Though I live in a busy metro area, I built a greenhouse last August and grow as much as I can for my family so that during the summer at least one meal a day is supplemented by food from the garden. I, also, am canning jams and tomatoes, as well as freezing vegetables and drying herbs for use when my garden is producing less in the colder months.
This post was submitted by Susan.
So much is compostable - egg shells, coffee grounds, bread, all fruit and veggie scraps, leaves, grass clippings, tea bags, etc. When mixed together, either outside, or inside with worms, a very nice organic soil is produced, which can be used outside for a garden, or inside for potted herbs. There is a science to composting so a little research may be required…
This is a fun activity which incorporates health and the elimination of more waste going to the landfills. Not to mention the cash savings from eating your own produce.
This post was submitted by Angie Kroening.
Our church, schools, and clubs always have food pantry donation requests. Whenever we sent in food we try to send in meals that are made meat free and organic. We send in marinara sauce, meatless chili, peanut butter, etc. This way we feel like we are helping the people who need help purchasing food in many ways-they are getting healthier food and helping the environment without any effort and hopefully we are introducing them to a food or product that they may not normally purchase.
This post was submitted by Sher.
I eat absolutely no processed food. All fruits and vegetables are purchased in their natural state plus I grow a few things at home. All meat is purchased from local farmers. No, I repeat NO, commercially grown meat. Purchasing whole foods in their natural states helps cut down on waste from packaging and eliminates unwanted chemicals and additives in food. Once I learned how to prepare these foods in different ways I found that it was actually a cheaper way to purchase top quality food so I have extra money in my pocket.
Here are what I call the bonus points of this lifestyle change:
*I have lost 20 pounds and I actually get to eat more food.
*Fewer trips driving to the dump to dispose of trash.
*Saved money on both food and gasoline.
*A skin condition that I have battled for years has totally cleared up with out medication.
Note=== I just found out about you, your website and your book this morning, please keep up the good work and help inspire others to start taking control of their lives.
This post was submitted by Jeanine.
I built a low cost tobacco baler to effortlessly crush and bale plastics (such as milk jugs, juice bottles, soft drink bottles, windshield washer fluid bottles, and any other plastic recyclables). Baling reduces the space required for recycling and makes transport to the recycling center much easier. The baler takes up 3′x 2′. They don’t pay anything for recycled plastic at our recycling center, but the money saved on trash bags and the environmental benefit makes it all worthwhile.
This post was submitted by Ken Brandle.
Imagine a minimal garbage lunch, saving money AND helping our planet.
Follow these steps:
Purchase a recycled lunch bag with containers. NO sandwich bags.
Purchase in bulk and pack quantity needed in containers. Say NO to individually packaged foods.
Recycled old clothes into cloth napkins. Cut into squares.
More importantly, don’t be tempted to re-purchase a lunch box each year. Keep your box clean and it will last a long time. Found ours at Fruitful Yeild.
This post was submitted by Mary Nerge-Elliott.
I carpool only on days that I need, I ride my bicycle, and public transportation.
This post was submitted by Keila.
Hello,
1) Use water instead of toilet paper in the bathroom at home, it saves money, cleaner and healthier and saves trees.
2) Use window fan instead of air conditioner.
3) Use groceory bag for your kitchen garbage.
4) Use your basement to hang your cloth’s to dry after washing instead of using dryer
This post was submitted by Sudhir Pattalil.
We gave up TV (owning a set and all!) over 6 years ago! Our entertainment has changed from all TV to reading, watching DVDs on our computer and hanging out as a family and with friends!
Has been a wonderful time ever since. We play more and do more outdoor activities with out 4 yr old like playgrounds, hiking, picnicing and to top it all he is not exposed to all the commercial selling aimed at kids, the violence in the shows etc etc!!
We also, gave up all other media coming into the house in the form of newspapers, magazines and other paper related products that we controlled. Stopped buying “new” books and now request all and any we need from the library! Also, switched to audiobooks for lifestyle reasons!
This has made our lives healthier emotionally too since we are not bombarded by constant “bad” news and when the news is big enough for us to be concerned …. we hear about it, since it is important enough for people we know and interact with to be discussing!
This season, I did not put on the AC at all. Opened the windows, draped the over sunny windows and used the ceiling fans when it got HOT… I got my husband to install one in all rooms that we use regularly. Life is much cooler now than with the AC and it means a lot more money in my pocket than last year!!!!!!
Overall, “going simple” has made our lives as a family more fulfilling and meaningful.
This post was submitted by Ashita.
The Cool School Challenge aims to motivate students, teachers, and school districts to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide. At the heart of the Cool School Challenge is the philosophy that big changes start with small steps, and that taken together, simple individual actions create a world of difference. Student leaders conduct an energy audit of their school, estimating CO2 emissions from electricity, heating, waste and transportation. They then find ways to reduce their footprint with simple behavior changes!
This post was submitted by Mike Wierusz.