Welcome to Crunchy Greenery, a place for my thoughts and experiences in being a green, crunchy and frugal (GCF) homemaker while living with chronic health issues (and the issues my husband has). There are some fantastic blogs on the topic of being GCF and you will see some of them in my sidebar, but one thing I have not seen is a blog about keeping a GCF balance with health problems getting in the way. And balance is the key word for me. None of us can do everything. Sometimes we can do more than the next person, other times we can do less. Anything we can do is good and positive and part of the balance, and that is what this is all about.
I’m far from perfect. In everything, I can only do what I can do. I don’t apologize for the concessions I make or for the things I am absolute about—and there are plenty of concessions and few absolutes. If I apologize, it suggests I’m doing something wrong. While there is always room for improvement, I do not see myself doing wrong in any of the ways I keep my balance. So I am unapologetic but also non-confrontational.
Some aspects of my balance are more intuitive, while others are more fact-based. One thing you will not see much of here, compared to some blogs, is a lot of reference and citation. When I feel it is important, you will see it, but I will let you do the research if you feel the need. I’m more interested in sharing my balance in life, and hopefully you will enjoy that. What you will see is recipes, day-to-day tips, real-life experiences with items and ideas, and the like.
And now for some definitions to help explain my blog title. Props to my acquaintances on the message boards at Mothering.com for helping me word my definitions! (Urban Dictionary and Merriam-Webster were also helpful.)
Crunchy
A lifestyle that often encompasses green and frugal aspects, doesn't mind veering from the mainstream, and in fact questions mainstream practices, and leans toward natural and simple in most aspects of life. An organic and natural emphasis on living. Tends to be politically left-leaning and may be categorized as vegetarians, vegans, eco-tarians, conservationists, environmentalists, neo-hippies, tree huggers, nature enthusiasts, etc. (Also used to describe establishments where alternative foods and products are sold, i.e. natural food stores.)
Green
Someone who is mindful about the impact of his or her actions on the environment, and makes decisions accordingly. Displays respect for the earth by purchasing and/or making eco-friendly products, minimizing waste, recycling, reusing. Uses environmentally beneficial and sustainable means of mitigating the impact of human industrial development and the damage of previous degradation of the environment.
Frugal
Mindful about financial decisions. A frugal person may spend more to get a higher quality item if s/he knows it will be more efficient or durable. A frugal person uses money wisely to get the most value. Often confused with "cheap," but that’s not the case. Budgets and prioritizes purchases. May make items vs. buying them to save money, reuses items to save money, goes without “luxuries”—i.e. may forgo cable or cell phone or vacations, etc. Minimizes use of credit. Thrifty. Living well and within your means by finding ways to spend less.
