When I was a kid, I remember ordering the book 50 Ways to Save the Planet from the monthly book orders at school. I remember being so convicted by it as I read it from beginning to end. I remember one tip that stood out to me at the time was to cut up all the plastic thingies that canned drinks came in so that sea animals wouldn’t get trapped in it. After I read that, I remember constantly making sure my parents cut those things up.
Okay, so only 1 out of 50 things stuck with me, but it was a step. Ben and I try to be as eco-consciuos as we can, though we’re hardly models for being eco-warriors, but we try our best to take care of certain things to help the environment. For sure though, we can definitely do better. I wanted to get the girls to at least start thinking about it, I started checking to see if the book I read as a kid was still around. I distinctly remember the cover being blue and having a picture of the Earth on it. I didn’t find that exact thing, but did find this one on Amazon and thought that might be a good start and should be similar.
True, Brave, and I have been reading through it and I’m almost sure it is an updated version of the book I read as a child. In fact, the tip on cutting up the can plastic thingie was there too! As we’ve been going through it, I’ve been feeling all sorts of guilty for things we don’t think about doing to help save the environment. I can’t say we’re ready to go radical and apply everything just yet, but we will start small with what’s feasible and best for our family. I want my girls to learn that small changes can make a difference. We planted about 25 trees in our yard already, so that’s a start right?!
I had that book too! almost positive its in a box of my old books from when i was a kid, i will have to get it out one of these days 🙂
Everyone can´t do everything but everyone can do something! 🙂
I think that’s an encouraging thought! I was feeling bad I used disposable diapers, but there are still plenty of other good things we do to make a difference. I really like what you said because you are right, though we can’t do everything, we definitely can do something!
Hi!
Maybe you can share some ideas from the book.
Lovely pictures, as usual!
Don’t worry, I will!
that book looks great!
what a fun lesson! i cant wait till my alice is big enough to do things like that!
Being able to teach our kids things is so amazing. I homeschooled my boys for a season and it was a special time for our family 🙂
Jana @ 333 Days of Hand Lettering
You should read Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson! Her family of four produces only 1 quart of garbage in a year. She’s an inspiration. She has a blog by the same name.
No way!!! I need to look that up or order that book. That’s amazing! I can’t believe it!!! Thank you for sharing.
maybe I should start recycling….
Did I ever tell you the story about John bawling like a crazy baby when he learned about smog? hahahah! He says he was in first grade and he asked his mom why they couldn’t see the mountains and his mom told him about smog. A normal kid would not think twice; John wept. <3
totally john! hahahaha
i love this post! the book looks like a good one that i’ll have to look for! i’ve been homeschooling my girls for years now and we always spend april refreshing our knowledge and commitment to the environment. this year i found a great book called not your typical book about the environment by elin kelsey at the library. i like how they focus on being positive about what we can do- not just focusing on shocking statistics. we also read think fair trade first! by ingrid hess.
i, too, LOVE bea johnston (zerowastehome.blogspot.com) mentioned above. when i saw her house, i was totally inspired- look for the sunset magazine videos linked on her website! she brings such a positive voice to this topic- and with style!
meant to add that Bea also has two young boys, so she’s not out of touch on that topic! 🙂
Thank you so much for this inspirational post! That book sounds awesome! It is so important to teach ourselves first, but also our little ones to take care of this planet. I believe that to live on this earth is a trust from God. And when we leave, we should atleast have tried to leave this place in same state (or preferably better) as it was when we got here. Try is the keyword. And as tinajo said, we can’t do everything, but we can do something. And every little thing counts. We don’t have to be eco-warriors, or atleast we can’t become that over night. But we can do the small changes, like stretching out the hand and grab the organic milk instead of the regular one. Or like you do, grow your own food! THAT is awesome really!
they should read Emeraldalicious! cute book about keep the earth greenalicious! 🙂
I totally remember that too and always made sure my mom cut up the plastic thingie too… Into itsy bitsy pieces!!!
Thanks…just added this to my wishlist
I too was a ’50 Ways to save The Planet’ crusader!!! I’ll be excited to pass this book onto my little one:)