In life, as in a garden, you reap what you sow.
~Nancilee Wydra- Feng Shui in the Garden

Nothing makes me feel better than being outside on a warm, sunny day working in my garden. I relax and have time to think. The stress melts away as I pull weeds and dig my hands into the soil. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when the flowers bloom and the fruits and vegetables bear fruit.

When harvest time comes I enjoy sharing my bounty with friends and family.

Gardening is a wonderful way to relax, enjoy nature, live green and save money. Growing your own fruit or vegetables can dramatically slash your grocery bill.

Just a few plants can keep you stocked for months. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - BeckyRockwood

The snow is falling in much of the country and its cold outside. People have been stranded for hours in their vehicles because of winter storms. If you haven’t got an emergency kit in your car already it’s time to put one together. You can buy one that is already assembled or you can make your own and ensure that you have included some
Eco-friendly products too. Here is what experts suggest including in kits for winter emergencies.

First you will need a bag to pack all of your winter emergency goodies. Then go shopping, get packing and you’ll be more confident in case of a road side emergency in this cold winter weather until you are home safely.

Items for you and your family:

You should include blankets, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, and clothes for all members of your family who will be riding in the car and even some extra sweaters, sweat pants and warm gear. You can also think about things at home you may have that would be great to include: a space blanket for runners will do more than just keep them warm after a race it would be a great addition to the kit. You can even include items like hand warmers, and feet warmers. You will want to pack a bag with high calorie non perishable foods and bottles of water. Foods like energy bars, crackers with peanut butter, anything that will keep you going if you get stranded and keep your energy up. You can find some healthy organic options available, so stock up when they are on sale in your store or in the clearance section. You might even want to think about including items to keep the family busy while you wait for help like games, books or art supplies. (continue reading…)

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With the economy in such a mess your gift budget may be tight this year. Perhaps it’s time to dig out those gifts you’ve received in the past but never took out of the box.

It happens to all of us at some point. We end up receiving a less than desirable gift.

Maybe it’s the second or third crock-pot you received as a wedding gift or the fourth toaster for your house warming. Maybe it’s another holiday coffee mug that found its way to your stocking, but most of us all have a few things tucked away in cupboards or closets that we have never used. Things still in the brand new unopened box. Just because you don’t want them doesn’t mean the items couldn’t make someone else very happy. (continue reading…)

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Egg recalls have made people more concerned when purchasing eggs. From the packaging, you would never guess hens are mistreated with pictures of peaceful roaming chickens. Egg companies print wording like: cage free, certified humane, certified organic, fertile, free range, free roaming, natural, omega-3 enriched, united egg producers certified, vegetarian-fed and more.

What do all these labels mean? Some of the labeling isn’t verified through a third party. According to Mercy for Animals, 90% of egg laying hens spend life on factory farms in tiny wire cages where they can’t perch, walk, spread their wings or do any of the natural behaviors for their entire lives.

The life of a factory hen is a disturbing one. First the females and males are separated and then the males are disposed of: thrown away, gassed, or ground up and processed into chicken feed, and then fed to the hens. (continue reading…)

Check out these great tips and tricks for a greener college experience!

More after the break… (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - bunnylady

We’re well into August, but summer’s not done yet! Depending on where you live, high temperatures and hot weather can still stick around for quite some time. For many people, taking in a dip in a swimming pool is a favorite way to beat the heat and cool down. But have you ever considered the environmental impact of swimming pools? Obviously, they require lots of water, as well as chemicals and energy to run the pumps and filters that keep them clean. The following tips can help you reduce water loss, minimize the use of potentially-harmful chemicals and lower the energy needed to maintain your pool.

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials to Build Your Pool

If you’re building a new pool, opt for recycled, re-purposed materials. Doing so will keep these materials from winding up in a landfill and can also slash your energy output. An eco-friendly option for a pool foundation is ICF (Insulating Concrete Foam), which is “made of concrete mixed with other materials,” such as “Styrofoam coffee cups, wood waste, shavings and chips,” to help minimize heat loss, explains the Web site, GreenYour.com (1). Old recycled glass can be formed into new pool tiles, creating mosaics or patterns on the pool floor or around the pool. Water-based, low-VOC paints are great choices, too (1). (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - gewitterkind

It’s officially summer! Sure, that means sun and fun, but also soaring temps and sweltering humidity. So, when you’re sticky and sweaty, what can you do to keep cool? Air conditioning isn’t the only way to go – plenty of other options use less energy and have lower costs. Check out these tips to beat the heat:

Become a Fan of Fans

Fans are a great way to create a breeze and move around stale air. In particular, attic fans are ideal because hot air rises, and a lot of heat comes into your home through the roof (1). Also, having a ceiling fan in your bedroom will circulate and cool the air, making your sleeping environment cool and comfortable (2). (continue reading…)