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5 Eco-Friendly Ways To Care For Your Garden

November 9, 2022 0

Gardening is a great way to get outside, enjoy fresh air, and dirty your hands. But it’s also important to be mindful of the impact that gardening can have on the environment. There are a lot of small things that you can do to make sure that your gardening practices are eco-friendly. Here are five easy tips to get you started.

1. Use Organic Fertilizer

One of the best things you can do for your garden is to use organic fertilizer. This means avoiding synthetic fertilizers that can contain harmful chemicals. Instead, opt for natural options like compost or manure. If you’re unsure of the best organic fertilizers, you can contact your local lawn service company to attend to your garden. This way, you can be sure that whatever is being used in your garden is safe for the environment and your plants. 

2. Use Native Plants

Another easy way to make your garden more eco-friendly is to use native plants. These are plants that are naturally found in your area or country and don’t need to be imported from somewhere else. They’re also more likely to be resistant to local pests and diseases, which means that you’ll need to use fewer pesticides and herbicides. Native plants also support local wildlife, as they provide food and shelter for birds, bees, and other animals.

3. Mulch Your Garden Beds

Mulching is a great way to reduce weeds, conserve water, and insulate your plants. There are many eco-friendly mulches that you can purchase to use in your gardens, such as wood chips or straws. You can also try using biodegradable options like grass clippings or fallen leaves. Just make sure that whatever you use is biodegradable so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill. You also need to ensure that you don’t over-mulch your garden, as this can lead to the suffocation of plants and other issues.

4. Collect Rainwater

Rainwater is one of the best things for your plants! It’s free and naturally soft, so that it won’t harm delicate plants like flowers or vegetables. Plus, it’s really easy to collect; all you need is a rain barrel. Set one up near your downspout and watch as the water collects over time. Then, when you’re ready to water your garden, just hook up a hose and let the rainwater do its magic. Collecting rainwater is also great for saving on your monthly water bill and conserving overall water usage.

5. Avoid Plastic Gardening Tools

Just like with anything else in life, it’s important to avoid using unnecessary plastic whenever possible. This includes the garden. There are all sorts of eco-friendly options for gardening tools these days, so there’s no need to buy those cheap plastic ones from the hardware store. Instead, invest in some good quality metal tools; they’ll last longer and won’t end up in a landfill when you’re done with them.

Gardening is a great way to enjoy some time outside while also doing something good for the environment. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your garden is as eco-friendly as possible!

How To Drink More Sustainably

October 6, 2022 0

When it comes to consuming alcohol, there’s more than one way to drink responsibly. Many of us don’t consider the fact that our alcohol consumption could have a high carbon footprint. From the manufacturing process to what ingredients you choose, there are many ways in which your drinking habits can affect the planet. Below are some tips on how to drink more sustainably. 

Support local breweries, distilleries, and wineries

Many of the beverages we drink come from other states or are imported from other countries. This results in a lot of carbon emissions.

When choosing to buy from local producers, these carbon emissions are greatly reduced as the beverage doesn’t have to travel so far to get to you. 

Consider researching local breweries, distilleries, and wineries to see what is available to buy in your area. You may be able to buy these drinks in local stores or directly from the producer.

In some cases, it could be worth trying new types of beer or spirits. For example, there may not be any local rum or vodka producers, but you may have a bourbon distillery nearby. Experimenting with whiskey cocktails such as this paper plane cocktail recipe could open up your tastebuds to new drinks while reducing demand for imported goods. 

Look out for beverages that strive to be green

Some producers go the extra mile to make their products eco-friendly. This includes using energy-efficient manufacturing methods, using organic ingredients, or giving proceeds to earth-friendly causes.

This list of sustainable beers is a good example. Choosing these beers could help to reduce your damage to the environment and possibly even go some way to undoing environmental damage. 

Go vegan with your drinks

The meat and dairy industry has a huge negative impact on the environment. For many people, going vegan is not just a way of protecting animals, but also saving the planet from excess greenhouse gases.

Some people assume that all alcoholic beverages are vegan, but actually many aren’t. Some wines add extracts of egg or casein to reduce bitterness and browning. Meanwhile, animal extracts like honey and gelatin are sometimes added to beers. 

By sticking to strictly vegan beverages, you can reduce any harm to animals and any harm to the planet. This includes alcoholic drinks and mixers if you like to have cocktails. 

You can check whether a drink is vegan by looking it up online. There are also online guides that you can read through. Check out some of the best vegan wines here at this post. 

Use less disposable plastic (such as cups and straws)

Do you often drink cocktails through a disposable plastic straw? Do you give everyone plastic cups whenever you have a house party?

These disposable plastics are often not biodegradable and some aren’t even recyclable. This means that they often end up cluttering landfill sites. 

By using a reusable straw and sticking to glass or reusable plastic cups, you can help reduce your plastic waste. 

How to Embark on a Vegetarian Lifestyle that’s Healthy and Delicious

September 30, 2022 0

If you’re considering embarking on a vegetarian lifestyle, you’re in luck! Not only is a vegetarian diet healthy and delicious, but it’s also one of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact. This blog post will discuss some tips for making the switch to vegetarianism, as well as some recipes for delicious and healthy vegetarian meals. So whether you’re a full-time vegetarian or just looking to add more plant-based meals into your diet, read on for some tips and recipes that will make the transition easy and enjoyable!

Do your research

As with any major lifestyle change, it’s important to do your research before you dive in headfirst. This means learning about the different types of vegetarian diets and what foods you’ll need to avoid (or eat more of) in order to maintain a balanced diet. You can find plenty of resources online or at your local library, so take some time to educate yourself on the ins and outs of vegetarianism before you make the switch.

In addition, it’s also important to research recipes like instant pot potato soup! This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised how many meat-based dishes you’re used to eating that can easily be made vegetarian. A quick Google search will yield tons of results for delicious and healthy vegetarian recipes, so take some time to peruse some cookbooks or food blogs before you start your new diet.

Find healthy substitutes for meat-based dishes

One of the best things about vegetarianism is that there are so many healthy and delicious substitutes for meat-based dishes. If you’re used to eating a lot of meat, you may be worried about giving it up, but there are plenty of plant-based proteins that can easily take its place. Tofu, tempeh, seitan, lentils, beans, and quinoa are all great sources of protein that can be used in a variety of recipes. And if you’re not sure how to cook with these ingredients, again – research! There are tons of resources available online or at your local bookstore that can help you learn how to cook with meat substitutes.

Incorporate meatless meals into your diet gradually

If you’re not ready to commit to a full-time vegetarian lifestyle, that’s perfectly okay! You can still reap the benefits of eating more plant-based meals by incorporating meatless dishes into your diet gradually. Start by substituting one or two meat-based meals per week with vegetarian alternatives, and then slowly increase the number of meatless meals as you get more comfortable with the idea. Not only will this help you ease into a vegetarian lifestyle, but it will also give you time to experiment with different recipes and find vegetarian foods that you really enjoy eating.

In conclusion, embarking on a vegetarian lifestyle is a great way to improve your health and reduce your environmental impact. With a little bit of research and some delicious recipes, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a delicious and healthy vegetarian diet.

6 Healthy Back To School Lunchtime Snacks

August 15, 2022 0

 

Fall is right around the corner, and that means it’s back to school for children, teens, and young adults across the country. For parents, that means it’s time to handle getting lunches packed, balanced breakfasts on the table, and sleepyheads out of bed!

I always get a wonderful nostalgic feeling from the end of summer, back-to-school time. It always reinvigorates me and makes me excited to try new things and make changes in my life, even though my own schooldays are long past. I think part of this has definitely been from raising Eben! 

Watching him go through the process of starting a new grade each year has been so rewarding and inspiring (and now, he’s applying to Graduate School, can you believe it!) I always want to support him and his efforts at school, and part of that means making sure he’s well fed and properly fueled so his brain can do all that learning each day (at least until he leaves us!)

One of the things I like to try and do each year is come up with new types of healthy snacks. Kids always seem drawn to any kind of single-serving snacks and fun foods—just think about those awful packaged varieties that your kids have probably begged you to buy while shopping. Packing the same things all the time gets boring and doesn’t offer much variety in terms of vitamins and minerals, which only eating a broad diet can do.

If you’re stumped for new ideas when packing lunches, here are some of our favorites, which I’m sure your kids will love, too:

  • Fruit Skewers: Use whatever fruits you have on hand (melons, apples, clementines, grapes, etc.) and stick bite-sized chunks onto wooden skewers or reusable plastic or metal skewers if you want to be extra eco-conscious. These colorful snacks are fun to eat and easy to share with friends at school!

  • Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter & Pretzels: This fun, dippable snacks make eating healthy nut butter a breeze. Eben loves these so much he had already gone through the package of them before school started! Like a healthier version of Nutella, these snacks feel like an indulgence, but they’re made from high-quality, all-natural ingredients with a focus on sustainability. Definitely a winner!

  • Fruit and Vegetable Chips: Whether you choose to make these in the oven, dehydrator, or buy them from your local health food store (such a variety is available these days!), fruit or vegetable chips are a great way of making healthy eating fun and delicious for kids. The possibilities are endless: apples, sweet potatoes, kale, zucchini, eggplant, all with any combination of flavored salts, herbs, and spices.

  • Stonyfield Organics YoKids Squeezers: This squeezable yogurt is both healthy and tasty. Eben loves the Cherry and Berry flavor pack, and they never come home uneaten when I pack them in his lunch! As with all of the Stonyfield products, they are organic certified by the USDA and made with pasture-raised milk.

  • Nuts and Seeds: I buy organic nuts and seeds in bulk at Costco and pack them in Eben’s lunch every day. They are the perfect snack to grab right before a big test or for an after-lunch pick-me-up!

  • Homemade Granola Bars: Unlike their store-bought counterparts, when you make granola bars at home, you don’t need to add any processed sugars and can control exactly what goes into them. There are endless healthy granola bar recipes online, and I guarantee at least one of them can be made with whatever you have in your cupboards right now!

What about you? Do you have any favorite back-to-school snack ideas that your kids devour? Or any packing secrets or life-changing products you can’t do without? I’d love to hear about them—the more inspiration, the better!

4 Benefits of Growing and Cooking Your Own Food

July 19, 2022 0

Food is one of the most important basic needs, so it’s important to ensure you and your family get the best food. One way to do this is to start growing and cooking your own food. Read on to see four benefits you can get from growing and cooking your own food at home.

1. You’re Sure of What You’re Eating

When you grow your own food, you’re more sure of what goes into your food. This is important for you and your family’s health as it reduces the risk of consuming unsafe food products. This is evidenced by the fact that there are recalls every now and then after particular foods are found to be harmful, contaminated, or that don’t meet health standards. For example, the largest food recall in history was issued in 2008, leading to a recall of more than 3,200 products. Most crops are easy enough to grow and you can search for and find fun recipes to make on the internet. This would be a great decision to make for the sake of your continued good health.

2. You Spend More Time Outdoors

It’s always beneficial to spend more time outdoors as it can boost your mood quickly and easily. If you have a garden, it can be a lot easier for you to spend time outdoors in a productive way. The effort you make to plant, tend to, and harvest the food you grow will be great exercise for you as well. The fact that you can involve your whole family in gardening at home makes it a great activity to do as well, so you should think about getting a small shovel or other gardening tools for each member of your family and invite them to join you on a few gardening trips.

3. You Can Learn New Methods of Doing Things

Cooking your own food can become the best way to learn a new skill and gain more knowledge than you currently have. For instance, if you want to cook with wood, according to Food and Wine, you should look for wood that has been seasoned for at least one year. This wood should either be kiln-dried to a moisture content of between 6% and 8% or generally have a moisture content of less than 20%. Facts such as these can come in handy in a number of circumstances and improve your life in more ways than you can think of.

4. You Get Fresher Food

Finally, starting a garden avails more abundant and fresher food for you if you do it right. This can help you cut back on the trips you make to the grocery store to buy food, most of which is taxed. You can also help to improve the state of the environment as you add more greenery to it. In this way, you make a considerably smaller carbon footprint as well. You can tell that the food you grow is truly fresh by checking how green its stalk is something that can be affected by the season in which you grow the food. For example, leaves change color during autumn because of changes in the number of chemical pigments in the leaves. Leaves produce less chlorophyll as the days get shorter, and this is the chemical that makes them green. This change allows other pigments, including red, orange, and yellow to show through in this season.

These four benefits that you can enjoy when you grow and cook your own food should be motivation enough to make you start doing it. Remember that you can always start small and build up to more over time as you get more comfortable.

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