Ahaaa! LOL that's me, although I do my best to avoid personal attacks. Even more so, I would never single out an individual. How would that help? But when I see sites like AT, who probably influence dozens if not hundreds of people's buying choices, yes, I chime in. Also notice I never say, "hey Cambria Bold, you are wrong". In fact I rarely pay attention to who is writing the article, I instead address the wrongness or greenwashing aspect of the article itself. Sadly, most of the "green" claims are determined by marketers, product makers, and design sites. Never, ever by soil scientists, wetland ecologists, or anyone else who actually studies the environmental impacts of stuff. I influence friends and family by starting up converstations, telling everyone how Chico bags and reuseable coffee mugs have saved me money, and also by my job: leading people on trail walks, to show everyone what we're saving and why it benefits us all. (Having said all this, I welcome people sassing me right back, so long as we can all be civil, it's fun to debate! LOL)

ps this is not to brag but I do have a Master's in Environmental Studies, and what I've seen pollution do to the ecosystem, would give people nightmares for the rest of their lives. The biota of this world deserve better.

I sure hope no one is going through any of those examples listed or anything remotely similar!

I love this site but my family and I are definitely not green. And I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by it nor do I feel a need to justify myself to others. Nor should anyone else on either end, green or not. I read this site for the diy ideas, interesting articles and cleaning tips. Things like that. I do kind of skim over the overly "green" articles because they don't pertain to me. But as someone who does use paper towels quite frequently and does use the most chemically products I can find, I can say from an "outsider's" perspective, a lot of times its easy to just flat out feel alienated on this site, of all places.
There's been so many posts on here that preface with things like "Obviously, we know you all use cloth napkins at the dinner table, but for the rare times you can't" or "We know you'd never dream of using plastic wrap, but here's an alternative" Stuff like that that right off the bat, half your potential audience feels put off by. I don't really mind because this IS a green idea based site (though before the giant green boom, I recall this being much more tips and tricks type articles than it is now) so the articles can be written as such. I think many times though the articles here can gear towards really die hard green people and the lives they lead and I'd go so far as to think that's not as many of us as will honestly fess up to it.

Either way, I don't mean to go on about this site (I do love it!) but I think that its still pretty balanced out there between consumers and more green people. I've never been berated for my choices and I've never mocked someone for theirs. I think people aren't as catty as that.

And to clarify my comments, by saying I'm not green, I don't mean we are intentionally wasteful. Not at all. We're environmentally conscious, just not what I'd call green. I mean my family just doesn't do most of the practices that seem common on this site (cloth napkins, natural cleansers, composting, etc)

@jmorri26, we do cater to an audience that is familiar with and actively practicing "green living." That much is true. However, I do so appreciate your perspective because, as editors of this site, we often find that the times we DON'T post something explicitly "green," many commenters call us out for greenwashing, or ask why that post is showing up on Re-Nest. We do our best to strike a balance and be inclusive of all readers while still maintaining the mission of the site. I'm so very glad you read and like Re-Nest!

So happy to see this. People don't realize that if you're that "obnoxious nagging tree hugger", NO ONE is going to listen to you. You're defeating the purpose. Lead by example and talk about why YOU do it and feel better about yourself and how you care for your family... don't tell anyone what they SHOULD be doing. They're liable to do the opposite just to piss you off.

Ha! I recently quit smoking, & used to get really irritated by people that would condescendingly lecture me on my smoking & then turn around & climb into their giant SUV with the air conditioning cranked, chock full of lawn & garden poisons, toxic cleaners, and single serve processed foods. Glass houses.

Can I give people here some advice? Have fun with these treehuggers. When they start preaching about paper towels, or whatever, be polite and milk them for information. Just where are these forests being cut down? Where did you read this stuff? More often than not they'll say, "I read it in Oprah magazine"! It's hysterical. But behind these stories lies some published study, somewhere, that tells the real story about the situation. It's too bad those studies don't get more attention, but try Google Scholar and you might find them.

@Emmi, I would add to that the so-called "published study" may not be at all legitimate and full of pseudo-science, so it's good to be aware of that as well.

I try very hard not to be that "nagging environmentalist" because I realize that people DO just tune it out & shut down completely. My boyfriend & I were recently called preachy by a family member due to our food allergies. We eat healthier out of choice, but must restrict our diets (dairy, soy & gluten) out of necessity.

I feel that most people, should they be educated on the issues and not financially bound would make "greener" choices. Why not? I read a statistic earlier this week about organic food and whether or not people would purchase it if the price were the same. I can't recall the number, but it was more than 50%. If most people want to put clean food in their bodies, why not "feed our planet clean" as well?

About six months ago I was at my farmer's market and when I brought my purchases to be rung up, the young woman working there said, with a Billy-Idol-worthy sneer and loudly enough that everyone in the entire booth heard: "Do you MAYBE want to POSSIBLY use a FEW less plastic bags?"

You see, I had put several delicate items like basil, etc., each into its own bag because it's a 20 minute walk home for me and I find putting a bag around each fragile thing helps me to not get home to crushed, ruined herbs & fruits.

I had the IMMENSE satisfaction of saying to her -- equally loudly: "Well, GOSH, since these are MY bags that I've been washing out and re-using for almost two years, I think I'm okay, but thank you."

I see myself in this post, and it ain't pretty. I just was visiting my parents for a week, where the food in their house included way too much processed, dreadful junk. Dinners out were chain restaurants, and the amount of sugar my parents consume is horrifying to me. I talked about my food beliefs with them and my siblings during one dinner, and I found myself getting a little frantic about it. I gave myself a time out, reminded myself that my folks are in their 80's and stubborn, and things there will probably never change. I ate as well as I could while I was there, and offered to cook most meals. I made a pledge to shut the f&*^ up about what I eat and why. If someone wants to know why I eat the way I do, I'll tell them. Timely post.

Leading by example and not banging people over the head with the "bible" is more productive I think. The more judgmental in tone you are with your neighbors, friends, etc, the less likely they are to ask you for information or fully get your message. It is important to speak up for what you believe in and not water it down, but no one responds to a holier than thou attitude. I've also seen (in real life & on this site), someone belittled who had constructed their house to use solar & hydro power. Weren't really taking anything off the grid. Why were they belittled by the "green" contingent? Because they had Ikea cabinets. Lets not make people feel if they aren't 100% green, they're aren't anything.

I endured a lot of personal attacks (including on AT) about my use of paper towels when my now-deceased bf was on dialysis and we'd been specifically instructed to use paper rather than fabric hand towels because the latter hold germs that can be deadly to an immuno-compromised patient. A friend of mine endured the same when she chose to put her preemie twins on formula (with her doctor's blessing) rather than breastfeed. What I've learned between nearly 50 years on earth and the life-changing experience of helping someone die is that, most of the time, it's best to keep your mouth shut about another person's choices. You don't know what may be behind them, and if they ask a question about your choices, you can tell them, in a non-judgmental fashion, why you choose to use eco-friendly laundry soap or, for that matter, paper towels.

@Cambria - thank you for bringing up the fact that we will TOTALLY get called-out for greenwashing if we suggest anything that's not completely green. I won't get into specific posts, but by vetting every single thing we write about from every angle, it makes it hard to just throw an interesting idea out there. Sometimes feels like having to write a mini thesis with the advisor ready to jump down my throat. Though sometimes I just take my lumps because I refuse to get on a soapbox about anything. My parents shop at Walmart because it's the closest store in 50 miles for them to buy cat food. Sometimes things are what they are.

For the record, I use paper towels for cleaning up cat puke, seasoning cast iron and for anything else I can't or won't use cloth for. I also use a Cat Genie self-cleaning litter box.

No one is perfect unless we're living totally off the grid, on our permaculture farm. But in that case we probably wouldn't be reading this ;-)

It does get exhausting. I used to care, I really did. Next thing I knew, I had a roommate that would criticize every little thing we bought/ate and nothing we did was ever good enough. As long as we weren't starving ourselves or stocking up on protein powder or exercising all day or marching in parades we were just "lesser people".

I understand the anger against the world and that focusing all of that energy on saving the environment is productive, but some of that anger leaks out when dealing with other people and it's tiring. It's tiring to be on both sides: living green or not.

It's funny you mentioned it, actually. This entitlement thing is the exact reason why I very rarely visit Re-Nest anymore. It just seems like a lot of the articles are "We do everything this way and that's why we're better than you."

Hi Cambria! I was wondering what you mean by that - that the published study may be pseudo-science. Of course I understand what you mean, but what's most disturbing to me as a scientist is that the average person will wave their hand at the very idea of published studies and never even bother to download or read them, instead relying on absurd sources such as magazines and news headlines. There are ways to tell if a study is legitimate or not; were the methods sound? Were the statistics consistent with the type of study? Was it peer reviewed? But sadly I don't know a single commentator or even blog writer on most popular sites who even cite a single study to back up their green claims. I bet 99 percent of people who write about green products don't even read the studies. You know how I know that? Because if you read the study and then blog about environmental issues, you will cite the study because you know that's the evidence you have. Any green claim with no study to back it up, sadly, does not hold any water. Not trying to be argumentative here. But if we're discussing ecology, which is what Apartment Therapy does, we must use science. Because that's what Ecology is.

ps and I'm not saying that AT is greenwashing. Not at all. I think you guys are creative and passionate, and you genuinely care. But Ikea and FSC is greenwashing, and doing a good job of it. We all can move forward together and improve home design's impact. I depend on AT to make my home beautiful! :)

@Mchin I think we have to all realize it's not the consumer or AT that is greenwashing; it's the big product-makers, and we're all in this together trying to fight environmental destruction. All our lives are at risk from these billionaires. We're not at war with each other. We are taking the responsiblitiy as consumers and we have to cooperate. It's not about fighting, it's about exchanging information. That's all. Who cares if we use paper towels once in a while? That's not the issue. It's about making informed decisions and helping each other and inspiring each other.

@Emmi, my husband is a scientist, so thank you, but I am all too aware of the importance of backing up your claims with legitimate studies. I myself am very wary about green sites and articles that talk about X causing cancer and X will cure this ("pseudo-science"), when some of that advice may be dangerous and not at all based on what countless experts in the field have researched. But I don't think technology or the medical institution or big business is the enemy. At Re-Nest, I believe we always strive to site the study or the source of our information if it's a complex issue. But we are bloggers; and because we don't have the resources to delve as deeply into some of these issues as you claim we should, the best we can do is share legitimate sources and expert opinions with our readers when pertinent. I hope we never claim that we have all the answers. We want to open up to discussion among our readers as to whether or not they they believe it in, like it, think it's valid, etc., and together we can hopefully learn something.

Like you say above, "it's about exchanging information. That's all... It's about making informed decisions and helping each other and inspiring each other." I couldn't agree more. And to that end, I will not use Re-Nest as a platform to speak about the evils of billionaires or product makers. If people want a thorough lesson in ecology, or rainforest deforestation, or pollution, then they should go to a site devoted to that. While those issues are important, and certainly make their way into some of our posts, that's not the mission of this site. The mission of this site is to help people make their home more beautiful, organized, and healthy, to help people make small changes in their life to live better and lighter, to help them make responsible purchasing choices while acknowledging that no one choice is without its consequence, and that, hey! If all you want right now is a fun DIY project for the weekend and NOT a lecture on environmental responsibility? Ok, we can do that.

There are so many people that use pseudoscience, poorly written magazine articles, talk shows, second or tertiary hand experiences, or poorly correlated personal experience to justify a lecture on somebody else or myself. This is followed by logical smackdown by me.
The only time that I will call somebody out is if their logic behind their argument is incorrect. They can be correct, and we can even agree on the same outlook, but if they are not using valid facts to support their argument, I will call them out on it.

Cambria - yes, well said. I did want to emphasize that my opinions are not meant ever as criticism; I'm just sharing what I've learned although it's hard to express a neutral voice in written language; all too often it comes across as rudeness. I never mean it that way. I certainly did not mean to suggest that AT should lecture or take sides. I would argue that using the scientific literature is the most neutral information of all because they work hard to eliminate bias. I do think that FSC and Ikea need to be part of an open and honest discussion, and saying something is "eco friendly" is a bit too absolute for me. You guys never claimed to know everything, but if regular folks are looking for green products, they may rely on you guys as their soul source of information. You may not be obligated to cite studies, but it is a benefit to the enviornment if we all remind people that ultimately, there's more to the story than just one site or another.

Cheers, and thanks for allowing me to voice all this stuff! :)

"Sole" source of information. Time to go back to English 101 for me, LOL

I like reading AP and Re-Nest for some great diy projects and end up leaving the site feeling overwhelmed and guilty. Although I'm a nature lover, I'm not entirely green by any sense. But what the posts and comments exude is a personal pressure that I simply can't understand. Honestly, I end up wondering about how you, or anyone, lives in the day to day decisions. I imagine super-duper eco-concious analyzing and exhausting every cause and effect of whether or not to buy cheese because it's not from down the street. What about people who can't afford the money or the time to make those decisions? What about the millions of poor people all over this world who don't even know or care about not being wasteful? This is just my imagination, but I get the sense that for all the pressure to make this world a better place to live, many people aren't LIVING. There has to be a balance. Don't get anxiety over some of this stuff. The world will keep going. We are all blessed with the gift of life. Enjoy the LIFE that you have and live with grace. The one thing I always wonder in considering the root of eco-living is: show me one culture, one time period, one person, one animal or plant that has not caused some kind of waste. Isn't living naturally wasteful in some ways? How can we ever reach these high standards if no one on earth, in time, has ever lived successfully this way? As Scripture says, we all fall short.

Cambria- Thanks for posting your question. I think it's a great message to get out there for everyone to think about!

well put redheadgal...

leading by example is best I invited two friends to come with me to the farmers market and a few weeks ago and they enjoyed it so much I'm sure getting them to eat a bit more local will be much less painless!

I really appreciate this article, because I'm not overly "green," either. I try to lessen my mark by repurposing items and I try not to be wasteful, but I'm really limited in some aspects. For example, I live in the middle of nowhere and there is not a recycling center for literally hours, with the exception of aluminum. We recycle soda cans and aluminum foil, but we have no way to recycle paper or plastic. Even if we cut back (no plastic water bottles, etc.), a little paper and plastic is a necessary evil. We don't have fancy green or package-free stores around here.

Even though I'm going to be excluded in these practices, at least as long as I live in this area, I still appreciate the things I learn from the articles... Most of the time.

Like others have mentioned, a lot of the topics are instantly alienating. Like rants about a grass-free lawn. I happen to live in an area right smack in the middle of the Appalachians and the plains. Our landscape is huge, rolling, grassy fields, and that's what our lawns look like. Grass is our native ground cover. We don't have to water or fertilize it, it naturally grows there. Being told I'm a bad person for allowing grass to grow around my house is really off-putting.

And let's not even get started on the arguments about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

A lot of these topics are really polarizing, and that's okay. We need to have differing opinions, it keeps the world balanced. But I also think we should try to be kinder to each other, myself included.

Our family is not extremely green (suburban home - although "reused" - paper towels for cat barf, some plastic, etc.). I am encouraged, rather than offended, by those further green than I am. Perhaps because I am so DIScouraged by those surrounding me, building monstrous houses, driving vehicles nearly the size of my early apartments, flaunting their conspicuous consumption in so many ways. The cumulative effect on generations down the road (rather, down the superhighway) greatly concerns me. Please don't flame me for my opinion. I *am* offended to being flamed for calmly voicing my personal opinions.

Thanks to everyone who's commented so far! I am cheered by your honesty.

My favorites from this comment string:
mchin - "Sometimes things are what they are."
redheadgal - "The world will keep going...Enjoy the LIFE that you have..."
ellabee - "I am encouraged, rather than offended, by those further green than I am. Perhaps because I am so DIScouraged by those surrounding me..."

This pretty much sums up my thoughts on this. Things are what they are. If I were to fully commit every minute of my time and every ounce of my energy to being as "green" or "eco-conscious" as possible, I (personally) would not be able to enjoy this beautiful, amazing life nearly as much as I am thankfully able to right now. BUT, just because I may not measure up to someone else's standard of environmental perfection, doesn't mean I should give up entirely!

Baby steps! We're all on a journey. Some of us have heavier backpacks, so we might move more slowly than others. Some of us might be heading in the opposite direction - some of us aren't even moving right now! It took me several years to get into the habit of really using my ChicoBags, and for awhile I didn't think I could change my habits. But now I use them a lot! I didn't have my own little micro-revolution about food until very recently - now there are things I plan on never eating again, when just a year ago I would have happily chowed down those same things.

Each of these baby steps I've taken has enriched my life, and not taken away from it, because I made the changes when I was ready for them and wanted to make them, instead of forcing them on myself because somebody somewhere said they were "right".

I agree with ellabee, I'm encouraged by people who are greener than me. If I can't or won't do something that's eco-friendly, then I can't or won't do it, but that doesn't mean I resent those who can and will.

I know some people who actually "hate" organic food and the people who eat it just because they can't afford it. I don't get those people. I can't afford certain things that are better for the planet, either, but that doesn't mean I hate them or the people who use or consume them.

Re-Nest should be as green as they wanna be and not worry about being off-putting. People can take what they will and leave the rest. When you start trying to please too many people, it's easy to stray from your beliefs.