Posted by admin on April 30, 2009
According to EPA here are some benefits of composting.
Compost use can result in a variety of environmental benefits. The following are a few of the most important benefits:
Compost enriches soils
Compost has the ability to help regenerate poor soils. The composting process encourages the production of beneficial micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) which in turn break down organic matter to create humus. Humus–a rich nutrient-filled material–increases the nutrient content in soils and helps soils retain moisture. Compost has also been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops.
Compost helps cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil
The composting process has been shown to absorb odors and treat semivolatile and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including heating fuels, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and explosives. It has also been shown to bind heavy metals and prevent them from migrating to water resources or being absorbed by plants. The compost process degrades and, in some cases, completely eliminates wood preservatives, pesticides, and both chlorinated and nonchlorinated hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.
Compost helps prevent pollution
Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in stormwater runoff from reaching surface water resources. Compost has also been shown to prevent erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, and rivers, and prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses.
Using compost offers economic benefits
Using compost can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. It serves as a marketable commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments. Composting also extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills and provides a less costly alternative to conventional methods of remediating (cleaning) contaminated soil.
There are many ways to compost:
You may want to start off with a compost crock or compost basket that you can keep handy on your counter. They’re odor free and ventilated. They’re small enough to keep on kitchen counter or if you get the compost basket you can hang it from the kitchen door under sink to keep it out of way. This is great for collecting all your compostable items prior to taking them to your compost pile or to your indoor composter if it’s in a different location than your kitchen (mine’s in the laundry room since there’s no power outlet under kitchen sink).
You can have an outdoor compost pile that you hand turn regularly.
Spinning composters are also used outside so you don’t have to hand turn the compost materials.
You can have an indoor composter which is excellent way to compost when living in apartments, condo’s, townhouses or simply for indoor convenience. I have the Nature Mill Composter in green.
The Nature Mill Composter allows you to add up to 120 lbs. of food and paper items a month without the hassles of maintenance. No installation required, simply plug into a power outlet. The computer in the machine controls mixing, air flow, temperature and moisture for ideal compost, and rich food for your garden, with one batch every two weeks. Size: 20’’ high x 20’’ deep x 12’’ wide. Fits into a standard kitchen cabinet. Features include: foot pedal for convenient hands-free operation, vacation mode (automatically activates after a period of inactivity to conserve energy, and optimize heat and mixing for curing), security locking feature for public areas such as offices or restaurants, and spare carbon filter included for years of hassle-free operation.
Get yours now here
Posted by admin on April 29, 2009
Do you know how gift wrap paper is made?
Probably not.
It begins with paper that is produced in mills from wood pulp. Mainstream gift paper is made with about 55% from virgin wood pulp. Then the pulp is bleached and then the design is made with ink and synthetic dyes. About 2 to 3 1/2 tons of trees are used to make a ton of paper…that’s a lot of waste. The paper making process requires enormous amounts of energy, water (anywhere from 44,000 to 83,000 liters of water per ton of paper), and chemicals. Paper making process also creates significant water & air pollution as well as huge amount of solid waste. All of which is not good for the environment.
Instead, try nature non toxic gift wrap if you’re going to wrap presents.
You want to use gift wrap and note cards that are made with non toxic dyes, natural inks and bark shredding so the tree itself isn’t killed or harmed. There are also note cards and paper that are made with renewable natural sources as well.
You can also try your hand at making paper. Read the how to article here.
Posted by admin on April 28, 2009
Fact: Americans toss out enough paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times (www.cleanair.org).
Recycling Tips For Work, Car or on the go can be read here
One of which is: Purchase reusable, rather than disposable (towels, napkins, dishes, table ware).
Now that can be easier than ever with the Zola On The Go Kit featured below.
For the person who is always on the go, these few items will significantly decrease the amount of waste generated on a daily basis.
Kit includes:
ACME Ultra-Compact Bag (Black, Burnt Orange, Cranberry Red, or Moroccan Blue)
SIGG Thermal Mug (Blue or Red)
To-Go Ware (Black, Brown, or Red)
These beautiful organic utensils are made of bamboo, which is nature’s most sustainable resource. It is grown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradable, and naturally regenerative. In addition, the holder is produced by WEAVE, a women’s cooperative on the Thai-Burma border. By purchasing this utensil set, you will contribute to their advancement and empowerment, and make a positive impact on the global community.
Price: $ 49.00
You can purchase yours here at LiveTotallyGreen.com
Posted by admin on April 27, 2009
Normally people refer to it as the 3 R’s:
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
But I’d like to add a few to that:
Rejoice: knowing that you’re making a difference in the world
Rejuvenate: what you do to an item when you Reuse it
Resurrect: what you can do to old items that you may have originally thought were trashed
Repair: what you can do to items to ensure they’re Resurrected
Realign: what you can do with your thoughts on the environment, the way you live
Realize: what you’ll do when you start to understand that even a small change CAN make a difference
There are many more so here’s what I want you to do, post a “R” word below and one lucky person will receive a green product compliments of GoGreenHomeMakeover.com
Posted by admin on April 26, 2009
Plant an herb garden or any other container garden or window box garden.
If you have kids, it’s a great lesson for them to see where food really comes from in it’s natural state.
They’ll take pride that they grew it and it helps the environment while teaching kids too.
Posted by admin on April 25, 2009
Today’s green tip is easy:
unplug for the day…
Get away from the computer,TV, videos, Xbox, Playstation, Wii, whatever….
do something non technology related
go out and enjoy the day
enjoy nature
see how deeply rooted you can get without electronics.
Comments:
Filed Under: Misc
Posted by admin on April 24, 2009
Take off your shoes when entering your home.
Just imagine all the things from your shoes polluting your home.
The EPA did a study recently that showed that pesticides can be tracked into homes from shoes. Pets and people walk on treated lawns, then carry those chemicals into their homes.
Even without the EPA study, think about where you walk, what gets on the bottoms of your shoes and then you walk through your home depositing residue of all that funk on your soles into your floors. If you have carpet, it’ll hold onto all the debris and can affect everyone who lives there or comes in because of the allergens and pollutants, toxins that are left behind.
What about dog waste…ewwwwwwwwwwww, do you want that in your home? Or any other funky stuff that you can’t see, don’t know you’ve stepped in and then you walk it right into your home. I’ll pass!
So, to keep your home cleaner, the air in your home cleaner and take your shoes off at the doorway.
Posted by admin on April 23, 2009
When you’re on the go use a non toxic stainless steel reusable bottle.
They’re durable, easy to clean and no waste!
Stop using plastic that will most likely end up in landfill.
Stainless steel reusable bottles come in variety of sizes and colors to make it easy and fashionable to drink green.
Posted by admin on April 22, 2009
http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/04/22/happy-earth-day/ has some great things you can do today (and every day) to celebrate Earth.
While, almost everyone knows today is Earth Day, I want people to know that every day is “earth day”. We need to make changes every day of the year, not just one…so consider what you can do to make a difference every day!
Posted by admin on April 21, 2009
Everyone’s probably heard the term ROI (Return on Investment).
It pertains to businesses because they want to make sure they make a profit thus: ROI
It pertains to those solar panels you’ve been contemplating…
It can relate to Tankless Water Heaters
You want to know what the ROI is on pretty much anything you spend your money on to make sure it’s worth it!
Sadly a lot of people are under the false impression that going green is expensive. I’m here to tell you, it’s not!
Click the images below to see them full size in a new window so you can see the ROI on a variety of energy efficient and eco friendly products.
