Green Man Thriving

We see the monster, and it is us

Americans use an average 500 plastic  grocery bags per year. That's how many bags make up the plumage of the Bag Monster that went on a rampage at the recent Seattle Green Festival. I managed to corner the monster and he seemed in good spirits.  He is confident that he, and his 299,999,999 buddies, will continue to be able to clog landfills, kill wildlife, and use up non-renewable oil.  He loves that one out 10 Americans think "plastic bags are awesome" and seven of out 10 "don't care."  His only fear is that "a bunch of hippies" at the Festival are pushing a fee on plastic bags or even a ban in several states.

The rumor at Festival is that if you flashed a cloth tote bag at the Monster, he will squeal and flee.  We hear that the Monster will melt into a puddle (of non-hazardous liquid) if the tote is made from hemp.

Greening Our Yard - Everything We Do Now Must Change

We live in a pretty typical suburban neighborhood in a town along the Florida gulf coast.  In the past our yard has been landscaped in a pretty standard way - a nice green lawn maintained by an irrigation system on city water, a yard sprinkled with palm trees and a couple of large trees for shade, and a house surrounded by annuals and perennials you can find at any Home Depot.  A landscape company comes at regular intervals to mow, fertilize, and lay down insecticide.

Our yard stays reasonably attractive and green. These practices are typical of most of our neighbors and homeowners everywhere in Florida.

But these practices are anything but green. My wife and I know all this must change.

As part of our commitment to going green, my wife and I have decided we have to transform radically how we keep, and how we view, the yard around our home. 

Why? How? So Whar?  Stay tuned to Green Man Thriving.