The Power of Natural

Homemade Pesticides

Using chemical sprays to control pests has proven to have many seriously harmful damages on the natural environment and human health. Reversing damages to ecosystems, plant and animal species, water contamination, crop loss, and human health has cost billions.

However, there was a time when products like Roundup did not exist and people used more natural methods to control pests. Biological Control is the practice of using natural means to maintain pests and plants. There are natural ingredients that can be used as effectively as chemical pesticides but lack the harmful side affects. Using these alternatives can lower your contribution to environmental pollution and economic cost by decreasing the dependency on chemical pesticides.

 Here are a few of the many many mixes you can make to use for pest control. These options won't harm your family or pets! You can find more here

Pesticide	Ingredients	Instructions
Oil spray	Combine 1 tablespoon dish soap + 1 cup cooking oil, add 4 tsp soap and oil mix to 1 pint of water	Spray generously once every 7 days to control aphids, thrips, spider mites, and whiteflies
Baby shampoo spray	Combine 2 tablespoons baby shampoo with 1 gallon water	Spray generously and let sit for several hours before rinsing off with water. Do use the spray in the sun of on plants with hairy leaves
Garlic Spray	10-12 garlic cloves with 1 quart of water in a blender, allow to sit for 24 hours, then strain mixture through a cheesecloth into a jar and add 1 cup cooking oil. When ready to use combine ½ cup of garlic mix with 1 gallon water	Apply liberally to plants. The scent of garlic keeps many little pests away
Red pepper spray	Combine 1 tablespoon of red pepper powder, 6 drops of dish soap and 1 gallon of water. Mix thoroughly	Spray generously on plants for control of pests like leafhoppers, spittlebugs, beetles, and loopers
Salt spray	Combine 2 tablespoons salt with 1.5 gallons of warm water, allow to come to room temperature	Spray generously to control spider mites, caterpillars, cabbage worms, and chewing insects
Citrus spray	Boil 4 cups water, remove from heat, add 2 cups orange or lemon peel, let cool and strain.	Spray to repel white flies
Peppermint tea spray	Mix together 1 tablespoon peppermint essential oil with 1 quart water	Spray liberally, repels ants
Chrysanthemum flower tea	Boil 100 grams of dried chrysanthemum slower in 1 liter water for 20 minutes, strain and let cool	Spray generously. Chrysanthemum has a chemical component that attacks insect’s nervous system. Add organic neem oil for enhanced effectiveness.

How We Can Help End Microbeads

As we know the effects of Microbeads are very harmful to our aquatic ecosystem but by utilizing simple techniques we can put a stop to the production and purchase of the harmful micro-plastics. By sharing information about Microbeads and their harmful effects via word of mouth, signing petitions/creating petitions or social media we are able to take small steps to make a larger impact against the production and purchase of Microbeads. Let's help protect our oceanic wildlife by signing a few petitions, it takes less than a minute, its free, and in return we are rewarded with cleaner oceans, happier marine life and we have taken one more step to creating a healthier environment altogether.

1. Let's help ban the bead in Minnesota!

2. Let's boycott Microbead products everywhere!

3. Let's pledge to not buy products containing Microbeads and support legislation to end it's use!

4. Let's start a petition of our own on Change.org to end Microbeads!
5. Let's support the Stop Microbeads community on Facebook!
6. Let's let our friends on Facebook, Twitter & other social media platforms, know about the harmful effects of Microbeads!

Going Green can Save You Money!

 

There are several ways to do your part when it comes to reducing climate change, some are easy, some are hard, and some save you money! The savings come when you do your yearly taxes, and can be federal or state tax credits. It won’t always be cheap up front, but when looking at the costs in the long term, it can definitely be more wallet, and environmentally friendly. For example, upgrading your home appliances from a regular appliance to a eco-friendly energy saver appliance can save you money. The appliance may be more upfront, but when you see your monthly energy bill, you’ll be glad you upgraded. Not to mention the added credit when you do your taxes for the year. There are also tax credits for upgrading large appliances such as water heaters, and energy sources (wind and solar). Did you know that you can also qualify for tax credits if you own a certain type of car, or convert your car? Just something to keep in mind when you go to purchase a new vehicle. These are only a few of the suggestions people can take to save money on the federal tax level. However, you might qualify for more based on where you live as well. Be sure to keep all your receipts when you do, as you might need them when you fill out your taxes. 

Check out http://www.irs.gov/Credits-&-Deductions/Individuals for more information on federal tax credits and http://www.dsireusa.org/ is a great website to use when looking up state tax credits for where you live. So the next time you go shopping for home improvements or for a new car, make sure you check out these websites first. You could be in for a better treat than you thought!

The greenest way to charge your mobile devices

The Siva Cycle Atom easily mounts to your bike to generate power

There are many little ways you can cut down your daily energy usage. One way is the Siva Cycle Atom, a device that can charge your mobile devices while you pedal. It uses the same concept as other bike-based generating systems that use pedal power for lights, but Siva Cycle went one better with the Atom, with the ability to charge anything you can plug into a USB port. The weather-resistent device mounts easily to the rear wheel of any bike. You just need to go at lease 5 mph in order to start producing power. Any leftover juice generated is stored in the 1,650-mAh battery pack for whenever you stop or ride slowly.

The Siva Cycle Atom was originally conceived as a way to bring power to unreliable electrical infrastructures in developing countries around the world.

The device does add 10% to your pedaling effort, but that shouldn't be noticeable to most riders. In order to fully charge the Atom battery you will need to pedal at an average speed of 13 mph for 100 minutes.

With this product (for $129) you can turn an eco-friendly form of transportation into an eco-friendly way to power your mobile devices.

http://sivacycle.com/products/the-atom

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