This Is Kristin

… stained, or worn out baby blankets….Transform them into cute dusting rags! ( With the fleece ones, there’s no need to sew, just cut up into smaller squares and snip the edges to make fringe.)

….old jeans, and t shirts….Can become a cute bag!

…. turn old pillow case and plastic shopping bags….
…..into a dog bed or cushions for the kids! (just fill a pillow case with the plastic bags, and sew shut.)

…audio cassete tapes….
into a wearable dress, that you can actually play!
(totally weird, but you have to read about this or watch a video on how to make one!)

~There’s some fun things you can make from your old crap, if you use a little creativity!

101 Ways To Live More Ecologically,may be you find something that applies to you

(I don’t do all of these, but thought this was a good list!)

1. Avoid disposable in favor of reusable
items.
2. Avoid drying rags in a clothes dryer.
3. Avoid power appliances when hand power works.
4. Avoid highly processed foods.
5. Avoid using styro foam—it can’t be recycled.
6. Avoid watering driveways and sidewalks.
7. Be responsible and creative with leftover foods.
8. Buy in bulk goods to reduce wasted packaging.
9. Buy energy efficient electric appliances.
10. Buy foods without additives.
11. Buy foods without preservatives.
12. Buy food and goods from sources you trust
13. Buy large quantities to reduce shopping trips.
14. Buy living Christmas trees.
15. Buy locally grown food and produce.
16. Buy organic, pesticide-free foods.
17. Compost your food scraps.
18. Discover and protect watersheds in your area,
19. Don’t burn trash or other smoky materials.
20. Drain cooking grease onto paper bags, not paper towels.
21. Drive a fuel-efficient car.
22. Drive less: walk, bicycle, carpool and use public transportation.
23. Eat foods low on the food chain; avoid meat.
24. Eat more natural, nutritious foods.
25. Educate elected representatives on ecology.
26. Exercise regularly.
27. Explore and learn about your bioregion.
28. Grow your own food, even a small amount.
29. Hang dry some or all of your clothes.
30. Heat your home less and wear warmer clothes.
31. Heat your home more with renewable energies.
32. Hold a potluck dinner to discuss local ecology.
33. If you use a dishwasher, turn off the drying cycle.
34. Install a water-conserving device in your toilets.
35. Install a water-conserving shower head.
36. Insulate your home to maximum efficiency.
37. Invest for social responsibility as well as profit.
38. Invest in solar power, where practical.
39. Invest in well-made, long-lived clothing.
40. Keep hazardous chemicals in safe containers.
41. Keep appliance motors well adjusted for efficiency.
42. Mend and repair rather than discard and replace.
43. Oppose meddling in ecological balance.
44. Oppose private development of special areas.
45. Oppose roadside use of defoliants.
46. Organize or join a neighborhood toy exchange.
47. Pick up litter along streets and highways.
48. Plant native trees and shrubs around your home.
49. Plant trees throughout your community.
50. Plant your living Christmas tree.
51. Practice preventive health care.
52. Practice responsible family planning.
53. Prepare only as much food as will be eaten.
54. Protect your favorite distinctive natural areas.
55. Purchase goods in reusable/recyclable containers.
56. Put a catalytic converter on your wood stove.
57. Put toxic substances out of reach of children.
58. Recycle aluminum.
59. Recycle glass.
60. Recycle newspaper.
61. Recycle old clothes.
62. Recycle plastic.
63. Recycle used motor oil.
64. Recycle your unneeded items.
65. Re-use paper bags.
66. Re-use plastic bags for storage and waste.
67. Save up for full loads in clothes washers.
68. Save up for full loads in dishwasher.
69. Shop by phone, then go pick up your purchases.
70. Speak out about your values in community groups.
71. Support efficient energy sources in your bioregion.
72. Support elected representatives on ecological issues.
73. Support energy conservation in your bio region.

74. Support global ecological improvement efforts.
75. Support local credit unions.
76. Support local merchants before large chains.
77. Support neighborhood food cooperatives.
78. Support proper waste water and sewage treatment.
79. Support the cultural diversity in your bioregion.
80. Support the plants and animals in your community.
81. Take shorter showers.
82. Teach your children ecological wisdom.
83. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.
84. Turn off the lights when not needed.
85. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
86. Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.
87. Use cloth diapers.
88. Use cloth table napkins.
89. Use less tapwater whenever possible.
90. Use non-toxic pest control.
91. Use only medications you trust/understand.
92. Use rags or towels instead of paper.
93. Use rechargeable batteries.
94. Use the second side of paper for scratch paper.
95. Use water from cooking vegetables to make soup.
96. Volunteer for work in a community garden.
97. Volunteer to maintain local parks and wilderness.
98. Wash clothes in cold water.
99. Wash dishes in still, not running water.
100. Weather-seal your home.
101. Work to unlearn poor ecological habits

~To decide to start greening the things you do in your life, seems to be more costly. In some ways you have to weigh your options in purchasing something, but at times you can save money buy going green, that weigh out for the more costly things.
Some ideas that actually cost less,

~Turning off unnecessary lights, (I have a hard time doing this, because we sleep with a few on…) and turning down your thermostat, can save money on your electricity bill.
~Buy cereal in bulk. You can save around $110 dollars a year! Haven’t done this yet, but am planning on doing it when I can. I like the look of cereals and grains in jars too!
~Make your own cleaning solutions, you can save around $36 dollars a year. (I also like the Seventh Generation products, they are less expensive than some, and work and smell good too!)

…. there are definitely ways to save, so it’s not always a more expensive route.

For more tips on saving, and even downloading your own excel sheet to figure out your personal savings go to The Green Guide

Two moons on 27th August 2007* Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August.
It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65 Million miles of earth. Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons.
The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

~ Some great “going green” sites I’ve found lately, are:

* a blog called Green SAHM who has good ideas.
* a web site called, Tree Hugger full of information, links, forums, etc.
* a web site by National Geographic called, The Green Guide that is full of information, and gives all kinds of advice on completely greening your home and life. I am going to try to add “The green guide” on my sidebar where you can view updated topics weekly, and click on a topic, to link to the site. Look for it to come in my sidebar.

“the task of avoiding ecological disaster may seem hopeless, and some environmental scientists have, quietly, concluded that it is. But Americans are notoriously reluctant to surrender their fates to the impersonal outcomes of an equation. One by one—and together, in state and local governments and even giant corporations—they are attempting to wrest the future from the dotted lines on the graphs that point to catastrophe. The richest country in the world is also the one with the most to lose.”

A really great article from Newsweek about why going green is a trend among all Americans, Liberals, Republicans, and Religious. This article explains the whys behind this necessary trend.

I always thought that I should pre wash my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to avoid getting a ton of food buildup and clogging my dishwasher, but apparently you don’t need to do that! You can monthly check the drain and reservoir for food scraps, (didn’t know to do that) and save time and lots of water by not pre rinsing! That makes me very happy to know that.

~To weekly maintain your dishwasher, you can put a cup of vinegar in the detergent reservoir and run it empty. You can also sprinkle the bottom of the dishwasher with baking soda, to keep away bad smells. To save a little energy, this book says to not use the dry cycle and just open the door.

This is all news to me, I never knew I needed to “maintain” a dishwasher, or that my pre rinsing the dishes I was wasting time and water. All good to know.

*Also about the detergent. Most of them contain chlorine and phosphates, which pollutes our water. A third of the phosphates in our US wastewater come from automatic dishwashing liquid. A great alternative is Mrs. Meyers brand ( a lot of grocery stores are starting to carry that brand now), or any other that is vegetable based, not petroleum based, (which is non biodegradable).

“Most grass species are best kept at least 2 1/2 inches tall. The length creates more surface area to absorb sunlight, which creates thicker turf and deeper roots, which means you won’t need to water as often. Save money by letting grass clippings remain on your lawn; it adds nitrogen to the soil and discourages weed seeds from germinating. You’ll need less fertilizer and herbicide. Leaving clippings on lawns means less in landfills; in 2005 Americans disposed of more than 12 million tons of yard waste.” (Better Homes and Gardens magazine)

…….my husband will be happy to hear this……

….. to help clean the air of your home. “Indoor plants can dramatically improve air quality. All plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but some actually remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. The most effective air cleaners are Chinese evergreen, Peace lily, arrowhead vine, English ivy, and cornplant…Aim for roughly 15 plants for every 1500 square feet in your house.”

~(That seems like a lot of indoor plants doesn’t it? Right now, I have two indoor plants, and they are basil and bamboo, I don’t think they are doing much good for the air quality of my home. I think I’ll have to get more, thankfully I am falling in love with plants anyways. In my opinion, English ivy is most decorative and pretty, but if you want an exotic look the chinese evergreen are cool looking.)

(update on vacation…. we made it out here to CA, and it’s cool and slightly rainy. We’ve been here for less than 24 hours and seen a whole bunch of people, the boys are having a blast!)

I am reading this book about green cleaning. I highly recommend it. It gives many reasons as to why you should use green cleaners, and what chemicals are in many cleaners, and the risks they pose. It offers many tips, and choices for cleaning, recipes for cleaners, along with storage and disposal tips.

Because I am reading this book, I will be posting tid-bits from it on my “Monday’s= Green topics” day. Pick it up, and read along with me, and we can discuss here!

~Today’s tid-bit is on the topic of chemicals….”More than 85.000 synthetic chemicals are in use today, and another 500 are added to the mix each year….The human body can handle small amounts of poisons, but it begins to malfunction when burdened with toxic overload. Many chemicals are stored in body fat, while others migrate to vital organs, to the sheaths surrounding the nerves, or to muscles, the brain or spinal cord. Surely it’s not coincidental that the increased use of manufactured chemicals coincides with a number of alarming health trends. For instance, breast cancer rates are 30 times higher in the U.S. than in less industrialized parts of Africa, while the incidence of asthma among preschool- age children has risen at least 160 percent since 1980.”

~What do you like/ dislike about the idea of green cleaning?

Guess which electronic piece of equipment you can run for three hours because of the energy savings of recycling just one aluminum can?

Answer:
A computer or a television set!

Aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. It takes 95 percent less energy to make a new aluminum can from recycled aluminum cans.

The aluminum can you recycle today will be back as a new aluminum can in 60-90 days.