Simply Green Living: 9 Easy Everday Tips

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Beauty along a Kona Road, Photo by Maryann Ridini Spencer

The Road to Simply Green Living

Every person can make a difference in the health and sustainability of the planet. If every person does their part — a little bit everyday — imagine what an impact this would have on a global scale!

Here are some simple tips that can be easily incorporated into your everyday life. Be a green champion and help keep our environment safe, healthy and thriving by simply livin’ green today and everyday.

1. Drink tap vs. buying bottled water. When you travel, carry your water in a BPA free bottle, glass or metal container.

2. As we head into spring and summer, going on picnics is a favorite outdoor activity. So, when packing a picnic, remember to use reusable linens, plates, and utensils.

3. Shopping for groceries or other items? Keep reusable bags in the car.

4. Save on gas and parking costs by walking (and/or biking) around town. Not only are you doing something great for the environment, you’ll be doing something great for your health.

5. Buy local whenever possible. Buying local produce, meats and other items, can help the local economy and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

6. Be Waterwise. Use Smart Irrigation for your lawn and garden. Get a weather-based irrigation controller for watering your lawn and garden.

7. Change out your lawn for a garden using native plants (plants that naturally thrive where you live). Ask your local nursery about native plants.

8. Having a party? If you’re planning to mail out invitations, why not save some trees and send an Evite (evite.com), Facebook, or other online invitation to your guests!

9. Compost food waste and prevent waste from our overcrowded landfills. Composting recycles an array of organic materials that would otherwise end up in Why not take part in nature’s natural cycle of growth and decay by composting. Here are some tips on how from EarthShare.org.

-This article by Maryann Ridini Spencer also appears at SustainableVentura.TV

Clean it Green and SAFE

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Did you know that many household cleaning products, while even used “as directed” could be hazardous to your health as well as the environment?

Many household products are toxic and can be hazardous to your health, they can also pose a threat to the environment if they end up getting into our drains and waterways.

On product labels, have you ever read words like flammable, corrosive, reactive or toxic? If so, in the future, why not consider safer and more eco-friendly alternatives.

Looking for less toxic alternatives isn’t always easy, either. Even when a product is listed as “safe” or “green,” it can be masking as environmentally friendly. This is called greenwashing and can be very confusing to consumers who are trying to make more eco-conscious cleaning product choices.

The best mode of operation is to look for statements that read: non-toxic, non-petroleum based or free of ammonia, phosphates, dye and perfume, and that read “biodegradable.”

Stay away from products using words such as: DANGER and POISON. Products labeled CAUTION or WARNING contain the least toxic, but can still cause harm.

Green Cleaning Recipes From Care 2 Make A Difference

How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit

Shopping List

Baking Soda
Washing Soda
White Distilled Vinegar
Natural Liquid Soap or Detergent
Tea Tree Oil
6 Clean Spray Bottles
2 Glass Jars

Creamy Soft Scrubber

Pour ½ c. of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture-like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit. Note: Add 1 tsp. of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar to keep the product moist. Otherwise, just make as much as you need at a time.

Window Cleaner

¼-1/2 tsp. liquid detergent
3 T. vinegar
2 c. water
Spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

Oven Cleaner

1 c. or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven.

All-Purpose Spray Cleaner

½ tsp. washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 c. hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

Furniture Polish

½ tsp. oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
¼ c. vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Vinegar Deodorizer

Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5% vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom. Use them for cleaning. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.

MOLD KILLERS

Tea Tree Treasure

Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

2 tsp. tea tree oil
2 c. water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.

Makes two cups.

Vinegar Spray

Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle. Spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. Smell will dissipate in a few hours.

Visit: www.Care2.com

For more information on “clean” and safe cleaning products, “Search” SustainableVentura.TV for “Less Toxic Products” and listen to our SustainableVentura.TV podcasts on less toxic products, CLICK HERE.

-Maryann Ridini Spencer

Maryann’s article first appeared at SustainableVentura.TV.

Think Green Everyday!

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Everyone can make a difference in the health of our planet! How? By living and thinking GREEN. Follow these easy tips to Simply GREEN Living!

•When you buy something packaged, think about the packaging. Is there an alternative with less packaging? Can the packaging be recycled or will it end up going in the landfill? Are you able to reuse the packaging (is it a gift bag or bow you can reuse?

When you buy something packaged or that needs to be packaged, think about “reuse.”

•When you purchase electronics, give preference to the model that can be easily upgraded or that has parts that can be reused and recycled. Avoid products that shut down if one part breaks.

•Think cardboard over Styrofoam. Cardboard can be recycled, Styrofoam can’t. Syrofoam is a petroleum product. However, if you’re looking to put that cardboard pizza box in the recycle bin. STOP! Food and grease – that’s one thing you can’t recycle (you can recycle the top, if it has no grease and/or cheese on it).

•Plastic bags can be recycled, but not in your curbside recycling. Take plastic bags back to the grocery store and recycle them there. Every major grocery store is required to take them back by law.

•Wire hangers can be recycled in your curbside recycle bin. It is preferable to bundle wire hangers, if possible.

•USE Washable cloths over paper or napkins. Napkins and paper, because they are often contaminated with food, are not recyclable. A great way to save on having to buy paper products is to use washable cloths instead.

Note: Please check with recycling laws in your city by visiting your city’s website and/or by calling your city for more information.

By Maryann Ridini Spencer, SustainableVentura.TV

Simply Green Living: New Year’s Resolutions for 2013

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

While your making your New Year’s resolutions in your personal and professional life. Keep the environment in mind!

Here are some green tips to help save the planet that can also help you save on your pocketbook!

•Buy local, fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables

Save on greenhouse gas emissions and use less gas when you visit the grocery store. Plan your trips and carpool with a friend. You’ll cut down on local pollution and also contribute to the local economy when you buy local.

•Efficient Transportation

Is your car a gas guzzler? If so, why not opt for an energy saving vehicle or better yet, if you can, walk, ride a bike or take public transportation!

•Energy Efficient Living

Discover how to make your home more energy efficient, CLICK HERE.

•Green Your Office

You can help save the environment buy employing sustainable practices at the office. READ MORE.

•Green Cleaning

Clean your home, yourself & your environment using healthy Green Products. LEARN MORE.

•Buy Recycled Paper Products

Products made with 100% recycled paper require less water in the manufacturing process. Recycled products also reduce waste going into our already overcrowded landfills.

•Carry a water bottle and Recyclable bag everywhere you go

Avoid buying bottled water when you can bring delicious tasting tap water with you in a BPA-Free, recyclable container. You’ll save money, your health (drinking water is healthy and you’ll save the environment.

A great way to reduce plastic bag use is to keep reusable bags in the car, your purse/briefcase/backpack, etc., where you will remember to take them into the store. Use reusable produce bags instead of the plastic bags at the store and Farmer’s Market.

•Easy retrofits for water conservation

Installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators in your kitchen and bathroom sinks are simple and inexpensive ways to conserve water. Low-flow showerheads and aerators can reduce your home water consumption as much as 50%. The cost of heating the water can also be reduced 50%. Using less water and energy keeps money in your pocketbook and saves our natural resources!

•Smart irrigation

A landscape can be both beautiful and water efficient. Set your irrigation timers at season appropriate watering cycles set to water only in the early morning or later in the evening to avoid evaporation and wind interference. Get water to the intended targets, the roots of your garden and lawn.

REDUCE•REUSE•RECYCLE IN 2013!

By Maryann Ridini Spencer, From Sustainable Ventura

10 Tips for Keeping Green at Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Thanksgiving marks the true beginning of the holiday eating and gift-giving season.

Here are some great tips to keep green and sustainable and GIVE THANKS to MOTHER EARTH!

Save on postage stamps and paper. Send a FREE email invitation. For example, an Evite from Evite.com!
Save on greenhouse gas emissions! Create a shopping list of what you’ll need for the holiday celebration so that you can avoid extra trips to the market.
Another way to cut down on gas and fuel – buy LOCAL fresh produce and vegetables to support your local economy. When you’re shopping, make sure you have plenty of your own reusable, recyclable shopping bags.
If you’re having a crowd to dinner, suggest that your friends and relatives car pool! Even car pool to do your Thanksgiving shopping!
If you’re going to have a crowd and each person is bringing a dish, plan ahead of time so there’s enough food. This limits waste. For leftovers, make sure you have some reusable, recyclable containers on hand for your guests to take home to enjoy tasty leftovers.
Compost the kitchen scraps!
Break out the family china and silverware! Use cloth napkins. Cut down on disposable dinnerware and dining items in order to limit the trash that goes into the landfill.
For thrifty and reusable centerpieces consider using multicolored dry leaves to decorate the table, put together a basket of pretty fall vegetables to display or flowers from your garden in a reusable vase. You can also create an “organic” vase by hollowing out a pumpkin or other fall vegetable and place a glass in the middle that you fill with water to display your garden arrangement! Scoop out apples and miniature pumpkins and fill with tea candles or potpourri to decorate!
Make sure you have enough recycle and trash bins to accommodate Thanksgiving waste.
Clean up for the party (and after the party), with non-toxic household cleaning products.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!

*This article, written by Maryann, first appeared as an article in the Sustainable Ventura newsletter.

Reduce•Reuse•Recycle with Creative Halloween Costumes!

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Halloween costumes, can cost at a minimum, $25 dollars on up per costume. If you’ve got several children or family members to outfit, the costume bills (along with candy and other fun fare) can really start to mount.

So why not get creative with reusable, eco-friendly Halloween costumes? How do you start?

Look in your closet!

What do you have that might make a great costume?

Maybe you have all the items you need or perhaps you may have to buy one piece rather than an entire costume. Check with friends and relatives to see what you can mix and match. Thrift shops, are also a great place to find the little nuances to add to your costume.

Below are some great ideas for reusable Halloween costumes to try:

Princess –Pair a long gown with gloves (short or long). Wear a tiara and carry a star wand. Your Halloween subjects will bow in appreciation.

Cowboy or Cowgirl – Flannel shirt with Jeans, cowboy boots and hat. You might even tie a red bandana around your neck. Don’t forget to carry some rope – to lasso in your candy of course.

Halloween Masked Man – Everyone knows the iconic white mask from the John Carpenter Halloween movies. How to create this look? Black pants, black top and white mask of course. BOO!

Hippie or 70’s person – Think colorful. For girls and women – pair a long skirt with a flowered top. Wear several long necklaces and dangly earrings. A headband or floppy hat also works. For a man – pull out some ripped jeans and wear a cool t-shirt with a peace sign (or your favorite band logo). Put on the boots and/or sandals and maybe a funky hat. Now you’re lookin’ groovy!

Witch – Pair a black skirt and top with pointy hat. Bring a long a broom (or for a wand, carry a long glow stick!). Instead of black, you can also opt for being a good witch and wear blue or white. Whatever it is you choose to do, just remember to say, “Bippity Boppity Boo!” Now you’re ready to cast some spells!

Vampire – I vant to drink your blood! To transform into a creature of the night that would even give Bram Stoker a scare, almost any type of dress with creative make-up will do. If you have a red or black cape, fantastic. However, the only purchase that might be needed to complete the look – Vampire fangs! (Even a red lipsticked-mouth with droplets of blood dripping from the corners will do!).

Maid – Coffee or tea anyone? A maid’s outfit might be anything from a black dress or skirt and top paired with a white apron. Don’t forget to carry your broom, feather duster or even a silver serving tray!

Hobo –To create the look of an authentic hobo, try wearing some ripped or patched jeans or pants. An oversized jacket and t-shirt and a funny looking hat add great touches. Of course, don’t forget your hobo stick (a long stick with a red kerchief pouch – which can double as another place to stash your candy!).

Hollywood director – Lights! Cameras! Action! If you want to get the look of an old time Hollywood director – wear some jeans or black pants, paired with a white or dark top. Don’t forget the beret, dark shades. You might also want to carry a video camera to document the Halloween fun!

Let your creativity run wild.

Creating your own costume will be almost as much fun as going out Trick-or-Treating!

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST, CLICK HERE!

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN iTUNES, CLICK HERE!

This article originally appeared at SustainableVentura.wordpress.com

GREEN Tips for Watering Your Landscape This Summer

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

GREEN Tips for a Waterwise Landscape This Summer

Did you know that more than half of the average household’s water expense is from outdoor water usage?

With temperatures on the rise during the summer months, below you’ll find some great water-saving, eco-friendly tips that will help you save on your water bill too.

•Water Early in the Morning

Irrigate your lawn before 8:00 am, when less water is lost to wind and evaporation.

•Don’t water when it rains or if the soil is wet

Touch the soil. Is it dry to a depth of one inch? If so, then it’s okay to water.

•Water Deep vs. Often

When your landscape is dry, water it well, soaking the soil to a depth of 4-5 inches. This will promote root growth and make your lawn and other plants more drought tolerant.

•Don’t use sprinklers on windy days

The use of sprinklers on windy days can lead to uneven watering and overspray onto the sidewalks and streets. If you get a lot of wind on your property, install a drip irrigation system and low angle sprinkler heads in order to keep water near the ground vs. blowing away.

•Know your landscape and your plants

Are your plants brown at the tips? If so, you’re plants are drowning. They do not need more water. Get to know your lawn and plant watering needs. Learn to recognize the signs of moisture stress.

•Go Native

A great way to reduce your landscape’s requirement for water, and help the environment by saving water, is to plant with native trees and flowers. Talk to your local nursery and/or landscape professional about plants native to where you live!

•Cycle your sprinklers

Run your sprinklers for 2 or 3 short cycles instead of one long cycle on the days you water to ensure that water soaks into the ground rather than running off into your yard.

•Use Drip or sub-surface irrigation systems & water-based smart controllers

Sub-surface irrigation systems are the best means of watering your lawn and garden. These systems, especially when applied with a weather-based smart controller, apply water directly to the roots, where the water is needed and avoids evapotranspiration (evaporation into the earth’s atmosphere).

•Watch for and Fix Leaks!

The next time you run your watering cycle, check for leaks, puddles and runoff. If you notice a neighbor’s got a leaky problem, let them know immediately.

•Compost and Apply CPR

Apply a three-inch layer of mulch or compost around your garden plants to reduce weeds and evaporation and promote plant growth. (Keep mulch away from tree trunks to prevent rot). Improve the quality of your soil by using Surfrider’s CPR (Conservation, Permeability, Retention)! Visit: http://www.surfrider.org/programs/entry/ocean-friendly-gardens

•Harvest Rain

Save money and the environment by harvesting the water that falls on your landscape in a rain barrel. Visit your local nursery to purchase and/or inquire about rain barrels and rain harvesting.

- Maryann Ridini Spencer for Simply Green Living@ SimplyDeliciousLiving.tv

SimplyDeliciousLiving.TV announces NEW Weekly Podcast Series on iTunes!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Simply Delicious Living.TV’s Maryann Ridini Spencer will host NEW “Simply Delicious Living” Weekly Podcast Series on iTunes.

SUBSCRIBE by Clicking the “Subscribe to Our Podcasts” on our BLOG Home Page under “Follow US” also, CLICK HERE.
ALSO CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

No Fats, Oils or Grease Down the Drain!

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

Save the life of your home’s laterals – Don’t wash or throw fats, oils or grease down the drain!

This video is a segment of the “Sustainable Ventura” series seen on Caps-TV’s VTV, Channel 15 in Ventura, California (Thursdays, 8:30pm with multiple broadcasts). However, this information can apply to green and sustainable living anywhere in the world!

Lawn to Ocean Friendly Garden

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Maryann Ridini Spencer

by Maryann Ridini Spencer, VC Style

Lawn, as defined in the dictionary, is an “area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grass and other durable plants.”

It’s believed that the concept of “the lawn” developed in medieval times for the purpose of communal grazing of livestock. At this time, lawns were similar to pastures or fields. To tend to these lawns, laborers used scything and shearing. Sheep and livestock grazing also maintained the lands or lawns.

Later, in Tudor and Elizabethan times, the lawn garden became a place for walkways and social areas. And by the 17^th century, the Jacobean epoch of gardening began and the “English” lawn became a symbol of status and gentry. While at first lawns were primarily made up of meadow plants, by the Victorian era, a wider variety of perennials were available as were elaborate sculptures and water features. In the 19^th century, with the advent of sprinkler technology and the lawn mower, lawns and gardens were also affordable to the masses.

Today, unlike hundreds of years ago, we are armed with the knowledge about the importance of conserving our precious, natural resources – especially our valuable water. Low maintenance and drought tolerant grass and native plant replacements are the wise sustainable choices. Some wonderful native plant choices might include White Sage, California Fuchsia, California Lilac, California Poppy any variety of succulents, to name only a few. The variety and beauty of “Ocean Friendly” gardens is on the rise. So, why not choose beauty and sustainability? For information on how you can create the Ocean Friendly (or Native) Garden of your dreams, talk to your local nursery!

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