Natural and Sustainable

1. Pick the right kind of grass for your own area: Having grass that’s adapted to your own climate area will be a natural grass and end up being less work for you or your lawn maintenance person in beginning, as well as the end.

2. Raise the lawn mower height on your mower: Making your lawn look like a golf course weakens the grass by creating a very shallow root system in turn this brings on drought, disease, and even more weeds. Raising your lawn mower height to about 2 1/2 to 3-inches helps the lawn by preventing weeds. The taller the grass, the better this tall grass helps shade the soil surface from the sun and this encourages a deeper root system.

3. Leave the clippings: As the clippings decompose, they end up adding nitrogen to the soil and reduce the need for fertilizers. If you fertilize twice a year, that means you skip one of the two fertilizing needs for your lawn.

4. Water with care: Water infrequently, but deeply is the old saying and it stands true. Water grass too much and it ends up sending contaminated runoff straight into the nearest storm sewer system. Grass needs about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week during the growing season, including rain, to stay green and to keep the root system healthy. So be sure and water early in the day so that the wet grass will have plenty of time to dry before the cooler night air arrives.

5. Aerate the soil: This is not only important for grasses growth, but it also makes the lawn more resistant to drought by improving the water and air movement within the soil itself. Aerate once a year, mainly in the spring.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: If you are in the Oregon area and are looking for bamboo ideas to use in your own yard, check out Bamboo Valley in Albany, Oregon. They are licensed, bonded and Insured and will bring you the landscape design and consulting and installation. They also help you with control of bamboo and even the removal of. They sale custom dug bamboo, timber bamboo and even help with bamboo privacy screens. Give Dain Sansome a call at (541) 223-5142. Remember, bamboo is a sustainable resource and add beauty and value to your very own home or business.

It might be a great idea to consider an electric or hybrid car since to-date, the gas prices aren’t changing and I have been told by MANY people that the price of gas won’t be dipping below $3.00 ever again. Ever is quite along time, but I am thinking the price of gas will not be changing for a great long while.

Driving electric, hybrid or even a low-gas mileage car helps not only your wallet in these times of gas guzzling craziness, it also helps the environment in a great way. There are several alternatives to gas-needing cars that are currently on the market no and will help with your daily commute and help reflect your values in saving the environment and becoming more conscious of earth-issues.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have very peaceful motors and they don’t release air pollutants like normal cars that use gas would and do. EVs also come in the plug-in variety and are more fuel efficient than existing hybrids on the market. They are 90 percent cleaner than the gas-powered competitor. Here are some of the top EVs to check out.

• AC Propulsion: ebox all-electric car.

• Brammo Enertis: Electric motorcycle.

• Vectrix: low-maintenance maxi scooter.

• Ford Escape: Plug-in hybrid.

• GM Chevy Volt: Plug-in hybrid model.

• Mitsubishi Colt: Electric vehicle.

• Phoenix Motorcars: Electric sport-utility.

• Subaru R1e: Electric micorcar.

• Tesla Roadster: Luxury electric roadster. All 2008 models have already been reserved, but get a jump on the 2009s while you can.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Common drain flushing products on the market are chemical laden and cause corrosion on your water pipes, and eventually may end up in our water system, especially if you are on a well. Instead of using those , why not make your own. Boil about 4 gallons of water on the stove, while that is boiling add baking soda to the drain, about 4 cups. After the baking soda has been added, add 4 cups of white vinegar to the drain and wait for 10 minutes. After time has passed, add the boiling hot water to the drain, be sure and add the entire 4 gallons slowly to the drain. The drain should be unclogged, if not, do the process again.

1. Air fresheners are another common indoor source for VOCs. Skip the artificial versions and make your own: Add several drops of essential oil to a spray bottle of water and spritz. This method helps reduce your exposure to VOCs and will cut your risk of asthma and headaches, some studies show.

2. Surge protectors lower your chances of overloading a circuit, which reduces your risk of house fires, so be sure and help out in more way then one. By using power surge protectors you also save on your electric bill as well as wasted electricity that is just being used without reason.

3. If your fridge keeps food at 40°F or below, you’re less likely to be among the 3 to 4 million people each year who get food poisoning. But for added benefit as well, keep your fridge stocked full so that it takes less power to cool your food inside. But, don’t pack it too tight, be sure air can flow through the food.

4. You will cut down on noise pollution by using a push-operated model of power equipment, such as a lawn mower. Snow blowers produce about 105 decibels of eardrum-rattling sound, and lawn mowers about 90. Prolonged exposure to noise about 85 decibels damages the hair cells in the inner ear; chronic exposure is linked to increased anxiety levels, elevated blood pressure and disrupted sleep.

5. Hemp shower curtains (roughly about $84) are resistant to bacteria and allergy-aggravating mold. With vinyl brands, sold almost everywhere, you get more than you bargain for. For high levels of VOCs, even after a month of use they are still letting out harmful chemicals with every daily, nightly or even afternoon shower time. Opt for environmentally-friendly models.

6. If everyone in the United States switched to cold water for most laundry loads, it would mean a savings of 47 million tons of CO2 emissions a year-which could help reduce global warming and its health effects, such as increased rates of asthma, heatstroke, and West Nile virus infections. But, always wash your bedding in hot water to kill bacteria and dust mites, etc.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Try to shop at farmers’ market and clean with water, vinegar and baking soda. Dust with old t-shirts, and socks. Use a push mower and make your own compost. These practices are great for the environment also fantastic for your health.

You can reduce your energy bills and even help cut down on your carbon footprint with these eight ideas.

1. Powering down you personal computer: Computers as a whole consume a load of power. Placing these energy suckers on a power strip helps cut cost and energy coast by saving almost $178 a year and a return of 890 percent over all. So when you head to bed or are done for the day with your energy-using equipment, just simply hit the power strip switch and shut it all down.

2. Go throughout your house and replace the bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs: You may spend a bit more for the bulbs in the beginning, but overall savings is way above what you would spend on incandescent bulbs throughout your home. Even replace your porch lights and your garage lights with the same bulbs. If you have a barn or a workshop, consider replacing those bulbs as well with the CFLs. A yearly savings of $117 and a 234 percent return.

3. Insulate your heating ducts and do sealing around them in your home: Your attic and crawl spaces are prime areas where air loss is felt in the heating and cooling bill. By sealing and insulating these areas, which are low cost and inexpensive and overall you will have a yearly savings of $75 and 375 percent return in the long run.

4. Seal your home’s air leaks: Air leaks occur mainly around doors and windows, and especially around plumbing, wiring and light fixtures that lead into your attic and through the roof (sun windows or skylights.) You will see a change in your yearly energy bill of about $156 and a 312 percent return on the cost.

5. Venting your dryer inside your home during the winter months: Never vent gas dryers inside your home and if you still use a gas dryer you might want to consider upgrading to an electric, Energy-Star-approved model. Make sure when you do vent you use panty hose or cheesecloth to catch the lint. You will see an added benefit of savings overall of $63 and a 315 percent return.

6. Use bubble wrap in more ways then one: Using bubble wrap to insulate your windows is nothing new, it’s just a not-so-common-used practice. It won’t allow you to view out the window, but it does allow for the sunlight to come through. This is a fantastic idea for garage windows and attic windows or even windows that are in rooms you don’t use or hardly use. You will have a yearly savings of $75 and a 197 percent return.

7. Avoid phantom electrical loads: Even when you turn that VCR or DVD player off, something has to still run that digital clock on the front, right? Yes, and it adds up. You will see a yearly savings of $57 a year and 81 percent return if you unplug these energy drainers. This goes back to the “personal computer power strip idea #1″ as well. If you don’t want to unplug all those appliances, put them all on a power strip and hit the off when you are done. Getting a power strip with a phone and fax/modem option will save you even more.

8. Using electric mattress pads instead of electric blankets: You are told to turn the heat down at night so that you sleep better, but what about if it gets too cold inside your home to even sleep? That’s when you need the electric mattress. You can get the same effect with a high-end, good down comforter as well. You will have a savings of $186 a year and a 148 percent return in the long run. (Source: MEN 2008)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Add more attic insulation; add more crawl space insulation; buy a new, efficient clothes washer; buy a new, efficient refrigerator; install storm windows; install a storm door; install thermal shades; and above all, turn everything off at night or when not in use.

There are paints and then their are better paints. Better as in or your health and the planet. Here is a list of some of the best “better for you” and “better for the planet” paints currently out on the market today.

• BioShield: Withclay paints in natural and brights, solvent-free wall paints in matte finish and satin finishes, color washes, clay plaster, Kinder paint, Aqua resin trim enamel, and Casein milk paints.

• SafeCoat Paints: They carry wallboard primecoat, transitional primer, metalCoat metal primer, zero VOC flat paint, flat enamel, zero VOC eggshell paint, eggshell enamel paint, zero VOC semi-gloss, semi-gloss enamel paint, trim and door enamel, all-purpose exterior satin paint and concrete/floor paint.

• Sherwin-Williams (HealthSpec® paints): With Duration home and harmony latex paints that are better for the environment, they also carry other brands and colors that are better choices and have low VOCs. Ask you local Sherwin-Williams paints dealer today.

• The Real Milk Paint Company: Real Milk Paint ® is a all natural paint finish made from purified milk protein, lime, natural fillers and pigment. Other paint companies choose to use Kaolin Clay as a filler. Real Milk Paint ® does not contain Kaolin Clay which can be derived from radioactive clays. Our organic paint comes in a water soluble powder and does not contain solvents (Zero V.O.C. = No Volatile Organic Compounds). They carry colors such as: Black, white, blue, red, green, brown, mustard, raw umber, salmon, yellow ochre, terra cotta, golden rod, ultra marine blue, and bright red.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Make sure you check to see if the label or packaging states “organic” before you purchase it. Just because the item is sold at a health food store, don’t automaticly assume it’s natural or organic. Of course their choices are a lot better than a regular supermarket, but do read labels at any store.

Just because a place is environmentally “fit” doesn’t mean you’d want to spend your life there. But finding the perfect balance between what’s green and what’s livable could lead you to paradise. Most countries are lacking turning around their sustainable efforts. The list of countries here could do a lot to change their green habits. If your country is listed, talk to the governor of your state or leader or your area even and see what can be done on your part to change the way your state alone looks at more green practices. Every little bit helps every country. Here’s a list:

• How countries rate:
Top 5:

1. Finland
2. Iceland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Austria

Bottom 5:

137. Chad
138. Burkina Faso
139. Sierra Leone
140. Niger
141. Ethiopia

• Air Quality: Rates concentration of several pollutant in urban areas.

(1) Moldova
(8) Finland
(63) United States
(126) Ethiopia
(141) Guatemala

• Greenhouse Gases: Rates carbon emissions per capita by GDP.

(1) Chad
(18) Ethiopia
(75) Finland
(107) United States
(141) Turkmenistan

• Environmental Health: Rates childhood mortality disease; deaths from intestinal infections.

(1) Austria
(8) Finland
(16) United States
(1256) Ethiopia
(141) Turkmenistan

• Energy Efficiency: Rates conservation efforts and use of renewables such as hydropower.

(1) D.R. Congo
(17) Ethiopia
(66) Finland
(106) United States
(141) Trinidad & Tobago

• The World’s Greenest, Most Livable Cities:

5 Best:

(1) Stockholm
(2) Oslo
(3) Munich
(4) Paris
(5) Frankfurt

5 Worst:

(68) Bangkok
(69) Guangzhou
(70) Mumbai
(71) Shanghai
(72) Beijing

• How U.S. Cities Rate:

(15) New York
(22) Washington, D.C.
(23) Chicago
(26) San Francisco
(36) Atlanta
(43) Denver
(46) Houston
(55) San Diego
(57) Los Angeles
(60) Phoenix

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Always recycle your magazines or take them to your local library for someone else to benefit from your old reads.

Barack Obama is one of the main contenders for the 2008 presidental elections, and he has been hailed as a motivational speaker much like John F. Kennedy. But, where does he stand on environemtnal issues.

His appeal to the Democratic base is obvious, and has now pushed ahead of Hillary Clinton in the national polling where he has won 11 straight cacus’ and primaries. Obama’s prospects seem to be caught up with to main facts about him: One, he is seeking to become the first African American President and two, that he is very inexperienced. But, does experience make a president? Plenty of observers say this is a one-two punch that will ultimately doom his candidacy for the next presidental slot. This is possible, but there are others who believe that these supposed downfall will prove the Barack Obama has what it takes and will be his ultimate assets.

His environmental views are that the U.S. must take aggressive action now to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. He is a cosponsor of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309) as well. This important legislation would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 80% in the year 2050. Senator Obama is also an original cosponsor of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act , which was introduced by Senators Lieberman and McCain and would mandate 60% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Even though as the writer behind Natural and Sustainable I vote for the Green Party, I can’t help but wonder where he will take this nation as far as environmental issues are concerned. There are strong points to his fight for office and a few stand out in my mind:

• Reduce mercury and lead to protect community health.
• Protect the Great Lakes & our National Parks and Forests.
• Give Katrina contracts to locals, not to Halliburton.
• Three months working on minority students recycling.
• Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations.

“I spent three months working for a Ralph Nader offshoot up in Harlem, trying to convince the minority students at City College about the importance of recycling. Then a week passing out flyers for an assemblyman’s race in Brooklyn - the candidate lost and I never did get paid.”-Barack Obama (1996)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: If your state has local recycling programs for aluminum can, glass bottles, and plastic bottles always use this program. Some states even have programs where you get some many cents per container.