Every day, I am reminded that going green is a journey of discovery. Just when I think I have a handle on things, I read an article or talk to a fellow environmentalist and get more valuable tips for going green. A few days ago, I was speaking to a friend about recycling and they brought up an unusual topic: Toothbrushes.
Like most people, I never really gave a lot of thought to the tools I used to keep my teeth in good shape. Until that day, I didn’t even realize that the caps to toothpaste tubes were totally recyclable (just rinse them off and throw them in the recycle box). But after speaking to my friend and doing some research on the internet, I learned that you can turn a very wasteful necessity (50 million pounds of toothbrushes are dumped in landfills every year) to one that is healthier for the environment.
So for this week’s tips for going green, I’m going show you a few ways you can make your toothbrush a little more eco-friendly.
One of the more challenging aspects of raising green kids is talking to them about the environment. It is absolutely amazing the things that they pick up as they move through their day. And since the environment is on everyone’s lips these days, it is inevitable that they hear about our environmental concerns - global warming, animals going extinct, and toxins in our food supply.
These things worry me as an adult, so I know they are particularly scary to children who are old enough to understand but are too young to put things in proper perspective. This is especially worrisome if kids are watching the news or listening to adults who watch the news. As we all know mainstream media tends to emphasize the negative as well as blow things out of proportion because that’s what gets them the ratings.
As parents raising green kids, we want them to learn how to be good conservators of the Earth. At the same time, we want them to be kids and not worry about such serious issues until they are older. To offset the influence of the world around them, here are a few tips for talking to your kids about the environment.
One of the healthiest things you can do for your family, and your wallet, is to grow your own food. Not only does this give you some control over the quality of the food you eat, an edible garden will help lower your overall food bill. After all, a small packet of seeds generally costs only a dollar or two and will produce more than enough food for your family, your neighbors and anyone else who will take a basket of goodies from you. That is, if you use organic pest control methods to prevent the bugs and animals from destroying your crops.
One of the major drawbacks to owning a fruit or vegetable garden is that it can quickly be overrun by insects and animals wanting to snack on the fruits of your labor. It can be tempting to want to use pesticides or other harsh, but effective, chemicals to manage them. However, not only does that harm the environment but pesticide residue will end up on your vegetables and eventually your plate. The side effects from ingesting these chemicals are unpleasant so it is just better to stick with organic pest control to keep your garden bug free.
When you are new to going green, it can be challenging coming up with Earth-friendly solutions to major problems. This is especially true when it comes to finding organic pest control methods that effectively get rid of household pests.
In the past, dealing with pests like ants, roaches, spiders, et al generally entailed using toxic chemicals to kill them or prevent them from entering the home. However, these chemicals are just as dangerous to humans as they are to the bugs they were created to eliminate. Luckily, there are a number of organic pest control methods you can use to keep your home bug free.
Personal care products are supposed to make us beautiful and help keep us in good health. After all, manufacturers are constantly touting the benefits of using their products 24/7. This shampoo will give you soft manageable hair. That face cream will erase 10 years worth of wrinkles. Your favorite body wash will make your skin sparkle which will attract the eye of every manly man within a 50 mile radius.
But underneath these sometimes impossible to believe claims lay a hidden cost that the manufacturers and marketers don’t want you to know about. The true cost of the everyday personal care products you enjoy go far beyond what is listed on their price tag. In actuality, you are taking years off your life every time you wash your hair, brush your teeth, or put on hand lotion purchased from mainstream beauty companies. The truth that they are trying desperately to hide is that many of the products on the shelves contain dangerous chemicals that are toxic to your body.
“Lose Ten Pounds in Ten Days!”
“New Super Secret Technique that Melts Fat Away!”
“Lose All The Weight You Want Without Dieting Or Exercise!”
We’ve all heard these outrageous weight loss claims. Marketers and manufacturers peddling the modern day version of snake oil use hype and exaggeration to get you to purchase their so called “natural” weight loss supplements.
If the claims aren’t outright bogus then their “Super Secret Techniques” requires you to radically change your eating habits, consume dangerous chemicals, or do something as drastic as remove part of your stomach. I don’t know about you but destroying my body in order to lose a few pounds doesn’t sound like healthy weight loss to me. All natural weight loss is a process that supports your overall health in addition to helping you lose excess pounds quickly and safely.
Going green is a lot more fun when you’ve got the whole family on board. In the beginning, it can be tempting to want to make a lot of changes all at once but if you want the change to last it is better to take things nice and slow. Here are five going green tips to help your family ease into the idea of being more eco-friendly and save you money in the process.
In the short time I’ve been living green, I’ve found that it really is a lifestyle choice. So if you are going to pick up the ball, you might as well run with it as far as you can. In this article, I’m going to pass along a few going green tips for making your home more environmentally friendly. Some of these tips are simple and cheap and some are a little more complicated and expensive. But in the long run not only will you create a healthier living environment for yourself and your family, you’ll also save money in the process.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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