Earth-Friendly Friday: RePurposing

My husband built the arbor with the benches at our front gate, using recycled lumber. Plus, his brother built our garden chairs using old torn down picket fencing.

I love reusing old worn out materials and repurposing them.

Are there any ways you use things in a new way? Please add your ideas to my "comments" to inspire us all to live a little greener.

Earth-Friendly Friday: LEMONS

My husband was broiling some salmon the other night and after he sprinkled some lemon juice over the top and we ate our meal, he used the left over lemon rinds, with a little salt, to scrub at the pan he'd cooked the fish on. Then he used the worn out lemon juice, to wash away some of the fish.

I thought this was an innovative way to be earth-friendly. Nothing like using it all:

We ate the lemon then used it to clean the pans.

Can you think of anything you've done like this? Share your helpful hints in the "comments" please.

Earth-Friendly Friday

Recycling is up, garbage is down - at least in Portland, Oregon.

The city uses blue and green roll carts that are used to collect unsorted recyclables. Now, with this one simple change, which makes recycling easier, Portlanders are recycling and composting more. For example, since last year recycling and yard debris material increased by 14 percent which is the equivalent of 10,000 tons or 20,000 pounds. Not bad for one year.

This one change helped residential garbage decrease by almost nine percent or 9,000 tons - which is 18,000 pounds of garbage that isn't going into the landfills.

Overall, the city says that Portland's households and businesses are recycling and composting 67 percent of the waste that they generate. The goal is to stop growth in the waste stream and raise recycling to 75% by 2015. This is one way to reach that goal.

Plus, if you're looking for some green gifts, check out this site: www.ecometro.com.

Earth-Friendly Friday

One thing we can give at the holidays that won't cost a penny is time. Last weekend my husband helped my son make a home-made frame for a piece of art he'd bought at a festival.

Jake wanted something special but custom frames are expensive and he wanted real brass or copper accents, which made the prospect more expensive. So the art sat and waited for Jake to get a little extra money. But it waited...and waited... until my husband offered to help him make the frame from scratch. Together they cut the glass out of a recycled window, wood left over from another project and brass. Then they bent the brass and screwed it all together. It took some time but only cost $4.00.



So, maybe you can't cut wood, bronze or glass, but what talents can you share with those you love? All it takes is time and maybe some creativity to create beautiful things together. It not only creates wonderful gifts, it creates memories that will last a lifetime.

Instead of buying gifts, think about making them or giving the gift of time.

Earth-Friendly Friday

BLACK FRIDAY is a time for shopping - but this year think twice before you go out and overspend. Don't buy needlessly. You'll be wasting money, time and hurting the planet.

This year, instead of buying so many presents, think of giving time to your family and friends. Maybe babysit for an evening for your sister or friend, take the kids to the zoo, or take their dog for a walk. People need time and you can give it to them. You'll be saving money and helping your family or friends at the same time.

Happy Holidays aren't about giving gifts, it's about spending time with family and loved ones.

Easy Gardener - Earth Friendly Friday

Okay, it's not really gardening season here in P.O. but it's never too early to start dreaming about planting and I love to read seed catalogs and think about what I'll do in my garden next spring. So, I thought you might like to see something that's earth-friendly and helpful for the garden.

Weed Block Natural

It's made with renewable corn to stop weeds while saving our precious natural resources. It stops weeds for ten years and won't harm plants. So we bought a package. We're planning to try it out. It's made by Easy Gardener. And the weed block isn't their only earth-friendly product. You can read more here.

So Happy Gardening - or at least Happy Dreaming!

Earth-Friendly Friday the 13th - Share the Moments of Your Life

"And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!"
- from How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess

YIKES - it's Friday the 13th and time to focus on the things that matter the most in life, like the little things. And we could all learn a lesson or two from the jolly "green" guy: the Grinch.

Simplify the holidays (whether it's Christmas or Thanksgiving) and enjoy the time with your family - that's the important thing in life. Here are some tips to help you bring joy to your holidays and get rid of the stressful stuff.

It's not what you give, or what you get. The holidays are about spending time--not money.

Remember: "what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."

Earth-Friendly Friday - GO GREEN FOR HALLOWEEN

That's not the kind of "green" I'm talking about. And, sure, I know we can all be a little witchy as the weather turns colder and the skies get darker. But, with a little preparation and thought, we can save some money and maybe help the earth at the same time.

At the holidays, it's easy to be wasteful but, I'm thinking, instead of overspending why not spend more time at home (with the kids) doing crafts and baking? Those are the memories that have stayed with my kids - not the toys I bought them - well, except for maybe a few video games that the "kids" have never forgotten: like Legend of Zelda and Mario Brothers. But this weekend my daughter (who is 21) is going to spend some time with mom (me) making popcorn balls. I'll probably do a post about it-including my own recipe. Plus, we love to decorate them with chocolate chip eyes and candy corn noses. It's a lot of fun, cheap entertainment and oh-so yummy. The only bad side effect is the addition to my waistline. But what the heck, life's short - so, I just choose to eat dessert first.

And, I may not end up looking like My Pretty Glenda but I'll sure be a little sweeter.

And, with the holidays just around the corner, I thought I'd start sharing some links to fun cyberspots. So, here you go. Check out these earth-friendly spots.

Here's a great Halloween resource and my first and here's another: Baby's Enchanted Garden.

Hope you have a green weekend!

Earth-Friendly Friday

Mom raised nine kids when her budget could only feed a family of four. How’d she do it? She was a super-sustainer; I just wish I would have known that she wasn’t being cheap and mean – she was just progressive and being green.

Here are some simple, money-saving, tricks and sustainable hints Moms can use to help save money and protect the planet at the same time:

• Soak a washcloth in water, place it in a baggie and put it in the freezer, when it’s slightly frozen, it will be a crunchy, soothing teething toy for baby to munch on without any worries about worn-out teething rings.

• Instead of using baby powder, which is talcum powder, use cornstarch. It’s cheaper, earth-friendly and totally organic.

• Extend the life of disposable diapers—at least at night—by using a cloth diaper, folded length wise and placed in the center from belly to butt. This will double the absorbency of the diaper, help you get a better night’s rest and cut down on waste in the landfills.

• Hang cloth diapers outside in the sun, at least in the summer. Saving energy one-third of the year is better than not at all and you’ll be letting the sunshine bleach your diapers rather than harsh chemicals.

• Mash up fruit and veggies for baby, rather than buying jars of food. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water. It’s cheap, organic and great for baby.

• Wash baby blankets, diapers and clothing in vinegar and baking soda rather than harsh chemicals. Use ¼ cup white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda.

• If baby is congested, put 1 tablespoon Baby Vick’s Vaporub in a humidifier and let it run in the baby’s room overnight. The adult Vick’s has Camphor which you don’t want to use for baby.

• Instead of buying specialty toast for baby to chew on, make your own toast and let it sit out for an hour or two, until it stiffens. Cut it into fourths and let baby chew on homemade toast.

• Always use rechargeable batteries rather than the one-use variety.

• Take digital pictures rather than one-use cameras, even on vacations. They don’t take up that much space and it’s so easy to email photos to family and friends.

Earth-Friendly Friday GO GREEN IN THE GARDEN

One way we can all be Earth-friendly is to start buying heirloom plants. Here's one place you can purchase heirloom varieties.

Did you know that there used to be tens of thousands of varieties of fruits and vegetables but those numbers keep shrinking. We find one variety that produces well, or looks the way we want, and we mass produce it until the others are left by the way-side. Soon we'll have such dwindling selections we won't have any choices.

We all know that saying that "Variety is the Spice of Life". Well, let's bring back a little bit of that variety by buying heirloom varieties.

Earth-Friendly Friday

We all have old pants sitting around the house that don't fit us any more. Okay, maybe that's only me. But you must have some jeans that have worn out knees or holes all over the place--right?

Well, if you do, why not find a way to put those jeans to use. How about repurposing them for back-to-school gear: Like a locker organizer. It's EZ-smeezy. All you have to do is cut the pants off at the legs, sew a seam that seals the opening. Sew a couple straps on the top, then flip 'em around so the pockets can be used to hold combs, makeup, pencils or anything else. The straps can be tied onto the locker for strong support. Your kids can decorate them with buttons, ribbon or appliques.

Send your kids back to school with repurposed jeans - it's sooo kewl :)

Here's one free pattern.

Earth-Friendly Friday

Sometimes the answers to reusing are right around your own house. A single teacup for instance. It can be turned into a watering cup for birds, when it's placed out in the yard. Or a bird feeder, if you fill it with seed.

We just need to think outside the box--um, cup, or whatever the object might be. My husband took one cup that was left out of a set and with the help of a little epoxy-WAHLAH-garden art!

I also use old broken pots in my yard to liven up my garden. Who's to say what's art? I guess in my yard at least, that person will be me ;)

So, do you have any clever RE-uses sitting around that you'd like to share? Please add them to the "comments" section and thanks!

Earth-Friendly Friday

The Portland Rebuilding Center

Reusing, Recycling and Recrafting can be more than earth-friendly, it can be so beautiful it can be artwork.
And, building - or REbuilding - a bench, arbor or pergola can be expensive but you can cut costs by re-building.

My husband and I love to go to The Rebuilding Center to buy lumber, fencing and even kitchen cabinets.

Sometimes you just need to think before you buy. And Rebuilding Centers can even supply the ideas for you.

When you buy from a community rebuilding center, you help keep material out of the landfills and save a little (or a LOT) of money at the same time.


Plus, when you're done with your project, you can donate left over building materials and start the cycle all over again.

You might have a local rebuilding center in your neighborhood, just do a quick google search to find out.

Earth-Friendly Friday

TWO-USE COFFEE


You can use a teabag more than one time, well you can do the same thing with coffee grounds-but, if you're like me, you'll have to add some fresh grounds on top - I like my coffee strong-especially in the wee-hours of the morning.

Tip for Being Earth-Friendly: Instead of making one pot of coffee and then throwing out the grounds, just add a second (fresh) scoop of coffee grounds on top of the used grounds and make another pot. That way you'll save coffee filters, coffee, and money.

Then, to be even friendlier to the earth, take the used grounds and put them-right with the filter-out in the compost pile to go into the garden. You'll be replenishing the soil and adding mulch at the same time.

Green Gardening: Earth-Friendly Friday

My son 'tooned another sustainable-superhero from www.ECOwomen.net, which is a group of earth-friendly gals who I blog with. My son is going to toon us all. Being Earth-friendly can be more than FUNctional.

Now on to more Earth-Friendly news:

My daughter and I used to own horses. Back then, being "green" was not a good thing. It meant the horse and "maybe" even the rider was a newbie and the horse wasn't ready to ride - at least with any measure of safety. When someone said, "She's green." It meant the horse wasn't trained and/or experienced. So, being "green" was a bad thing. But things change.

And it's Not so any more. Green is good!

More news:

IT’S OFFICIAL! Master Gardeners are back in the city!

They will be staffing a table at the Portland Farmers Market in the King Neighborhood,

Sundays from 10am to 2pm.

So this is your chance to enjoy a little free-advice. And, come on people, free is a very good price. Come prepared with all your hard horticulture questions.

And:

For all you green people out there in P.O.: The Portland/Vancouver Redirect Guide is a fun link to finding environmentally sound local businesses:

http://www.redirectguide.com/Portland_Vancouver/index.asp

So check 'em out and help support green businesses in Portland or wherever you are.

Earth-Friendly Friday

We're all spending more time outdoors and some of us love to be in the garden. I'm one of those people who loves to plant in the spring and fall, and . . . I just love to plant things and watch them grow. But then the pests come and attack our happy home--um, garden.

A lot of people run out and buy Round-up, or some other products to help them destroy unwanted guests, like Ivy, or aphids. But I try to look for organic alternatives, like spraying soapy water on my rose bushes. But some things aren't effective enough to cure all the problems in the flowerbeds.

But I've found a helpful link, and you can check it out here. It's called Alpha Ecological. And who wouldn't love a company called 1-800-Say-Frog. . . ? I haven't tried it-yet, but I'm going to look into it a little more. And, if you know anything about this company, please post your comments and lend us all a helping hand-in the garden. :)

Earth-Friendly Friday: Win $20,000 to Put Your Green Idea Into Action

How would you use $20,000? Of course you'd have to use it to help the community go green.

If you're interested, check it out here.

Plus, if you want a SmartCar, check them out here.

DANCE AROUND THE MAY POLE AND EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY

HAPPY MAY DAY!!! During the Middle Ages, English villages all had Maypoles and they would compete against one another to see who had the best.

Today, kids celebrate the day by moving back and forth around the pole, intertwining streamers or ribbons.

This tradition of celebrating May Day by dancing and singing survived as part of the English tradition. Some places still select a May queen, and kids still secretly hang baskets of flowers on the doorknobs of neighbors. We used to make little paper cone vases, when I was a kid, and fill them with flowers from the yard. We'd staple a ribbon on it to hang it from the neighbors' doors.

If you want to visit a garden to celebrate but you can't get out today, try cybervisiting this garden carpet in Brussels. Just click on the floral carpet tab to see this amazing site. And Happy May Day everyone!!

EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY

Summer is almost here. Maybe some of you will be doing home remodeling projects. If you are, look into recycling centers that will take your discarded items. Here, in Portland, we use the Rebuilding Center. You might have such a business in your area. If you do, let me know. I always love to read about Green companies. And, check out the Energy Trust of Oregon.

ANSWER(S) TO THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY AND EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY

ANSWER(S) TO THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY: The fastest animal in the world...depends. In the water, it's the dolphin, in the air, it's the falcon, on land, it's the cheetah. So it depends. But you can read all about these amazing animals here.

Here's My Earth-Friendly Friday Post: My sustainability tip "Bike Bound" made it into the Oregonian, which is my local newspaper. It's the second clip on the right-hand side. So Yipee!!! I'm celebrating this one because it's more than a tiny little clip - it's my own little way of adding a little green(ery) to the world. (I had to cut and paste the article, to get it to fit on one page.) If you click on the article, it will enlarge. Hope you can read it. If not, you can see it here, the Oregonian posted an on-line article about the story - my tip is half way down the page.

ANSWER to Thought for Thursday - and EARTH FRIENDLY FRIDAY

Answer to Thought for Thursday: You gals guessed it: Gold, Frankincense and Myrhh. These were all expensive and rare commodities during those times, and they were used to honor the recipient.

Maybe the song helped:

"We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star"

"O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light"

My daughter always says that if they taught classes in song, people would think she's a genius. She can remember the words to every song she's ever heard - almost. But, give her a lecture or an assignment to read, and it's an entirely different story. So let's start a campaign to have teachers sing the periodic tables ;)

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can read a detailed breakdown to the Thought for Thursday answer here.

And, now, for EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY.


Read about organic baby wear here. Babies are so perfect and pure, who wouldn't want to put the very best on their delicate skin?