Helpful practices:

1. Generally minimalist lifestyle; rarely buy something I don’t ‘need’
2. Majority of clothes are either used or from eco-friendly stores
3. Vegetarian + trying to incorporate more vegan products

Harmful practices:

1. Driving a gas-powered vehicle
2. Using plastic/ other harmful materials (styrofoam, etc.)
3. Need to more thoroughly research where products come from (sometimes I think I’m buying a ‘sustainable’ product, but upon further research find out it’s not as eco-friendly as I thought)

We are at 37. Still a long ways to go!

Some ways we are helping:

Recently bought a hybrid car and next car will be electric. No leather seats
Using vegan make up and soaps
recycling
reusable bags at the grocery store
food storage in glass containers
buying shoes/belts/purses/furniture that are not leather
teaching kids about how to be more aware of our environment

Some ways we are harming:

still consuming dairy
using plastic bags (trash, ziplock)
taking hot showers (mostly me)
online shopping
buying cleaning products that come in plastic containers
using plasticware when having larger gatherings at home

I was fortunate to listen Dr. Prakash Bhave presentation and thanks for inspiring us with your footsteps and initiative to care more for the place we live in . i wished to take higher course on Renewable source of energy after my completion of bachelors which didn’t happen but so happy to be the part of this community and join my hands along with each and everyone to care for our mother Earth.
I am in the yellow shade and looking forward to merge with the natural green with the help of the vision LEST
ways that i am showing my love
Recycling, using cooking utensils made of clay/ cast iron
Support local farms & store
car pooling( before this challenge)
using natural plant based cleaning products / cosmetics
using jewelry made of natural material
energy efficiency- layering and not increasing the heat
growing our own vegetable in summer / composting in summer

ways the areas i can improve my love for her

water efficiency particularly in cleaning dishes
composting all season( looking ways to combine with Black Earth compost for year long compost service)
solar panel for our home ( just registered)
increase my awareness and support the organizations that care for our mother
As a first step , i forwarded this link /flyer to my family / friends to join our hands
looking forward to hear from experts to engage / to show my love more …….

January 2022: Identify 3 actions you do that help the environment and 3 actions that harm it.

Help:1. Use reusable produce bags for fruits and vegetables and for purchasing bulk items like sunflower seeds rather than buying in a plastic package 2. Have subscribed to a curbside commercial compost service 3. Avoid use of styrofoam and if it does enter the home, drop off at special location for recycling

Harm: 1. Consume dairy 2. Home is not using renewable energy 3. Drive a gas-powered large vehicle

January 2022: Identify 3 actions you do that help the environment and 3 actions that harm it-

Actions we are actively engaged in that help-

1. Veganism-My husband and I became vegan starting this year in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.
2. Recycling/Reusing- I am a big proponent of ‘no wastage’. I try to use everything to the fullest.
3. Not buying plastic containers-Using glass containers in Kitchen. Hoping to find nonplastic options for storage.
4. using less electricity; turning off lights timely and using less water.

In process-

1. Using a wooden toothbrush
2. Trying to make DIY cleaners and store them in old bottles-Not buying new cleaning supplies packaged in plastic.
3. Will use coconut husk as a dish scrubber.
4. Online order only if it comes in recyclable packing.
5. We will be implementing composting at home.
6. Take reusable grocery bags from home.
7. Wash clothes in a cold cycle.
8. Plant trees

Challenges-

1. Need to order less from amazon. My husband jokes that we should have Amazon build a warehouse In our garage…Yikes!!
2. Books- I am a book hoarder and have a book vasana. I am going to try to buy used books instead of new ones.
3. Create greenhouse/vegetable garden at home- have lots of indoor plants but want to have some system for veg garden/ greenhouse to combat cold climate. Need to research this

Hari OM!

Some of the things we have already done are lowering thermostats, reducing shower time/temperature.,
not buying too many clothes, printing on both sides of the paper, etc.
The goal is to reduce personal carbon print by 10% this year.
Professionally working on power generation projects which use more green energy via green Hydrogen etc.

Harih OM!

Our household footprint is 87! Looking to reduce water consumption for bathing, reduce the use of Dishwasher, i understand every run consumes 40 gallons of water, proud to go Vegan (LABELLING here 🙂 and boosting my ego ! – but that helps reduce the footprint. Composting is something to explore and how can i do that during winter months. Using used clothes is something i cannot get comfortable, but i can reduce buying new clothes

Thanks for the opportunity! Pranaams

Hari OM!
As part of effort to initiate Prthvi Seva at Chinmaya Mission Portland, 10 BalaVihar kids and 5 adults planted 100 trees in collaboration with ‘Friends of Trees’, during MLK weekend. Next up is a ‘Get to know Prthvi Sevasanga event’ on Jan 22!