Eco Living
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8926
Printed Date: 08 April 2026 at 5:09pm
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Topic: Eco Living
Posted By: mummy_becks
Subject: Eco Living
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 10:21am
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What do you do? Following on from Live Earth
I'm on my way just baby steps at the moment. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Replies:
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 10:38am
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I'll update this later but...
1) Trying to reduce rubbish... recycling, using moon cup, cloth naps at night 2) Trying to reduce electricity (will add link later) 3) Growing veges (currently not very successful) 4) Buying locally made products 5) Making clothes/recycling clothes (or buying stuff where little Chinese kids aren't being exploited... tho I did just go shopping at Glassons  )
6) Reusable shopping bags 7) Trying to reduce water usage as well. Shorter showers and toilet flushes (I was appalled at myself when I flushed after using paper to blow my nose! Surely that could have sat there until the next person came along!) |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 10:41am
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I forgot we have a vege garden (currently empty but its being prepared for this coming season). ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 10:43am
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Lets see...
1. Cloth nappies, cloth wipes 2. Mooncup and cloth pads 3. Recycle everthing we can 4. Try to buy eco friendly products only 5. Working on a better vege garden than last season!!! 6. Try to reduce electricity (turning things off at the wall when not in use etc) 7. Eco bulbs 8. Try to reduce car trips to only necessary trips (must admit it is much easier in summer though when walking is more pleasant!!!!) 9. Reusable shopping bags or if we forget them (which is often I'm embarrassed to say) then we recycle the plastic bags. 10. Almost forgot....composting. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:01am
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Ok
1. Eco Bulbs 2. Wet back fire 3. Vege garden 4. composting 5. Green bags all the time (skite) 6. Part time cloth nappies (should/could try harder) Could recycle better, although the recycling is all over the place here in Blenheim, so its a pain, and cannot bring myself to do the moncup/cloth pad thing. Use car waaaaaay less in the summer. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:06am
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* Reusable shopping bags
* Very unsuccessfully trying to grow own veges (damm neighbors cats digging and pooing in my garden) * composting * Currently replacing blown bulbs with eco bulbs * Recycling Planning on walking the kids to school in summer instead of using the car. I'm a work in progress  ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:10am
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Eco bulbs Im also needing to reduce the power usage too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:31am
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Learning more and more what I can recycle. It is actually kind of crazy what stuff you can recycle. Opened my eyes up totally.
We use the bags we get for the rubbish bin so that is double use out of it. Other thing is use a disposable nappy that last longer. (not going to go in a debate about which is better mcn or dispasable. )
Be energy efficient as much as possible. And oh yeah both of us never smoked. I count that one as well. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:33am
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Oh yeah have the mooncup this side as well. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: floss
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:38am
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*Cloth nappies
*vege garden that we are currently making at our new house *Reusabe bags *Composting *Cutting down on car usage |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:40am
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We recycle all of our bottles and cans etc, and put them out each week.
We use the eco bulbs thanks to Mercury Energy, have another voucher to get another 5 for $10. We use those funky Pams bags from PaknSave 
I must admit that I have turned into the light police recently trying to teach the kids to turn off the light when they leave the room. That's pretty much it really. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: floss
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:43am
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Opps and
*Recycling more *Wet back fire when we move *Soloar heating when we move |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 11:54am
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- Composting (this is great, and it also stops your rubbish bags from getting as whiffy). I think the birds and possums appreciate me doing this as well.
- recyclying not only newspapers, but all the paper that I would normally chuck in the bin (eg envelopes, annoying letters that I get from real estate agents and finance companies, which is quite a bit) - Ecco light bulbs - Trying to reuse shopping bags, must remember to keep a stash in the car as I always forget. - Vege garden, this is heaps easier in summer. - Trying to remember to turn lights off when I leave the room and not using the dryer unless really necessary. |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 12:05pm
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Making a big effort to recycle as much as possible (yay for the Council widening the recycle to include nos. 1 to 5! instead of just 2s and 3s!)
Chase the husband around the house, turning off all the lights he leaves on
Trying to cut down on shower time, and instead of using (for dishes) a scrubber brush and continuous running hot water to rinse/wash dishes, I run a sink full and use that. We use recyclable/cloth bags for shopping, and refuse bags wherever possible - paper ones if we get them get recycled. We also try not to use the light plastic vege bags at the supermarket. Using Ecostore products - esp. for washing clothes. We've cut fabric softener out entirely! Goals: Get a worm farm/bin, we're just waiting for our budget to come right a bit (My mum has a worm farm, and puts the complete kits together). I figure that little kids will love it, and it's eco friendly as well.
A vege garden. I need to clear part of the back of our property first and have been very slack, but we're going to do it in pots because the only usable space (clay!) we really have is no good for growing in. What's a mooncup?  And where can you get reusable pads from, and how do they work? Considering I only use one/two every month (the first night of AF, possibly the 2nd), it wouldn't be a hardship to cut that waste down from hitting the environment. Or to cut the cost out of my budget!------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 12:12pm
A mooncup is a tampon alternative, they are reusable cups that you insert and they rock! Many women report lighter shorter periods when switching to mooncups and cloth pads. Check out http://www.greenbeans.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=74&zenid=bb89edefd8330864a8d3341888eccfe3 - Greenbeans . They do mooncups and the cloth pads but the pads normally sell out in 5 seconds flat!  . ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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ginger wrote:Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 12:30pm
Seriously? What about leakage ...? 
I hve a feeling DH has mentioned these before ... they're popular with trampers apparently. Thanks for the linky Paws!   ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 12:35pm
Not really any... well no more than a tampon anyway. Some people couple them with cloth liners. I don't really find the need to. The nurse at my IUD consult said that I might not be able to use a moon cup as my period would be heavier. NO WAY! I just may have to empty it more often... but I seriously doubt that as well. (I just empty morning and night, it's bliss not having to worry about it every couple of hours!) Anyway, wouldn't go back for the world! I love it. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 12:42pm
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Now that I have the knack of inserting it I don't bother with liners. And yeah I only empty it once a day too. I wouldn't go back to tampons either!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:01pm
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Really? Maybe I should give it a go. Do you think it'll be held against me in the comsumerism thread ...? Technically, it's saving money AND the environment! It'd be wonderful to be able to forget about buying girly supplies!
Will have to put myself on the contact list for the pads though ... you're right Paws! They're clean sold out!  ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:09pm
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We try to be good.... Recycle everything that we possibly can, even though I absolutley hate washing out the cat food tins....I do it religously. Wherever possible I buy refills for things like handsoap, fabric softener etc, and where practical we buy eco-store / eco friendly products....have to say a lot of this is to do with my allergies / asthma as well. All waste food goes into gurgler (waste disposal) - until we are in our own place and I can get a worm farm / compost bin. In summer I grow all own organic spray free herbs, tomatoes, capsicums - but have given up on winter!! The only shopping that goes into plastic bags is the meat - as it always leaks. Otherwise I have a varied collection of fabric bags for the shopping! Only run the dishwasher when full, take shorter showers (we arent long shower people anyway), and limit baths to once a week (and then we always recycle each others baths - DH normally gets in after me!!!) I cant quite bring myself to use a mooncup - just a personal thing though. Good on all of you that do!!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:12pm
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OK, I've registered with greenbeans
I'll talk to DH tonight and get the OK to spend the $55 on the mooncup (which he'll agree to no worries when I tell him what a box of tampons cost! ) and I'll go the pad/liner route too (as soon as some come in! I hate waiting).
Thanks so much for your encouragement guys - I might end up PMing you with questions when I have them ... ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:20pm
That's ok, you're more than welcome to ask us anything!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:30pm
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I like the idea of the mooncup (would do anything flor lighter/shorter periods!)
I'm still not convinced on the whole cleanliness of it though, especially at work! I get that you would empty it in the toilet, but where do you rinse it? EW for my colleague!  and how embarrasing for me!
I saw just before that someone (I think it was you, Gen) only needs to change/rinse it once a day? That would be better for me. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:35pm
Yeah, I did worry about it at work but the only time I find it needs to come out if AF arrives while I'm working... and then I just make sure it is a time when no one is in there! haha (Run it under a tap and then escape into the toilet) Altho being 90% female environment I'm sure it doesn't matter... I mean we ALL have to deal with it right? And seriously Toni, after having used it for a few months now, I do only check it morning and night in the safety of my own house!
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 1:48pm
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hmm... still not entirely convinced and it's not something I could flick off on TM if it didn't work out ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 2:06pm
| eeew. second hand.... |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 2:54pm
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I've never known anyone get one and regret it. And as Nikki says, it's just a period, we all have to deal with it.
I find most people are so interested when they spot my mooncup (it's a basket by the loo with all my mama pads.) ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 2:59pm
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About these wormfarms. What do they do? I think i would be something that Andrew might enjoy. Maybe. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 3:04pm
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Wormfarms are basically for composting though many people run a worm farm and a compost at the same time. Worm farms have several levels to them and the food etc is passed through each level as it goes through the worms until you have yummy stuff to use on your garden.
I've been assured you don't have to touch the worms which is the ONLY reason why I want one! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 3:28pm
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We have started a compost area maybe I should get some worms and help it along. I need some compost to get our vege garden soil wonderful for planting in a few months. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 4:17pm
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* Cloth nappies
* Cloth wipes * Cloth mama pads * Mooncup * Recycle as much as poss * Cloth shopping bags * Compost * Vege garden * Reduce electricity usage - lights off in a room when not being used, same with appliances (except the computer, which is probably the worst LOL) * Increasing the number of eco friendly cleaning products we use * Ecobulbs in every socket that will fit them * No clothes dryer |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 6:17pm
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It's actually best if you don't touch the worms Paws - something in human skin makes the worms infertile. So, you if you are in there mixing stuff up or whatever, always wear gloves I've got into the habit of always wearing glovs gardening too because worms are so good for the soil, but if you touch them, they can't breed and make more wormies ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 8:05pm
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* Cloth nappies and wipes
* All eco products (laundry, kitchen, cleaning and personal care stuff like soaps) * No shampoo (baking soda instead) * Wetback fire in winter (wood from my parents that needed to come down) * Compost all household waste * Recycle everything we can (with these 2 things we are now down to 1 supermarket bag of rubbish a week) * Reusable shopping bags * Eco bulbs only * Turn off lights and appliances at wall, shorter showers (we have actually managed to get out power bill down heaps) * Cold water washing and no dryer * Vege garden growing this season, with big plans for the next one * Using our second car heaps less and planning to sell it soon (I make one trip to town for groceries, errands, then other small trips I try to walk) * Try to buy local (at least made in NZ) products and nothing over-packaged * I have some cloth pads, was going to get a mooncup but obviously dont need that right now! * We have just insulated our ceiling and put tape on the windows to stop draughts * And trying to buy less stuff ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 July 2007 at 8:26pm
Good I have a further excuse then....i so hate worms!!!! I know they are great for the garden and all that but the idea of touching them makes me want to run a mile....and still I will bravely get a worm farm, oh the things I do!!!------------- http://lilypie.com">
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