Comments on: The End of the Eco-Challenge http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/ Learning to live green and live together Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:06:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Maggie http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/#comment-767 Maggie Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:08:31 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=222#comment-767 Thanks for the encouragement. We pretty much knew we were set up to fail in our quest to go garbage-free but it was still a little overwhelming to really pay attention to how much trash we generate! Baby steps... As for biking, luckily Bloomington is pretty bike-friendly. We're legally supposed to bike on the street but I am a big fan of biking on sidewalks along a lot of roads. There are some nice bike lanes and bike paths, though. And I have a pretty nice bike bag that my parents had in their attic for about ten years. (Ironically, just this week they bought a bike and are starting to get into it as well so now they're going to buy some new bike bags.) I biked in the rain yesterday and it was actually pretty pleasant (it is getting HOT here) but I decided not to brave the thunderstorms/tornadoes this morning.... Thanks for the encouragement. We pretty much knew we were set up to fail in our quest to go garbage-free but it was still a little overwhelming to really pay attention to how much trash we generate! Baby steps…

As for biking, luckily Bloomington is pretty bike-friendly. We’re legally supposed to bike on the street but I am a big fan of biking on sidewalks along a lot of roads. There are some nice bike lanes and bike paths, though. And I have a pretty nice bike bag that my parents had in their attic for about ten years. (Ironically, just this week they bought a bike and are starting to get into it as well so now they’re going to buy some new bike bags.) I biked in the rain yesterday and it was actually pretty pleasant (it is getting HOT here) but I decided not to brave the thunderstorms/tornadoes this morning….

]]> By: Angel http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/#comment-766 Angel Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:20:18 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=222#comment-766 Congrats on the progress you made during your May challenge. I think the important thing to take away from it is the constantly striving. As long as we keep up the motivation to continue to look for ways (large and small) to change our habits to better the world around us, we haven't lost. None of us can be perfect, and we can't all live the "perfect" eco-life, but we can all take steps. It sounds like the challenge was certainly extreme, but you really sank your teeth into it. As for biking, I've found the biggest impediment to getting around Greenville is the lack of respect for the biker. There's only one road that has a "bike lane," and the lane disappears whenever the road widens to add a turn lane. I get alot of strange looks for riding on the street, where I'm legally supposed to be, rather than on a sidwalk. Once you get in the habit, though, it can be quite enjoyable. I really look forward to my daily rides to and from work (except during thunderstorms, when I feel like a moving metal target). If I could just get some bike bags to increase my trunk space, I could expand my biking to small food runs, runs to the drugstore, etc. That's a future goal of mine. Congrats on the progress you made during your May challenge. I think the important thing to take away from it is the constantly striving. As long as we keep up the motivation to continue to look for ways (large and small) to change our habits to better the world around us, we haven’t lost. None of us can be perfect, and we can’t all live the “perfect” eco-life, but we can all take steps. It sounds like the challenge was certainly extreme, but you really sank your teeth into it.

As for biking, I’ve found the biggest impediment to getting around Greenville is the lack of respect for the biker. There’s only one road that has a “bike lane,” and the lane disappears whenever the road widens to add a turn lane. I get alot of strange looks for riding on the street, where I’m legally supposed to be, rather than on a sidwalk. Once you get in the habit, though, it can be quite enjoyable. I really look forward to my daily rides to and from work (except during thunderstorms, when I feel like a moving metal target). If I could just get some bike bags to increase my trunk space, I could expand my biking to small food runs, runs to the drugstore, etc. That’s a future goal of mine.

]]> By: Environmentalism the influential way | GreenCouple.com http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/#comment-756 Environmentalism the influential way | GreenCouple.com Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:39:05 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=222#comment-756 [...] why I think Maggie’s driving promise has value, even if she doesn’t figure out what to do with the money.#arkayne { clear: both; } [...] [...] why I think Maggie’s driving promise has value, even if she doesn’t figure out what to do with the money.#arkayne { clear: both; } [...]

]]> By: Kim http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/#comment-717 Kim Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:19:35 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=222#comment-717 I feel you in terms of being overwhelmed by that challenge. I had every intention of joining, and realized I just couldn't quite bring myself to do it. My lifestyle is so close, in so many ways, but just not quite there. Too many things that are (feel) impossible to give up, that I'm unwilling to sacrifice other quality of life activities for (enjoying the Alaskan summer means driving places) and just so difficult given the way everything works (ie, food.) I think the important message to take out of that challenge though, is the awareness and the baby steps it fostered in all of us...Most of the people I know (in life and virtually) who participated had a fairly difficult time of it (I suppose the reason it was "extreme" to begin with) but no one has left it feeling less aware and less motivated. Perhaps a bit like posers and a tad insufficient...But I'm working hard to not feel that way, because it's not productive toward our goals, right? Anyway. It sounds like you guys made great steps regardless. Good job and good luck with the biking! I feel you in terms of being overwhelmed by that challenge. I had every intention of joining, and realized I just couldn’t quite bring myself to do it.
My lifestyle is so close, in so many ways, but just not quite there. Too many things that are (feel) impossible to give up, that I’m unwilling to sacrifice other quality of life activities for (enjoying the Alaskan summer means driving places) and just so difficult given the way everything works (ie, food.)

I think the important message to take out of that challenge though, is the awareness and the baby steps it fostered in all of us…Most of the people I know (in life and virtually) who participated had a fairly difficult time of it (I suppose the reason it was “extreme” to begin with) but no one has left it feeling less aware and less motivated.

Perhaps a bit like posers and a tad insufficient…But I’m working hard to not feel that way, because it’s not productive toward our goals, right?

Anyway. It sounds like you guys made great steps regardless. Good job and good luck with the biking!

]]> By: Student Doctor Green http://greencouple.com/2008/06/02/the-end-of-the-eco-challenge/#comment-708 Student Doctor Green Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:53:19 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=222#comment-708 My challenge pledges bit the dust too :-( May was such a blur everything just kind of fell by the wayside. I hope your biking goes well. I bet you guys have nice weather up there right now. My challenge pledges bit the dust too :-( May was such a blur everything just kind of fell by the wayside. I hope your biking goes well. I bet you guys have nice weather up there right now.

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