Last week's challenge was fabulous ... and so much fun. Many of you committed to the activity and got others to join in.
A rather wonderful "side affect" of the challenge was that some readers upped the ante ... raised the bar (so to speak). They not only accepted the task but challenged their readers to do better. One participant challenged everyone to take ... are you ready for this ... two minute showers. Wow! I accepted that challenge and let me tell you ... two minute showers make ten minutes showers feel oh so long ... and wasteful.
I also realized that each of us are at a different stage in our green journey. For some, these tasks will truly be challenges ... for others, the activity is already incorporated into their lives. So, I'm going to add a second part to each week's challenge. If you find that the first task is already part of your life, move on to the second task ... hopefully it will, indeed, challenge you.
The following people ... our "Honor Society" ... are the ones who stopped by and commented. Some made formal commitments and posted about it. Others talked about their personal commitment to the task. And everyone offered support and encouragement.
Eemilla at http://eemilla.wordpress.com/
Sober White Women at http://thoughtsofasoberwhitewomen.blogspot.com/
Project Savior at http://projectsaviorreborn.blogspot.com/search/label/Project%20Hot%20Water
Terri Tiffany at http://terri-treasures.blogspot.com/
Sinclair at http://naturewithme.blogspot.com/2009/06/announcements-and-challenges.html
Kate at http://holdfastseeker.blogspot.com/
Marcy at http://cookingrut.blogspot.com
Frisky Librarian at http://simpleglee.blogspot.com/2009/06/change-world-challenge-1.html
Joe Todd at http://www.myqualitytime.net/
Dafthermit at http://theblackbuscompany.blogspot.com/
GigiSxm at http://adventuresingigi.blogspot.com/
Strawberry Girl at http://strawberrygirlsreflections1.blogspot.com
Chourou at http://chourou-sumimasen.blogspot.com/
EcoGrrl at http://ecogrrlnetwork.blogspot.com/
Smooksberry at http://kurtsmook.blogspot.com/
John Sexton at http://www.duckeyops.com/
Joanne at http://joannedemaio.blogspot.com/
Luthien at http://pimpandpaint.blogspot.com/
G. Kannan at http://ofcourseyes.blogspot.com/
Barry at http://anexplorers.blogspot.com/
Art Ist at http://4oneaday.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-accept.html
Elizabeth Barrette at http://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com/
Rewinn at http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2009/06/shower-with-your-garden_14.html
K.B. Keilbach at http://kbkeilbach.blogspot.com/
SAS_Consultant at http://www.blogger.com/profile/14229177103408903481
S Engelmohr at http://sengelmohr.blogspot.com/
Kiwi Riverman - The Writer at http://worldofcae.blogspot.com
Ann at http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/
Wow ... what a fabulous group of people!
Okay ... are you ready for the next challenge? Here we go:
For the entire week (yep, the whole week), refuse plastic bags at the store or anywhere else where they are offered. One whole week ... 7 days ... no plastic bags.
OR ... If you're already "plastic bag free" ... then, within the next 7 days write a detailed post (or email, letter, etc.) on why plastic bags are bad for the environment.
Remember ... make a commitment in the comments section ... then, blog about it, email about it, talk about it ... encourage everyone to join the challenge. The idea is to get everyone doing the same "green" activity during the same week. Click HERE for the "rules".
Want to change the world? Get ready ... set ... GO!
now this is a little more difficult. can't promise a whole week... but i will certainly try as many days as i can :)) good luck to all who's gonna take up this challenge :))
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm in! I already use reusable bags but often forget them for quick trips so I will make sure that for (At least!!) 7 days, I don't.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'll write up a post on plastic bags - but I'll need some time to research :) Hopefully I'll get it done by this weekend.
Excellenrt challenge! updated it on my sidebar for you. Since I already use reusable shopping bags I guess I'll have to blog about it now. Give me a day or two but I'll get to it! thanks for the challenge,
ReplyDelete-kate
http://holdfastseeker.blogspot.com/
I would but then what would I use for garbage bags?
ReplyDeleteOur city mandates that trash be put in tied bags, so I use the plastic bags from the store instead of buying garbage bags.
I accept the challenge ... posted about it today!
ReplyDeleteArt Ist
http://4oneaday.blogspot.com/
What great timing... I have collected an assortment of reusable bags... the goal is to remember to TAKE them in the shops each time. Will start today:)
ReplyDeleteI accept...this is a good reminder to use my reusable bag (that was given to me as a gift!)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea ill do my best this week every little helps regards coolerchoice
ReplyDeleteI'll take on this challenge.
ReplyDeleteMy gardening blog has an organic spin on it so these environmentally friendly challenges fit in very nicely.
Besides, I just bought a re-usable shopping bag yesterday so this is very timely for me.
I'll let you know how I do!
Im In but like a lot of people that have already posted we use our own bags so i guess i better get writing
ReplyDeleteandy
the dafthermit
Also a thought for Project Savior . . .
ReplyDeleteI use the paper bags from our grocery store to collect my recyclables. Would it be possible to cinch the top with cotton string? It would be tied and completely bio degradable :)
If not the best solution, maybe call it a seed started for some other creative idea.
I hate when I need to run in a store and my reusable bags are all in another car. This will bbe a good challenge.
ReplyDeleteOur friends at The Veggie Table (Delphi Forums) shared this link ... it's really worth a visit and talks about why plastic bags are bad for the environment:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016
I'm totally in! I love your site and the premise to change the world. Yes we can!
ReplyDeleteI fully accept the challenge... now that is to say that I will write a post this week-end with facts and figures. I already an plastic-bag free (I made a girl mad at the store today cause she put all my stuff in a plastic bag - even though I had given her my cloth bag - and I made her take it out.)
ReplyDeleteI will also post your challenge on my blog!
Great initiative!
Here is my sharing post of your challenge :
ReplyDeletehttp://greentobe.blogspot.com/2009/06/change-world-wednesdays-are-you-ready.html
I will send the article over as soon as I write it! It will be my saturday morning project! How exciting! :-)
Plastic Bag Free is the way to go. Reusable bags are so inexpensive now that there is no reason everybody should not have a few to use at stores. People continue to find excuses like "who has time to remember reusable bags". Let's stop being lazy and get rid of plastic bags. Let's hope more people give up plastic bags. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteWe strive not to get bags at the store, so my challenge will be to remember to bring the bag with me. To me, this is something far easier for the wider public to pitch into.
ReplyDeleteFor Project Savior, I would recommend raiding the recycle bin at the store (my grocery store's bins are always full).
Good luck!
I don't use plastic bags very often. I say very often, because hubby and the marines bring them into the house. I do use only recycleable bags, and then I reuse the plastic bags that are brought into this house.
ReplyDeleteI will leave a link to this entry!
Kelli
Using reusable bags was my new "green" project for this year. I've already written a post about this:
ReplyDeletehttp://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com/2009/01/19/reusable-shopping-bags/
Impressive list of participants! Well done, everybody.
ReplyDeleteYou, SF, should feel pretty pleased with yourself for making a difference with your blog, not just through conscious-raising but through encouraging people to take action. Well done.
Of course, we can't rest on our laurels. There's much still to do.
I'm already plastic bag free (at least 99% of the time). It took a while but the habit of taking reusable bags with me (or my shopping cart as I don't have a car) is pretty well ingrained. So I will aim to make it 100% of the time and I will also write a post about why plastic bags are bad.
Will pop back later with the link.
My post is up at http://sharingourgifts.blogspot.com/2009/06/change-world-wednesday_17.html.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
Right, this should be doable. I already use reusable cloth bags, but I do forget them sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI'll tighten up my habits to make sure I don't forget them this week - and hopefully I'll keep it up automatically after being strict with myself for a week.
Also, I'll do a post on my blog about it - in fact, I think I'll do one today!
Right, my plastic bags post is finished, hope you like it:
ReplyDeletePlastic bags suck
Now, how's that for a sophisticated title, huh?
;-D
Ok so I am here to take up the challenge even though I am a day behind... I saw the last wednesdays challenge and thats already part of my life..
ReplyDeleteBut this challenge I am going to take it and complete it...
Going to put it on my blog now...
Cheers :)
hey that is awesome i would love to be apart of the challenge. and thanks again for the comment i am praying that a job will come my way. thanks for the encouragement talk to u later. GOD BLESS,
ReplyDeleteWill do what we can..
ReplyDeletePlastic bag free for eons and still amazed that so many people are using them. Even not thinking environmentally - those buggers hold next to nothing and you always see them double bagged because they are so weak. Duh, cloth bags. Or how about the fact that plastic bags are made from petroleum? Duh, cloth bags. And then yes, the eco reasons - half a million years to decompose, killers of wildlife, and ugly ugly ugly. Duh, cloth bags.
ReplyDeleteMore food for thought for readers:
* Unlike paper, plastic bags cannot be recycled into any kind of plastic. What do they usually make? More plastic bags.
* Bags for your garbage - 7th Generation and others make biodegradable plastic bags if you must tie your stuff up.
* Amazing how so many use the 'it's in my other car' excuse. Hello, have bags in every car! Have bags by the front door so you always grab one on the way out!
* Think beyond the grocery store. Bring your cloth bags when you do other shopping as well.
* Produce: your produce can touch each other, you don't need twenty different plastic bags. You don't need ANY really, but if you want to bag produce - the little stuff like lettuce mixes, etc., then re-use the same bags over and over.
* Forget your bag? If you only have a few things, CARRY them out!
And finally, we need to start calling out these clerks who are putting one item in a plastic bag and tossing it our way before we even look up to see it. Take your item out of the bag and hand it back to the clerk and ask them politely to ask if I need a bag or if I have my own.
Kudos to the cities who have already banned plastic bags. We all did just fine without them a couple decades ago!
Mommy Earth is smiling at her good child. :)
ReplyDeleteWe should do something like the steps you suggest to make our carbon footprint less. I also planning to make this week plastic free. Thanks
ReplyDeleteCar Insurance for teenegers
I'm already there. I linked to your blog and posted my own. I have been bag free for about a year.
ReplyDeleteI've been plastic bag free for a few months now, i slip up sometimes and forget my reusable bags, but i'm getting better.
ReplyDeleteI will blog about it.
Ok, I take the challenge and do something for plastic bags in daly life. I already finished the plastic bags posts and posted it. Hope you like it, please check this out!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the blog I posted about super fantastic ideas for those ubiquitous plastic bags!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.earthpromise.com/blog/2009/06/12/the-beauty-of-plastic-bags/
I have such a large collection of cloth bags, that I truly only get the plastic ones to use as garbage can liners.
The hardest thing for most folks seems to be remembering to take the bag into the store. I've been using reusable bags for about six months and that was a problem, but I kept trying, did a lot of walking back to the car, or bought another bag. You just have to train yourself, don't use excuses. It really isn't all that hard folks.
ReplyDeleteAs for produce, most items I just don't bag at all. For small items, like mushrooms, I have some little nylon bags that stay in my handbag. They are light and easy to wash.
I have a post at http://squirrelqueen2.blogspot.com/2009/06/fashion-trend-alert-from-mother-nature.html
It might be a little different from what you are expecting.
SQ
I'm in. As I am already carrier bag free, I will post a write up on my blog page
ReplyDeletehttp://roseanddylanuk.blogspot.com/
I do belive that the rest of the world is taking the carrier bag issue very seriously. In my Gift Shop some our biggest selling items have been in the reusable shopping bag category; FizBags http://www.fizbag.com/ , Envirosax http://www.envirosax.com/ and Turtle Bags http://www.turtlebags.co.uk/ have been just a few of the more popular ones. Check them out, they are a funky carrier bag alternative! ;)
Wow, another great challenge!
ReplyDeleteLet me propose the humble Banker's Box as being an even better replacement for shopping bags, in many cases.
They're strong, reusable, recyclable ... and you can get them for free, since foolish mortals discard them all the time.
MORE (including a link to this fine challenge ... keep up the great work! ...): http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2009/06/box-beats-bag.html
just read ur blog and its a great idea. things like this really bring people together, and with the power of numbers on your side you can really make a difference. i am new to blogging and was wondering if you would care too take a look at my blog and let me know what you think?
ReplyDeletewww.itstimetorise.blogspot.com
I'm a total newbie to Blogger, and this is my first comment here. Got lots t' learn! Took forever just to find the comment link... Geez!
ReplyDeleteThough already practicing many "green" practices already, including reusable cloth bags, as a juvenile diabetic, I see that going vegan would not only be a HUGE green step forward, but would reduce the spiking in my glucose levels, causing my progressive blindness. I eagerly anticipate this change in my life. Great blog; hope I can figure out how to follow... Be well!
John
I'm in :)
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few bags but quite often forget them! So i'll make sure i have at least one in my bag ALL the time :)
P.S I've only just joined blogger so im not overly sure on how to work it yet.