Natural and Sustainable

Normally going green to some means spending a lot of money, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Starting small then working your way up the green ladder is easier than you might first think. Here are some great ways to help save you on money and help you go greener in the process.

1. Organic: When it comes to organic foods you may think they are expensive and some are just down right way over priced, but you can buy organic without breaking the bank. Many stores that offer organic foods, such as Whole Foods or even Safeway offer their own brands of organic foods. Whole Foods has their 365 Organic and Safeway has their Organics line. Look to store brand organic to save money and eat better. And going local can help as well, and this is the prefect time of year to start. Better yet, start your own garden and you can guarantee it will be organic because you grew it yourself.

2. Cleaning: When it comes to cleaning there is nothing better than the natural cleaners such as baking soda or vinegar, but you can clean green everyday with other options as well. Salt, lemons, toothpaste and many others can be just as helpful. Look to previous posts here at Natural and Sustainable to learn more about natural cleaners that you already have in your cabinet.

3. Household Expenses: Sit down and consider the cost of things you spend every month. If you can part with a few things like a land line and a cell phone, pick which one you use the most and get rid of the other. In order to go green you must be willing to change. If a few months goes by and you still feel like you are in need of one thing or another, then bring it back in as an expense, if not then good riddance to a bothersome payment for you and the environment.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Look to dollar stores to pick up items in a hurry and cheaper than stores to make last minute casseroles, stews and even pasta dishes. Most stores sell items like canned tomatoes and crackers that are defective or even packaged wrong to save you money. Shop around for the best deal on items though to save on money in the long run.

A lot of us, when we clean our homes, we depend on the cleaners and supplies that our local discount or super market sells us to be healthy for our families and our pets. But, what exactly are we cleaning with? If you read any cleaning product label, warning labels are listed on the product per the law, but to what extent are those chemicals causing harm?

Even though a cleaner states that it is indeed, “non-toxic”, it may not be a great chemical to be cleaning with. Everyday new cleaners are introduced into the market with the promise that it will clean your home without causing harmful toxins into your indoor air quality, but is it really? Here are some ways to keep your home healthy in more ways than just depending on what the label states.

1. Clean your home with noncellulose sponges. The sponges sold at the super markets, (most of them) contain anti-bacterial or cleaning detergents and that means they contain some sort of disinfectant. Stay clear of them. If they label read “kills odors” or “antibacterial” it could very well contain some form of a pesticide.

2. Use reusable cloths when cleaning. You can easily throw them in the wash and use them time and time again. Also, use essential oils instead of harmful irritating cleaners that give off fumes. Even with essential oils, you may want to open a window or two to vent the room a bit.

3. The best scrub can be made from steel wool or even dry salt mixed with a bit of warm water. Baking soda is a great nonabrasive cleaner on stove tops and floors as well.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: How hot do you think the earth is getting? Watch this PBS Special on Climate Change and see the changes take place before your eyes.

March marks the coming of Earth Hour, which is March 28th so now is the time to make some eco-changes. My family always uses this time to revamp our out-look on eco-changes and help out by doing our part. Even though Earth Hour is about turning the lights out in your house and areas around your house, in my house we hit the main breaker and shut off all power completely. Instead of just shutting the lights out we like to save all the way around.

There are many ways you can get ready for Earth Hour, one way is to start by turning lights, ceiling fans and other power drainers off when you leave a room. Here is a simple list of other ways you can prepare for Earth Hour in your own home.

• Reuse that water bottle: Instead of relying on water bottles that are avaialbe anywhere you go now a days, invest in a reusable water bottle and carry it with you no matter where you go.

• Strip it to power: Place all your electronics on power strips and cut them off when you aren’t using them, this is a good way to get ready for Earth Hour and when the time hits you can just flip a switch.

• Don’t touch that dial: Always keep your thermostate at 68 degrees or lower during the winter months. If you get cold, throw on a sweatshirt or wrap yourself in a blanket.

•The carry-all bag: Bring your own reusable shopping bags to the supermarket, farmers’ market or any other place you will be carrying items to your home. They are washable and can hold more than you think.

• Bike it the smart way: If you use bike or public transportation to get around town you are saving not only in gas and carbon emission you are saving in money wasted as well. If you don’t like to ride a bike or even the thought of public transportation makes you want to hurl, hoof it on foot for a day or two. Your body will thank you along with the earth as well.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Looking for ways to boost your antioxidant level in a natural way? Look for the Go Greens packets available in many supermarkets and health and nutrition stores nation wide. They are a great source of your daily fruits and veggies and have a full supply of organic ingredients and are easy to use.

It may be difficult to stay the eco-course, especially during times like these where money is in a crunch. Don’t worry, with simple changes and purchases that are rather inexpensive. Just small changes you can get into the habit of buying more earth friendly. It just takes a small change like the type of pens or pencils you buy or even your shampoo. It can be done and if you start small your changes will eventually turn into something big. Here are a few products to try.

• Instead of a taxi call an Ozocar: This is a service that uses hybrid vehicles only. Instead of gas-powered these cars are paving the way for better transportation options for anyone needing to get from point A to point B.

• When you look to shoes, look to ones that are made of eco-friendly materials or give back where there are those who are needy. Toms Shoes is a great start.

• When looking for moisturizer, look to ones made with organic or natural ingredients. They are better for your skin and the planet. Jurlique is a nice start to your collection.

• When looking to eco-friendly clothing, look to John Patrick Organic clothing. These are earthly friendly, and organic and will fit any personal taste in the eco-conscious mind frame.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: The National Football League (NFL) is offering to the public an eco friendly version of the locker room t-shirt. It’s made from organic material and offer the NFL logo in a more eco-conscious way. So now your football lovers can support your team in an earth-friendly way. The shirt is avaiable here for under $22.

Several times here on Natural and Sustainable I talk about how important it is to use earth-friendly and eco building materials when you go to remodel or even change a room around in your home or office. There are many things that can add to the earth-friendly ways in making your area a better situation for yourself and the earth as well. Here are a few more tips to keeping with the earth-friendly practices that you want to make habitual.

• Leave it exposed: When it comes to concrete floors or rafters and beams being exposed, there is nothing wrong with that. A lot of people want to cover the floors with carpet that can actually bring in more toxins than with just the plain concrete alone. And if you must do carpet, make sure it is a natural fiber carpet like wool or jute. Never place carpet with synthetic latex backing on your floor. Tack down your carpet too rather than gluing it. The best eco-friendly way is to do without though.

• Use local: Always use local materials and onsite materials rather than ones that are made from far off distances and had to travel thousands of miles to get to your. If you go with composite wood too, make sure it isn’t particle board with can contain urea-formaldehyde in the make up.

* Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Buy energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They will have a longer life rather than tradition light bulbs. Select those that have low mercury in the buying as well.

It may seem like an endless path to keep on when trying to choose the right products to keep on the eco-path. But, with a bit of knowledge about the best products that offer eco-good ways of living you can keep on that path and not stray off. The best products are those that are made from the good ingredients and offer the producers a fair share of the money as well. Here are a few items to help you supply your cabinets with the right kind of products and keep on the eco-path and save you money as well.

• Choose Fair Trade Coffee: Cafe Femenino Peru is a good choice. This coffee is produced by Peruvian and Mexican women’s cooperatives and give back to the community by giving the farmers’ a fair cut of the profits.

• Choose the right Bags: If you purchase bags from thrift shops or discount stores like Housing Works, you can guarantee that your purchase will go to a good cause. Housing Works is a nonprofit that helps low-income and homeless people that have HIV or even AIDS.

• Choose the right Clothing: The clothing you wear is just as important as the bags you carry and the food you eat. Make your clothing choices sustainable. Loomstate can help you with that choice. Their clothing is organic and can offer pesticide free wearing as well.

• Choice good Beauty Products: If you are putting chemicals on your face, your lips and your body you are ultimately eating those chemicals as well. Make sure you choose the right products to apply to your skin. You can go with companies like Burt’s Bees or even Kiss My Face.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: If you are looking for spring dresses look to Linda Loudermilk collection. There clothing is eco-friendly and comfortable as well.