Living Green Tip ~ Be Water Wise June 7, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Nature, Sustainable Living.comments closed
At the The Tampa Living Green Expo, we picked up some new green tricks and reinforced some old ones. To keep our planet wet and wild, turn off the tap inside and out:
* Stop, Look, and Listen for leaks in your toilets and sinks
* Slow the flow with low flow aerators for your sinks and shower heads
* Set up a rain barrel to collect rain to redistribute later in the week to gardens, fish ponds, and fountains
* Apply 2-3 inches of water saving and weed inhibiting mulch to landscaped areas
* Drip it, don’t drop it ~ use micro-irrigation in your landscaped areas
* Use a broom to sweep walkways, rather than using the hose
* Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and washing your hands
* Take shorter showers, and 1/2 filled baths
* Plan ahead ~ defrost food overnight in the refrigerator, not in the sink
* Install low flow toilets and flush less often ~ if it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down
* Estimate Water Use using the Water Use Calculator, then pledge to save 10 %
* Fill her up ~ operate washing machines and dish washer with full loads
* Reduce the size of your lawn with native, drought-tolerant plants
* Don’t mow too low ~ closely cropped grass requires more water
* Take an EZ Audit to check your irrigation system
* Don’t over water your lawn ~ use a rain gauge to determine how much rain your yard has received
* Turn off your automatic sprinklers after a heavy rain
* Direct sprinklers into the garden and away from the street and driveway
* Water your lawn only when it needs water ~ 1/2″ – 3/4″ per application
* Calculate Water Conservation Savings for different conservation measures
Use water resources wisely and efficiently ~ visit Water Matters or call your county extension office to get more information on conserving H2O.
Related post: Extreme Conservation (EE) * What The World Really Needs * Go Solar! * Green America * Gradual Change * Create a Backyard Habitat
More Trash To Treasure June 7, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Sustainable Living.comments closed
Looking for a Holiday keepsake for the horn player in your family?
Check out this eco-friendly saxophone . . . made from recycled aluminum cans.
Soda Saxophone Ornament ~ Fair Trade from Africa.
Now that’s something to toot your horn about!
Or what about this Pop Top Handbag from Brazil?
Mastering the art of recycling, Neide Ambrosio designs a handbag filled with trendy elegance. It is crocheted by hand with aluminum soda pop-tops in bright and ‘olden’ gold. The lined interior features a practical zipper pocket. A belt and big buckle closes the bag.
Not in the market for a handbag . . . what about a pair of Fair Trade “Have A Heart” Earrings from Honduras?
Lencan (indigenous) artisans in Honduras collect old soda cans from area restaurants, then process the cans over high heat to extract the aluminum. They turn the aluminum into a pewter-type material to create their beautiful, lightweight earrings and other jewelry.
For more eco-friendly, fair trade items made from recycled aluminum cans, visit World Of Good:
* In Brazil, Neide Ambrosia fashions fashions for fashionistas ~ check out her chic Pop Top Belt.
* In Kenya, the artisan group Bombolulu fashions pins with recycled cans and wire.
* In America, a special education art teacher adorns a single pop top with a stone or glass bead to create a “Mooneye” Necklace out of discarded items.
Related posts: That’s Trashy! * Green America
Spirit Lights The Way 