March 11, 2009 | 7:48 PM
News That’s Fit to Reuse
Reuse newspaper in the garden
An unseasonable warm spell in March coaxed me into the backyard. The new patch I dug up and filled with compost last fall awaits its first seeds — lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots. As I dug down to measure the depth of the bed, I hit the thick layer of newspaper I put down before winter. I could still make out an article about the Palin-Biden debate.
When it comes to the daily paper, I subscribe to the three Rs — with the emphasis on reduce and reuse before recycle. Reducing by canceling paper delivery some years ago. Reusing in oh, so many ways (I confess to pilfering my supply of daily newsprint from nearby recycling bins.)
Newspapers are a gardener’s greatest green weed suppressor. A thick stack of wet newspapers laid down in a new bed deters weed growth so your plants have a chance to stake their place in the soil. The paper is biodegradable and, according to most garden resources, the soy-based inks — both black and color — contain no toxic chemicals that could harm the soil or plants.
Garden pros do advise you to verify that your daily paper uses soy-based ink rather than a petroleum-based solution. And avoid the glossy color circulars and inserts, which are printed on a different paper stock and may use less Earth-friendly inks.
Green Cleaning For Dummies
Solar Power Your Home for Dummies
Going green has become the trend these days not just for the sake of having something new to introduce to the public since we all have this responsibility to maintain the safety of this planet. With all the threats that we are imposing due to the harmful chemicals that we’re using in our home cleaning and the like we really should be doing some things that could repay or help rebuild Mother Earth.
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I’m an Interior Designer who tries to specify green products for use in my clients’ homes. One such renewable resource is flooring and furniture made of bamboo. There are also many manufacturers today such as Harden Furniture who use green manufacturing methods. People need to make green living choices in their homes.
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Bamboo, cork, even linoleum offer more renewable floor choices these days. In fact, there are so many products available for the person who is redecorating or renovating for a more green lifestyle. But one of my favorite sustainably minded home improvement strategies is to buy used. When it comes to furniture, you can go flea market or high-end antique. Even fixtures and materials such as floor tiles can be reused. Check out salvage services. Habitat for Humanity’s “re-stores” are a great place to find sinks, toilets, doors, windows–even cans of paint–left over from their home construction efforts.
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This is a lot better than what I’ve been seeing elsewhere lately. If we had more like it around, I think we’d be better off.
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