LiberatedMind » No-Impact Living

Less is More: Life Editing

LiberatedMind.com — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:28:48 +0000

Since I was 18 years old and moved off to college, I have experienced a change of dwelling every year, once a year. It is like a season for me, a way of being. Recalling where I’ve lived each year helps me benchmark those years and what happened in them. Renting hasn’t been the most …

Scared of Cloth Diapering?

LiberatedMind.com — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:59:13 +0000

As we prepared for our first child late last year we tried our best to start him off on an environmentally friendly existence. When buying for him I repeated to myself: “less is more” and “quality over quantity”. We also had the best intentions with diapering, hoping to use gDiapers with the flushable inserts. We got …

Top 21 Ways you Know you Live in a Tiny Apartment

LiberatedMind.com — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:13:03 +0000

Living in a small apartment or home can be challenging but fun. After living in a small space for nine months, we have a top 21 list of ways a tiny living space changes your life: 1. When your friends come over you worry about who will have to sit on the floor... and it's usually you. 2. When you run your dishwasher it humidifies the entire apartment. 3. Your two cats have figured out the longest distance in your apartment and Using the top of the cabinet as a bookshelf. A little herb garen below. periodically run laps to get some exercise. 4. You watch TV on your computer, which you can see from any place in your apartment. 5. You can watch TV from your toilet. 6. You have only one window :( 7. During the holidays you ask people not to give you anything, partially because you don't like getting "stuff" but mostly because you don't have any room. 8. Your storage containers are also your bedside tables. 9. 50% of your total storage space is located under your bed. 10. Your books are displayed next to your dishes and kitchen appliances. 11. You are never out of sight or earshot of your partner/roommate. 12. Passing gas is no longer a private matter. 13. Your body heat is enough to warm your entire apartment in cool weather and you have no idea if your heater actually works because you've never had to use it. 14. When you shoe shop, you consider if your purchase will fit on your shoe shelf. 15. Instead of buying a dresser you store your underwear and socks in your kitchen drawers and have to explain to guests that your kitchen is also your closet. 16. An antique chest serves as a coffee table, extra seating and of course extra storage. 17. Your clothes are on display, and not because you want to look at them. 18. There are more mirrors than paintings on your walls, and not because you are vain. 19. You have actually considered buying a murphy bed. 20. You can clean all your tile with one paper towel and all your carpet with a dustbuster. 21. You and your partner have gotten used to "dancing" with each other in the kitchen as you prepare meals.

Take the No-Impact Challenge this weekend!

LiberatedMind.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:18:52 +0000

What are you doing this weekend? Anything to improve your quality of living or reduce your impact on the earth? Well, if those things appeal to you, sign up for a one week trial of guided No-Impact Living! The challenge starts this weekend October 18. There is no cost, just simply visit the website to sign up using an email account. Each day you will be emailed a how-to for each step along a one week period for reducing your footprint on the environment.

No-Impact: Revised Apartment Living

LiberatedMind.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:49:17 +0000

I have rented apartments in Minnesota and Arizona. My top complaints with these buildings are the lack of foresight into the energy efficiency of the buildings and the lack of recycling in the apartment community. In Minnesota the insulation was terrible on most places resulting in monstrous heating bills. In Arizona, so many buildings are colored to absorb rather than reflect the blaring sunlight and so few buildings capture sunlight on the roofs with solar panels. Appliances are often not energy efficient, window glass is not insulated, carpeting is made from plastics, the list goes on and on. However, there are some things a renter stuck in a situation where they are unable to control these factors can do to have a smaller eco footprint:

No-Impact: Glass in the Bath

LiberatedMind.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:17:26 +0000

So, we've talked about reusing glass containers, but how about in your bathroom? Use a glass herb container for q-tips or a small salsa jar for cotton pads? This can save you money and give your bath a chic, expensive look.

No-Impact: Baby Food Jars vs Ziplocks

LiberatedMind.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:01:08 +0000

Ziplocks cost money. Every bag you use and throw away is about 7 cents/bag. That bag goes to the landfill and is never used again. When I was growing up my mother used to wash ziplock bags by hand and reuse each one about 10 times before throwing it away. I'll give her brownie points for effort, but there is a simpler and healthier way to say goodbuy to needless plastic baggies. Baby food jars! READ MORE...

No-Impact: Reusing glass jars

LiberatedMind.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:48:07 +0000

Reusing your glass jars can be fun and save money! When shopping at the grocer, select products like salsa, coconut oil, apple sauce, etc that come in glass jars. Since glass is generally easier to recycle and does not contain BPA found in most plastics, you can do yourself and the environment a favor by avoiding food products that are packaged in plastic. Jars with metal screw tops work the best for storage. When your jar is empty of whatever foodstuff came inside, give it a good washing, scrub the lable off and let it dry thoroughly. READ MORE...