Go Green in 2010!

Happy New Year!! What better time to start a green lifestyle than a new year?? I say this is the perfect time to start! Going green is not very hard. All you need to do is make one right choice at a time!

Simple Ways to Make 2010 the Year of Green!

• recycle. If you do not already…start.
• reuse. Make efforts to reuse items that would normally add to already overstuffed landfills. For example: reuse your plastic baggies. It will save money AND space in the landfills!
• go organic. Try an organic eating lifestyle. Not only is it better for the environment, it is a healthier eating option as well.
• drive less. If you can walk or bike ride more, do it. The less you drive the less you leave toxins in the atmosphere and rain natural resources.

These are just a few ways you can get going in the green path in 2010. New year, new start. Even ONE change can make a world of difference!

Copyright © Green Christian Network

Stay Green!

               

Green on the Go

Have you ever been out shopping and wished you had some sort of reference to which products are actually good for the environment, healthy, and in sync with your green lifestyle? I know I have! It can be frustrating to sit there reading labels and not being quite sure what all you are looking for – especially if your are new to being green. I felt there must be an answer out there somewhere so I went on a search. Most people these days have mobile phones and many are opting for the iPhone and boy are we in luck! There is a new product out called “Good Guide” and it is an app for the iPhone or a text alert app for regular phones. And what’s even better – it’s FREE!

According to its website, Good Guide provides instant access to a library of over 70,000 products. Through this access you are able to quickly and efficiently look up product ratings, create favorites lists, and get product recommendations to suit your needs. You can even create a list of products you want to avoid in the future – I like that!

Products are rated on a 1-10 scale in categories of health, environmental, social, and the overall general rating. The higher the rating, the better the product – it is that simple!

Smart phones are everywhere these days, so why not make yours just a little bit smarter than the rest? With Good Guide being free you really have nothing to lose, but the time gained in quick access to this product guide is priceless.

Copyright ©  2009, Becki, Green Christian Network, All Rights Reserved

               

I found the Coolest Site!

Recently, Becki wrote a post about Freecycling. Well, I found another option that goes hand in hand with that concept. Just another way we can reuse and reduce!

Listia is a unique auction site. They have auctions for free stuff. Users list things they no longer want, like an old stereo. Then other users bid on the item. Not with money though. They use credits. They get credits for signing up, referring friends, or selling their own stuff. How col is that??

As I was browsing there site this morning, I saw some pretty cool stuff up for auction; Panasonic 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, TwitterPeek Mobile Tweeting Device w/ Lifetime Service, and Blu-Ray Movie Xmen 3 The Last Stand Free Shipping. ALL for FREE! They cost users NO money. I am literally in awe. LOL!

As soon as I finish this post I am going to sign up and take advantage of their current promotion of giving away 300 credits free to those who join and list an item! Woot!

Let me know what you think! I mean get free stuff, get rid of unwanted stuff AND help the environment? And…NO catch. LOL! I am loving it!

               

Donating for the Environment

It’s easy to collect a lot of stuff over the years – books, CD’s DVD’s, software, video games – but once you are done using them the question remains as to what you will do with them now? Just throwing away such items is not only wasteful and damaging to our environment (filling up landfills with yet more senseless waste) it is also often times emotionally altering. We become emotionally attached to such things and we don’t want to see our precious possessions just discarded as if they meant nothing. For me the hardest to part with is books – I love books and I know I have so many that I don’t read or even need anymore, but the thought of just throwing them out makes me cringe. Lucky for me, and for everyone else who feels as I do, there are a couple of great options.

Option 1: The Local Library
Most libraries will take used books, CD’s, and DVD’s as donations to be either added to their collections or sold later in book sales to raise funds for library activities and improvements. Donating these items is as easy as just putting them in a bag and delivering them to the circulation desk. You de-clutter your space and help a vital local resource at the same time.

Option 2: EcoEncore.org
I recently discovered a site that allows people to donate books, computer software, video games, CD’s, and DVD’ to go up for auction and the profits from the auction are then used to help along various environmental charities – this site is EcoEncore.org. It is incredibly easy to donate – simply fill out a form and send off the items – and you help a great cause in the process.

Checking out your local paper, chamber of commerce, churches, or environmental groups is also a good way to find other places that will take your used items and recycle, repurpose, or resell them to avoid creating further waste. With a little research and a little thought it is easy to part with items and feel good about it in the process.

Copyright ©  2009, Becki, Green Christian Network, All Rights Reserved

               

Eco Friendly Ant Removal

Ants seem to be a pest I cannot get rid of. We have battled with them for years. Really. I kid you not. Since my quest to be greener began, however, I have really struggled with how to rid our home of these pests in a way that is safe for my family and more eco-friendly as well. Below are some steps I have made to help me…and now hopefully you!

Eco-Friendly Ant Removal Tips

Removing Ants the Green Way.

• Be clean. Keep food sealed well and avoid having crumbs on the counters and floors. Sweep often and do not let the kids eat on the couches. Under the cushions and in the crevices of plush chairs are breeding grounds for crumb central which in turn will be an ant heaven.
• Check for leaks. Many times you can have the cleanest home and no food source available. However, if you have standing water or leaks, the ants will come for a more vital resource…water.
• Seal openings. Check windows, doors and any places where crevices exist. Seal them up with a non toxic sealer/caulk. This is a great way to keep many unwanted house guests out!
• Cut off their communication. Ants leave an invisible chemical trail to let their buddies know where to go. You can help stop this in a simple and natural way. Mix liquid soap and water together. Put in spray bottle. Spray areas where you have seen ant trails in your home.
• Green thumb. Trim trees and bushes so that they are not touching your house. Especially near windows. This will prevent easy access to your home.
• Find the nest. You can bait them with honey or sugar water and try to find out where the buggers are coming from. If you are fortunate enough to find the colony try one of these steps. Outdoor nests: pour a LOT of hot boiling water over it several times. Indoor nests: put corn starch into a bag-less or with bag vacuum cleaner. Vacuum them up and immediately remove bag and throw away. Or, if you use a bag-less vacuum, clean it out and make sure the filter is changed.
  
• Use bait. I do not recommend this unless all else fails. And, IF you MUST use a bait, use a closed bait instead of a chemical or toxic spray.

As I have mentioned many times in the past, we can be greener if we take the time to research and be creative. Being green is a lot simpler than many people may think. I hope these ant removal tips have helped you. If you have any of your own, please feel free to share below!

Copyright © Green Christian Network

Stay Green!

               

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