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Confessions of a Closet Greenie

Janet Camilleri · 24/11/2014 ·

NB This is a sponsored post.

I’m a bit of a closet greenie – but I must confess, I’m not entirely sure if it’s because:

  1. I want to do my bit to save the planet;
  2. I like to save a bit of money; or,
  3. It’s fun!

Growing Vegies

I love to grow my own vegies, and enjoy a daily wander in the vegie patch to see what’s new. I’ve had some notable successes – (shallots, cherry tomatoes,  lettuce, sweet potatoes, and passionfruit, to name just a few), and some epic gardening failures – but it’s all experience, and it’s all fun.

I'm a closet greenie - and love growing my own vegetables

And nothing beats the taste of your own fresh produce!

Recycling

These days, it’s commonplace for each household to have a water tank, and recycling bin.

But I also love to recycle our vegie scraps in a compost heap, which is then used to nourish the vegies I’m growing.

(Funny story: the time I was digging in my compost heap and yelled excitedly, “I’ve got worms!” for all the neighbourhood to hear!)

Op shopping is another great way to recycle – and regular readers will know that I am a keen op shopper (check out my op shopping tips here!)

Thinking Solar

When it comes to the laundry, my motto is: Why use a dryer when the sun does the job for free?!

I'm a closet greenie - solar Powered Laundry drying!

But that’s only the start of how we can embrace solar energy!

With teenagers and young adults in the house, our power bills are nothing short of ridiculous – meaning that solar panels are an obvious solution.

That’s where Australian Solar Quotes comes in handy. Not only is there a simple solar savings calculator (if I can use it, anybody can – click here to use) – but they can also supply you with three quotes, to make the whole process as stress free as possible!

So tell me, what sort of things do you do that would qualify you as a bit of a closet greenie?!

Filed Under: House & Home

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kirsty @ My Home Truths says

    24/11/2014 at 12:56 pm

    My husband would be so envious of you Janet. All he wants is a veggie patch! We are closet greenies because we re-use and re-purpose a whole lot of recyclables like plastic containers, cardboard boxes and tubes and bottle tops. My husband uses a lot of this in terrain making while Matilda loves making junk sculptures with anything that comes to hand x

    • Janet Camilleri says

      25/11/2014 at 10:01 am

      I started my vegie patch in pots and it grew from there – maybe Nathan could do the same?

  2. Raych aka Mystery Case says

    24/11/2014 at 2:09 pm

    We’ve started a veggie patch again this year, I live on green smoothies and salads at the moment and it’s so much easier if I can just head out to the garden for a bit of variety. We cut our power usage in half in the last twelve months but not surprisingly our bill has still gone up with hefty fee increases.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      25/11/2014 at 10:02 am

      I love going out and “shopping” from the garden for goodies to eat!

  3. Sarah from Creating Contentment says

    24/11/2014 at 3:13 pm

    Gosh, what do I not do! I even make my own toilet paper! My husband calls me a hippy, but he means it insultingly, like most people do. Still, we all can always do more. It is such a frustration for me that we don’t have solar panels. We cannot afford it. One day.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      25/11/2014 at 10:02 am

      I love reading Grass Roots magazine Sarah, and yes, people do call them my “hippy magazines” but I love them (and so does hubster luckily!)

  4. KezUnprepared says

    24/11/2014 at 5:18 pm

    Hmm, I am probably a pretty crappy greenie, but we do recycle and we have a special bin from Bunnings where worms eat our dogs’ poo!!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      25/11/2014 at 10:03 am

      LOL I never knew worms liked dog poo!

  5. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

    24/11/2014 at 10:27 pm

    I agree with the washing and I do try with plants but the kids/cats/kitten that loves to wee everywhere don’t make it easy! I’m done with nappies though so that’s a start!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      25/11/2014 at 10:04 am

      YAY for being done with nappies!!! I can’t have plants inside either because of the kitty … she attacks them!

  6. Tegan says

    25/11/2014 at 9:59 pm

    I hang my washing out on the line and we have a veggie patch. The last couple of power bills, the usage has been the equivalent of one person too, so that’s pretty cool.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      26/11/2014 at 7:22 pm

      We’ve tried to educate our kids on cutting down power usage but to no avail. Guess that will only change when they have to pay their own power bills!

  7. Anne@Grit and Giggles says

    26/11/2014 at 7:53 am

    I love growing veges too. Our garden is on the way out now though, too hot. I’ve always been a hang the washing outside person. I guess this is because Mum always did. Actually I miss Mum’s big clothes line. The drier is only used on wet days.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      26/11/2014 at 7:23 pm

      You’re right, I also retire my vegie garden mostly during the peak of Summer, it’s just too darn hot.

  8. Rachel G says

    26/11/2014 at 10:44 pm

    Almost no one has dryers in China, so we hang clothes to dry, although we don’t get much sun! I did enjoy gardening when we had a yard!

  9. Lydia C. Lee says

    27/11/2014 at 9:02 am

    I recycle and compost, and I’m trying to buy things in better packaging (less or larger). I also try not to use wrapping paper – either gift bags or at the moment I’m wrapping things in teatowels, so it’s part of the gift…

  10. ann says

    27/11/2014 at 10:35 am

    I do the best I can!! We recycle, try not to use the dryer etc. We are trying to grow a few vegies. I am big on saving water too.

  11. Alicia says

    01/12/2014 at 11:39 am

    We’ve got solar panels, best thing we ever did. I guess my garden, the rain water tank and the chooks make me a bit of a greenie too 🙂

    • Janet Camilleri says

      01/12/2014 at 4:32 pm

      I wish I had room for chooks Alicia!

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Janet Camilleri is an Australian bloggerHi - I'm Janet Camilleri aka the Middle Aged Mama; crazy cat lady, award-winning business woman, and mother of two grown children. I might be a middle aged woman, but that doesn't mean I've lost all interest in looking stylish! I love chocolate, chick lit, cruising holidays and the husbear - and not necessarily in that order wink. I live in Brisbane, Australia, and I'm learning how to fashion a new life now that we have an empty nest - did somebody say "travel"?!

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