Saturday, April 24, 2010

Simple, really



Saving our oceans is a huge undertaking. We're talking years and years of overfishing, polluting, generally doing a nasty disservice to something so incredibly vital to the health of our planet. But today I'm going to give you two very simple things that you can easily do that will go a long way to saving our precious oceans.

#1 - QUITE USING PLASTIC BAGS - Buy yourself a package of Envirosax and keep one in your purse, a couple in your car, and one or two next to the door you usually leave from.  You can order them online, or buy them individually from Target in a multitude of colors and patterns. They are incredibly strong. You cannot carry too much in these bags! We use them for groceries (although we have other fabric bags just for the grocery), for the farmer's markets, shopping for clothes, going into just about anywhere where you would need a plastic bag. They are very light and roll right up into a little ball that fits right in your purse, backpack, or briefcase. They also make great gifts.



You cannot believe the number of bags clinging to trees and bushes in Maui - blowing in the wind and just waiting to choke a sea creature. Seriously. It doesn't take much energy to quit using plastic bags. Just say no thanks, I have my own.

#2 USE LESS FERTILIZER - Excess fertilizer usually ends up in the ocean. Even if you live in the middle of the country the fertilizer you use runs off into streams and rivers - ending up in the oceans. The result is Dead Zones, areas with low levels of oxygen in the water. One is the size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico that blooms each spring and summer. Marine animals need oxygen to live - thus causing them to leave the area or die. Use fertilizer sparingly, if at all, and better yet, find an organic way to fertilize your yard. Amy, of Miscellany, did a wonderful post on a natural way of dealing with pests on your plants. Having owned a retail nursery, she tells the story of listening to a new way of using sea weed to naturally increase the health of plants.

These are two very easy things everyone can do that will make a huge difference in the health of our oceans, and our planet in general. We need to make a difference right now. We just can't wait any longer.

It's simple, really.

23 comments:

Teresa said...

Very true, very true! I love the reusable bags!

CrazyCris said...

all so very true!

some supermarket chains in Europe have stopped providing plastic bags, they make you buy the big reusible ones (dunno what they're made of). my only problem with this is that they're so damn big! and if you're carrying a bag that big, it's likely to be too heavy! but in Belgium that's all I ever used, a couple of those and a backpack!

here in Spain it depends on which store... but they're getting there! :o)

Brian Miller said...

both of these are easy and practical...we dont use plastic bags at all anymore...or fertizier. its a big undertaking with a little effort...

Whitney Lee said...

This post comes at an opportune time as I'm getting ready to go do some yard work!

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

never heard of these bags, nancy. Great info. We have fabric bags from whole foods that we use for grocery shopping. I'm definitely guilty on the plastic water bottle front. Although, honestly, in hurricane season, it's good to know we have bottles of water just in case.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

incredibly beautiful image, nancy, by the way! love it!
and i, too, keep fabric bags EVERYwhere - in my car, front and cargo space - in my kitchen - the garage - there's never an excuse not to have one near at this house - and i've also bought the re-usable individual water bottles for using filtered faucet water - have them everywhere, too - in car and house - anyway, great reminder for us all! wonderful to "see" you again!

Joanne said...

Great advice, and such easy steps that we can all take. Every bit counts, even the little things.

ellen abbott said...

Yes yes yes! So easy.

DJan said...

I stopped using plastic bags long ago, instead I use the fabric bag that slips into my backpack. If I have more than one bag full, I can't carry it on the bus anyway. Since I don't have a garden, I don't use a lot of fertilizer! Thanks for the tips.

Lori ann said...

Thank you Nancy!! thank you for posting this!

pam said...

We're already doing those things and more!

luksky said...

I don't use the reusable bags but I do recycle my plastic bags religiously back into the store's recycle bin.

L'Adelaide said...

thank you for posting this very important and simple solution to helping save this world we live in...the ocean so often is unseen and so unthought of ...yet she is vital to our exisitence....and the plastic is horrifying what it is doing to the planet as a whole...

and thank you for coming by today as well...hoping you are having the same lovely sunshine we are down here! ;)

susan said...

Thanks for posting about this and the very neat link to 'envirobags' too. They are cool and practical.

I don't know if you read about it but there's now a big dead zone off the coast of Oregon.

Jayne Martin said...

I've got to get more disciplined about carrying reusable bags. I end up putting them in my car, then I walk right into the store and forget them. A mind is an awful thing to lose. As for the fertilizer, I live on a farm and the horses provide us with the pure organic kind.

Good post. We need to be reminded of these things.

Elisabeth said...

I use the Envirosax all the time now, but still I notice there are many other ways that plastic bags continue to proliferate.

We need a huge change in mind set to tackle this one.

Thanks for the reminder.

Leilani Tresise said...

Thank you for this post!! on some days I can have a bathing suit full of plastic bags i find in the ocean! Much aloha!

Lynn said...

When I heard last week about the area of miles and miles of microscopic plastic junk that is in the Atlantic, it made me feel sick. I have cloth bags for the groceries, but I have to admit that I often forget them at home. I'm going to check out these other bags If they fold small enough, then I can always keep one handy.

Great ideas. Thanks for posting.

Hilary said...

I have my reusable bags and forget to bring them with me more often than not. But a discarded store box or three gets the groceries home just as easily as plastic bags.

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Unknown said...

Hi - I'm here from Harmony's Travels where I saw your comment on taking fewer showers.

I love this post. We often think that living green or helping the earth is a major undertaking. In reality, it's all about taking small actions which have huge environmental benefits. Thank you for offering us these two very doable ways to walk more gently on the earth.

By the way ... I have included you in our "Honor Society" which will be posted tomorrow (Wednesday, 4/28/10). Now I'm off to read more of your wonderful blog!

Have a great day!

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

Pat said...

Thanks for the info on the envirosax bags. I know that plastic bags are being outlawed in some states, or some states are making customers pay for them.

Here's a question I have. I reuse the plastic bags for my smaller garbage cans. If I buy canvas bags for my groceries, I would have to go out and buy plastic bags for my garbage cans anyway. What do other people do? Suggestions?

Al Bossence said...

Thank you for telling me about the Enviro Bags. I ordered some, my neighbour saw me using them...now she ordered some.
First store I used them in, the clerk wanted to know where I got them !

I can always count on you Nancy to help keep me informed.
Have a good Monday !...
Kelly