Waste Not Want Not

This is what happens after just one day of a very slow drip. The ground near my faucet was saturated very deep. I not only have to pay for that wasted water in my monthly bill, but I also hate that I live in a desert and just wasted a bunch of water. No matter where you live it is important to not waste water. Even if you don't have to pay for it. Check all of your faucets inside and out!

Join a Food Co-op!

I am so excite about our local program that allows me to get a laundry basket full of fresh produce for cheap cheap cheap! Not only is it good for us, but it is a great way to go GREEN! Don't have a local program? Start one. Grow a garden or find individuals with gardens that have extra produce. I know lots of people that have more than enough in their garden and don't want to waste their fresh veggies. If everyone puts their extras together, you will find yourself with a lot of fruits and veggies for a great deal. Contact your local farms to see what they have. Sometimes we get a fruit or vegetable that we are not familiar with, but it is so much fun figuring out and learning to cook with these new items. If you live in Arizona contact Bountiful Baskets for your Food Co-op.

Poop Happens

I went to the dog park the other day and had a moment of panic as I realized I forgot to bring a bag in case poop happens. Most parks have the clever little black bags dispenser, but it is rarely filled. It seems that once they are out after the first time, nobody ever comes back to refill it. To my surprise some genius thought to create a bag dispenser big enough for everyone to bring their extra grocery bags to put in for dog poop. This container was overflowing with bags and I was more than happy to not only pick up after my dog, but to feel good knowing we were recycling bags. How many times do you find yourself with a cupboard full of grocery bags because you don't want to throw them away, but don't know what to do with them! Take them to a park! As long as there are dogs walking this earth, there will be a need for bags! To the person who thought of that: thank you for the brilliant idea!

Bonus: perhaps if the government gets to stop supplying poop bags to parks we can pay off the deficit! Wouldn't that be great if the country wasn't in debt all because of a little recycling?! One could dream.....

The diaper debate

Check out this possible solution to those darn disposable diapers that are filling up landfills. As I new Mom myself this is problem for me.

gDiapers, which stands for green diapers, consist of a washable, cotton outer 'little g' pant and a plastic-free flushable diaper refill. They are made of breathable material just like sports clothing. So, babies stay dry and happy and are far less likely to get diaper rash.
Flush, compost or toss.

Can't flush? It's ok to toss our flushable diaper refills because they're plastic-free. Or garden compost the wet ones. They'll break down in 50-150 days.
flush, compost or toss

A totally new way to think about diapers.

Once you get the hang of it, the whole process will seem as normal as recycling your newspaper.

In the beginning, you may have an icky encounter until you get into the groove of using gDiapers.

You can also compost the wet ones or simply toss the soiled refill. It will break down in the landfill in about 90 days vs. up to 500 years for a disposable. Ah, the beauty of eco-friendly plastic-free diapers.

Learn how to flush the flushable diaper refills and how to get the perfect gDiaper fit.
For more information head to this link!

Composting is Easy!

Click here   for  an example of an easy way to start your compost. This is an easy way to convert common yard and food waste into an effective fertilizer . This also keeps out the worms!

How to Clean "GREEN"

1. Use Green Cleaning Products- more and more brands of environmentally safe, healthy, green, and effective cleaning products are available. Check them out and feel better about cleaning.

2. Avoid Poor Indoor Air quality- Keep windows open as often as possible, especially when cleaning to keep the toxins flowing out.

3. Be careful with Antibacterial hand cleaners- It is actually often not better to use antibacterial cleaners vs. soap and water. Antibacterial cleaners can breed "super germs." These do not work better than soap and water according to the FDA.

4. Clean your air naturally- Instead of store bought products try boiling cinnamon, cloves, and any other spices you enjoy smelling. Also plants are good air filters.

5. Toss toxic cleaners carefully- Instead of throwing it in the garbage, check your local recycling center to see if they will properly dispose of these products.

6. Employ a "green" cleaning service. If you don't have the time to clean, encourage the green theme by only hiring a cleaning service that uses "green" products.

How Green is Your Kitchen?

8 Ways to "greenerize" your kitchen:

1. Set Up Recycling Bins

make sure you are recycling aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic bottles, and steel cans.

2. Compost Food Waste

Garbage disposals use lots of water. Consider saving your vegetables, fruits,egg shells, and coffee grounds as compost to be used in your garden or just for a nutrient rich soil in your backyard.

3. Be Time Sensitive

Before you open your fridge think about what you need so you are not standing there with the door open. Use your oven light to check on food instead of opening the oven door. Cook mulitple dishes on the same burner so you are not wasting energy heating up other burners.

4. Install a Skylight

Instead of using artificial light, install a skylight so you can save energy use in the kitchen.

5. Save Grease and Oil

Throwing your grease or excess oil down the drain is bad for the pipes and is a waste. Save leftover oil in a jar to be used later.

6. Be Dish Savvy

If you are using a dishwaher make sure you fill it completely before running. This cuts down on energy and extends the life of your dishwasher. If you hand wash your dishes: fill the sink half way and let them soak rather than continually running the water to wash them.

7. Think Long-Term for Cooking Utensils

Metal is king when it comes to long-lasting cooking gear. Stainless steel pots and pans, iron skillets and the like will pay off in the long run. Plus, these items can be recycled easily as scrap metal, so you won’t have to worry about where to take a plastic spatula with egg stains for disposal.

8. Recycle Appliances

If you are upgrading your old appliances, be sure to donate them to a second hand store. If the appliances no longer work, see if they can be picked up by the store delivering your new appliances. These may contain chemicals harmful to the landfill.