I checked the web and found that Kohl's is a big supporter of solar energy.  I have shopped there in the past and had hoped to get there during the EcoChallenge, but was not able to do so.  Still on my "to do" list, then, is to go there and try to personally thank the manager for that commitment.  The store is outside my walk/bike circle, so I do not get there very often, this is motivate me a bit more.

I find that most of what I throw away is "lost" items in my messy fridge....note to self:  Clean up the Fridge!

Good weather and a big pile of mulch were key ingredients! (dog was no help ;^)

I have occasionally seen bamboo products, but rarely.  Instead, I look for paper products made with recycled materials, I purchase food with as little packaging as I can, I frequent thrift stores and consignment sales, and I look for durable goods that will last a long time.  Finally, I keep my shopping to a minimum, reducing the amount of stuff I accumulate!

Air travel is important to me, since most of our family members live far away.  What discourages me from doing more of it is the poor and unfriendly service offered by most airlines.  Air travel is not fun for economy passengers!  I guess the silver lining in this very dark cloud is that cramped economy travel leaves a smaller carbon footprint.  Fortunately, the internet provides the ability to make visual connections with loved ones when physical contact is not convenient (or ecological).

In the three weeks I have been measuring our food waste, I have found very little that could be reduced.  Most of the organic matter we discard is either peelings or meat scraps.  I am grateful for this discipline of noticing more carefully what is thrown away and will probably be more mindful of waste in the future.

We probably eat so much meat because we can afford it.  Also because we have grown up in a culture that believes lots and lots of protein is part of a healthy diet.  We need to start thinking of meat, not as the main course in a meal, but as an important side dish.  Eating smaller portions less often would be a relatively painless way to wean ourselves off a meat-intensive diet.

We only have one world and we depend upon its viability to live.  I want to repair the damage that we have done to this world and restore/retain as much of its health and beauty as I can for future generations of humans, animals and all growing things.