Resolutions

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007, 9:02 pm

I just started working on the iGo Green project at iVillage, and I have to say I've learned a lot in the past couple of months... like, I've learned I should go buy a UV-ray-proof bubble and LIVE in it. Just kidding. But you can start to feel overwhelmed by how important it is to start reversing (or at least minimizing) our impact on the planet.

That said, it's energizing too. I've learned so many incredibly easy ways to stop being such a trash-spewing chemical-ingesting energy hog, and I really love the feeling of possibility it gave me. I also just came back from a wonderful vacation in an absolutely blessed and beautiful place, and (I hope this doesn't sound nerdy) it made me feel a renewed sense of excitement about taking action to protect the places I love.

So, in the spirit of embracing possibilities, these are my Green resolutions for this year:

1. By hook or by crook, start growing something. I live in a cruddy little city apartment with no outdoor space, so this one will be hard. But one thing I read that really stuck with me was one writer's observation that American lawns represent millions of acres of arable land that aren't being used to PRODUCE anything anymore--just think of the possibilities inherent in starting a vegetable or herb garden and making your lawn more than just another pretty green space. I don't have a lawn (sniff) but I'm determined to get a tomato plant started, or a windowsill herb garden--just something that's a small step down that road.

2. Start buying organic produce. In the past, my excuse has been, "Eh, I'm a poor little underpaid media-industry slob, I can't afford fancy organic grapes." But you know what, I can. An excuse is really just that, an excuse. I buy organic milk already (I'm paranoid about the hormones in regular milk), and this is the next natural step. Fancy organic grapes, watch out.

3. Replace one bulb in my living room with an energy-efficient CFL bulb. Amazing but true: I found out that just one bulb replacement (used for a year) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as taking 1.5 million cars off the road for a year.

I have a bad habit of making lists and then not doing anything on them, but these three? Yeah, I can handle that.