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No time like the present to
go green
By DONNA L. COLE So where do you start? From ridding your home of harmful chemicals to making use of some great products, we’re here to help with some suggestions for a do-it-yourself green makeover. PACK A LUNCH “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — words that we all love.” Plastic spoons and forks can be cleaned and reused. Same goes for food storage containers — who needs plastic bags for sandwiches when so many other storage products work fine and can be reused?
RAIN BARREL When was the last time you asked yourself where your rain water is going? The best solution is a rain barrel. Since your greenery needs water, it just makes sense to lessen the load on wells and city water by using collected rainwater. Add to that the reduced runoff and run, don’t walk, to get your rain barrels. SELF-SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC Growing your own food has a lot of merit. Believe it or not, anyone can do it, even with limited space. “In a small patio planter or window box, plant crops that grow quickly and are good to eat together,” suggested Alison Howard of Homestead Farms in Millington, Md.
COMPOSTING Want to do some good while throwing away trash? Composting returns to earth what can and should be returned. Collect non-animal product scraps for compost. All that biodegradable food waste is then turned into organic fertilizer.
CLEANING SUPPLIES
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS (CFLs) Today’s fluorescent bulbs are bright, beautiful and eco-friendly. Because CFLs last longer than incandescent and use less power, they make sense no matter how you look at them.
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GROWING OYSTERS
Through Marylanders Grow Oysters, the state and its partners provide waterfront homeowners with a cage, guidance, collection of oysters and delivery of spat for continued growing. Check www.oysters.maryland. gov for more information.
Lemon juice, vinegar and/or baking soda may provide all the cleaning power you ever need. Combined with water, any of these products can be just as, if not more effective, on most household surfaces as any cleaner on the market.
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP Community clean-up days go a long way to helping everyone and the environment. If your community doesn’t have one or it isn’t regularly scheduled, consider setting the date as the first Saturday after Earth Day from here on. This way everyone knows ahead of time and can put it on their schedule. Earth Day is always April 22nd.