~ Eco-Living ~

Hope for our children's future?

Eco-Living is something we all need to think more about! So, what can each of us do to reduce our carbon footprint? How can we contribute to the effort to stem the tide of global warming? Here are a few ideas for how we can all make a small difference that will yield larger collective dividends.

How many e-mails do you receive in a day or in a week or month? Do you get your bank statement online? Are other "important" documents sent to you electronically?  Or, do you have access to business information online? We all probably have some of those things mentioned. So, how much of it do you print? Not too many people know that running a printer causes emissions to be released into the air. These emissions may impact the air quality in the room or building in which the printer is being used.

Researchers in Australia discovered that particulate matter levels were five times higher during the workday inside a nonsmoking office building than outside near a freeway. After testing more than 50 printers throughout the building, they found that particle emissions varied depending on the type and age of the printer. In one case, standing near a working printer was much like standing next to a cigarette smoker. The results  are described in new research published in ES&T (DOI: 10.1021/es063049z).

So, in addition to the "trees" you'll save by not printing that  e-mail or that company newsletter you may have a hand in saving your health as well.

What are some of the other things we might consider,  perhaps on a small scale, but important nonetheless?

• Plant a tree
• Stop catalogs from coming to you and shop online instead
• Make sure your tires are properly inflated
• Hang clothes out or up to dry, if possible
• Take mass transit if you have a choice - park your car
• Walk or bike to areas that are close enough
• In the market for a new car? Consider a hybrid
• Do you recycle? If your town doesn't have a recycling program, help them start one. This is a great project for service clubs.
• Use PTFE and PFOA-free, non-stick cookware
• Buy locally grown produce as much as possible
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Use energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFs)
• Use home care products that are plant based or at least phosphate free

This is just a small sampling of some of the things each of us can do. Now, do some more research online. There are numerous sites that have information about many "green" opportunities.

In the suggestions above we mentioned buying locally grown produce as much as possible. Another thing to consider, of course, is growing your own produce. You don't have to be a farmer to grow a sufficient enough amount of your own produce to provide a pretty good supply for a time. And, you don't have to live in the country to plant your garden.

In fact, the system we propose is so versatile that you can use it almost anywhere -- in the country, in the city, on your acreage or on your deck or patio, in your sunroom or on your roof!

There are so many ways to use this system that virtually anyone can grow their own food.

Have you heard about EarthBoxes? We love them! We live in the country but still use EarthBoxes on our deck. It keeps the animals from devouring the fruits of our labor and makes it handy to step outside and grab a couple of fresh tomatoes any time we want.

EarthBoxes are scientifically designed to produce optimal growing conditions. Acting on the laws of nature, the EarthBox facilitates the movement of nutrients from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

When the EarthBox is set up, a fertilizer stripe is placed on top of the potting mix-creating an area of high nutrient concentration. At this time, the potting mix around the roots of the growing plant has no fertilizer. When water is added, the moist potting mix slowly conducts the diluted nutrients down the concentration gradient to the plant roots, which absorb optimal amounts of nutrients at any given time.

The EarthBox's plastic cover drastically reduces the water evaporation rate and returns condensed water vapor to the potting mix. As the plants draw water from the reservoir, they consume only what they need to stay healthy. Plants cannot be over-watered or under-watered if the reservoir is kept full. The plastic cover also prevents fertilizer from being diluted or washed away by rain.

We have also mentioned using environmentally friendly household products, among other things.

Check out our aStore for many environmentally sound shopping ideas and great products.

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