Supernatural Botanicals

With the surge of catalogs and Christmas cards we all receive in December, be mindful to recycle.  Be especially cognizant of your landfill contributions this month by recycling all magazines and catalogs, recycling envelopes from the Christmas cards, and ultimately recycling the cards after Christmas.  If the card is especially beautiful, buy a great frame, put the card in it,  and put it on a bookshelf, desk, or entry table.  That’s recycling too, you know.  Have a Green Christmas this year!

For every 38,000 bills paid online, 5,058 pounds of greenhouse gases are avoided and two tons of trees are preserved, according to NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association, a non-profit. Using direct payment also saves a person about $150 annually in stamp and check costs and late fees, NACHA estimates.

Have your employer pay you through direct deposit to further cut back your paper trail.  If you feel you absolutely must continue to get paper billing, make sure and recycle the paper.  Very simple steps make a huge impact on the environment.  Step up to the plate and do your part.

Light bulbs account for 25% of all the electricity we use; 75% of that could be saved by switching from incandescent bulbs to CFLs.  Many local electric companies are even offering free CFLs simply for the asking (so call them and ask them.)  It’s everyone’s responsibility to be eco-responsible, so pick up the ball and get in the game.  It’s the right thing to do. 

We all know the 411 when it comes to recycling, and that’s simply to DO IT.  We know better than to make excuses.  We should also know it’s simply a way of life for us now.  It’s should be a way of life for your children, too.

So lets take it a step further and precycle.  What is precycling?  It’s Proactive meets Recycling.    Here are 10 ways to proactively recycle.

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1. Bring reusable bags to the store with you. Cloth or paper will do!

2. Buy Large Quantities. If you buy products in bulk or in large sizes and quantities, you can put them in smaller containers as you need them and this uses less containers.

3. Buy products with the least amount of packaging or none at all. Items packed in multiple containers may look nice, but they are a waste!

4. Buy products packed in recycled packaging. If you have to use a container, it might as well be green. Additionally, you help support green corporations. (Important: make sure you look for the recycled symbol)

5. Don’t buy disposable items (plates cups, pens, diapers, batteries, etc.) They only fill the landfill more.

6. Buy less paper towels and napkins or none at all. Use cloth ones!

7. Buy long life and concentrated items (batteries, bulks , etc.) This saves on packaging as well as product.

8. Don’t purchase styrofoam. It contains polystyrene, which is the most difficult material to break down in our landfill and is considered a hazardous waste.

9. Buy items in cardboard. aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic containers marked 1 and 2 ( They are stamped on the bottom 1 and 2). These containers can be recycled more easily.

10. Read labels for ingredients. Stay away from chemicals that harm our plant and animal life and poison our land.

Did you know that 84% of all household waste can be recycled?  Recycling is one of the easiest ways to go Green, yet makes a monumental impact to the environment.  At a bare minimum, everyone should be recycling.  Take care of the waste you create.  Be eco-responsible.

Plastic bags are not biodegradable. Even if they say they are, they do not decompose fully. Also the ink is made up of cadmium, and is highly toxic when it is released. Whereas paper bags are reusable and biodegradable. If your purchase is small don’t take any bag, this alone could save hundreds of millions of bags. Bring a cloth bag when you shop, or use string bags.

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.  One glass bottle.  Think of the possibilities of that.  That’s amazing.  Think about what you can do…and do it!  Recycling requires virtually zero effort, but has such a huge impact.  You can recycle, starting today.   You can make a difference.  Starting right now, you can make a difference.  I always say, responsibility builds character.  Not to mention, being eco-cognizant is totally hot! 

You may think you are doing your part to save our four-legged friends by being a vegetarian or vegan, but pigs turn up in far more surprising places than the breakfast table.   Take a look at these products which are made from various parts of the pig.

• Bladder:  Tambourine
• Nose:  Dog snacks.
• Ribs:  Ribs, duh!
• Neck:  Mortadella (like bologna, but expensive.) 
• Hemoglobin:  Cigarettes.
• Fatty acids:  Crayons.
• Bone Gelatin:  Photo Film.
• Intestines:  Dry Pet food. 

Make your own all-purpose eco household cleanser.  Combine equal parts of white vinegar and water, and add a couple drops of an essential oil (lemon and lavender are exceptional) to scent the mixture.  As effective as supermarket brand cleansers, and eco-friendly!  We love that!