Keeping Green

Tonight's art is titled "How Green is YOUR Garden" and I should make another version, "How Green is YOUR House?".

I try and be as green as possible. Ok, I did go and buy a non-alternative fuel car, but I did make sure that my EOS was one of the top in its class for MPG..and at this time I have gotten close to 30 MPG on the one highway trip I took, and 25-28 in the city. So far so good and I got what I wanted...a four seater convertible. I hope in the next four years to have a larger offering of cars that are fuel efficient.

At home I do not use pesticides on my lawn or in my garden. I live in a neighborhood with perfect green lawns marked with little yellow flags. My lawn is greenish, though most of it is not from grass, rather from violets, crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds that sort of blend in to make it green.

I clean most of my house with vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. I make my laundry detergent from Ivory Snow, Borax, and Baking Soda. I also use Dr. Bronner's soap as much as possible for washing.

One of the most difficult things about being an artist is the art supplies that I use. I try and use alternatives to paint thinners and turpentine when I use oils, and in my classroom I clean my brushes with veggie oil instead of harmful solvents. I have even started using water soluble oils at home. It is frustrating as most of my art supplies are toxic in some way, and I try my best to recycle my cleaning agents and use those which will minimally harm the environment.

Every little step that we take towards honoring the earth is important. It is hard as we have been conditioned to use super cleaners full of chemicals, keep our yards weed free, conditioned to eat perfect looking fruit and veggies. But the price that comes with that is too high to ignore trying to make changes in our life style, even if it is one baby step at a time.

Patti O Greenish