EcoHouse Blog

Gardening Season!

2010-05-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

My husband and son building me a raised bed!

I grew up helping my mom garden in her beautiful flower beds. As of the last couple of years, I've tried my hand in vegetable gardening. I don't know tons, but learn little bits at a time. I moved my garden to a sunnier spot, so hopefully we'll see a big yield this year. I'm planting lots of tomatoes, broccoli, and squash, among others. Wish me luck!

2010-04-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day, everyone! What did you do for the day?

Close the Loop

2010-04-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

On recycling: A major part of recycling is a concept called "closing the loop". It basically involves creating a need for recycled objects by buying recycled objects. If consumers are buying products that contain recycled content, manufacturers will then produce more items that contain recycled content.

It's not necissarily enough to bring your recycling container to the curb every Tuesday...we've got to creat a market for recycled objects! This is where consumers ultimately have some power.

2010-04-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring! This spring has been a very busy one. I've been enjoying the simplicity of hanging my clothes out on the line, and, lately, I've been getting the garden bed ready. I've wanted to this blog entry for a couple of weeks but haven't found the time!

How many of you recycle? I'm imagining the percentage of people is high (though I know that, even though our cities have made recycling VERY easy, not everyone does).

Here's another question. Of those of you that answered "yes" to the above question, how many of you recycle 100% of the recycleables in your home and/or daily living (that scratch paper at work, for example).

It's easy to recycle the basic stuff: aluminum,cereal boxes, etc. But what about the not so obvious. How all the cardboard in packaging? (I recently sent to the recycling bin the cardboard that my new mascara was attached to). Or the miscellaneous plastic, such as the empty Ibuprophen bottle.

The challenge is to get in the habit of recycling everything in your home that can be recycled. Feel free to post what "random" thing you found to recycle!

The real reason...

2010-03-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a lot of feedback from this blog...I appreciate all of it! This past weekend I was talking with a friend about my blog, she was telling me she's now using cloth napkins in her home and that she really enjoyed the blog so far. Then it hit me, the real reason I live an enviromentally friendly life. Integrity. I explained to my friend that, yes, the main purpose of this blog is that I want to give other people ideas on "green" choices they can realistically implement into their home, based on my experience. But the real reason I make the choices I do is that I strive to live my life with integrity in all areas. I want to go through life knowing that I made my mark more on people, not the planet. I want to live each day in the most simple way possible, and for me, that means making choices that leave less of a footprint...I had never quite put the word integrity with environmental awareness/principles, but it make so much sense to me now that I have.

A Really Easy One...

2010-02-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

I think this is maybe the easiest tip to save energy in your home.

Use the appropriate size burner on your stove for the size of pan you are using to cook.

2010-01-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

The final in my series of the article review: "7 Resolutions for a Green New Year" taken from the Dec/Jan issue of Mary Janes Farm. Again, the article will be first, then I'll identify what I have to say. Enjoy!

6. Cut Catalog Clutter
"I will stop collecting catalogs (especially those I don't even want)."
Each year, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to consumers across America, gobbling more than 53 million trees and creating 56 billion gallons of wastewater in the process. Visit www.catalogchoice.org and opt out of unwanted catalogs. Within 10 weeks, your mailbox will be taking a lighter toll on the environment. Less waste, less pollution-it's just that easy.

Anna says: lately I've been really thinking about the effects of transporting the things I buy...and I guess, the things that get mailed to me too...

7. Buy Less
"Every time I enter a store, I will make conscious choices to buy less stuff."
Consider each item carefully. Do you really need it, or will it just end up at the bottom of a drawer? Packaging, waste, and pollution are the hidden costs behind nearly everything we purchase. Just think of how long all of those impulse items will linger in a landfill. Get inspired to make a difference by watching The Story of Stuff at www.storyofstuff.com.

Anna says: I totally agree.

2010-01-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

The next in my series of the article review: "7 Resolutions for a Green New Year" taken from the Dec/Jan issue of Mary Janes Farm, a great magazine on Organic/Country Living. For those that have read the previous posts, I have to change to format a bit, due to a technical problem that a simply cannot figure out! So for now, the article will be first, then I'll identify what I have to say. Please forgive the lack of astetics.

4. Get a Water Bottle
"I will refill a watger bottle each day instead of buying new ones."
Not only are billions of plastic water bottles landfill-bound in the U.S. each year, but the water they contain is generally no better for you than the stuff that comes from your own kitchen sink (especially if you use a filter), and it costs up to 10,000 times the price of tap water! Opt for a glass or stainless steal bottle, and refill it as needed, for free. Check out the variety of stainless steel bottles available from Klean Kanteen (www.kleankanteen.com).

Anna says: This is one of my personal pet peeves that I actually see all the time in a couple of close friends of ours...I'll post my rant about that later. But, seriously, why would people spend money, lots of money, on WATER! If you don't like the way yours tastes, get a filter. Or, at the very least, buy larger containers of water, not the little bottles...arg! And the author is right, in my opinion, Klean Kanteen has the best stainless steel bottles. Of all the ones we own, my husband and I argue over who gets to take the Klean Kanteen to work each day!

5. Grow Green
"Starting this month, I will grow one green thing that I can eat."
The quickest and easiest way to start growing your own food is sprouting. Sprouts are super easy and they offer superb nutrition that costs less than any other fresh grocery store food. Sprouting doesn't require soil, sunshine, or even a green thumb. Ready to eat in three to five days, sprouts equal oranges and tomatoes in vitamin C and a hamburger patty in protein!

Anna says: I JUST read a great article in the a special early spring edition of Better Homes and Gardens about growing your own sprouts! I'm going to try it! Especially since it is very hard to grow anything in Minnesota in the winter! I'm starting to get it down for the summer (emphasis on the word starting!) but winter is entirely different. Also, I've been looking for ways to get more protein in our diets. Stay tuned...

7 Resolutions for a Green New Year...continued

2010-01-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

3. Ditch Paper Towels

"I will stop buying paper towels, period."

Americans go through about 2.5 million tons of paper towels annually, and even the ones made from recycled materials usually end up in the landfills. So ditch the paper altogether and start using microfiber towels instead. They don't scratch, they attract dirt and dust like a magnet, they're super absorbent, and they're washable. Waste not, want not, right? Try the Norwex Enviro Cloth.

No kidding! That's what it said, "Try the Norwex Enviro Cloth." I did not make that up. But he's right, the Norwex microfiber is superior to any other cleaning cloth out there! It allows you to pick up 99.94% bacteria from the surfaces you clean without the use of a chemical cleaner! (You can use them either dry or with hot water). And what's even better is that the Norwex microfiber is antibacterial! Embedded in the fibers is a silver based agent that destroys the bacteria it picks up! What that means for me (the consumer) is that I can't cross contaminate, I can use the same cloth to clean my counters as I use to clean my kid's hands and face, and the Norwex cloths won't start smelling foul!

To get more information about Norwex products, visit my website: http://www.mynorwexhouse.com/.

7 Resolutions for a Green New Year

2010-01-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas my mom gives me the current edition of a magazine titled Mary Janes Farm: The Everyday Organic Lifestyle. (For some reason the holidays are the only time she can get it. I really need to subscribe, 'cause it's that good!) My next few blog entries will be taken word for word from the December/January edition with any thoughts from me written in red.

7 Resolutions for a Green New Year
by Michael Guilfoil, The Spokesman-Review

There's something about a new year that emboldens us to reinvent our lives. So with 2010 fast approaching, it's the perfect time to muster good intentions and gear up for the opportunity to "go green".

1. Use a Reusable Bag
"I will store one reusable tote bag in my vehicle and bring it into the store the next time I go shopping."
Those plastic bags that stores dole out by the zillions are made from petroleum, and only about 1 percent of them are recycled throughout the world each year. Most end up in landfills or in the oceans, where they wreak havoc on sea life. I've talked about this before...but I'll say it again. This is one of the easiest changes to make. Plus, I know that you're as annoyed with the plastic bags hanging out under your kitchen sink or in your pantry as I am . So stop bringing them home!

2. Eat Organic
"I will replace one non-organic food on my weekly grocery list with an organic alternative."
The trick is to focus on non-organic foods that have the biggest negative impact on your health. Meat, eggs, and dairy products are a good place to start because there's a double-whammy that takes place in their production. Not only are cows injected with growth hormones and fed antibiotics, they also ingest hay and feed that contain pesticide residues.
What do we do in my home? We try to buy meat and milk locally whenever we can. We gave up buying pop from the grocery store so we could afford to by milk from the dairy farm down the road. A year ago we purchased half of a cow from a local farmer. There was definitely a cost up front, but it was SO worth it. Broken down cost wise, the meat was so much cheaper then if purchased from the grocery store, we just purchased it all at once. And we have the assurance that no icky stuff was put into the meat (listen to me..."icky stuff". Do I have a 2 year old or what?!) I will never not buy meat this way. We keep talking about buying a pig this way too. And we talk about getting chickens...until then, I must confess that I buy my eggs from the grocery store.

*When purchasing organic produce, the priority goes to (a). foods in which you eat the peel and/or (b). foods that have a soft peel. These usually are one in the same: peaches, tomatoes, berries, etc. And always, always wash produce with some sort of produce cleaner before you consume.

Does your list of new year's resolutions include implementing some sort environmentally friendly choice? If so, what is it? The more specific you are, the better the chance of it becoming a permanent lifestyle change!

2010-01-09T10:54:00.001-08:00

Okay, after a bit of a holiday hiatus, I'm back.

I write this entry from the public library. I love the library. There's something so collegiate about it. I walk in and instantly feel smarter.

I love sitting among the works of so many experts. I am entertained by the diverse subject matter; from The Bob Dylan Chronicles to The Complete History of Piracy or the one I'm checking out today Falling Man (a novel about living in the aftermath of September 11th). Something I appreciate as an adult that never entered my youthful mind is that we are all experts in something, aren't we? There is at least one thing that each of us knows a whole lot about. What are you passionate about? If you were to write a book (or a blog for that matter) what would the subject matter be?

One area I'm gaining expertise in is environmental living, but more specifically, helping others to make changes in their homes that have less impact on our planet. I hope you will find that in this blog this year.

2009-12-22T20:32:00.001-08:00

2 words: Rechargable Batteries

2009-12-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

For those last minute Christmas gifts, try to buy local! I know my parents always have enjoyed receiving gifts from "that store down the road". And others in my family may enjoy a bottle of locally made wine...think creatively and learn to appreciate those stores that make your town unique!

Make it easy!

2009-12-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

In my kitchen, I have 2 small trash cans tucked neatly under the counter. They are clearly labeled so visitors (and my husband and child) know what goes in which can. One is for our recycling. The other is for kitchen linens. At my house we use cloth napkins. We also use microfiber cloths for cleaning (instead of paper towels and a spray cleaning solution). So we do have laundry that regularily gathers in the kitchen area. Having a place to put everything makes it so easy to reduce waste in your kitchen. I'm also thinking about putting a "recycling" can in the bathroom for the many recyclables that gather there (toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, magazines, etc.) On a side note: using cloth napkins saves money too, which I love!! I highly recommend it!

Reuse Planting Containers

2009-10-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

You can donate those little plastic plant containers to local garden centers or nurserys. On this website is a list of participating businesses in Minnesota. There's one literally 2 miles from my house! I'm going to add this to my list of errands to run this week!

http://www.recyclemoreminnesota.org/node/332

2009-10-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

A big trend in “green” living is to use cloth bags for groceries. Gotta love it!! For many years I tried to use them whenever I could, but found that I often would forget them at home or in the car. Now I have a system. After I unload groceries, I stuff all the bags inside one bag. Then I toss the whole thing by the door so I’ll trip over it if I don’t take it out to the car. Then, the next time I go outside, I take them out. That way I always have some in my car. We have 2 cars that I might possibly be driving, so I divided our bags into two groups and each car has about 5 bags in them at all times. Here’s the tricky part: remembering to take them into the store with you. Like I mentioned, for a long time I would forget them in the car. But a few years ago, when I made living environmentally friendly a top priority, I found that bringing them in became a habit, just like taking in my grocery list. And I love not having all those plastic bags floating around my house. The other thing I have that I love is cloth bags for my produce. No more of those thin, grey plastic bags for me!

Here's some avocados in my produce bags. These can be purchased in a 3 pack for $9.00 at www.coolhats.biz, or try to make your own!

If you do forget your bags, try paper. Paper bags can be recycled easily, where plastic cannot. However, producing paper bags does have it's environmental impacts. It takes 17 trees to product one ton of paper bags. If you do have to use plastic bags, try hard to think of other uses for them. And defiantly remember to take them to a plastic bag recycling bin. Most grocery stores have them in the lobby.

It takes 11 barrels of crude oil to produce a ton of plastic bags, which is why Ireland has placed a tax on them, thus cutting their use by more than 90%. Make it a priority in your home and it surely will become second nature!

Soap Smugglers?

2009-10-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article on the ban of most dish detergent from Spokane County in Washington state.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105741990

The reason for the ban? Phosphates — the main cleaning agent in many detergents and household cleaners. Phosphates break down grease and remove stains. However, the chemicals are difficult to remove in wastewater treatment plants and often wind up in rivers and lakes, where they promote the growth of algae. And algae use up oxygen in the water that fish need to survive.

In this article some residents of Spokane express a dislike for this law and go to the Idaho border to “smuggle” in dish soap. They claim to find that certain “environmental” brands don’t clean their dishes as well as commercial brands. The reason, they say, is that they live in an area with hard water, and without the phosphate brands, their dishes are not getting clean.

Well, fair residents of Spokane County (or anyone who wants to get clean dishes without the use of harsh chemicals) I’ve got something to tell you! I am an Independent Consultant for Norwex Enviro Products. And Norwex sells a phosphate free dishwasher detergent that I just love! I also use it with the Norwex Magnet Ball and therefore use LESS detergent, saving ME $$.

Super Jet Dishwasher Detergent conditions and softens water. It also minimizes hard water lime build-up. Use 1 Tbsp per load. Will clean approximately 40 to 50 loads. Phosphate, ammonia, and bleach free. Biodegradable. Highly concentrated. $12.99

Norwex Magnet Ball: Reduces amount of detergent needed to clean dishes or wash clothes. It prevents calcium build-up and makes the water soft. Use half of the amount of Super Jet Dishwashing Soap listed on the label (1-teaspoon) and no JET DRY® is usually required in the dishwasher! May be used in all “water” appliances (dishwasher, clothes washer, toilet tank) to breakdown hard water. $27.99

To order these effective and “green” products, email greenclean.norwex@gmail.com. Stay tuned for my website: http://www.mynorwexhouse.com/.

Reusable sandwhich bag!

2009-10-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute craft idea for a reusable sandwhich bag! And some stats on the use of disposable sandwhich bags. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/teach-your-children-well-make-a-reusable-sandwich-wrap.html

I run a day program for adults with disabilities. The residents bring their own lunches and everyday, each resident may have 4+ bags they use. Thats 28 bags a day! 140 bags a week! This is a huge product that America homes are spending money on and it's making a horrible impact on the environment! You can save money AND reduce your environmental impact! Why wouldn't you?

I'm going to add this to my list of "eco crafts"! I'll post something when I'm done.

How do you store your leftovers?

2009-09-25T15:24:00.001-07:00

Here are some things to think about when storing food:

Try to store leftovers in GLASS containers instead of plastic.

Not only is there lots of research on the release of chemicals in food from plastic storage containers, but the environmental impacts of actually producing plastic is extremely high!
I love using small Pyrex containers. You may also find you like using leftover canning jars!

Try to limit the use of platic baggies.

If you have to use them, by all means WASH AND REUSE them as many times as possible!
In my family, we save and reuse the bags that our food comes in (i.e. bread bags).

Think of how incorporating these simple changes will stretch your budget as well!

How many planets does it take to support your lifestyle?

2009-09-24T11:23:00.001-07:00

Calculate your ecological footprint at: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/personal_footprint/

Find out how the choices you make each day add up. This simple quiz will show you how many “planet earths” we’d need in order to provide enough resources for your lifestyle. It also gives you great ideas on ways to reduce your footprint. For example: “What if you pledged to reduce the amount of animal products you ate by half? If every American did this, we’d use 645 million fewer global acres. And area that could cover 484 million football fields.”

I’m always looking for ways to implement a more environmental lifestyle, and now one goal I have in the next year is to eat one fewer meat meal a week. I’d lessen my impact on my planet, AND on my grocery budget! Beans anyone?

A "green" way to search...

2009-09-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Visit www.ecosearch.com for an easy way to support the environment. This search engine plants one tree in the Amazon for every 10,000 searches. You can see the progress on the main page. To date 2652 trees have been planted. There is even an option to make Ecosearch your homepage. Why not?

2009-09-24T11:20:00.002-07:00

Here are our diapers drying on the clothesline that my husband built this summer out of scrap wood! (I’ll be sure to discuss the many benefits of cloth diapers in a later post!)

A great way to save energy (and time!) with your household chores is to build a clothesline. In addition to saving energy on your laundry bill, your laundry will smell fresh. And one of my favorite things about my clothesline is that I don’t have to wait for the time on the dryer to be up before I rotate my laundry. I can get so much more laundry done this way.

You can easily put a clothesline in. For a quick overview, go to: http://www.ehow.com/how_3874_install-clothesline.html

If you do not have access to scrap wood, or would like to purchase a readymade clothesline, visit your local hardware store. There are many different options depending on the size of your yard.

Now that I have experienced using a clothesline, I will always have one! Life feels so simple when I’m hanging my clothes on the line. Especially if it’s on a quiet, sunny morning.

First Things First

2009-09-24T11:20:00.001-07:00

When my son was born 2 years ago, I went from working full time to part time. Consequently, our income was reduced. At that point, my husband and I, who were already environmentally conscious people, decided to really focus on living a simpler lifestyle. In the beginning it was to cut back on spending, but as time went on, I saw that many of the choices we made to minimize spending were also helping the environment. It was at that point that I decided to really focus on making our home a “green” one. Then something happened that I wasn’t expecting: I felt much more peaceful and fulfilled. I was able to take a step away from the hustle and bustle and really enjoy life.

The purpose of this blog is to help people expand their environmental choices beyond the basics. I’d like to identify 3 steps that need to happen first, all involving our outlook on taking care of the environment. The first step to making these choices is making “sustainable living” a priority. The second step involves consciously deciding to become more aware of the many “green” options available. Once you are looking for the green option, it’s easier to follow through.

I think it’s safe to say that our society is a “consumer” society. The third step to living sustainable involves changing the way we consume. It includes changing our buying patterns. We need to buy less, buy local, and buy recycled.

This blog will touch on all of these things and more. Hopefully, together we can share practical ideas to take us to the next level of sustainability, and we will be inspired to keep doing more to take care of this great planet! Welcome!

Welcome to the NEW ecohouse Blog!

2009-09-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Tips and tricks for environmentally friendly living. You can expect to see many low cost and no cost ideas designed to take you further in developping your own sustainable lifestyle.