RECYCLING and Green Tips for Everyone
Simple Steps we can all take to protect our fragile environment –
for our children and our grandchildren!

If we all could make even a small effort towards recycling, it can have a tremendous effect on our environment. It seems like such a simple thing but it just takes that little extra effort to change our habits: like car-pooling to save fuel, teaching our children to save their aluminum cans, glass and newspaper for the curbside box pick-up, eating foods that are pesticide-free and more healthy and choosing non-toxic cleaning products in our homes, places of business and our homes.

It is our responsibility to step up to the challenge. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we couldn’t go for a walk outdoors or watch our grandchildren play in the yard because of poor air quality?

We are realistic enough to know that putting solar panels on everyone’s roof is not yet cost effective. If we can make some small changes in our everyday thinking, it will slowly but surely add up. Here are a few useful suggestions and some information about recycling, reducing the amount of garbage we generate and reusing wherever we can as well as some simple ways to begin to think GREEN about our lives and our future. We hope you find them helpful.

Buy Organic Foods whenever you can

What makes food organic?
Organic farming uses environmentally friendly methods to grow healthy produce without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives.
Organic foods are regulated by the government. USDA certification has been available since October 2002.
"All natural" is not organic. Be sure to read the labels and look for the official label!
The official organic label guarantees that what you are buying was not only grown organically, but also will not contain any artificial ingredients, like trans-fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors or chemical preservatives.
Organic dairy comes from animals that have been raised on 100% organic feed (or grazed on organic pastures) and never given any antibiotics or growth hormones.
Organic chickens are fed all organic feed, never given antibiotics and are allowed access to the outdoors which are good reasons to buy organic eggs.
Fish are not yet regulated as "organic"
Produce items that consistently test the highest for pesticide residue by the USDA and FDA are: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach and lettuce. Produce items that test lowest for pesticide residue are onions and avocados.
Great Reasons to Buy Organic
To avoid pesticides and other chemicals
To avoid antibiotics, grown hormones and trans fats
For better nutrition and the health of their family and to support the environment!
Recycle Symbol – 3 R’s

Green Gardening
REDUCE
Eat Closer to the Farm!
The average American foodstuff travels an estimated 1,500 miles before being consumed. Buy locally to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels. REDUCE the amount the food has to travel by eating from your garden and buying from local farmers. The best part is it has less pesticides and it's better for your health!

Biodegradable Peat Pots
You can now purchase peat pots that are made of biodegradable material that will do away with the need for a plastic pot when you purchase the plant. Tear off the bottom of the biodegradable cup, and you can then plant the cup and all!

Plant Your Own Herb Garden
1. Staple gardening mesh on the inside of your planter.
2. Spray with adhesive spray and attach sphagnum moss.
3. Wrap mesh around planter over sphagnum moss.
4. Staple mesh to bottom of planter.
5. Cover with green moss. Attach with greening pins.

Companion Planting
Plant certain flowers and herbs with other plants, trees, and shrubs - it makes them so happy together! These "companions" help keep pests away or help promote growth in one or both of the plants.
RECYCLE

Seedlings, early planting tips
For seeds that are expected to sprout in 2 weeks, plant seeds 2 weeks prior to the last frost date - check your local weather station for more info!

Heirlooms
What makes them heirlooms? When agriculture became big business, many farmers stopped growing particular varieties of fruits and vegetables that, while they tasted wonderful, didn't hold up for shipping and mass production. But, seeds of these "old" favorites were kept, and passed down year to year - which are why we call them "heirlooms"!

Why it matters: You may find some heirloom varieties have greater flavor than their more-familiar counterparts, and the heirloom boom has brought more choices. Be on the lookout for heirloom potatoes, apples, lettuces, and carrots in the near future!
REUSE

Coffee Boost Scatter some coffee grounds around your plants to give them a nitrogen boost. Save your old coffee grounds, or even try your local coffee shop (even Starbucks!). They might be willing to give you their old grounds- it never hurts to ask!
Mulch Mulches made of REUSED materials like wood chips and leaves suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture and modify soil temperatures. Mulches can reduce maintenance as well as provide a feature of your landscape. Mulch also protects ground from erosion. On top of it all, mulch provides a good environment for organisms that are necessary for healthy soil.
Re-use Those Old Newspapers! Put down old newspaper to kill weeds, or cover with straw/dirt to plant on top and reduce those pesky weeds from popping up! The best part is: it decomposes itself!
Garlic Breath! Garlic has a natural sulfur which repels insects. Planting garlic, or spraying garlic to keep insects away is not something new, farmers and master gardeners have been doing it for many generations.
Compost, compost, compost! Compost is the single most important supplement you can give to your garden soil. Composting is an environmentally friendly way to get rid of your kitchen and garden scraps. REDUCE the amount of food you throw in the garbage - compost it instead! Tiny organisms in the compost convert these scraps into the same natural fertilizer that's on forest floors! If you start composting in the spring, you can have useable compost in only THREE months! It's free, easy to make, and reduces landfill waste!

Why Clean Green?
GREEN cleaning means cleaning without using toxic chemicals
Toxic chemicals found in some typical cleaning products can be corrosive, irritating and flammable
They also contribute to poor indoor air quality and can harm the environment after they are thrown away
Home-made and eco-friendly cleaners are safer for you, your kids, your pets and the environment
Plus, they can save you lots of money!

5 Things You Need to Clean Green
Baking soda
White vinegar
Lemon juice
Club Soda
Borax is a natural mineral you can find at the grocery store (Be sure to keep out of reach of children & pets)

Cleaning Green in the Kitchen

CLEANING COUNTERTOPS
Baking Soda & water make a great all-purpose cleaner
Put 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart hot water in a spray bottle
Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive & deodorizer
This will leave your countertops sparkling clean and is safe for your home!

TARNISHED SILVER & SILVERWARE
Use regular white toothpaste & a cloth
Rub paste into the silver and wipe your silver
Rinse with water or damp sponge

ELIMINATE REFRIGERATOR ODORS
Baking soda in the fridge always works to absorb odors, but here are a few other cool ideas to try:
#1 Put a few pieces of white bread on a plate in the back of the refrigerator & leave for a few days - the bread will absorb the odors and you can toss the bread afterwards

#2 Soak a cotton ball with vanilla extract & place the cotton balls on a plate in the fridge
#3 Put some coffee grounds in a small bowl in the fridge

CLEAN STAINLESS STEEL
White vinegar and a sponge is a great way to clean any stainless steel appliances or kitchen accessory
Vinegar kills 99% of all bacteria and makes a great all-purpose cleaner when diluted with water
Great for cleaning grease and grime and makes your stainless steel shine
Vinegar smell evaporates quickly

Cleaning Green in the Bathroom

CLEAN TOILET BOWL
Before you go to bed, pour about a cup of Borax in the toilet bowl & leave overnight
In the morning give it a quick brush and flush
Make sure children and pets do not have access to the bathroom!

TOILET CLOGS
While it's not very glamorous, your first defense against a clog should be a good old fashioned plunger, as some over-the-counter drain openers can be highly toxic
If a plunger doesn't solve your problem, consider trying a small plumbing snake (or augur), professional plumbers use bigger motorized versions of these snakes which travel down pipes and help to break up clogs
Or try ready-made eco-friendly enzyme-based drain-opener, like this one from a company called Earth. $7.99 available at www.drugstore.com or www.wholefoods.com
Works overnight breaking down organic matter & doesn't use caustic chemicals

CLEAN & DISINFECT TILE, FLOOR, SHOWER, ETC.
Mix two tablespoons Borax, a little lemon juice & hot water and pour into a spray bottle
Borax disinfects as well as fighting mold & mildew
Citrus, like lemon is a natural acidic cleanser and is great for mineral build-up
This mixture is even powerful enough to clean paint off of floors!
And if you're not into "doing-it-yourself" try an eco-friendly option like Seventh Generation Bathroom Cleaner, $4.99 available at www.seventhgeneration.com

Cleaning Green in the Living Room

CLEAN WINDOWS
Crumple a sheet of newspaper and wipe your windows clean
This not only polishes, but leaves a film that resists future dirt

CLEAN WALLPAPER SMUDGES
Rub white chalk onto smudges, dirts, etc. on wallpaper
Chalk is also a natural mineral and will absorb the dirt
Simply brush off chalk residue with cloth - the smudge will come off with it!

WOOD FURNITURE POLISH
Put a little olive oil on a cloth and rub onto wood furniture
his will make the wood shine
You won't need too much - a little goes a long way
Or try a store-bought eco-cleaner - Method's Wood for Good Furniture Polish ($5 at www.methodhome.com)

CARPET DEODORIZER
Sprinkle baking soda onto carpet & let it sit
Baking soda will absorb odors
Vacuum

Green Tips for Your Laundry

TO WHITEN LAUNDRY
Borax is a natural mineral & you can find it at the grocery store
Add 1 cup to washing machine during the wash cycle
Or try ready-made eco-friendly non-chlorine bleaches, this one is from a company named Ecover and it's about $4 at www.ecover.com/us or Whole Foods

TO SOFTEN FABRICS
Add 1 to 2 cups white vinegar to washing machine during rinse cycle

TO STARCH SHIRTS WHILE IRONING
Instead of store bought cans of spray starch, save $$ & make the real thing!
Just add 1 tablespoon corn starch to warm water & pour in spray bottle

TO CLEAN STAINS
For a wine stain, try club soda & salt
Always try to treat stains immediately
Place cloth under stain
Pour club soda on stain (be careful, warm club soda explodes)
Add salt & let sit -- salt will lift stain
Brush off salt and launder
1. CHANGE A LIGHTBULB:
We've all seen these funny-looking compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They're good for the environment since they last up to 5 times longer and use a 1/10th of the energy of a traditional incandescent lightbulbs. But many people complain the light is too bright when turned on. The eco-style solution is to swap out the lampshade, too. Look for black lampshades; it'll help diffuse the bright white so you can reap the economic benefits of using CFLs.
2. HAUNTED HOUSE?
Did you know when you leave the power adapters for your Blackberry, IPOD and cell phone in the wall, it's still charging up even if nothing is attached to it? It's called a phantom load; it's still using electricity even when it isn't charging up something. One solution is to unplug everything when you're not using them. To make it easier, plug all your adapters into one surge protector, which can turn everything off with the flip of one switch. You can also plug major electronics like your TV, VCR, DVD player and stereo into a surge protector. The protector will help protect your electronics and you can turn everything off with just a flip of a switch. Over time, you'll save lots of money on your electric bill.
3. NO MORE SKIPPING AROUND:
Nothing is more annoying than a CD or DVD that skips a beat when you are trying to listen or watch it. No need to toss it away and buy a replacement one. Instead, hit your medicine cabinet for toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Cover the whole scratched side with creamy toothpaste (gel toothpastes won't work) and buff away the scratches with a toothbrush. Brush from the center out with an old toothbrush. Wash thoroughly with soapy water and gently towel dry. Repeat until the skips are gone.
4. NO MORE BOTTLED WATER!
Bottled water is bad for the environment since all of those plastic bottles are made from petroleum, are hard to recycle, and had to be shipped from all over the world (using more fuel) to get to your store's shelf. And often it's nothing more than purified tap water to begin with! First, if you must buy bottled water, get them in bulk size bottles, which cuts down on waste and can fit in your refrigerator. Second, consider getting a water filtration system for your sink to have clean-tasting water right from home. Invest in stainless steel water bottles that can not only be used over and over again. Because it's steel, they can also be sanitized in the dishwasher, too. Tip! Add a sliver of cucumber to the bottle for instant spa water. SIGG water bottles; http://www.sigg.ch/.
5. PAPER OR PLASTIC? NEITHER!
Sure, we all know bringing your own grocery bags to the store cuts down on waste, but it's also a more convenient way to lug groceries from the store to your house. Bulky items like soda bottles can be loaded up in one reusable bag and hauled to and from the car without fear of ripping open! Some stores will even give you a discount for bringing your own bags, too.
6. TO BE LAZY:
On laundry day, it pays to let dirty clothes pile up. When drying clothes, drying clothes one batch after another saves energy because the second batch will use up the residual heat from the first batch to dry quicker. Tip: Pull out heavy items---jeans, towels-- halfway through drying to speed up drying time. Hang these items on a clothesline or on a banister on your staircase to air dry. Another tip: Empty your lint trap and place the soft mass outside where birds are likely to pick it up. Birds will use it to feather their nests!
7. CHARCOAL REUSE:
Do those artificially scented, tree-shaped air fresheners hanging in your car give you a headache? Those fragrances are called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, which are chemical compounds permeating the air around you. You should go natural and your backyard grill can help. Grab a tea strainer ball from the pantry and fill it with charcoal. Hang the ball from your rear view mirror and let the natural deodorizing properties of charcoal do their job. Odors and stale air in the car will be no more since charcoal will absorb them all, naturally.
8. DAMPEN THE DAMPER:
Now that the winter season is over, make sure the damper on your fireplace is closed. An open damper is like having a small window open all year round; it can increase your utility bill by 10%. To make sure your damper is closed, place a thin plastic bag inside and look to see if it's fluttering around. If it is, then the damper is probably open; just pull the lever closed.
9. FOAM COVERS:
Electrical boxes behind wall sockets penetrate into the wall cavity, which make them potential sources of air leakage. Polyethelyne foam gaskets install behind electric outlet plate covers to reduce drafts. Just unscrew the outlet cover, install the foam cover and reinstall the outlet cover back on top.