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By Michelle, on September 10th, 2008
 What? You say! A weed killer?
Sometimes, regrettably, it is necessary to be more vigilant with pestilent plants. Use a 6 quart or larger pot for making the following:
- 1 gallon of white-distilled vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dye-free liquid soap
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
Mix together and bring all ingredients to a boil. Ladle into a spray container and spray on weed while mixture is still hot. Cover with newspaper and then cover with 90% weed free top soil. The area should be ready for something new, like a garden, within 6 months.
By Michelle, on September 8th, 2008
Ever wonder how to make garden space in your backyard in the city?
It’s easy! Simply use containers on hand, like leftovers from all the trees you planted last year, or make a raised bed garden with left-over wood from when you built your new fence (or your neighbor’s leftovers), reclaimed or salvaged wood works great too.
Some things to keep in mind when you build your raised bed garden:
- 3′ wide is plenty wide enough, you need a comfortable reach
- 6′ long is also long enough to ensure the same comfortable reach
- 1′ high is okay, but if you do 2′ you won’t have to bend down as far to reach your plants
- If you build close to your house you will use the heat from your house to help insulate your garden
By Michelle, on September 1st, 2008
When shopping for food, it’s important to remember that buying local is actually better than buying organic. “Why?” you may ask.
Well, I’ll tell you why. It’s more evident now with rising gas costs, but one reason for buying local is to ensure food security. If something were to happen to our transportation system (such as exorbitant gas prices) and food couldn’t be shipped the 1500 average miles food is currently shipped to get to our plates, what would we eat? We need to ensure demand for local food so that we will have local food to eat.
Secondly, buying local keeps money local instead of shipping it off to Kroger or the Walton’s. It’s been said that for every dollar spent locally, it puts two dollars back into the local economy supporting jobs and simply people.
Third, we have more control over local food. Remember what happened to Tribal Sun a few years ago when they didn’t use organic tomatoes but said they did? New Seasons quickly pulled the product from the shelves, and the product wasn’t on the shelves for about 12 months until they seemingly remedied the problem. If Kroger’s brand of organic doesn’t really use organic vegetables, how quickly do you think the items would be pulled from the shelves?
Eating great local food is often as simple as walking around your neighborhood to see who’s selling what. I would love to hear comments from people who have other ideas on how to save on primary sourced foods. Email me with your suggestions!
By Michelle, on August 15th, 2008
- Only put on your plate what you can eat; it’s easier to portio
 n leftovers than think about what to do with the things on your plate
- Toothpaste works as silver polish
- Think holistically and seasonally when preparing meals
- Sit down for dinner with your family; chatting over food is a great way to build relationships
By Michelle, on August 1st, 2008
For a start, we took the family-water audit test offered here, to see how good we were at saving water. We flunked. If you’re like us, you may want to see what this site offers: over 100 tips on how to save water in and around the home. Examples of water saving tips include running a bath and plugging the tub before turning water on, then adjusting the temperature as the tub fills up; using food coloring to test for leaks in the toilet tank; bathing children together; and using a commercial carwash that recycles water, like Eco Car Wash in this section under “Car Wash.” There is a lengthy list of water saving plants for our area as well as links to other websites for water saving technologies such as waterless urinals, instant hot water heaters, and leak detection equipment. The site also offers educational tools and games that are fun for both children and adults. You can participate in the family water audit to measure how your family currently uses water and then use the site to make sustainable water choices for your particular lifestyle. Maybe next time we’ll pass the exam.
This site is a great hands-on tool for homeowners navigating through a model home and wondering how to save money on their water bill. Go to the website, click on “typical household objects”, and learn about water conservation and the applicable technology. Suggestions range from on-demand hot water system to greywater systems, rainwater harvesting, and to low, water-use gardens. Look here for advice and statistics on incentives plus rebates, benefits and costs, where to purchase equipment, maintenance, and handy installation tips.
Water Smarts. Ogorzalek,? T. 2003. Journal of Housing and Community Development. 60(4):24-29. (Journal article)
Water Smarts provides some shocking statistics of water use in the United States. For example, 24% of residential water is used for toilet flushing and 4.8 billion gallons a day are flushed. It is a huge water use but there are some helpful alternatives to the standard toilets installed in most residences, which suggests that we do not have to waste so much water. If you own an older home, consider the merits of upgrading to a more efficient system. A new kind of low-volume toilet was introduced in the 1980s that led to legislation requiring newer toilets to use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. The US EPA estimates that a three-person household can save $60 and 54,000 gallons of water annually when low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators are utilized.
A list of behavior modifications is included, which allows readers to easily identify areas for improvement:
- Only run the dishwasher when full.
- If washing something (dishes and clothes) by hand, fill a tub and use that rather than letting the water run continuously.
- If you have to wash your car, turn off the hose between rinses.
- Cover an outdoor pool when not in use.
- Sweep sidewalks rather than hose them down.
- Water the lawn at cool times of day (at night or very early in the morning) to lessen evaporation.
The Rocky Mountain Institute’s website offers advice and information on the following water topics:
- Water-efficient fixtures & appliance
- Landscaping and irrigation
- Greywater systems, compost toilets, and rain collection
- Wastewater treatment systems
- Drinking water quality
Civil action: promoting water efficiency and protecting rivers
This site is comprehensive and useful. Regarding composting toilets, there is a warning to homeowners that many local jurisdictions are unfamiliar with the technology, and therefore do not have codes enacted — making it difficult to pass inspections. The Rocky Mountain Institute provides numerous links for further information on all of these important topics.
A good source page for information on water conservation products, Green Home provides links to suppliers or manufactures of:
- Conservation Kits
- Clothes Washers
- Composting Toilets
- Bathroom Fixtures
- Grey Water Supplies
- Barrels & Tanks
Check out this site to get ideas for your next home project.
Access this handy guide for eating seafood throughout the year in Oregon (in the Appendix). Drop-down menus explain how seafood is harvested, farmed versus wild fish, abundance of fish for the current month, nutritional aspects, and best-employed management practices. Fish existing in the healthiest habitats are not yet endangered: Abalone (farmed), Catfish (US farmed), Clams, Mussels, Oysters (farmed), Cod: Pacific (trap or hook & line-caught), Crab: Dungeness, Snow (Canada), Halibut: Pacific, Lobster-Spiny (US), Pollock (wild-caught from AK), Sablefish/Black Cod (AK, BC), Salmon (wild-caught from AK), Sardines, Shrimp: Pink (OR), Spot Prawn (BC), Striped Bass (farmed), Sturgeon, Caviar (farmed), Tilapia (farmed), Trout: Rainbow (farmed), Tuna: Albacore, Bigeye, Yellowfin (troll/pole-caught), and White Seabass. The guide also lists alternatives when optimum choices are not available, as well as choices to avoid because of over fishing and other practices, including farming or the endangerment to other species. A small printout is available as a pocket reference in the Appendix. Sustainable sushi anyone?
By Michelle, on January 15th, 2008
Ye s, there is. Instead of being tempted to use gallons of water in the bath, buy a bottle of Lavender Essential Oil. Sprinkle a few drops on your pillow before bed to let the healing powers of lavender relax you into a good night’s sleep.
Or, if you’d rather not purchase an essential oil, visit a local lavender farm and buy a bunch of dried herbs or your own lavender plant. Once the herbs loose their scent, take small portions and place in a sachet bag. Give the bag a squeeze every now and again to re-release the oils for the fresh, clean lavender smell. Place bag in clothing drawers or in your pillow.
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