Made in "Green" China

Today, more than ever, our products are manufactured in China. It's cheap. Even companies that are pushing "GREEN" products are having them manufactured in China. That seems like a giant oxymoron to me.

China is a polluted country because of all the manufacturing. Everyday more pollution is produced in China than anywhere else in the world. Waterways are polluted, in some cities residents have to wear masks just to leave the house. People are getting cancer at alarming rates. How can anything made there be green?

Companies that manufacture "GREEN" products also want to save a buck. They use recycled or recyclable materials in items such as composters, pots and planters, wall paper, etc. and have them made in China. But are they being manufactured in an environmentally friendly way? Some products say, "maufactured under our strictest guidelines". What is that supposed to mean? A broad statement that is supposed to make us feel good about the product we are buying, but doesn't really mean crap.

Products that are made from recycled or recyclable materials are a good thing and automatically will reduce our footprint when we purchase them and not items made from virgin materials. I wouldn't mind buying eco-friendly products made in China, if I knew they were really being manufactured in a responsible way. Chinese manufacturing plants do not have the best track records for being safe and environmentally responsible.

We as a whole, (Americans and Chinese) are suffering the effects of poor manufacturing safety standards and guidelines in China. The chinese are suffering ill health and disease, poor working conditions and low pay. We Americans are suffering from a poor economy, lack of jobs, lead poisoning in our children and the list goes on and on.

We need to choose our products wisely, think about what they are made of, where they were made, how they were made and... do we really need them? We are a society of "Must Haves". We Americans have lots of stuff. Lots. Lots of stuff goes to waste, in our basements, garages, and landfills.

We as a people have the power to change how things are made. Buy responsibly. If we don't buy products made irresponibly from virgin materials made in China, there will be no need to make them anymore. If we start buying responsibly made products made in America (and other countries), the manufacturers will be forced to make changes.

CHANGE IS GOOD! I do believe Ghandi said it best,

"YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE"

WE CAN DO IT!

Green Shopping

The way we shop is changing. It used to be that if you needed something, you'd just hop in the car and go get it. Those days are changing, born out of necessity. The way we shop is changing because the way we are thinking is changing.

Our environment for the first time in history is on our minds. Our crumbled economy and volatile fuel prices are on our minds. All of these things affect the way we shop.

Consumers are consolidating their shopping trips to save on fuel. They are doing without extra niceties to save money. Time is also a huge factor in our very busy lives.

So... what ARE consumers doing to maximize their shopping dollars?

They are shopping on the internet! No big surprise. Internet shopping has been gaining momentum for years now. Shopping on the internet can save you time, money and the environment. Let me explain.

Time - shopping from the comfort of your own home when it is convenient for you. The internet stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can order your groceries online at 2am and pick them up the following day, already bagged for you! How great is that!? You can order just about anything online in just a few minutes and have it shipped right to your door.

Money - The internet is famous for it's competitive pricing. They have entire sites focused on finding you the best prices. (Priceline, Amazon) There are also coupon sites. These sites are becoming very popular. Sites like www.couponselect.net offer coupon codes, deals and printable coupons. Simply go on the site and do a search for whatever it is you need. You can find coupon codes for extra discounts or free shipping. The competition on the internet is fierce and the companies know it, so they offer incentives all the time to buy their products...all you have to do is know where to find them.

Environment - This one's got you scratching your head, right? The environment is impacted every time we turn our ignition switch. What most people fail to realize it that fossil fuels are one of the leading causes of Global Warming. When we drive our individual cars everywhere we need to go, we are contributing to global warming. We may think that one car and one person doesn't have that much of an effect, but add a few million individuals and the effects are huge and catastrophic. We are being forced to stop thinking in that ME mentality and begin to think WE. So how does this affect our shopping habits? If we consolidate our shopping trips together, we save on fuel. If we order our products over the internet and have them shipped, we personally use no fuel. The shipping companies do, however, they are shipping and moving many, many packages across the nation in an efficient manner, thereby saving on fuel. Believe it or not, these simple shifts in the way we shop will have a huge impact on our environment.

Shoppers are also thinking about what they buy. Is it made in America? Fair trade made? or made in China? Does the company outsource its jobs? Is it made of first generation plastic or recycled milk jugs? Shopping on the internet gives you choices. You can find environmentally friendly products more easily on the internet than anywhere. You can also find unique and beautiful hand crafted items from talented artists all over the world.

The internet is the largest shopping mall in the world, and it's right at your fingertips. So what are you waiting for? Save time, save money, save the environment and have more available to you than you've ever thought possible! Enjoy!

There is a choice!

Good tips on Green Living Products. I am going to challenge anyone reading this to actually go out and commit themselves to start replacing their regular products with green, eco-friendly products. I'm not talking about buying everything today. I am speaking of making small changes, but start making them today. Begin to make small changes today in you daily lives. We no longer have a choice. This environment and the world we live in has been decimated from years of careless living. It is now our responsibility to begin to repair and respect that which has been given to us. Our children learn by example. Teach your children to live green and respect the world they live in. My kids fight over who's going to run the kitchen scraps to the composter. They know about recycling. As they mature they will live a certain way, and they will teach their children to love and respect the world we live in. Small changes today will transcend throughout time and the people of tomorrow will get to enjoy the very same that we and our parents, and their parents enjoyed. Small changes.

Shopping Green?

The Holiday season is upon us and I'm wondering who is shopping green this year?

I don't see many people out shopping in a frenzy yet. Is this a sign of our troubled economy or is it a sign of consumers becoming more conscious of their purchases? Hopefully the latter.

It is this time of year that we are the most wasteful. Buying and spending more than we should on those that we love. And its not just the gifts...it's the fuel we waste doing all that shopping. Driving from here to there to save a few bucks. And then to yet another 15 different stores trying to find just the right gift. Don't get me wrong I like to shop just as much as the next person, however, I'm trying to consolidate my shopping this year. I'm making lists and getting things online whenever possible. I know people hate to pay shipping, but if we figured what we spend in gas and time making all those trips, paying for shipping is actually cheaper on our wallets and easier on the environment. Try shopping with a friend and carpooling together. I know most of my shopping is being done online this year and when I do go out it will be an enjoyable relaxing trip where I can enjoy all the sights of the season without all the stress.

Many of the stores you would generally shop at like department stores or toy stores all have great, easy to use websites. The sales are generally the same or in some cases even better, because they can show every item from every store on their site.

You can also find much more unusual,unique and hard to find items on the internet. The internet is like the biggest shopping mall of all time! You can find everything from the latest Barbie or Game system to the most unique jewelry and art made by hand from artisans all over the world. Want to get the one you love something really unique and special? A gift they'll never forget? Look online! When you shop online, the world is your shopping mall.

Did you know? Especially during the holiday season it is much safer to pay with your credit card online than in a store? It is much harder for a thief to get onto a secure website than it is to go to a department store or a shopping mall and steal someones wallet or purse, or simply take down the numbers of your card while standing in line behind you! I didn't write this to make you afraid to shop, but many people are wary of shopping online because they feel the internet is not safe. If you are not sure whether a site is safe or not, look for a "secure site" logo. It will differ from company to company, but if the site is verified as secure by an outside company it will say so.

So... save a little GREEN this holiday season! Keep some green in your wallet by shopping online and save some environmental green by reducing your shopping trips this year!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for a Greener Life

Today, being Green is a necessity. It's not just for hippies and tree huggers any more. Actually being a tree hugger is a good thing, but that's another article. We are in a time that if we continue our bad habits, the children of our not too distant future will not have one.

The 20th Century brought technological growth and change for the masses, however, it was not always for the good of the environment. Now we are suffering from the effects of change. We need to get back to basics and lead less extravagant lives. We all have lots of stuff. Generally everything we buy is new, and that takes a toll on our environment. What we manufacture takes energy, causes a certain amount of pollution, and uses precious natural resources.

We need to reduce our waste, reuse what we can and recycle just about everything. Just recycling our cans and bottles is not enough anymore. (Lots of us don't even do that!)

We can reduce waste, just by not purchasing so much stuff. Every time we buy something, we throw away the packaging, bags are used to put our stuff in and paper is used to print receipts. Not to mention the energy it takes to power the store we bought the item in and the energy we used driving our vehicles to get there. If you need something try to condense your shopping trips or order it over the Internet.

Reuse what you can. By reusing items or re-purposing them, we can save money, energy, and keep our stuff from unnecessarily being sent to the land fill. Use old broken dishes for the bottom of you flower pots for drainage. Use old socks or t-shirts as dust rags or to wash the car. I know it seems small and simple, however if everyone did it we could make a significant change for the better.

Recycle everything. We can recycle leaves, grass clippings and food scraps into a composter and it will turn into beautiful rich organic compost that is good for the earth. (Some countries in Europe have made this a requirement.) Recycle your cans, bottles, paper, clothing, old household items, furniture etc. Habitat for Humanity will accept old cabinets, doors, windows, appliances, furniture etc. The Veteran's Association will come pick up clothes and small household items right at your door. Good Will has drop off locations where you can take your unwanted clothing and household items. Share your children's clothes they so quickly outgrow with family or friends. It is amazing how much money you can save by sharing. Vintage and slightly used clothing stores are popping up as cool chain stores for teenagers and young adults. Plato's closet is a nationwide chain that sells gently used brand name clothes for the young adult. You can take in your unwanted brand name clothes, (in good condition)and they will pay you for them, then you can shop and get fantastic deals on the latest fashions. There is even a shoe company that makes their shoes from recycled materials, and when you are done with them, you can send them back to the company and they will recycle them back into new shoes. (Oka-B Shoes)

The products to live greener are out there, and becoming more readily available. By reducing our household waste we can reduce the amount of greenhouse emissions coming from our already overtaxed landfills. By Reusing and recycling our unwanted stuff we can cut down on production, which also saves the environment's resources and reduces pollution. By purchasing less and purchasing only environmentally friendly products, it will also force the manufacturing companies to adopt cleaner, greener processes.

The general consensus has been that to live green one must sacrifice and perform tasks that are difficult and unpleasant. Living Green is simple. You may have to plan a little more or take a few more steps to the recycling buckets, but it is simple and necessary.

Many people are resistant to change. But change is good! By simplifying our lives, our lives become simpler, easier and more peaceful. We are always busy running here or there, keeping tight schedules, have to go pick up this or that. Take it easy…stay home and relax. Life is only as complicated as we make it. Getting back to a simpler life is not only good for the health of our environment, it is also good for our personal health as well. Being relaxed and taking things a bit easier creates a balance in our minds and bodies. Stress is the number one contributing factor of disease. Take the word DISEASE and break it down… DIS EASE. That says it all.

If we all make these small changes in our lives, the effects would be huge! We can collectively make a difference in our lives today and drastically change our future for the better. Your children will thank you for it.

Appreciation and Gratitude

Appreciation and Gratitude are two of the strongest and most powerful emotions we humans can generate. Appreciation and Gratitude are also the most lost emotions in today's societies.

How often do we feel grateful for someone letting us into merging traffic? How often do we feel grateful that the lines are not long at the grocery store? How often do we appreciate that our morning went smoothly? We usually take it for granted.

Taking time to appreciate the little things in our everyday and to feel grateful for what we have, is powerful. It brings us peace and allows us to feel joy. This is why the musician plays, why children imagine, why the gardener grows.

If we start to appreciate what we already have, even little things, our awareness grows. We are nicer to ourselves, our neighbors and even our environment. Appreciation and gratitude allow us to care and feel good about what we are doing.

For so long we as a whole have been in a "ME" attitude. Expecting without giving. This has taken a toll on us, our health, our families, and our environment. Our awareness over the last 100 years has shrunken to only what immediately affects us.

It is my intention, to live joyously, appreciate everyday, and feel grateful for this wonderful life. By feeling these positive emotions, I am able to expand. Expand enough to become aware of the wonders around me.

This world we live in, is a direct reflection of our thoughts and actions. It is in dire need of repair. It needs to feel our appreciation for it. The earth needs to be nurtured, cared for and loved.

Living a responsible, sustainable lifestyle is essential.

Everything around us is life. The water, the air, the ground.

How can life continue to be if we only take and never give back?

It is all in our hands. All of it...Everyday. Life is not for someone else to care for. Be responsible for your actions.

I do believe Ghandi said it best..."You must be the change you wish to see".

Getting Ready for a Green Christmas

Christmas is not usually what one thinks of when thinking Green. This year let's green up our holidays.

There are many ways to reduce our energy consumption during this time of year.

1. Switch from traditional Christmas lights to L.E.D. Lights. They will reduce your energy consumption greatly, the average string of 50 lights uses 300 watts of energy, the same 50 set of LED lights only uses 4 watts of energy and last up to 100,000 hours.

Talk about savings! Not only are we saving a huge amount of energy, we are also keeping precious dollars in our bank accounts.

2. Put all your lights on timers. By putting all your lights on timers (inside and out), you will save energy by controlling the amount of hours your lights are on.

I don't know about you, but I've fallen asleep with the lights on many times!

3. Try buying gifts that will actually get used for more than a week or two. Books, movies, actual toys like soccer balls, roller skates (toys that use kid power). Buying all that plastic crap that the kids see on TV is just like throwing money down the drain, and polluting our environment. Buy them art supplies that will foster their creativity or a musical instrument. We are so caught up in giving our kids what THEY think will make them happy. The toy of the month is not going to make them happy. It may satisfy them for a week or two, but not more than that.

Help them to find their passion, something they will love and grow with.

4. Don't waste food. The holidays are the biggest eating time of the year. We cook more we bake like crazy, we basically overindulge. This means that much food gets wasted. Make sure any and all food scraps go into the compost, not the trash can! Freeze or share what you cannot eat yourselves. If you have an abundance of leftovers, take it to your local homeless shelter, a shut in neighbor, or maybe invite someone less fortunate to share your meal. Cookies, cakes and pies given to a shelter or nursing home would be greatly appreciated.

5. Use eco friendly wrappings. Use recycled gift bags, Comics, decorate brown paper bags for wrapping paper. At the very least do not throw your wrapping paper into the trash! Wrapping paper can be recycled just like any other paper.

These are easy tips to Green up your Christmas. Now I'd like to pose a question and get some feedback...

What do you think is more environmentally friendly? A live Christmas tree that has been cut down, or an artificial Christmas tree that is reusable, but made of polyethylene that causes pollution during production?

Just How Dangerous are Pesticides?

Pesticide is a general term for Weed, Insect and Disease Controls. The following is a true story.

A good friend of mine, from my landscaping days is a Pesticide Applicator. He is licensed by the state. Last June, he was applying an Insecticide in granular form. He was wearing a respirator to keep the dust out of his lungs, short sleeves and pants, but it was hot. It was over 90 degrees that day and he was sweating. The dust stuck to his sweaty clothes and absorbed into his skin through his open pores. Before he knew it he was unconscious on a customer's front lawn and was rushed to the hospital. Thank goodness they were home. He spent the day in the hospital on IV, having fluids pumped into him to flush out the poison in his system.

This year, it was time to apply insect control again. He took the same precautions, and wore long sleeves to cover his skin. It was not quite so hot this year, in the low to mid 80's. It just happened to be time for his regular check up, and his Blood work came back irregular. High Blood Sugar. The doctor sent him for more tests. His pancreas was not processing insulin fast enough. This left him with periods of high blood sugar. He was of course very upset. This is a guy who is in generally good shape, a healthy weight and diabetes does not run in his family. At only 40 it was quite a shock.

The doctor just wanted to monitor him for a few weeks before putting him on any kind of medicine. He went for regular Blood Sugar Testing. After he had been done applying the insecticide for a few weeks, his blood sugars were back to normal. The insecticide had caused the problem. When the body is sick, whether it be from a virus or a toxin, the rest of the body slows down so it can eradicate the illness. This is what happened to my friend.

Think of all the chemicals we put on our lawn and plants, all the cleaning supplies we pour down the drains that ends up in our own bodies and our waterways. Overexposure to one chemical for a few weeks, almost poisoned my friend, just think what those chemicals constantly being applied all around us can do to fish and wildlife. Not to mention our children and pets.

How many of us have applicator's come apply 6 or 8 chemical treatments to our lawns annually? Usually a little flag is left on our front lawns. If we are not aware, it is easy to let the dog out after work, or tell our kids to go out and play, not realizing the potential danger that lurks in our own backyards.

Or maybe you apply your own chemicals. Most of us don't own respirators or even wear dust masks when applying fertilizers or control products.

Chemicals are generally not good. They cause disease in the body. Whether it is chemicals in our foods, cleaning products, or pesticides and fertilizers they can all cause problems with our health. A hundred years ago, people ate what they grew, there were no growth hormones for livestock and farmers used natural products like manure and compost to feed their plants. There were not nearly as many diseases as there are today. This is why living an organic lifestyle is so important. Get back to basics, simplify and teach your children to do the same. Our health, our planet and our future depend on it.

Brill Push Reel Mower

The Brill Push Reel Mower is a German made rotary type mower. Remember the old push mowers? They were heavy and back breaking to use, then came the Gas powered mowers and the Reel Type mower became almost obsolete. Sure, you would see an old die hard using one every now and again, but not often. Well the Push Reel mower is back and better than ever!

At one time I had a gas powered push mower, when it died, I hired a lawn service. I used that lawn service for 5 years. I could have bought 10 lawn mowers with the money I spent having someone else do it. We came across the Brill Push Reel Mowers while researching new environmentally friendly products for our retail website. They looked so interesting, I decided to buy one for myself. My neighbors laughed when I told them I bought a Push Reel Mower. I was very excited that I would no longer be contributing to the pollution of our environment and I would be getting a great workout.

When the mower came, my husband put it together, it took about 10 minutes. Then I was off. I had let my landscapers go, so my grass was ready to be cut. I was pleased and surprised at how easy it was to push! It only weighs 17 pounds, so it is actually mush easier to push around my 1/2 acre yard than my old gas mower. It is super easy to turn as well. The sound was so quiet I could have a conversation with my kids while cutting the grass!

The Silent Cut Design reduces wear and tear on the blades. In this system, the reel blade and the bedknife don't come in contact, instead they remain separated by less than a millimeter and shear the grass like scissors. This clean cut also helps the grass recover, because it doesn't mangle the stem or leave a jagged edge. Cutting height ranges from 15mm to 45mm (0.7 inches to 1.8 inches). This lets you cut low enough for the golf course look, and high enough for an average length cut for a wide variety of grass types.

I set the cutting height for 45mm for the first cut. I was worried it may be too short, since it is July and we have not had any decent rainfall in New Jersey in weeks. The grass looks great!
As the owner of a company that promotes Green Practices and sell products that help to reduce the footprint on the environment I am very proud to say I own and use a Brill Razorcut 38.

Rain Barrels, Benefiting the Environment

Harvesting rain water is quickly becoming an important part of reducing our footprint on the environment. Rainwater is beneficial for plants, people and pets. It is free of chemicals such as chlorine, pollutants and it is naturally soft. Plants and turf always look their best after a good soaking rain.

Collecting rainwater is great for areas that have water restrictions, and during a drought. By collecting rainwater you can water your lawn, plants and garden when you need to, regardless of watering restrictions. This will help save and sustain the landscape and garden you worked hard to establish. You can also wash the car, the dog, windows, etc.

By installing a Rain barrel you can also save precious water from becoming Storm water run off. Storm water run off pollutes our natural waterways and contributes to drought situations. When it rains, the water coming out of your gutters most times cannot be absorbed quickly enough by the surrounding lawn and landscape. It runs through the grass and down the driveways collecting fertilizers, chemicals, oils, etc. and all of that ends up in the storm drain. This contaminated water goes directly into our natural water ways. It pollutes our streams and rivers, which in turn knocks the whole eco system out of balance. Woodland plants and wildlife are affected greatly by the water run off from our homes.

A rainfall of 1" on 1,000 square feet of roof, will catch 600 gallons of rainwater. This can turn into thousands of gallon per year. (depending on rainfall in your area) By capturing just some of this water, you can save money on your water bill, water your plants when you need to, and keep pollution from entering our waterways. Now that's beneficial.

Rain Barrels come in various sizes, the most common is around 55 gallons. Most are equipped with an overflow spout, and a faucet for hooking up a garden hose or soaker hose. Many are also mosquito proof, which is important as well. Once installed, they will easily blend into the landscape.

Next time it rains, be ready! Install rain barrels and be ready to save water, save money and save the environment!

What to do with your Doggie Doo

We've always had a dog and for as long as I can remember I have been cleaning up dog poop. Everyday I get my plastic shopping bag and a shovel and patrol the yard. I had never given it much thought until recently. That's a lot of plastic bags filled with poop that is going to the land fill never to decompose.

Composting has also always been a part of our lifestyle, but poop was the one thing we couldn't put in our regular composter. Now Vermi-composting has come along. What a great way to recycle nature's waste. Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker is a mini worm farm composter. The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker consists of two sturdy nesting boxes with a lid, which form a neat, compact portable unit. The worms eat and breed in the top box. This has a perforated base to allow any liquid waste to drain through to the bottom (collector) box. The "worm poo" or worm castings remain in the top box and can be harvested as desired. The bottom or catcher box collects the valuable liquid waste which can be diluted and used as a fertilizer on your garden.

The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter will handle, on average, the droppings of two medium dogs. However, this will vary with age, diet, exercise and breed of dog. (Think Chihuahua vs. St Bernard). The greater the amount of droppings recycled through the Pet Poo Converter, the quicker the level of castings will build up. The castings can then be easily harvested, as per the instructions, and used around the flower garden or in potting mixes.

There is no difficulty in getting the worms to eat dog droppings. Commercial worm farmers rear their worms on manure. However it is not possible to mix diets. They must be fed exclusively on pet poo. If you want to recycle vegetable scraps you must set up a separate farm.

This is the best thing going. Farmers have been using manure for hundreds of years to amend the soil. It is super rich in nutrients. The worm castings and the tea that is made from your dog's poop is a great return on your investment. Think of all the money you spend on dog food, and all the money you will save on fertilizer!

Eco- living...Eco-chic

It seems to me that the alarmist newscasters of the nation finally picked a subject worthy of their extreme reporting tactics.

All the press about Global Warming, Icebergs melting, Overtaxed Landfills, etc., etc. seems to have sunken in. The general population seems to be getting on the "Green Bandwagon". Even Wal-Mart is getting in on the act.

Is it just Chic to be "Green"? Or it this the lasting change and commitment we need to make for our environments future? I guess only time will tell.

Composting- Fun for the Whole Family

Home composting is one of the best ways to cut down on waste going into our overtaxed landfills.

Food waste, leaves, and grass clippings contributes a huge 24% of solid waste in our landfills. As these materials break down in a landfill situation, they produce Methane Gas, an explosive GreenHouse Gas. This can leach through the ground and affect surrounding residential or business areas. This solid waste also takes years to breakdown, rather than months in a composter.
In a composting situation not only will this matter break down faster, more efficiently and non-toxically, it also has many benefits to our environment.

What you can and should compost:

Cardboard Rolls, Clean Paper, Coffee Grounds, Coffee Filters, Eggshells, Fruits, Veggies, Tea Bags, Nut Shells, Cotton Rags, Dryer Lint, Vacuum Cleaner Lint, Fireplace Ashes, Grass Clippings, Hair, Fur, Houseplants, Leaves, Sawdust, Shredded Newspaper, Wood Chips, Wool Rags, Shrub and Perennial Trimmings

What Not To Compost:

Charcoal Ashes, Black Walnut Leaves and Branches, Diseased or Insect Infested Plants Fungicides, Pesticides, Insecticides, Dog /Cat Feces or Litter, Dairy Products, Meat/Fish Bones or Scraps, Fats,Grease, Lard or Oil

Did you know Compost Can...

Suppress plant diseases and pests
Reduce and/or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers
Promote higher yields in vegetable gardens
Stronger, better blooming perennials and shrubs
Removes solids, oils, grease and heavy metals from storm water runoff
Capture and destroy 99% of Industrial Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC's) from the air (a contributor to the destruction of the ozone)

Composting enriches the soil. The natural nutrients of compost help retain moisture and prevent plant diseases and infestations of insects.

COMPOSTING PREVENTS POLLUTION! Not only does composting reduce/eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and controls, compost absorbs and eliminates toxic VOC's, heavy metals and prevents them from entering our waterways.

Ok, ok, I know I said Composting, Fun for the Whole Family. As parents we need to teach our kids why we should compost. The info above can help you do just that. Composting needs to be a family habit. Teaching our children or grandchildren good environmental habits will ensure a Greener Future.

A small Compost Bin will get you started. They are economical and don't take up much space. A Compost Pail in your kitchen and some leaves are all you need to get started. Compost Pails are decorative and come with a lid. (An empty coffee can will work too) Just divert your hand from the trash can to the compost pail. An easy transition. Getting the kids involved is the best part. Have them collect stray leaves and twigs in the yard. Make it a game--kids love helping. They also like opening the composter and dumping the compost pail into it. They love to see everything mixed up in there. Contrary to popular belief, composters do not smell and they do not attract flies or other insects. You and your children (grandchildren) will be amazed at the rich, black dirt that comes out. Make sure you add leaves, grass clippings, etc. to balance the food scraps.

It's an easy process. The environment, your yard, your plants, and your children will thank you.

- You must be the change you wish to see- Mahatma Ghandi

The Essence of Living Green

What difference can one homeowner make to the environment? Why, when big polluters are making “green” changes, do we need to change our daily living habits? The answer is simple… children! By making slight and easy changes in the way we look at, and treat Planet Earth today, future generations of children will have learned by example.

Teach the Children

My children love the outdoors, because my husband and I expose them to it. They also love computers, and I am sure if we exposed them to fast foods they would love that as well. It’s all about making good choices and being a good example. I’m not talking about wearing hemp clothing or eating granola all day long although there are those who do. You do not have to be that committed to be a part of the “Green Initiative”. For those who merely have a healthy respect for the world we live in and want to take action to help improve the environment, there are many simple changes that we can make, and teach our children to do the same.

Recycling

There is more to recycling than paper, plastic and bottles. Organic waste is one of the largest contributors to landfills which causes methane gas, the principle component of natural gas, is released into the atmosphere and is a contributing factor in the depletion of the ozone layer, which in turn plays a major part in global warming. Organic waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and non-animal food scraps do not decompose efficiently enough in landfills yet makes the best compost for your vegetable garden, flowers, trees and shrubs.

Composting is Easy

Composting can also be fun, especially if you enjoy gardening, and is even more rewarding when you think about the thousands of acres of open space being saved through the very simple practice of recycling and composting. All good gardeners know that there is nothing better for your plants and turf than good old fashioned hand made compost. There are many different types of composters on the market today that make the task of composting very easy and will protect against attracting stray or wild animals. You can even quicken the process of making compost by using safe and organic composting accelerators giving you compost within a few weeks.

Use Organic Products

Using organic fertilizers and control products also cuts down on soil, air and ground water pollution. Sure it’s easy to buy a bag of name brand fertilizer or pesticide; however it is just as easy to find organic products now more than ever. In fact, it is also just as cheap. The larger name brand companies are beginning to put out their own lines of organic gardening products, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Getting Rid of Insects

Rather than spraying for insects which would be both timely and costly, install a bat box or two in your trees and let them take care of the bugs for you! Adding ladybugs or praying mantis to your garden is much more fun than spraying weekly for bugs. If you live in a rural area and zoning allows for livestock, chickens are an amazing bug control. Yes, just a couple of chickens running loose in your yard will eat up to 1 million fleas and ticks daily.

Conserving Water

Where droughts are prevalent each year conserving water is a must. Watering your yard can account for up to 40% of water consumption. Catching rainwater with rain barrels to water your yard or garden is just as easy as dragging out your hose and will save you a substantial amount of money on your water bill. One 80 gallon rain barrel can capture 3,275 gallons of water per year and you’ll be putting the water back into the underground aquifer. Not routing rainwater from your roof to your garden will only serve to tax drainage systems rather than benefit vegetation or replenish natural, underground aquifers.

Most rain barrels are made from either 100% recycled plastic or reused food industry barrels, so either way you will also be putting renewable resources to good use and your plants and flowers will thank you for it.

Plant a Tree

Every tree planted helps remove CO2 from our atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer. There are many other benefits to growing trees in your own yard or community for that matter. They provide homes and a safe haven for the many wild animals that still reside among us. Mature trees help shade our home from the sun, cutting down on energy consumption when using air conditioning. One of the more proactive and well established non-profit organizations is the Arbor Day Foundation which encourages the planting and care of trees worldwide.

Pervious Patios and Walkways

For every 1,000 square feet of pervious patio, driveways or walkways, you can prevent an average of 12,100 gallons of storm water runoff from going into your communities drain system. This same water will help to recharge our lakes, wetlands and groundwater.

Make a List

There are many changes that you can to help improve our environment. Gather everyone in your household and discuss how your family can contribute to the health of the world we live in. Children are the most receptive to new ideas and will have a lot of fun making their own top ten lists. By making good choices today, our children will make even better choices tomorrow.

This article may be reproduced and/or distributed for the purpose of education only and may not be changed in part or whole. Please include this Author Resource. This article was written by Mark & Vera Pappas, Co-owners of GreenNationGardens.com, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.

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