And the wonderful feelings that flowers evoke doesn’t stop there.  Flowers not only make people happy, but they’re wonderful for the environment.  It’s very easy to grow flowers.  All that’s required are some packets of flower seeds, potting soil and fertilizer.  Flowers can be grown in something as large as a garden or as small as a tin can.  But in addition to being economical, growing flowers from flower seeds is also practical.  Like all living things, flowers breathe – however because they’re a plant, they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen, thereby helping to make our planet survive.  Flowers can also be “recycled”.  The flower seeds that a plant drops can be used to grow more flowers, and the dead plants can be mulched to use as a nutritious additive to the soil.

Another advantage of flowers is that they can be changed often.  Whereas many outdoor decorations, such as a large statue, are permanent, flowers can be started from flower seeds then transplanted in displays.  They can be changed out throughout the year, creating living, breathing “art” that’s not only beautiful but is healthy for the environment.

It’s so simple to add flowers to your environment, whether you choose an outside flower garden or plant some flower seeds in a pot inside your house, you will not only beautify your surroundings, but also help the planet.  So spend a little time looking at inexpensive packets of flower seeds, and think about improving your surroundings with the beauty of flowers.  Bloom some hope in your life.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Why Flowers are Good for the Environment

Cloth Diapers

Since caring for a baby can be so time consuming, it is easy to see why parents choose the perceived convenience of disposable diapers. They just toss them in the garbage bin and forget them right? Well, green parents cannot forget that diapers account for an enormous amount of landfill waste that does not biodegrade. Luckily cloth diapers have become just as easy and convenient as disposable diapers. Forget the flat diapers you need to fold and pin together (although those are still around if you are so inclined). Cloth diapers today are fitted with elastic, they close with pins or Velcro, and are easy to clean. For those that do not have the time or the desire to do diaper laundry, there are diaper services widely available. Cloth diapers can last for years and be used by more than one child. Also flushable diapers, such as gDiapers, are another green diapering option.

Feeding Your Baby

Not only is breastfeeding usually the perfect food for baby it is also the most planet friendly way to feed your baby. By simply breastfeeding your baby you eliminate the need for formula cans and baby bottles. Breastfeeding is waste free! If however you need to pump milk and bottle feed there are green options there too. Glass baby bottles are reusable and able to be recycled or donated unlike their plastic counterparts which are prone to breakage and do not biodegrade. Helpful products for mom such as wool or cloth breast pads and organic creams are also available.

When your baby is old enough to eat solids you can continue to feed “green” by making your own baby food from organic fruits and vegetable that you are already eating. There is no need to buy boxes of baby cereal or tiny jars of baby food when you can mash or puree family foods and feed them those. They can be frozen inside ice cube trays for later use and convenience.

Clothing Your Baby

Farming with chemicals is hazardous for our planet and very unsustainable so when you buy clothing for your baby try to buy clothing made with sustainable fibers. Organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and wool in natural colors or dyed with low impact dyes are all good choices. The absence of chemicals is also better for your baby’s tender skin.

Consider buying used clothes instead of new. Buying second hand clothing that someone has recycled is much more sustainable an option than buying brand new. Look for used clothing at thrift stores, on local lists such as Craiglist, or through family and friends. This option is also much easier on the pocketbook.

When we bring a baby into the world we want that world to be as friendly and hospitable as possible. These are just a few of things we can do to raise green babies and ensure that that world remains friendly and hospitable for generations to come.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Babies

Remember that in many cases, you can prevent a moth infestation simply by putting some thought into how you store your clothing.  Remember that any woolen items that you are storing for an extended period should be washed and thoroughly dried.  You can do this yourself simply by swirling the wool in water and a shampoo with an acidic pH and then rinsing thoroughly.  To increase the acid level of a detergent that you are worried is too basic, add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar or lemon juice.  To dry, do not twist it or wring it out; instead press it.  Remember to shape wool before you let it dry all the way, and let it air in the sun for a few hours before you pack it.

You’ll also find that there are several substances that will repel moths as well as mothballs do.  One great option that will leave your clothes smelling great is to use cedar chips.  All you need to do is to get some chips of this fragrant wood and throw them into the bottom of the clothes bag.  You can find cedar chips at any pet store or gardening outlet.   Cedar chests are a traditional option and you can find ones that are quite lovely.  Many places will sell cedar hangers specifically for this purpose, so take a look around.

Another terrific way to make sure that your clothing is moth free is to make your sachets.  All you need is some dried lavender and some cedar chips that have had some lavender essential oil and cedar essential oil added to them.  Put these things in a cloth drawstring bag.  You can throw these bags into sealed containers.  This is just the basic recipe; you’ll find that you can also add rosemary and dried cloves; not only do these substances have increased moth repellent qualities, you will also find that they are quite aromatic as well.

Just because you should no longer use mothballs doesn’t mean you have to suffer from moth-eaten clothes, so take the time to try out some other great solutions!

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Mothballs

For instance, one source for grants of this nature include the Community Conservation Enterprises, which has given more than 130 grants for between 500 and 2000 dollars.  These grants are specifically given to businesses that make the promotion of sustainable communities and the protection of natural resources a priority.  Although currently these grants are only available for projects going up in Mexico and Central America, it is worth noting that there is hope for expansion in the future.

On a grander scale, the U. S. Department of Agriculture has allocated an impressive 11.4 million dollars in grants that will be available for investments going into agricultural and small businesses that are willing to put a vested interest in renewable energy and energy-efficient improvements in terms of their practices and products.  An addition to this, loan guarantees are also available, which can take a lot of the stress out of starting an eco-friendly business.

For many people, the idea of staring an eco-friendly business was only a day dream, but as you can see, with these grants and many others on the table, it can very easily become a reality.  If you have a strong view towards turning businesses more eco-friendly, you’ll find that now is the time to start.  Take some time to start thinking about your area.  What do you think the local economy will support?  You’ll find that some businesses can operate just as well or even better on renewable energy resources, and you may surprise yourself when you think about what you might find out there.

If you are in a situation where you want to move forward not just with your household but also with your community, looking into eco-friendly and green grants might be the direction that you want to go in.  Take the time to look around and make sure that your community is one that can support another business, but keep in mind that there is a bigger niche out there than you might think!

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Business Grants

One thing that you can do to reduce the effect of your dry cleaning is to make some requests at your dry cleaner.  You can simply ask to make sure that more than one garment is put into a bag, and ask to see if there is a good recycling program that will take on the bags specifically.  Similarly, make sure that you recycle the steel of your coathangers, or better yet, ask if your dry cleaner wants them back for reuse.  You’ll find that just by doing this can do a little bit to help improve the environmental impact of your laundry!

Also make sure that the dry cleaner that you use doesn’t use perc, which is a nervous system toxin.  It has been linked to headaches, nausea and even problems regarding reproduction, so make sure that your dry cleaner doesn’t use it on your pants!  Remember that hydrocarbon and silicone are two other options that can work when you are trying to ensure that your dry cleaning is a little bit more eco-friendly.There are lots of eco friendly dry cleaners popping up. Be sure to check your yellow pages or online to see if there are any “green cleaners” in your area.

Remember that for the most part, many different pieces of clothing that are marked for dry clean only can easily be washed at home.  While some fabrics might suffer, the vast majority of clothes that are listed as dry clean only are only listed as such because they can’t take the violent agitation in most home machines.  Take the time to wash your clothes in cold water on a very gentle setting or even by hand.  While you should remember that things that need to be reblocked by professionals or a very heavily embroidered or tailored outfit might need more care, most clothing will be fine if treated in this fashion.

Take the time to think about what you can do to make sure that your dry cleaning is as healthy for the environment as it can be; you might be surprised at the options that are open to you.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Dry Cleaning

The funeral industry has traditionally designed caskets to last forever. Many caskets are coated with chemical preservatives, and the fabrics are made with artificial dyes. There is nothing usually “green” about being buried in this way, and the cumulative effect on the soil is certainly something to be questioned.

Because of an awareness of the fragility of the world in which we live, funeral directors are offering green burial options. One of the first things to notice is the simplicity of the caskets. Made from harvested wood, there is an absence of preservatives usually found in caskets.

Popular trees are being used for these caskets because they mature relatively quickly, in about 20 or 30 years, making it quicker to reforest the area from which they were taken. This is the first plus for nature.

Additionally, casket makers are now using traditional woodworking methods that were popular hundreds of years ago. This eliminates the presence of chemicals and by-products that have a negative effect on the environment. Non-chemical glue is used to join the corners, eliminating nails and screws, which are manufactured through a process that ultimately produces pollutants as well.

Embalming fluid is a carcinogenic compound known as formaldehyde. Although this chemical preserves very well, its harmful properties do not aid the betterment of the planet. There has been some testing done on another fluid to use in embalming that contains iodine. However, this mixture hasn’t shown the same results as formaldehyde and further study is being done to improve the embalming quality of it.

The final resting place in a cemetery should also be considered. The federal government has laws in place to ensure that cemeteries provide adequate maintenance of their properties. This is a good thing, but it often comes at the expense of the environment.

The grounds are usually heavily treated with pesticides, which leach into the soil and eventually find their way into our water supply. Some cemeteries are opting for more natural ways to keep their grounds looking great. Using local plants that thrive in their particular area cuts down on fertilizer use. Incorporating ponds provides a restful look and landscaping with native rock is also a good idea because the stones don’t have to be transported.

Another option for a green burial can be found at sea. Memorial reefs have been constructed off the coasts of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas. Basically, the ashes are mixed with concrete to be added to the artificial reef. This, in turn, serves as a habitat for marine life, like fish, coral and sponges. Bronze plaques provide information about the deceased.

The world is changing. Pollution in the air, soil and water are causing people to think of realistic options to a traditional burial. Consider the environment when planning your funeral. The world will be a better place for your concern.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Burials

For those that live in the San Francisco bay area, the San Francisco Green Festival offers an affordable way to attend one of the largest green festivals in the United States and learn more about the global concerns of our planet Earth.
This will be the eighth year that the event will be held and it promises to offer a multitude of attractions, as it does every year, while attracting visitors from all over the country.

Over one hundred world renown speakers will be on hand as they are every year. Last year’s speakers included Dr. Cornel West, Van Jones, Mutabaruka, Winona LaDuke, Chuck D, Reverend Lennox Yearwood and Amy Goodman, just to mention a few.

The festival is a joint effort of Co-op America and Global Exchange.
Co-op America is a national nonprofit organization that provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems.

If you live outside of the San Francisco area you may want to consider the many San Francisco Vacation Rentals that are available throughout the city and surrounding area.

The festival will be held on November 13-15, 2009.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Plan on Attending the 2009 San Francisco Green Festival

The downside to all this, the need to supply billions of sheets of paper to the world each year has taken its toll on the environment. To create a mere ton of uncoated paper that is used to produce printing and writing paper, three tons of wood needs to be pulped. The process uses up nearly 20, 000 gallons of water and generates more than 2,000 pounds of solid waste.

Think of the millions of books published each year, the Christmas and Valentine’s Day cards exchanged across different time zones, the leaflets and fliers during election campaigns, the notebooks on which students record the day’s lessons, and you’d see millions of acres of rain forests razed and depleted. 

And then, it’s not just the forests. Tear down a tree and you get a bewilderment of nesting birds. Forests are an ecosystem. Damage it and you create a chain of effects including loss of biodiversity, flooding, and global warming. 

Production of white paper involves bleaching product with chlorine. This process creates harmful air pollutants; studies show that the paper industry is the largest contributor to air pollution. It comes third after the automobile and steel industries in fossil fuel consumption.

As we try to reduce or eliminate the dangers we have inadvertently imposed on mother nature by creating products that deplete our natural resources like water and energy resources, the urgency to save the environment is felt the more by private, government, non-government, and commercial organizations. The world is going green, and so is printing.

Although the Internet has helped lessen the need for paper to spread and store information, some organizations still require paper for marketing campaigns. Green printing provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional printing by emphasizing on use of 100% recycled waste paper, chlorine-free paper, processed using renewable energy resources, or using non-tree materials (e.g. hemp).Organic Inks produce low volatile organic compounds as they are vegetable-based or made of soy. Printers are also powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

The qualities of the paper and the printing materials used in printing are two major concerns of a printing business. Green printing does not sacrifice product quality in the name of eco-friendliness. In the past, recycled papers had a brownish appearance. Today, you can place a recycled paper and a virgin paper side by side and you will hardly notice the difference. Green printing uses soy-based inks and carbon-neutral technology and this makes production costs very competitive in comparison to traditional printing and more often than not, recycled papers are less expensive than virgin paper.

At present, lack of information is what keeps the world slow in embracing green technology. Once the world gets past the myths surrounding green printing especially, about its quality and cost, we can then start winning the war against environmental pollution by making the world a lot more greener than it is today.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

What Do You Know About Green Printing?

It does not take much to make a difference - you could make big changes by replacing your appliances with greener versions or doing away with them altogether, but changing the way in which you use your kitchen is just as important, especially when it comes to water and energy.

Appliances

Most people’s kitchens in the developed world are crammed with appliances. Fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, ovens and microwave ovens are common even in small kitchens for just one or two people. Obviously, they have become essentials for many of us and the thought of losing them fills us with dread and horror - so don’t worry, we are not about to suggest a return to the good old handwashing days of yesteryear. But the way in which we use our appliances and the type of product we buy can still have a massive impact on the environment as does what we do with them when they are no longer working. Of the over 5,000,000 tonnes of used electrical and electronic goods thrown away each year in the US, for example, large domestic appliances, such as washing machines, fridges and cookers make up 35,000 tonnes - 8 million units. So disposing of them carefully and preferably recycling them is a priority.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Green Kitchen

First, consider where you live.  Are you in a part of the world that gets lots of sunlight all year long, or do you have lots of gray and overcast days?  Even when you install solar panels on your home, they only create electricity while the sun is shining on them.  That means you have to use batteries to store electricity in order for it to be available at night and during overcast days. 

Here’s where your system can start getting expensive.  You’ll need to buy and maintain enough large DC (direct current) batteries to store enough electricity to get you through one to three days of cloudy weather.  You’ll need plenty of storage space for all of those batteries, and you’ll have to plan for the expense of replacing them periodically.

It’s also a good idea to keep a backup generator just in case you have a long stretch of cloudy weather that lasts beyond your battery storage capacity.  Your generator will need fuel, so you’ll have to store that, too. Generators usually use either gas or diesel fuel.  But that seems to defeat the purpose of a solar panel system, so you’ll probably want to use biodiesel.  So, yes it is possible to got “off grid”, but it’s not a simple or cheap project.

For most people, it makes more sense to look into “net metering”.  Find out  if it’s offered by your local electric utility company.  Net metering is a great way to cut down on your electricity bills, yet still have power available at night and during long spells of gray, cloudy days.  Net metering allows you to credits back from the electric company for excess electricity that your solar panels produce during the day.  Then you simply use the electricity from your local utility company at night and on days when there is not enough direct sunlight.  You won’t need to store banks of DC batteries in your basement or garage.  You won’t be completely “off grid”, but you can save significant amounts of money on your monthly electric bills.  Some months you may even have a zero balance.

So if you live on a large parcel of land and have an extra barn or outbuilding to store your DC batteries in, going “off grid” could be a reality for you.  But if you live in a subdivision, have no basement, and you’re already parking your car on the street because the garage is too full, “net metering” will probably be your best bet.

A Recent Post from: GreenEcoPedia

Solar Panels: Can You Go Off the Grid Now?