Ok, I want to step up my eco-effort. Anyone want to join me?

[zizou]

We've got into a rut a a bit. We recycle fervidly,buy seasonally/fairtrade, try to cycle, use ecover products,try and buy less, don't buy excessively packaged things, but I do seem to buy a lot of mineral water when I'm out and about, and also coffee in takeaway cups. So I am pledging to a) take a travel cup to the coffee shop b) stop buying mineral water. I also need an environmentally friendly oven cleaner, because I have been using the evil and heinous Mr Muscle - simply through not knowing an alternative.Anyone got one? Anyone want to join me on an eco-pledge?

That si what we try to do, although I am rubbish at remembering to turn off lights. We do recycle bottles too - but agree must stop buying drinks when we are out.

That si what we try to do, although I am rubbish at remembering to turn off lights. We do recycle bottles too - but agree must stop buying drinks when we are out.

oh blimey didn't mean to post twice.

I will.

I have been preparing for the last few months (mentally not 'stocking-up'ly!) for begining The Compact on April 1.

The Compact was started in San Fransisco by a group of people who wanted to do more than token recycling and really make a difference, inside and out. It fits really nicely with my simple living beliefs and i am ready for the challenge!

There are no 'rules' as such, but there are two main principles -

1. Not to buy anything new for a period of 12 months. No shops, websites, markets etc
2. To buy all goods used - second-hand and charity shops, jumble sales, ebay etc. And/or borrow, barter, exchange, freecycle.

There ARE exceptions, such as food, medicine, health and saftey (eg car seats, soap, basic cleaning products), utilities, and underwear but the emphasis is on each individual to think about those exceptions and decide for yourself. And in doing doing so to live more deliberately, with less impact and more calmly away from the pressure of STUFF!

Its not about deprivation but choice. We no longer use toilet paper but what i call 'family cloth' - basically cloth wipes similar to baby cloth wipes. The children love the idea and i keep roll for them if they wish to use it (so far they havent) and the system is working fabulously. I wash my face with honey and use castor oil/olive oil for an oil cleansing routine.

I really like your eco-pledge.

I recycle glass, cans, paper and plastic (the latter involves remembering to lug it to a collection point at the right time on the right day), dd has cloth nappies and cloth wipes, and I've started using bio washing detergent. I try to buy toiletries that don't have nasty ingredients like parabens (but they cost a b*dy fortune - is that allowed on the Compact?), and I'm going to get a composter. I see where you're coming from on the loo paper thing, but I'm not sure I could do that. I keep trying to persuade myself to do what they do in southern Europe and the middle east and use the bidet, but I struggle with that, too! And to raise a slightly delicate subject, I've discovered washable sanpro - it's not as horrid as you may think.

I havent yet gone to the extreme of Bicarb of Soda hair washing (although i may try it just to see!) so i will be sticking with by Faith in Nature shampoo which is paraben-free. I am allowing this. Its more about raising personal awareness of the giant that is consumerism and what our perceived needs are rather than actual needs. 10 different face creams dont make me happy, they make me poor, with less time to spend doing things i enjoy and more time spent wondering if purchasing an 11 one would change my life...

I didnt think i could do cloth toilet paper either. But i could! In Japan the loo seats come with in-built jet water streams and warm air, to rinse and blow-dry! I like the idea of washable towels as well, but i use a mooncup so not really needed but if i did stop using it, i would def go for washable. There are loads of patterns on the net for making your own 'mama pads' too!

Yes, they are easy to make, I've been doing it! The only downside was I had to buy PUL fabric from the US, as I could only find the really thick non-breathable stuff on sale retail here. Crikey, I think I'm beginning to sound like I'm an eco-nutter, when in fact I'm just trying to be ready for the day the council start charging for rubbish collection

alternative to Mr Muscle

Lakeland has this sheet of non-stick stuff that lies on the bottom of the oven, catches drips etc. you just wash it easily in the sink.

But you'd have to BUY it.

magic oven mate

I have one, plus I just don't clean the oven much no actually I don't care. I also use Baco oven bags for roasting, whihc keeps it cleaner, but they aren;t very green, disposable. might be better for environment than Mr Muscle thouhg, on balance.

Has anyone really felt more calm when doing all this? I'm not sure it is working in that sense for me-thought my rubbish bin has less and less in it., bills are continuing to fall, etc.

Keep finding more things I'm not doing, It's like another unattainable goal....

Need more pats on the back!!!!! Only one person around to do that though....

Squidette, I'd heard of the Compact but hadn't really looked into it, but I'd also need a bit of preparation time to make a proper commitment - just googled it and I also like the idea about the 250 mile diet on one of the sites...

Your toilet paper idea has also inspired me. I've been meaning to try water instead. I've used it in the middle east and the effect is much fresher (although perhaps that's just in the heat). Will dig out a small plastic watering can and see how it goes.

I'd like to pledge to stop buying new clothes and shoes for the next year; I always regret it when I do.

No Impact Man, Leo Hickman and Judy Levine's Not Buying It have been real inspirations to me in this change of life-style. I was openly exploring Voluntary Simplicity principles and have changed a lot in my thinking, but this new phase is exciting and calming at the same time. I have found a huge amount of personal freedom and try to see this as a journey with no end, new lessons will come to fill the spaces that are left as others are learnt, rather than a goal that i will not ever reach.

The OP was wanting a recipe for oven cleaner that was a little more crunchy than Mr Muscle - mix Bicarb of Soda with a little salt and water until its a thickish paste and then spread it on the oven surfaces. Scrub it in a bit and then leave overnight. Rinse of with hot water. It may take a little more elbow grease than other products, but thats the choice you make.

Bicarb is great for so much, not just hair washing, but also its a very effective underarm deoderant when applied in a paste and i add it to my honey a couple of times a week for an extra glowing and smooth face. Google Baking Soda or Bicarbonate of Soda and a whole new world is waiting!

at eco-nutter.

"I have found a huge amount of personal freedom and try to see this as a journey with no end, new lessons will come to fill the spaces that are left as others are learnt, rather than a goal that i will not ever reach."

Verynicely put, squidette-any more pearls of wisdom to convince me to keep stepping up my own effort? I already do lots IMHO but there is certainly room for further improvement-sometimes I just think, hmm this is just like obsessive compulsive disorder, scraping bits of food into a mouldy bin, and keeping ever-tinier bits of string.

do you have any links to those gurus you mentioned?

How is The Compact going on day 3, squidette (or anyone)?

I am doing ok on Day 3!

I think i may start another thread so that anyone else that is doing this/thinking of doing this can join in rather than hijack zizou's thread.

Saturday was a really strange day - i had made a list of the things that i thought i may need to buy new over the next 12 months and was all geared up to buy some of these necessities online, but when it actually came down to it, i realised that hoarding was really not the idea. There were some books that i wanted, but most was fluffy material short-term comfort stuff. I felt SO much better NOT buying them!

I still would like to buy a tent for the summer as last year we borrowed one to see if we loved it (we did) but i can get a second-hand one easily. I would like some special books, and a new diary for 2008, but i can go to the library and make a diary. This is the really interesting part for me - finding resources to make do rather than just running out to buy something new.

Here are some links that you may like, or may not!

No Impact Man) www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Stripped-Bare-Trying-Ethically/dp/1903919614/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/026-7739406-8792437A Life Stripped Bare - (I have it from the Library. He also writes for the Guardian and Guardian Unlimited.

One of the things that i try to keep in mind is that i see my life as a priviledge not a right. For some reason, it makes a huge difference to my motivation.

A Life Stripped Bare

No Impact Man

can i ask a thick question?what is cloth for toilet?same as reusable baby wipes?we are fairly eco aware/very compared to lots of friends but ive not heard of that and love new ideas.

Cloth toilet paper is the same as cloth baby wipes. I made mine from old cotton shirts and a big flannel sheet cut into squares then sewed together with bright thread, but you can buy them too from cloth nappy sellers.

and you treat same as cloth babywipes?put in bin ready for wash and can you wash with nappies?

yep

I dont have a nappy bin, so we use a pillowcase that lines a mini pedal bin - then i just empty the pillowcase into the machine and then pop that in too.

aaaahh,sounds great.does it get bit,you know-disgusting?i am defiantly interested.not sure how much dh would be up for it though,took him ages to see benefit of using cloth nappies!

Squidette, you are inspirational. I'm definitely a green nut but family cloth - wow! I quail slightly at the idea as dp produces truly evil things in the bathroom and the thought of having to deal with residue as well as smell and fervent loo-scrubbing is scary. What do you keep the used ones in? Soaked or dry?

i hope you dont think im being rude asking if disgusting-just interested.

So far, its not been disgusting as i tend to do a wash every other day.

I encourage the children to wet the cloths for wiping after a 'number two' (like a mini bottom bath!) then to use a few dry ones for drying. I am still in experimental stages with this, as we have only been doing it for about a month so we are seeing what suits us best.

I have our cloths on top of the loo in a little basket and then they pop them in the bin. At the begining i did have to rescue a few from the loo! If there is a poorly tummy bug, i suppose i will just do another couple of washes. You could use a few drops of tea tree oil in the bin/bucket/bag as this is a antibacterial too.

Oh zizou

I'm sooo glad you started this, I have been wanting to make a pledge and talk to others with similar ideas for a while now.

I'm just watching (half way through) an "inconvient truth" the Al Gore movie and loving it. I want to do more. My big step in the next few months is going to be buying a hybrid car.

• I would like to "compact" just need to stop dh being obsessed with buying ds toys all the time.

• I will grow more vegies, but seem to be a black thumb, mainly coz I live in Oz and we have had a drought so no spare water.

• cut out all cleaners and packaged foods
  *buy more locally produced food
  *use less power, although this is hard with winter comming on here.

squitette- i admire your bottom cloth efforts, wow never thought of that.

I'm finding it hard to go back to the recyled toilet paper, as dh reakons it is too scratchy and causes him problems.

Woukld love to use washable loo roll. Even if just for the raised eyebrows round here. I remember when having "green" debates and some bloke would always crack" But you're a woman what do you do at that time of the month" and when I finally switched to washable and so was able to bit back.

But if loo roll really that terrible. I mean I understand nappies and sanpro - all that plastic, land fill and washing up on beaches. But loo roll just rots down doesn't it. In fact I would imagine that a bit like your compost heap, some paper is good. Of course some paper is better than other. I would never buy non- recylced paper. I find nouvelle far softer than shops own but then its much more expensive so its a treat when its on offer. We also have a septic tank which may be better than if you are on mains but I don't really know!

I do like the idea of using old shirts. My problem would be DH - not him refusing to use them - but he is obsessed with order and tidiness. He was so happy when the nappy bin finally went. More clutter in the bathroom - so if I were to put a bin back in there plus a bag for the fresh ones he would not be a happy bunny but I will mention it and see what he says