Two lessons:
–There is a site called Freecycle.com (dot com not dot org) that tries to pull traffic
–People use sob stories to get free things that they then sell on eBay–I’m now cynical about the notes about “my dear old granddad who’s writing a book,” after being warned by the forum moderator to let him manage the computer giveaway

I’m trying this to get a new refrigerator now: “I’d love to find a home fridge in reasonable condition, left-opening preferred, to replace my leaking contributor to global warming (it’s ancient and you do *not* want it!). I have two smaller fridges I would be happy to exchange: one a dorm-size and the other about twice that big. I have some other things–office furniture, and perennial plants–that might also appeal to you. I’m in Great Barrington. Thanks.” A good experiment, for me and for the planet.

There were some fascinating little asides, too, that weren’t the usual obvious or trivial tips. One referred to research about the environmental effects of divorce, and another explained that human hair is the very best material for cleaning up oil spills–in a completely ecological process, or cycle. The hair is made into mats that mop up the oil, and the oil-soaked mats can in turn be composted. Salons are asked to donate hair to the program. I’ve already written the two salons I use to suggest this, and I hope you’ll do the same.

And here’s a PDF of the research about divorce.

Just that, using less of every product we buy, will make a bigger difference than switching to different detergents or floor cleaners. An unscientific estimate, based on observation of the people I know and on how I (someone who is supposedly ultraconscious about these things and also quite frugal) use products, is that we could reduce consumption by 25-50% without any effect on results. Think of the dramatic reduction that would make in water and air pollution caused by cleaning products.

I tested this with personal care products recently – which I’m sure we overuse in the same way – on a four-week trip to China. My usual travel containers are fine for a week, but four weeks? I did get something bigger for shampoo, but otherwise figured I’d try to get by, and pick up replacements if I had to. It was amazing, though, to see how knowing I had to make things last made a difference. I did not buy a single replacement, and even arrived home with a little left in some containers. And I wasn’t deprived: I was just using enough and no more.

Plastics, for example, are made from petroleum products, fossil fuels. “Fossil,” because oil and coal are the remains of forest life in the early days of the planet. That laundry soap bottle used to be ferns and mosses in an ancient landscape. How odd to think that today our use of these ancient resources is threatening our future on earth!

Thinking of the future, here’s a simple tip: do not scrub out containers that are going to be recycled. Using quarts of clean water to wash potato salad tubs and cottage cheese cartons is not a net benefit to the planet. Do the bare minimum to ensure that your recycling won’t attract pets. A swish in the water you’re using to soak a cooking pot is enough. I sometimes toss especially messy containers into the dishwasher on top of everything else, where they take no additional space.

When I was first commissioned, in 1988, to write an ecology book, I knew virtually nothing about the subject and my friends were terrified for me. It didn’t reassure them to know that I knew I knew very little; they couldn’t imagine how I could educate myself enough to write a book. One of the first people to help me was an energy expert in London who invited me to his home to use his library. He offered me coffee, and after filling our cups he took a folded towel that was lying nearby and tucked it around the kettle. (In Britain, electric kettles are a way of life.) “It’s a small thing,” he said, “But it keeps the water hot for a couple of hours, until we want another cup.” He was saving both water and energy, in one simple and habitual action.

To make a good cup of tea one needs freshly drawn water, so I rarely use water left in the kettle. But in the morning I find myself ducking and diving not to waste water. As I run the tap–an old habit, from London days when this was a precaution against leaded pipe joints–I catch the water in a watering can, and I toss the water used to warm the teapot in, too, and any dregs from the kettle. I feel a little silly doing this (it is, after all, a very small thing), but the ritual is a good way to remember the more important point, that I need to treat every material thing that passes through my hands as a resource.

And while the kettle is coming to a boil, I can water my houseplants, blooming geraniums and baby-powder-scented heliotrope.

The simplest way to have a green Christmas is not to go shopping, but that’s hardly useful advice for most of us. We may loathe the commercialism and excess but still love the festivity, the scents and sounds of the season. Over the next week, as I travel, I’ll be blogging up some suggestions, and recipes, for having a joyous time without overwhelming expense or pressure–on yourself or on the planet.

My husband David and I are so totally absorbed these days in our publishing business that we don’t have big home projects on the immediate horizon, but with this fat guide to hand, even with the few small things we’ll want to do this year–some extra insulating, for example–will be easier with this book to hand.

We also want to plant a couple of trees in the autumn, one important way to save energy and increase comfort. Here are some tips from the US Department of Energy.

Forwarded:
Hi guys,
my friend showed me this, and I wanted to spread it around, because it’s so much better than throwing stuff away, and it’s freeeee!!
enjoy and tell your friends!

Forwarded:
My dad showed me this. Its such a good idea!!!!!

And it’s even made the BBC–read the UK coverage. Unfortunately, there’s no Freecycle group in our area–but writing this has inspired me to figure out whom to contact about getting one started (and techie Rachel can volunteer, or so I hope, to manage the site).