this past year and they make you smile!), but I see the value in making some conscious efforts to be frugal (to give more away) and use less (increasing self-restraint) so that we are honoring God in how we consume (live).
(If you haven’t heard enough from me yet, take a peek at some of my posts about this same topic.)
Great thoughts, gals!
*Pixie dust swirls*
Just think, girlfriend… Someday you’ll be able to pass a worthwhile hobby/craft on to Hazel, as my mom did to me.
Red.