Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Moving
Well if you've been reading my blog you know we will be moving in July. This really puts a cramp in all the green things I was going to blog about for the summer. I will still be posting lots of tips and other assorted bits of knowledge I keep floating around in my head. And I'll still share other items of interest around the net as I find them. But alot of the projects I had planned are out the window. I'll come up with new plans once we figure out where we are going to live but until then I'll have to wait.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Disappearance of Honey Bees - How you can help!
There is a great video on Gaiam.com about the disappearance of honey bees, a problem that will affect our food crops drastically.
And here is an Article Link about 5 Ways to Help save the honey bees.
This is a very important subject and there are things each individual can do to help.
Also Check out this Free Project to help study honeybees
And here is an Article Link about 5 Ways to Help save the honey bees.
This is a very important subject and there are things each individual can do to help.
Also Check out this Free Project to help study honeybees
Thursday, April 24, 2008
HOW GREEN ARE YOU
Your Life is 96% Green |
 Your life is totally green, and as far as your environmental beliefs go... your actions do speak louder than your words. Your lifestyle totally serves as an inspiration to others. Whether you know it or not. So keep it up! |
We are Moving
Yes That's right we are moving to New York City...... well Long Island to be exact. and I've been debating on whether or not to go from blogging to a full fledged website. You see we move every 2 - 3 years which gives me the opportunity to try being as green as I can in several locations. For example we spent 3 years in Tucson Arizona and it is very important to use Xeriscaping. Which is basically using the plants that grow naturally in the environment you are living in so that you don't require extra irrigation or fertilizer. Unfortunately in Tucson and Phenoix Arizona there are way too many people who are sucking up all the water for fountains, grass and other unnecessary plants and instead of working on ways to conserve water they just keep building and building.
Ummm Anyway sorry about that got a little off subject there LOL.
Right now I'm living in Arkansas and it has its own issuses to deal with for example its hot and humid in the Summer so what is the most ecconomic way to cool our home or in the icy winter heat it? Now we rented our home this time so I couldn't do as much to change the home we are living in but there were things I could do like heavy curtains on the windows to keep warmth in in the winter and cool air in the summer. I also open up the house in the early morning to let cooler air into the house not to mention fresh air. In the winter I would open up the curtains on the southern side of the house to let the sun's warmth in.
Now I'm moving to a big city which is a first for me. It's also very expensive so while I'm hoping to be able to buy a home I think we will have to rent once again. If we do buy a house I think I will start a website about the changes and improvements we make to the home to make it GREEN. If we rent I will continue blogging with the things I do every day.
I would love to here what you think so please leave a comment.
Ummm Anyway sorry about that got a little off subject there LOL.
Right now I'm living in Arkansas and it has its own issuses to deal with for example its hot and humid in the Summer so what is the most ecconomic way to cool our home or in the icy winter heat it? Now we rented our home this time so I couldn't do as much to change the home we are living in but there were things I could do like heavy curtains on the windows to keep warmth in in the winter and cool air in the summer. I also open up the house in the early morning to let cooler air into the house not to mention fresh air. In the winter I would open up the curtains on the southern side of the house to let the sun's warmth in.
Now I'm moving to a big city which is a first for me. It's also very expensive so while I'm hoping to be able to buy a home I think we will have to rent once again. If we do buy a house I think I will start a website about the changes and improvements we make to the home to make it GREEN. If we rent I will continue blogging with the things I do every day.
I would love to here what you think so please leave a comment.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wonderful Tips To Share for Earth Day
I found these wonderful tips at http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22355/28177 Its a great article by Kathleen J. King you should definately take a look at. Here are just a few of the tips she offers for Earth Day and beyond.
Lower your thermostat. Buy a programmable thermostat.
Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.
Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
Teach kids about the environment.
Take your batteries to a recycling center. Earth 911 gives you the scoop.
Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute.
Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”
Good to the last drop. Switch to fair trade coffee.
Go paperless at work. Distribute company information and post company material online.
For all 50 tips visit the website listed about and lets get green together
Lower your thermostat. Buy a programmable thermostat.
Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.
Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
Teach kids about the environment.
Take your batteries to a recycling center. Earth 911 gives you the scoop.
Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute.
Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”
Good to the last drop. Switch to fair trade coffee.
Go paperless at work. Distribute company information and post company material online.
For all 50 tips visit the website listed about and lets get green together
Monday, April 21, 2008
Free Light Cont.
Well I've been trying out this solar powered lantern just for lighting up my home at night. It does offer enough light for normal activity but not enough for reading by. So if you want to save some money on your electric bill offers plenty of free lighting just stick it outside in the sunlight during the day and light it up at night.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Free Light
I was in K-Mart today checking out the clearance isle and I found a camping lantern that is solar powered. It was $20 so I went ahead and bought it. I've been charging it all day and I'm going to try it out tonight. If it works as promised I'll can use it instead of the overhead lights and save on my electric bill. I might just go back to K-Mart and pick up the other two that were on the clearance isle. They should be bright enough for anything I need to do at night. I'll post tomorrow with the results of my experiment.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Simple Ways to Save Energy
Watch Your Water Use: Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. Use a low flow shower head or shut it off while you suds up.
Install a programmable thermostat: It will save heating and cooling costs when you aren't there to injoy it. ALSO Don't set the thermostat higher than you actually want it. It won't heat your home any faster, and it will keep your furnace running longer than necessary.
Fill It up: Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine is full before you run it. This way you'll get the most clean for you Electrical and Water useage.
Cook Smarter: When your cooking make sure you use lids and keep the oven door closed so the heat stays in and cooks food faster. Make sure you use the right size burner for the pan you are using. If the burner is too small it will take forever to cook and if its too large it will waste a lot of electricity heating the air around the pan and you might get a nasty burn in the process.
Change or clean your furnace filter once a month. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down.
Install a programmable thermostat: It will save heating and cooling costs when you aren't there to injoy it. ALSO Don't set the thermostat higher than you actually want it. It won't heat your home any faster, and it will keep your furnace running longer than necessary.
Fill It up: Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine is full before you run it. This way you'll get the most clean for you Electrical and Water useage.
Cook Smarter: When your cooking make sure you use lids and keep the oven door closed so the heat stays in and cooks food faster. Make sure you use the right size burner for the pan you are using. If the burner is too small it will take forever to cook and if its too large it will waste a lot of electricity heating the air around the pan and you might get a nasty burn in the process.
Change or clean your furnace filter once a month. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down.
Monday, April 7, 2008
A Great Deep Conditioner
Recipe:
1 small jar of real mayonnaise (Full Fat)
1/2 of an avocado
Place ingredients in a bowl and mash together until it's a minty green color. Smooth into hair from scalp to the tips. Put on a shower cap or wrap your head with saran wrap.
Leave on for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning put a hot, damp towel around your head -over the saran wrap. And if you have really long hair and only need deep conditioning at the ends, cut the ingredients in half and apply only to the ends and wrap them.
Avocados contain vitamin B6 & vitamin E
1 small jar of real mayonnaise (Full Fat)
1/2 of an avocado
Place ingredients in a bowl and mash together until it's a minty green color. Smooth into hair from scalp to the tips. Put on a shower cap or wrap your head with saran wrap.
Leave on for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning put a hot, damp towel around your head -over the saran wrap. And if you have really long hair and only need deep conditioning at the ends, cut the ingredients in half and apply only to the ends and wrap them.
Avocados contain vitamin B6 & vitamin E
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Encouraging Wildlife in Your Garden
* Plant plenty of native species and/or plants which thrive easily in your climate.
* Plant plenty of bushes, shrubs and trees which bear berries or other fruits for the birds. Rosehips are useful to the birds and colourful too!
* Plant herbs and flowers which insects such as bees and hoverflies love. Open pollinators are best.
* Feed the birds. You can also help with nesting sites. A pile of old logs in a corner can provide a great habitat for birds and insects.
* Use non-toxic products in your garden for all the jobs in your garden where products are needed.
* Don’t use herbicides and pesticides – they usually kill more than you bargain for, and some leave toxic residues. Practise organic gardening!
* If you have the space, put in a wildlife pond.
* Use companion plants in your vegetable plot if you have one. They are one of organic gardening's secret weapons!
* Choose plants which are well adapted to your garden's soil and situation and therefore do not need lots of fertilisers or extra watering to survive.
* Plant wildflowers and meadow flowers if you have room.
* Use mixed grasses or herbs such as chamomile for your lawn.
* Keep a compost heap - or better, two! A good compost to fertilise the soil and recycle waste is an organic gardening essential.
I found these wonderful tips for encouraging wildlife at http://www.greenfootsteps.com/organic-gardening.html
* Plant plenty of bushes, shrubs and trees which bear berries or other fruits for the birds. Rosehips are useful to the birds and colourful too!
* Plant herbs and flowers which insects such as bees and hoverflies love. Open pollinators are best.
* Feed the birds. You can also help with nesting sites. A pile of old logs in a corner can provide a great habitat for birds and insects.
* Use non-toxic products in your garden for all the jobs in your garden where products are needed.
* Don’t use herbicides and pesticides – they usually kill more than you bargain for, and some leave toxic residues. Practise organic gardening!
* If you have the space, put in a wildlife pond.
* Use companion plants in your vegetable plot if you have one. They are one of organic gardening's secret weapons!
* Choose plants which are well adapted to your garden's soil and situation and therefore do not need lots of fertilisers or extra watering to survive.
* Plant wildflowers and meadow flowers if you have room.
* Use mixed grasses or herbs such as chamomile for your lawn.
* Keep a compost heap - or better, two! A good compost to fertilise the soil and recycle waste is an organic gardening essential.
I found these wonderful tips for encouraging wildlife at http://www.greenfootsteps.com/organic-gardening.html
Friday, April 4, 2008
Getting Rid of LimeScale
You've seen the limescale built up on you teakettle and coffee pot. It's easy enough to get rid of just use vinegar.
For your teakettle:
Boil some vinegar in your kettle and this will remove the limescale. Remember to rinse it out thoroughly afterwards though, as the vinegar taste may end up flavoring your tea and coffee for some time to come
For your Coffee pot:
Fill the reservoir halfway with vinegar and the rest with water. Run the pot halfway through and turn off. After it cools off start it up and finish the cycle. Let it cool off and run it again with plain water. Repeat until vinegar smell is gone from the water.
This will give your tea kettle and coffee pot a longer life and help the heat up quickly using less electricity.
For your teakettle:
Boil some vinegar in your kettle and this will remove the limescale. Remember to rinse it out thoroughly afterwards though, as the vinegar taste may end up flavoring your tea and coffee for some time to come
For your Coffee pot:
Fill the reservoir halfway with vinegar and the rest with water. Run the pot halfway through and turn off. After it cools off start it up and finish the cycle. Let it cool off and run it again with plain water. Repeat until vinegar smell is gone from the water.
This will give your tea kettle and coffee pot a longer life and help the heat up quickly using less electricity.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Save Trees Stop Junk Mail??? Sounds Good To Me
I found the most interesting service. It's Greendimes they will stop you junk mail and plant trees for you for $20.00. No more unwanted junk mail going into the landfill, plus 10 air cleaning trees planted for you. Go check it out.
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