Treehugging_family

Boulder is definitely an incredible place to go hiking. I love Mount Evans in Idaho Springs, and in Boulder my fave place is Eldorado Canyon! Have you spent alot of time hiking in Boulder? My Mother lives in Sylvester GA. I personally have not spent a great deal of time there.... a little warmer than I like my weather ;)

Actually, you are being critical of me and you make a pretty big assumption about who my family is and how we live our lives because you read one blog entry intended for my family about them flying to see their Nana for the holiday. I will have you know though that they were not just your average holiday traveler. We make alot of sacrifices in our daily lives in an effort to be ecoconscious and to spread awareness and gather new knowledge about what we can do to tread more lightly and spread what we have learned. In the decision to fly home for the holidays, I opted to remain behind in part because of the environmental impact it would have. Were it up to me my entire family would live in an off-grid self sustaining community somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. However, in reality we live clear across the country from each other....my Mother loves the southland and lives in Georgia. We love the mountains and live in Colorado. My children love their Nana very much and miss her throughout the year. I did not fly to visit my Mother, but while I am willing to make the sacrifice to travel less in the name of conservation, I did not ask my Mother or my children to make such a sacrifice. We did discuss the impact that their trip would have, so that they were educated on the subject. Most children have no idea of the impact travel has. They don't think differently. Our kids do... they are constantly asking themselves what impact their actions have on the planet, and those around them. In addition to them not taking any luggage with them other than a small carry on to reduce their impact.... we also donated 150 dollars of carbon offset. While purchasing carbon offsets doesnt excuse pollution that we create it does provide us with an opportunity to take personal responsibility for the impact that we have. It sends a message that there is a demand for renewable energy, that more and more people are demanding an increase in energy efficiency in their products and their travel methods. Carbon Offsetting - by some of the certified companies - sends funding to increase awareness and for scientific research. While there are plenty of companies that are taking advantage to snatch up a profit, there are quite a few out there that are making a difference..... for now. Until we see that major paradigm shift we are all hoping for. As far as the other sacrifices we have made in our lives.... I can assure you that my children often make tough choices that in my opinion have a tremendous payoff. At my daughter's school they did not have a recycling program, it is because of her decision to use her free time (which she could have spent playing in the park, playing video games, riding a bike, etc. like most children her age) that they now have implented a program. She spent a great deal of her time and put forth a valiant effort, speaking with members of the community (adults and children) and gathering signiatures on a petition to create the program that they have now. My daughter has made the choice to become a vegetarian which as a child can be very difficult. In school the kids often tease her about it. Most kids just want to fit in, it isn't easy or painless to be repeatedly teased by your classmates. The adults in my family frequently donate our money rather than spending it on ourselves..... rather than going through my employers for a 401k which invests in oil companies and other places which I do not support morally, I've invested in my own portfolio which invests funds in renewable energy, conservation and education. I volunteer my time to teach 'Green Kids Awareness' at schools, rather than spending it watching movies and eating bonbons or playing video games. We discuss with the children the affects of their day to day choices, how to affect change (writing legislators, volunteer work, speaking out, hosting fund raisers, etc.) I think you're quite wrong about the majority. I think the foundation to encouraging a majority paradigm shift does come from individual choices, from one family taking down their christmas lights, and talking about it. There are still surprisingly plenty of people who really don't have any clue about their impact.... I know it took us a while to change the way that we live our lives and we are constantly learning new things. Im not nieve enough to think that this will create a major change..... however it will bring about a paradigm shift in the masses. Already you can see places selling cute shirts that send messages about conservation, recycling, upcycling, reducing, reusing..... like I said - that is the foundation, the beginning. Once enough people jump on the band wagon then the collective voices raise, and yes it is quite important to request of our governments that these things become priority. In order for people to give up their cars and travel less changes in urban development and planning must be addressed. Nearly every person that I talk to about making sacrifices and small changes admits that while they want to make these changes it isn't always easy to do so.... but if there is a demand for it - it will become easier. I live near Boulder. They've got an excellent system for biking and riding on hybrid buses. The place is encouraging. Looking across the globe and watching these things become more and more prevelant in media is a great sign...... so now that I've written you a novel.... I would just like to encourage you to be a little less judgemental - perhaps encourage people... to encourage people... who will eventually encourage people... who work day in day out to work for the people..... and what are governments, but people??

Contrary to popular belief... China is not a country, they are a corporation, and they're downsizing all of you..... MUAHAHAHHA Seriously excellent post. Great advice and well organized. I like it! :cute:

I am interested to hear about how everyone spent their holidays! We haven't had a pvc made christmas tree or cut down tree for a few years now. This year we decided to get a beautiful rosemary bush. We made ornaments from recycled materials for it. I think it took a little bit of time for the family to adjust to the miniature tree. Everyone is coming around to the idea that less is more, and that our tree is so very special because we can plant it and watch it grow! The town we live in is obsessed with lighting the place up.... they even have a competition to see who's display of lights is the most glorious! In the past I have posted a few informative flyers around town - sharing that we are in the middle of an energy crisis, and comparisons between LED lights and traditional christmas lights.... we hang home made decorations round the house, but we aren't climbing ladders to staple lights to our roof. We let people know that if they feel the lights are necessary, that they should invest in timers, and LED lights... even better would be to snag <these! I love them. They're so beautiful! For our presents we tried to buy from local artists, and we were very careful about the products we did purchase. Making an effort to inform our extended family to avoid purchasing mass produced, tiny plastic, battery operated crap. We even gave a few 'memberships' as a present to a variety of organizations that are working to make a better earth. The gifts that we did aquire were wrapped mostly in newspapers and magazines that were tossed out by neighbors. We reuse as much as possible in my house, so those sorts of things don't wind up as refuse often. They were all so beautiful you would think we paid some professional service. It amazes me that gift wrap is so expensive, so wasteful, and so present.. in today's society! I even posted on my livejournal some interesting ways to wrap things..... Im eager to hear about interesting ways that like minded families spent their holidays a little Greener this year... and any ideas for an even Greener one next year?