HOUSE AND GARDEN! NATURAL LIVING!

Re-use as much as you can! Recycling is excellent but before you put that jar in the recycling bin, try to think if you could reuse it for something else first. It saves more resources to re-use a plastic bag, than to recycle it and then get a new one on your next grocery shopping trip.

Reduce the unnecessary...Try to make wise purchasing choices. High quality products last longer, break less, and might be easier to repair. A cheap, low quality toaster, that might break after a couple of years is not going to be worth fixing, and will subsequently end up in a land fill eventually. While a high quality toaster (or whatever) will last for generations.

Try the vintage concept. Trends in home décor and fashion come and go, the old is in, and the new will get old. Try yard sales, and flea-markets, where you can often get great deals on fun, cool looking stuff that costs a fraction of what you would have paid for it in a boutique.

Learn from your elders. Very often older people are much better at re-using, and reducing. They might have grown up in times when resources were scarce and convenience items were not overflowing the store shelves. Check out ways parents and grand-parents are re-using things, or making things from scratch.

Don’t let the bagging monster get you! Have you noticed how eager cashiers at the store are to put that one item in a plastic bag for you? They mean well but-stop them!!! Carry it in your hand, or use a bag from a previous shopping trip if you can’t do that, or start using canvas bags, they are as an extra plus very strong, and you won’t risk spilling your groceries because of a broken bag.

Buy in bulk. Fruits, vegetables, rice, grain, sugar, cereal...many foods are available in bulk at many stores nowadays. Not only is it often less expensive, but you also eliminate the bag, box or plastic packaging. If you bring your own bags that you reuse - even better!!!

Buy recycled. If you buy items with recycled content, you are increasing the demand for recycled materials which in turn gives incentive for further improving and increasing the recycling efforts. You help closing the loop. When buying paper products; look at the post-consumer recycled content. The higher percentage the better.

Beat the average! The average American will directly and indirectly generate approximately 8 lbs of garbage per day. Try to be better than the average. Resolve to recycle. Challenge yourself and get a smaller garbage can and make it last until the next garbage pickup.

Adopt a few new habits. Use both sides of the paper before putting it in the recycling bin. Avoid printing on your computer unless you have to. Go for re-usable gift wrap, or recycled gift wrap. Try composting. Learn to cook, and you will not only eat better, but you will also generate less garbage than those packaged convenience foods. (It REALLY doesn’t have to take that much longer.)