GCN is up FOR SALE!

I can no longer keep up with the demands of owning so many websites. So, I need to downsize, sadly, this is one of the websites I must let go. It has TONS of potential and can be very profitable for the right buyer. If you are interested in purchasing this website, please visit this link for details. Thank you!

               

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!

               

Organic Farming on the Rise

I have been reading more and more about how organic farming is growing and really needs to be the trend of the future. Organic farming is not only vital for the environment, it provides healthier food sources for consumers.

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is the practice of growing crops without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. It relies mainly on crop rotation, organic fertilizers and plant-based pesticides and herbicides to maintain soil productivity and tilth.

Not only is it better for our health, it is better for the planet.

Our Job.

In my personal life, I have been doing my best to make organic choices and learn all I can about organic products and farming. In my research, I discovered an awesome organization, WWOOF. WWOOF is short for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. They began in the UK in 1971. In short, it is helping the WORLD come together and make a difference to the environment through the implementation of organic farming throughout the entire planet.

Their purpose is to bring together eco minded individuals and groups to volunteer on organic farms with organic farmers who need help. In return for volunteering, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.

If you are interested in organic farming, as I am, WWOOF is a great resource and organization. Advice on obtaining an American Visa so foreigners can be a part of this can be found here.

Copyright © Green Christian Network

Stay Green!

               

Carbon Footprint?

Ever since entering into this journey of mine to change my lifestyle and become more green there has been one burning question that I’ve wanted answered. Everywhere I turned I would hear a certain term that seemed to mean so much so I finally asked, “What exactly is a carbon footprint?” The answers I received were all so complex. I needed something in layman’s terms. I needed a simple answer to a very complex question – and I found one.

Put simply, a carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses given off by one person, product, business, or event. In general when speaking of greenhouse gases people are referring to the equivalent of how many tons of carbon dioxide you put out.

So one might ask why this even matters. As individuals, why should we care what our carbon footprint is? Well, you should care because it is a fairly accurate assessment of the impact that our daily life has on the environment. We should want to know what kind of impact we are having so that we can improve upon it – in such a way we help the earth that the Father has provided us.

There are quite a few websites available to help you determine what your carbon footprint is. My personal favorite for it’s ease of use and simple understandability is from Climate Crisis (An Inconvenient Truth). After inputting all of my information I have learned that my personal impact is about average, but even with being average there is always room for improvement and in the world of carbon footprints that improvement is done through something called carbon offsetting – basically a carbon offset is something you can do (usually a financial contribution or lifestyle change) to help balance out carbon emissions. For example, through helping businesses to give back to the earth by planting trees you would be offsetting your carbon footprint. Another example is getting involved in some sort of natural energy project.

If we are going to be good stewards of this earth and really walk the walk we talk about it would be very beneficial to know our carbon footprints and start making changes or contributions to offset them now – Even small changes like keeping the lights off in one unused room can make a huge difference. Start small, work your way up, and in no time your carbon footprint will look great.

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

               

Green Tip – (10/19/09) – Rodent Elimination

Eliminating rodents can seem like a daunting task for greenies. I mean you want to be humane and green at the same time. I thought of a few ideas that will help remove rodents in an eco friendly way that is fairly humane as well.

Removing Rodents the Green Way

• Get a Cat. LOL. Sounds funny? Well, if you live on a farm or in a rural area, this can be a GREAT tip. Not only are you making the cat or cats happy, you are also going with a natural form of removing unwanted rodents from your land. If you have a large area, get a few cats. However, I DO recommend that you still get them spayed or neutered. You do not want to wind up with an over abundance…then you may need dogs. ROFL!
• Get Rid of the rat friendliness. Remove berry bushes, ivy, fruit and nut trees, wood piles, and holes in concrete that are close to home. Also, make sure your bird feeders are clean. Dirty anything attracts unwanted pests.
• Be Aware of Compost. You do not want a good thing to attract a bad thing! Keep pile in closed container. Plastic is best for compost. Avoid adding cooked food, meat and fish, dairy and bread to compost bin. They all attract rodents. Add water to deter them from nesting in compost.
• Use Traps. Instead of toxic poison that could wind up harming pets, children and WANTED creatures, go for the rat trap option. Place them where the rodents seem most active. Peanut butter, bacon, cheese or any food with strong odor are great lures and always make sure that the triggers to the trap are facing the wall. If you notice no vermin after a week, try a different location for the trap.
• Seal all Openings. Keep in mind that a mouse can fit into a hole the size of a pencil eraser. Go through your house and search for potential entry ways. Seal them up. Repair broken screens and other areas of the home that could become entrances for vermin.

As you can see, harmful toxic poisons are not the only way to eliminate rodents from your surroundings. Do you have any other green tips to remove vermin? Please share below!

Copyright © Green Christian Network

Stay Green!

               

Five Easy Ways to Teach Toddlers to Live Green

As a mom it is always front and center on my mind how I can teach my children to be good stewards of this great earth. It can be tough for younger children to grasp the concept of living green but through our example we can really teach our young ones to start caring now, thus leaving a legacy of caring that is more precious than anything you can make from plastic. Below are five ways to start teaching toddlers today.

1. Take your children on a field trip to an organic farm that will allow them to pick fruits and veggies. While there discuss why organic farming is good for the earth. Also talk to them about how we should pray for farmers and thank God for them as well – after all, we get much of our food from those farmers.
2. Young children go to a lot of birthday parties. A great way to encourage green living in your toddler is to opt out of buying new wrapping paper for presents. Rather, you can recycle an old paper bag and have your children decorate it with crayons and markers. Use this time to discuss recycling and why it is important for our earth.
3. Plant some flowers or even a tree. Children, especially young children, love to help their parents out in the garden. Have your toddlers assist you in planting some beautiful flowers or even a tree or two and explain to them how this helps the environment. You can even take this time to discuss how God made the flowers and trees and that part of taking care of our earth is helping these wonderful things He created to grow.
4. Teach the importance of conserving water – when your children are brushing their teeth or washing their hands teach them to turn off the water in between brushing or scrubbing. Talk to them about how water is a resource we all need and that we need to make sure there is enough to last for everyone. Have your kids think of other ways they can conserve water around the house – you will be amazed what toddlers can come up with!
5. Get out a great nature movie or series such as Planet Earth and watch it with your little ones. While watching it discuss with them the beauty of God’s creation. Teach your children to appreciate what the Lord has provided. Discuss with them all the many different types of plants, animals, trees, etc… Have your kids draw pictures of the earth and tell you what they appreciate about it most. Pray and thank God for giving us this beautiful place to live in.

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

               

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