Author: Ruiwei Gao

Living in Greenbelt always makes me consider if there is anything I could do to be more sustainable. Following the living guide strictly is not easy, because it changes our previous habits. Although it needs time to develop a new sustainable living way, I am willing to have a try.

Drying machines cost lots of energy. Although they saved time, they are not necessary in every situation. This semester, I try to reduce the use of the drying machine if I can use the drying racks. Sometimes, drying racks could even reach better result than drying machines do. For example, some sweaters, and clothes made from silk and cashmere are more suitable for drying racks than drying machines. Drying machine will make damage on clothes, like shrinking… Also, I’ll use drying racks for clothes that I would not wear for next couple days.

Also, I reduced the use of the refrigerator. I used to have a habit that I put almost everything in the refrigerator no matter the package is opened or not, even it is not necessary to do it. Now I would carefully read the instruction at the back of package to see if I could store it in a cool place instead of the refrigerator. For example, I will put the unopened milk, grains, cereals, and nuts in a cool place.

-Ruiwei Gao

Kitties at Greenbelt

For me, life in Greenbelt is not only having three new roommates but also meeting three new kitties. I don’t know if Greenbelters have ever noticed or not that there are three (maybe more) kitties around us. I can see them walking in and out the woods, doing sunbath at the back door, frolicking with each other.

I LOVE kitties. I made a decision to feed them regularly the first time I saw them. Two of them are black and the other one is yellow. I haven’t given them name yet, so let’s do alpha, beta, and gamma currently. (I would really appreciate if anyone who can offer pretty names for them!) Alpha is the biggest and the fluffiest among the three. He is the friendliest one, though I still cannot pat him. It cost almost two months that he finally didn’t run away when he saw me. It eats a lot! When I placed the food on the stairs, alpha is always the first one rushing to the bowl, while the other two are extremely polite that they won’t even get closer to the bowl when alpha is eating. After alpha finished, beta, the smaller black kitty would move close to the bowl. It has brightening and smooth fur. It would come out from the bush immediately with alpha when I prepare the food. Unlike alpha, who can wait next to the bowl while I am pouring the food into the bowl, beta will run away even it knows that I am their friend and I won’t hurt it. Maybe it will take a longer time to let it get used to me. Gamma is the most unsociable kitty among the three. I will so lucky if I can see it once in a week.

As a Greenbelter, I need to follow some rules to live sustainable. Same for three kitties. They live in Greenbelt, then please have a sense of sustainability. I try to not feed them wet food that are used plastic package. If I feel that I need to offer them some treats, I’ll go for the metal package. More often, I bought a large recycled paper package of dried food, and also two stainless steel bowls. I pour then dried food into one bowl, and our some water into another bowl every day, which makes the kitties’ life more sustainable.

 

Be kind to the kitties,

Ruiwei