Categories
Eco Eats

Fresh and Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe

In honor of National Pie Day, we have decided to share a delicious Strawberry Pie recipe with you. Strawberries are currently in season, so be sure to pick some up from your local farmer’s market.

Sweet Strawberry Pie

Ingredients:

1 C- Sugar

1 C- Water

3 TBSP- Strawberry gelatin Mix

3 heaping TBSP- Cornstarch

1 Pint Fresh Strawberries

1 pie crust

Optional Ingredients:

Whipped cream cheese

Whipped cream (for topping)

Graham cracker crust

Directions:

Combine sugar, cornstarch and dry gelatin mix by stirring well. Add water and cook until thick and clear over medium high heat. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent scorching. Set aside and let cool.

Wash and trim fresh strawberries (trim off the tops and the bottoms too if they aren’t “pretty”.) Cut in half and arrange over pie crust. When the filling has cooled (room temperature) pour over fresh strawberries.

Chill until served.

Additional notes:

You can garnish with whipped cream if desired! Sometimes when we make this we use fat free cream cheese, whip it with the mixer, and line the bottom of the pie crust (some say it helps to prevent soggy crust, we think it tastes delicious!) You can also make your own pie crust or use the premade ones!

Nutritional Info (approximate) Servings: 8/Amount per serving: 1/Calories per serving: 320/Total Fat: 14g/Cholesterol: 15mg/ Sodium: 180mg/Total Carbs: 48g/Dietary Fiber 3g/Protein 3g.

Recipe adapted from the Southern Living.

Categories
Lawn & Garden Recycling

3 Simple Steps to Create Your Own Rain Bucket

You have heard the old saying “April showers bring May flowers…” but did you realize you can save on your water bill and the environment just by investing in a rain bucket? A rain bucket can be anything you want it to be. Whether you use an old plastic moving tub, a plastic bucket, or even an old garbage pail, you can use those to collect greywater. A type of grey water is rainfall and while you can’t drink rainwater, your plants can certainly use it! You probably won’t collect enough water to water your plants throughout the entire season but it will certainly help keep the soil moist during the hot summer months.

Make sure to put your rain bucket near downspouts, that way the rain buckets can collect the water that lands on the roof. Your roof normally is the largest surface area so you will be able to collect the most water from these areas (a shed can work too!)

It is really easy to make your own rain bucket it just takes a little time and a trip to Lowes or the Home Depot (you might even have some of the materials in your garage!) For this project you are going to need:

1 – 32 Gallon Vinyl Trash can with Lid (preferably)
1 – 1″ PVC Male Hose Adapter
Drill with 1″ Spade Bit
White Caulking Plumbers tape

Step 1.  Once you have found the location you would like to place your rain bucket, measure and cut the downspout above or near the top of the rain bucket. Normally you would cut off part of the down spout so the end sits a little higher than your bucket. Cut a hole in the shape of the downspout near the top of the bucket. You can also cut an overflow hole about the same size on the other side to allow excess water to escape when it’s full.

Step 2. Next, drill a 1″ hole about 3-4 inches from the bottom of the rain barrel. Using some common plumbers tape, wrap the threads of the adapter to keep water from leaking through the hole. Screw adapter from the inside so the threads are exposed to the outside of the Rain.

Step 3. Insert the downspout pipe from the roof into the rain bucket and attach the overflow to the other side. Attach a garden hose to the bottom adapter and caulk around the gaps to ensure the unit is sealed. This is important as mosquitoes would love to nest in your rain barrel (if you don’t have a top for your rain bucket buy mesh netting.) Once everything is connected, fill with water and test. The pressure from the amount of water contained inside the rain bucket will allow you to water your plants without much difficulty.

You are now ready to sustainably water your flowers and vegetable gardens well into summer!

Sources: ezinearticles.com, (http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-a-Rain-Bucket-in-3-Easy-Steps&id=2441701).

 

Categories
Eco Tips Home Design

6 Ways to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. However indoor air quality can be as much as two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Air fresheners, poor ventilation, humidity, radon, cigarette smoke and wood smoke can all contribute to the problem. Indoor air pollutants can seriously affect the health of our families, but there are specific actions that can be taken to ensure healthier air quality within your home.

Change the air filter in your heating or AC unit every 30 to 60 days. Set an appointment in your calendar each month to change your air filter so that you remember.

Buy a humidistat and keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Indoor humidity can increase the concentration of indoor air pollutants. High humidity means moist air and can cause air quality issues due to mold or mildew.

Test your home for radon gas. Radon is an odorless natural gas that occurs in soil or rock and has a negative impact on lung health. Most home improvement stores sell radon test kits. Just be sure to follow the directions on the package for proper placement of the device and where to send the device after testing to get your reading.

Avoid using cigarettes, toxic pesticides, household air fresheners and incense. In the event these products are used within your home, always be sure there is plenty of ventilation.

Use low or no VOC paints and stains when repainting or remodeling. VOC’s are chemicals found in paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, varnishes and waxes, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment, insect repellents, air fresheners, and dry-cleaned clothing. VOCs evaporate into the air and affect indoor air quality.

Keep dust and pet dander to a minimum. Reduce dust and pet dander by washing sheets in hot water, by purchasing allergen-proof bedding and by keeping pets off of furniture.

Source: EPA.org, (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/index.html)

Categories
Featured Recycling

6 Surprising Items That Can Be Recycled

Ever looked at an old pair of eyeglasses and wondered if it could be recycled or have a collection of old wine corks and didn’t know what to do with them? We have compiled a list of some surprising things that can be recycled.

Eyeglasses

When your prescription changes or you decide you want new frames, don’t just throw away your unwanted glasses! New Eyes for the Needy is committed to providing corrective eyewear to people who need them in the United States, or elsewhere on the planet or in developing countries.

Foam Peanuts

Even though they protect your fragile package from breaking, foam peanuts have to be one of the most annoying things ever when they escape from their box. Since they have been such a nuisance filling up our landfills some companies are making the “foam” peanuts from vegetable starch. The peanuts made from vegetable starch are non-toxic and biodegradable (if you put one in water and it disintegrates you have the earth-friendly ones)!  If you have the other kind of foam peanut you can call The Peanut Hotline (not a joke!) at (800)828-2214 for a list of places that will take them off your hands.

Holiday Lights

Got burnt out holiday lights? The folks at HolidayLEDs will gladly take your old lights, shred them, and sort the remaining PVC, glass, and copper. Those raw materials are taken to another recycling center and resurrected as something new. They start collecting lights at the end of October and it accepts lights until the end of February.

Crayons

Don’t toss those broken and stubby Crayolas! Instead, mail them to the National Crayon Recycle Program, which takes unusable, broken crayons to a better place. They’re melted in a vat of wax, remade, and resold. The program has saved over 47,000 pounds of crayons.

Fishing Line

Fishing line is made from monofilament, a non-biodegradable plastic that you can’t put in your everyday recycling bin. At Berkley Fishing, old fishing line is mixed with other recyclables (like milk cartons and plastic bottles) and transformed into fish-friendly habitats. So far, Berkley has saved and recycled more than 9 million miles of fishing line.

Wine Corks

Your recycling center probably doesn’t accept wine corks, but companies like Terracycle and Yemm and Hart will. They turn cork into flat sheets of tile, which you can use for flooring, walls, and veneer.

 

Categories
Eco Tips Featured Lawn & Garden Recycling

How to Create a Simple Compost Pile

Composting is a wonderful way to reuse kitchen scraps as well as discarded leaves, grass, and garden debris. Combined, these ingredients create a nutrient rich soil that your garden and indoor and outdoor plants will benefit from. There are many different ways you can make and maintain your own compost pile at home.

For inside your home, especially when a backyard is not accessible, you can make a hide-away trash bin in your kitchen to through away table scraps, any leaves you may pick up, newspapers, paper towels, cardboard and any other biodegradable materials you may find. Add water to keep your compost moist but never a watery consistency. It normally takes a couple of weeks for the compost to be ready. Use the compost soil at the bottom of the pile and use it for indoor plants or discard the soil at a local garden center or forest.

If you have a backyard, here are some different ways to create a simple compost pile:

  • For a homemade, standard compost pile, you will need three, five foot 2×4 wood slabs, a spool of mesh or chicken wiring and a staple gun. Cut the 2×4’s in half.  Find a secluded spot in your yard to put your compost pile.  Depending on how big you want your compost pile, measure and mark the area before building.  Once you’ve measured a space, place three pieces of the wood parallel to one another with enough space in between.  Place the mesh wiring on the inside of the wood slabs and then staple them to the wood.  Once assembled, begin composting!
  • If you don’t want to create your own compost pile, you can buy one from a Home Depot or Lowe’s hardware store.  You can also order compost bins online at compostbins.com or goodcompost.com.
Categories
Eco Tips Featured

8 Simple Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil Has Many Eco-Friendly Uses

Coconut oil has become one of the most favored organic and eco-friendly products on the market due to its rewarding qualities.  I noticed the increase in popularity of coconut oil over the last few months and asked myself, “What is so special about this stuff other than cooking?”  I normally use coconut oil as a substitute for olive or vegetable oil in cooking because it contains healthier saturated fat.  So I did some research and learned that coconut oil can be used for more purposes other than a cooking aid.  It can be used for hair, skin, health, and household duties.  Who knew that coconut oil could cover such a broad spectrum of functions?

Coconut oil has the same consistency as lard and Crisco; therefore it is seen primarily as a cooking aid.  However, because of its consistency and natural qualities, it can be used to help with other functions such as body and household care. Here are four of many ways to use coconut oil for personal hygiene.

Coconut Oil Moisturizer – Extra virgin coconut oil would be the best for this.  You can find this at an organic food store or in the health and body aisle of a grocery store.  Just simply take some from the jar and apply to skin and use as much as needed. Simple!

Coconut Oil Deep Treatment Hair Conditioner – This is an overnight treatment, so a shower cap will be needed.  Apply a teaspoon of oil to the ends of your hair and run your fingers through.  For deep treatment, apply a teaspoon of oil to your scalp and massage it through to the ends of your hair.

Coconut Oil Ointment – This can be used for scrapes, bruises, or any other form of “boo-boo” that comes your way.  Apply a thin layer to the scrape or bruise.  This coating protects the area from dust, bacteria, etc.  It also gives a more pleasant odor than the medicinal brand.  Place a bandage over the affected area.

Make-Up Remover – Put some oil on a cotton ball or pad and wipe away the make-up.  It’s like Vaseline but without the harsh smell. It’s impressive how well this works!

Here are some interesting ways to utilize coconut oil for household purposes:

Coconut Oil “Goo Gone” – Mix equal portions of coconut oil and baking soda, then apply the mixture on the sticky residue area.  Wait for about five minutes before scrubbing the “goo gone” with a washcloth or scrub sponge.

Coconut Oil Furniture Polish – Mix oil with a bit of lemon juice for furniture polish.  Work the polish on a small portion of the furniture to test the consistency and strength you desire.

Coconut Oil Bronze Polish – Simply put some oil on a wash cloth and rub it over the bronze surface for a lustrous shine!  This will clean and deepen the color of the bronze.  This also works on stainless steel.

Coconut Oil Bug Repellent – Mix with some peppermint extract and rub into the skin.  No more chemicals and has a pleasant smell!

Categories
Featured Green Building Home Design

3 Green Insulations You Should Consider When Remodeling

When thinking about remodeling a great way to reduce your carbon footprint is by choosing green insulation.  By choosing the correct insulation you can also reduce your energy cost.  You don’t have to choose the traditional fiberglass insulation; there are many different environmentally friendly choices.

Here are the top 3 green insulation options:

Sheep’s Wool

When wool fibers are compressed, they form millions of tiny air pockets. These pockets trap air, which keeps the animals — and homes — warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Plus, wool is very breathable, which means it can absorb moisture from the air without affecting its capacity to retain heat. Specifically, the outer layer of wool fiber is resistant to water. However, the fiber’s inner layer loves water and can absorb about one-third of its weight in moisture without ever feeling damp. And when wool becomes moist, it generates heat, which in turn prevents condensation. If you insulate your home with wool, you don’t need to adjust your heating or cooling systems as often as you would with other materials and that saves money. Wool insulation keeps buildings cool in the day and warm at night, and it’s more fire resistant than other types of insulation.

Cotton

Cotton is a natural and renewable resource, which makes the plant one of the greenest insulation products on the planet. Cotton insulation is similar to fiberglass insulation in several ways. For one thing, it can be rolled into batts. Cotton insulation doesn’t contain formaldehyde which has been linked to some types of cancer.  Cotton is very good at absorbing moisture, and when treated with boric acid, becomes flame retardant. However, one of the drawbacks of cotton insulation is that it costs about twice as much as fiberglass.

Icynene

Perhaps no home insulation seals your house as completely and as thoroughly as the spray-on foam insulation known as Icynene, which is made from castor oil. Once it hits the surface, Icynene expands nearly 100 times it volume. The puffy sponge cake-like substance creates a thick blanket of insulation that tightly seals air leaks. Not only does Icynene stop drafts, it also muffles noise. Icynene can reduce a home’s energy bill by 30 to 50 percent. Icynene works so well because it traps air in tiny bubbles during the foaming process. As the foam cures, the air remains in place. However a drawback of Icynene is that it’s expensive — about three times the cost of fiberglass.

Categories
Eco Tips Featured

Four Ways to Switch Up Your Exercise Routine

Winter weather means comfort food, sweaters, holidays, family time and boots. That also means we get comfortable with all the big, baggy clothes. Don’t get comfortable, get fit! Here are three tips to green your exercise routine.

Get Rid of Cotton

Cotton is a common fabric but it isn’t the most eco-friendly material. Did you know that it takes on average 400 gallons of water to grow the cotton required to make one t-shirt? Imagine how much water it takes for a sheet set. However many designers for home and fashion have started using bamboo. Bamboo is a great material for work-out clothes because it’s softer and wicks moisture and harmful bacterial away from the skin and it’s better for the earth!

Exercise Outside

While gyms are super convenient to work out, they are super hard on the environment. Many of the exercise machines stay plugged in all night, whether or not their being used. Talk about a phantom load! That also doesn’t include televisions and lights that are used every hour inside.  Our advice? GO OUTSIDE! Ride your bike, go for a run, clean up your yard and more. It’s more eco-friendly and some studies show that spending time outside will help naturally boost your spirit.

Water Bottles

We all know that one-time use plastic water bottles are bad for the environment. It’s time to commit to using a refillable water bottle for your workout routine. By using a refillable bottle means less waste in landfills and more money in your wallet!

Recycle Your Sneakers

Bought a new pair of sneakers because your old ones are starting to have holes in the soles? Instead of just tossing them to the curb, give your shoes a new purpose with Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program. Old shoes are used to build tracks, basketball and tennis courts!

Categories
Eco Tips Featured Gadgets & Gear

Tips to Help Keep Your Reusable Bags Clean

Reusable shopping bags are a great way to be eco-friendly and stop yourself from using plastic bags. I not only use them at the grocery but also when I’m out clothes shopping, sometimes when I need a gym bag in a pinch, or even to run errands. I was recently told how dangerous it was to use the reusable bags without a washing in-between. When I thought about it I realized I don’t think I have ever washed my reusable bags! However I’m sure I’m not alone. A quick study was done of patrons in a grocery store and 97 percent of shoppers admit that they have never washed their reusable bags!

A recent study funded by the American Chemistry Council found that nearly every reusable bag examined for bacteria contained bugs, coliform bacteria (suggesting raw-meat or uncooked-food contamination), mold, yeast or E. coli. The study didn’t specify what strands of E. coli were found (many of which are harmless).

If you take a moment to really think about it, people are putting meats, unwashed foods and all sorts of items in these bags. Logic would tell you these bags could get unsanitary pretty quickly, however don’t just toss your bags just yet.

Some simple tips to help keep your reusable bags clean and sanitary:

  • Reusable bags should be washed after every use when carrying food just as you would clean a kitchen towel
  • Use more than one bag and label them “Meat, Dairy, Produce,” etc.
  • Don’t leave any unwashed bags in your car, the heat can help bacteria grow

How to Wash Reusable Bags

Some bags have labels with instructions on how to launder. For those that do not, if the bag is a woven canvas bag launder in hot water with your usual detergent. These can be line dried or tossed in the dryer.  Plastic-lined reusable bags should be scrubbed using hot water and soap and air-dried.

Make sure that both the cloth and plastic-lined reusable bags are completely dry before storing them.

Categories
Recycling

6 Simple Ways to Get Kids to Recycle

With Earth Day quickly approaching it’s important to start to teach kids how to recycle, now. It normally takes about 21 days to form a new habit, which will leave a little wiggle room in time for Earth Day. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help reduce your impact on the Earth. It is so important teach children about recycling at an early age so they will develop lifelong habits. Here are some easy tips and tricks to get your children excited to recycle!

Craft Time! Save a large storage box and fill it with old scraps of paper, milk cartons, left over ribbon, etc. Once a month have a craft afternoon and let your children’s creativity take over! You are going to be surprised with what creative and crazy ideas they come up with!

Decorate! Have your children decorate your recycling bins. When the children have a sense of ownership, they will be more inclined to take recycling more serious than before! Also you now have a one of a kind piece of yard artwork, that is sure to brighten up the curb! (If you have a city issued recycling bin be sure to check with your local officials to make sure it’s okay.)

Compost! Create a compost bin with your children. Creating a compost bin will help your children learn the difference between what is biodegradable and what is not. You can also use your compost to start a vegetable garden! Click here for tips on creating a simple compost!

Sing Along! When we were children we were taught life lessons through songs and recycling is not any different! Find a recycling tune and sing it when taking the recycling to the curb. We are a fan of Jack Johnson’s Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) from the Curious George’s soundtrack.  Check out the song here.

Sell! Have a garage sale. Make sure to explain the reasoning behind having a garage sale to the children. Be sure to explain that you do not just throw away things. Have your children choose a couple of toys to sell at the garage sale and let them keep the profit.

Donate! After your garage sale or after cleaning out your closets, be sure to donate all unwanted items to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Don’t forget to bring the kids along to drop off the donated items. Make sure to stress to them that nothing will be thrown away and every item will have a place to go.