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Did You Know | Environmentally Friendly Gardening Products | Non-toxic Cleaning Products | Indoor Gardening With Foliage Plants

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Go Green

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March 2010

Recycling saves energy, landfill space and natural resources. Home recycling requires a trivial amount of time, yet offers substantial benefit to the homeowner as well as the environment.

Ø Newspaper should be saved in its own bin, as this material goes directly back into newsprint recycling. Recycling a four-foot stack of newspapers saves the equivalent of one 40-foot fir tree.

Ø Plastic does not break down in landfill, and since it can be recycled to make many diverse products, effort should be made to recycle all plastic waste.

Ø Glass is recycled according to color: clear, green and brown. Recycling centers prefer it when glass is separated this way. Collectively, these types of glass are referred to as "container" glass, and widely accepted for recycling.

Ø Food cans should be rinsed and have lids and labels removed. It helps if they are flattened, although many new cans are difficult to flatten; they should still be recycled.

Ø Aluminium cans are very valuable as recyclable items. Many recycling centers request they be not crushed flat. Check locally.

Ø Aluminium foil and foil packaging are also important to recycle; they are reprocessed into aluminium mechanical components, such as engine parts.

Ø Computers, printers and hardware: pass it on. The simplest solution to recycling your old computer. Ask at a local school or put a notice on a community bulletin board offering your computer free for the taking. Many people without a computer will still find use with the word processor and basic programs.

February 2010

Kitchen Energy Savers

You can lower your monthly energy bill and contribute to a cleaner environment without making major changes or buying expensive energy-saving gadgets. Simple changes, and thought given to energy reduction, will make a significant difference.

Ø If washing dishes by hand, fill one basin with warm soapy water and the other with cold rinse water. This saves much more water than leaving the cold water running for rinsing.

Ø If you're using the dishwasher, there is no need to pre-rinse dishes (unless your dishwasher is an old model). Be sure machine is full, but not overloaded.

Ø When using the oven, try to reduce the number of times you open the door while cooking. Each time the door is opened, the stove loses about 1/4th of its heat.

Ø Burner size: Match pot size to burner size on your stove top. Heat is lost and energy is wasted if burner size is larger than pot size. Also, clean range-top burners and reflectors to better reflect the heat, and save energy.

Ø Use pressure cookers. They use 50-75 percent less energy than ordinary cookware.

Ø On electric stovetops, use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the elements.

Ø If you cook on an electric range, you can turn off the burners or the oven before the cooking is finished, because it will take several minutes for the burners to lose their heat.

January 2010

Ø In the kitchen, use bamboo for just about everything! Flooring, tables, chairs, blinds, screens, cutlery handles, steamers, trays, baskets, boxes and mats. It is the most environmentally friendly wood on the planet, being fast growing and easily replenished.

Ø In the bedroom, use organic, unbleached cotton and silk sheets, duvet covers, bedspreads etc.

Ø Use organically-grown cotton towels, bath mats and bathrobes made with natural plant dyes in the bathroom.

Ø Use organic paints which are made without harmful petrochemicals, use natural plant solvents such as linseed oil and turpentine, natural resins, earth and mineral pigments and plant dyes. They are kinder to the ozone layer and they reduce the occurrence of allergies.

Ø Floor polishes, wallpaper, filler, varnishes and household glue can be bought without the addition of toxic chemicals.

Ø Make a conscious decision to create an eco-friendly home.

Ø Use unbleached cotton for blinds and curtains, cushion covers and carpets using natural dyes and pigments.

December 2009

As much as possible, create a tree-free home:

Ø replace paper napkins with cloth napkins

Ø replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for great towels) - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse.

Ø purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)

Ø if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper, if you can afford it)

Ø create and use note pads from once-used paper

Ø leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board

Ø make your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper

November 2009

Ø Adopt Something. An animal, a stream, a whale. There's almost no limit to the number of environmental causes to which you and your friends can become involved with.

Ø Avoid Fast Food. Most fast food is over packaged and most fast-food companies are responsible for producing mountains of trash. By avoiding fast food whenever possible, you'll help reduce this needless waste.

Ø Buy Products Made Of Recycled Paper. How can you tell if a package is recycled? Look right on the package. Many have specific claims, such as "made of 100 percent recycled material." However, some recycled packages don't advertise this fact, although there are ways you can find out for yourself. For example, when shopping for cereal, cookies, crackers, and other groceries packaged in cardboard boxes, make sure boxes are made from recycled paper. If the underside is gray or dark brown, the cardboard is made of recycled material. If it's white, it is made of un-recycled material.

Ø Clean Up A Stream Or Park. Get a group of people together and find a stream or park that needs some tender loving care. Arrange for everyone to meet at a specific time to pick up the trash, weed, perhaps even plant some flowers. Ask local business to donate money, tools, or other supplies you'll need for the task. You also should invite a newspaper reporter or TV news team to come along and report on the event. Make sure to check with the proper local authority in charge of the stream or park to get permission so you are sure not to break any laws.

Ø Collect Aluminium Cans. You might raise a lot of money in the process. The best thing is to combine this with your stream or park cleanup (see above). Sell the cans you collect to a local aluminium recycler and use the money for something fun! Or donate the money to a worthy environmental organization.

Ø Contribute To A Good Cause. You don't have to contribute a lot of money. In fact, you don't have to contribute money at all. A local environmental group probably can use your and your friends' help in a variety of ways. By volunteering for just a few hours a week, you'll be making a worthwhile contribution to the environment. It will make you feel really good!

Ø Don't Buy Aerosols. There are environmentally better packages for most products. Aerosols can't be recycled--which means that they are guaranteed to end up in landfills--and some of their ingredients contribute to air pollution. Instead of aerosols, look for spray bottles, liquids, powders, and roll-ons.

October 2009

Ø When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.

Ø Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.

Ø Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

Ø Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

Ø Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.

Ø At the office, make it a habit to turn off your computer—and the power strip it's plugged into—when you leave for the day. Otherwise, you're still burning energy even if you're not burning the midnight oil. (Check with your IT department to make sure the computer doesn't need to be on to run backups or other maintenance.) During the day, setting your computer to go to sleep automatically during short breaks can cut energy use by 70 percent. Remember, screen savers don't save energy.

Ø In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.

September 2009

Ø Pour vinegar on weeds and grass along the edge of driveways or between stepping-stones for an environmentally friendly way to kill them. It will also kill anything else that is green so use carefully.

Ø Unclog drains by pouring a small amount of boiling vinegar down the drain. Let sit for 5 or 10 minutes and then run hot water. Repeat if necessary.

Ø Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

Ø Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

Ø You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. (For many recipes and more ideas about going green, you can purchase Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning & Gardening Chores at: http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Books.htm.)

Ø Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging - not to mention your indoor air quality.

Ø Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

August 2009

Ø Use only organic fertilizers for your plants, lawn, and garden.

Ø Recycle your yard debris including lawn clippings and leaves.

Ø Plant short, dense shrubs close to your home's foundation to help insulate

your home against cold, and use a light-colored roof to reduce heat absorption.

Ø Trees and gardens make your yard beautiful, but they also help clean the air

and reduce greenhouse gasses.

Ø Close drapes or blinds in warmer months to keep your house from overheating.

Ø Install low-flow aerators to your faucets and showerheads to save water.

Ø Wear certain articles of clothing a second time if they are not dirty. You'll reduce the amount of laundry you need to do, which cuts down on water usage, and the use of chemicals in your laundry detergent.

July 2009

Ø Use non-toxic cleaning products at home.

Ø Re-place plastic bags with re-usable bags.

Ø Use re-cycled paper.

Ø Start or join an environmental community group.

Ø Close curtains on hot summer days.

Ø Keep windows and doors tightly closed when air conditioning is on.

Ø Re-place and re-cycle old appliances with Energy Star appliances.

June 2009

Ø Buy smart. Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

Ø Avoid fast food. Most fast food is over-packaged and most fast-food companies are responsible for producing mountains of trash. By avoiding fast food whenever possible, you'll help reduce this needless waste.

Ø Clean Up A Stream Or Park. Get a group of people together and find a stream or park that needs some tender loving care. Arrange for everyone to meet at a specific time to pick up the trash, weeds, or perhaps even plant some flowers. Ask local business to donate money, tools, or other supplies you'll need for the task. Invite a newspaper reporter or TV news team to come along and report on the event. Make sure to check with the proper local authority in charge of the stream or park to get permission so you are sure not to break any laws.

Ø Close The Refrigerator Door. By leaving it open for just a few extra seconds, you waste a lot of energy. Decide what you want before you open the door. Then get it and close the door right away.

Ø Collect Aluminium Cans. You might raise a lot of money in the process. Sell the cans you collect to a local aluminium recycler and use the money for something fun! Or donate the money to a worthy environmental organization.

Ø Contribute To A Good Cause. You don't have to contribute a lot of money. In fact, you don't have to contribute money at all. A local environmental group probably can use your help in a variety of ways. By volunteering for just a few hours a week, you'll be making a worthwhile contribution to the environment.

Ø Create A Compost Pile. Find a corner of the yard that's out of the way. Carefully throw food wastes (leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds, spoiled vegetables, etc.) into a pile and mix with dirt. Every week or so, turn the pile over with a shovel to give it more air. In a few weeks, it will turn into a rich soil that will help plants grow.

May 2009

Ø Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

Ø Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

Ø Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

Ø Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

Ø Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

Ø Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

Ø Clean - or replace - your furnace filter. A dirty filter forces your furnace to work harder to heat your home.

April 2009

Ø Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

Ø Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

Ø Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

Ø You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

Ø Donate or recycle cell phones, computers, and other electronics responsibly. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.

Ø Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging – not to mention your indoor air quality.

Ø Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

March 2009

Ø Only run the dishwasher when it is full.

Ø Use non-toxic cleaning products at home.

Ø Eat a vegetarian meal once a week.

Ø Drink tap water instead of bottled water.

Ø Donate clothes and other used goods.

Ø Plant a tree.

Ø Recycle old cell phones and electronics.

February 2009

Ø Recycle – newspapers, paper products, plastic bags, junk mail, cell phones.

Ø Brush your teeth with the water off.

Ø Hang dry your clothing, rather then using the electric or gas dryer.

Ø Switch from paper and plastic bags to reusable bags.

Ø Instead of purchasing, rent movies and borrow books from the library.

Ø Buy locally produced food at farmer’s markets and organic grocery stores.

Ø Save water by decreasing your shower time or take a bath, which uses less water than a shower.

January 2009

Ø Reduce your consumption this year.

Ø Use a stainless steel water bottle.

Ø Start or join a community group.

Ø Avoid using disposable plates, glasses, and cutlery.

Ø Compost at home.

Ø Use rain barrels.

Ø Recycle whatever you can - including packaging, food and beverage containers, paper, and gifts.

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