Transportation is a vital part of people’s lives.  Most people rely on their cars to get them to and from work, to run weekly errands, as well as to make it to important appointments. We are starting to learn just how much of an impact our reliance on transportation costs.  This is most evident in global warming

Global warming, is defines as the rise in the earth’s temperature, due to the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. The vehicles on the road do contribute to global warming, but they are not the only cause. If just one car is taken off the road, it can reduce carbon emissions by as much as seven to eight hundred pounds!

There is irrefutable proof that cars have a negative impact on the environment, but we still keep on driving, as if there were nothing wrong.  Why is this so?  Many people feel that they have to completely give up their vehicles or buy a new, gas efficient one.  Of course, these methods are the best ways to go about reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that enters into the earth’s atmosphere, but it is important to remember that these options are not your only. 

You do not have to completely give up your vehicle to help in the fight against global warming.  You just need to limit its use.  You can limit your vehicles use by carpooling or using public transportation.  If you work close to where you live, you can walk or bike to work.

If you have to use your vehicle, make sure that it is properly maintained.  If the air filter is dirty, it will need to be replaced. You also need to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. If you do these two simple things, you can save money and help stop global warming. If you keep your tires properly inflated, you will get better gas mileage, as well as lessen the amount of pollutants that come from your vehicle.

Everyone should do their part to help limit the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the earth’s atmosphere from your vehicle.  Every step that you take to help in the fight against global warming, no matter how large or small, will help.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

Green investing is a great way to not only find some healthy investment returns but also make sure your money is funding socially responsible companies.

Green investing means your money is earning you an investment return while you’re helping to back the companies who are doing the right thing by the environment and by the community. With green investing you could be making money while you’re helping the environment. An example of green investing could be to invest your money into companies researching and developing alternative energy sources or by investing into companies that make a positive impact on the environment.

Socially responsible investing began by appealing to investors who preferred not to have their money funding companies involved with things like tobacco, gambling or alcohol.

In more recent times green investing now screens out companies who are abusive or irresponsible toward the environment or their communities, companies who might practice poor labor relations or lack corporate integrity. This also means their green investments advocate companies that are making a positive impact on the environment or the community.

So how do you get started in Green Investing?

The simplest way to put your money to work in green investing is to invest it into an SRI mutual fund. A Socially Responsible Investment mutual fund does all the management of choosing green companies with decent returns for you.

A side effect of green investing is that over time as more people pour money into socially responsible companies, this action is sending a message to those companies who are guilty of extreme environmental pollution or poor labor practices that the community has become less tolerant of their corporate practices.

Are Green Companies a Good Investment?

Many governments around the world have begun legislating greener practices relating to a lot of industries in response to public feedback and concerns for environmental damage. As more companies scramble to find ways to comply with legislations and also find ways to meet public approval, green research and environmentally friendly products are on the rise.

This means many green companies are increasing their market share over time, but it may not necessarily make it a good green investment. As with any other investment, it’s wise to check the individual company for how they generate revenue and whether the company is performing well in terms of available cash flow and overall profitability.

For example, a new green start-up company specializing in green energy research might be funded by government loans, grants and investor money, but may not be producing any revenue of its own, so trying to calculate investment returns on a green investment like this would be difficult at best.

Overall, green investing is a great way to have your investment money aligned to your personal preferences but it’s still important to consider the total investment package and how your money would be put to work before jumping in.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

Every year, thousand of chemicals are poured into the environment and millions of gallons of water are needlessly wasted.  How? By growing plants. Sure, most of this is done by large agricultural producers, but some of it is still done in personal gardens. And that means that you can make a difference by changing your gardening practices. There are many agricultural producers who have done it, and you can use the same tricks to help your own garden, and the planet.

Pick appropriate plants. Not all plants are appropriate for the area you live in. While you might be able to control the temperature, humidity, and rain conditions inside your house, you can’t do it out in the garden. If you pick appropriate plants for your area, you may be able to avoid using fertilizers and saving on water too. Research, what plants are native to your surrounding areas and try planting them in your own garden. Wildflowers, are just that, they can pretty much be left alone and will thrive in most areas.

Pick natural repelling plants. You don’t need to rely on poisons to keep away garden ruining pests. Many plants produce chemicals that repel these animals naturally. By putting them in or around you garden, you can keep your garden safe with little effort and no chemicals. Plus, you can pick parts of these plants and use them to make products to keep them away from you too.

If you don’t want to plant natural repellents in your garden, you can use them to spray your plants without harming them or adding artificial chemicals to your garden. Many herbs like hot pepper, vanilla, and lavender can help repel insects from your garden.

Pull weeds. We’re all looking for a quick and easy way to safely get rid of weeds without chemicals, but the good old fashioned way is still very effective.  It you take time every day to pull the weeds you can find, you’ll only take a few minutes so it doesn’t seem like a lot of work.  You can even get the kids involved, just be sure to do it properly so you don’t spread the seeds around.  There are even some common weeds that are edible, just make sure there are no pesticides that could have gotten on them.

Crop rotation. Farmers all over the world use crop rotation to naturally fertilize plants. The concept is to change what crop you’re putting in a certain field each year. Plants use different nutrients and put other nutrients back into the soil. If you rotate crops that replace the nutrients the other plants use, you will have to fertilize the soil less. 

You can use this same concept in your garden by planting different plants every year, or just rotating where you put specific plants in the garden. 

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

Nature is the newest trend in skin and hair care. For years, we’ve been putting toxic chemicals into our bodies that build up and make us feel tired and sick, regardless of whether we eat them or if they seep though our pores. And people are finally catching on that natural is better.

Most stores now have a line of “natural” beauty products. Unfortunately, they often come with a big price tag attached too. Often times many of these products are not actually “natural” so it does pay to do your homework to ensure you are getting what you pay for.

Fortunately actually making beauty products yourself isn’t too difficult. So if you want beauty products that you know are natural and are also inexpensive, just make them yourself. Here are 5 quick and easy recipes you can make at yourself.

Face Mask

Eating good food helps give you the right nutrients you need to look good.  You can get more of these vitamins and minerals by putting the good stuff right on the skin. 

Combining a mashed carrot, mashed avocado, and a beaten egg with a half cup a few tablespoons of honey creates a great face mask that provides vitamins, and improves the tone and texture of your skin. Just stir well, apply, let sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash off with cool water. 

After you’re washed and nourished your skin, you can use grated cucumber or diluted lemon juice as a toner to help tighten your skin and close up your pores to close your pores and keep your skin looking great.

Hair Conditioner

Many people pay a lot of money for a conditioner that actually makes your hair look and feel good. Here’s a great natural recipe to save you money and help your hair. 

Just mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of castor oil and apply to hair. Let sit for about ten minutes and rinse out. You can use this every so often as a conditioning treatment for healthy shiny hair. If you like being experimental, you can try mixing other kitchen items, herbs, and natural items with eggs for healthy, shiny hair.

Hand and Foot Cream

A quick face mask will help make you look great in not a lot of time, but hands and feet require extra care. Use ½ cup of olive oil mixed with natural sea salt and massage into your hands and feet. Leave a few minutes to soak and then rinse off with warm water.

When it comes to natural beauty products, these recipes are just the start.  You can find hundreds of different combinations in natural beauty books, magazines, and on the internet. Or you can go to your kitchen cabinet and make your own special creations.

Keep Going Green, and Natural
Lynne

There is no big mystery to making your own baby food, despite the stereotype image that home-made baby food is for the kinds of mothers who have a lot of spare time and make everything from scratch. Making your own baby food can actually be very easy, and in fact, it can be more convenient than buying the jarred stuff. Here are five healthy, organic, easy baby food recipes that you can make at home.

1. Raw fruit

This is an easy one. Simply peel soft, ripe fruits like peaches, pears, bananas, plums, and melon and mash them with a fork or run them through a blender. Babies love the taste of pure fruit without added sugar. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays, then pop one or two cubes out, thaw, and serve. This method of preservation works for nearly all home-made baby foods.

2. Whole grain brown rice cereal

In a grain grinder or blender, grind 1/4 cup organic brown rice until it is a flour-like consistency. To prepare, bring 1 cup of pure water to a boil and whisk in the brown rice “flour.” Simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Why not cool and flavor the hot cereal with a couple of frozen fruit puree cubes described above? You can also stir in a little breastmilk for flavor, nutrition, and consistency. You can substitute ground, rolled oats for the brown rice for variation.

3. Yogurt

Full of probiotics (“good” bacteria), yogurt is a wonderful baby food. You can make your own in a crockpot, flavor it however you like, and save a lot of money! You will need:

- 2 quarts of organic, non-ultra pasteurized milk
- 1/2 cup plain, organic yogurt already prepared (you can use some from a previous batch of your own, or a commercial brand)
- thick bath towels

Set your crockpot on low. Pour in the milk, cover, and leave it for 2 1/2 hours. Turn off/unplug the crockpot. Leave the milk mixture in it for 3 hours. Then, stir in the 1/2 cup of prepared yogurt and cover. Wrap the crockpot in thick bath towels – be sure to cover the top and sides. Leave 8-9 hours (overnight). In the morning, the milk will have thickened and you have yogurt! Mix with the organic, mashed/pureed fruit of your choice.

4. Applesauce

This is one product that often contains a lot of added sugar and/or preservatives when purchased from a store. Here is a simple way to make applesauce for your baby. Core and coarsely chop (but do not peel) as many apples as you like (you will get about 1/4 cup of applesauce per apple). Put chopped apple into a steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes or until tender. Press the soft apples through a sieve or run them through a food mill. This gets some of the nutrients from the peels into the applesauce. 

5. Chicken and vegetable soup

This is a good way to get a lot of nutrients in one meal. You will need:

- 1 large chicken breast, bone-in
- 2-3 cups pure water
- pinch of salt
- pinch of poultry seasoning and/or bay leaf
- 3/4 cup of mixed veggies, such as peas, green beans, or carrots

Simmer all ingredients in a saucepan for 20-30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. (You could do this in a crockpot or pressure cooker, too.) Remove the chicken from the bones; discard bones. Chop, mash and/or puree the chicken and vegetables and serve lukewarm.

Keep Going Green!

Lynne

Washing the windows in your home may not seem like a harmful activity (unless you fall off of a ladder). But there are potentially harmful chemicals such as solvents in commercial window cleaners, and each time you use them you are inhaling toxic chemicals, getting them on your skin, and releasing them into the environment. Besides, commercial window cleaners rarely deliver the streak-free results they advertise.

Home-made recipes for window cleaners are not new; people had to clean their glass windows long before commercial sprays came along. But home-made window cleaner is a novel concept to many in this generation. This is one of those times that looking to the past can solve some of our current dilemmas.

Below are some inexpensive, easy-to-make recipes for effective window cleaners. You probably have some of these ingredients on hand. If not, these products are inexpensive and diluted with water so they last a long time.

1. Vinegar
No list of home-made cleaning products would be complete without some mention of vinegar. A germ killer and grease cutter, white vinegar (not apple cider, balsamic or other “fancy” vinegars) is responsible for those streak-free, clear results we all desire for our windows. You can clean windows with just vinegar and water -  1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon vinegar per 2 cups of water (going too heavy on the vinegar may cause fogging). Or, you can combine this ratio with:

2. Liquid soap
To the above vinegar-water solution, add 1/2 teaspoon castile soap or other biodegradable, natural liquid soap. Spray on, wipe with a soft cloth, and use a squeegee to scrape off the remaining cleaner. Simply using soap and water is an option, too. Mix 1 tablespoon castile soap, which is made from saponified vegetable oils and thus environmentally friendly, with 2 cups of water. Soak a sponge in this soapy water and apply liberally to windows. Use a squeegee to remove the excess and wipe dry with crumpled newspaper or a soft cloth.

3. Club soda
Perhaps you have heard of club soda’s ability to remove stains. It can also be used to wash windows. Combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of club soda and spray onto windows. Use a soft cloth or crumpled newspaper to get streak-free results.

Note that windows should be cleaned when the sun is not shining on them. If windows are warm and/or in direct sunlight, glass cleaner (home-made or commercial) will be likely to leave streaks or fogginess on the glass.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

If you take a shower, you use a lot less water than taking a bath, but showers can still use substantial amounts of water. If the weather is cold, a long, hot shower feels great, and if you have teenagers living in your house, long showers can be daily occurrences! There is a way to cut water usage without cutting time in the shower or at the sink, through – low-flow faucets.

Low-flow faucets use “restrictors” to lessen the flow of water, and they also aerate the water. Basically, they work by replacing water with air. Low-flow faucets distribute the water efficiently and evenly over your hands or body so that it feels like more water is being used. In other words, low-flow faucets distribute less water over a greater area. 

Some sources say you can save $100 a year using low-flow faucets, and that you can cut your water usage by half at the site of installation. This is because you save:

1. Electricity or gas
Your hot water heater will not have to work so hard to heat water if you are using less. Therefore, you save energy.

2. Sewer fees
If you are part of a municipal water system, your sewer fees go up when your water usage does.

3. Water bill
Obviously, the less water you use, the less you pay per month.

You can replace your sink and shower faucets with low-flow ones for very little – such faucets start at only $15-$20. And this is a great DIY project for the average homeowner, so you won’t have to pay for professional installation. There are also online tutorials to help.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to replace your existing faucets with low-flow ones.

* Check the gallons per minute (gpm) on your existing faucets
The average water flow for a shower is between 2.5-5 gpm. Low-flow faucets can use a little as .5 gpm, although the average is between 1 and 1.5 gpm. Remember, low-flow faucets mix air in with the water so you will not notice a difference in water pressure. (Low-flow does not equal “trickle.”)

* Check your existing sink faucet aerators
You may not have to replace your entire sink faucet – just replacing the existing aerator with a low-flow one may do the trick. At about $3, this is a very affordable way to decrease your water usage.

Saving water is also a consideration for those who are concerned about the environment. Less water usage means less energy usage as noted above, and water is the most precious resource on our planet. Saving as much as possible makes sense, both for your budget and the earth.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

Recycling is the right thing to do and if you have considered starting a recycling now is the time to do it. It is important to teach your children all about recycling and how it can help protect the environment. If you want your kids to be environmentally responsible when they grow up, you’ve got to teach them to recycle now. Teaching kids about recycling and how to appreciate the environment does not have to be difficult. Here are some tips to help you raise your kids to be dedicated.

1. Start Them Young

If children learn to recycle everything as soon as they are old enough to understand the concept, it will quickly become second nature to them. Many adults have to train themselves towards this idea, because we may not have been raised that way. You  an make it easier for your kids by showing them at an early age that everything should be recycled (and explaining why).

2. Make It Simple

It’s easier to teach kids about recycling if it’s something they can easily understand. While there are many important theories behind this, for kids the main thing is to give them simple tasks they can get into the habit of performing. By having clearly marked boxes or bags at home, your children can easily get into the habit of recycling.

3. Make Recycling Fun

You can make recycling fun for kids by turning it into a game. If you are doing some house cleaning, for example, you can have a contest to see who can collect the most cans or newspapers. You can combine visits to the recycling center with a trip to the ice cream parlor or something else they enjoy. Make recycling fun, not a chore!

4. Use Books and the Media

There are many books, television shows and videos geared towards children that explain the need for recycling. Expose your children to some of these, so that they can learn more about this issue in an enjoyable way.

5. Teach Kids to Recycle Everything

Get your children into the habit of recycling not only cans and bottles, but clothing, toys and other items they no longer need. You can also get them to appreciate acquiring recycled items this way. Teach them that “new” isn’t always better.

6. Teach Them the Value of Conservation

Or to put it more simply, teach them to not be wasteful. One way to do this is to make them responsible for cleaning up what they don’t use, whether it’s leftovers at a meal  or toys they no longer play with. If you clean up everything for them, they will assume that things just take care of themselves.

7. Stay Positive and Set a Good Example

Try to make recycling a fun but daily habit. Don’t turn it into a grim or very serious issue that creates an atmosphere of anxiety. One way to do this is to practice good recycling habits yourself! Teaching kids about recycling doesn’t have to be difficult if you go about it in the right manner.

We are currently in an environmental crisis, so it’s more important than ever that we establish environmentally friendly habits. Many people recycle but it’s vitally  important that we teach kids to recycle. There are many fun recycling projects you can use to teach your kids to recycle. By making recycling fun, you can help them grow up to become adults who recycle.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

At least 36 states are expected to face severe water shortages within the next five years, due to drought, increasing demand and rising temperatures. Rain water is one of the most abundant and consistently available sources of water. The collection of it is an efficient way to reduce the cost of water usage in the household and help alleviate water shortages.

If you place a rain barrel underneath the gutters of your home, it can easily provide a barrel full of water which in turn can be used to water your flowers and garden or even wash your car. If you collect enough rain water throughout the year, you may not have to use your garden hose all summer. Collecting rain water is a great way to protect our water supply, save money, and give our water source time to replenish.

Rain water collection is becoming more and more vital as our supply of fresh water dwindles. Residential irrigation accounts for up to 40% of the water consumption in the home. By collecting rain water and storing it a rain barrel you’ll have extra water for future use, whether it’s for watering the garden or just keeping it handy for emergency situations.

The average family uses 15 gallons of water per day to water our lawn and garden and 15 gallons to wash our cars, clean our sidewalks and driveways, and to maintain our swimming pool and hot tub. Over half of the water used for the lawn and garden is wasted due to evaporation or runoff caused by overwatering. Remember water is one of our most precious resources so we all need to conserve where we can.

Keep Going Green 
Lynne

Are you looking to adapt a greener lifestyle, or wondering how to make your home a green home? People are becoming increasingly aware of the need for everyone to pitch in and help with our environmental issues. By following some simple steps, you can do your share in creating a healthier planet.

1. Recycle As Much As Possible

Recycling is becoming popular, but many people still do not recycle as much as they could. If you have conveniently labeled boxes or bags to place recyclable items, it will become an easy habit to maintain.

2. Turn the Heat Down

If you live in a place with cold winters, you may be able to turn the heat down a few degrees without sacrificing much comfort. Many people turn the heat up high enough so that they are comfortable in a t-shirt. If you can just get into the habit of wearing long sleeves, you can save on energy.

3. Easy On the Air Conditioning

The same is true for air conditioning in the summer. In many cases, having a couple of exhaust fans in the window will cool the room nicely. Save air conditioning for truly sweltering days.

4. Use Less Paper

Cut down on paper usage by doing more tasks online. If you order from mail order companies, request that they don’t send you physical catalogs. Most people can easily cut the amount of paper they use in half.

5. Use Natural Cleaning Products

Commercial dishwashing and laundry detergent and house cleaners have harsh chemicals which are bad for the environment. Use gentle cleaning supplies. You can find natural and organic cleaning products or use inexpensive household items like vinegar or lemon juice for many cleaning tasks.

6. Raise Green Kids

If children are brought up to believe in recycling what they can, not wasting and respecting the environment, it will be natural to them.

7. Minimize Driving

Even if you live in a place that requires an automobile, there are many ways to reduce the amount of driving you do. Walk or bicycle short distances; you can also consider a scooter or moped for one-person trips where trunk space is not needed. Take public transportation when convenient. Carpool to work. Shop strategically so that you can make fewer trips to the store. This saves time as well as fuel and energy! These simple tips can help you make your house a green home. Once you give it some thought, you can think of lots more ways!

KEEP GOING GREEN!
Lynne