Healthy Lawns, Healthy Environment.

Traditional lawn care has high costs, excessive waste and harmful effects on the environment.  The website eartheasy, solutions for sustainable living, offers tips for sustainable lawn care from soil improvement to limiting water usage.   I particularly found that the advice on ‘spot—treating’ weeds with vinegar to minimize herbicide use is a simple, low cost, eco-friendly alterative than broadcasting methods.   When I found out that 60% of water used on the west coast is from watering lawns, I instantly became more conscious about leaving the sprinkler on.  They recommend that everyone should water deeper, less frequent and early in the morning.  It is amazing how simple changes to our behaviors can make a lasting change for the future.

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!

How Plastic Microbeads Are Causing Big Problems

Lush Cosmetics is a company which is devoted to creating vegetarian, eco-friendly, and sustainable beauty products for men and women. Not long ago, Lush released an informative video about Microbeads and how we can help prevent the further production of the nasty Micro-plastic which can be found in our toothpaste, facial cleansers and home care supplies.

  If you believe in saving our oceanic wildlife sign the petition to eliminate plastic microbeads in our waters!

Sources

http://www.lushusa.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bic7QEVRNe4
http://www.5gyres.org/

Do you pee in the shower? You are saving the planet!

Peeing in the shower, some of us do it, some of us think it is gross. I am going to show you why peeing in the shower could help save the planet, and hope you learn to see some situations in life for more than face value. There are so many things that all of us can do to help mitigate the effects of climate change. There is a lot of great suggestions regarding how each individual can pitch in to reduce our impact on the planet:

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/gsteps.asp

http://ncse.com/climate/climate-change-101/what-can-we-do

For some it can seem daunting; many of us are overwhelmed by the vast amount of information out there, and all the perceived steps required of us in order to make a difference. When presented with the effort required in order to minimize the effects of climate change, one can feel burdened and afraid that they are not able to drastically change their lifestyle. But let me remind you of the power of aggregate effort. If we all make at least a little effort, the additive effect will be great. Consider a penny, it doesn’t seem like much money; if every United States citizen added a penny to a pot of money, that would be equivalent to over three million dollars! So I hope you realize that a little effort can make a big difference. There are numerous ways to help mitigate the effects of climate change without having to completely change your lifestyle:

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/StopGlobalWarming.php

http://life.gaiam.com/article/climate-change-25-things-you-can-do

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/simple-ways-stop-global-warming-78815.html

One simple way to minimize your impact on the climate and save money and time, all from the comfort of your home is to change the way you use water. Increased water usage means higher water bills, heating bills, carbon emissions associated with warming and transporting the water, and a worsened drought that many areas are currently experiencing. There are copious actions that will reduce water usage; the one that I hope gets you interested is peeing in the shower.

The next time someone berates you for peeing in the shower like George Costanza, you can refute his or her claims with your own - you are saving the planet. In 2014 the University of the UK started a campaign, urging the students to urinate while they shower. They determined that if a household urinated in the shower rather than flushing the toilet one extra time a day, they would save 1,157 gallons of water a year. If you were worried about hygiene, the university released with the campaign a list of literature that suggest there is no hygiene issue pertaining to urinating in the shower. Not only will you help save the planet, you will help your wallet with les water usage. So the next time you shower, remember the peeing can help prevent the plight of the planet.

In addition the above suggestion, there are many other small ways to reduce water usage and save money - including but not limited to:

-Reduce the amount of time you are in the shower

-Turn off the shower as you wash up and turn it back on to rinse off

-Get low flow showerheads and toilets

-Use rainwater-collecting containers for watering gardens

-Don’t leave the water running while washing dishes

-Use yard landscaping that requires less water

-Use your washing machine on the cold setting