Category: Green Living
Closed Doors
My son is at the age making sure that every cabinet gets open no less than four times a minute while making sure the drawers next to the cabinet are opened no less than four times that same minute. He never stays in one place. A reprimand is quickly dismissed and something new is approached.… Continue reading Closed Doors
Rubber Bands, Cardboard Boxes, and Junk Mail
Kids are the ultimate recyclers. They can repurpose just about anything that comes into our home. Take, for example, the rubberbands that come on fresh produce, like broccoli. If you have a toddler, you know they like to get into everything. I rearranged my kitchen a bit so my son would have one cabinet he… Continue reading Rubber Bands, Cardboard Boxes, and Junk Mail
The Many Uses of Baking Soda
Q: I keep hearing about using baking soda as a greener cleaner. How do I use it? A: The question is, how do you NOT use baking soda! There are so many uses for this all-natural ingredient that comes from the Earth, that it just might be one of the best green cleaning ingredients ever.… Continue reading The Many Uses of Baking Soda
The Speck in My Neighbor’s Eye
There’s nothing like a natural disaster to make you rethink environmental issues. I live outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where there has been severe flooding. We were lucky, but about two miles from our house, a subdivision was flooded. Our county asked residents to conserve water. Using disposable dinnerware was mentioned. Yikes. Conserve water I can… Continue reading The Speck in My Neighbor’s Eye
A Simple Toy
My son is mobile. You know what that means. He gets into everything. The funniest (and most frustrating) part is that no matter how many toys are on the floor, he crawls to the pair of shoes, welcome mats, fireplace screen and computer cords. Of course, whatever he gets his hands on goes directly into… Continue reading A Simple Toy
Packing Eco-Friendly School Lunches
Q: How can I pack a more eco-friendly school lunch for my kids? A: It has been estimated that the average school age child generates approximately 67 pounds of waste by bringing their own school lunch each school year. That doesn”t mean you should stop packing healthy lunches – it is just an opportunity to make them waste-free lunches, as… Continue reading Packing Eco-Friendly School Lunches
Earth Friendly Back to School Shopping
Q: What can I do to make my back-to-school shopping more earth friendly? A: When the kids head back to school, there”s usually a long list of things that must be bought before their first day. But is it all necessary? No. Can you make more earth friendly choices? Yes! First, reevaluate whether your child really… Continue reading Earth Friendly Back to School Shopping
Green Tips for Summer: Wet Wisdom
Summer droughts can water an especially precious gift. Here are five ways you can conserve water this summer, and throughout the year: Water outdoor plants in the early morning or late evening, to reduce evaporation loss. Wash dishes in a tub, and use the dishwater on plants. You can do the same with bath water… Continue reading Green Tips for Summer: Wet Wisdom
HOW TO: Host an Eco-Friendly Birthday Party
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Q: How can I make my child’s birthday party more eco-friendly? A: Birthdays are worth celebrating, and you want to have fun doing it! With a few simple little changes, you can do your part to… Continue reading HOW TO: Host an Eco-Friendly Birthday Party
Easy Foods You Can Grow at Home
Q: What’s the easiest food I could grow to see if I want to do a vegetable garden? A: Lettuce! Or meslun or spinach or any variety of greens. These super easy crops don’t have to be put in the ground – they can actually be planted in a pot. So even if you don’t… Continue reading Easy Foods You Can Grow at Home
Trash In Your Garden
Can you believe that using trash in your garden can actually be kind to the Earth? It’s true. Reusing items are always better than recycling, so here’s some easy ways to reuse what you might have lying around the house and put them to good use in the garden: Plastic berry bins and cardboard egg… Continue reading Trash In Your Garden
Green for Life: Parenting
It all started with vanity, I suppose. I was married in 1999 and gained 20 pounds as quickly as I gained a husband. Instead of looking at my food portions, I decided to do something drastic—at least according to my husband: I became a vegetarian. Being a vegetarian led me to study the meat industry,… Continue reading Green for Life: Parenting
Save Money While you Brush Your Teeth!
Q: How much do we really save by turning off the water while brushing our teeth? A: A lot! For an average family of four, 48 gallons of water a day is saved by turning off the water. That’s as much as $70 per year! Keeping the water running while you brush is like pouring… Continue reading Save Money While you Brush Your Teeth!
Is de-icer harmful to the environment?
Q: Is de-icer harmful to the environment? A: With snow and ice blanketing much of the country, there’s a constant need to clear roads and sidewalks of ice so that motorists and pedestrians are safe. However, you might be wondering if all of that de-icer is doing more harm than good. There are more Earth-friendly… Continue reading Is de-icer harmful to the environment?
An Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day
Q: How Can I be more eco-friendly on Valentine’s Day? A: What better time to love the planet than on Valentine’s Day? Show some love to the environment that we live in while buying gifts for your sweetheart this year. 1. Go Local Planning on buying a box of chocolates? Buy from a local chocolate… Continue reading An Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day
Car Seat Shuffle
Car seats. So many choices, so little time to research them all, but I sure did try. I spent hours online researching convertible car seats. Our son is now barely 5 months old and is 20 pounds and some change. Most convertible car seats go up to 30 pounds, some go to 35, and very… Continue reading Car Seat Shuffle
How can I reduce my garbage output?
Q: My family seems to fill up a garbage bag so quickly. How can we reduce the amount of trash we dispose of each week? A: You’ve heard it said, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” That sums it up well. The best way to cut down on trash is to get everyone in the family to reduce… Continue reading How can I reduce my garbage output?
Fair Trade Chocolate
Q: What is fair trade chocolate? A: When browsing the selections of chocolate for Valentine’s Day this year, you might see some varieties stating that they are “Fair Trade.” Along with the “Fair Trade” certification you might also notice a slightly higher price tag – but here’s why. Cocoa farmers are among the world’s poorest… Continue reading Fair Trade Chocolate
What are the healthiest organic fruits?
“Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples….” Song of Solomon 2:5 Q: If I could only switch to one organic fruit, which one should it be? A: Going organic can be expensive, so sometimes you can only switch to a few organic foods at a time. But any switch is better than none at all,… Continue reading What are the healthiest organic fruits?
