Connie, I think most of my neighbors think I'm a bit odd for using a clothesline but that's just fine. I love the smell and feel of air-dried laundry. The fact that it saves me money and helps the environment are just fringe benefits - lol!
Wal-Mart is giving away their reusable bags on Saturday, April 19th at 8:00 a.m. - one per customer while supplies last. They are giving away wildflower seeds to kids at the same time. Both are in celebration of Earth Day.
April 19th is also Hang Out Your Laundry Day! Hopefully, the weather will cooperate here.
I line dry my clothes all the time, I don't have a dryer, we are a very sunny nation so it's really the norm here. I can go to a laundromat to dry clothes if it's rained all week.
99.9% of people I know do the same thing.
Now is the time of year when it is easier to be more "green", literally. I use newspaper for mulch, putting grass clippings on top to make sure the mat stays in place. As it breaks down, the nutrients go into the soil. Just make sure to leave a little space around the base fo the plants so water can get through.
I also use the "mat" to start a new bed. Put the newspaper down (several layers), put clippings on top, and then wait for several weeks. Remove the "mat", turn the soil over and work in the clippings that were holding the "mat" in place. Make sure to pull out any roots find that would love to grow again. Now you have killed the underlying weeds, grass, etc., and can plant in that space. Remember to re-mat the area to keep new weeds from peeking through during the growing season.
For me, "green" is not worth the money when it costs far more to buy the product designated "green," when plain old everyday things do the job as well for far less. You just know that if it's a "hot" industry with a catchword, the products are going to be more. Also, if it costs more and is more labor intensive to manufacture, how is that good? If it is an industry that is heavily subsidized by the government, what happens when the subsidies go away? Ideal products are those that work well, don't bankrupt us and don't leave mountains of byproducts or toxic waste. I think I am sounding like a soapbox orator, or one preaching to the choir here!
I think it depends on what you think is happening when you purchase an item, is it being manufactured using products that may not seem like they are harmful but that are polluting the air and sending dangerous chemicals into the air, or would you pay and extra dollar for a company that uses natural ingredients that doesn't pollute the air, soil etc. using recycled materials...
I personally think its a good thing everyone is becoming aware of the impact we're having. I'd rather pay that dollar...I mean, I'm living in a 'safe' area here in Michigan right now that doesn't get too many natural disasters, but alot of other places are because we're creating green house gases in the air that are causing a climate change which effects our present weather. So its effecting people when they have floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and if you watch some of the documentaries about the global climate change, it's all because of what we're using and producing.
I hope its not a phase, but maybe that we can change things for the better just by being more aware and doing something about it.
