More than 100,000,000,000 pieces of junk mail are received by Americans each year. 1/3 of all the mail delivered in the world is U.S. junk mail. Can you believe it? 44% of junk mail is never opened and devastatingly, only 22% of that is recycled. Junk mail alone uses 100 million trees, wastes 28 billion gallons of water and pumps 2.8 million cars worth of C02 into our atmosphere annually. And on average Americans spend 8 months of our lives opening junk mail. What? Let’s stop the craziness, here are 4 ways to stop the junk mail:
Sign an online petition supporting a national registry to stop junk mail at donotmail.org.
Go to OptOutPrescreen.com to opt-out of Credit Bureaus sharing your information with junk mail distributors.
Try a service like Tonic Mailstopper that will stop 90% of your junk mail in only 90 days or 41pounds.org which will stop most junk mail for 5 years.
Or if you are really talented like Sandy Schimmel Gold, you can turn your junk mail into beautiful mosaic portraits. My absolute favorite is “Natasha’s New Pajamas.” It would look fabulous in my Asian themed living room.
What steps have you taken to stop junk mail? Or do you recycle it into fantastic art?
Corks are biodegradable and small, so you may think throwing them away is alright. Unfortunately, it takes a Cork Oak Tree 25 years before the cork can be harvested. Then, only the cork from the first harvest can be used for wine corks. Doesn’t it seem silly to just toss it in the trash?
Here are some fun ways I have upcycled my wine corks! I made fun stamps to give as gifts! We’ve also made tiny succulent magnets for our fridge and place cards for Thanksgiving!Â
If you don’t feel crafty, you can recycle the corks! To recycle, you can send them to a program called Korks For Kids, a non-profit organization or to Yemm and Hart, a company that will recycle them into other products.
The mister and I enjoy our wine tasting together and as a tradition we keep every wine cork that we share in a large jar in our kitchen. We also keep corks from special occassions and write the name of the event on the date before tossing them into the jar! I have also seen them stored in shadow boxes and hung as amazing pieces of art.
Most of us in the U.S. take food for granted. We don’t question how, where, or who grows our food. The majority of states within the U.S. purchase their food from somewhere else. On average, food from the US travels over 1300 miles from farm to grocery store. With the current state of our planet, things have to change.
A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for a community to establish a relationship with a farm and receive a weekly or monthly supply of produce, fruits, eggs, milk, meat, flowers, or any other type of farm products. A season typically runs from late spring to early fall. This generally costs a family $300-500 a season.
As a member, you would support the farm throughout the season, and in return reap the rewards including; better prices, safer products, and tastier food with a lower carbon footprint. You also establish a responsible relationship between people, the food they eat, and the land itself.
Members become “shareholders” of the farm and in advance cover the costs of the farm’s operation. Members also share in the risks including failed crops, poor weather, or pests. However, the rewards greatly out way the risks.
There are currently over 2000 CSA’s in the United States, to find one in your area click here.
Tradition states that your wedding guests should be provided with a thoughtful gift as a token of your appreciation. Your gift to them can be as simple or extravagant as you wish.
The best organic wedding favors I have seen recently are adorably packaged trees!
A tree will provide your guests with a growing memory of your wedding day. It is a unique keepsake that will remind your guests of your love for one another now and for many years to come. It is the perfect eco-friendly favor for your special day.
P.S. Special bonus, make it a fruit tree and EVERYONE will love you!Â
If you’ve decided you would like to remodel different areas of your home, you may want to start with the kitchen and bathroom. Both these rooms are most likely frequented by everyone in the household on a daily basis, which make them a great place to start your remodel. Even once you’ve decided these are the two rooms you want to work on, you could have some concerns about how much money it will cost to achieve a drastic transformation. You may also be worrying about the challenges of making eco-friendly design decisions while staying on-budget. Here some effective, budget-friendly, and environmentally conscious ways to complete the remodeling process without stressing yourself out.
1. Choose a Fresh and Exciting Color of Paint For the Walls
Nothing says new like a fresh coat of paint. A new color on the walls of each room is a great way to start the transformation process. Painting is budget-friendly because you can easily do it on your own. All you need to do is get the necessary supplies, such as cans of paint, brushes, and rollers. Painting is often a concern for the environmentally conscious decorator because it traditionally contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release toxins. However, in recent years, mainstream companies like Benjamin Moore have released paints with zero VOCs at a reasonable price-point. There are many affordable eco-friendly paint options available on the market today that can instantly take your bathroom and kitchen from drab to stunning.
One important tip is to set aside some dedicated time to get the painting done. If you are off from work on the weekends, you could probably get both these rooms painted in two days if you stay focused.
2. Replace Those Old Countertops With New and Modern Options
3. Enhance the Look of Old Cabinets With Simple Yet Effective Tricks
If you would like to take the renovations one step further, completing a do-it-yourself project to transform the cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom is a great idea. There are several effective and fun tips and tricks you can use to make old cabinets look brand new again. You could start by using sandpaper to smooth the surface of the material and remove any minor imperfections. After sanding, you can paint the cabinets on your own with a new paint color or even some wood stain. Another easy way to change the look of your cabinets is to replace the old hardware with updated handles. There are hundreds of different knobs and pulls to choose from! Sprucing up your current cabinets helps your renovation stay eco-friendly by upcycling your existing furnishings.
You may have many reasons for wanting to remodel your kitchen and bathroom. Most people complete home renovations because they would like to upgrade their living space and make it even more comfortable. If you are worried about trying to complete these upgrades on a budget, focus on keeping it simple and making a few small changes that can make a significant difference.
Aside from increasing your own comfort, there is another great reason for you to complete these budget-friendly renovations. When you update your kitchen and bathroom, you are increasing the value of your property. If you have plans to sell your home at some point in the future, the renovations you’ve done can make it worth even more than you expect.
