Earth Friendly Friday

So do you have any old clothes sitting around the house? Any pants you've outgrown, shirts that have shrunk?

Well, here's an idea. An idea to put those unusable pieces of fabric to good use. Why not make a scrap quilt?

These blankets are beautiful.

Just take a look at this one.

Earth-Friendly Friday

What percentage of U.S. rivers originate in national forests?

Eighty percent. The rivers provide clean drinking water to 60 million people in thirty-eight states. They also are the home to thousands of species of fish.

We need to protect our rivers and our forests.

Earth-Friendly Friday

What might look like an old pile of used lumber to you . . .

Could be something much more than it appears.

You see, my husband loves to reuse old lumber and there was a house being remodeled in the neighborhood. The people were throwing away some good old wood. My husband couldn't bear the sight of all that wonderful old fur flooring going into the landfill. So, what did he do?

He knocked on the door and asked if he could rescue that wood from the dumpster. And he did.

Then he cut off the tongue and groove edge and sanded the wood (notice the scrap pieces inside the garbage can).


Now, he's making a bench out of the free wood and he even made me a couple of planters for my deck.

See what you can do, if you think outside the . . . landfill?

QUIZ - Earth-Friendly Friday

Summer has finally arrived. So how much do you know...about getting away in your car to enjoy those sunny days in a sustainable way? Take this short two-question quiz to find out.

1) Driving Aggressively lowers your gas mileage by ___ percent at highway speeds?

2) Use of an air conditioner on a hot summer day can decrease mileage by ___ percent?





Answer to #1

Scroll down



1) 33 percent


2) 21 percent

So drive thoughtfully and use your vent instead of your air conditioner whenever possible.

Earth-Friendly Friday

So, what do you do with extra embroidery floss? You can use it to make gifts. Just check out this pen Fatina made for me.

Sometimes you just need to think outside the . . . spool.

Earth-Friendly Friday

I love to garden but hate garden pests, which makes life difficult for an organic gardener.

So, is there any way to reduce garden pests without resorting to toxic pesticides?

Yes! And here are a couple tips to help you.

1) Build healthy garden soil rich in organic matter.
2) Start with healthy plants.
3) Ladybugs can help. Purchase some at your local nursery. These pretty predators of garden pests will eat some of those vicious villains destroying your garden.
4) Read up on Good Bugs - Bad Bugs. If you know the enemy (and don't mistake the good guy for the bad guy) you'll be miles (or blooms) a head.

:) happy trails (and not slug ones)

EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY

My old garden furniture rotted and fell apart. It was partly my fault for not covering it but it was really the Portland, Oregon weather that I blame: wet, wetter and wettest year I remember. That type of weather is really only suited for DUCKS! And, it might have been a good year for those quack-attacks but my garden chairs didn't fair so well. You see, water soaked wood has trouble surviving. But, lucky for me, I have a husband who loves working with his hands whenever he can get out from behind that desk he works behind all day.

And, it's so nice to have a handy guy around the house. Plus, we both love to go to Rebuilders to pick up old wood that would have been thrown away if it wasn't recycled. Then Lars sands it, and goes to work repurposing that old lumber.

Look at one piece of his handiwork.












Do you ever repurpose old items? Tell me about it in the "comments" section. I'd love to "read all about it" :)

Kewl Green Products for Earth-Friendly Friday

I love looking for green products and this bag is a fun one that helps support sustainability while looking chic.

And, if you're looking for something fun and fashionable while still being green, why not check out these guitar string bracelets? I got my daughter a bunch of them last year for Christmas. This year I'm thinking of making my own out of violin strings for my son's gfriend. I'll let you know if it works out.

And I really love these recycled glass bottle earrings. How 'bout you?

Scrap

I love crafting - knitting, sewing, cooking it's all art to me. But I also like to reuse and recraft items. Here's one place that will help you recraft and reuse while saving money while you're helping to save the planet.

Green Your Summer - and Save a Little at the Same Time

There are so many ways to save a little money (and the planet) this summer.

1) Take a walk - rather than a ride in the car
2) Pack a picnic - using "real" dishes - rather than paper plates and plasticware
3) Use a "reusable" water bottle when you go for a bike ride - rather than a throw away
4) Start a compost pile - rather than fill up the landfills
5) Hang a load of laundry outside to get that fresh-air feeling - rather than using the dryer
6) Go for a bikeride and feel the wind in your hair - rather than sitting in front of a fan
7) Read a book - rather than watch a movie
8) Have a candlelight supper - turn out a few lights around the house

And, if you're interested in suggestions on how to go green around the office, check out this site.

Hope you all have a Sunny Summer!

SUMMER FUN - WHILE SAVING MONEY

Here are some simple, money-saving, tricks and sustainable hints to use this summer that will save money and protect the planet at the same time:

• Hang clothes—especially whites—outside in the sun to dry, at least in the summer. It will give your clothes a fresh natural scent. Saving energy one-third of the year is better than not at all and you’ll be letting the sunshine bleach your whites rather than harsh chemicals.
• Close your curtains and blinds during the day. It will keep the house cooler and help reduce your use or air conditioning in the summer.
• Wash clothing in vinegar and baking soda rather than harsh chemicals. Use ¼ cup white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda.
• 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.
• Soak a washcloth in water, place it in a baggie and put it in the freezer, when you’re on a road trip, you’ll have a handy wipe that won’t leave any waste behind. Plus, if you’ve got a baby, it can double as a slightly frozen, crunchy, and soothing teething toy to munch on without any worries about worn-out teething rings.

TIPS AND HINTS

Turn off computers - especially the monitors - at night.

Taking the stairs saves energy and helps your cardio health.

Hang a sheet or blanket over your windows on the hottest days of the year - it will keep the heat outside and lower the temperature in your house from 5-10 degrees

Picnicing and Protecting the Planet at the Same Time

With better weather, we begin to drift outside. And what better way to celebrate the sunshine - than with fantastic food.

So pack up a basket and head - like Yogi - for a picnic in the park. But before you decide to use paper plates and napkins with plastic "silverware", why not make this a memorable meal?

Pack up your best plates, glassware and silverware and dine with more than a little taste. What's the worst that could happen and it's more likely you'll make a memory that will live on forever.

Pick a theme, romantic afternoon, playful picnic, or finger food...? It doesn't matter you'll have a great time no matter what the theme.

And if you use real plates, cloth napkins and even stainless steel "silverware", you'll be protecting the planet at the same time - no waste and even the leftover food might be shared with the "wildlife".

So go outside and play - in the park. Then come back here and let me know if you had a funtastic time.

Sherpani - Earth-Friendly Friday

My daughter bought me a present today. She got me the Switch shoulder bag by Sherpani. When I asked her why, she said because my purse is so ugly. And then she asked me if I noticed that it has an Earth-friendly Fabric? It's made from 67% recycled fabric.

Very cool. Check these bags out - I think you might like them.

Hope you all have a sunny weekend - I've got my fingers crossed.

Sunset at the North Pole

See the Sun below the Moon at the North Pole - What a Wonderful World

Earth-Friendly Friday

I love it when people are creative in recycling. This purse was made from recycled seatbelts - how cool is that? I wish I was so creative. And these purses are not too expensive. Check out this site to see a whole selection.

I may have to get one of these.

Earth-Friendly Friday - Gardening "Green" House

I’ve always wanted a greenhouse but with three kids and two currently in college…that dream will have to wait. But, I’m not a quitter and I never give up that easily. So, what’s a girl to do?

How ‘bout a bread bag?

“Huh?” You might ask.

Well, a plastic bread bag is the perfect growing environment for starter seedlings. I simply need to supply a little sunlight – which isn’t always EZ in Portland, Oregon, and a little water—heck, that one’s EZ-smeezy here in the Pacific Northwest. That liquid sunshine falls from our skies – nearly daily.

Anyway, so I’m creating my own mini-greenhouse and the results have been fantabulous! Just look at this Scarlet runner bean, which I have grown from a tiny seedling. This weekend I’m planning to wean this baby out into the garden. I’m just hoping we won’t have any killing frosts. When you grow these little guys, taking care of them daily, it’s hard to lose any to Mother Nature.

I’ll keep you posted on Scarlet’s progress.

GRANDMA WENT TO HAWAII AND ALL I GOT . . .

WAS THIS STUPID SHIRT.

Actually, my son went to Pair-us (no room for Mom and Dad) and all I got was this bag. . . but I really do love it.

It's made out of a plastic tarp-like material. In the handles are little rubber tubes so that they are cushiony on my fingers when I'm hauling my food out to the car. And, with the holiday weekend and the two dinners I'm planning, believe me-- that haul was heavy. The bag could have probably carried the entire pig out of the store and into my car. That tarp material doesn't tear. And, with this luxurious bag I've never forgotten it in my car or back at home. It's kinda cool to be carrying a French bag into the food aisles.

And, who knows maybe I'll even throw in a croissant - might as well dream I'm in Paris.

EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY

I try to recycle, recraft, and reuse. So, when I'm thinking of a card for someone, I think what that person likes and then I try to make it.

Today, at my gardening group lunchtime meeting, we had a master gardener come talk to us and I wanted to give her a little card to say "Thanks" so I took a picture from my garden and glued it onto some heavy construction paper and folded it into quarters. WAH-LAH gardening card!

So can you think of any ideas like this, ways you can use simple things sitting around your house and put them together to make something meaningful without spending any money?

Please share your ideas in the comments section. Thanks.

(These photos were taken with my phone - sorry for the low quality)

Earth-Friendly Friday

So I display the 350 Challenge badge because I want my blog to help fight climate change. And the organization that started this cyber-community awareness program is looking for projects to support. Check out this link to nominate a project - or to vote for one.

Together, we can all make a difference.

Green Spring - Here's How to JUST DO IT

March Into Spring Being Green

Buy Organic and/or local micro beers or locally grown wine, you’ll be supporting your local farmers and keeping the earth green at the same time.

Plant something green this month: spinach, broccoli, asparagus. It will be fun and festive.

Wear organically grown fabric, cotton, wool, or knit your own sweater out of recycled yarn – yes, it’s out there.

Take part in the Shamrock Run – it’s for a good cause and it will be festive and heart-healthy.