How Green do I really have to Bee??

Subtitle: Part II of the Fire Pit Story

First, let it be known to all that I sometimes have a hard time making decisions. (those who know me well might mock my "sometimes" qualifier)

Second, let it be said there is a very happy ending ... in my yard sits a lovely fire pit awaiting this evening's gathering (weather permitting). But this fairy tale ending was not without its green judgmental dragons to be slain.

As per my last post, my search for a gently used fire pit included pinging a few folks on Craig's list, an email to my town list, and joining Freecycle!

It took about 12 hours for my Freecycle membership to become active, and when it did I posted a "WANTED" email. I got one response from someone suggesting I use cement bricks and build something fireproof. Ya right..."Thanks for your suggestion" was my reply.

From my town list I received one offer for a loaner (which I shared in my last post), one suggesting that I check with the fire department to see if they're legal ("thank you for your suggestion"), and another letting me know Walgreen's had them for 50% off.. around $14. ("Thanks for the info!"). A fourth neighborly email said she thought she had what I was looking for, and she'd send a photo if I'd like. ("Yes, I'd like! And how much are you asking??")

Before I heard back from my local option, a phone call came in from my most desired Craig's list option. I really liked the design of this one and had already imagined me and my friends gathered around it... 'Yes, it is still available, and you can come by tonight or tomorrow" $50 - non negotiable, and a 45 minute drive.. without traffic. "Great, I'll call you back with when I'll come by, just working out my schedule"

Only 20 minutes later, an email with a picture of a barely used, clean and simple fire pit popped into my email box. "Is $25 too much?" and only 5 minutes away.

So, do you see where I'm going with this story??

Do I make the "greener" choice.. save gas, money, time and buy locally OR buy the one I have coveted from the moment I saw it? And if I choose the less green choice, what do I tell the bloggisphere? Should I make a decision based on what THEY might think of me? How much does what it looks like really matter? What if I travel all that way and I don't really like it? Will one of them be upset if I buy from the other? Should I try to see the local one first? You can see, my mind is not a pretty place sometimes.

But herein lies a true dilemma if one chooses to really think about it: How much influence should the "green-ness" of our options affect our purchase decisions?

Ok, sometimes it's obvious: Do I buy the Hummer or the Hybrid? Buy compact florescent or incandescent? Wash in hot or cold water? Turn off my computer for the night or leave it running? (Please, turn it off ;)

But other times, not so much: Locally grown or Organic? Take the train or the bus? Spend $150 on a pair of Organic cotton jeans or $30 on sale at the Gap? Travel 10x the distance to get what I want, or pick up what's right around the corner?

I guess it's a matter of scale and differential that takes me from the no brainer decisions to the mental gymnastics I went through for this. It's exhausting to weigh every decision from this perspective, but the more I involved I get in the green movement (and the more this blog holds me accountable) the more clear it is that every choice, even the smallest ones, are an expression of my values.






And yes, making the greenest choice possible is one of my values... and pretty high on the list at that.


But this time, aesthetics won out.

And by the way, if you or anyone you know is looking for a barely used, well cared for fire pit for $25, I know where there's still one for sale.

Happy Friday!

Going greener... it's all in the mind shift

So, when it comes to living greener, I've found that most changes happen from small shifts in perspective. That is, what is it that I am doing, wanting, needing, eating, buying that I can do in a greener, more conscious way? Once you start looking at one part of your life that way, you begin to see all the other impacts and possibilities... a cascading domino effect...



A case in point.



Friday night I am having some friends over... a group of women I went to overnight camp with on Martha's Vineyard when I was a teenager. I've decided that to really put us in the mood I want to get a fire pit so that we can have a campfire in the backyard, roast some marshmallows, make s'mores.... only this time we'll be drinking gin and tonics instead of bug juice! :)



So, I'm on the prowl for a fire pit... the ones I've liked on line won't get here in time (ok, I'm a procrastinator!) So last night on the way home from work I did a little shopping. I'm in Lowes looking at firepits... What are they made of? Where are they made? Will this be a good investment or just a seasonal throw away of money? Do I really even like the options? There are plenty here, I'll think about it and come back... let's check out Target.



Here's where the first mind shift comes in... Target is the next mall over... I instinctively go to get into my car and drive over and am struck by own laziness! WALK OVER! (And then you can blog about what a good doobie you are! ) So, with just a few intermittent raindrops falling on my head, I walk over, find NO firepits, and walk back to my car feeling very full of myself for getting a little exercise and keeping my car where it is.



But when I get home I think, this is really not that blogworthy, especially so early in my blogdom when I am trying to give a good impression of who I am.... I mean, walking 5 extra minutes so I don't have to move my car is a good idea, but really, who would be impressed with this?



So tonight, I'm on the phone with my sister (the same one who helped me put my composter together) and I'm telling her about my firepit odyssey and she asks: Have you looked on Craig's List???



OMG, I hadn't even THOUGHT of Craig's list... how could I have been so shortsighted??? I LOVE buying things second hand... I'm on Craigslist every week looking for yardsales (where I did see a fire pit a few weeks ago, but unfortunately did not buy it!!!) So I zoom on over, search firepits, find a few options out there, make a couple calls and send out a couple of emails. Someone emails me back.. her pit is already taken, but have I tried FREECYCLE?



FREECYCLE??? Wow, what a great idea! So first I had to join, and now my "membership is awaiting approval by the group owner" so I have not had a chance to search yet, but but I am excited to be entering a new world of used products. I will keep you posted on my success!



And finally, once on freecycle I remembered that I had one more option: my local community email group. I have seen so many people use it to promote their businesses, ask for help/apartments/resources, give away products.... why not put the word out there and see what's right in my own back yard?



So, to recap:

1. Walk instead of drive whenever you can.

2. Really consider your purchases: Do you need it? Is there a locally or sustainably made option? And can you buy it second hand? (http://www.craigslist.com/ )

3. Is there anything you don't want anymore that you can give away for free instead of adding to the landfill? (http://www.freecycle.org/ )

4. Are there resources right in your own community that you can access?



PS: I just heard back from a friend who's on my town email list offering to let me borrow hers for the night if I'd like. How great is that? My first choice is to find one to keep through the above resources, but if not, the girls and I will still be washing down s'mores by a campfire with our G&T's!!