Florida Resident Shifts $1,137 to Organic Foods, Native Plants & Worm Poop

Worm poop? It's not as crazy as it sounds (see post below). Worm castings (as they're more delicately called) make great organic fertilzer. They're also a terrific choice if you're looking for ways to shift your spending to greener products and services -- in this case, away from concentrated agricultural chemicals and towards all-natural soil amendments. That's just one of the choices Kimberly Button of Orlando made when she joined the Big Green Purse One in a Million campaign. What about others?

Well, Kim also started buying more organic chocolates and tea (who can blaim her?), organic groceries,and organically-based personal care products like body lotions and shampoos. She printed her business cards on recycled paper and bought recycled envelopes, too. Plus, she bought a re-usable stainless steel lunch container so she could forego plastic bags or takeout boxes. All told, she shifted more than $1,000 in just a few months, qualifying her to become a One in a Million member.

Now, you might think it was a "no brainer" for Kim to put her money where her mouth is. After all, she is a green living consultant who has founded her own sustainable business and website. (Make sure you check out her work at GreenWell Consulting and GetGreenBeWell). But she still has to manage a budget, make choices when she shops, and evaluate trade-offs.

So I asked her, "What inspired you to make the shifts to greener products and services?" "I started living greener because of health problems that weren't being adressed by modern medicine - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia," she said. "After quickly realizing the positive health benefits of living green, I really became more in tune with how my decisions directly or indirectly affect the health of the planet as a whole. It's a "Do unto others...." mentality that I have now.  What do my excessive spending habits do to the livelihoods of individuals less fortunate than us around the world?"  
  
Then I wanted to know, "What was easy about the shifts? What was more challenging?"  "Buying organic and healthier foods was definitely easier. There's an instant benefit there.  And buying green cleaners is a no-brainer. Same cost, or less, for the same cleaning power. Paying much more for healthier personal care products can be challenging sometimes, since the cost is often SO much more than the cheap stuff, but these are products that are being absorbed by your skin, so the health benefits to me are more important. I just find ways to use less stuff, and the savings justify the costs!"
 
Being intentional about how she's spending her money has also inspired Kim to plan for the future. "I hope to invest in larger, more expensive items such as rain barrels, a composter, a drip irrigation system and even a hydroponic garden system," she vows. "I know these are so important, but the initial expense can be quite expensive, especially when it also involves some modifications to your home."

In the meantime, Kim will contine to make affordable shifts in her day-to-day purchases that benefit her as well as the environment.

Kim's Shifts in 2010

January	Recycled Envelopes	6.50
February	Biodynamic Lotion (Clearance)	5.00
February	Organic Tea House	4.00
February	Organic Groceries	125.00
February	Non-Profit Org. Donation	25.00
March	Organic personal care products	54.00
March	Organic groceries	130.00
March	Seeds	10.00
March	strawberry & blueberry plants	12.00
April	Organic meats & produce	130.00
March	Organic Restaurant	8.00
March	Non-Profit Org. Donation	15.00
April	Green Business Cards	11.00
April	Stainless Steel Lunch Container	18.00
April	Organic Tea House	10.00
April	Eco Tour	80.00
April	Organic Chocolates	6.00
April	Organic Restaurant	54.00
May	Eco Friendly Pest Controls	4.50
May	Recyclable Pots	60.00
May	Compost/ Worm Castings/ Mulch	40.00
May	Organic Groceries	150.00
May	Green Web Site Hosting	40.00
May	Native Plants	30.00
May	Organic Groceries	109.00
TOTAL		$ 1,137

Feeling inspired? You can join the One in a Million campaign yourself. Here's how.

And to read about more One in a Million members, click here.

 

Comments

[Kim]

Thanks so much for featuring me as a One in A Million member! It really is easy to make the shift once you start writing down actual expenses and see how the numbers add up. I didn't realize my eclectic combo of worm poop and chocolate until I read the post, but it's true, it just takes a little bit here and there, sometimes in the most unlikely places, to make a difference. I hope to be part of the One in TWO Million club, soon!

[Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green]

I also have Fibromyalgia and that was a HUGE part of my reasons for being greener. It's amazing how much getting toxins out of your life helps.

[Diane MacEachern]

The steps we take are powerful examples for others. Thanks to you all for all that you do.