http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving A Sustainable Choice Thu, 14 May 2009 00:13:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I signed up again for my community’s Eat Local Challenge—from June through October, hundreds of us pledge to eat 50 percent of our food from local sources. I have to confess, I skip the whole daily calculation process and, instead, direct my energies toward expanding awareness of local food sources—which ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/05/13/eat-local-2/ http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/05/13/eat-local/ Chemical-free ways to win the war on weeds I'm waiting for the kettle to whistle. After I steep my tea, the remainder of the boiling water will go on the dandelions in my herb beds. I'll pour it on their roots and watch as they shrivel up like the Wicked Witch ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/05/05/weed-em-and-reap/ Easy steps for leaving dirt at the door    If you're a gardener, this is the time of year you give up on keeping your house clean. It's a near impossible effort to keep from tracking part of your garden into your house as you traipse back and forth from vegetable bed ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/28/best-foot-forward/ With all those first-quarter holidays (World Water Day, Earth Hour) behind us, we're up to the Big Mama of them all--Earth Day. For nearly 40 years, April 22 has been an annual wake-up call to acknowledge our interconnectedness with the other inhabitants of our home planet, and recognize that what ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/22/happy-earth-day/ Using rain barrels to reduce water use and clean up stormwater runoff Over the two years I've employed my two rain barrels, converted pickle containers (I still get a whiff of "half-sour" every time I take off the lid), I don't think I've turned on my outdoor hose once during growing season. A good ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/21/catcher-in-the-rain/ Save trees-use the library In my ongoing search to find ways not to "own" things, I fantasize a neighborhood co-op that shares garden tools, yard equipment, even food-canning kettles and vacuum cleaners. Stored in a communal building, all this stuff is checked out when and for the time period folks need ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/17/check-it-out/ Stimulus Money for High-Speed Rail Service a Good Sign   I took a 600-mile (each way) road trip with two young children. I seriously considered the train — honest — but it meant spending more than I would for airline tickets, giving up 40 hours of time to travel, and changing trains ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/14/on-the-right-track/ Rain barrels give the garden hose a rest and cut down on summer water bills As spring creeps closer, I'm spending more time outside in the garden. I've put in the radishes and carrots, beets and Swiss chard, and spinach and lettuce. Soon, it'll be time to get in the annual ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/04/07/barrels-of-fun-and-water-savings-too/ Making the best choices in the supermarket Grocery shopping has become an agony for me -- I can spend 15 minutes on yogurt alone. I go for the largest size, so as to cut down on packaging. But that one comes from Greece, so not very energy-wise with all the travel. ... http://blogs.dummies.com/greenliving/2009/03/29/upsetting-the-shopping-cart/