|
Going Green in Your Own Life
information provided by EarthWays Center
Staff from the Garden's EarthWays Center developed a comprehensive greening plan for the Garden's restaurant Sassafras, which was designated the first Certified Green RestaurantTM in the state of Missouri.
Below are ways that you incorporate greening and sustainable practices into your own life.
Greening Guide for Home
BYO Bag
Skip the paper and plastic by working reusable totes into your errand routines. From super-duty double-bottom long-handled canvas bags capable of carrying a family-sized grocery list to soft but sturdy models that stuff into a purse-size sack – satchel selection has never been better. Bag a beauty in the Garden Gate Shop!
Eat Locally
Meet your farmer at a local market and rest assured that your family’s food quality will be tastefully high while “food miles” traveled to your plate stay low. Better still: grow your own edible garden!
Preserve the Harvest
A family or group of neighbors can have fun canning, dehydrating and freezing fruits and veggies when seasonal foods are abundant and fresh.
Conserve Water
Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets (an easy DIY project) can reduce water use by as much as 4 gallons per minute, by mixing air pressure with water flow. Get more Water-Sense ideas from the US EPA and be sure to fix water leaks.
Useful Showers
Use water collected from downspouts in a rain barrel, and from household dehumidifiers to sprinkle your container gardens.
Greener Cleaners
Detox your domicile by phasing out expensive specialty chemical cleaning potions. Substitute non-toxic recipes you can make yourself from common “miracle cleaners” like baking soda, vinegar and borax.
Choose to Reuse
As you reduce waste, let the quality of cloth napkins, real plates, silverware and glassware enhance your everyday quality of life. When it comes to dining, paper is probably better than plastic, but your own real goods are the greenest choice. And don’t worry about running them through the dishwasher – you’ll use less water for a full load of dishes compared to washing them by hand.
Let the Sun Shine In
Take advantage of Earth’s healthiest, free source of light! Your mood will improve while your monthly electric bill shrinks. Control home temperature by opening and closing blinds or drapes as the sun moves through the day.
Change a Light Bulb
Yes, it really does make environmental and energy-sense to switch to efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. They use 75% less energy than Edison-vintage incandescent bulbs - which can waste up to 90% of the energy they consume emitting heat! Now you can recycle spent fluorescent bulbs at any Home Depot store – for free!
Get There Greener
Mix low-impact transportation options into your daily travel patterns. Try a carpool. Hop on a bike or stroll there. Leave the driving to public transportation pros, while you relax on the way to work.
Keep Up the Pressure
Make a habit of checking and adjusting tire pressure every time you check your oil or fill your tank. Your car’s gas mileage will increase by 3% when vehicle tires are fully inflated. At today’s pump prices, that 3% translates to an extra gallon of gas. Checking and replacing a dirty air filter will improve gas mileage too.
Get the Green Facts
Rely on nationally-recognized certification systems to validate green product claims. Look for logos like ENERGY STAR, Green Seal™, FSC, Fair Trade and USDA Organic. Cultivate your own Green Consumer knowledge base – and when in doubt, ask the Garden’s EarthWays Center!
Last but not Least: RECYCLE!
This most basic of all human green practices saves energy, keeps trees standing, reduces demand for fossil fuels and prevents air and water pollution. Frankly, recycling is just plain good environmental manners. Divert your cans, glass, plastic containers, paper, cardboard and organic waste into recycling and compost bins, and reuse or recycle other items too.
|
