Reduce Waste–Reuse These Items!

1.  
   • Coffee or soup cans–Make into flower pots, pen/pencil holders, etc.
   • Glass or plastic jars–Store leftover food, buttons, nails, thumbtacks, etc.
   • Used wood–Make into birdhouses, compost bins, etc.
   • Motor oil cans & pesticide containers CANNOT be reused and should be disposed of properly.
   • Colored paper & egg cartons–Use for arts and crafts projects
   • Tuna cans–Reuse as muffin tins or candle molds
   • Packing “peanuts” & bubble wrap–Reuse to ship packages
   • Paper & plastic Bags–Use to clean up around the house or reuse at grocery store
   • Paper and envelopes–Use to write notes or make lists before recycling
   • Gift boxes–Use again. Also, reuse larger pieces of wrapping paper, bows, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

12 tips for conserving energy when cooking 

I was marvelling at how energy efficient my gas camp stove is - 4 pound bottle lasted me 3 weeks - and wondering why the ones in domestic kitchens aren’t the same.

Some of the reason is due to the type of gas; but much of the issue is noise - a camp stove is quite noisy compared to a household gas range, but it’s this feature that makes it so efficient - the size and number of holes in the burner. It’s another example of how we have swapped efficiency for aesthetics to our wallet’s and environment’s detriment. Read the rest of this entry »

Picnics have always been a great outdoor tradition. Whether you’re spending a summer afternoon relaxing on the beach or curling up under a warm blanket in the fall, having a picnic is an excellent way to take some time out to connect with friends and family. Share and create memories that will last a lifetime, over a delicious meal. Just follow these tips and menu ideas to plan the perfect picnic for you and your loved ones.

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I recently visited this site Bagsontherun.com and instantly fell in love. If you’re on a “Green” crusade like a lot of us are you know that even the little changes make a big difference. For example how we carry our groceries and such. I couldn’t help but have my imagination run wild with ideas on how to use these bags. They come in a variety of colors so matching them to a certain theme will be easy. For example schools give out t-shirts, water bottles and towels for big events, why can’t they supply these green bags for their kids? It’s an excellent way to teach and get our kids into the habit of using these bags. What about for party favors or big corporate events? If you order 3,000 or more you can have your company’s logo or message and completely customize these bags for your employees. The list is endless. Read the rest of this entry »

by Lee Dobbins

There is not much of a difference of growing herbs indoors or outdoors. Many herbs that thrive outside will do fine inside if taken care of correctly so learning how to grow an indoor herb garden is not that difficult. A tip for growing herbs indoors is to remember that containers dry out more quickly and do not provide enough moisture for the plant so one thing you want to do is to be sure to water your herbs in containers more frequently.

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Let’s face it house cleaning sucks. It’s a task often dreaded by most homeowners. Its always a tough ordeal to perform general cleaning, especially since it takes almost the whole day to have everything organized, clutter free, cleaned and polished. So how do you make house cleaning simpler? How can you accomplish this task in the shortest time possible with the best results? Read the rest of this entry »

Most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on age-old formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the original naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that work, don’t pollute and save you money. Most are found in your kitchen cupboards. Mix and match with well-chosen and environmentally friendly green cleaning products found in health food stores, and you can easily and simply transform your home into a non-toxic and healthy haven. More….

To maintain the health of the lawn, plants, shrubs and trees, as well as protecting the foundations of your house, it’s important to ensure that the earth has a good drainage system. Moreover, soil that is constantly saturated encourages mildew and is harmful to healthy plants, even those which need a lot of moisture. Read the rest of this entry »

Through the years BPA (Bisphenol A) has been a concern. In the past we heard reports and read news articles on PBA being safe. That the jury was out on whether or not we should take action. The US Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities worldwide even recognized the use of polycarbonate plastic for food contact applications as safe. However last week, the U.S. government’s National Toxicology Program said that there is “some concern” about BPA from experiments on rats that linked the chemical to changes in behavior and the brain, early puberty and possibly precancerous changes in the prostate and breast. Read the rest of this entry »

Aaahhh…… It’s that time of year again. More hours of daylight, tulips are peeking out of the soil and spring fever begins to take effect. We start to think about remodeling, home improvements, fixing the yard and decluttering. For some of us we’re planning a big move. All those years of living in one home and packing it all up for the next will surely leave you with alot stuff we just don’t want to take with us. Well whichever one is you, the stuff that’s left behind needs to go somewhere. Don’t trash it, you can make a little cash off your junk.

Why not have a yard sale? A tag sale, garage sale - whatever you call it, the yard sale is part of the American way of life. On clear weekened mornings if you cruise through a suburban neighborhood you are sure to see signs on every corner or tree and the steady flow of slow-moving cars checking out the goods in someones driveway or front lawn. You can have one too. Have the kids or some friends help out and make some cash. Remember “One persons trash is another ones treasure”.

If you are considering holding a  garage sale or yard sale this year? We have some handy info on how to prepare and have one. Sign up for a free checklist

If you are an Yard Sale Pro, write in and let us know any crazy stories you might have or if you have anything to add let us know, we would love to hear from you.