208 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

brihooter, on 28 January 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

This post is really helpful to me.  I am really new at this and need help kind of getting started.  I thank all of you who added to this.  I am going to start some things this weekend.

Isn't this a great community?
You don't get this in-depth on Twitter.

[Astaria1]

I am looking to move to a house with a subsantial yard. I would like to put in a sizeable garden and live off of mostly what we would plant. perhaps a green house. I don't like vegetables and fruits from the store. Really I prefer food from a farm. There seems to be better flavor.

[13tyates]

Astaria1, on 28 January 2012 - 06:51 PM, said:

I am looking to move to a house with a subsantial yard. I would like to put in a sizeable garden and live off of mostly what we would plant. perhaps a green house. I don't like vegetables and fruits from the store. Really I prefer food from a farm. There seems to be better flavor.

What a great idea you have there! I think being able to sustain yourself by growing your own food is one of the best things you can do! I have a garden every year but I think I will try to expand it this year!

[brihooter]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 28 January 2012 - 02:35 PM, said:

Isn't this a great community?
You don't get this in-depth on Twitter.

Yes it is great!! Love it here :)

[greenking]

My favorite idea: plant a tree in the garden! It's as simple as that.

[sbircris.jr]

I am young (only 24) and I just realized how much damage I bring to environment and to my own body by polluting it, spending to much energy, and poisoning it with all the bad food from hypermarkets and all the nice and shiny care products.
I just realized how I can feel better and healthier every day by inhaling cleaner air, eating and drinking healthier products, and using raw and natural beauty products for my body.

I started easily to replace all body lotions and hair products with African raw butters (bought from special companies which help some villages in Africa with money from those raw product), I started to make my own lip balms, creating my own face masks from bio products, and now I can say that my beauty products are 80% natural, and my body looks 10 times better.

Second phase, was the economy in the house. I am living in a rented apartment, where I have to pay more and more for utilities, due to high usage. I started first to search for some methods how to reduce the consumption, and found the green way of living ... washing with cold water more, switching lights and heating when nobody is at home or in the room, etc

Now, I am in my 3rd phase of ,,Going green'' process.... In order to keep my body strong and healthy (as my grandma was her whole life), I started to design my own balcony garden.

I'll start with fresh tomatoes, basil, paprika, and some lettuce (only from bio seeds from my mom's real garden)

Wish me luck !

PS : I`ll post some pics with my first crops

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Green is healthier, and it reduces costs in the long run.
Welcome aboard!

[greenking]

This is the best I can share for now:

RECYCLE:

• Have a garage sale...make some money/donate what doesn't sell to charity
  
• Consign...make some money/donate to charity if it doesn't sell
  
• Auction or Sell (eBay, Craig's List, etc.)
  
• Give to someone we know
  
• Donate to charity
  
• Throw in dumpster (or appropriate disposal of environmentally-sensitive items)

[j_pin]

The best and easiest ways to go green at your home are the following

1) Program your thermostat and set it at a lower temperature than normal. Only program it to be on during times when you need it.

and

2) Install low-flow faucets, showers, and toilets. This is a big one.

The great thing is too that both of these suggestions will actually save you money!

[movn4ward]

These are really great ideas. I am new to this site and although I have been recycling and paying attention to the products I use for years, I am always looking for more ways to do better. As of late I am really interested in being as green as possible. I am finding that it isn't nearly as hard as I thought and definitely saves so much money.
Somethings I have implemented are keeping the the thermostat at 65 winter and off in summer as much as possible, using oils and extracts from local farms for cosmetic and cleaning purposes, canvas bags of course, recycling and reusing everything. I find that reusing is my favorite as I have found tons of uses for things I would have tossed. I have plenty of vases made from glass bottles, make great gifts and keeps kids occupied.
I am a novice as stated earlier so I am sure this has been mentioned by others, but I am getting great ideas from other's posts. I would love to eliminate laundry detergent and will try that next as I have sensitive skin and cannot use most of the products on the market anyway and the ones I can cost way too much.

Great Thread!

[rbaker_59]

One thing that would really help is purposefully look for products that can be recycled when you grocery shop instead of just looking at household needs.  Sometimes if you look for recyclable packaging, etc., you can recycle as you use them instead of having to look for ways to recycle after using the products.

[dj3000]

For going green get a compost pile to put in all of your extra food and it can help your garden. Get 4 different recycling bins and label them glass, paper, aluminum, and plastic. Find a local area to recycle your goods. Use re-usable water bottles at sporting events.

[kjz]

Have you guys looked into LED lighting. I think it lasts much longer, at the same time uses a lot less energy.

[rbaker_59]

Recyclables can be used to grow a garden.  As long as the plant can grow in plastics, they can be used to grow plants.  Old tin cans is also a good way to grow plants.  If you don't have a place to garden, they can be fixed to hang on a fence in a sunny location.

[Nanatracyann]

I think everyone should consider what types of light bulbs and fixtures are in your homes. There are some really great bulbs that can filter out dull yellow rays produced by standard incandescent bulbs. Change the bulbs out with CFL or halogen lights. Or use a special incandescent light, such as GE's Reveal bulb, to make colors "pop", bringing out the vibrant colors and textures of fabrics and furniture in your home.

[Hysssss-teria]

dj3000, on 05 March 2012 - 02:46 PM, said:

For going green get a compost pile to put in all of your extra food and it can help your garden. Get 4 different recycling bins and label them glass, paper, aluminum, and plastic. Find a local area to recycle your goods. Use re-usable water bottles at sporting events.

I know that reusing plastic water bottles has been discussed at length in other threads.

But dj3000 reiterates several good points here, particularly for those of us who are relatively new to making the green shift. It takes some practice and conscious effort to change lifetime habits, so try to be patient with yourself and your family as you all learn together.

Begin with reusing those plastic water bottles. It will take a little practice and self-discipline, but it’s a smart and very easy starting point.

We’re dealing with a husband and male offspring in this house -- a ’tween and a teen, but I just know that it can be done. Nothing irritates me more than to get into our pickup and find empty just-purchased WATER bottles. Some idiot just PAID a couple of bucks for a drink of WATER. It just so happens that ours is a residence in a region where they have discovered indoor plumbing -- including the miracle of fresh running … wait for it -- W A T E R.

I had to lay down the law. I purchased ONE CASE of 24 single serving bottles of water. Here’s where the work and intensive RE-training comes into play. You have to stay on top of them -- it took constant reminding and plenty of nag, nag, nag in our house. “Here’s your cooler -- plenty of cold water to take to the game in there. BRING ALL THOSE BOTTLES HOME WITH YOU.” And when they get home -- “Where are MY water bottles?”

That was three years ago. Believe it or not, the campaign has been a huge success. There are still about a dozen of the original bottles still living useful lives around here. Sure, I still find the occasional maverick purchased on the road. But it joins the ranks of reusebles that also save us tons of money.

But the real beauty is that just beginning with that one simple act of reusing water bottles, my family has proudly learned and now consistently employ all sorts of recycling tactics. And they don’t resist me about it anymore -- I guess it’s easier to join me than to fight with me.

[Sandra Piddock]

One of my greenest efforts came about by accident. I have arthritis in my wrists, so I find it difficult to lift a heavy kettle or pan. This means that when I make a drink, I just put in enough water. I started off by just half filling the kettle, but as I've become more energy conscious, I've got to the stage where I actually measure out each mug of water. It saves a lot on the electric bill, as well as saving water and energy.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Hysssss-teria, on 12 March 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

I know that reusing plastic water bottles has been discussed at length in other threads.

But dj3000 reiterates several good points here, particularly for those of us who are relatively new to making the green shift. It takes some practice and conscious effort to change lifetime habits, so try to be patient with yourself and your family as you all learn together.

Begin with reusing those plastic water bottles. It will take a little practice and self-discipline, but it’s a smart and very easy starting point.

We’re dealing with a husband and male offspring in this house -- a ’tween and a teen, but I just know that it can be done. Nothing irritates me more than to get into our pickup and find empty just-purchased WATER bottles. Some idiot just PAID a couple of bucks for a drink of WATER. It just so happens that ours is a residence in a region where they have discovered indoor plumbing -- including the miracle of fresh running … wait for it -- W A T E R.

I had to lay down the law. I purchased ONE CASE of 24 single serving bottles of water. Here’s where the work and intensive RE-training comes into play. You have to stay on top of them -- it took constant reminding and plenty of nag, nag, nag in our house. “Here’s your cooler -- plenty of cold water to take to the game in there. BRING ALL THOSE BOTTLES HOME WITH YOU.” And when they get home -- “Where are MY water bottles?”

That was three years ago. Believe it or not, the campaign has been a huge success. There are still about a dozen of the original bottles still living useful lives around here. Sure, I still find the occasional maverick purchased on the road. But it joins the ranks of reusebles that also save us tons of money.

But the real beauty is that just beginning with that one simple act of reusing water bottles, my family has proudly learned and now consistently employ all sorts of recycling tactics. And they don’t resist me about it anymore -- I guess it’s easier to join me than to fight with me.

Invest in a counter-top water filter. They're inexpensive and will last for months. But don't get the ones where
you have to re-buy a new filter every 30 days, waste of money. Carbon or coconut shell water filters will
last up to a year. Recycle the metal when it needs to be replace. Cost $30-60. (Won't link it for you (spam) but they
are available via HSN)
And you'll never buy another plastic bottle again. Saves a ton of $$ too.

[Jlcarrol]

I am very new to this site, but already I am learning new thing. I love this thread. I have been looking for was to go green in my home. I see so many great ideas. I can not wait to try them out. I have see and heard people talk about homemade laundry soap. I wanted to try is, but have not done so yet. I am planning on making some as soon as my store bought runs out. I grow my own garden and have done so for several years. I am thinking of making it a bit bigger this year. I am looking forward to being apart of this site. I hope that I find many more ideas to help me turn my home into a greener place to live. I would love to be able to teach my daughter how to be green as well. I can not wait to spend more time here learning more great ideas.

[hunysukle]

A couple simple ways to go green in your home are to do laundry less often, such as once a week instead of every other day, and then hang the clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer. Another way is to simply start using natural cleaning products (white vinegar and baking soda). It's essential to remove all chemical products including body products, laundry detergents, household cleaners, etc. from the house and use natural products instead.