The hot weather is here. Sometimes it makes us a little lazy as we settle in our house with the cool air conditioner on and leave the tv running so we aren't bored. Let me remind you of a few ideas that will help keep your summer green, eco-friendly green that is.
Set your Sprinkler System to the right intervals. Maximize the way you use water with what is best to keep your lawn green. Run the sprinkler in 10-minute intervals, letting it soak in between, with 3 start times approx. 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00 a.m. on each day before the sun comes up and is hot. Pick 2 or 3 days a week to water.
Plant new Trees and Shrubs. Whether this is in your yard to produce more shade or a place in your local area that needs regrowth. Having your house surrounded by trees really helps the temp inside!
Grow Your Own Food / Visit Farmer's Market. Plant a garden with your family's favorites. Visit your local farmer's market to support the people around you. Fresh is always better than days old store bought.
Compost. Not only are you saving what goes in the landfill, but you are helping out the yard with the organic nutrients it needs.
Collect Rain Water. Our water is precious. A rain barrel can really come in handy! Use the water collected to water plants and flowers in the yard. I also pour it into my water filter and use it for drinking water. Why you may need a Big Berkey Water Filter in your house.
Always use reusable water bottles. Speaking of water, use a reusable water bottle to take along wherever you go. Each person in my family has one. We fill them up with cold filtered water every time we leave the house. No more purchasing bottled water. You are saving money and plastic waste!
Walk / Bike instead of driving the car. This is the best time of year to do this! The kids are home and instead of driving them to the swimming pool or to visit the ice cream parlor after dinner you can walk or bike if that is possible. It's great family bonding time and you can teach about litter and picking it up along the way.
Turn off Electronics. Multiple times throughout the day it is 'turn everything off' time. Open all your curtains/blinds to let the sun light in and turn off all lights. No tv, computers, video games and spend an hour playing board games or doing crafts. Something that doesn't require any electricity!
Play Outside. Teach the kids about nature by making up a scavenger hunt with a list of things for them to find. Collect objects like sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, and maybe even a feather! Turn them into DIY projects at home, like rock painting. Turn your recycling bin items into DIY Outdoor Games too!
Travel Green. Before you go on a long road trip be sure the air filter in your car is clean, your tires are inflated, and practice hypermiling when driving. These will all help your gas mileage.
Most importantly, have fun this summer!
This guest post is written by Courtney, a crunchy mama of 3 boys, who is passionate about healthy living and keeping her home green. Check out her blog at CrunchyBeachMama.com