krissy's blog

Are you new at composting?  Or are you a long-time composter unsure of what exactly you can compost?  I've been composting for about 6 or 7 years now and it has really helped my garden thrive.    At first, I was being very conservative with what I'd throw in the compost bin, but after a while I realized that there were a lot more I could be composting.

Here are some common household items that you can compost.  Some might be obvious, but some of these might come as a surprise!  ... read more

Let's face it -- the bathroom is not always the greenest room in the house.   There can be a lot of water consumption, harsh cleaners, and less-than eco-friendly personal care products.   Here are some tips for making the john a little greener:

Reducing Water Consumption:... read more

• While the shower water is warming up, put a bucket under the shower head.  You can reuse that water in your garden or to flush the toilet with.
  
  
• When it comes time to install a new toilet, consider dual flush.  It has two flushing mechanisms:  the one for pee uses less water than the one for solid waste.   
  
  
• If your toilet isn't low-flow, put a brick in the tank to reduce how much water it uses.  
  
  
• Make your showers short and sweet and turn off your sink while you're brushing your teeth.
  
  
• When it's yellow, let it mellow.  Really! 
  
  
• Look for low-flow shower heads.  
  
  
• Opt for showers instead of baths.  A quick shower will use a lot less water than a soak in the tub.   
  

Doing our part to reduce landfill waste, create cleaner air and protect Mother Nature isn't as hard (or expensive) as it seems. As Earth Day (April 22) approaches, boost your eco-friendly lifestyle with these easy tips and tricks for going green.

Plant a Garden

Not only will a garden serve as a subtle reminder of where food originates, but you'll reap the benefits of having fresh produce at your fingertips. Start with seeds or even try re-growing vegetables from store-bought leftovers. For example, Mother Nature Network instructs how to re-grow celery from the base of a used stalk. Using a similar technique, you can do the same with the onion bulbs.

Change Light Bulbs

Slowly phase out your incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs. These use up to 80 percent less energy than incandescents and can last up to 25 times longer, according to Earth911.com.... read more

Earlier this week I posted about beginning to prepare your garden for the spring.  One thing you can do - even if temperatures are still freezing and there's still snow on the ground! - is to start deciding what to plant and order your seeds.

Right now, I've got peppers on the brain.  Last year we grew jalapenos, and it was awesome.  We canned salsa galore, threw the peppers into all sorts of yummy food we were making, and we even did pickled peppers.  This year, I'd like to grow even MORE peppers!  But, sometimes it's kind of confusing.  Which peppers would best suit our needs?  Spicy?  Sweet?  There are so many kinds!... read more

Christmas is over, it's almost the New Year, and you still have your tree sitting proudly in your living room.  I almost feel bad for Christmas trees...last week, they were the centerpiece of the holidays, decorated with garland, lights, and ornaments, with presents beneath it and children excitedly gathering around it.  Today, it's a reminder that the holidays are nearly over and that you need to remember to discard it.

Most municipalities offer Christmas tree pickups in January.  However, I have a few fun alternative things you can do with your old tannenbaum: ... read more