Green homeschooling

Jan. 15, 2009

For some reason, I have been thinking today about how homeschooling reduces my carbon footprint. So much less driving! That is not to say that we stay home constantly. But I do not drive to work daily, nor do I drive the kids to school.
My kids don't ride the bus, they don't eat school lunches made from food bought in bulk and likely transported across the country
We drive to co-op once a week. And I take the kids to Girl and Boy scouts, but that is only one mile away. My daughter is in Little Flowers, but I'm the leader and it's at our house so not much of a carbon footprint there.
Because we are homeschoolers, we eat at home just about 95% of the time. Maybe 99% of the time. We also shop local markets in season. I would like to reduce my carbon footprint (and my grocery bill) even further this year by planting a good-sized garden on our flat yard of 1.25 acres. And we don't throw away leftovers. My homemade vegetable soup incorporates all vegetable leftovers, and it's actually pretty good. I'm making it today. Maybe that is what got me on this random train of thought.
I make the most of the small town where live, doing all errands such as banking, grocery shopping and library-going here. The mid-sized city 8 miles away fulfills most other needs.
I did visit Sam's Club this week. Talk about a carbon footprint. I decided it wasn't for me. It makes me buy more than I need and it is a good 30 minutes away in traffic. I'd rather go to Kroger, buy generic and get only what I need.
For recreation, the kids have a huge yard and a favorite park about 3 miles away. For exercise, I walk my neighborhood and ride my rickety, old exercise bike. Can't think of other ways we keep our footprint small right now. But if anyone out there has any ideas, please chime in.