Unless you live off the grid in a remote area (and if so, you’re probably not reading this anyway), you no doubt hear a lot about the need to reduce our carbon footprint and to live a greener life. It’s important and almost everyone will acknowledge this, but it can feel like you’re being lectured at times.
By eating healthy, organic foods you are not only helping your body by giving it fresh food, you are saving the earth from being contaminated by pesticides. Organic meats help by keeping the environment free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Plus you’re avoiding all those nasty things from going inside of you! By eating fresh, organic foods, you are avoiding all the processed foods that do a better job of clogging your arteries than they do of providing nutrition.
One great (and easy) way to live greener is to join your local Freecycle email list. Instead of throwing away unwanted items, you can post them on the list - it’s more than likely that someone will have a need for them. Of course, when you need something, you can look there first before going out and buying new things. Freecycle keeps a lot of trash out of landfills and is a great money saver.
Composting food scraps is a great way to save money on your garbage bills, while getting a free supply of high quality fertilizer for your gardening efforts or landscaping. It keeps lots of useful material out of landfills - just add veggie and fruit waste, coffee grounds, eggshells and most other food matter to the compost pile, along with yard waste. Watch out for meat and other animal products, though. They can attract pests and take longer to decay. Remember to moisten your compost pile periodically to keep it working, and you’ll have excellent fertilizer for your garden or lawn in the spring.
Other things you can do will just make your home more comfortable. Larger windows can help let in more natural light so you don’t need to turn your lights on early. Using compact fluorescent bulbs can save you money and will save energy. Use energy-efficient appliances and don’t leave your air conditioner on when you’re not at home. You’ll be amazed at how much this impacts your energy usage.
Even the smallest things, like recycling your packaging, bottles, and cans can help keep your garbage bills low and cut down on your carbon footprint. Using cloth bags when shopping instead of using store provided paper and plastic will help you waste less, and you might even save a few cents on your purchase. You’ll reduce litter and pollution and live in a healthier world.
Once you start, you’ll be surprised at how easy a greener life really is. You’ll feel a lot better and you’ll be able to know you’re doing your part when it comes to keeping the planet healthy. Living greener helps you live happier and longer - give it a try today.
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