Smart Saving Starts At Home

How Safe is Tap Water?

Tap water is not without its problems. In 2005, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested municipal water in 42 states and detected some 260 contaminants in public water supplies. Of those, 141 were unregulated chemicals for which public health officials have no safety standards, much less methods for removing them.

Environmentalists Fault EPA for Failing to Establish Tap Water Standards
EWG did find over 90 percent compliance by water utilities in applying and enforcing standards that exist, but faulted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to establish standards on so many of the contaminants—from industry, agriculture and urban runoff—that do end up in our water.

Tap Water vs. Bottled Water
Despite these seemingly alarming stats, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which has also conducted extensive tests on municipal water supplies as well as bottled water, says: “In the short term, if you are an adult with no special health conditions, and you are not pregnant, then you can drink most cities’ tap water without having to worry.” This is because most of the contaminants in public water supplies exist at such small concentrations that most people would have to ingest very large quantities for health problems to occur.

What are the Health Risks of Tap Water?
NRDC does caution, however, that “pregnant women, young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and those with weakened immune systems can be especially vulnerable to the risks posed by contaminated water.” The group suggests that anyone who may be at risk obtain a copy of their city’s annual water quality report (they are mandated by law) and review it with their physician.

What are the Health Risks of Bottled Water?
As for bottled water, it is first important to know that 25 to 30 percent of it comes straight from municipal tap water systems, despite the pretty nature scenes on the bottles that imply otherwise. Some of that water goes through additional filtering, but some does not. NRDC has researched bottled water extensively and has found that it is "subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water."

Bottled water is required to be tested less frequently than tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform, contrary to EPA tap water rules that prohibit any such contamination. Similarly, NRDC found that there are no requirements for bottled water to be disinfected or tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia, unlike more stringent EPA rules regulating tap water. This leaves open the possibility, says NRDC, that some bottled water may present similar health threats to those with weakened immune systems, the elderly and others they caution about drinking tap water.

Goal: Make Tap Water Safe for Everyone
The bottom line is that we have invested considerably in highly efficient municipal water delivery systems that bring this precious liquid straight to our kitchen faucets any time we need it. Instead of taking that for granted and relying on bottled water instead, we need to make sure our tap water is clean and safe for all.

Save 36,000 Gallons of Water This Year

As news stories about droughts and water shortages become more frequent, many people are looking for easy ways to save water. In 2009 alone, there were water restrictions in parts of Florida, Georgia and Texas. California continues to be plagued by droughts and shortages across much of the state. Most of us have heard about carbon footprints, but do you know what your water footprint is? According to Planet Green, the average American uses about 400 gallons of water per day. That's a whopping 584,000 gallons per year for the average family of four! Here are five easy ways to save water that could cut your water footprint by 36,000 gallons or more this year.

• Check your toilet for leaks. Simply add a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank and wait 30 minutes. If you see any color in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Fix the leak, save water. Seals in your toilet tank can wear out and begin to leak without affecting the toilet's function, so it's a good idea to check for leaks a couple of times a year. Average monthly water savings: 1,000 gallons.
• Install water saving shower heads. Conventional shower heads can use up to 10 gallons per minute. Do you really need that much water to get clean? Installing a low-flow shower head that uses only 2-2.5 gallons per minute will keep you just as clean using only 20% of the water. Average monthly water savings: 750 gallons.
• Use eco-friendly landscaping. Save water by replacing old flowers and shrubs with varieties adapted to low-water environments. You can install rain barrels and drip irrigation systems to collect and distribute rain water through your garden for more ways to save water. Be sure to check the local laws in you area before installing any rainwater collection systems. Believe it or not, some states actually have laws against collecting rain water. Average monthly water savings: 100-300 gallons.
• Wash only when necessary. Do you faithfully turn on the dishwasher every night, even if it's only half full? Save more water by resisting the urge and only running your washing machine or dishwasher when they are full. Average monthly water savings: 1,000 gallons.
• Be aware of your water usage. Can you save money without tracking how much you spend? Maybe, but it's sure to be much harder without a budget. The same is true for water usage. You can save more water if you know how much water you use to begin with. Check out this handy Water Footprint Calculator from H2O Conserve, and find out how much water you're using.

The best part about these water saving tips is that they are easy, affordable solutions that anyone can use to reduce water consumption. You don't have to change your lifestyle or invest in costly equipment to save water; you just need to be aware of the places where water is most often wasted.

http://www.greendaily.com/2010/02/12/how-to-save-36000-gallons-of-water-this-year/

Saving Water/Energy this Summer

Water Heating
Water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home. You can reduce your monthly water heating bills by selecting the appropriate water heater for your home or pool and by using some energy-efficient water heating strategies.

Selecting a New Water Heater
You have a lot to consider when selecting a new water heater for your home. You should choose a water heating system that will not only provide enough hot water but also that will do so energy efficiently, saving you money. This includes considering the different types of water heaters available and determining the right size and fuel source for your home.

Types of Water Heaters
It's a good idea to know the different types of water heaters available before you purchase one:

• Conventional storage water heaters
  Offer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water
• Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters
  Heat water directly without the use of a storage tank
• Heat pump water heaters
  Move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water
• Solar water heaters
  Use the sun's heat to provide hot water
• Tankless coil and indirect water heaters
  Use a home's space heating system to heat water

Water Usage

Americans use large quantities of water inside and outside of their homes. In fact, a family of four uses 400 gallons of water every day.

Water conservation tips:

• Fix leaky toilets. Toilets are the single largest water user in a home. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day, and it is estimated that nearly 20% of all toilets leak. Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 15 minutes.
• Use WaterSense labeled products. It could save 20% of the water that average products would use.
• Take short showers instead of baths. A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while a 5-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.
• Repair dripping faucets and showerheads.A drip rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year>.

WaterSense

Launched in 2006, WaterSense is an EPA-sponsored partnership program that seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices.

WaterSense brings together local water utilities and governments, product manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and other stakeholders to:

• Decrease indoor and outdoor non-agricultural water use through the adoption of more efficient products and practices.
• Help consumers make water-efficient choices, including differentiating between products and services in the marketplace and adopting simple daily activities that reduce water use.
• Encourage innovation in manufacturing
• Establish and standardize rigorous certification criteria that ensure product efficiency, performance, and quality.

WaterSense helps consumers identify water-efficient products and programs that meet WaterSense water efficiency and performance criteria. Products carrying the WaterSense label perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing.

WaterSense partners with manufacturers, retailers and distributors, and utilities to bring WaterSense labeled products to the marketplace and make it easy to purchase high-performing, water-efficient products.

WaterSense also partners with irrigation professionals and irrigation certification programs to promote water-efficient landscape irrigation practices.

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/about_us/index.html

Water Purification

Water that is safe to drink is called potable water, or drinking water, in contrast to safe water, which can be used for bathing or cleaning. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency sets maximum levels for the 90 most commonly occurring contaminants. If something happens to your water supply, your supplier has to contact you to let you know what precautions you should take. Water treatment requires six basic steps:

• In coagulation, coagulants like lime and alum are added to the water, which causes particulates to clump together.
• Next, the water is shaken into larger clumps, called flocks.
• The sedimentation process requires that the water stand for 24 hours, which allows the clumps to settle to the bottom.
• The water is then filtered, disinfected (usually with chlorine) and aerated.
• Aeration helps to remove certain contaminants like radon.

Water Survival Techniques
If your water becomes contaminated and you don't have bottled water, you can purify it in a few different ways. If it is cloudy, first filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle and then pour off the clear water. Then, you can boil the water for one minute to kill most disease-causing organisms.

You can also add one-eighth of a teaspoon of household chlorine bleach per gallon of water (or follow directions on the label). You should double the amount if the water is discolored or murky. Stir and let it stand for 30 minutes. Chlorine bleach tablets are sold at camping supply stores to purify water for drinking. You can also use five drops of iodine per gallon to disinfect water.

Store boiled or disinfected water in clean, covered containers. If the boiled water tastes too flat or the chlorine taste is too strong, pour it from one container into another.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/h2o4.htm

Cold Water Laundry, Give It a Try!

by Patricia Mayville-Cox

One of the most common tips to "green your laundry" is to use cold water in the washer, as ninety percent of the energy used for washing clothes is used for heating the water. However, let's be honest, sometimes a cold water wash and rinse is just not going to cut it.

Instead of trying to wash everything in cold water and becoming frustrated, shoot for a goal that is reasonable for you. Aim for making 80% of the loads you wash cold wash/cold rinse cycles. Just taking this simple step could cut 72 pounds of carbon emissions in one month alone.

Even if 80% is too high, try aiming for half! It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing.

(Source: http://www.greendaily.com/2009 /02/27/tip-of-the-day-cold-water-laundry-give-it-a-try/)

20 Ways to Reuse Old Plastic (and Paper) Bags-
Turn them into trash bags for the car, wrap drinking glasses with them when moving, and more

Plastic Bags

1. Use them to dust off out-of-season shoes and out-of-favor stuffed animals stored in the closet.

2. Make parachutes for action figures to heighten the adventure at playtime. Cut out a square from a bag, and poke a hole in each corner. Cut four pieces of string (or dental floss) at least a foot long and loop one through each hole, tying a knot to secure it; tie the other end of each string around the toy.

3. Keep bags in the glove compartment to use as trash bags on road trips?or, if you have kids, trips just down the road.

4. Donate them to food pantries, libraries, day-care centers, or hospitals that take them.

5. Use them to stuff pet beds or throw pillows that have thick fabric covers.

6. When packing a suitcase, use them to keep shoes from soiling clothes and dirty things from clean ones.

7. To protect small outdoor plants from frost at night, cover them with bags and tie the handles tightly around the pots. Be sure to take the bags off in the morning.

8. Wrap drinking glasses and other fragile items when you’re moving. A layer of three or four bags around each piece provides enough protection and won’t leave nasty newspaper ink or annoying pieces of Styrofoam all over everything.

9. Cover your car’s side mirrors and windshield wipers if you park outside in winter and you won’t have to scrape ice off in the a.m.

10. Protect work surfaces at arts-and-crafts time. Slit bags up the sides, spread them out flat, tape them together, and lay them across any table or surface your kids are getting creative (i.e., making a mess) on.

Paper Bags

1. An Everymom standby: Use grocery bags to make schoolbook covers your kids can label and decorate to their art’s delight. They’ll protect the books from the mozzarella that falls from the pizza or the exploding highlighter in the backpack.

2. Cut out eyeholes and decorate the bag to make a mask. The shape cries out SpongeBob.

3. Enlist bags with handles for trick-or-treat duty. Let the kids have at them with glitter and glue, markers and paints, stickers, and anything else in the art box.

4. Make place mats kids can color on while waiting for dinner, just like in those family-friendly restaurants.

5. Place unripe peaches, plums, or green tomatoes in a bag. The closed bag traps ethylene, the natural gas released by the ripening fruit (while still allowing a little ventilation), which helps it ripen faster.

6. Make a kite. Punch a hole in each corner of the open end of a bag. Tie a long piece of string in each hole, gather the ends, and glue some streamers onto the open end. The natural shape of the bag will catch the wind, which will lift it into the air.

7. To add an extra layer of weed deterrence to your garden, place plain bags, with no dye, on the soil around plants before adding mulch.

8. Stand paper bags upright and use them as receptacles for separating recyclables.

9. Crumple a bag into a tight ball and use it to dab paint on your walls for a great faux-textured finish.

10. Cut bags into strips, then use tape to make chains of interlaced circles for party decorations. Colors are nice, of course, but grocery-bag brown may just fit your theme (Save the Earth, Willy Wonka Wonderland…).

htt p://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/20-more-ways-to-reuse-old-plastic-paper-bags-10000001088458/page2.html

Compost: How to Make It, Bins, Piles and More

How to make compost?

Given enough time, all biodegradable material will compost. The goal in a composting system is to provide a healthy environment and nutrition for the rapid decomposers, the bacteria. Not all biodegradable materials are appropriate for backyard or at-home composting, though. Most backyard systems will not reach temperatures high enough to kill pathogens and deter vermin, so pet droppings, non-vegetarian animal manure, meat scraps, and dairy products are best left in the trash.

The most rapid composting occurs with the ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio of between 25 and 30 to 1 by dry chemical weight. In other words, the ingredients placed in the pile should contain 25 to 30 times as much carbon as nitrogen. For example, grass clippings average about 19 to 1 and dry autumn leaves average about 55 to 1, so mixing equal parts by volume nets approximately the correct range.

How to compost: techniques

There are a couple of different common techniques for composting that use two primary methods. Active, or hot, composting, as the name suggests, occurs when the compost stays above about 90°F (32°C), allowing aerobic bacteria to thrive, killing most pathogens and seeds, and rapidly producing usable compost. Passive, or cold, composting occurs in many domestic garden compost bins in which temperatures never reach above 86°F or 30°C. If you put kitchen scraps in the garden compost bin and leaving them untended, you're cold composting. This "scrap bin," because it has a very high moisture content and doesn't get active aeration, is likely to turn anaerobic and will not smell very good, though it will produce compost, after a while. This process can be improved by adding some wood chips or small pieces of bark, leaves, twigs, or a combination of these materials, throughout the mixture, helping to improve drainage and airflow.

Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil's water-holding capacity. Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus will be produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms, so few, if any, other soil additives will be needed.

Using compost bins and piles will help you create compost more quickly and easily; read on for our tips for using compost bins and piles.

Using compost bins and piles

Anyone with a few extra square feet (even inside your kitchen or out on a deck or balcony) can produce compost; examples like these are a few options for those who don't have the space to start a big heap in the backyard. Though a common misconception, properly aerated compost does not smell like rotten food (though the "passive compost" described above certainly can), which makes it possible for apartment and other small home-dwellers to create their own without making a big mess or raising a stink.

Learn more about compost and composting

Check out How Stuff Works, the US EPA's composting site and the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service compost site for more information, and read more about composting, community composting, Swedish composting, a composting table and How to Green Your Gardening in TreeHugger.

(Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/gree n-basics-compost.php?page=3)

Recycle Your Cell Phone. It's an Easy Call

As cell phones, computers, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) become more prominent in our everyday lives, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking steps to encourage consumers to recycle these products instead of adding them to our nation's landfills. As part of this initiative, EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program has teamed up with leading cell phone makers, service providers, and retailers to launch a national campaign encouraging Americans to recycle or donate their unwanted cell phones. The "Recycle Your Cell Phone. It's An Easy Call" campaign aims to increase the public's awareness of cell phone recycling and donation opportunities, with the ultimate goal of increasing the nation's cell phone recycling rate. Plug-In To eCycling partners supporting this campaign are: AT&T, Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

To kick off the initiative, the Campaign has released a series of print public service announcements that highlight the convenience and environmental and social benefits of recycling a cell phone. EPA has also released a series of downloadable podcasts featuring experts in the electronics recycling field discussing the many ways that consumers can reuse and recycle their electronics and addressing many common questions and concerns. During 2008, look for the Campaign to host special cell phone collection events and increase publicity for our partners' recycling programs.

EPA has targeted cell phone recycling because, despite the large number of programs, most consumers still do not know where or how they can recycle their cell phones. Consequently, only 10 percent of unwanted cell phones are recycled each year. Recycling cell phones leads to significant environmental savings and can benefit communities.

Recycling: an Easy Call - Every day there are thousands of opportunities to recycle cell phones and accessories. Many cell phone retailers, manufacturers, and service providers have ongoing collection programs where phones can be dropped off or mailed in-regardless of the age or brand. Some charitable organizations and state or municipal solid waste programs also offer cell phone recycling. In most cases, cell phone recycling is free.

Recycling: a Green Call - Recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and keeping useable and valuable materials out of landfills and incinerators. Cell phones are made from precious metals, copper, and plastics-all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling these materials not only conserves resources, but prevents air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if all of the 100 million cell phones ready for end of life management in the U.S. are recycled, we could save enough energy to power more than 18,500 U.S. households with electricity for one year.

Recycling: a Social Call - Donating your cell phone also benefits your community. When cell phones and accessories are in good working condition, some programs donate them to a number of worthy charities or provide them for discounted sale to those who need them. In addition, many recycling programs use the proceeds to raise funds for charitable organizations, schools, churches and other social causes. In some cases, programs buy the phone back from the consumer.

(Source: http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/plugin/cellphon e/cell-fs.htm)

Household Hazardous Waste

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them.

Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Many communities in the United States offer a variety of options for conveniently and safely managing HHW.

HHW Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Disposal Options

The options of reduction, reuse, recycling, and disposal-listed in order of EPA's preferred waste management hierarchy-are all important tools to safely manage HHW. The following information can help you determine the best ways to reduce, reuse, or dispose of common household products that may contain hazardous ingredients. Each community is different, so check with your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for more information on HHW management options in your area.

Benefits of Proper HHW Management

Reduction and recycling of HHW conserves resources and energy that would be expended in the production of more products.

Reuse of hazardous household products can save money and reduce the need for generating hazardous substances.

Proper disposal prevents pollution that could endanger human health and the environment.

Reduction at Home

Consider reducing your purchase of products that contain hazardous ingredients. Learn about the use of alternative methods or products–without hazardous ingredients–for some common household needs.

To avoid the potential risks associated with household hazardous wastes, it is important that people always monitor the use, storage, and disposal of products with potentially hazardous substances in their homes. Below are some tips for individuals to follow in their own homes:

• Use and store products containing hazardous substances carefully to prevent any accidents at home. Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. Corroding containers, however, require special handling. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions.
• When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable.
• Remember to follow any instructions for use and disposal provided on product labels.
• Call your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for instructions on proper use and disposal and to learn about local HHW drop off programs and upcoming collection days.

Collection Options – Municipalities and Local Governments Facilitating Reuse, Recycling, and Proper Disposal

Permanent collection or exchange. See if your community has a facility that collects HHW year-round. Some of these facilities have exchange areas for unused or leftover paints, solvents, pesticides, cleaning and automotive products, and other materials. By taking advantage of these facilities, materials can be used by someone else, rather than being thrown away.

Special collection days. If your community doesn't have a year-round collection system for HHW, see if there are any designated days in your area for collecting solid waste at a central location to ensure safe management and disposal.

Local business collection sites. If your community has neither a permanent collection site nor a special collection day, you might be able to drop off certain products at local businesses for recycling or proper disposal. Some local garages, for example, may accept used motor oil for recycling.

Disposal Options

Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets, and present hazards to children and pets if left around the house. Federal law allows disposal of HHW in the trash. However, many communities have collection programs for HHW to reduce the potential harm posed by these chemicals. EPA encourages participation in these HHW collection programs rather than discarding the HHW in the trash. Call your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for the time and location of your HHW collection program. Also, read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards on the way to a disposal facility. Even empty containers of HHW can pose hazards because of the residual chemicals that might remain.

HHW Facts and Figures

• Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year.
• The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in the basement and garage and in storage closets.
• During the 1980s, many communities started special collection days or permanent collection sites for handling HHW. In 1997, there were more than 3,000 HHW permanent programs and collection events throughout the United States.

(Source: http://epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/hhw.htm)

The Indoor Garden: Your Cure for the Winter Blues: Freshen the air and liven up your interior with plants.

As much as I love autumn, at some point I resign myself to the months-long loss of lush gardens and green spaces. The autumn and winter can be dreary months, but there is a way to keep a slice of summer in your home year-round: Create an indoor garden.

Indoor gardens can have several benefits in the autumn and winter: They bring some life into your space, several plants can help purify stale indoor air, and a few plants can make people more productive. And they don't have to be difficult to maintain.

Even people known for killing plants can maintain an indoor garden, so long as you choose hardy plants that work with your habits. Do you have a tendency to over-water plants? Parlor palms and tropical plants will love you for it. Perhaps you forget to water your plants for weeks? English ivy and cacti are your best friends. Or you could always pick un-killable plants that can survive drought, over-watering, and even cold.

Difficulty level: Easy

You'll need:
Plants
A variety of planters
Objects d'art
Optional: Salvaged wood and brackets for shelving

Start by deciding whether you want to use existing surfaces or if you want to hang shelves. When you're considering a space for your indoor garden, remember you'll want a warm, sunny spot that will help your plants thrive.

If you are a renter and aren't allowed to hang shelves (or if you just don't want to go to the bother), other surfaces that could hold your garden include a fireplace mantel, a console, or a trio of side tables. Less conventional but more creative options include hanging ivy in a vintage bird cage, loading plants into an old galvanized steel tub, or arranging a few compact plants on a pair of vintage chairs.

The next step is to find the right plants--and the right number of plants. There are lots of air-purifying house plants to choose from, including the peace lili, Warneckii, English ivy, and elephant ear. Gather as many of these purifying plants, and don't be afraid to add some of your favorite plants or flowers for a personal flair.

If you don't have many (or any) of these air cleaning plants, you don't need to shell out a lot of money. Most are inexpensive, but you can also ask friends for offshoots or portions of plants.

Once you've selected plants, take stock of your planters, and amass a collection of objects d'art--interesting objects that you can place in amongst the garden's plants. The objects and the number of plants will create a tone for your indoor garden space.

If you want a meditative space, you might include a Buddha, a small wire bowl filled with smooth stones, or a clear vase filled with fine, pale sand. A few choice plants, each in their own planter, will suggest order and peace. A jungle feel, on the other hand is all about lushness. Load up on plants, and add in a tribal mask from your travels or a brilliant red or yellow ceramic parrot.

If there's anything you need, head to your local re-store, thrift stores, and flea markets to look for second-hand items. If you're to look for wood for shelving, keep in mind you can always paint the shelves to fit your decor (using a low-VOC paint, of course).

When you have your plants, planters and objects assembled, take the time to layer the tableau, moving plants and objects around until you love the look. If you lack an artistic eye, invite over a creative friend who can help you arrange things while you catch up over a bottle of wine.

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-g arden/indoor-garden-winter-blues.html)

Gardening Guide: Keeping your garden healthy

Preparing the garden soil before you begin planting is just the beginning of a healthy garden. With a little planning and prevention, there are steps you can take to prevent garden maladies and stressed out plants throughout the growing season.

Variety. Just as a diversified portfolio will protect your financial future much better than investing in one area, a garden with many different plants is a hardier garden less prone to pests and disease.

Compost, compost and then compost again. Continue to work compost into flower beds and garden soil. Keeping the soil healthy is the foundation of a healthy garden. If short on compost, even egg shells and coffee grounds will help.

Fertilize. To grow organic vegetables, chemical pesticides and treatments need to be avoided. Fish emulsion, bat guano, kelp meal, and worm castings are some of the more commonly known and popular organic fertilizers. Compost and organic fertilizers will provide your plants with all the nutrients they need and reduce plant stress that leads to disease.

Bugs. There are many bugs that benefit the garden. Get to know which bugs to welcome, and which ones to kick out of the garden. Good bugs will save you time in the garden task of policing the garden for bad bugs by eating the bad bugs before you find them.

Water. Know your plants. Read about plants before you plant the seeds. All plants need adequate water, but some need more water than others. Like compost and fertilizers, under-watered and over-watered plants can suffer stress that makes them susceptible to disease and pest infestation.

Birds, bees and butterflies. Plant flowers that attract birds, butterflies and bees. All three will work to keep the garden free of pests. With birds, remember to protect your vegetables with netting to keep them from lunching on your delicious, juicy, freshly-grown but not yet fully-matured garden vegetables before you can get them to the dinner table.

(Source: http://www.greendaily.com/2008 /03/11/gardening-guide-keeping-your-garden-healthy/)

Don't bag it, mulch it: eco-friendly alternatives to raking and bagging leaves this fall*

About 18% of the total waste added to American landfills each year comes from our yards. Plus, an enormous amount of labor, money and pollution goes into removing plastic bags filled with leaves from our curbsides, streets and alleys each fall. And all in the quest for a beautiful green lawn. We can still maintain the picture-perfect lawns we love and keep those leaves from the landfills.

• Mow and mulch. If leaves are sufficiently shredded they can decompose right into your lawn where they'll add valuable nutrients to your soil. So just mow right over your fallen leaves.
• Start a compost pile. Adding leaves and other yard waste to discarded vegetable scraps will make a rich gardening resource for next spring's plantings.
• Rethink your yard. Consider creating a “natural” garden area where you can let the leaves stay on the ground. After all, this is what Mother Nature intended!

* Source material for articles in this newsletter:

http://hflp.sdstate.edu/recycle.htm
http://www.southorange.org/Environment/LeafSolu tionsFrameSet.html
http://www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/Alter1227.asp

Wrap your gifts green this year

Consumers who want to help the environment can do so most effectively by reducing consumption. Wrapping paper alternatives not only reduce the need for various resources to be consumed, but also offer a creative and unique presentation for gifts. No matter what the gift is, there is a wrapping paper alternative to make the gift-giving experience even more special.

One extremely low-cost wrapping paper alternative is to use the Sunday comics. These are bright, colorful, and fun, and will probably be passed around and read as the recipient opens the gift. Children and adults alike will appreciate this attractive wrapping paper alternative. To spruce it up a bit more, clear cellophane can be used over the comics newspaper, creating a smooth, more polished look.

Similarly, old calendars can be used as a wrapping paper alternative. The pictures from these calendars, or from high-quality magazines with thick pages, can be cut out and used to wrap smaller gifts. The pictures are usually brilliantly colored and the paper is thick and glossy, creating a beautiful presentation. An old road map, topographical map, or marine chart also creates an intriguing wrapping paper alternative, especially if it has relevance to the gift recipient's life, interests, or the gift itself.

Re-used gift wrap, if not damaged, is another free wrapping paper alternative. Torn or ragged edges can be cut off and high-quality ribbon will last through many uses. Newsprint roll-ends are often given away by newspaper offices and can be decorated with markers, paints, rubber stamps, or stickers. Children often like to see their artwork displayed and, with their permission, their artwork can be used as a wrapping paper alternative.

For those who enjoy sewing, fabric gift bags can be created and used as a unique wrapping paper alternative. These gift bags can be sewn out of old sheets, pillowcases, fabric remnants, or just about any other fabric that might be lying around. When time and effort is put into creating a beautiful and reusable wrapping paper alternative, the bag will likely be reused by the recipient or passed on to wrap a gift for someone else!

(Source: wisegeek.com)

What is organic cotton?
Organic cotton is the version of its conventional counterpart grown without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers or any other chemicals, and that makes it hugely different, especially considering that cotton (organic or otherwise) provides about half of all the world's fiber needs. Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides on 3 percent of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Organic cotton on the other hand, uses agricultural methods designed to help sustain the land it grows on, the people who grow and harvest it, and the planet in general. Organic farming really starts with the soil. Compost, frequent crop rotations and cover crop strategies replace synthetic fertilizers to keep the soil healthy and productive. Weeds are controlled by innovative farm machinery, hand labor or flame devices rather than herbicide applications. Rather than attempting to eradicate all insects with chemicals, organic farmers cultivate a diversity of natural enemies which prey on insect pests, and lure pests away from cotton by planting trap crops. Insect pests can be effectively kept in balance with well-timed introduction of beneficial insects to fields. In warmer growing regions, where the cotton plants must be killed or defoliated to pick a quality crop before the onset of winter rains, organic growers shut off water early, and apply certified materials to promote cotton boll opening and leaf dropping, readying the fibers for harvest. In the US, both conventional and organic cotton are mostly machine-picked; in some developing countries, cotton is still harvested by hand.

When it comes time to harvest by hand, it follows then that organic cotton is also much safer for those who pick it. Workers aren't exposed to breathing or otherwise ingesting toxic chemicals while active in the field, and don't have to worry about the same nasty chemicals getting into their water supply if they live nearby. They can raise healthier children and livestock, and everyone is happier (okay, we made that last part up, but it seems to fit, right?).

Organic cotton certification
Like other organic products (food is the most prominent example), organic cotton must be certified as such by a third party, based upon pre-determined rules and regulations for what is and isn't allowed in the cultivation process. Here in the United States, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the organic certification process, based on the standards set in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 (OFPA); because organic cotton is grown around the world, and the US supply is not large enough to keep up with demand, other certification groups are often cited for products we see and use. The Dutch organization SKAL (one we've seen around a lot), for example, works in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia to certify different agricultural products as organic. Among the rules for certification, in addition to the ongoing ban of pesticides and other chemicals, is that the soil cannot have been sprayed with any of the banned substances for three years, so proper organic certification takes significant time, effort and bureaucratic rule-following (some might call it hoop-jumping or cutting red tape, but we won't) but the results are something to be proud of: a truly sustainable product.

But what about the actual clothes? Keep reading for some great examples of our favorite organic cotton clothing, including where you can find it.

Organic cotton clothing
When it comes time to put it on, many believe that organic cotton is softer and easier on your skin (though we don't have any scientific data, this TreeHugger is happy to corroborate this), and, of course, there aren't any latent pesticides or other chemicals that might disagree with your skin. This extra comfort is an added bonus when considering all of the benefits for the planet and its people, and the result is that organic cotton has been growing at an incredible rate.

Finding organic cotton clothing
Market retail leaders like Patagonia and Nike, who both blend and use organic cotton exclusively in their outdoor apparel, are being joined by high-end designers like Loomstate and Katherine Hamnett (whose work is directly above). This has been modulated by more mainstream designers like H&M, The Gap, Levi's and L.L. Bean, meaning that it's easier (and cheaper!) to get than ever before. Doesn't that make you feel all warm & fuzzy inside?

Learn more about organic cotton
More information can be found via the USDA, the Sustainable Cotton Project, the Organic Trade Association and PAN Germany's Directory for Organic Cotton.

(Source: http://treehugger.com/files/2007/08/green-basics -organic-cotton.php)