Make this summer the most environmentally responsible yet–and save money in the bargain!
1. Buy a water bottle and fill it from your tap. A stainless steel Kleen Kanteen water bottle starts at $15.00–the same price as 15 units of bottled water you might buy at the ball diamond or gas station, golf course or county fair. Continue reading
What do plants need to grow?
Sun, dirt, water. You know you want your garden to get at least 8 hours of sunshine. You hook up sprinklers or find rain barrels to keep your plants watered. But what about the dirt? What can you do to provide the best nutrients for healthy roots and plants in your garden? Continue reading
Earlier this year, Recycla talked about switching from toilet paper made from virgin fibers to brands that use recycled content. And a couple weeks ago, Enviro Girl shared how she reuses old t-shirts and socks in her house.
Posted in 3 Rs, house stuff, living green on a budget
It’s time to switch out the winter coats for lightweight jackets, snow boots for sandals. If you’re careful about storing your winter gear, you won’t need to replace it quite as soon–and when you do need it next winter, it’ll be ready to wear. Here are some tips: Continue reading
Does this look familiar? We’ve all got a garage or basement full of gadgets, tools and appliances used once, twice or maybe only a few times a year. Owning stuff that you only use once or twice a year requires full payment, maintenance costs and storage. Is it really worth it to sacrifice garage space for a rototiller you use one time a year? Continue reading
For years Enviro Girl bought those egg-dye kits with the little colored tablets, but a few Easters ago she decided to skip it and try a more natural approach. This tip saves money and resources, as you can dye Easter eggs with things you already have in your kitchen. Continue reading
Enviro Girl lives with boys who play on teams–and each team means a new team t-shirt. Over the years, the family has accumulated boxes of shirts–many no longer worn. We’ve also got bushels of old socks (many without their life partner), towels, undies and blue jeans. Instead of filling a landfill with old clothes unfit for the thrift shop, Enviro Girl cuts them into squares and gives them another life as rags. Old socks slit up the side are the perfect size for polishing wood. Old t-shirts work great on windows and glass. Old towels clean up sinks, tubs and toilets beautifully. And even old tighty-whitey Fruit of the Looms work great for swiping away motor oil or wiping on shoe polish (and then into the trash)! These days the only time Enviro Girl uses paper towels is to absorb bacon grease when making Sunday morning brunch.
The cleaning industry has pushed consumers into using disposable cloths and towels–it’s a huge money-maker for them, but it’s also a huge burden on our planet. The production, packaging and final toss into a county landfill take human “convenience” to a perfectly loathsome level of wasteful and toxic behavior. Rags are free, reusable after washing and most fabric fibers decompose over time when you finally do retire them to your compost pile or the local landfill. Reincarnating old clothes as rags is a step closer to Enlightenment–and a step away from further global devastation.
Love your planet–reuse your old clothes when tackling cleaning chores. Put that “Lakeville Youth Soccer” t-shirt back in the game–it’s got several seasons left in it playing a new position!
It’s environmentally friendly, easy and cheap to grow your own food. As the ground thaws, it’s a great time to start planting, but certain crops require warmer soil. Cool weather crops like broccoli, spinach, peas and cauliflower can get planted early in the season, but it’s best to wait Continue reading
As you know, the Eco Women are kind of nuts about their gardens. For a while Enviro Girl has really wanted to add some fencing around hers–more to add structure than for any other purpose. Among her favorite gardens in the Whole Wide World is Anne Hathaway’s garden in Stratford-on-Avon, England. It’s rustic and charming, full of pretty flowers and practical vegetables and a small orchard. Sweet little paths wind through the property and occasional benches and trellises provide cozy spots for reading a book or watching the birds. Continue reading
Saturday afternoon Enviro Girl nearly gagged when she returned home. The wrapping from Thursday night’s chicken dinner had finally reached its prime–one of the most unbearable stenches. It was time to take out the trash and Enviro Girl reached for her trusty spray bottle of vinegar water to neutralize the odor.
