Things I love Thursdays.....

An important part of caring for the Planet is the 3R's.  We've all heard the Jack Johnson song.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  It's great...It's catchy and it's true!  

But we've still got to function in a world that is inundated with Consumerism.  So much so that it has permeated EVERYTHING that we do.  

And a big, HUGE part of Consumerism is Convenience.  We LOVE easy.  And we are willing to pay for it, not just with money but with our health and the health of our Planet.

Hey, I'm a fan of easy too.  

So, Let's start with something simple and seemingly harmless.  The plastic produce bag.  It has only ONE use...to keep our veggies and fruit together while we make our way to the checkout line and then in the car ride home.  And as soon as we get home, it gets tossed into the garbage.  Even if you re-use it as a garbage pail liner, it still heads to the landfill where it will remain long after your great-grandkids are playing Bridge in the Nursing Home.  

Maybe you Recycle the produce bag at anyone of the many stores that now offer plastic bag recycling.  That's a pretty admirable option; however, it doesn't do anything to reduce the amount of new plastic being made and in the long run it someday that plastic will end up in a landfill where it will remain for a very, very long time.

Try a little (EASY) change.  

Flip and Tumble Reusable Produce bags are AWESOME!  They are washable, and easy to store in your purse or reusable shopping bags for your grocery trips.  They are made of mesh so the cashier can easily see what you are purchasing and still read the produce codes.  They are great!  I have a set and my 3 year old likes to match the color of the fruit or vegetable to the brightly colored tag that's on the bag (a different one on each bag).  At 10.80 for 5, that's just a little over 2 bucks a bag...which isn't bad.

Granted, Flip and Tumble bags are not  your only option.  There are several wonderful Eco-Mindful stores on Etsy.com, where you can purchase handmade produce/bulk reusable bags.  Johnson Family Zoo is a great little Etsy Store with REALLY adorable reusable bags.  There are others sites out there too.  Explore, Compare and Choose something that works for your Family and the Environment.

However, you can also ditch the produce bag completely.  I think this is a valid option, as well.  I mean, what are we really protecting our fruits and vegetables from?  Dust?  We are going to was them off anyway when we get home.  Dirt?  Um...that's what they grew in.  Harmful chemicals?  Um...that's what's in the plastic produce bag.  Ditching the bag is a great option.

However, if you enjoy the convenience of not having to wrangle stray oranges as they roll around in your cart opt for a REUSABLE option and REFUSE the disposables.