One month in the middle of America has made me re-appreciate how hard it is to go green.  On the coasts, I’ve lived in DC and CA and OR, green is easy, hip, and almost expected.  Out here, there is a natural food coop but that sh*t is pricey.  I still wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar, use the Burt’s Bees deodorant, and love, love my Lunette.  However, giving up plastic is a lot harder when you’re a) not living in your own home and b) traveling and c) cooking for only one.  I haven’t made yogurt in weeks, although I am learning how to brew my own beer (sort of) with my host family.  Maybe it will even out?

I also drive a lot more out here than I do in DC.  Sometimes I feel guilty about driving in DC but I realized that out here you really drive everywhere all the time– it is just the culture, and gas is a lot cheaper too so it doesn’t seem quite as awful when you fill up.  Still, I miss the forced (er, required it isn’t so bad) walking, the quite time to reflect or watch the DC-bus crazies.

My host family’s recycling company doesn’t recycle glass but they recycle plastic… so, I’ve been forced to make this kind of weird calculation about using plastic or glass when plastic gets recycled and glass just goes into the landfill.  I have no idea what the answer is.  None.  I’m kind of trying to do my best and not beat myself up too much about it.

I feel guilty about all the plastic I’ve used since I came out to SD.  Plus, I’ve actually acquired some plastic things!  There is part of me thats been just saying “put your head down, it is only for 5 weeks it doesn’t matter.”