IF I Could go back I would put astro turf in the backyard. I never owned land before and I hate all the water we waste on grass. so useless. We have no choice in the frontyard - homeowners association. Our water is insane but it is a flat rate - no metering. Some day when we have the money we will tear out the grass and do it. Something to look into anyway.
I babysat for a lady who used a diaper cloth service and thought it was the greatest idea and I Would use one when the time came. It is the same ease as disposables, but I have been dissapointed how few people I converted. My SIL tried it for a while and whimped out because she had bad diaper liners that leaked. I knew someone else who tried, before she met me, but whimped out because the 0-3 month clothes did not fit her baby with the bulky diapers. Whatever. 0-3 month clothing never fit my babies regardless of diaper bulk. Not very committed - LOL. I got my hubby to go along, if he can do it, anyone can.
Unfortunately diaper services are only available in the big cities it seems. No rinsing, you toss it like garbage and put it out once a week to be exchnaged for clean, dry dipes. But as the kids get older I am nice and toss the solid waste in the toilet - but you don't have to go that far if you don't want to.
We don't use yard chemicals or pest control, etc. though - which saves money and is better for the environment as well. Just thought of that one. We gave in for a little bit when we first moved into a new development and everyone started spraying for pests and I swear ALL The bugs for a square mile converged in our yard - LOL. But we stopped and things have settle down - phew.