Happy Earth Day

The Earth Day has been celebrated in the last 40 years thanks to the U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an Environmental Teach-In Held on April 22, 1970. This is a day to reconsider on our actions, that we must change our attitude, how to improve our quality of life and think that this planet will be inherited by our children.

In this post here you'll find great ways to Be Greener every day. Here I present this video i got.

Cork Mud Mat DIY and Upcycled Project

Guest Blogger :: GoodToGoEco

I read this tutorial on the EcoEtsy Blog a few weeks ago. I loved it. So I asked GoodToGoEco for permission to post it here and she gratefully accepted.

Here is what she wrote:

Eco Tutorial: Repurposed Containers.

by GoodToGoEco
Visit the GoodToGoEco web site

Have you started a collection of those large plastic containers that held fruit & snack mix? We get ours from the membership clubs that sell in large quantity. We end up collecting those jars, but we were never sure what to do with them.

So I took on the challenge: Repurposing! On first one, the taller jar, the label peeled off wonderfully! Then I cut the top off, just as it bent in, slicing a starting point with a serrated knife, then finished off using scissors. (You could mark it with masking tape first to make a cutting guideline.) This made a large enough opening, and the slight curve inward gives a small finished detail. Simply add 2 or 3 rolls of TP and it's done! Keeps them clean, yet easy to grab when needed!

Second challenge: the shorter large mouth jars. Those labels don't come off easily at all, and mine had 2 labels! So, I cut same size 'labels' from chalkboard contact paper, and covered the original labels. The contact paper is very easy to use; in fact the adhesive is almost the repositional kind; very forgiving if you don't get it perfect the first time. I put my jars on my craft shelf above washer/dryer, storing spools of thread, notions, ribbons, etc. If I wanted to, I could actually use chalk labeling what's inside! This would work great for kids' craft supplies as well!

If you would like to read more about GoodToGoEco check her blog.

Eco tips::: Homemade Remedies for Insects and Disease Control on Plants Part II

As I said in a previous post, I'm sharing a huge list of homemade remedies for your garden. Most of the ingredients you already have them available at home.

Homemade oil spray for insect control on plants:

Ingredients:
Mix 2 tbsp of cooking oil, and 2 tbsp of baby shampoo in a gallon of water.

This remedy controls insects like: aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, lacebugs, scale and mealybugs.

Note: DO NOT SPRAY IN SUN! Also, this may injure hairy or waxy-leaved plants like squash and other crucifers. DO NOT use oil on orchids. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from leaves. Test spray on a small area of the plant, wait 2 - 3 days and check for damage. It's always a good idea to water the plant the day before you spray. Spray every 5-7 days as needed.

If a fungus is also present then add to the above formula 2 tbsp of baking soda and shake well before and during application.

If the weather is humid or the treat of disease is high, spray every five to seven days. Spray both sides of the leaves thoroughly at the first sign of disease. Always test any spray on a small area of the plant. this solution can be used against blackspot and mildew on roses, powdery mildew on summer squash, early blight on tomatoes, and alternaria leaf blight on melons.

I hope you can put in good use this tip for your own garden.

Eco tips::: Homemade Remedies for Insects and Disease Control on Plants

I'm all about tips, I enjoy using and learning new tips and especially if they are Eco friendly. I found a huge list of remedies that We all can make at home to treat insects and diseases on plants. This time I'm going to share them with you little by little, so this post would not get so long and boring, ...he he:

Bululu's garden

Home-made soap solution for insect control on plants:

You'll need:
Baby shampoo
Water
Empty gallon bottle (you can reuse the empty gallon of milk)
Empty Spray Bottle

Instructions:

Mix 2 tablespoon of baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water.

Water the plants the day before the soap spray application to prevent damage. Test the spray solution on a small area of the plant. Wait 2-3 days and check for any damage. reduce potential injury by rising plant with fresh water a few hours after the soap spray application.

Note: Use a maximum of 6 tbsp. per gallon on water. Through coverage of the pest is necessary. Avoid using soaps on plants with hairy leaves or with very thin waxy coverings on the leaves.

I hope you can put in good use this tip for your own garden.

Guest Blogger... Ecogeneration

Coffee, Tea, or be eco-friendly? by Ecogeneration

If you are like me, there’s nothing like a strong cup of coffee in the morning. But for me, after one cup of java in the morning, I switch to Green Tea, Black Tea, English Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey Tea, you name it, I have them throughout the day. Of course, freshly brewed tea is so much better than using tea bags but I use tea bags too. So what do I do with all those used tea bags or leaves? Here is what I found out about using used tea bags.

1. Water Your Plants - split cold used teabags and put them into the pots with house - plants, especially ferns and roses love this.
2. Soothe Your Eyes - you've done this, I'm sure, but cool used tea bags reduce swelling around the eyes. Great solution for those of us who are "women of certain age."
3. Cure Warts - I know! Can you believe it? Tannin in teas helps cure warts. Press used teabags onto the wart, remove it, and let the skin dry naturally. Do this for a few days.
4. Dye Fabric - great for white cotton or muslin. Use strong tea for darker color. It is a natural dye that won't run or wash out. (I used an used tea bag to stain paper for my daughter's school project to make it look old and antique-ish. It came out perfect!)
5. Scent a Drawer - take a few used teabags that have been dried and add a couple of drops of essential oil. You can use it to make a sachet for drawers. Lavender or lemon oil work well with this.
6. Marinate Meat - use cold tea to marinate meat to tenderize.
7. Remove old Polish - soak a couple of teabags in boiling water. Allow the water to cool for a while and then soak a soft cloth in it. This can be used to wipe away old polish and dirt from furniture. Great for refinishing old furniture.
8. Clean Mirrors - Cold tea will bring a great shine to mirrors and tiles.
9. Soothe insect bites - put a cold used teabag on insect bites. The tannin will neutralize the sting.
10. Make Ice for Iced Tea - Why use ice for iced tea? Freeze leftover tea as ice cubes and use them the next time you want to make iced tea. Pour the tea over them for instant chilling.

Thanks you so much Karen :D

Take a peek of her shop

Eco placemat flatware carryall

You can check more goodies by Ecogeneration shop here.

Bululu's Favorite Sellers... GarageInc

Several days ago, I was looking for a new birdhouse to add to my collection... and I stumble upon GarageInc shop... Ok one of these days I'll show you my collection.



From his profile:

"GarageInc am a great lover of fútbol (soccer) and sports, I am certified arbitrator by the IRA (International Referee Association), and I am fond of photography and I have a HUGE passion for the cinema in all its genders.

I am single and looking for my soulmate :D"

"what inspires me? Nature, trees, birds, squirrels and global warming. I’m currently working from the garage at my house".

Favorite movies:

The Godfather

12 Angry men

The Matrix

The Big Lebowski

Citizen Kane

Earth Day ::: Eco Bath Rug Project :::

Earth Day ::: Four Tips for Getting Rid of Clutter the Eco-Friendly Way :::

If you want to get rid of clutter in your home, you don't have to just throw everything away. There are many creative ways you can de-clutter your home and still be green.

#1 - Make some money

:The most satisfying, green way to get rid of stuff is to make some green.
:High-end clothes can go to consignment.
:Collectibles do well on ebay.
:Toys, children’s clothing, and knick knacks are yard sale best sellers.
:For large numbers of antiques or vintage china, silver, or porcelain, try an auction warehouse or etsy.

#2 - Have a place in your home

Designate the corner of a closet or your laundry room for housing discards to donate. Try to do this every other month. Keep a hamper or garbage can in your designated spot and whenever you see an item cluttering your home that you or your family members 1) don't use, 2) don't love, or 3) have outgrown, put it in the hamper. At the end of each month, bag the items and take them to a donation center, or call to have them picked up. The Veterans and Big Brother Big Sister will pick up clothing and small household items at your home.

#3 - Have a swap party

My friends and I have a seasonal purge party. We all bring items we no longer need or use: clothes, jewelry, purses, home décor, small furniture, magazines, etc. It goes into a pile in the middle of the room and we all dive in! It is a fun way of getting rid of things, getting a few new things, and catching up with friends. At the end of it, we bag all the items we don’t want and donate them to a women’s shelter. This also works well with a group of moms and the clothing and toys your children have outgrown.

#4 - Re-use your own stuff

Reusing common house hold items for new organizational ways can really save you money. Try thinking outside the box as to the way you use common items. For example, empty gift baskets make great mail bins, in-boxes, planters, magazine bins, small toy organizers and more. Walk around your house and really look at your stuff. Can any of it be used for a different purpose? A bookshelf hung on the wall instead of on the floor, a TV cabinet for a night-stand, a shoebox to divide different kinds of socks in a drawer? Try to think creatively and objectively. Wanna check some great upcycled items and green tips?

More Eco Tips

1. TAKE YOUR NAME OFF THE LIST! Get your name removed from unwanted credit cards and insurance offers.
Go to: OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1(888) 5 OPT OUT.

2. LOSE THE JUNK FROM YOUR TRUNK. Each 100 lbs in the car increases gas consumption 1-2%.

3. CONSOLIDATE CLEANING PRODUCTS. Use healthy multi-purpose green products. You won't need 10 different things to clean your house. That saves room under the sink and the amount of empty of half used plastic bottles.

Green Tips :D

o Walk, bike or car pool.

o Unplug electronic when not in use.

o Switch to compact fluorescent bulb.

o Recycle, recycle, recycle.

o Use recycled paper products.

o Switch to a programmable thermostat.

o Wash and rinse in cold water.

o Buy locally-grown food and produce.

o Drink from reusable glassware.

o Maintain properly inflated tires.

o Set water heater to 130 F.

o Buy EnergyStar appliances and electronics.

50 things to Do to Go Green

Here is a series of 50 simple things, we are going to post them in a list of 10, that everyone can do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon: some of them are at no cost, some other require a little investment but can help you save a lot of money, in the middle-long term! Previous Tips from 11 to 20

21. Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use!

22. Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.

23. Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.

24. Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.

25. Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. The Green Power Network is a good place to start to figure out what’s available in your area.

26. Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.

27. Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

28. Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. You can find a farmer’s market in your area at the USDA website.

29. Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!

30. Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.