Green Living 101 - Go Green Now!

Do You Want to Green Your Life? You're In the Right Place!

If you love nature and want to secure the health of the planet for your children and grandchildren but are not quite sure where to start then this lens is for you.

Green living is a hot topic on the news, in magazines, and in your local communities. Everyone seems to be talking about global warming, organic food, landfill waste, and toxic chemicals in your home. You are hearing that the food you eat, the detergent you wash your clothes with, even the toothbrush you use can have a negative impact on the environment. You know you care about these issues and you want to DO SOMETHING about it but you just don't know where to begin or exactly what to do. Or perhaps you do have some knowledge about green living but need new inspiration. Check out my lens and find many tips and ideas for going green every day.

Also be sure to check out my FREE e-course "10 Days to a Greener You!"

What IS Green Living?

And is it Easy Being Green?

Want free, fun eco-tips delivered straight to your email to help you get started...try Ideal Bite

So what exactly is "green" living and why should you want to take your life in that direction? Green living is a lifestyle intended to ensure that one's impact on the environment is as minimal (or as positive) as possible. The earth is our home and as good citizens of this planet we should want to take care of it. We love the great outdoors right? Going hiking, swimming in a lake, canoeing down a river, camping out in the mountains...these are all things that bring us closer to nature and if we want these opportunities for our children and grandchildren then we must all strive to live "green" and in harmony with the planet.

This can mean many things like recycling, energy and water conservation, resuables, eating organic, sustainable living, organic gardening, green cleaning, and using natural home products.. There is no need to feel overwhelmed and think you need to make all the changes you hear about immediately. bamboo Just go at your own pace and see if there is perhaps one idea or tip that you can use in your own life every month. Every little change helps.

One BIG thing you can do to start is buy sustainable foods and products. For example....trees take decades to grow and mature AND the the companies that log them may not replant when they clear a section of trees, so buying wood products may not be the most sustainable option. Instead try bamboo...

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on this planet. While some think of it as a tree it is actually grass and it grows one third faster than the fastest growing tree; it reaches a harvestable size in three to five years. Some species grow as much as four feet a day. It requires no pesticides, is harvested with no impact to the environment, and is capable of complete regeneration without need to replant.

Sustainable Bamboo Products:

Totally Bamboo 12-in. Chop Collection Little Kahuna Bamboo Cutting Board

Price: $89.95

A great convenient and environment-friendly cutting board is here! The Little Kahuna bamboo cutting board is hand crafted using hundreds of tiny lamin... more »

Totally Bamboo 16.75-in. African Collection Sahara Bamboo Cutting Board

Price: $39.95

A great convenient and environment-friendly cutting board is here! The Sahara bamboo cutting board is hand crafted using hundreds of tiny laminated ba... more »

Elegant Bamboo Bowl Set by Unique Bamboo

Price: $139.00

Handcrafted using the finest bamboo materials, this beautiful bowl set makes a wonderful addition to any kitchen. Stronger and longer-lasting than mos... more »

Salomon Bamboo Tee - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Price: $41.95

Made from bamboo, the natural fiber Salomon Men's Bamboo T-Shirt's progressive style and raw-edge seams give you a fresh, new look that will impress a... more »

20 Ways to Go Green Now!

Every Little Bit Helps...

1. Turn off and/or unplug appliances while not in use.
2. Use compact flourescent light bulbs or CFLs.
3. Eat organic foods.
4. Where organic or sustainable clothing.
5. Drive a fuel efficient car.
6. Conserve water by turning water off while brushing teeth and putting milk jugs in the toilet (see video below).
7. Paper or Plastic? Neither!Get reusable bags!
8. Stop using disposables...aka diapers, napkins, plates, cups, raxors, etc.
8. Buy products that are made of recyclable materials.
9. Drink tap water...not bottled.
10. Shop at thrift stores and garage sales.
11. Use natural cleaning products.
12. Use natural detergents and soaps.
13. Eat local and seasonal foods whenever possible.
14. Grow your own foods.
15. Walk or bicycle instead of drive.
16. Take public transportation or carpoll instead of driving alone.
17. Recycle everything you can!
18. Reduce the amount of stuff you buy and consume.
19. Reuse items as much as you can.
20. Compost your kitchen scraps.

Grenn Living Stuff on CafePress

Get Your Green Gear Here!

Save Water Every Time You Flush!

This cool trick will save money and water...

How to save money and water each time you flush

http://www.videojug.com - Everybody's saying the environment is going down the toilet. But simple fixes around the house can help prevent it. With one easy adjustment, you'll save money, water and the environment... one flush at a time. http://www.videojug.com/film/the-toilet-tank-trick

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Leave Me a Comment!

OrganicGiftsByDiana

Wow !
As I read this, it sounded as though "I" could have written it because it seems we share the same values - LOL

I am an organic gardener, major recycler and thrift store/auction/yard sale shopper, I clean my home as naturally as possible ( I even make my own soaps ! )
I make my own salves, lip balms, and perfumes too. All of them by using my homegrown herbs and flowers... from my organic garden.

It is so satisfying to grow my own food and beauty/health items.

Thank you again for this lens.
:)

Posted May 23, 2008

FurnaceFilterGuy

Great lens and very informative. Energy efficiency and conservation is a big part of going green. Check out my lens on furnace filters This lens helps support my site about furnace filters and air conditioner filters. When it comes to energy conservation most people don't realize the value in proper furnace filter maintenance

Posted April 12, 2008

The_Book_Garden

some great info and advice here, I've rolled this to my lens on Green Computing.
:)

Posted March 24, 2008

Comfortdoc

I've added your lens to the Earth Hour 2008 lens, to get everyone to turn out the lights for one hour 8:00 pm on March 29, 2008 in an effort to raise awareness about climate change.

Posted March 12, 2008

XXandXY

Super lens Tiffany keep up the good work,very informative.Oh,and thanks for including some of our Cafepress "Green designs" over at Littlenumptees Green Clothing.Max rating is our only way of thanking you

Posted March 06, 2008

Preserve Razors 4 Pack

The environment-friendly alternative to a disposab more...0 points

Green Your Ride!

Find Small Ways to Make Your Driving Habits a Bit More Eco Friendly...

The Problem:

Transportation is the means by which we get around to go to work and to get access to goods and services. This travel is accomplished by means such as cars, trains, airplanes, etc. All of these forms of transportation have a steep environmental impact. all of the accumulated carbon emissions are a BIG contributor to greenhouse gases. Two green transportation practices....walking and bicycling do not get the attention they deserve. Government spends little on these two forms of transportation in comparison with what it spends on roads and road maintenance.

The Solution:

The easiest way to help the planet is to walk or bike wherever and whenever you can. Before stepping foot into a car try and think about whether the trip you are about to make is one that could be made conveniently with public transportation, walking, or biking. If you do need to drive, see if you can carpool. Also, see if your family can make do with only one vehicle.

Keep your car in good working order. You can help the environment by keeping your car well maintained and by using environmentally sound driving practices:

* Get regular tune-ups, oil changes, and keep your car emissions controls in good shape.
* Maintain air pressure in your tires.
* Avoid driving during rush hour.
* Dispose of waste such as car batteries and anti-freeze appropriately.

And if you can...get that hybrid or griesel!

Green Living Blog

Check Out These Awesome Stories from a Green Mom!

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Green Link Love

Find the Best in Green Sites and News!

Greener You in 10 Days!: Free green living e-course.
Natural Family Living: The BEST site for green and natural family living.
Natural Family Living Blog: The daily blog of a natural mom.
The Diaper Jungle: Don't use disposable diapers....use cloth!
Green Weddings: Have a green wedding.
Eco Friendly Children: How to raise eco awareness in your kids.
Global Warming Skeptics Suck!: Why global warming skeptics are missing the big picture.
An Inconvenient Truth: A review of the popluar global warming movie.

Is It Easy Being Green?

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Tree Hugger News

Great Green News and Stories

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Green Books on Amazon

Get \Your Green on With Books About Sustainability!

Green for Life

by Victoria Boutenko

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/25/2008)

Green Living: The E Magazine Handbook for Living Lightly on the Earth

by E Magazine

Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 07/25/2008)

It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living

by Crissy Trask

Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 07/25/2008)

Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability

by Greg Horn

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/25/2008)

Your Green Home: A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally Friendly New Home (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)

by Alex Wilson

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/25/2008)

Green Movies!

Grab the Organic Popcorn and Get Watching!

An Inconvenient Truth

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/25/2008)

Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series

Amazon Price: $54.99 (as of 07/25/2008)

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/25/2008)

Eating Green!

Eating Sustainably Helps the Planet...

What is Sustainable Eating?

Most times when you hear any mention of organic food it is in relation to healthful eating and chemical exposure. it is usually a health related issue. This issue is actually much deeper than that. Organic agriculture is a strict form of sustainable agriculture; a way of producing food products without harming the land. Its main goal is to work the land without preventing future generations from being able to use it as well. Organic farmers try to conserve water and preserve the soil. They also sell locally many times helping to conserve energy and fossil fuels. Organics are a health issue AND an environmental one.

So what can you do?

* Eat Organic - It is a sustainable method of food production and helps to ensure that our farmlands will be rich and productive for future generations.

* Eat Local - This means that food doesn't have to be shipped as far and less fuel is consumed. This could drastically cut down on the amount of carbon pollution there is in the atmosphere.

* Eat Less Meat - You don't have to go vegetarian if you don't want to but it does help the environment to reduce meat consumption. We feed more than 70 percent of the grains and cereals we grow to farmed animals. Our taste for meat is also taking a toll on our supply of fuel and other nonrenewable resources-about one-third of the raw materials used in America each year is consumed by the farmed animal industry.

* Eat Whole Foods - Eating foods that have not been processed and packaged helps the environment by reducing the amount of garbage going into landfills. Shop the outer section of the grocery store to avoid the processed foods.

* Garden - Eliminate the middle man all together and grow your own food...organically of course.

Green Living According to Wikipedia

Ecological living is a life philosophy. Proponents of ecological living aim to conduct their lives in such a way that they have an all-encompassing awareness of Earth and its processes. Each choice made under such a way of life requires a consideration of the consequences of the choice, and the way that the decision will affect the environment and all living things within it. Ecological consciousness and care for the earth are of paramount importance in the decision-making process.

By minimizing their "ecological footprints" ? the extent to which they create an environmental impact ? proponents of ecological living hope to preserve the earth for future generations of human beings and other life.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Practice the 3 Rs!

The 3 Rs of Environmentalism That Is....

1. Use dishes, flatware, and glasses instead of their disposable counterparts.
2. Set out cloth napkins for family meals.
3. Use cloth diapers and cloth baby wipes.
4. Start a compost pile for kitchen scraps.
5. Ask yourself if that item you have your eye on is a necessity or a luxury.
6. Donate toys and clothes you no longer have a use for to others that can use them.
7. Instead of buying new check out second hand stores or online message boards like Craigslist and Freecycle.
8. Start an organic garden to reduce your grocery bill and time spent shopping.
9. Buy rechargeable batteries.
10. Invest in reusable shopping bags and stop using the paper and plastic ones provided by the store.
11. Join a book or clothing swap.
12. Recycle your old cell phones and eyeglasses.
13. Use paper scraps and old magazines for kids craft projects.
14. Don't purchase greeting cards and invitations from the store, send digital invites and greetings instead.
15. Use worn out clothing and make a memory quilt that will be treasured for generations to come.

Easing Into Green Living

Green Living...Made Easy

As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet, people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations. Green living involves every aspect of our daily lives - from driving to work to mowing our lawns.

Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from implementing those earth-friendly changes. The good news is that you don't need to go whole hog and chsnge everything over night. There are many ways to ease into this practice and still help save the earth's environment.

Air pollution is a major problem for some cities. A lot of it comes from the factories, but that's not the only avenue contributing to global warming. Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutants into the air.

When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you're multiplying the amounts of pollutants being emitted by each car that's destroying our ozone. If you want to save the environment, you can start by either car pooling, walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that don't do as much damage.

This small change can bring much relief for the environment for future generations. There are many ways to adapt green living into your life by taking a look at your home. What kind of bulbs are you using?

The standard bulbs we use only contribute to higher electricity bills and more carbon dioxide. If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save the environment while saving on your electric bill.

Make sure to seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep any cold drafts from blowing into the house, which can cost you more money. Make sure the house is well insulated to help cut down on those costs in the wintertime. The less the furnace or heater has to run, the better off everyone will be.

Take a look at your appliances. Are they devouring too much energy? If they're older models, the answer is probably yes. While some of the changes are in the appliances that you use, other ways to go green involve your own habits and actions.

Do you open the oven door several times to check and see if something is done? The harder an appliance has to work, the harder it is on the environment. If you keep opening the oven door, the temperature will drop almost 25 degrees. It will then have to work harder to get back to the original temperature.

Recycling is an excellent way to save our environment. Try to buy as many products as you can that can be recycled. Avoid the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam cups. The less trash that has to be burned - or buried into our soil - the better off our planet will be.

These small changes may seem like they couldn't help much for the environment, but they can help tremendously. Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Get involved with the environment and start to make a difference in the practice of green living for our earth.

Green Your Beauty Routine

A few easy steps...

- Buy bar style shampoo to avoid plastic containers.

- Instead of cotton balls and foam makeup applicators, use a natural sea sponge to apply
makeup or facial toner.

- Buy the beauty products you do use in recycled containers such glass and be sure to recycle
them after use.

- Buy recycled toothbrushes and reusable, not disposable razors.

Check Out Some of My Other Lenses!

Cloth Diapers for Your Baby

By the time your child is two years old, that one child has used almost 13,000 diapers if you're not using cloth diapers. You may feel like you've been drowning in dirty diapers. Multiply that times a city full of children as well as the older adults...

Tell Me What You Think!

Is Global Warming Truth or Hoax?

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Truth

The_Book_Garden says:

ice caps are melting, glaciers retreating, sea levels rising, weather getting more extreme, need I go on? Of course Global Warming is a reality!

Posted March 24, 2008

CarolSue says:

I think there is global warming, however it is unclear to me how much of it is from polution or is it some sort of cycle in time.

Posted January 24, 2008

Hoax

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Green Gardening

Isn't Gardening Already Green?

The very act of growing plants would be considered by most of us as doing something green. Growing plants brings the experience of nature closer to our families and local communities, provides a home for a wealth of living organisms, and each and every one acts as a filter for the air we breathe, thereby contributing to a cleaner global environment.

But gardening can be an activity that is far from green. For many people, their gardens become an arena in which they wage war against nature through the liberal use of highly toxic pesticides. Others think nothing of using products that have been created at the expense of precious natural resources, like peat from the fast-diminishing peat bogs and garden furniture made with wood plundered from tropical forests. And many gardens are grown with the help of excessive amounts of water drawn straight from the tap (faucet), despite the hundreds of gallons that fall from the sky each year and go uncollected in most areas.

The good news is that this environmentally wasteful approach to gardening is no longer in vogue. Gone are the days when a good garden was meant to be regimented in design, with uniform plants grown in weed-free, dark peaty soil surrounding a perfect sprinkler-watered lawn, without a daisy or buttercup in sight.

The new wave of gardening recognizes that a good garden is a complex ecosystem, with each element having a role to play. Native plants are now just as fashionable as exotics and are much more of a hit with the local wildlife. Unruly borders and meadows filled with wildflowers are now just as keenly cultivated as any neatly tendec bed of roses. The modern gardener accepts nature and works with it and in so doing produces naturally healthy plants in an efficient and safe way.

Whether your gardening aspirations stop with a cheese plant in the corner of your living room, or stretch as far as a vegetable patch, some fruit trees and perhaps a chicken or two roaming about, this eco-friendly method offers you the chance to get truly close to the natural world and to put something back into your environment.

With domestic gardens making up many millions of hectares of land worldwide, the combined efforts of green gardeners can produce the largest nature reserve on the planet - and you will have your very own slice of Eden on your doorstep.

Using Citrus to Clean Your Home

Citrus fruits are actually quite amazing. Not only are they delicious and refreshing to eat they have many other household uses as well. One of their most powerful side uses is their ability to clean your home.

When you have a tough cleaning job you need to do, you may automatically think you need a heavy duty commercial cleaner to get the job done right. Well, not only are those cleaners laden with chemicals that are not healthy for you and your family they are also very harsh and abrasive. Citrus fruits are a cleaning powerhouse that you should consider instead.

The natural ingredients of a citrus fruit can clean just as effectively as harsh, conventional cleaners without the harmful side effects. They are completely biodegradable and safe for use in your home. You never need to worry about your child's exposure to lemons on a floor you just cleaned. And a big bonus is that they smell great too!

Here are just some of the ways you can use citrus to clean your home:

* Clean your garbage disposal and keep it smelling fresh with citrus. Drop a handful of citrus peels (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit) into your garbage disposal and run it with the cold water turned on. The citric acid will help deodorize your disposal and leave it smelling fresh.

* Use citrus as a degreaser wherever you have greasy build-up such as the stove, the outdoor grill, and the garage. Some major cruise ship lines are even using citrus a degreaser for their engine rooms!

* Make a citrus and vinegar all purpose cleaner. Just fill a jar with citrus peels and cover in white vinegar. Let is brew for four weeks, giving it an occasional shake. After four weeks, strain out the peels, dilute, and use to clean stovetops, bathroom surfaces, mirrors, and floors. You can even throw some in the laundry to give your whites a boost.

* Toss some orange or lemon peels in your wood burning fireplace to give the room a nice, fresh smell.

* Remove stains from enamel pots by filling ¾ full of water, adding a handful of citrus peels and boiling for 15 minutes.

* Put a used lemon half in your dishwasher to cut grease on your dishes.

* Use half a lemon to rub stainless steel draining boards and taps. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse and shine.

* Mix some olive oil and lemon juice together and put in a spray bottle. Use the mixture to clean hard wood furniture, rubbing and then drying with a cloth rag.

* Use lemon juice to clean and shine brass and copper.

* Squeeze a little lemon juice on stained clothing or cloth diapers and set out in the sun to bleach away the stain.

* Mix lemon or lime juice with baking soda and vinegar to create a paste that will cut through soap scum and dissolve grime in bathtubs and sinks.

When life throws a mess your way, break out the lemons!

Recycling Video

Episode 2: Recycle or die!

Improper recycling habits, meet your untimely end. Keep America Beautiful Man is here!

Runtime: 5:43 | 36731 views | 39 Comments