This article shows how to make yarn from plastic bags. You can then crochet or knit yourself a bag to carry your shopping, thus reducing the number of plastic bags you consume. It’s a brilliant solution. Thanks to Birds Before The Storm!

Update: Here’s a photo of the finished bag made from bags.

You can change as many light-bulbs as you want, buy a hybrid car and stop using plastic bags but you are still not doing as much as you could for the environment. This is not to say that any of those things are useless, they are simply pieces of the healthy planet puzzle. If you really want to change the world, start in your own back yard. If you don’t have a back yard because you live in an apartment building or are planning to move soon, you can plant food in pots and grow it on your counter tops or in your stairways. Gardening vegetables and fruits has never been easier. You can even reuse your food waste in the form of compost to help your plants flourish.

“But I don’t have the time!” you say.

What about those hours you spend watching television? You might think that you are resting or relaxing while you are sitting on the couch watching a rerun. Be honest with yourself, doesn’t it feel better to be actively doing something that will enrich your life and the planet? Sometimes just gardening: weeding or planting seeds is the most relaxing of all. Think how amazing it is to be able to put a seed in some earth in a pot and to watch it grow slowly and then suddenly only 8 days later the plant is already taller than a leprechaun? Now that is rewarding.

“I can’t afford to garden!” you remind yourself.

Gardening may have some upfront costs such as purchasing tools, pots, good soil and some seeds. But once you have these you are practically home free! You can use the seeds from the vegetables you grow this year to plant more next year. You can reuse the same pots, reuse the same tools. You might even be able to find some good soil near where you live. On the flip side you should consider how much money you will actually SAVE by planting and growing your own food. You will no longer need to buy salad materials and you will probably have enough fresh herbs, tomato, cucumbers, zucchinis and lettuce to last you until late fall. You can also freeze extra tomato and other vegetables for use during the winter. What more economic methods of attaining food than that?

Don’t let any excuses get in the way of your reconnection to this beautiful planet. Grow your own food. Save the planet. Be healthy. It’s a win-win-win solution.

Although not actually written into the legal standards that govern organic food, the majority of organic growers support local food initiatives, which encourage consumers to buy their food locally and seasonally. The organic community supports local food initiatives such as farmers markets, where farmers sell their own produce usually in monthly gatherings held in local towns and cities; box schemes, whereby mostly organic fruit and vegetables that have just been harvested are delivered to your door for a fixed fee; and small independent stores such as healthfood stores or organic fruit and vegetable stores.

As these are often run by the farmers themselves they reinforce the link between grower and consumer that has been lost over the years in developed countries and which many believe has led to the mistrust and divisions between town and country. Such consumers may come to change their habits - learning to cook seasonal recipes with ingredients they may not have seen since their grandmother passed away, and mastering the art of making the most of a glut of certain crops, such as tomatoes and fruits.

Buying local produce also avoids the costs of pollution associated with conventional food production and distribution. Conventional farmers and retailers appear to pay little heed to the environmental cost of shipping crops around the world and growing strawberries in mid-winter. As a result, air transport - now the fastest-growing source of carbon dioxide emissions - is used for an increasing number of food imports. Further pollution is generated when the food is then brought to a central depot before being trucked out to the individual supermarkets, and then driven home by a customer.

Also, food that has traveled long distances tends to require more packaging in order to protect it on its journey, resulting in the waste of huge amounts of plastic, cardboard and glass.

TIPS

Crops that have been genetically modified to resist insects kill not just the target insect but also beneficial insects. Pollen from GM plants can kill endangered butterflies such as the monarch, for example.

Planting herbicide-resistant crops could encourages the use of larger quantities of herbicide, so all plant growth other than the crop is removed. This in turn wipes out seed-eating and insect-eating wild birds, such as skylarks and blackbirds, and small mammals, such as dormice.

Insects can become resistant to the insecticide produced by GM plants and some GM plants may crossbreed with wild species to produce ’superweeds’, which could out-compete and disrupt the natural biodiversity of an area (this may also happen with animals, such as GM salmon). As a consequence, the use of GM technology may not reduce the need for toxic chemicals in farming but increases it, as the search goes on for ever-more effective weapons against pests.

GM plants can contaminate non-GM plants and honey.

Consider which hedges attract the most wildlife - oak, blackthorn (sloe) and hawthorn, for example - and help further by planting wildflowers and grasses at the foot of the hedge.

Remember you don’t have to plant just one variety - you could mix the all-green varieties of holly or privet with variegated species. Hedges can also provide colour in the garden -try planting flowering shrubs such as spiraea, barberry or escallonia in informal hedges.

Low-growing hedges can be used for ornamental effect between borders, and can also appeal to other senses - try aromatic varieties such as lavender and rosemary.

Avoid the infamous fast-growing Leyland cypress, which monopolizes soil nutrients over a wide distance and can reach a height of 135 m (150 ft). Opt for hawthorn, yew and beech if you want a quick-growing hedge.

Don’t be overzealous with the trimmer (use garden shears instead) and avoid shaping the hedge into an upright rectangle, as this can lead to top-heavy growth with gaps below. Training the hedge into an A shape (when seen from the side) makes sure the lower levels get as much light as the top and gives a much stronger and healthier structure that makes a better wind- and weatherbreak.

If your hedge has become thin and gappy, it can be partially revived by the seemingly drastic technique of cutting it almost right down to the ground (with a sloping cut). New growth will usually appear by the next spring, which, with new planting to fill any large gaps, will give a reasonable hedgerow within three to four years.

Encouraging natural biodiversity is an inherent aim of organic farming, not only in the greater environment in which the farm exists, but also in terms of the kind of crops and livestock that are being farmed. Organic farmers often grow unusual varieties of fruits and vegetables that are fast disappearing from our countryside, and they are also more likely to rear traditional breeds of livestock, since these will be best suited to the local conditions.

Variety has all but disappeared from conventional farming, with farmers relying on just a few types of seed and animal, bred specifically to meet their needs - yield and size - and not that of consumers -which is taste. In India, for example, there used to be over 30,000 different varieties of rice, but just ten varieties are expected to cover 75 per cent of the rice-producing land in the next ten years. And in France, the Golden Delicious apple accounts for nearly 75 per cent of all apples grown. In the UK there are 2,300 known varieties of apple but just two - the Cox and the Bramley - now dominate; and of 550 different sorts of pear, three varieties are generally available. Virtually half of Britain’s pear orchards and nearly two-thirds of its apple orchards have been destroyed since 1970. These orchards were wildlife havens for many plants and bats, hares, badgers, owls and woodpeckers.

On the livestock front, the world is losing at least two breeds of animal every week. One thousand different breeds of domestic animal have become extinct during the past century and one-third of surviving breeds are endangered, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO). They blame this on the success of breeders in the developed world in exporting animals that have been bred to produce more and better meat or milk. The poultry and pig industries are highlighted as being reliant on only a handful of specialized breeds.

The impact on the environment of monoculture or genetic erosion is severe. We are endangering thousands of other species that rely on these plants and animals, losing plants that may well prove of medicinal use in years to come and creating an environment in which disease and pests run rife.

Genetic modification

The only way to be sure your food has not been genetically modified (GM) - whereby a gene or genes from one species is inserted into another - is to buy organic food. Worldwide organic standards prevent genetic modification or the use of GM ingredients for many reasons, including the unknown impact of this technology on the environment.

The use of GM seed encourages farmers to depend on a single seed supplier and reduces the chances of a variety of seeds being sown, thereby further threatening natural biodiversity. Even English Nature, the UK government’s own wildlife advisor, has called for a moratorium on the growing of these crops. But despite the fact that research concerning the impact of genetic modification on the environment and human health is still pretty thin on the ground, GM crops are already being cultivated and eaten in many places around the world. In the USA, in particular, conventional farmers have greeted genetic modification with enthusiasm and many thousands of acres of land have been dedicated to the cultivation of GM soya and maize. This has led to the widespread introduction of GM ingredients in food production - up to 90 per cent of processed food may already contain GM material.

Pet shampoo ingredient linked to autism

The cause of autism spectrum disorder is one big mystery. Lots of people have ideas as to what might cause it, but nothing is certain. That makes treating the disorder more difficult, and preventing it impossible. Many scientists agree that ASD is likely caused by a complex combination of genetics and environmental exposures.New research demonstrates that one possible environmental factor is insecticides. In one study, mothers of children with ASD were twice as likely to have used pet shampoos containing pyrethrins, a class of insecticides commonly included in mainstream pet grooming products to kill fleas and ticks. Another study suggests that exposure during pregnancy to orgranophosphate insecticides, which have a plethora of common household and agricultural uses, may double the risk of ASD and other developmental disorders.

Enviroblog: Pet shampoo ingredient linked to autism

The healthy ozone layer normally blocks 90-99 percent of the ultraviolet-B, or UV-B, radiation from reaching earth. Other types of ultraviolet light penetrate the ozone layer, but they are not harmful to us. The UV-B rays can cause skin cancer and cataracts in people, harm plant life, and degrade certain manmade and natural materials. In the southern oceans the UV-B radiation is harmful to phytoplankton, which is the abundant base for the entire ocean food chain.

Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina understood the importance of their theory and published an article in the popular scientific magazine, Nature, in 1974. Their report caused a sensational stir and a federal investigation was initiated. Their findings were validated in 1976, and by 1978 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ban against the nonessential aerosol cans, the use of which released large amounts of CFCs into the atmosphere. Companies were quickly able to find alternative propellants that contained no chemicals harmful to the ozone layer. CFCs were also discontinued for use as cooling agents in refrigeration units and for use in cleaning solvents.

From 1975 to 1985 British scientists stationed in Antarctica recorded decreasing concentrations of ozone over Antarctica. They identified a hole in the ozone layer and reported it in Nature magazine in May, 1985. The reason that the depletion of the ozone is more prevalent over Antarctica than anywhere else is because the colder winter temperatures and regular wind patterns over the continent cause a natural shrinkage of the amount of ozone. Normally, as spring temperatures warm the atmosphere, the ozone returns to normal amounts. However, the scientists recorded that the ozone layer was decreasing, causing a larger and larger hole to open each winter.

As a result of this startling new finding the United Nations convened an international conference that resulted in the Montreal Protocol of 1987. The Protocol, ratified in 1989, called for the phase out by 2000 of CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform.

The quick adoption of this cooperative measure worldwide has resulted in the most important environmental reversal in history. With few CFCs and other harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere, the ozone will be able to naturally replenish itself in time.

The reason that the damage will take a long time to repair is due to the extent of the damage and to the long life of the chemicals already in the atmosphere. The hole over Antarctica has grown steadily since the international actions initiated in 1987. The ozone hole has grown to about the size of the North American continent, but after 20 years of chemical controls, the hole is no longer growing in size. The controlled chemicals will last for 40 to 100 years in the atmosphere, so scientists now estimate that a full recovery of the ozone layer will be reached by about 2070.

The enormous potential harm posed by the prospect of the total destruction of the ozone layer was quickly recognized internationally and resulted in fast action being taken to cease activities that were causing ozone depletion. The outcome of the cooperative effort is the good news that the problem is no longer getting worse and that the ozone layer will eventually recover.

The hope for the future is that international cooperation will be able to identify, control, and reverse other environmental problems as they occur!

“Studies comparing the smoke and fumes produced by burning scented soy pillar candles versus candles made with paraffin wax show that scented soy pillar candles emit little or no soot while paraffin candles produce a considerable amount. Paraffin candles have also been shown to give off harmful fumes like acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. These toxins are almost non-existent in the natural scented soy pillar candles, making them the healthier alternative.”

Scented Soy Pillar Candles

More about World Ocean Day from Wikipedia:

World Ocean Day began on 8 June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, it is not an officially recognized secular holiday by the United Nations as of yet.

World Ocean Day is an opportunity every year to honor the oceans and products they provide, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums and pets. The oceans also provide sea-lanes for international trade. Global pollution and over-consumption of fish have resulted in drastically dwindling population of the majority of species.

The Ocean Project, working in partnership with the World Ocean Network, is working to build much greater awareness of the crucial role of the ocean in our lives and the important ways people can help. World Ocean Day provides an opportunity to get directly involved in protecting our future – beach cleanups, educational programs, art contests, film festivals, sustainable seafood events, and other planned activities help to raise consciousness of how our lives depend on the ocean. These two organizations are collecting signatures to a petition to be presented to the United Nations asking them to designate June 8th as World Ocean Day. The petition can be accessed online at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/456440372.

World Ocean Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My original article on baking soda being an earth friendly household chemical replacement was mainly about what the substance is and how it’s made. I also briefly touched on a few useful tips in how the substance can be used, but in this article, I’ve jotted down a stack of baking soda tips - some of these I’ve tried myself, others I’m yet to give a whirl.

Special note: always spot test any home concoctions first before going all out. That doesn’t just apply to baking soda, but any tips provided on GreenLivingTips.com - or any other site for that matter :).

Kitchen

- A bowl of baking soda in your fridge will help remove excess moisture and absorb odors.

- Sprinkle some in your veggies crisper and cover with a cloth or paper towel for crisper veggies that last longer.

- Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge for cleaning out your refrigerator and benchtops without scratching.

- Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in water in a microwave safe bowl, then bring to the boil in your microwave. Allow to sit for a minute or two, then you should easily be able to wipe out any baked on stains, plus your oven will microwave will smell fresher too.

- Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of rubbish bags will help to control odors as you add trash.

- To give your dishwasher a good clean, run it through a cycle and use baking soda instead of detergent.

- Baking soda can be thrown on stove fires to extinguish the flames. The carbon dioxide generated when the powder burns starves the fire of oxygen.

- Wash chemicals and pesticides off fruits and vegetables in a pot filled with water and 3 - 4 tablespoons of baking soda added.

On a somewhat related note, here’s something interesting I came across. Baking soda is sometimes used when boiling vegetables to preserve their color. That practice is not recommended as it destroys the vitamin C content of vegetables.

General home

- Anywhere that moisture is a problem, such as cupboards under sinks, place a bowl of baking soda to help control humidity. You’ll need to occasionally stir the powder for maximum effective life.

- Crayon or texta marks on walls? Try applying baking soda/water paste on an old toothbrush and lightly brush the affected area.

- Water stains on wooden floors can be removed with a sponge dampened in a solution of baking soda dissolved in water.

- Sprinkle some baking soda into your vacuum bag to help reduce musty/pet smells being spread throughout your house when vacuuming.

- Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming as a deodorising treatment. Most carpet powders you buy are baking soda based! Just a brief note on this - not recommended for areas that are very humid as the baking soda may stay in the carpet.

- Mops can really stink out areas where they are stored. If your mop is getting on the nose, don’t throw it out, try soaking it in a mixture of 4 tablespoons baking soda and a gallon of water for a while.

- Stains on porcelain sinks, toilets and plastics can be removed by applying a layer of baking soda and then using a damp sponge . I found this to work particularly well on a water stain in a sink that couldn’t be shifted otherwise without the use of heavy duty chemicals and scratching the surface.

Plumbing

- As an alternative to caustic soda for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a couple of jugs of boiling water.

Garden

- Baking soda can deter ants - pour a solid line in areas of activity and they won’t cross it.

- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of (earth friendly) dish detergentent and a gallon of water to make a spray for treating roses against black spot fungus.

Laundry

- Work a baking soda and water paste onto stains prior to washing to help remove them from the fabric

- Half a cup of baking soda added to a full load of washing will help brighten your wash and remove odors.

Workshop/auto

- Mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply with a pot scourer to remove light rusting

- A baking-soda/water paste applied to chrome surfaces, allowed to dry then buffed off will leave chrome shining!

- Baking soda applied to fresh grease and oil spills on your garage floor will draw away the oil, which can then be scraped off.

Pets

- Baking soda lightly sprinkled and mixed into cat litter will help control odor.

- Eliminate odor after you’ve cleaned up pet accidents by sprinkling over the dampened area with baking soda; allow to dry and then vacuum.

Personal

- Whoofy shoes getting you down? Get a couple of old socks, fill up the toe secitions with baking soda, place into the offending shoes and leave overnight to help remove odors.

- A thick paste of baking soda and water applied to bug bites can provide relief.

- A half teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a glass of water can act as mouthwash.

- Sprinkle baking soda onto regular toothpaste to create a whitening toothpaste

Miscellaneous

- To clean jewelry, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply the mixture the piece, allow to sit for a couple of minutes, rinse off and then polish with a soft cloth.

- Sprinkle your Christmas tree with baking soda to mimick snow - a much more environmentally friendly alternative to some of those chemical snow sprays!

With so many uses you’ll likely use a lot and buying baking soda in small boxes probably won’t be too economical. Have a chat to your local baker who may be able to supply you with larger quantities or try contacting a bakery supplies company as some sell direct to the public.

You can also save money on baking soda by re-using it. For example, once it has served its purpose as a fridge deodoriser you can put it down your sink to help keep your drains clear.

Phew, that’s quite a list of baking soda tips - it’s such a versatile substance and certainly a greener way to get many jobs around the house done. My list is by no means exhaustive and I’m sure I’ve missed a bundle of ideas and applications! Please add your own tips below!

Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact on the planet.