Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Eco-Green Kitchen
If you are interested in leaving a smaller food print on Mother Earth, here are a few food-related tips for you:
Save electricity by buying Energy Star and other efficient appliances when it comes time to replace your old ones. Change your buying habits in light bulbs, too. Eventually, you will not be able to buy incandescent bulbs, but why wait? Compact fluorescents are widely available now and are frequently improved. LEDs are starting to come down in price, too.
Save money on water. Don't let the faucet run constantly when you are washing dishes - or shaving and brushing your teeth. Buying bottled water means buying lots of bottles that end up in the land fill. Many cities have higher standards for drinking water than those that apply to bottlers, so safety isn't an issue in most locales. If you just don't like the taste, buy a filter for your water supply (a pitcher, or attachable to the tap, for example) and refill a bottle that can be washed and reused.
Lighten your trash can. Be aware of products with several layers of packaging. Compost what you can - this also gives you great topsoil for your garden (and no, it doesn't stink if you do it right). Cut back on disposable dishware, napkins, food storage containers, etc. Participate in community recycling projects. Take bags that can be washed and reused to the market when you shop.
If you have school-age children, ask them for help. They probably have discussed this in school and would be glad to show off what they learned. Kids tend to think it is cool to give advice to an adult - use this for motivation for them. Mother Earth will thank you. If you have ideas to share, others will thank you, too.
Save electricity by buying Energy Star and other efficient appliances when it comes time to replace your old ones. Change your buying habits in light bulbs, too. Eventually, you will not be able to buy incandescent bulbs, but why wait? Compact fluorescents are widely available now and are frequently improved. LEDs are starting to come down in price, too.
Save money on water. Don't let the faucet run constantly when you are washing dishes - or shaving and brushing your teeth. Buying bottled water means buying lots of bottles that end up in the land fill. Many cities have higher standards for drinking water than those that apply to bottlers, so safety isn't an issue in most locales. If you just don't like the taste, buy a filter for your water supply (a pitcher, or attachable to the tap, for example) and refill a bottle that can be washed and reused.
Lighten your trash can. Be aware of products with several layers of packaging. Compost what you can - this also gives you great topsoil for your garden (and no, it doesn't stink if you do it right). Cut back on disposable dishware, napkins, food storage containers, etc. Participate in community recycling projects. Take bags that can be washed and reused to the market when you shop.
If you have school-age children, ask them for help. They probably have discussed this in school and would be glad to show off what they learned. Kids tend to think it is cool to give advice to an adult - use this for motivation for them. Mother Earth will thank you. If you have ideas to share, others will thank you, too.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Be Creative?
It seems like dorm rooms have the conveniences of home, but that wasn't always the case. In times past, college students had to be more creative about getting warm meals in their rooms. Today's students might be surprised at how versatile a popcorn popper can be! Other items were pressed into service, too. Try this: make a grilled cheese sandwich on an iron (be sure to cover the vents on a steam iron!). Then, be grateful if you have a microwave oven.
What other "re-purposes" have you heard of for cooking?
What other "re-purposes" have you heard of for cooking?
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