1) Use your freezer. The freezer is a 'green' appliance everyone should
have. They come in all sizes to accommodate ones need without having too
large of one...a full freezer uses less energy than a half full one does! If there
is vacant space, fill those milk cartons with water (3/4 full) as you are waiting
for the hot water to arrive(2). Remove them when you need the space, water
plants with the thawed water, re-use the carton(4)! Use freezer for leftover
suppers; half used cans of broth, sauces, or the bulk foods you bought,
including flours & spices! Freeze cupcakes, muffins, cookies individual
packaging for snacks. Use as wanted...one serving at a time! Be sure to
label the bags with the contents and the date.
2) Use tap water wisely. Fix leaks, easy. While waiting for the hot water to
'arrive, water the pets, plants, and fill coffee pots and jugs for drinking.
3) Maintain an even & consistent temperature in the house whether it is the
furnace (or A/C). Remember your furniture & belonging collect the heat
too,so if you are leaving for several days & turn your heat down too low,
when you return, the furnace has to run longer and harder to heat the whole
house...furniture, walls, etc. 68-70* max. (Vise Versa on using A/C 78* max)
4) Recycle. Buy more stuff in bulk, buying larger containers as long as you
will use them before they expire (less goes into our landfills). Use old jeans
legs, stitch up to create tote bags for groceries, lunches, etc. No need to have
abundance of flimsy or torn plastic bags sitting around! (and they aren't good
for landfills or the atmosphere when burned.
5) Don't pre-rinse. Dishwashers and detergents, today, can take on the
worst dried on/baked on food dishes. Creates less work and more
importantly conserves water!
6) Add more insulation to your attic & other parts of your home. Have it
inspected to see what steps you need to take.
7) Microfiber cloths: instead of paper towels. Reusable, washable.
8) Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps
9) Use weather stripping Doors and windows
10) Unplug it. Sure it's handy to have your cell phone charger plugged in,
but that charger is drawing energy even when it's not in use. If you must have
the convenience, get a power strip and plug all chargers into it. That way, you
can just turn the whole strip off when none of them are in use.
11) Keep your lint filter clean.Cutting down the amount of energy your
clothes dryer uses is as easy as making sure that the lint filter is always kept
clean and the exhaust is free to open and close as needed. Better yet, take
advantage of beautiful days to hang clothes outside to dry.
12) Only heat the water that you need. A kettle of water may seem like
"small potatoes", but you'd be surprised at the difference it makes when you
only fill it with the amount of water that you'll use. You will save time, water &
energy!
13) Seal any leaks around doors & windows where air is escaping or
entering your home.
14) Say NO" To all Junk Mail! The USPS doesn't want to hear that. But, not
only can junk mail fill your mailbox and add to your household's clutter, it
wastes our planet's resources.
have. They come in all sizes to accommodate ones need without having too
large of one...a full freezer uses less energy than a half full one does! If there
is vacant space, fill those milk cartons with water (3/4 full) as you are waiting
for the hot water to arrive(2). Remove them when you need the space, water
plants with the thawed water, re-use the carton(4)! Use freezer for leftover
suppers; half used cans of broth, sauces, or the bulk foods you bought,
including flours & spices! Freeze cupcakes, muffins, cookies individual
packaging for snacks. Use as wanted...one serving at a time! Be sure to
label the bags with the contents and the date.
2) Use tap water wisely. Fix leaks, easy. While waiting for the hot water to
'arrive, water the pets, plants, and fill coffee pots and jugs for drinking.
3) Maintain an even & consistent temperature in the house whether it is the
furnace (or A/C). Remember your furniture & belonging collect the heat
too,so if you are leaving for several days & turn your heat down too low,
when you return, the furnace has to run longer and harder to heat the whole
house...furniture, walls, etc. 68-70* max. (Vise Versa on using A/C 78* max)
4) Recycle. Buy more stuff in bulk, buying larger containers as long as you
will use them before they expire (less goes into our landfills). Use old jeans
legs, stitch up to create tote bags for groceries, lunches, etc. No need to have
abundance of flimsy or torn plastic bags sitting around! (and they aren't good
for landfills or the atmosphere when burned.
5) Don't pre-rinse. Dishwashers and detergents, today, can take on the
worst dried on/baked on food dishes. Creates less work and more
importantly conserves water!
6) Add more insulation to your attic & other parts of your home. Have it
inspected to see what steps you need to take.
7) Microfiber cloths: instead of paper towels. Reusable, washable.
8) Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps
9) Use weather stripping Doors and windows
10) Unplug it. Sure it's handy to have your cell phone charger plugged in,
but that charger is drawing energy even when it's not in use. If you must have
the convenience, get a power strip and plug all chargers into it. That way, you
can just turn the whole strip off when none of them are in use.
11) Keep your lint filter clean.Cutting down the amount of energy your
clothes dryer uses is as easy as making sure that the lint filter is always kept
clean and the exhaust is free to open and close as needed. Better yet, take
advantage of beautiful days to hang clothes outside to dry.
12) Only heat the water that you need. A kettle of water may seem like
"small potatoes", but you'd be surprised at the difference it makes when you
only fill it with the amount of water that you'll use. You will save time, water &
energy!
13) Seal any leaks around doors & windows where air is escaping or
entering your home.
14) Say NO" To all Junk Mail! The USPS doesn't want to hear that. But, not
only can junk mail fill your mailbox and add to your household's clutter, it
wastes our planet's resources.
| Helpful tips for inside the home |
| Helpful tips for outside the home |
| TIP OF THE MONTH Jan. 2008 Did you know......that by leaving your carrots in the ground as long as possible, they become sweeter? It is January and I'm having fresh carrots with my roast tonight! The garden is done in mounds, so they have not been saturated and "sitting" in Mother Nature's Moisture. Yes, it has frozen many times, there was about 2 inches of frost to penetrate today, to dig these carrots up....but oh so worth it! I only can about half of the crop I grow in the fall and then eat them from the garden all winter! If you are in real harsh winters, with lots of hard deep frosts, it may not work for you. Try mulching over 6-12" and see if that works. When we lived in deep snow country, the snow was my mulch until about December |
Healthy Living with a
Twist
tons of ideas & links
Cooking tools large
selection
Great Cooking Gifts
Flour sack towels &
More
Twist
tons of ideas & links
Cooking tools large
selection
Great Cooking Gifts
Flour sack towels &
More
| Links to other great sites |
| Tips for a more Eco-friendly lifestyle...you don't have be a Simple Lady, like me, with a Simple life, to be "Green" |
1) Water your grass & plants DEEP. The roots need the water & they use it
as needed, not the surface 1-2 inches where it evaporates. You don't need
to water near as often so it saves you stress & time! I am a water conserver to
the core. My biggest pet peeve is seeing water being wasted! I hate seeing it
run down driveways or on to highways! (I should have become a Water Cop!)
(I live in windy, hot dry country, & like when in AZ, I have the lushest green lawn that
draws complements from anyone who visits! Here in Palouse Country, as in AZ, I water
the grass once a week...DEEP! When temps get to 100+ & stay there a few days I may
water 2 times a week. I watch my grass, as everything else I grow...they 'tell' me if they
are getting thirsty sooner than I would normally quench their roots.)
2) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! Also saves time...less watering, less weeding. Mulch
can be most anything that decomposes back into the soil...in turn, rewards
the soil for giving you the blooms, aromas & views that you enjoy! Grass
clippings (not to thick or will create too much heat 1/2" is plenty), leaves,
even newspapers (the black and white pages) work and hide with leaves,
bark, grass, anything else you want to enrich the soil with. In the Fall, turn it
all into the soil about 6" deep when you do your Fall cleanup. Then add
leaves for Winter. Spring comes, dig those leaves back into the soil! If you
use bark or rock, rake to the edges and mulch with quicker decomposing
material. I personally, mow my grass 2 times a season with the grass catcher
in order to have the clippings for mulch, Spring & Fall. The rest of the season,
I mow with a mulching blade & let the clippings feed the grass & hold
moisture (1) (2). If you mow, like I do, 2-3 times a week, you don't have to
see all the cut grass sitting on top & turning brown.
3) Pesky critters munching on your treasured flowers/shrubs? Cayenne
Pepper! Go to your bulk store, buy it in large bags...actually cheaper than
Chili Powder! Sprinkle, sprinkle everywhere! Even on the plants and
emerging growth. Won't burn them like it does us. Sprinkle the ground
around as to keep critters from reaching and getting nibbles. I saved every
one of my many dozens of treasured tulips last year. From the moment they
started sprouting, I started dousing. Can take several (1) waterings before
applying again. Use on any plant your want to protect, the red kind of blends
in after a day or so. I use in my veggie garden also. (Once your garden starts
mass producing, as mine, don't even bother. Just make sure you plant
enough to keep the birds happy & you!)
4) Watering Flower beds & veggie garden beds...use either drip lines
around plants, space cautiously; veggies use those flat long soaker kind,
they will water your rows nicely & not the isles, saves time & water...less
weeding! Sprinkler and soaker hoses are made especially for lawn and
garden irrigation. Sprinkler hoses are designed for use on the ground
surface and also dotted with holes on one side to gently spray upwards. A
soaker hose is porous and can be buried under a layer of mulch. The hose
leaks small amounts of water directly to your garden's or flowerbed's roots
with little waste.
5) Build some compost. Doesn't have to be large & get out of hand like mine
does (almost requires Superman to help turn it!) It is rewarding to visually
witness your waste and debris turn into the rich & humus, sweet-musky
smelling compost which is a great 'dressing' for around your plants, including
house plants. Just mix some into the soil around the plants 3-6" deep. Nature
takes care of the rest. Or, mix with the soil as you set new plantings out.
6) Pests & Diseases. Many plants can actually “outgrow” pests or diseases
that afflict them if the soil is healthy. (1) (2)
7) Balance the ecosystem. A natural balance of insects, birds and other
wildlife can help control pests. Using pesticides can upset this natural
balance and actually increase pest problems. Provide habitat for creatures
that are beneficial to your garden, such as insects, birds and other
wildlife.
as needed, not the surface 1-2 inches where it evaporates. You don't need
to water near as often so it saves you stress & time! I am a water conserver to
the core. My biggest pet peeve is seeing water being wasted! I hate seeing it
run down driveways or on to highways! (I should have become a Water Cop!)
(I live in windy, hot dry country, & like when in AZ, I have the lushest green lawn that
draws complements from anyone who visits! Here in Palouse Country, as in AZ, I water
the grass once a week...DEEP! When temps get to 100+ & stay there a few days I may
water 2 times a week. I watch my grass, as everything else I grow...they 'tell' me if they
are getting thirsty sooner than I would normally quench their roots.)
2) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! Also saves time...less watering, less weeding. Mulch
can be most anything that decomposes back into the soil...in turn, rewards
the soil for giving you the blooms, aromas & views that you enjoy! Grass
clippings (not to thick or will create too much heat 1/2" is plenty), leaves,
even newspapers (the black and white pages) work and hide with leaves,
bark, grass, anything else you want to enrich the soil with. In the Fall, turn it
all into the soil about 6" deep when you do your Fall cleanup. Then add
leaves for Winter. Spring comes, dig those leaves back into the soil! If you
use bark or rock, rake to the edges and mulch with quicker decomposing
material. I personally, mow my grass 2 times a season with the grass catcher
in order to have the clippings for mulch, Spring & Fall. The rest of the season,
I mow with a mulching blade & let the clippings feed the grass & hold
moisture (1) (2). If you mow, like I do, 2-3 times a week, you don't have to
see all the cut grass sitting on top & turning brown.
3) Pesky critters munching on your treasured flowers/shrubs? Cayenne
Pepper! Go to your bulk store, buy it in large bags...actually cheaper than
Chili Powder! Sprinkle, sprinkle everywhere! Even on the plants and
emerging growth. Won't burn them like it does us. Sprinkle the ground
around as to keep critters from reaching and getting nibbles. I saved every
one of my many dozens of treasured tulips last year. From the moment they
started sprouting, I started dousing. Can take several (1) waterings before
applying again. Use on any plant your want to protect, the red kind of blends
in after a day or so. I use in my veggie garden also. (Once your garden starts
mass producing, as mine, don't even bother. Just make sure you plant
enough to keep the birds happy & you!)
4) Watering Flower beds & veggie garden beds...use either drip lines
around plants, space cautiously; veggies use those flat long soaker kind,
they will water your rows nicely & not the isles, saves time & water...less
weeding! Sprinkler and soaker hoses are made especially for lawn and
garden irrigation. Sprinkler hoses are designed for use on the ground
surface and also dotted with holes on one side to gently spray upwards. A
soaker hose is porous and can be buried under a layer of mulch. The hose
leaks small amounts of water directly to your garden's or flowerbed's roots
with little waste.
5) Build some compost. Doesn't have to be large & get out of hand like mine
does (almost requires Superman to help turn it!) It is rewarding to visually
witness your waste and debris turn into the rich & humus, sweet-musky
smelling compost which is a great 'dressing' for around your plants, including
house plants. Just mix some into the soil around the plants 3-6" deep. Nature
takes care of the rest. Or, mix with the soil as you set new plantings out.
6) Pests & Diseases. Many plants can actually “outgrow” pests or diseases
that afflict them if the soil is healthy. (1) (2)
7) Balance the ecosystem. A natural balance of insects, birds and other
wildlife can help control pests. Using pesticides can upset this natural
balance and actually increase pest problems. Provide habitat for creatures
that are beneficial to your garden, such as insects, birds and other
wildlife.
| Recycle Kitchen Wastes Using a Home Worm Bin Recycling your kitchen wastes using a home worm bin is an easy, ecologically sound way to dispose of kitchen wastes. Just think about how much water is used every day when you wash garbage down the garbage disposal in your sink! Besides saving water, a worm bin produces an organic compost that can be used instead of chemical fertilizers in your garden and on your house plants. This is a fun and educational activity for youngsters. They will learn something about the biology of worms and also the importance of reusing and recycling to preserve resources. |
| ****FLASH***** Freshen & reuse smelly, soured sponges by placing in mircowave on hot for 1 minute! Do it daily, and you'll never have that smell on your hands again! |
Quick and easy tips to prevent waste:
1. Choose durable quality items that can be used again and again and will last a long time. You will probably spend a
lot less over time than replacing inferior, cheaply made goods that do not last very long.
2. Use the blank sides of scrap paper for notes and lists before recycling the paper.
3. Save plastic produce bags and paper or plastic grocery bags for reuse.
Even better, get a permanent shopping bag. Get two! (see how to (4) above)
4. Buy in bulk: fewer shopping trips, less packaging, more product, lasts longer.
5. Refill your own bags or containers instead of getting new ones each time you buy.
6. Why buy bottled water? Get a reusable bottle and fill it with our very clean, tasty tap water.
7. Pack lunches in reusable containers to reduce waste and save money.
8. Look for less packaging, better yet look for none. Make sure packaging can be reused or recycled easily. (In 2005,
20.5 percent of our garbage was packaging-- a whopping 263,000 tons.)
9. Avoid disposable items whenever possible.
10. Buy handmade and locally made or grown. There is usually a lot less packaging than products packaged and
shipped from far away.
11. Get a travel mug for your coffee and other beverages. Coffee shops usually give a 5 or 10-cent discount for bringing
your own cup.
12. Borrow books from the library or buy them used rather than purchasing them new.
13. Repair, refurbish, recover instead of throwing away home furnishings, appliances and electronics. Support local
repair business instead of disposing and buying foreign made goods.
14. Donate items you can no longer use to a nonprofit group or thrift store.
15. Purchase quality used items such as furniture, clothing, sports equipment, toys and books at second-hand stores,
garage sales and through classified ads.
16.Compost leaves and grass clippings in a home compost pile and kitchen scraps in a worm bin. Use the compost to
improve your garden or feed house plants.
Thanks to: Metro~People Places. Open Spaces; Portland,OR
1. Choose durable quality items that can be used again and again and will last a long time. You will probably spend a
lot less over time than replacing inferior, cheaply made goods that do not last very long.
2. Use the blank sides of scrap paper for notes and lists before recycling the paper.
3. Save plastic produce bags and paper or plastic grocery bags for reuse.
Even better, get a permanent shopping bag. Get two! (see how to (4) above)
4. Buy in bulk: fewer shopping trips, less packaging, more product, lasts longer.
5. Refill your own bags or containers instead of getting new ones each time you buy.
6. Why buy bottled water? Get a reusable bottle and fill it with our very clean, tasty tap water.
7. Pack lunches in reusable containers to reduce waste and save money.
8. Look for less packaging, better yet look for none. Make sure packaging can be reused or recycled easily. (In 2005,
20.5 percent of our garbage was packaging-- a whopping 263,000 tons.)
9. Avoid disposable items whenever possible.
10. Buy handmade and locally made or grown. There is usually a lot less packaging than products packaged and
shipped from far away.
11. Get a travel mug for your coffee and other beverages. Coffee shops usually give a 5 or 10-cent discount for bringing
your own cup.
12. Borrow books from the library or buy them used rather than purchasing them new.
13. Repair, refurbish, recover instead of throwing away home furnishings, appliances and electronics. Support local
repair business instead of disposing and buying foreign made goods.
14. Donate items you can no longer use to a nonprofit group or thrift store.
15. Purchase quality used items such as furniture, clothing, sports equipment, toys and books at second-hand stores,
garage sales and through classified ads.
16.Compost leaves and grass clippings in a home compost pile and kitchen scraps in a worm bin. Use the compost to
improve your garden or feed house plants.
Thanks to: Metro~People Places. Open Spaces; Portland,OR
| Helpful tips for limiting Waste |
| I am just an Old Fashioned country gal, living in an area with very little population, and wide open spaces. We live an austere lifestyle as we are just plain ol' simple folk. I started this out of extreme boredom, being held back by nerve damage; but come Spring...healing or not...I WILL be back outdoors doing what I enjoy most. We still believe that a hand shake is as good as a legal contract. We don't lock anything, we trust everyone. Our story of years past...is still the basis of our hearts, our souls. We raise as much of our own food as possible; buy others from local orchards & farms. We support our community by shopping local. We are just simple people, living simple lives, and we are happily content. (It's not a life for most...but you should at least try it for a week or a month!) If you seriously would like to give it a try, see how simple people live a sustainable life, don't hesitate to ask, we may just let you come and experience it with us! Feel free to contact me to chat or ask a question, even give me ideas & tips...my door is always open and I'll even invite you in for coffee! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you seriously would like to give it a try, see how simple people live a sustainable life, don't hesitate to ask, we may just let you come and experience it with us! |
Tips From the Past~
The REAL "Green Generattion
The REAL "Green Generattion
Tips of Green!
..includes for the garden, the home. the environment, everyday living
Think Smart. Think as you go. A working brain creates a thirst for more
knowledge. The more you are aware of your actions, the more you are apt
to become responsible for protecting and conserving our natural resources.
knowledge. The more you are aware of your actions, the more you are apt
to become responsible for protecting and conserving our natural resources.
Who Am I?...see bottom of page..my door is always open and I'll even invite you in for coffee!
Go back ....HOME