Collectively, small lifestyle changes can make a huge impact on the environment–and your life. Looking for happiness and health? What’s good for the environment is also, it turns out, great for you. Here’s a collection of tips from the No Impact community.
reduce the number of bulbs in the house(the bathroom in the apartment has 6 bright bulbs)
use a bucket to collect water from the tap and bathe using a mug to pour the water on yourself.start with washing your face and neck and ears with the cold water that comes first,then bathe the rest of your body,with preferably cold or warm water.This is good to regulate blood pressure.
if you live in an independent house, you can switch off the boiler during the day.
Since I have onbly a month’s exoperience of living in USA,I do not know how practical my suggestions will be.
This post was submitted by preeta.
Having grown up with a family that lived through the depression of the 30′s and world war two I came away with lots of money and environment saving skills.
Even though I am many years away from my childhood home life I continue to use alot of the ideas passed on by my parents.
We grow a huge garden each year using the French Intensive method. The yields are incredable.
We recycle everything. A sustainable compost heap can be easily made from old lumber found for free at construction sites and sometimes even at home centers.
We have over the years collected seeds from wild flowers and plants which has replaced the grass in our parts of our yard. In the other parts we have begun herb beds and vegetable beds. These beds are empty only during rotation time and provide a great deal of herbs and vegetables.
As much as is possible, we have been bicycling or sharing rides to and from work.
This post was submitted by mike.
Nobody has mentioned spinning. weaving, dyeing, sewing and other 18th C life skills. Not only is spinning fun but you can use your yarn for whatever purpose. I am currently working on angora neckwarmers for my kids. Handwoven dish towels last much much longer than store bought ones. Handknit chenille washcloths are pure luxury. Sewing clothes is fast, easy and cheap.
My sheep eat the lawn, I shear the sheep and use them to make whatever. The black walnuts produce 1) nuts, 2) dye from the husk and 3) VERY strong arm muscles.
One homeschooling project is that we are attempting to make flour from acorns this year. Not sure how that will work but worth a try.
I have goats and cows so fresh milk is in glass containers. The surplus is used for cheese, ice cream, etc. I recycle most kitchen scraps back to the hens. Even olive oil is purchased in metal cans that are put back in play by turning them into lamps. Many types of cans make very cute lamps.
The last time we ate out was a year ago. I make bread, ice cream, everything. And it is better than store bought, cheaper and generates much less trash. When you have a system developed, meals can be * fast food* in less time than it takes to run out and get something. I go to the grocery once every 2 weeks as my cows are dry right now and we use a lot of milk.
Another current project is to cart train one of the goats. Then he can be used to pull a cart to do the * heavy work* here. Plus amuse the kids.
I am not a farmer type. I am a city girl that chose to have better quality foods and has a few acres to do so.
This post was submitted by Mary Margaret.
You can jazz up your homemade cleaning supplies as detailed in the No Impact Guide (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1825487/make_your_own_organic_cleaning_supplies.html?cat=7) by infusing the vinegar naturally.
Use lemon or grapefruit rinds, sprigs of mint or pine, or experiment with other natural items. Add to a bottle of vinegar and infuse for a week or two. Strain the liquid and you’ll get a scented vinegar infusion that you can use all over the house.
This post was submitted by Anita.
Havent used A/C in five years. Grow all my own fruit, veggies and raise my own organic chickens for eggs. The chickens are fed veggies from the garden and have free range on two acres that have been organic since I purchased them 14 years ago. Barter stall space for goat milk (FFA student’s project). It’s just nice to FINALLY see other people get the concept. I started my tree hugging in the 70′s and have dealt with the nay sayers on my own for far too long. Welcome aboard!
This post was submitted by Deborah.