Save some GREEN by going GREEN

•Hang your clothes out to dry- I am actually hanging clothes on the trees in my yard- it’s quite a site a couple of times a week!
•Walk or bike, not only to save $ at the pump, but to create zero carbon emissions from fossil fuels- when push comes to shove, it isn’t as hard as you’d think. I think twice about everywhere I go now and when I do walk (no bike here) I have the added benefit of exercise. Interesting note- the less I drive the fewer places I go that require me to spend money so there is a double benefit. On average, Americans are needing an extra $400 a month for gas- who can afford that with the economy in the state it is?! Get out those walking shoes and hit the road on foot.
•Consider shopping at second hand stores and garage sales for clothing. The average American buys 48 articles of new clothing a year. If one of those purchases was from a reusable resource, the energy equivalent of more than half a gallon of gas could be saved based on the energy used to manufacture and transport new clothes. I’ve already had two garage sales this year and unloaded a lot of clothes in an effort to slim down on excess in my life. I was really taken aback by how many well dressed people stopped by and bought clothes but so many of the things I was selling were nice brands that were in good shape- I realized they were the smart ones!
•Use rechargeable batteries, 4 rechargeable AA alkaline can reduce the need to buy and dispose of roughly 100 regular ones which saves $ and hazardous waste.
•Use energy efficient light bulbs, CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs offer the same brightness using less wattage than regular light bulbs
•Invest in reusable shopping bags, may stores are selling them for $.99. They are usually sturdy and easy to fold up. Thing of all the tote bags you’ve been giving over the years just for attending events, tradeshows, etc. Get them out and put them to use! Many of them make great shopping bags.
•Save water, save money- since we are in a drought here in California, of course I had to mention this one! Replace old toilets, shower heads and washing machines to be more efficient. You can often receive a rebate from your utility company for making the switch. Check for leaks- this is something near and dear to my heart because I just had to replace all of the pipes to my house from the street in to the tune of $2600. I know I’ll be better for it in the long run but yoowch in the meantime! Catch run off water in a bowl or pot as it comes out of the faucet and use it to water your garden. If you are using Melaleuca products, you can use the grey water- see my previous blog entry.
•Reuse a good BPA free water bottle rather than buying the individual bottles at the store- the plastic that leaches into the water isn’t good for you and in many cases, the water that comes out of the tap is actually better for you. I have a great water filter that I LOVE and can tell you more about it and where to buy it if you are interested.

Gray Water and your Garden

There was an interesting article in the Oakland Tribune on Sunday that caught my eye about using “gray water”. Gray water is water that comes from sinks, tubs and washing machines. In a drought year (here in California), people are looking for viable alternatives to water their lawns and gardens while lowering their overall water usage. Water will become more and more of a precious resource and conservation is key now and in the future. The process is becoming more sophisticated- you can now actually purchase irrigation systems that use gray water. If that isn’t in the budget or the plan for the moment, it can be as simple as catching the outcoming water in your sink and then scooping it or sucking it out with a vac for redistribution outside. My friend and colleague, Michael Cronin, has been doing this in his home for awhile and wrote this testimonial for me a few months ago:

“I grew up in the era of ‘REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE’ and it occurred to me that I could use my Melaleuca grey water (laundry) to further my green efforts in gardening. California is always water conscious and I use my grey water to irrigate my beautiful garden to reduce my waste water flow factor with the security that I am not making the soil and my surroundings toxic.” ~Michael Cronin

If you watering anything edible, just make sure the parts that you eat are above ground.

Melaleuca’s MELAPOWER is not only good for you and the environment but now it’s good for your garden and your water bill! MelaPower is bleach-free, non-alkaline and non-caustic. Even better it’s biodegradable and perfect for watering your yard. This product is pH balanced so it won’t irritate your skin but gets your clothes clean! 1 pump of MelaPower is enough to clean your entire load. You can also add MelaBrite to brighten your load. If you are washing anything that has any type of odor or mildew, add 1 capful of Sol-U-Mel.

In the spirit of cleaning clothes and laundry, here is a Smart Tip…

Blood stains- they are challenging to remove but here are a couple of ideas:

•Spray with full strength Pre-Spot, let it set for a few moments then rub

out the stain with cold water, repeat if necessary

•Wash the item with MelaPower and 1-2 capfuls of Sol-U-Mel

•Antibacterial liquid soap rubbed into any fresh red stain seems to work

well, keep the Clear Defense Hand Sanitizing Wipes handy for the

same purpose