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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Green Wash: 6 Simple Ways To Make Your Laundry Eco-Friendly

August 3, 2020 2

Most American families use the bulk of their energy consumption doing laundry. This is not a major problem at our home, since there are only three of us. We typically do two loads of laundry a week, but for those of you out there with larger families, there are things you can do to lessen the “load” of your laundry. Read on for my favorite ways to green your laundry.

1. Be Selective
Wash only full loads of laundry and try to wear items like your jeans and jackets more than once. If it isn’t dirty, don’t just toss it in the wash.

2. Wash in Cold
Since cold water generally comes out of the tap at 80°, you can almost always wash items in cold, this will save 75% more energy than hot water.

3. Hang to Dry
I save energy by partially drying our clothing and then hanging them to completely dry. This also prevents me from having to iron, since the clothes almost always dry perfectly wrinkle-free. This is a good thing too since I can not stand to iron. If it is a sunny, warm day take advantage of the sun and wind to dry your clothes.

4. Clean the Lint
Removing the lint from your dryer makes the machine run more efficiently and also prevents it from becoming a fire hazard – clean the lint drawer before every single load.

5. Think Energy Star
When it is time to purchase a new washer or dryer, consider an Energy Star front loader. You can save over $100 a year in energy costs and ours holds much more per cycle and spins faster than a conventional model all while using 1/2 as much water.

6. Get Unplugged
Since washers and dryers are major energy vampires if possible pull the plug when not in use.

How do you green your laundry?

How To Make Organic Face Paint For Children

August 3, 2020 2

Here is a fun, skin safe, organic, and earth-friendly idea for the little ones for Earth Day or any day.

Spend the day outside in the sun and paint your child’s face with organic face paint that you make yourself.
 
Ingredients:
  • 1 tbsp. finely ground organic oatmeal
  • 3/4 cup organic Karo syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tbsp. organic corn starch
  • Natural colorants
Directions:
Mix the corn starch with the ground oatmeal. Slowly stir in the Karo syrup and water until the mixture is smooth. Add natural colorant and pour into a reusable container.
 
Repeat for all of the colors that you need.

Don’t Flush Your Prescriptions

August 3, 2020 4

The U.S. Geological Survey and Environmental Protection Agency found 80% of all streams are contaminated with pharmaceuticals.  They have also found both male and female sex organs in fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals. This is due to a large amount of pharmaceuticals in the water supply. These pharmaceuticals include narcotics, birth control drugs, and anti-depressants. This is exactly why you should never flush or wash your prescriptions down the drain. Read on for other options:

  1. Add water to the medication bottle with the unused medication in it, shake until dissolved, and then tape closed and throw away in the garbage. (Remember to remove your personal information for the medication bottle).
  2. Contact Earth Keepers for more information @ 906.228.6095, they are a grassroots company that helps keep pharmaceuticals out of our water supply.

4 Ways To Green Your Wardrobe

August 2, 2020 8

Be thoughtful about the clothes and accessories that you buy and the habits you use when buying them. Eco-friendly clothing is the better option, but don’t get rid of the non-green clothing you already own. However, when it is time to get “new” clothing. Here are a few things to consider from Green Chic by Christine Matheson. 

1. Edit your Closet:
Go through your closet and keep only the items that you love to wear. This way you’ll have an easier time getting dressed in the morning and you’ll always look fabulous without being distracted by the items that you dislike – this will only make you think you need a new wardrobe. If you do decide to edit your closet, please donate those clothing items to a women’s shelter, consign them or swap them with friends.

2. Opt for Organic Cotton:
Growing conventional cotton is the most pesticide-intensive farming process in the world. All the pesticides and fertilizers in the cotton fields translate to a 1/3 cup of chemicals (such as cancer-causing agents) remaining in the clothing that you wear right next to your skin. Think of your skin as if it is a giant sponge, soaking up all of those chemicals as you wear your clothing every day. Just remember when purchasing clothing to read the tag, if it’s organic, it will say so.

3. Be a Material Girl:
Consider choosing other great natural fibers when it comes to your clothing. For example;  wool is a renewable resource and can be grown sustainably if the sheep are allowed to free-graze. You will want to look for organic wool or wool that hasn’t been chemically treated or dyed. Linen is made from the flax plant which even when it’s not grown organically requires little in way of pesticides and chemicals. Still organic is even better, look for natural shades that haven’t been bleached or chemically dyed.

4. Consider Vintage:
Vintage clothing was crafted a long time ago so it costs nothing to the environment today. There are no pesticides sprayed to grow the fibers, no energy used in the manufacturing or shipping of the clothing, and no packaging material (usually). There are many great vintage and thrift stores out there, check them out. 

How do you green your wardrobe?

HOW TO: Natural, Organic Control For The Top 4 Pests

July 31, 2020 5

Each year Americans spend over $1 billion on synthetic pesticides and use over 70 million pounds of it. Synthetic pesticides are chemicals used to prevent, destroy, or reduce the severity of pests. Most synthetic pesticides have harmful risks to humans (especially children), animals, beneficial bugs (honeybees, ladybugs, and wasps), and the environment. Synthetic pesticides can vary in their toxicity, with effects such as cancer, respiratory illnesses, headaches, and dizziness. They also disrupt the balance of our environment and leach into our soil and water supply. So what can you do?

Either attract natural predators such as birds, bats, and beneficial bugs to live in your yard or choose a natural pest control remedy. (Remember beneficial bugs eat pest bugs, so you don’t want to kill the beneficial bugs.)

You can attract birds, bats, and beneficial bugs to your yard by providing them with the things that they love. Put out bird feeders, birdbaths, bird and bat houses, and leave parts of your garden untrimmed in the winter for beneficial bugs to live. Plant dill, cosmos, marigolds, coriander, and spearmint to attract beneficial bugs.

If you are looking for natural pest control remedies, try these recipes:

1. Natural Ant Pest Control Recipe
Locate the anthill and sprinkle it with salt. Dust trouble areas with baking soda. 

2. Natural Mosquito Pest Control Recipe
Carry a fabric dryer sheet in your pocket.

3. Natural Ladybug Control Recipe
If you have an infestation in your home, seal the windows and doors completely. Each Ladybug consumes over 100 aphids a day so they are very beneficial.

4. Natural Overall Pest Control Recipe
Mix 1 Tbsp. earth-friendly dishwashing liquid with 1 Tbsp. cooking oil and 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray the trouble areas weekly or as necessary.

How do you naturally control unwanted pests?

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