Wear the Earth

Tip Of The Month~2010

JUNE TIP

Summer Camping & Hiking

Camping & Hiking are low-impact ways to see the world if you take a little care.
Always go where others have been~To avoid encroaching on virgin land camp or hike where others have been.

Smaller is better~Keep group sizes small. This helps to minimize the impact on the area and keep noise down.

Be EXTREMELY vigilant with camp fires (if permitted)~ Always dampen your fire afterward to be sure it is fully extinguished.

Leave no Trace-Pack it in-Pack it out~Take all of your trash with you.  This includes toilet paper.

Leave it better than you found it~Pick up trash & debris as you hike.  Carry a reusable tote and collect old bottles, cans, paper etc.  recycle what you can.

Take only pictures~It is tempting to want to take a souvenir of your adventure a rock, flower, shell.  In 2009 nearly 3.3 Million people visited National Parks alone, can you imagine if everyone took something with them?  There are Federal and State laws in place that forbid the removal of these items from public lands.

Wash yourself, dishes and clothes at least 100 feet away from water natural water sources~  To avoid polluting rivers, streams, lakes or ponds.  Try to use biodegradable soaps and pour washing water on the ground rather than into the streams.  That goes for brushing your teeth too.

May Tip

Take time to stop and smell the roses take a deep and reflective breath and breath in life!  Modern living involves high levels of sensory input-much of it meaningless  Our senses should bring us to life.

1.”Green Exercising”~~Green as in outdoors. So skip the stuffy overcrowded gym and take a walk or run outside, Yoga in the yard or on the beach, a bike ride through the park.

2. Raise your awareness of your surroundings. Take time to allow your senses to tell you what you crave (birdsong, sunshine, an ocean wave, ripe fruit) and what we reject (leaf blowers, smog, clutter).

3. In the last 25 years, many researchers have found that just being near plants-even seeing them through a closed window-can make us healthier, happier, kinder people.  So get yourself a plant, take a walk in a park or position your desk chair toward the nearest window.

4.  Plan a day-cation out of the city and explore a National Park, Zoo or Botanical garden.

5. Have a picnic in the yard or at the neighborhood park.

6. Take a Hike! Nothing is better for the soul than a nice leisurely hike through the wilderness.

April Tip
“The Quick & Easy 10”

1. B.Y.O.B & Brown Bag It!
2. Stop buying single use water bottles/coffee cups.
3. Zero Waste~Recycle & Compost
4. Buy Only what you need.  Avoid over packaging and single use items.
5. Eat Seasonal, local and Organic foods.
6. Carpool, Walk or Bike.
7. Turn off lights, computers and small appliances.
8. Keep your home/office a chemical free zone.
9. Don’t Litter~~Clean it up!
10. Wear Organic & Natural clothing.

EASY GREEN GARDEN TIPS~

With the weather warming up it’s the perfect time to get outside and start cleaning up the garden, planting and enjoying the sunshine. Here are some helpful and fun tips to get you and your family off the couch and out the door!
Happy Spring~~

~Make Some Feathered Friends~

*Put up some bird houses around the garden, deck or window sill and watch the resident families grow. This is especially helpful in urban areas where nesting sites can e at a premium.
*Feed the birds.  Create handmade feeders gather pine cones roll them in peanut butter and then add seeds, nuts, raisins or bird seed. Simply add a string and find a good location.

~Leave Lawn Clippings on the Lawn~

*Mow when the grass is dry and leave the clippings.  Forgo the fertilizers let the clippings release nutrients back into the soil.

~Introduce Predators to Your Garden~

*You can buy batches of natural predators like ladybugs, praying mantis, mites and lacewings.  These creatures can help keep pests at bay without the use of chemical treatments.
*Be sure the predator you choose will eat only the critters you want to control.

~Hoe Your Garden~

*To be sure that your garden benefits from the water you are giving it, take a moment to hoe the soil and break up any crust that has formed on the surface.

~Scald Your Weeds~

*Instead of using herbicides or fungicides to keep weeds at bay try boiling water.  Pour boiling water over the weeds and they will shrivel and die, leaving no toxic residue.

~Get to Know Your Garden Neighbors~
This is a super fun activity for the kids.

*Take a clean glass jar and sink it into a hole in the ground (no lid) leave it out on a warm/dry night.  The next morning head out and introduce the kids to the beetles, woodlice, roly-poly bugs and other creatures you may stumble upon.  Be sure to release them to resume their business.

Wear the Earth ~Tip of the Month

Be label-conscious.  When you are shopping, take a minute to read the small print.

An increasing number of labels not only list ingredients but also provide indicators about environmental performance.  Look for products that are approved by Independent certification boards, such as Energy Star, FSC, USDA Organic, Fair Trade,etc.

These labels guarantee that a product has a lower environmental impact than other comparable ones.

January 2010~~Recycle your CFL’s

Over the holidays one of our CFL flood lamps burned out. It got me thinking, by now most of us have made the switch to CFL’s in some of our lighting both at home and in the office. But what a lot of people don’t know is that these lights need special care in disposal. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) have mercury sealed within their glass tubing. The same is true of linear fluorescent tubes, leaving consumers wondering how to recycle their light bulbs. The obvious concern of many consumers is carrying out proper energy-saving light bulb disposal that doesn’t harm the environment.

Without mercury, these lamps could not operate. Since mercury is a naturally occurring element (Hg on the periodic table) which is toxic to humans, this might seem troublesome. But it’s really not. The mercury is only released when the bulbs break. So, as long as they remain intact or in use~No Worries! The key to success is to recycle light bulbs containing mercury at the end of their useful life. Recycling keeps harmful mercury vapor out of landfills, groundwater and the atmosphere.

Sounds easy enough. So how do you properly dispose of Energy Efficient Light bulbs:

Since most bulbs are broken during installation and removal. To cut down on the risk of creating a mess, slide a small sandwich bag over the bulb prior to handling it. That way, if the bulb slips from your hand and falls to the ground, the mess will already be contained.

Once the bulb is removed all you have to do is drop it off at a local recycling center. Fortunately, proper energy-saving light bulb disposal is getting more convenient all the time. Most Home Depot stores have a recycling bin for disposal. Another great knowledge resource is EARTH911.com This site will help you narrow your search for an option that makes it easy for you to recycle fluorescent light bulbs and protect the environment.

So, you may be thinking what if I accidentally break a CFL?

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), these are the procedures to follow if a bulb is smashed:

* Open the windows and let the room air out for 15 to 30 minutes

* Using disposable gloves, scoop the glass onto a piece of cardboard.

* Wipe the area with a wet paper towel.

* For smaller pieces of glass and powder, use duct tape to pull up the fragments.

* Put all of the debris as well as the duct tape and gloves into a plastic bag, put into a bulb recycling kit or contact your town office for information on disposal of hazardous materials.

* Wash your hands.

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