basket case

My two-wheelin' challenge has got a flat tire. Figuratively speaking, of course. I haven't been on the bike all week! (In my own defense, I haven't actually had an errand to run that could be run on the bike, but still...) I think I'm going to have to resort to inventing errands to run next week...if just to get "back in the saddle".

I think I am going to start working on my design for a set of saddlebags for the bike, too. Having more cargo room than the basket on the front allows might help. If I come up with something that works well, I might try to do my weekly grocery shop by bike. Hmmm...now I just have to come up with something clever to make the bags out of...

it's in the bag

It's a staggering fact that the average person will use and discard over 350 plastic retail/grocery bags per year. Not only do these bags end up in the landfill, taking approx 450 years to break-down, but they end up littering our roads, forests, fields, rivers, and lakes.

Think you're helping the environment by choosing paper bags? Guess again. They may be compostable/recyclable, but the production of paper bags is accountable for 70% more pollution than plastic and uses a huge amount of water in the process. Not to mention the 14,000,000+ trees that are cut down to make the bags. What a waste!

It's time to stop using paper and plastic bags and go re-usable! Need more convincing? Here are 5 reasons why you should BYOB the next time you go shopping:
- A good-quality fabric bag will replace up to 700 plastic bags over the course of its lifetime.
- Reusable bags now come in countless stylish fabrics and designs. Not only do they make a fashion statement, they tell the world that you care about the environment! Check these out: http://www.bbbegonia.com
- Many stores offer discounts or bonus "points" for green-minded shoppers that bring their own bags. Show your support by shopping at these stores, or encouraging a similar program at stores that do not currently offer one.
- It's about to get more expensive to shop! Many municipalities are now banning or putting a tax on disposable bags.
- An eco-concious shopper will save approx. 22,000 plastic bags over the course of their lifetime! Why not start today?