Earth Day on the Horizon

Let's make the entire month of April green, not just April 20th! Check out this week's submissions:

Support:

Follow the Honey (followthehoney.com): This one's for the Bostonians and Bonston-adjacent folks like myself. In response to last week's tip about honey, Leah found this local business near Harvard Square. They even have a couple honeys on tap, which means you can bring your own container! I can't wait to check them out. And seriously, that seasonal allergy tip is doctor-approved.

Green Party Supply (greenpartysupply.com): If you're having a party and need to have disposable plates and utensils, check out the biodegradable options from Green Party Supply. Made from things like sugar cane or potatoes, these products will make sure that even if you're holding a huge event, your impact will still be small.

Everyday Living:

Eat locally: Once again, we have a great submission from Leah! She says:

"One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to consume goods that are produced locally - it cuts down on the fuels needed for and emissions caused by shipping product from one place to another. If you're trying to be mindful about where your food comes from, eating locally, and eating seasonally, maybe you already hit the farmers' market on weekends and are ready to commit to a seasonal culinary adventure. You might be ready for the next step, and if so, maybe joining a CSA is right for you. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is cool not only for the locally-sourced foods, but because it supports farmers throughout the year. Basically you buy a share of one farm's crops ahead of time (one chunk of change for a whole season's worth of fresh food), and then once the season starts, every week you drive to the pickup location and collect your box of fresh fruits and vegetables - whatever was harvested that week. You're eating locally, you're eating seasonally, and you're eating food grown by people you can actually get to know through your weekly pickups.

Sometimes your pickup might have things you don't like. Sometimes it will have your very favorite thing. Sometimes it will have something you've never even heard of. These are all fascinating aspects of CSA-membership - you have to figure out what to do with ALL THIS FOOD and challenge yourself to cook new things. Definitely a plus for the adventurous eater!

This link will help you find details on family farms that offer CSA shares ("farm shares" is another common term) all over the United States.

www.localharvest.org/csa

Things to consider when selecting your farm - initial cost, of course, but also what each particular farm grows. Do you like the majority of their crops? Then you're golden. Some farms also offer meat and dairy shares, and I expect more types of homegrown goods to be made available through share-systems like this as CSAs become a more popular option. Happy eating!"

Loose tea: If you're a tea addict, ditch the teabags for tea leaves. I'm not a tea drinker (and therefore a heathen, according to my mother), so I'll let Karen handle this one. She says: "Many local grocers and even chain stores sell bulk tea leaves, and you can get a cute tea ball infuser and then compost the leaves when you're done." Check out some infusers at pinterest.com/rochellebuckley/tea-bags-and-tea-infusers/.

Clean with vinegar: Who needs to buy multi-ingredient cleansers when this natural one works so well? For toilets, use one cup of vinegar and 1/4-1/2 of a cup of baking soda. Let sit for a few minutes and then brush. For windows, use one part white vinegar in nine parts water (and then wipe off with old newspapers!).

Share: You don't have to buy things only for yourself! Buying bulk food is more environmentally friendly as well as being cheaper. Share with roommates, neighbors, or coworkers if you eat at work. Do you need large amounts of supplies for your job? Share a space and buy for everyone. And, as previously mentioned on this site, sharing clothes and tools and books - anything, really - saves money, materials, and energy. There are online networks for sharing as well as good old fashioned asking around. So tell me, One Green Hour, how do you share what you have?

Save containers: Why buy tupperware when so much of our food comes in containers? Store leftovers, pack lunches, organize your kitchen or coins or craft projects - the possibilities are endless!

Use your drapes: The forecast finally has warm weather on the horizon for my area, so keep in mind that having drawn curtains or blinds during the hot days to come will give your thermostat a break. If it's still freezing near you, then do the opposite and let in as much sun as possible! This not only saves money, but saves energy, as well.

Bonus section: Earth Day!

Earth Day will be on Saturday, April 20. I think that we should all do something to celebrate! If you're at a loss for what to do, visit epa.gov/earthday/events.htm to find an event near you. If you're in the Boston area, there's an annual Charles River cleanup that I'm thinking of participating in: crwa.org/cleanup.html. Most of the city areas are full up, but there are still some places open. Let me know if you'd like to look into this with me! Also, for next week, if you have any particular Earth Day ideas, be sure to include them in your submissions!

Also, if you're looking for more Everyday Living ideas, check out the TV show Stuff Happens with Bill Nye. Obviously, Bill Nye is just an awesome person, and this show talks about the environmental impacts of everyday activities. Find DVDs at your local library or just fall down a YouTube black hole.