Change The World Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW). If you're new here, please take a look at this PAGE for more information and a full list of the challenges we've taken so far.

Last week we ended two challenges ... a month-long challenge which asked us to avoid processed, commercial snack food and our weekly challenge which asked us to reduce our driving speed. The snack activity was great for several reasons ... most snack food contains unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, it typically comes in single serving packages, it is rarely produced locally, and it isn't whole food. So, it's bad for us and bad for the earth. Throughout the month, we saw several posts and comments from our Honor Society about how they met this challenge ... some simply refused to buy "junk food" and others created their own, healthy snacks. Hopefully we all considered the impact of this simple change.

Lowering our driving speed saves gas. Of course, not driving saves even more. As usual with our challenges, many of you went above and beyond ... sharing a multitude of gas-saving ideas. Here's our Honor Society:

EcoGrrl is an earth-friendly Super-Star in the "low impact transportation" arena. She gave up her car 3 years ago and commutes, daily, using a mountain bike. I asked those who don't drive to give us the real details about making this option work ... and EcoGrrl did. Check out her comments, HERE, about how she deals with rain, snow and hauling yard supplies. She really proves that it's all about our willingness to make it work!

Mountain Mama lives a little too far from the nearest store to walk or bike ... but she employs a few other gas-saving strategies. She makes a weekly shopping trip and tries to do without if she runs out of something between trips. MM notes that switching from paper towels to washable cloths has helped in that regard because she no longer needs to buy them and never runs out. In fact, employing many of the Eco-friendly activities we've talked about on this blog have helped her to reduce gas consumption. For example, buying in bulk means she has enough to last between shopping trips. She also shares that slowing down not only saves gas but it is a safer way to drive. As she says "Seems like good common sense to me." MM also left a comment about our challenge to re-use. She had a bunch of suggestions which you can read HERE.

Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris, wrote this POST on our re-using challenge. When he shops he considers the packaging and how he can reuse it. For example, he buys a cream cheese which often comes in a plastic jar. Rather than choose that option, he searches out a brand which comes in a reusable glass jar. And how does he reuse his glass jars? Well ... you'll have to go read his post. And to further entice you to do so, he's posted a picture ... so go look.

We have a new friend, Erin Wallace, who found us through the Wednesday Blog Hop.

Our friend, Kate, traded in an older car for a new Honda Fit. The Fit comes with a MPG gauge which let's one know exactly how much fuel is being used. She shares that it has created competition between her and her husband to see who can get the best gas mileage per trip. Congrats, Kate, on being the current winner in your house!

Tawna and Kortney found us through a blog hop. Thanks for stopping by!

Kris wrote this POST and talks about some of the challenges she faces in finding an Eco-friendly, safe method of transportation to and from work. While she searches for something that works, she has committed to slowing down ... even though she's in a hurry to get home after a long day at work. For non-work trips, she employs a few other strategies to cut down on gas. Can you guess what they are? Nope, I'm not telling ... head over and read her post to find out.

NotEasyToBeGreen took a dramatic step to reduce her gas consumption ... she quit her job. Okay, she probably didn't really quit her job to save gas ... did you NETBG? And ... she works for the same company from home. But it brings up a good point ... if there's an option to work from home, it definitely reduces commute times and cost. By the way ... I don't want to say "for sure", but ... NotEasyToBeGreen may be a guest, right here on Reduce Footprints. So stay tuned for that treat!!

Kelly used to buy used books from Amazon and felt that she was doing her part. Then she got an iPad with a kindle and Nook application allowing her to download books. That's "reuse" kicked up a notch!

Nicole is another new friend who found us through the blog hop. She shares that this challenge is "in the bag" because she drives slowly and less than 5 miles a day. Yay! Nicole writes a blog called Mom Always Finds Out where she hosts several Eco-friendly giveaways.

The Shopping Charity Daily gave us a nice write-up. In addition to #CTWW, you'll find articles on Lung Cancer Surgery, "Green" Wedding Favors and how hospitals in St. Louis cope with an outbreak of RSV (a kid's respiratory virus).

Bertina Makayla stopped by and had some very nice words about our blog.

There are a group of people, lovingly referred to as our #CTWW Gang, who were lighting up the Internet with their Tweets. They talked about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW ... all in 140 characters or less. If you're on Twitter, be sure to stop by and check them out:

@cjrthemommyblog
@whopaysthepiper
@ribloodcenter
@noteasy2begreen
@fancyscrubs
@waylandcook
@littlthon
@shoppingcharity
@rewinn

Thanks to everyone who participated this week! If you wrote an article, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

A couple of "program notes" before we get to this week's challenge ... this Friday is the first Friday of the month and that means another vegan recipe. This month we have a guest chef ... and the recipe looks fabulous. So be sure to come back for that. And next Wednesday, we're going to begin something exciting ... a daily challenge which will begin on the 9th and run until Easter (which is, by the way, your hint for what we'll be doing). Need one more hint? The daily challenges will be appropriate for both Christians and non-Christians alike. Stay tuned ...

Okay ... this week we're going to save a little water. Ready? Here you go:

This week do not use your garbage disposal (and save a bunch of water). Instead, find ways to reduce food waste, reuse veggie scraps (ie make stock with them), or compost items normally sent down the drain. If you MUST use the disposal, use minimal water, and consider if there are other options available for "next time".

Or ...

If you never use a disposal, please share your most creative water saving idea.

That's it for this week ... see you next time!!

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!