New Kid on the Green Block

Safe Medication Disposal for a Greener Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:10:00 +0000

Don't Flush or Dump!

Stop! Before you flush those pills or toss that ointment, consider the environment it will end up in. Our waste water treatment systems are not designed to remove medications, which means that your pills are going to end up in irrigation, the environment, and will live on in the form of an unhealthy future for our planet.

Whether you have prescriptions that are expired, were filled in error, or simply unused, they should never, NEVER, go into your garbage or down the sink or toilet. Often these medications are surreptitiously taken from your trash by drug addicts, abused by experimenting teenagers, or eaten by pets and wild animals that get into your garbage.

So what should you do with these unused medications? Good question. I did a little poking around online, contacted hazardous waste departments, and got a variety of ideas.

Some suggested dumping all medicines in sealable containers, and then covering the contents inside with water--just enough to saturate all of it. Tighten the lid and tape shut, marking it as destroyed medications. This, at the very least, makes the drugs unusable by any humans who might find this container.

I also learned that, in many areas, drop off stations are available for medications at free health clinics, pharmacies, fire stations, and hazardous waste drop sites, often located at solid waste management facilities. Some free clinics and homeless shelters take drop offs of slightly expired medications, as well. I suggest you let your fingers do the walking, as it appears to be different in every area I contacted.

While each municipality or county uses their own methods, each are trying to achieve the same goal--protect humans, animals and the environment. Here's a few suggestions you can check out in your area:

Call your local solid waste management office and speak with the hazardous materials department. They will advise you on your area's options for safe disposal. Some even know of local programs for donations.
If you have pills, tablets or capsules (not liquids), these can often be used well after their expiration, according to many sources. Contact free clinics, pharmacies and charities that ship medications to underdeveloped countries.
One final thought occurred to me and I made a call to my local physician--a humanitarian fellow whom I have often known to try to help folks out. He said that anytime someone has unused medications that are still sealed, he accepts them for free distribution to patients that lack healthcare insurance or sufficient funds to purchase these medicines.

If you have a family physician that is caring, you may find this same helpful attitude with a quick phone call. Remember, it's up to us to keep these toxic substances out of the environment that will continue to support our children and grandchildren. Let's take care of it.

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A Site for Gardeners--Big and Small. Come One and All:

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:58:00 +0000

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©courtesy of YourGardenShow.com

Wise Words Community Garden--

Just One Feature Among Hundreds

Now I have seen it all--social networking for gardeners at YourGardenShow.com. This new gardening site features examples of every type of garden, all over the world. From window boxes to raised beds to community supported gardens, to vegetables and flowers; you'll find it all here, submitted by the gardener.

Join in and get a conversation going with other gardeners. Get ideas, ask questions, learn about sources for supplies. YourGardenShow.com is a place where gardeners, families, farmers and restaurateurs come together to share their gardens. Even master gardeners' handiwork is available for view, an inspiring way to learn from the best.

And there's more. Cornell University has provided, for your personal research, an extensive database of 6000 vegetables and nearly 6000 ornamentals are cataloged from the Missouri Botanical Garden. If you don't find it here, where will you?

So, you may ask, what is the goal of this site? To encourage sustainable gardening, no matter what your back yard may look like. High rises have rooftops, and even rooftops are being gardened, so don't think you're out of luck.

As you enter the site, click on the Gardens tab and you'll be transported to around the world where you can visit gardens of all types and sizes. Visit the blog to learn more from a multitude of experienced gardeners, all wanting only to share their knowledge with you, even if all you can manage is a 1 square foot garden. You'd be amazed at what you can produce from such a tiny 'farm'. Hope to see you there!

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Single Days, Single Green Ways

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:43:00 +0000

(c) Alan Boyko
No Gasoline Required

With grown kids and a traveling husband, I often find myself home alone for a week at a time...such as last week. Not surprisingly, my daily routines change up quite a bit when there is no one to look after except me and the pups.

Without the need to prepare meals for a family, I find myself nibbling on raw, organic vegetables (Janice would be proud), getting a bit more sleep (no complaints there), finding more time for dog photography (my newest hobby), and blogging till my brains and fingers give out late at night.

How is all of this greener, you might ask? Well, the answer is more what I'm not doing, than what I am doing:

I'm avoiding shopping like the plaque, in favor of dog time and blog time (cute rhyme, huh?). This means less money spent on splurges, gasoline and groceries I probably wouldn't use during my grazing time.
Getting more exercise with the added time available is certainly a perk. The dogs have no complaints about extra walks and dog park visits.
My eating, while turning to grazing, is healthier and without meat (now, Richard will be proud). Just as my tomatoes appeared to be spent, they re-blossomed and are sprouting new babies. More nibbles for the weeks to come! These compost-grown tomatoes are without a doubt, the most tasty I've ever produced. No more fertilizer for me, and there's another savings.
My garden gets a little more attention, and I find myself enjoying giving away surplus, such as several bundles of Basil last week. I've got more than we can possibly eat, so if you're a friend or neighbor, feel free to raid the garden in front. Have you priced this stuff lately? Ugg!
When no one is home, and I'm not out and about, I occasionally skip the shower in favor of a swim with Tanner, my vivacious Golden Retriever. We both come out clean and cool, a pleasant experience on our hot, humid, August days. Much more fun than a movie or TV, as well.
Laundry and dishes minimized, along with showers, I'm sure I'm saving water as well as electricity. What's not to love about that?
Finally, with the bed half empty, I find myself with two additional furry bed partners. I'm not quite sure how that is green, but I'll work on it. I'm bound to find a way!

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Chico Bags Raises the Bar on Reusable Shopping Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:17:00 +0000

(c) Carrie Boyko
Test Run: Good Volume

I've been a ChicoBag user for several years, loving the portable, compact, attachable design. I've used their bags for gift bags (add a bow and you're ready to go!), shopping bags and I keep one in my purse for all those unexpected goodies I end up bringing home from just about everywhere I go.

(c) Carrie Boyko

All This Fits

Inside the Bag

Yesterday I ventured into Costco to pick up a new Brita water filtering pitcher for my bathroom. I got tired of running to the kitchen for a glass of better tasting, healthier water. Our tap water sucks. Anyway, to my delight, my new Brita came with a ChicoBag inside. And not just the original. I was surprised to see this bag is a new design, made from recycled materials, and much larger, for carrying groceries and such. I typed in their website address and found these facts for the bag I received (Vita rePETe):

Materials: Fabric 100% Recycled PET, Carabiner 97% Recycled Aluminum, Cord 100% Recycled PET, Cordlock 100% Recycled Polyurethane

Dimensions: Bag 19" x 15.5" Pouch 3.5" x 5" (approximately)

Capacity: 40 lbs.

Washing: Machine wash cold and hang dry.

Needless to say, I'm happy with the new bag and it's materials. I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole page of new designs--something for everybody--on the Chicobag webpage. Check it out. They have prints, messenger bags, specially designed grocery bags, and much more. I'm glad to see the world turning shopping bags into a fun new fashion statement. You?

Here's some of the ways I use Chicobags to save on plastic and paper:

Chic Chicobags Make Great Gifts and Wrapping
10 Organic Gifts Your Friends and Family will Truly Appreciate

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Cotton's Toxic Little Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Did you know that approximately 25% of all pesticides used in the world are applied to cotton crops. Scary, huh? Especially when you consider than you spend 8 hours a night wrapped in that toxic residue. Did I get you thinking? Hope so.

There's no getting past the fact that organic sheets, the fibers of which are produced without toxic pesticides, are more expensive than conventional cotton sheets. The better brands and higher thread counts are a lot more expensive.

Have you heard that you get what you pay for? Think about your long term health, sleeping in those toxin-laced sheets and imagine your 60s, 70s...will you get there in good health? There is a compromise that could go a long way in the Eco-friendly direction. Bamboo.

Yep! Today they make fiber out of this fast-growing grass, a grass that needs little or no fertilizer and is extremely pest-resistant and drought tolerant. While you can buy organic Bamboo sheets, the all-natural ones are less costly and still quite Eco-friendly.

You can read more about cotton and other health concerns over at Organic Journey Online, where you'll learn more about what to watch out for. Sleep well.

Image provided by Amazon

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Why Bat Houses are Eco Friendly

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:55:00 +0000

We all know that over development of urban areas is causing habitat loss for wild animals and birds. Our continued development is not exactly Eco-friendly to our wildlife. But did we consider the bats? Yea...you know....those night flying creatures that hole up inside hollow trees, sleeping all day. We forget about them; they don't make any noise and are very hard to see, except on a moonlit night.

There's another problem. Displaced bats often find new homes in abandoned houses, using their attics for daytime lodging. This problem has been in our local news a good bit with all the homes that are in foreclosure currently. I'd hate to be the buyer of a bat-infested house. Imagine the first visit to your new attic--eek!

So, what possible reasons are there to be worried about protecting bats? Do they perform some function other than flying around at night? You bet; they eat bugs, flies and mosquitoes. Those pesky blood suckers come out at dusk, just as the bats are coming out. That's no coincidence. Nature designed it that way. The bats come out when the flying insects become most active, because that's when dinner is served. All they have to do is hunt, and the hunting's good in the evening when the mosquitoes come out to pester us. The food chain at work; that's Eco-friendly.

That said, a good reason to consider adding a bat house to your yard is that it will give you and your family a bit of protection from these biting flies, saving you from the dangerous bug sprays and toxic repellents that kill the pests, and long term, may have devastating effects on you, as well.

Recently I did a little poking around on the Internet to check out bat houses. A small, starter house, made from cedar wood can be picked up for under $25, including shipping. There are bat houses made out of all sorts of products, and loads of kits to build your own or plans to start from scratch. Appalachian Traveler did offer one 'old wood' version that had a certain farmhouse look that I liked, as well as plenty of tips and do's and don't.

So, why don't people already have bat houses in their yards? After all, many of my neighbors have bird houses hanging in their trees--me too. These are beautifully painted, and occasionally they even attract a nesting bird to use them. This is all good.

Unfortunately the bat houses are not as beautifully designed. I perused through site after site and found no bat houses that were attractively painted, decorative or even produced in a desirable color. What I did find was plain wood, plain plastic, and more plain, plain, plain.

You guys have seen my rain barrel, right? It used to be plain. My talented sister-in-law painted a lovely garden scene and now I'm proud to display it at the street-side of my back porch. I gets lots of comments on it. It really is pretty. That's it up there at the top. Nice, huh?

Why not do the same thing with a bat house? Since they are placed higher than bird houses, the logical design, in my mind, would be a sky scene. I can picture sky blue with puffy clouds. Toss in a few seagulls or other birds and you've got yourself a bat house that will be an attractive addition to your landscape, provide a home for displaced bats, and will give you a little help in mosquito defense.

I'm in. If any of my family is reading this, put a bat house on my 'wish list'. I'll paint it and have a nice addition to my back yard.

© Mother Earth News

I like this installation better than the one just above, but there are plenty of options, including attaching them to your house or a separate building on your property--garage, barn, etc. Most are attached to a pole like this:

©saybats.com

Who's next?

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Green Up Your Social Networking with these Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Check out Your Carbon Footprint Online

Facebook is so yesterday. If you really want to hobknob with the folks who know how to live like you'd like to, there are a bunch of social networking sites where you can do just that.

Want to get involved in or talk climate policy? Check out 2 People, World Coolers and Celsias. Speaking of carbon emissions, there are a number of sites that are all about minimizing these, helping folks measure their carbon footprint, and getting the message out to businesses and municipalities. Try:

Want more? There are a number of others that are involved in a variety of different areas that should do some good:

Take Part
Big Carrot
Care 2
Change
Do the Right Thing
Greenwala (Did you see Tanner and me in their ad? We entered a Green living photo contest that they co-sponsored with Petco a while back. You can see us at the bottom of All Things Dog Blog or on Greenwala's site at this link)
Gaia

I tried out Make Me Sustainable and found their carbon footprint calculator to be fairly thorough. I liked that you can go back and make modifications in your calculation, whenever you make a change in your lifestyle. It was fun to see my footprint go down when I did something more sustainable.

Now that I'm driving a hybrid instead of a gas-guzzling SUV, I need to go back and change my automobile. I guess it will really plummet with that change. Gotta go now; I'm curious to see how big my feet are this time!

Have fun checking out these networks, and feel free to let me know what you think about any of them you try. The comment link hasn't moved. It's still down there at the bottom of the post...ON the blog. If you're receiving this via subscription, you can always visit www.NewKidontheGreenBlock.com to leave a comment. I assure you it will be much appreciated.

The Eco-Friendly RV is More than Just a Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0000

I have a dream. I look forward to the day when I can take an RV trip with my dogs without those nagging guilty pangs. It appears that Winnebago and their industry comrades have a new greener competitor--EcoRoamer. Sure, EcoRoamer uses diesel fuel, so it's not perfect, but then no transportation is, unless you want to bicycle around the world. Good luck with that, by the way.
EcoRoamer's sustainability is far better than its conventional competition in many ways, starting with the product's carbon footprint. As they put it, "In two years of driving the EcoRoamer around the planet we will emit less than 10% of the CO2 that a single return flight on a 747 from New York to Singapore would do.”
Additionally, EcoRoamer’s makers are committed to the environment by planting trees to absorb their CO2 production, as well as investing in wind power projects through TerraPass. Okay, no great surprises there.
I was extra pleased to learn the next fact; EcoRoamer is using Bamboo (a grass) in place of wood. Their comment on this replacement was nothing short of profound: “The RV industry in the USA uses millions of board feet of plywood every year. That's a lot of trees chopped down in the name of building some campers to go and look at the trees.” Great point, EcoRoamer. I’m sold now.
I’m the first to admit that I’m no tech geek. I love the idea of solar power, but really don’t understand all the ins and outs of how you can use it to replace some, but not all of your needs. That said, I have copied their info on solar panels verbatim:
“The EcoRoamer has almost 2kW of Sanyo Solar panels on the roof. Combined with our high efficiency LED lights and DC voltage air conditioning, we should be able to live in the vehicle for extended periods of time without having to run the engine or generator. Of course there is an 8.5KW generator as a backup (saved literally 'for a rainy day') but it runs off the BioDiesel as well.”
Sounds good to me. My experience in a conventional RV tells me that the air conditioning was needed for some periods of time, even in October in Virginia. Yet it appears that EcoRoamer has addressed this also. I was pleased to learn their insulation uses recycled foam in the ceiling, walls and floor of the vehicle to give it a much better R rating than a typical RV. While the Air conditioning runs off battery power, charged by the solar panels, heat is provided by biodiesel, a more eco-friendly alternative to propane.
The folks at EcoRoamer readily admit that biodiesel sends up a red flag with some consumers. Their response is that this choice reduces the amount of oil that has to be drilled from the earth, a choice that should hit home with more of us today, as we are dealing with an ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, following an explosion of a well-drilling platform. I’d say EcoRoamer is on more solid ground today than two months ago, given this Eco disaster.
EcoRoamer further lives in the sustainable world by following the mantra: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Their chassis are all purchased used from trucks that have been given up, after a too-long engine life. The outside of the camper is made from a composite that includes 80% recycled aluminum with a recycled plastic core.
Finally, the subfloor and countertops are produced out of non-toxic resins and recycled paper. Sounds much better than laminated fiberboard that I’ve seen in most RVs; they tend to not like water, and bubble up easily whenever water comes in contact with the inner layer.
Borrowing from the forestry rule of “Take nothing but a picture. Leave nothing behind but footprints,” EcoRoamer has installed composting toilets that are used commonly on sailboats. The result? All of our waste is recycled into a liquid and evaporates into a steam released during driving. No more dumping gray and black water at the campground dump station.
Sign me up! Just don't tell my dogs yet. They'll be so excited I won't be able to calm them down. Our first and only RV trip was a 3-dog-hike adventure, and I was just along to cater to their every need. Which by the way was lots of water!
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Composting Your Spring Clean Up for a Healthier Fall Yard

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Many Americans are getting out into their yards to clean up from winter damage. If you haven't already hauled bags and cans to the street for pickup, you might consider a different way to manage this debris--a more sustainable method. You can save landfill space, create compost or mulch for your own yard use, and reduce the amount that needs to be transported to local facilities. This saves gas and tax dollars.

What's more, compost and composted mulch hold moisture better and add nutrients to your soil, acting as a drought protectant as well as a fertilizer. You'll be saving water and money.

Am I telling you to go out and buy an expensive compost bin? No! Of course not. All you need is a spot behind your bushes, about 3' x 3', that you can toss all your leaves, clippings and weeds. If there is not a natural barrier, such as your house, bushes or other structures, you can use inexpensive garden fencing to shore up your pile.

Rain and summer heat will do its part to naturally break down this pile of green and dead yard debris in due time. If you're in a hurry to get some good mulching compost for your Fall yard improvements, you can do a few things to light a fire under your pile, so to speak:

Choose a spot that gets some sun; heat will speed up the process.
Remember that any small pieces of yard debris will decompose more quickly than sticks, branches and logs. The smaller, the better. Weeds, clippings, dead annuals, and other small pieces of yard debris will work best. Avoid diseased or treated debris that may make your compost less healthy. Tree trimmings will need to be cut up into small pieces to be processed by the in-ground composting system: earthworms, insects and micro-organisms.
Add water periodically, especially during times of drought. Don't drench your pile; simply give it a bit of a shower.
You can further add to the temperature build up by covering your pile with a plastic tarp or large plastic garbage bag. Place a log, bricks or a couple of heavier branches over it, to assure it stays in place. Black plastic will do the best job of helping to heat up your pile.
Finally, stirring your pile with a pitchfork or stiff rake will help to distribute the beneficial micro-organisms and insects that will do the work for you. You'll simply be helping them along by moving them throughout the pile occasionally. Once a week is sufficient, but daily will do the job quicker.

If you're thinking this compost pile will be an eye sore, think again. You can be creative and find a hidden spot in most any yard. Can you see my yard-waste pile in the photo above? It's there if you're looking for it, but not a sore thumb.

Here's to a healthy helping of nutritious compost or mulch for your Fall planting and soil enrichment. Got questions? I'll try to answer them. The comment link is at the bottom of every post; go for it!

Want to learn how to compost your kitchen and household wastes? Here's more resources from our sister site, Organic-Journey-Online:

What Can I Put in My Compost?
Composting Food Wastes Makes for Healthier Plants Next Season
Composting 101: Part I of 5

No yard? Try a compost bin or worm bin for clean, easy composting in your garage, porch or other available spot:

Amazon.com Widgets

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10 Tips for Saving the Earth with Your Consumable Product Purchases and Eco-Friendly Picnics

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:35:00 +0000

© photo courtesy of Laptop Lunches.com
Your Garbage Free Lunch Solution

This weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer. Let the picnics and cook outs begin!

This year, as you prepare, remember that it is getting easier and easier to find and use recycled or recyclable products for your Earth-friendly picnic. Working toward less trash is a great goal for our landfills and our healthy earth. Here's a few tips to help you out:

Paper plates and bowls are available in compostable paper or recycled paper. You can even buy plates made with a number of Eco-friendly ingredients such as corn starch that are safe for disposal or composting.
Tin foil for grilling is now more available in totally recycled form; don't miss it at your local grocer.
Plastic bags for clean up are often a necessary evil when picnicking or having a gang over for a cookout. While there are biodegradable, compostable bags available, they still need a little work on their sturdiness. Until I find something more capable of holding my trash, I'd recommend you purchase the bags with the largest percentage of post-consumer, recycled plastic content.
When cloth napkins are not an option, go for the next best choice: recycled, unbleached paper ones. Ditto for the paper towels.
Zip-up sandwich bags may be all the rage, but they generally end up in landfills and are hazardous to our wildlife. Try all-natural waxed paper bags by Natural Value, available at most natural food stores or through Amazon at this link.
Another option to consider is using the no-trash version--reusable sandwich wraps, called Wrap-n-Mat. They make reusable pouches, as well, that all include a seal, and are completely washable and reusable many times.
If your plans include a cold picnic, think about using some type of reusable, washable, containers and picnicware for foods. Swearing off the paper and plastic is good for our environment, saves you money in the long run, and won'd end up in the landfill. Try my favorite, the Bento Box from Laptop Lunches. I'll give you a little hint. If you visit this post again next week, you'll find that the Laptop Lunchbox shown at the top, will have a completely different assortment of yummy lunch options in it. I love this company!
We all know that whenever kids are along, we need to pack a roll of t.p. for the unexpected; this is expected! My local grocer makes a recycled version that is softer than most I have tried through natural food stores--and cheaper. Do some comparisons, and you're sure to find one that will work for your particular tastes.
No picnic is complete without beverages, but it really is not necessary to buy individually packaged drinks. I like homemade lemonade, served up cold in a dispensing cooler. Or iced tea on a hot day. Then again, you can mix the two for a golfer's favorite, 'The Arnold Palmer.' Here are my recipes for all 3: lemonade, iced tea (southern style) and the Arnie. Bring a stack of reusable, plastic cups, or at the very least buy recycled and recyclable ones. As for water, your best bet is to have everyone bring a reusable water bottle, filled up with chilled water from home.
Finally, I'll wrap this up with something you need if you're serving potato salad, baked beans or cole slaw--utensils. Stop in your local healthy food store and you'll find some form of Eco-friendly utensils that don't have to be plastic. You can also purchase these at the link. Corn starch based products are the most common, but there are others around also. If it's recycled or biodegradable, you're doing your part.

Before I sign off, I can't resist asking about your dogs. Do you bring them along on picnics? Among my kids favorite memories are the holiday, family picnics that always included our Retriever, Xena, when the kids were young. Don't forget to pack a supply of water for your furry friends, and a bowl for drinking. Now, I have one of these gadgets shown below--a water bottle with attached bowl. With a belt hook, it's great for hiking, and my pups are always well-hydrated. Visit All Things Dog Blog for more tips on helping your dog live a little bit more green.

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The Plastic Bag Dilemma: To Ban or Not to Ban

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 23 May 2010 19:42:00 +0000

Loving My Reusable Shopping Bags

Little did we know, back in 1977, that those first plastic bags to arrive in our retail and grocery stores would eventually be the bane of our society. In mass production, their expense is minimal, making them highly dispensable. While most are now recyclable, only a small percentage are actually recycled.

Many more of these toxic products end up in dumps and waterways. Their damage to the environment and many animals has been well-documented. We know their production emits toxic chemicals into the environment that has only begun to damage our eco-systems, yet we continue to cling to their convenience. Why?

When the first examples of reusable bags began to hit our stores, I did a double take and went home to clean out my closet. After years of attending conventions, where tote bags of all sorts are given away, I had a collection that any grocery buyer would be proud of. I continue to get comments at the grocer's on my unique, publishing-themed bags that are sturdy, reusable and non-toxic.

So, why is it so hard for others to do this? If you, like me, don't have a closet full of cast-offs from previously attended conventions, pick up a few reusable bags when they're on sale. At a couple of dollars each, they will last you years while not endangering the wild animals we so vehemently state we want to save.

Since the average plastic bag is estimated to take a thousand years to decompose in a landfill, these nasty commodities are collecting in landfills everywhere, only to sit, seemingly forever.

There are some who have done their part to mitigate the damage. Some plastic bag producers are using more and more recycled plastics in their bags, and companies like BioBag are producing 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable bags made from cornstarch. I've tested the latter product and found them to be rather easy to tear, often dropping their load at my feet. Sigh. I wanted so badly to support their product, yet how strong did I think cornstarch could really be?

With the surge in popularity of bamboo fibers, I have anticipated a paper bag replacement made of bamboo, yet still have not seen this come to fruition. While this grass is touted to be highly eco-friendly and sustainable, all the while fast growing, I hope to see more of this product moving forward.

While there is no disputing the usefulness of plastic in so many applications, we did manage to get along without it for thousands of years. Why now is it so indispensable? The answer to this, of course, is that we are a convenience-driven society. Plastic is convenient.

Some might say that waxed paper is also not Eco-friendly, therefore cannot be a suitable alternative. Yet companies are getting on that bandwagon and making food grade waxed paper with no petroleum derivatives in them. These are now my choice for food storage, when a container is not suitable.

Additional substitutes are now available. Reusable sandwich wrappers are a brilliant idea and recycled aluminum foil is now the only kind I buy. For certain jobs, foil is very useful, and now less hazardous to our environment. Let's just hope the plastic-buying businesses will begin to see the error of their ways. This major change is squarely in their hands. Government is making few inroads to banning these toxic tagalongs, so it's up to us to do the right thing. Now go clean out your closet and find those cast-aside tote bags from Aunt Louise and your last convention. Put them in your car or by your door. Use them!

When all else fails, surely we can use our plastic bags from purchases for doggie poop bags and trash can liners in our bathrooms. Sadly, the price of this great book is testament to our lack of motivation to reuse plastic bags:

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Prius Performance: My First Hybrid Report

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

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(c) Carrie Boyko

Tanner Checks Out My Hybrid

I'm three months into this new, green vehicle, and totally loving my decision. Prius seems to have proven to be free of some of the concerns of other Toyota products, and also important is the fabulous gas mileage I am getting. She's all broken in at 2300 miles on the odometer.

The Prius has a surprisingly small gas tank. I've managed to get as much as 9.7 gallons into it, but I'll have to admit this was when the gas light was on. Eek! Most fill ups are around 9 gallons, and I'm getting an average of 48 mpg, including quite a bit of highway driving.

Unlike traditional gasoline engines, the Prius performs better in city driving, getting 4-8 mpg of improved gas mileage, even as I sit idling in traffic. Since I have a weekly trek out of town and back, this has reduced the possibility of my getting more than 50 mpg, as I have yet to pull off a whole tank without an all day drive on the interstate highway. I'm on my fifth tank, and still can't get used to how long it takes to empty this tiny 9.? gallon gas tank.

On another note, I have had a couple of interesting experiences with the ignition. Since it is keyless, and the engine makes no noise upon startup, I have left the car running in the parking lot a couple of times, only to find it still there, yet running while making no noise, upon my return. I had to laugh at myself for this stupidity, yet acknowledge that there is simply no engine rumbling to indicate the car is running when I put it in park. I'm learning...and happily enjoying my more sustainable auto.

For all you dog lovers out there, don't discount the crate storage capacity of the Prius. I recently put 2 medium sized crates (with dogs inside) and 2 Retrievers in the back, along with luggage--no problem. Amazing!

Related Reading:
Prius...Prius...How do I Love Thee?
A Prius at Last; Practical and Penny Pinching

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Starting Healthy Organic Seeds: Organic Compost Wins the Race

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Twitter | Facebook | Visit Organic Journey Online

Tomato Plants Sprouted from
My Compost Pile

Repotted to Grow in the Sun

Last week's discovery of tomatoes and basil growing all over my yard still has me reeling. I had been berating myself for not yet finding the time to plant seeds, when they miraculously appeared in the most surprising locations--the cracks of my driveway and my compost pile!

The three pictured above are a mere token of what I harvested from the edges of my compost pile, and the surrounding area. Basil seedlings were found sprouting in the large pot I had grown this crop in last season--already sprouted and looking delicious. Apparently the compost I stirred into the soil after removing the remaining plant material, really did the trick.

Compost is widely known as a good medium for starting seeds and an excellent soil enhancement. I now will also label it as my 'fertilizer.' Look how healthy my sidewalk 'seedlings' are after only two weeks in the pot:

Miracle Basil!

Last year's crop of basil and tomatoes was my first effort at organic gardening. I was pleasantly surprised with my excellent yield per acre (tongue in cheek, as we're talking about container gardening here!), especially given that I used only organic compost to enrich the soil. Pests were removed by hand along with weeds that threatened to crowd the precious root systems.

Success was an abundant crop of basil and tomatoes--enough to share--and many enjoyable servings of bruschetta. What is your favorite Basil recipe?

Related Posts:
Composting 101: Part I
Composting 101: Part II
Composting 101: Part III
Composting 101: Part IV
Composting 101: Part V

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New Kid's 10 Tips to Reduce Your Landfill Contributions

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:00:00 +0000

© photo copryight Carrie Boyko

Old Shirts Make

Great Doggie Tug Toys

With Spring finally here, I've started my yard clean up, and boy howdy, is it extensive this year. Florida had the 5th coldest Winter in 130 years. I have a lot of dead stuff for the compost pile. That got me to thinking about sharing a few tips on reducing your landfill contributions.

Surely, if you live in an urban or suburban area, you've heard the problems of finding landfill locations. Every nearby community puts up a fight, and pretty soon there's no land left. You can actually help stave off this problem in your own area by reducing what you send to the landfills. Here's a few tips:

Choose reusable, rather than disposable products, whenever possible. Start with your water bottles and shopping bags. When you run out of flushable or biodegradable doggie poop bags, use the plastic bags you've collected for this unsavory task. Or perhaps you'd like a composter for your pup's landmines.
Compost your yard waste in an area behind some bushes--hidden--for richer soil and less yard waste to haul off by those gas-guzzling trucks. (Do send diseased plants to the landfill--don't try to compost diseased materials; it will spread)
Likewise, start composting your household wastes--all foods (except meat, dairy and fats) and waste papers in small portions. See the Related reading below for articles on 'How to'.
Cleaning out closets? First, consider consignment stores and donations.
Those items that cannot be used should be considered for composting. The key is they must be made of natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, silk, hemp) Remove buttons, zippers and labels that are not natural materials.
Ideas for repurposing unusable clothing are abundant, such as patches for dog beds, household items, quilting squares, dog toys and more. Consider your options with each item before tossing it.
Recycle everything possible. I'm not just talking about the stuff that goes in your curbside bin. Check the related recycling posts below for lots of ideas.
Consider purchases with an eye toward minimization of packing material, need vs. want, and biodegradability.
When purchasing used products is an option, go for it. Who really needs a brand new book that is already sitting in someone's garage waiting for an Amazon or Ebay buyer?
Offer useful items of value through garage sales, Craig's List and other options, to derive value from your no-longer-needed goods.

Remember...

"One man's trash is another's treasure"

I learned this all too well when I recently sold my old SUV, in order to replace it with a hyrbrid Prius. I honestly did not think anyone would want my SUV, partly because of its miles and partly because it was an undesirable SUV. Surprise! With a little sprucing up, I sold it to the first caller on my Craig's list ad.

Related Reading:
What Can I put in My Compost?
Spring Yard Clean Up is Time to Create your Yard Waste Compost Pile

Related Reading on Recycling:
Effortless Electronics Recycling
Hazardous Waste Hoedown
Recycling Your Odds and Ends

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10 Tips for Natural House Cleaning: Healthier and Cheaper!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:00:00 +0000

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010
My Natural Cleaning Arsenal

I have always tended to migrate toward the FREE AND CLEAR forms of most products, because of allergies to scents. It has only been since switching to all-natural products, that I have realized the scents that bother me are the synthetic or chemical ones. I still react to stronger florals, such as rose, gardenia, and jasmine, so you'll see I avoid these stronger smells to save on tissues. I've learned to enjoy the lighter citrus scents that are so common among the natural cleaning products, and that's a good thing.

Check out the resources at this About.com's site on cleaning with baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice, three of my top staples. The topics at this site will cover windows, countertops, sinks, floors, silver and jewelry and many of your other basic cleaning tasks.
Borax is a biodegradable, non-toxic powder that works great for cleaning toilets, improving laundry detergent performance, and other uses as well. The best news is that you're not flushing poison into our water works.
When soap is required, I use a natural vegetable soap such as Dr. Bronner's. I really enjoy their peppermint scented version. This brand is made from Hemp, an eco-friendly plant of curious association. No; because of the processing involved, you won't have any worries of getting 'high' when using this soap made from the cannibis plant.
As a stain remover, I also use Dr. Bronner's, rubbed full strength and directly into the stain. It helps to dissolve and remove the stain easily upon washing. For thick fabrics or carpeting, a good rush of club soda will help to bring up the stain for absorption. Be ready with a rag or old towel to soak up the bubbles, along with the liquid and the offending stain.
Cleansers need to be abrasive, but not necessarily made of chlorine. I have a white, solid-surface sink. Believe me, it can get quite stained when wine and spaghetti sauce meet with it. Yet, I've have fabulous results, without major elbow grease, using Bonami, a product that has been around since 1886. It is made from calcium carbonate for good cleansing action, and contains no phosphorous. It is completely biodegradable. I also love that it is made in the U.S. If you prefer to make your own, many people like to use a borax or salt-based paste. Comments?
Laundry detergents are among everyone's toughest choice. I've tried many powdered and liquid versions, settling on Biokleen (I like the Grapefruit and Orange Peel scent, which is light) as a personal favorite.
Dishwashing detergent is also offered in many powdered and liquid forms. I'll tell you straight up that there were many I tried that left residues or films on my dishes. I've finally located Seventh Generation's Grapefruit Dishwasher Gel, that works well. This was my toughest find in the whole group.
Of course, not all dishes can go into the dishwasher. Surprisingly, I was reasonably pleased with most of the dishwashing liquids I tried. Currently I am using a product by Ecover that is made with lemon and aloe vera. I like it just as much as any of the other major players in natural cleaner manufacturing, but especially enjoy the mild scent. So, in this one category, I would suggest you go with your nose. Pick a scent you will enjoy doing dishes to, and call it your aromatherapy! That makes dishes seem a whole lot less work for most of us.
Super washing soda, a baking soda product, has many uses around your home. It is economical to use and will probably become a staple for you as well. I even use baking soda for killing crab grass.
If you prefer a prepared cleaner for all your general cleaning--floors, counters, door jams, walls, etc., I love biokleen's concentrated All Purpose Cleaner. One small container makes a ton of different solutions for various jobs, and the smell gets along great with my fussy nose.

I'll wrap this up with one final comment on cost savings. Some of these products are downright cheap to concoct your own cleaning solutions with. A bucket, couple of spray bottles, some rags, and you're in business. This not only makes cleaning cheaper, but it is also simpler to keep track of supplies. What's more, they take up less storage space. What's not to like about that?!!

Before I leave you, I'd like to ask, "Does anyone out there have a super duper cleaning "superstar" of an idea they would like to share?" Comment below or send it to me at CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com. Happy cleaning........

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What Will You Do to Celebrate Earth Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Caring for our Earth on Earth Day

Earth Hour is over. What did you do? I spent the hour driving home from an MS Walk in my hybrid vehicle. I left at 8:15 and arrived home at 9:45--just clearing Earth Hour (March 27, 2010 8:30 pm-9:30 pm) with my drive. I hope that qualifies!

Next up is Earth Day, coming on April 22. Here's my brainstorm of ideas for what I'll do that day. Since April 22 falls on a Thursday--a work day for most of us--I'm looking for ideas that will help me spend the day without using much, if any, of Earth's resources. What are your plans?

I'll charge up my laptop the night before and use it that day for work, with the energy provided by my rechargeable battery.
Yard work to prepare my landscape for another long, hot summer will mean using no lights or power of any sort--just Carrie calories. I'll also take some time to spread my harvested compost in the areas where I plant new shrubs, trees or vegetables. Compost adds nutrients to the soil, brings beneficial insects to the area, and reduces the water requirements of plants it is applied to.
Errands to the nearby shopping center and post office will require only a short walk or a bike ride. My dogs will be glad to help with that, all the while sniffing out the new places we pass on our way. Want to know what my dogs' plans are for Earth Day? Check in at All Things Dog Blog for a few greening tips for your canine house mates.
I'm totally calling a day off on cooking--how about salads and fruits for a healthy vegetarian day. Any suggestions, Richard?
Enjoy an evening walk with hubby and another chance to get the pups out for some exercise. Me too!
Finally, just before dark, I'll enjoy some quiet time on the porch, reading one of my latest: 365 Ways to Live Green. Thanks for the gift, Brent. You can get your copy right here. Check out the deep discount! Just click:

Related Reading:

Always Room for Improvement

Measuring Your Carbon Footprint

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And the Winner of the FREE Granola Bars is....

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:00 +0000

The Winner's Choice

Nature's Path and I have certainly enjoyed the many cleverly crafted stories of where your granola bars have been. So much so, that I would like to share a few of them with you:

Jill said "My dog ate one from my workout bag in the car last week. Thank goodness there was no chocolate in it. He like it!"
Toni said "My granola bar has been to the beach and back, then on to my dorm. I ate it at the movies!"
Marcus, who won the free granola bars at Organic Journey Online's giveaway, shared that his "granola bar has been in caves with fiery dragons and in deep oceans with vicious sharks, and then on boats where it nearly starved, and then it was brought to shore where I picked it up and wrapped it in my arm to dry it off and keep it warm. I shouldn't have eaten it, it had been through so much...but I couldn't help it." Cleverly put, although I wasn't sure if this was a granola bar or a puppy or a steak!
The Brent said "During 4th hour of class on Tuesday and Thursdays, I eat a granola bar to wake up so I can keep on listening. I'd love to try the strawberry ones." Between you and me, this should be the 2nd place winner. Sorry, "The Brent", but there are no prizes for 2nd place. :(

So, perhaps you would like to know who the winner is, huh? Lauren, you're it! Your comment, so simply stated, sounded like an open mind, something every organic food producer would like to see more of:

"I love taking granola bars on my way to class in the morning. There are so many flavors to try, how could I possibly choose?! I'll have to go to my natural food store and try them all."

Well, Lauren, you're in luck. They are all in stock, now, at natural food stores all over the country. My Whole Foods has the entire selection. After you finish your FREE box, I hope you'll try some others. Thanks for participating, and please stop in again.

One last comment...Nature's Path was kind enough to offer a contest for free granola bars at my other blog, as well: Organic Journey Online. The winner of those bars will be announced today also. Who do you think it is?

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My Earth Day Wish: A Solar Dryer

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:01:00 +0000

The Simplest of Solar Dryers

Living in suburbia, my homeowners' association rules all that I do outside my home. Thus my minimal vegetable garden, fencing, and lack of a clothes line. The iconic image of laundry days past, I am not allowed by the powers that be to put in a clothes line. Yet, alas, while commiserating with a friend about this, she hooked me up to some legislation that may work to my benefit.

According to this article at Tampa Bay.com, the state of Florida prohibits HOAs from banning clothes lines. Perhaps now, all I must do is convince hubby and go shopping. I have a hankering for a retractable model. Any suggestions?

Meanwhile, what's your Earth Day plan? I'll see you soon with more details on mine.

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10 Tips for Saving Water (and money, too!)

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Collect Rain Water for Your Plants

Our most precious Earthly resource is most definitely water. Without it, all life would pass. As our population continues to explode, the earth's ability to provide plentiful amounts of this natural resource is waning. Here's 10 easy ways you can help to reduce the strain on our water supply:

Don't over-water your landscaping. Stronger plants and grass dig their roots deeper into the ground, allowing them to soak up the deepest water during periods of drought.
Wash only full loads of laundry, saving both water and electricity.
Use a hose gun when washing your car.
Water your potted plants with rainwater. They will enjoy the natural version much better than tap, which is treated with chlorine and other chemicals. Rain barrels are available at garden centers and online, or check my selection below.
Don't run the water while washing dishes or brushing your teeth.
According to Ed Begley Jr's book, Living Like Ed, using your dishwasher's rinse cycle uses less water than rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher. It's easier too! Begley's book is definitely worth a read. You can read my review at Living Like Ed: A Book Review.
Allowing no water to simply run down your drain, unless it is washing something down like toothpaste or natural cleanser, you can collect quite a bit of the would-be runoff. Use this for plants, pet water, pet baths, car washing, and other household cleaning tasks.
If you have a sprinkler system, be sure to check your heads periodically to assure none are broken and gushing water into your yard. Adjust their height and arc to assure best coverage. This will keep you from having to water those pesky dry spots.
Kick the bottled water habit and switch to filtered water that you make at home. There are many options available for pitchers, faucet attachments and even dispensers.
Invest in a BPA-free plastic or aluminum, reusable water bottle so you can take water with you every time you leave the house. No more expensive stops for bottled water at the 7-Eleven. You're prepared. My version (yes, BPA-free, to prevent breast cancer) below has a pop up straw and a belt clip for hiking. I found it at Target.

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Greening Your Exercise Routine: A Free Workout Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:12:00 +0000

With budgets stretched beyond their limits for so many families these days, many are becoming more creative with their workouts. Gym membership is costly, and leaves you with limited choices on workout times. Add to that the time spent in traveling back and forth to the gym and you get a picture of more time spent for less physical fitness.

While I have been down the gym membership road, I now use my 3 dogs as workout companions and motivators, and find this to be a much more enjoyable and relaxing workout than any pumping iron I previously did.

You may be wondering how physically fit one can get by walking a dog. This question brings up the reason that many do not consider dogs a good enough variety of activity to keep them in shape. I beg to differ, and would love to offer some options:

While walking or hiking with my dogs is a regular workout for us all, we have several other ways of enjoying activity together, starting with the bicycle. Photo below!
Many runners enjoy taking a dog along, as well.
If you are not a runner, but your dog enjoys a more vigorous workout, take a ball thrower (chucker) to the dog park and spend a half hour teaching your dog to fetch. Tanner, my Golden Retriever, could fetch until he drops. Fortunately my arm gives out before that, and the soreness tomorrow always reminds me of the workout it gave me.
Playing Frisbee with a dog is great fun, especially when you play hide and seek each time you throw it. Tanner has to figure out where I went, after he retrieves the Frisbee (or a ball) and we enjoy this silly game, which gets me running as well.
Speaking of running, an agility course is a great way to get your heart pumping and work up a sweat. Dog agility is one part dog training, one part dog athletics, and one part running owner! You can check out the photo gallery at the link in this paragraph for pictures of some fun agility action at the club I have trained with. If you are one to enjoy a social atmosphere during your workouts, this might be just the ticket for you. This group of dog loving runners is certainly a bunch of fun to spend an evening with.
Another running activity is a no-brainer. Play tag with your dog and enjoy the simplicity of this kids' game gone canine. Your dog will love it, and you will both sleep well tonight.
Who swims faster--you or Fido? Tanner and I have answered that question with a few races, and found that despite my extra length, he's a good pacing swimmer for me.

(c) photo copyright Alan Boyko

Tanner and I

Sometimes Bike with Oliver Also

At my All Things Dog Blog, you can learn about these activities and more. Here are a few links:

Biking with Your Dog: Fun and Fitness for Both of You
Agility Training: Challenging and Oh, So Humbling!
The Frisbee 101 Series is great fun. Here is the link to the most current one.

Finally, never--no never--doubt the workout of a 3 mile walk with 3 dogs:

(c) photo copyright Alan Boyko

Out for our Daily Exercise

Need more inspiration? Try this:

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FREE Granola Bar Giveaway Wraps up Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:43:00 +0000

The free granola bar giveaway is about to end. If you're interested in getting in on this action, please note the contest entry is by way of commenting. Instructions for this are at Where Has Your Granola Bar Been? Let's get commenting!

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Learn About Green Living from New Friends at Meetup.com

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:33:00 +0000

Meetup is About Common Interests

Building a support system for your green living aspirations is a roadblock that I hear about often, when readers write to me. Our numbers are still few, making it tough to help others relate to our goals. Meeting like-minded new friends is sometimes your best approach to creating relationships that will help you survive your efforts, despite the challenges that might get in the way.

Enter Meetup.com. This website is a terrific place to find folks who are interested in most anything you might be--not just green living or eating organic. You will find organic food coops there, and groups who have sustainability goals of all kinds. I invite you to poke around their list of available interests, and use their search function to enter your own ideas.

If you don't find what you're looking for, you can join and list it anyway. When a group forms, you can participate. Better yet, you can step up and lead that group in the direction that you and the other members desire. You don't have to wait for someone else; you can form a group and invite your friends.

Comments? What Meetup groups are you involved in already? Which ones did you join when you visited the site? I'd love to hear your news. As Meetup's site says:

"Do something. Share something.

Learn something. Change something."

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Be a Treehugger: 10 Tips for Saving Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000

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(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Be a Tree Hugger!

Even the youngest children know that Earth is running short on trees. The price of paper continues to rise and airborne toxins, once absorbed by our rainforests, are now lingering in greater quantities in our atmosphere. So, what's a treehugger to do? Save paper!

Start by reading Junk Mail Got Ya Down? You really do have many options for cutting back on the junk mail.
Bag the bag lunch; switch to garbage free, reusable lunch boxes.
Consider your options on thank you notes--admittedly not a big tree saver, but I'm just sayin'!
Learn more at Treehugger.
When you have a choice, choose products with less paperboard packaging, for less to be recycled or thrown away. Need help deciding? Read this.
I probably don't need to remind you about reusable shopping bags; they are everywhere today, and that's actually a good thing. Consider the material carefully. What is it made of and what are the environmental effects of its manufacture? Cleaning out your closet to find all those gifted tote bags you tucked away for a rainy day is probably your best and most economical implementation for this idea.
Switch to cloth napkins.
Choose paper towels and toilet paper made from post-consumer recycled paper. Consciously consider the amounts you use, placing particular attention on using cloth rags/towels for as many jobs as possible.
Printer paper for your computer has 2 sides. Use them!
Recycle all paper that is possible in your area. It will be used to create the boxes that many of your food purchases are packaged in--a far better solution than deforestation.

Related Reading:

Reusable Bags Can be Fun!
Tree Huggers Unite: Let's Save Paper

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10 Tips for FREE and Easy Composting

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

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Before I hand you my list, I should give the 411 on compost. According to Wikipedia, compost is defined as:

"a combination of decomposed plant and animal materials and other organic materials that are being decomposed largely through aerobic decomposition into a rich black soil. The process of composting is simple and practiced by individuals in their homes, farmers on their land, and industrially by industries and cities.

Compost soil is very rich soil and used for many purposes. A few of the places that it is used are in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, and agriculture. The compost soil itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer to add vital humus...and as a natural pesticide for soil."

This decomposition is actually accomplished by the digestion process that occurs when these materials are eaten by underground insects and earthworms, that deposit their results as a consistently textured, nutrient rich soil enhancement. I'm surprised Wikipedia left that important part out. "Aerobic decomposition" didn't cut it for me as a description of the process.

While composting can be accomplished with expensive compost bins and worm bins, with little effort, that cost can be eliminated entirely by using what you already have--your back yard.

No need to purchase a compost bin. Find a hidden spot under an overhang of your house; typically, you'll want to steer clear of public view for your neighbor's sake. Clear it with a rake till you reach bare soil. Put some inexpensive garden fencing around it (Okay, so you may have to spend 10 bucks--sorry!). Lay a piece of heavy, dark plastic over it. Viola! You have a compost pile for a mere fraction of what the fancy smancy ones will cost you. I'll add a photo of mine below.
Start collecting your food scraps. Again, no need to purchase expensive counter-top compost containers. Use paper bags from purchases, lunches, etc. (or wrap in a section of newspaper) to place food scraps in. Clip closed while the bag is in your house, and place in the compost pile (bag and all), under the plastic, every 2-3 days, before fruit flies start up. Just in case your bag leaks a bit of fluid, you might want to set that bag in a shallow plastic container, pie plate or similar protective bottom layer.
Your compost needs some paper or other "brown" (i.e. dead organic material) that is thin or in small pieces. Dryer lint, kleenex, discarded receipts, etc. all work fine to help assure that your pile smells like a rain forest instead of a dump.
Foods that don't go in your compost include meat, dairy, and fats.
Man-made materials are never put into compost--no plastics, etc. Natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, and hemp are acceptable if not dyed. Leaves and yard scraps (weeds) can also be added, but I do suggest you avoid pine needs or cones as they are extremely sticky and do not decompose well.
Foods that are great in your compost are egg shells, fruit and veggie leftovers, peelings, ends and spoiled or over-ripe pieces, and coffee grinds. Get them free at Starbucks and stir them into your compost periodically, to aid in the richness of your soil enhancement, and the balance of your pile's scent.
Using a pitchfork or shovel, turn your compost pile to aerate it occasionally. The more you aerate your pile, the faster your scraps will be digested into rich, nutritious compost that you can enrich your garden with.
When your compost pile really gets cranking, you'll notice lots of insects and earthworms when you're turning the contents. This is a good sign of an active colony doing your work for you, and creating extremely rich soil and compost in the process.
When your pile is about halfway to its top, stop adding contents, and allow it to do its 'thing.' Start another pile nearby, if you like, but giving the first one a chance to decompose will bring you a crop of compost much sooner.
Your compost is ready when you find evenly distributed granules of soil-looking material as you turn your pile. Now it is time to harvest and use your compost as a soil enhancement (Yes! It's like a fertilizer, only healthier) for flowers, vegetables and other plants. Just add a scoop (or 2 or 3!) to the soil beneath a plant and the rain will do its job to add its nutrients to the earth.

Pat yourself on the back. You just diminished your landfill contribution by a considerable amount, all the while contributing to healthier soil and plants. Bravo!

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko

My Compost Pile

Hides Behind the Bushes

Related Reading:

More on Naturally Enhancing Your Compost
Lighting a Fire Under My Compost
What Can I Put in My Compost?
Composting 101, Parts I-V

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Where has Your Granola Bar Been? A Contest for FREE Granola Bars!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Berry Strawberry--

Likely to Be the Kids' Favorite

The other day I heard from the folks at Nature's Path about a whole new line of USDA Organic Granola Bars that they are about to release. I got dibs! Free samples of every flavor--yee ha!

The flavors they have come up with are truly inspired. Berry Strawberry was no surprise, but I was particularly loving their idea for 'MMMaple Pecan' and 'Pumpkin-N-Spice' and 'Lotta' Apricotta Granola'. Toss in a few other flavors that intertwine peanuts and chocolate and you've got a fresh new collection of 8 flavors to choose from. Check out this link and let me know which flavor you'd most like to try.

(c) Nature's Path Logo used with permission

My friends at Nature's Path are eager to get the word out, so they've offered to give away (yes, FREE!) an assortment of bars to the winner of my contest. Here's your task: COMMENT! I want COMMENTS right here on the blog. You can do it! Read on...

Hold my hand and I'll walk you through a comment. You can enter as many ideas as you like, using this method. Scroll down to the bottom of the post. There are no ads or subscription forms, so its just a few paragraphs down. Look to the far left of the post column and you'll see the word "comments", in lower case, in a light shade of green. Click this and a comment form will pop up for your writing debut.

Now's the tough part. To win the contest and get the FREE Granola bar assortment, you have to tell me "Where has your granola bar been?" If you haven't taken one out of the house lately, well, that's just weird. They're the perfect on-the-go snack that fits right into a pocket, purse or backpack. You can tuck them into your glove box, under your hat, or in your laptop case. All that portability built right into a healthy snack ought to be used, right?!! So come up with a clever place to take your granola bar for an outing, and enter my contest. You may end up with a box full of them FREE. It's worth a shot.

After you type in your comment, you'll see an identification area just below the comment box. I've been told this is confusing to some, so I'll decode the lingo right here. You have 4 basic choices:

Sign in with your Google Account, if you have one
Open ID; ignore this unless you know what it is!
Name/URL: Click on the bubble and fill in your name and website URL, if you have one. The URL is optional, but realize I cannot get in touch without it.
Anonymous: It's your choice.

You're almost done. Scroll down to hit Preview, and you'll be asked to type a few alpha-numeric characters to prove you're not a machine. (It helps save on spam.) Now click the Publish Your Comment button. It will come to me for approval, and appear on the blog as soon as I give it a thumbs up--usually the same day.

Here's the clincher. If you WIN the contest, I need to get in touch with you. Unless you sign in with a Google account or a URL, I won't be able to communicate, so I'd suggest you drop me an email as well, so I can find you. My email address is CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com. Get going now!