Here is a list of small changes that help the environment from this site.
Are you able to do any of these things? Maybe you already are.
1. Eat more vegetables.
2. Use energy efficient lightbulbs.
3. Turn off the lights.
4. Use re-usable bags
5. Dry clothes on a clothes line
6. Cover your pots while cooking (who knew?)
7. Choose products with less packaging.
8. Unplug things that aren't in use.
9. Grow your own vegetables and/or herbs
10. Support your local farmer's market (and people in GR who sell eggs and vegetables!)
11. Eat less meat.
12. Recycle!
13. Give up soft drinks, and bottled water.
14. Print on both sides of the paper.
15. Shower quickly.
16. Educate yourself on the environment (read this blog!)
17. Switch to natural cleaners! (and save money)
18. Switch back to using bar soaps.
19. Use a travel mug in the drive through and at work!
20. Pick up litter.
21. Block junk mail by contacting your postal worker
22. Use glass ware instead of plastic tupperware, avoid saran wrap
23. Use less energy during peak hours (do your laundry at night)
24. Choose biodegradable products (such as garbage bags)
25.Buy recycled paper products.
And that's just a few!
Are you already doing some of these things? Leave a comment!
Your Green Planners cleaning the local playground. Have pride in your community, and keep it clean!
Ever wonder what the big deal is with organic cotton?
The difference between organic and regular cotton is that organic cotton is grown and harvested without the use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides.
The negative effects of these chemicals are well known, and includes the death of other plants, animals, and higher cancer, miscarriage and birth defect rates in people and animals near sites where herbicides were used. Many First Nations have banned the Canadian Government from using herbicides and pesticides on or near their traditional lands. Many home-use pesticides and herbicides have been taken off the shelves in recent years due to the risks associated with them. But others are still widely used in the U.S. and Canada.
"Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides on 3 percent of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Organic cotton on the other hand, uses agricultural methods designed to help sustain the land it grows on, and protects the people and wildlife around it from harmful effects...
Composting, frequent crop rotations and cover crop strategies replace synthetic fertilizers to keep the soil healthy and productive.
Weeds are controlled by innovative farm machinery, hand labor or flame devices rather than herbicide applications. Rather than attempting to eradicate all insects with chemicals, organic farmers cultivate a diversity of natural enemies which prey on insect pests, and lure pests away from cotton by planting trap crops."
In the Sault, you can find organic clothing at The Rad Zone, Boat House, and West 49 for the same price as regular cotton.
Do you know of any other stores that sell organic cotton?
Please post in the comments any questions you may have for the Water Dept. concerning Garden River's water supply, and we will ask them for you and post the interview!
Here's some information from our past booklets on Cleaning Products:
Natural Cleaners VS. Chemical Cleaners
Modern cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals.Chemicals in these cleaners have the ability to cause various illnesses and health concerns such as: cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, and allergic reactions, among other things. The effects on the environment and wildlife are also lengthy.
DID YOU KNOW?
The chemicals found in these cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than air pollutants.
If you can’t pronounce it, then why use it?
ALKYL DIMETHYLBENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE is the first ingredient on no-name all-purpose cleaner that can be purchased at Rome’s. This chemical has adverse affects on human immune systems (inability to fight disease/infection/cancer), neurological systems ( causes confusion, fatigue), respiratory systems ( causes asthma, bronchitis), and the skin (rash, blisters).
WHY GO GREEN?
By switching from chemical cleaners to natural cleaners you are protecting yourself and your family from harmful chemicals, keeping the environment healthy from chemical pollution, and saving money. You will be saving approximately $3.70 if you were to switch to natural cleaning products.
Why spend $4.00 on one 32 oz. bottle of chemical cleaner when you can spend 30 cents on one 32 oz. bottle of natural cleaner?
Living Green!
All you will need is...
• Baking soda
• Borax
• Cornstarch
• Isopropyl alcohol or vodka
• Lemon juice
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Vinegar
• Washing soda
• Salt
CHEMICALS FOUND IN YOUR HOME THAT SHOULD NOT BE MIXED TOGETHER...
Bleach with Vinegar or Bleach with Ammonia
Don't mix chlorine bleach with any acid. Toxic chlorine vapor is produced. Read ingredients list before mixing anything.
Different Brands of One Type of Product
Don't mix different cleaners together. They may react violently, produce toxins, or become ineffective. HOWEVER, it is OK to mix store bought dish soap with natural cleaning products like vinegar and borax.
Highly Alkaline Products with Highly Acidic Products
Acids and bases (alkalis) can react violently. Acids and bases are caustic and may cause chemical burns. NOTE: Washing soda and borax are biodegradable and better for the environment but both are alkali materials and should be handled using rubber gloves, should not be inhaled, and should be kept away from children.
Here are some recipes for Natural Cleaners that are cheap and easy:
Dish Detergent for Washers
1cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
OR
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax
Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 tbsp per load.
Use vinegar in the rinse to avoid residue on dishes
Laundry Soap
-a bar of ivory soap (or other dye free kind)
-1 cup of borax
-½ cup washing soda
-grate soap and dissolve all ingredients in a litre of water. Add another litre of water, store in a covered pail, use ¼ cup per load.
Carpet stains
- mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle
- spray directly on stain (let sit for several minutes)
- clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water
For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch on spot (15 - 30 minutes) then vacuum.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet (2-4 hours) then vacuum.
All Purpose Cleaners
- add 4 tbsp of vinegar 2 tsp borax and 1 cup hot water
-add 1 tsp castile soap or “green” dish soap, a bit of lemon juice for scent
OR
- combine 1 tsp borax, 1 tsp baking soda, 2tbsp lemon juice and 250 ml of hot water
Cleaning your microwave
mix 30 ml of baking soda or lemon juice and 250 ml water in a microwave-safe bowl
microwave until the liquid boils and condensation builds up inside the microwave
wipe down.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
-sprinkle in ¼ cup baking soda
-add 1 cup vinegar into toilet (let sit 5 mins)
-scrub with brush
Excerpts from this article reflect how I felt when I first started researching how to contribute to the health of the Earth. It can be overwhelming when there is so much info out there, and so little money in your pocket or time in your day to access the things others are doing to be "green".
"....."Environmentalist"
A word that conjures up images of sandal-wearing off-the-gridders who've sworn off T.V's and cars, and who can't walk past a tree without hugging it.
Today, "going green" has a new set of stereotypes. To be green you must have green — money. Can't convert your home to solar power or grey water recycling? Then why bother!
In the face of something as serious as climate change, can small steps like making laundry soap really make a difference?
Do small steps detract from the big picture, which can be overwhelming and depressing?
Or does going "green" one laundry load at a time give us the perspective we need and a sense of the responsibility to act?..."
And I guess the only answer is, it depends on you, and how you feel about it.
As a student with 1 child and a husband who works, I buy as many organic products from the grocery store as I can, as well as recycled toilet paper. I unplug as many things as I can when I am not using them. I try to remember to bring a mug to work, and reusable bags to the grocery store (but I often forget). Am I making a difference in the world? Who really knows the answer to that?
But I feel like I am, and I also feel like I will be instilling something important in my son, which is to care, and to make as much effort as you can, even if it is very modest and miniscule.
We all need a little sun! It makes us feel good, and is our primary source of the essential Vitamin D, which helps our bones absorb calcium. But too much sun can be harmful.
How much is too much?
UVA and UVB rays in excess cause melanoma, a form of cancer. A tan is a sign that your body is trying to defend itself from the harmful rays using melanin, a pigment that absorbs the rays before they can cause damage. But a tan does not offer further protection from the sun.
Limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun is also essential. Avoid long periods in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the suns rays are at their strongest. After 20 minutes in the sun, go inside or in the shade and take a 15 minute break, and be sure to stay hydrated.
The Truth About Sunscreens
The best suncreen is a shirt and a hat!
The U.S. Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested sunscreens and found that most are filled with chemicals hazardous to your health and dangerous to the environment, and many do a poor job of protecting your skin from damaging UV rays. Choose safer brands listed in The Environmental Working Group's 2011 Sunscreen Report here
Read the ingredients list on the back of the bottle before you buy a sunscreen!
Go here for 9 surprising truths about sunscreen and find out why its worth your while to become familiar with the ingredients of the sunscreen you may already have bought!
