I was looking for some new ideas for Valentine’s Day when I found this great article on how to be an “Organic Romantic”. From organic chocolates to locally, sustainably grown flowers- the options are endless for a more eco-friendly V-Day! Check out the article HERE.
A lot of people resolve to be “more green” when the new year rolls around, but what exactly does that mean, and how can you implement the changes in your life without breaking the bank? We did a quick brainstorming session here at the OMI offices, and here’s what we came up with. Without further ado, we present to you the Top Ten Ways to keep your Green Year’s Resolutions!
1. Recycle
Set up a recycling system or ensure your recycling is efficient and organized. This one seems like a no-brainer, and many towns and cities have made it even easier for you. Call your local waste-collection company and find out what tools they have available to help you with your recycling. Many cities offer free tubs for your use, will give you easy guides to tell you how to sort your recycling, and where you can take items that aren’t in your every day recycling (like e-waste and old appliances).
2. Stop buying water bottles.
Invest in reusable water bottles that you can carry with you and install a filter system for your home water. Not only is this a great way to help conserve the planet’s finite water supply, it will end up saving you tons of moolah in the end. Get each member of your family a water bottle that matches their personality and encourage them to take it every where they go!
3. Swap first
Spend less on buying new items and try swapping or exchanging with neighbors and friends. It’s a great way to get “new-to-you” stuff without having to spend the money on it, and no added burden to the planet. You could even start a monthly swap in your neighborhood. Some swapable ideas? Books, lawn equipment, shoes (yay!) kids’ clothing, exercise DVDs…. anything you have (or want).
4. Spend more time outdoors
From quality time with family to exercise… it is free and good for you and the environment. A day-trip to a local park can do wonders for your mental health, and you will feel even better knowing that pushing your kiddos in the swing isn’t taxing the environment.
5. Buy Local Produce
Find out in your community where you can buy locally grown and sustainable produce. Focus your meals around seasonal produce and you can save money, since out-of-season produce will be more expensive. Buying local not only helps sustain your local economy, it lessens the impact the shipping industry has on the environment. Plus, it’s really fun to be able to see where your food actually came from.
6. Plan meals
Thought meal planning went the way of the housewife wearing heels and pearls? Well, think again. Planning meals for the entire week can help cut down the cost of your grocery bill and allow you to use leftovers in new meals, limiting excess and waste. Added bonus: planned out menus mean fewer trips to the market, and who doesn’t love that?
7. Up the efficiency in your home
Unplug unused appliances, switch out old bulbs for longer lasting energy-efficient light bulbs, and install a new digital thermostat for more accuracy and to better regulate the temperature while using less energy (an easy task that even the most inexperienced DIYer can accomplish). If your appliances need an upgrade, be sure to buy EnergyStar models that use less energy to run and lower your operating costs. If your old mattress is giving you problems, make sure you upgrade to a responsibly sourced and organic mattress (of course we suggest an OrganicPedic mattress by OMI).
8. Compost
Put your food waste to work for you. When you compost, not only do you cut down on the amount of garbage headed toward the landfills, you get some great soil out of it. A great tutorial on setting up your compost pile can be found here from John & Sherry at Young House Love. Not sure what’s compostable? Click HERE for a list of 75 things you can compost, but thought you couldn’t.
9. Use earth-friendly cleaners and household products
Back in the day, “earth-friendly cleaners” meant baking soda, vinegar, and a lot of good old-fashioned elbow grease. We still love the ease of using items that are most likely already sitting in your cupboards, but we understand that isn’t an option for everyone. When looking for household cleaners, be sure to pick brands that are environmentally friendly, preferably made with organic ingredients. Our sister company, Lifekind, has a great line of Naturally Safer cleaning products, and earth-friendly products are popping up in retail stores across the country. Just beware: not all companies have altruistic intent, and may try to trick you into purchasing their product with the implication of being “green” without actually offering an environmentally friendly product.
10. Go paperless
A lot of big companies are now offering incentives to customers who want to view their statements and pay their bills online. If your local utility company doesn’t offer online bill pay, make sure you call and suggest it to them. Instead of sending printed cards, make use of online greeting cards and evites. Just imagine how much paper and trees would be saved if everyone made this small change to their life. If you absolutely must use paper (for your business, perhaps) be sure to buy paper from sustainably harvested trees.
These ten ideas are just a the begining of hundreds of different ways you can make your life more green. What are your ideas and what has your family implemented to make your 2012 greener than your 2011? Let us know in the comments!
and a Happy Green Year to You!
Here at OMI we believe not only in sleeping organic, but also eating organic! For most of us here in the office it is a busy time of year because we spend a lot of time outside of work planting our Summer gardens. There just is nothing better then vine-ripe tomatoes or fresh cucumbers.
Having the priviledge of a family centered around a organic upbringing, the importance of growing the vegetables organically is a no-brainer for me. But not everyone is as lucky. For those of you who are trying to “organic-fy” your life, here are some tips and facts to help and encourage you towards a healthier lifestyle.
Tip #1:
For the healthiest plants, make sure you have good growing conditions. For most vegetables, that means full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day). If you have poor soil, amend it with lots of organic matter, like compost.
Tip #2:
Decide what you want to grow. Determine how much space you have, and then take a sheet of paper and draw a small scale model of your garden plot, and decide where the vegetables will go. Without added chemical fertilizers(like Miracle Grow, which basically gives plants a “steroid” boost when growing) the plants need enough spacing to stretch their roots. Overcrowding gives you less of a chance for the plant to grow large enough to support the vegetables.
Tips #3:
Look for natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as the use of compost. The use of inorganic fertilizer causes toxic buildup of chemicals in our soil and drinking water.
Tip #4:
Some plants, such as tomatoes, are naturally more susceptible to pest and disease problems than others. To reduce problems, look for disease-resistant varieties of plants. (Disease resistance is usually mentioned in catalog listings, seed packets, and plant tags.)
Tip #5:
After planting your seeds and/or starts water everything thoroughly and keep the seed areas moist until they germinate and start growing. Once that happens you can then start allowing them to dry out a bit between waterings as you usually would do with growing plants.
For more tips and info on growing your organic vegetable garden visit my favorite nursery’s website, Peaceful Valley, HERE where they post weekly demonstration videos and helpful information.
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