Across the Pond: Going Green

Sunday, March 16, 2008

The Green Path

Before we turn green..............not with envy...........more with 'wearing o' the green' for St. Patrick, hanging out the shamrock flag, sighing at Spring buds bursting and new grass growing, how about a quick word on truly GOING GREEN.

Many of you are already making changes in daily living with your cleaning products, your choice of vehicles, your food purchases, composting your scraps, buying natural fiber clothing, carrying reusable shopping bags, recycling your plastic ones, etc.

According to this edited article from Country Living (US edition) magazine ~ "these days it's easier to shop for environmentally smart items, thanks to an increased effort from both well-known and niche brands. The trend is conscious consumerism, and manufacturers and retailers are catching on. Try using kinder comforts in your home."

According to Graham Hill, Founder, Treehugger.com & VP Interactive, PlanetGreen.com

"Everything you already do in your day-to-day life - home decorating, your clothing, the food you eat - can be done with a modern green twist. Green is more than just 'stuff'; it's a real lifestyle."

Notice 'home decorating' mentioned here. As many of us are really interested in this happy pursuit, how nice to seek out lovely things for one's home without even having to buy new. Do you know that a huge percentage of all new furniture is now imported from China. Living in North Carolina, once the center of the US furniture industry, we have seen thousands lose jobs as their lifetime manufacturing careers have been pulled from under their feet. Using cheap materials and labor in other countries also has an impact on the planet, and when those items quickly fall apart here on our shores, they end up in our landfills, destroying our air and surroundings.

OK, I'm off my soapbox now ~ just wanted you to do your part to make and keep our country environmentally safe.

I am reusing and thoroughly enjoying my old stuff, especially when it comes to decorating around the house. I love my cotton doilies made by my English cousin ~ they line the shelves in my linen closet instead of plastic shelf paper, and look so pretty. I'm using old twine and string to wrap packages, found at the vintage/thrift shops in place of costly ribbons made overseas by child labor, they can be attractive when faded to sepia tones.

I'm decorating the cottage with vintage finds ~ it can be so much fun and extremely satisfying.

Remember, you don't have to shop for new garden furniture for the Summertime ~ vintage places in your town will have plenty just waiting to be given a new home. Anyone can point and shoot a spray can of touch up paint ~ or better still use a brush and one of the new 'green' environmentally safe paints.......which of course come in other colors too!