Fight Back

It is time for us, all of us, to realize that we must start conserving. We need to drive less, use fewer things made from petroleum products, buy produce, food and other things, when possible, that were grown or produced nearby.
One way I do this is to take my own bags to the grocery.....I even recycle the plastic bags that we put our produce in by taking them to the store and reusing them....and things that don't need bagging...like bananas and pineapples...don't bag them. I try to choose products that aren't overly packaged. I shop at the local farmers market when I can...again taking my own bags (and any extras for them to reuse.) I compost my vegetable and fruit peelings....and use the wonderful dirt I get in my herb garden. I look for places that have a recycle bin for batteries and take my old batteries there the next time I go.

Of course, the best way to conserve is to buy less in the first place. I try to only buy to replace. When you have things to throw away, look at them carefully to see if they could be given to a local charity....or used for another purpose. Don't treat the landfill as if it will be there forever. England has a really strict policy on garbage...and stiff fines if a violation occurs.

Of course, I am not perfect not even close to perfection....I could do lots more....and I am working toward that goal. I am trying to break my habit of leaving the water running when I brush my teeth...living in West Texas, conserving water is a high priority. We do collect rainwater into a cistern....but when it doesn't rain.....

We need to remember that petroleum products aren't just used in cars, trucks, airplanes, etc. They are used in manufacturing almost everything we use.