I thought I'd put in a post some of the things I'd like to accomplish next year, so here's what's coming up for 2010...Personal Goals
Buy more organic produce - I try to stick to local foods as much as possible. I'm going to try to make sure that the produce we buy is not just local, but also organic.
Risk: The problem is that the organic is usually more expensive or just doesn't look as good, so this might be a struggle to balance cost with my values.
Get more into visual media - I'm already working on the Mission: Sustainable project, and hopefully more will come out of that in 2010. In the meantime, I'm hoping to really launch more of Crunchy Chicken TV. Two things are currently holding me back. First, I need to learn Final Cut so that I can finish editing Episode Two.
Second, I need to get an HD video camera and convince my husband to follow me around and videotape me doing all manner of wacky things that don't involve me being naked. Or, at the very least, would pertain to Crunchy Chicken TV (peeing on plants not excluded). I have a lot of ideas that I think will be a heap of fun!
Future goal: What I would love to do is get a sponsored electric car for travelling the western U.S., filming all things sustainable in different locales.
Risk: Not much at this point besides my own ineptitude.
Get serious about the home garden - Last year I really slacked on our home garden and, as a result, we didn't get as much out of it as I would have liked. I'm going to focus more on greens, root vegetables and potatoes. Fortunately, the garlic is already going like gangbusters.
Risk: We might be doing a bit of travelling next summer, if we can pull it off health-wise, so I'm not sure how successful this will be if I'm not around :) Because of this, any desires for critters is also on hold, so I don't expect to see any rabbits or chickens in my future unless we eat them.
Host Some Challenges
Here's the list for the new year, although I might throw in a few, never-before-seen ones just to spice things up.
- Buy Nothing Challenge
- Freeze Yer Buns continues...
- Cloth Wipe Challenge
- Golden Showers Garden Party Challenge
- DivaCup Challenge
Book Club
Since I've been failing miserably on the book clubs, I think it's best that I just skip them in 2010 unless I really am inspired by something. I'll most likely end up doing book reviews and book giveaways only.
In Sum...
I know there are a ton of green, environmentally-minded blogs out there and I thank all of you for spending the time to read mine. I've definitely learned a lot from your comments and your input is what makes this blog a pleasure to write.
So, along those lines, is there anything you would like to see on this blog? Something I've done in the past and haven't lately? Or any topic you want me to focus on or do a challenge on?
16 Crunchy Thoughts:
I slacked on the garden this year too, but I attribute it to first trimester woes (mostly just being too hot!). I'm going to post some goals, too.
I'd love to see more about parenting, kids stuff here, since I trust your opinion and now have a vested interest in learning about kids stuff!
Um, that's eco-friendly parenting, of course.
I'd love to see your goals, Abbie!
And, I'll refrain from non-ecofriendly parenting techniques, such as feeding children plastic and the like.
Good luck with your goals in 2010!
buying organic is great, but I totally get it about the cost. I often try to hit a happy medium by buying organic those items which use the most pesticides and not bothering when buying those items that use very little. For example, don't pay the premium for organic olive oil; they barely use any pesticides on olive trees anyway. Do buy apples, cherries, strawberries and potatoes organic. It's easy to google the twelve worst and twelve best crops as far as pesticides go. Good luck! I haven't formulad a list of goals yet. That's my goal: make some goals.
My LO is about to start crawling, so I'm really keen on fazing out the mainstream cleaners I've never even given a second's thought about using for natural products such as four thieves vinegar and lavender essence etc. But I'm also keen on learning more about simple, organic parenting. I am growing as she is. It's quite an adventure.
Your new profile pic is lovely.
Wait, I thought you were an advocate for eating plastic? Or is that for adults only?
I slacked on my house. So for 2010my goals are finsh some of the goals for 2009-
One thing I want to change is eat less meat--- if it wasn't for those Lil Smokies--- I could do it
wait- Lil Smokies being in the Weenie family means there is little meat in them to begin with!
I wouldn't change a thing on your blog- it is part of my daily reading.
scandalous! ; )
The mind reels. I have, of course, printed out your New Year's gift, and we'll be hanging it in the poultry house, for universal delectation.
Somehow, "thank you" just seems inadequate. :-)
Abbie - I only encourage plastic consumption for those over 18.
Aimee - You make a good point about the organics. There are two issues here: one is the amount of pesticides residual on the food and the other is the amount used in crop growing. Thanks for the reminder!
Greenpa - I hope my fellow poultry friends enjoy it!
Farmers Daughter - does cardboard pizza count as plastic?
Crunchy,
The Buy More Organic might get simpler, at least buying more local anyway. Predictions from Peak Oil and from agribusiness seem to agree - food prices are going to go up. Speculation is that oil prices are low because low world demand is suppressed by the recent world wide recession. Which means that the world wide recovery (ahead of the US, we are the only ones with Obama/Reid/Pelosi/Clinton, after all) could well spike oil prices in the next couple of months - making transportation costs an important factor in raising food prices.
Organic foods only "look worse" if you buy them at the grocery store. CSA veggies are beautiful; Farmers Market veggies are beautiful, and the ones you pick in your yard and bring in to dinner are the most beautiful of all.
We're well into our third year of eating local, and we're so spoiled with the high quality of the foods I can't imagine eating any other way.
Happy New Year!
2010 will be the year of the great home garden, I'm sure of it. :)
Even if you travel, you can still garden. You could probably get someone to watch and tend to it for exchange of some of your produce or pay them. Think of gardening babysitting. My neighbor and I help each other when we go away.
As for final cut, do you need to learn something that hard? Beth at FakePlasticFish uses Correll. (spelling?) I use Adobe Premiere, which is not that hard to learn. Roxio has an easy to use system too for trimming, etc. I hear Final Cut is amazing though.
I love your sense of humor. Very refreshing.
Since you asked for suggestions, in an ideal world your blog would have an "Ask Crunchy" feature where you take reader questions. Like an eco-friendly advice column of sorts. How great would that be?
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