Shopping

Well Brian has decided it's time to be up and playing so I have a few minutes before the day really starts...

As I mentioned to Erica the other day, when I first decided to be more conscious about my shopping I pretty much froze up when it came to shopping for about a week. I really wanted to make the "right" decision but I didn't have much to go off of. I would think and rethink purchases until I talked myself out of buying anything at all! While this did show me that there is a lot that I really can do without, it also showed me that if I was going to commit to being a green consumer, I needed some new resources.

I found that the internet can be a great way to get green goods and that shopping on the net from providers who are as close to me as possible is better than getting in my car to go shopping. I'm learning that internet shopping is fun! Also the coopamerica website is great for looking up information on certain companies, and their green business guide which I picked up at Real Goods in Hopland (thanks Mary for the tip!) is a wealth of information.

So now I have some resources but I still feel like such a Green Greenie! Like yesterday, I went to pick out some more natural shampoo at Whole Foods and I noticed that they sell it in bulk. You can bring in your own container or get one there for around 65 cents. Then you just bring it in and fill it up when you're out. I thought this seemed like a great idea, but it took me like 15 minutes looking through all the gallon bottles to figure out which ones (inc. conditioner and shower soap) I wanted to try and figuring out the whole system. While I was there a lady came with her bottle from home, when straight to the one she wanted, made a label, and continued with her shopping. I'm sure I'll be like that next time too, but I just really noticed that doing something, even small for the first time can be a big deal. And in the beginning there will be a lot of these small things. I'm just going to take it one at a time.