Michael Degerstrom

I've heard about 'leave the leaves' for a few years. But I have backyard ponds that fill up with leaves if I don't rake them. Last fall I put up short fences to keep the leaves from blowing in the pond. These leaves add nutrients to my soil and promote beneficial plants and animals (mostly insects).

Sometimes when I purchase something, I won't have a bag along. Often this is intentional because I know I can put my items in my pocket or carry them out. I typically ask the merchant to not use a bag and often ask them to take their bag back if they have already bagged the item(s).

I don' t ever use my office waste paper basket. The little bit of trash I have gets taken home or put in common-area bins. This reduces the number of plastic bags used by the custodial staff.

I'm electing to plant native plants in my backyard to help build back up our declining insect populations that are needed for a healthy and biodiverse planet.

I watched a TED talk about simply shaking excess water off your hands after washing them. Then you can get by with one-half towel instead of one or two

the nearest grocery store is 3 blocks away so I dress for the weather and walk (carrying my reuseable shopping bags) and walk down rather than drive my efficient car

I collect containers, often tea tins which don't break as would glass, for bulk grocery items. This eliminates packaging which is almost always plastic.