Below are the things I've done to eco-fit my life and to live more in-line with the reality that we are sharing limited resources with billions of people worldwide. It's a wonderful process and I've found a great deal of success, fulfillment, savings, and ways to make my daily life easier. Plus, if you know how busy I am, you can be assured that if I can make this work, you can make it work too. Let me know how I can help, or if you have ideas to share. Welcome to your new eco-life!
Three Categories:
Just Do It: Things so obvious you'd be crazy not to start doing them today.
Step It Up: Things that take a bit more effort but in the end make your life happier, healthier, easier, and greener.
Go All The Way: Things that most people consider "die-hard" but are really sensible, not very difficult or expensive to implement.
You'll notice that most of the list falls into the "just do it" category. That's because it really is incredibly easy to make these changes to your life. Nothing on this list is hard, overly-expensive or impossible. As an artist who has lived on a budget for many years, I've found ways to make green frugal, as well as healthy and right. Enjoy!
Just Do It:  Rock the Web
Not knowing is no longer a valid excuse. The Internet makes it incredibly easy to find anything and everything you need to know about going green (like this page). Take a few minutes on the web before you go shopping, or make a home improvement, or before you do anything, to find out if there is a green option. When you discover something great, pass it along to your friends.
Go Digital
Instead of writing down directions, reminders, or a shopping list, send yourself a text message. Take notes on your phone's memo pad. Make your electronic devices work for you - you'd be amazed at the things they do! Who needs to print paper or buy CDs anymore? I released my first CD with all-recyclable packaging. My second CD was only a digital release which meant no packaging waste at all. I keep notes, driving directions, and my calendar all in my Blackberry, which I have to say has become one of my biggest energy-, time-, and paper-saving devices. I send documents via .pdf files. iTunes means my laptop happily houses my music, which, with the easy addition of a wireless hub, I can play through my stereo.
 Choose a Non-Disposable Lifestyle
We've created a culture of disposability that we must change. Before you throw one more thing away ask yourself "Is this really trash?" If you can reuse it, recycle it, or transform it, then it's not trash, it's useful! Don't send it to a life of stagnation and stink in the landfill. Think of it this way: If the last person you dated had deemed you "trash" and tossed you in the landfill you'd never have been recycled into your current relationship. Aren't you glad your current partner decided to recycle you! (If you're not, then maybe it's time for you to recycle your current partner by putting him or her back into the consumer system.)
There's No Such Thing as "Trash"
Well, maybe a few things can go in the landfill, but far less than the amount we put in there now. Reducing, reusing, and recycling has cut down to about 20% of what it once was in my life. That's an 80% reduction in my contribution to the landfill. It also means I need my trash collected far less often which saves me money on my curbside bill. I don't have a stinky garbage to block from my doggie, or foul up my backyard. Less trash is good all around.
Get off the Plastic Bottle
You aren't still drinking bottled water are you? Get a Brita or PUR filter/pitcher and fill a travel bottle for when you're not at home. Pretty simple, cheaper, less waste and by the way, they've shown that drinking repeatedly from those plastic bottles causes little plastic particles to go into your body which might lead to cancer. Not kidding.
Shun the To-go Cup
It doesn't make me happy that Starbucks has become the stand in name for every coffee shop that ever was, but I know many of you out there are faithful burnt-tasting-overpriced coffee drinkers, so I included this for you as well as anyone else who sits down for a cup of joe or tea at any establishment ever. GET A FOR-HERE CUP. Baristas are too quick to put every drink into a paper cup, even when you aren't leaving the cafe. That's nuts. Ask for porcelain for your hot beverage, if you're actually getting your drink to-go, bring a travel mug. You'll kill less trees and, guess what, your drink will actually taste better.
BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag
I simply don't allow any more plastic bags into my house. If anyone comes over with a plastic bag, they must take it with them when they leave. It's not that hard to bring a canvas bag with you to any store and put your purchases in there. Or, ladies: the oversized bag is in fashion now, it's a great way to stash your purchases and still look chic.
BYOC: Bring Your Own Container
A friend of mine prompted me to take this one step further, so now I carry one of those squishable tupperware containers with me when I go out to dinner. I put my take-home leftovers in there and never waste a container. They're great for travel too. I reuse other containers for storing food at home, so I only bought one of those kinds at the store for expressly this purpose.
 Life is Easier and Cleaner When You Recycle
I took a laundry sorter and turned it into my home recycling sorter. It was so simple, easy to put together and is even machine washable! I always get compliments on it because it makes so much simple sense. Bet you could even fit it under your counter behind a cabinet door where it could slide out like a trash compactor. I recycle everything that is recyclable: paper, containers, plastics, glass. You can find this out from your city/state or county recycling department. I compost all leftover food and liquids. Now I make so little trash that I only take the trash can out to the curb about once a month. My trash doesn't smell and my dog doesn't try to get into it. Many people make the excuse that many things are not recyclable. This article shows how you can recycle practically everything. You may have to take the occasional trip to a recycling center if your location doesn't have a comprehensive curbside pickup program, but if your neighbors and you work together you can rotate so you only have to go once a month or maybe less.
Sign up for Renewable Energy
Many cities now have an alternative energy plan listed. Look for it and sign up. It's usually as simple as checking a box on your bill. I checked the box. Insulate Your Hot Water Heater
Throw some eco-friendly insulation around your hot water heater and have quicker hot water and use less energy keeping it hot. You'll see a difference in your showers and in your wallet.
Get Thee to the Naturopath!
Or better yet, get to my naturopath! Nature Cures Clinic has a FREE podcast and newsletter to answer all your health questions. Preventative health care goes a long way towards healing your body, mind, and our planet.
 EcoFashion
I went to an incredible show of sustainable designers and was really impressed. Plus it came to me at just the right time. The dress I'm wearing in the picture above is by Emily Katz and is made out of soy! This makes so much sense to me. Fashion is always reinventing and if we are going to make something new, as I say...that's the time to go green. Fashion has taken a great opportunity to show people how easy and amazing this can be. In fact, I got so excited about sustainable fashion that I started my own sustainable clothing company! Check us out at http://crow-clothing.com
Give Green Gifts
This site is good for just about all consumer goods from fair trade coffee to conflict-free diamonds and organic cut flower bouquets.
Laundry
One of the easiest eco-fixes you can do is wash in cold water, it's better for your clothes anyway. Use non-toxic detergent. Dry your clothes on the line outside if it's not cold or raining. In the summer, my line-dried clothes actually dry faster than they would in the dryer. This is something you can easily start today.
Let the Dishwasher Do Its Job
Stop rinsing dishes! Today's dishwashers can get that grime off for you while saving more water and energy than washing by hand.
Get Creative!
You don't have to buy buy buy. Find a way to make new things out of things you already have or things that have been reused from other people. I learned how to be crafty because I grew up with limited resources, but now my frugality skills are trendy and chic! One of my favorite reused projects: I always wanted a fireplace, but my house doesn't have one. I disassembled a frame from an old art work (which was already made from recycled wood) and turned it into a "fake fireplace" in my living room. I accented it with some fabric and fireplace accoutrements that I found at the local reused housing stuff center, and a fireplace candelabra from a second-hand store. My neighbor had some bricks he wanted to get rid of (I try to take all of his discarded stuff) and voila! Warm and cozy all winter. These kinds of projects are great to do as a family. Teach your kids to be resourceful. It's a skill they will be able to apply to multiple areas of their lives.
Plant a Row to Combat Hunger
Do you garden? I do! This year I planted a mound of food explicitly to take to the Oregon Food Bank. Meanwhile I'm convincing my friends to collect the food they've over-planted and give it to the food bank or to take it down to our "Dignity Village" where many homeless folks have set up camp. Better yet, take the whole plants down and put them in the ground right there!
  Food Not Lawns
You can't feed your family with grass. You can't do much with grass really, except waste time and water maintaining it. Why waste all that land around your house? I turned over my grass in the backyard and planted food. It's absurd that people think an eco-lifestyle is inconvenient. What's more convenient than having to go no further than your backyard, front yard or even window box for tonight's dinner? Added bonus: if you grow food instead of grass, you can sell your lawn mowe,r which saves energy, fuel, and makes you a little cash on the side. Plus if we stop obsessing about lawns, we can turn sod farms into farms that create food or biofuel, and people can stop spending $40 a bottle on weed killer that poisons not only their weeds, but the rest of us.
Stop Raking Leaves
Nature drops leaves on the ground to replenish the nutrients in the soil that the tree has fed on all year. The nutrients go into the leaves and the tree gives them back to the ground. It's one of the best fertilizers you could ever make and it's free and organic. I not only mulch with my tree leaves but ask my neighbors to dump their autumn leaves onto my property so I have even more wonderful compost and fertilizer. 
Put "Waste" to Use Instead of Tossing It
Behind my house is an enormous laurel hedge. I don't like to kill plants, but this thing is a menace. It was also clogging my gutters. After trimming less than a third of the hedge I had a massive pile of branches in the back of my yard. In Portland, most people would put those out in the "yard debris" bags that the city collects and composts. In other cities people might actually send those branches to the landfill. I learned, through a bit of reading that if I put those underneath a garden the branches hold moisture and make for a healthier garden that needs less water. It's called hugekultur, and is an old European horticulture method. Works great for me!
 I applied the same principle to the tons of stones I found on my property as I started to dig for my gardens. Many people import stones to create beautiful landscape design, but I found that I could simply relocate these stones that were already a part of my environment to create a beautiful and unique stone patio. I love it and feel a great sense of pride in the fact that I personally put each stone in place. As I garden now, I just throw the stones I find onto the patio and they fit right in. Down with McMansions!
I can't believe the huge (and virtually empty) houses that people are bulding these days. What's worse is they are often tearing down perfectly viable, sometimes historic houses to do it. I live in a wonderful 100-year-old 800 sq. ft. house. It's actually smaller than one of my old apartments. It's just enough space for me and my dog. If I find the need to expand, I plan to build from recycled materials, in harmony with the landscape and the history of the house.
Live simply
I've lived on an artist's budget for a long time. This has always meant getting creative with resources. When I bought a house, I put that creativity to use by making a lot of my interior design through re-working old elements and second-hand furniture. I passed my old things onto friends or donated them to Goodwill. As I look around right now, I can tell so many stories about finding or creating the things in my home. It makes my environment so much more interesting to me and to guests. Living simply is elegant and beautiful. There are so many things to enjoy about it. Consider how simplifying (limiting spending, reusing, recycling, trading and making) can enhance your life.
Zero Food Waste
At one of the camps I've taught at, the eco-educator had the kids learn about the importance of creating zero food waste. Once the kids understood it, they were challenged to create zero food waste tables. Any table that was able to clean all the food off their plates got to sing the zero food waste chant. The kids loved it. The image of kids who may not have a lot of food in their own homes singing the zero food waste chant as a way of saving our planet is an image I will never forget. People in the world, in the country, and in your neighborhood are hungry. Don't waste food.
Figure out your Footprint
There are several sites on the web that calculate your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is the amount of CO2 that your lifestyle contributes to the atmosphere. The best sites I've found so far are myfootprint.org and http://web.conservation.org. You have to take both quizzes to get a area idea of your impact, since they ask different questions (without much overlap) and you get a different type of calculation. The main source of the carbon emissions I create is the amount of flying I do in order to give talks about solutions to racism. This is a tricky trade-off. I've included in my contracts the option for venues to pay 50% of the carbon offset fees for my flights to their school. I pay the other 50% or 100% if the school declines. It's not a perfect solution, but it's keeping me and the venues aware until we find a more sustainable way.
 Adopt a Pet
This is my dog, Stevie.
As an African American and as a woman, it makes me uncomfortable to see living beings bought and sold in any circumstance. It strikes me odd that people pay hundreds of dollars to buy a pet when so many pets are in need of a home. So what if they've been in another home before yours, I bet you dated a few people in your past right? That's no reason to think you can't be a good loving partner. We're all recycled. So when it comes time to add some life to your life, find a being who needs a home and can give you the love you are seeking. It's a perfect match.
Have Less Kids
I have personal and political reasons for choosing not to bear children, but there are plenty of good earth-friendly reasons to cut down on population growth. There's no doubt that more population means more wear and tear on the planet. Try not to double or triple your numbers. Two kids are plenty. If you want more, adoption is an awesome way to bring a child into your family.
 Adopt American Children
I'm not against international adoption, but there are so many children in this country that need good and stable homes. The United States has at least as many problems facing our homeless children as any other nation. American kids of color are so unwanted by adoptive homes that some people have reported getting a 2-for-1 discount on black kids. Save our kids here - they need love just as much as kids from other countries. I'm hoping to adopt a stream of teenage boys when I am a bit older. Many years ago I opened my home to a young man from one of my camps. It remains one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and he one of my most favorite people.
If It Isn't Broken, Don't Replace It
Reducing waste is an important part of green living. Sadly, the green trend is causing folks to trash everything and replace with green stuff. This is not really green and goes against my philosophy of making as little waste as possible, but is typically American. I can't tell you how many people have suggested that I replace whole appliances because one tiny part of it doesn't work. My neighbor actually suggested that I tear my toilet out of the wall because one bolt was rusted stuck. An easy way to fix this is to remember that if something is not completely useless, then keep using it. If something is going to be replaced then that's the time to upgrade to green. As for my toilet, we got the bolt unstuck, and I replaced the flush mechanism with one that uses less water, because my old one was broken. You can also put a full bottle of water in your tank to take up some space and that will decrease your water usage.
 When Making a Change, Go Green
When you run out of cleaner, or your dryer breaks, or it is finally time to get a family car, make a green choice. You know better than to buy something you know is toxic or wasteful so simply don't let yourself do that again. I recently had to fix my bathroom floor because a leak was causing my tub to sink into it and threatening some pretty scary bathing circumstances. A significant portion of the old, ugly, icky linoleum floor would be torn up by the process. I used this opportunity to put in a beautiful and naturally warm green floor made from cork. Bamboo and Marmoleum are other green flooring options. I'm also looking forward to using recycled wood from old houses as timber for any additions I add to the house.
 Eco-friendly Products
One of the great things about the "green" movement is that it's helping consumers to drive the marketplace again. Shifting back to demand-side economics is a critical part of the social change we need to create. If you buy it, the companies will make it. Eco-friendly products can be found at nearly every store, though sometimes they are in a "natural" section, so make sure you scope that out. Bi-O-Kleen, Seventh Generation, and Planet all make great products to use in every area of your home. Bi-O-Kleen is my favorite so far. They are not only committed to non-toxic products, but also make super-concentrated products which means less packaging, less waste, and less energy used in transportation costs. All of this and they aren't any more expensive than other cleaners. Seventh Generation also has a line of menstrual and baby products (chlorine-free diapers and wipes) that are kind on the earth and the body. Of course, you can always make your own, or use a reusable menstrual cup like the DivaCup or Mooncup.
Another great product is Soy•Gel, a soy-based paint stripper by Franmar. It works like a dream, is non-toxic, doesn't harm the wood or any of the people or pets living in the house and doesn't even smell bad!
 
When I bought my house, the floor was covered with three layers of linoleum and a layer of carpet. Underneath were 100-year-old beautiful Douglas Fir floors. I wanted to restore the floors but didn't have the money or resources to do chemical stripping. After a little bit of research on the Internet, I discovered that I could use boiling water to remove the linoleum and horrible glue. I was shocked and excited and impressed that the boiling water worked exceptionally well without any toxic mess. Though removing all that was messy, I'm sure it was no more messy than if I had used toxic removers. This way it was safe, it didn't smell, and didn't delay my move-in.
Low VOC Paint
This is another easy no-brainer. Next time you have to paint, get low VOC (volatile organic compounds that become breathable gas at room temperature, creating that 'chemical' smell that can linger for days) paint. Most paint brands are making them now. Just ask. You would not believe the solvents put into paints that aren't even necessary for them to work. Some theorize that chemical companies use your house paint as a way to dispose of their hazardous solvents. Don't comply! Get paint that is safe to breathe - after all, you're gonna be the one breathing it every minute you are in your home. I use low VOC paint all around my house and it dries fast, looks beautiful, and was less dizzying while I was painting.
Step It Up:
 Compost!
You'd be amazed at all the things you can compost. You can buy a composter for about $80 but I've heard you can get them from soda, beer, and tofu makers for around $5-10. I use an Earth Machine that I got at the recycling center for $35. I also dug a simple doggie doo composter for the non-food-friendly fertilizer that my doggie makes.
Rainwater Collection System
With a few days of effort and not that much money (about $50), I disconnected my downspouts and now have a front garden that waters itself. I'll save between 60-70% on my water usage, AND the city gave me a discount on the storm water maintenance portion of my water bill! You can also use rainwater in your toilet, eliminating one of the largest usages of water in your household. Rain barrels are efficient and fun. I was lucky to get mine at a friend's yard sale. You can buy them for about $80 but I've heard you can get them from soda, beer, and tofu makers for around $5-10.
  
Use Greywater
This might be a stretch for most people, but after I take a bath, I simply take that water out to my garden and give it to the plants. You can also get a greywater filtration system that treats the water for you so you can reuse it inside your house. You can do other simple things like emptying stale pet water and dishwater into your houseplants, or putting all unused liquids into your compost bin.
 Permaculture Gardening
Garden the way nature intended. Permaculture uses nature's wisdom to cut down on water usage and need, and get plants working together. With permaculture, you'll find that you are growing the greenest, most luscious, healthy garden that takes (once established) very little work. Even in the driest of climates, permaculture creates an oasis.
Permaculture Thinking
When I began to learn about permaculture gardening I quickly saw how its principles could be applied to my anti-racism work. Take a look above and see how permaculture can be used as a great system for social change and social justice. It proves again that we are stronger when we work together than when we simply apply our well-researched principles to our small corner of the world. Sharing makes us stronger. Guerrilla Garden
A friend of mine here commandeered a spot of unused public land near her house and planted food. The neighbors loved it and the folks without gardens were excited to plant and harvest what grew.
 Solar Outdoor Lights
This was a no-brainer. I wanted some lights for the back and front yard, for safety and appearance. Solar lights are the easiest to install and clearly the most energy efficient and lowest maintenance. A fun added bonus came when the city power went out. All the neighbors and I went outside to see who else lost power. The whole street was dark except for my outdoor solar lights. Without barelyany effort or upkeep I realized that I had a great backup source of lighting. I could have easily brought them inside and had light all night long while waiting for the city to fix the outage.
Travel and Carbon Offsets
I travel a lot for work and it is the single largest source of my footprint on the earth. Since my work is focused on getting us to live in healthier community, I don't want to stop spreading my message. So I use carbon offsetting to help accommodate the energy use that goes into my travels. I include my offset cost in my fee as a way to help spread education about ecoliving. I'm also looking into green hotels as part of my travel plans. You already know that I refuse to speak in venues that are not wheelchair accessible. Well, after a few years of being shocked at schools without recycling programs, I'm leaning towards speaking only at venues that have a recycling system in place.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
I've switched about half of the lights in my house to CFLs, but I'm having trouble with them, see below.
Go All The Way: Tubular Skylights
I am so excited about this. Instead of doing CFLs in my bathroom, I'm gonna switch off electric altogether by putting in a tubular skylight. This will give me plenty of natural light during the day and just enough at night to see my way around. I'm gonna do the same in the bedroom because I love to wake up with the sun.
 Composting Toilets
Yes indeed. First, you can compost your urine today. Take it right out to your compost bin and voila, liquid compost activator (urine is full of nitrates). For more solid waste there are composting toilets. I haven't taken this step yet but will one day. I have to say I like the satisfaction of a good flush. I'm interested to see what celebrity will finally take their so-called "green" behavior (which sometimes amounts to buying a fashionable canvas bag, or building a green second home) to this level. The first celebrity that installs a composting toilet, I will agree is truly green. If you are a celebrity who has a composting toilet, please tell me about it.
Eco Roof
Yep, you can plant on your roof. It's another way to use rainwater and insulate your home in a earth-loving way. Green Tax Incentives
Even the feds want you to live green! Any eco-improvements or energy saving adjustments you make to your home come with some green money in the form of tax savings. I haven't looked into this yet, but I sure will for next tax cycle!
Still a Challenge for me:
I'm gonna stay real here and let you know the things that I'm still working on. Here are a few things that might be an easy switch for some, but raise some challenges for me. Fuel
I drive a 1999 Mazda B2500 pickup truck. I thought it could run on E85 but it can't, and as it turns out, ethanol isn't a good alternative fuel. I love my truck and, for the work I do, It's been the perfect vehicle. I bought it used and plan to drive it into the ground. It gets about 20mpg. I don't believe in disposing of old products just to get energy efficient ones. That still generates waste, and I am completely against buying new cars. So what am I to do about my reliance on gasoline? A friend in LA had a hybrid car long before they were trendy (and before they were ugly) she gets up to 45mpg in the city, and has for 10 years. Maybe I'll buy her car from her when she upgrades. So I'm still waiting to make the automobile eco-shift. Luckily, since I work at home, I don't contribute to the "commuter carbon" that is a major source of CO2 emissions. I drive much less and shorter distances than your average American. EXCITING UPDATE: I am really excited about this...I am going to buy an adult tricycle! One of my problems with biking as a form of transportation is that, well, I'm a klutz. No really, I've had a lot of bike accidents. So a trike is perfect solution. I can't wait to pedal around town with my dog in my basket in the back picking up groceries or plants and visiting friends!
 Light Bulbs
One of the quickest ways to save money and conserve energy is to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, but as a visual artist, I am extremely picky about the quality of the lights in my home and workspace. About four years ago I switched all the bulbs in my house to GE Reveal lights that are full spectrum and block out the dull yellows that most incandescent lights enhance. I LOVE the quality of light they offer. I can't find any CFL with the same neodymium color correction as the Reveal light. Plus I have the sinking feeling that neodymium is a rare element that we shouldn't exploit. However, let me tell you that I hate fluorescent light, I HATE it. It makes everything look terrible and depresses me. I've researched and tried out a ton of CFLs and I've changed half the bulbs in my house as a compromise, but am still unhappy with the CFLs. So since I am an active consumer, I've taken to writing GE and other companies to get them to produce a CFL with the color temperature and quality that doesn'tmake me want to puke. I do have to say that my CFLs are definitely saving money and energy, because I never want to turn them on. UPDATE: I found a CFL from which I enjoy the quality of light...now if i could only remember what kind it is! UPDATE: checked my bulbs- I finally decided I could live with ones made by 'globe' and another says "hg." Made in China, though.
Toilet Paper
One of my few indulgences once I started making a little more money, I have to admit, was to buy to soft lovely white toilet paper. I don't use tissues or paper towels, but I don't think I can give up the TP just yet. The recycled unbleached kind barely absorbs and I end up using a ton of it, which is wasteful. So for now, I use less of the fancy kind than more of the eco-kind, but I'd like to aim higher. Any suggestions? UPDATE: I finally broke down and bought recycled toilet paper. It doesn't feel as great on my bum, but it feels pretty darn good to my conscience! Not to mention, the selling point was that per-sheet, the recycled toilet paper was a much better bargain! NOTE: Some people go so far as to use what many refer to as "family cloth" -- yep, washable cloth toilet "paper." It's not such a stretch when you think about cloth diapers, but it's still a leap I haven't made.
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