Tips to Heal the Planet and You

If you're anything like I am, you want to continue to breathe fresh air, drink pure water, eat uncontaminated food, and live free of toxic chemicals, pollutants, or worry about global warming and the legacy we are leaving for generations to come.

On this Earth Day I am reflecting about simple "green actions" you may not have thought about or tried before, that can help reduce your carbon footprint. Since all people and the planet are interconnected, the choices each of us makes impacts the planet's healing and health as well as our own.

To green the environment and improve our quality of life, please read and consider

Tips to Heal the Planet and You

Walk for health and planetary healing. Run, jog, stroll by foot or bicycle to improve well-being and cut down on fossil fuel consumption.

Green your transportation; board public transportation whenever and wherever it’s available. Bus, subway, tram, or rail is less expensive and better for the environment than running a car. If you must drive to work, car pool. Make your next car a hybrid.

Plant trees, drought resistant vegetation, and a veggie garden. When you grow and eat food for self-sustainability, you contribute to the earth's and your healing.

Replace grass with xeriscape landscaping. Drip irrigation and using water retention containers are water savers. An added benefit is that this type of garden is much easier to maintain than ones with grass and lawns.

Suggest family members cut down on the number of minutes they spend in the shower. Short showers are better for your skin as well.

Refrain from buying water in plastic bottles. Carry a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle. Instead of reaching for a one-use plastic bottle read this... 

"According to the Container Recycling Institute, 100.7 billion plastic beverage bottles were sold in the U.S. in 2014, or 315 bottles per person. More than 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year.”

If you buy a large supply of water to use at home, take the same half gallon or gallon glass jugs to be refilled again and again.

This year switch over to products that are biodegradable. Carry a reusable water bottle, and use your own washable cloth shopping bag wherever you go. Swap Plastic-

top-ways-to-convert-to-greener-lifestyle

The process used to make, store, dispose of, and just be around plastics can be extremely harmful to living things. Plastic bags, bottles, to-go containers, designer plastic coffee mugs and drink containers, plastic housewares, and fishing nets pollute the planet and the plastic used lasts for thousands of years. 

Plastics are dumped in landfills, oceans, and toxic materials from them winds up in our ground water. The fumes and chemical emissions from plastics contaminate land, sea animals, wildlife, men, women, and children. 

Exposure to plastics has been linked to health concerns affecting people, sea creatures, plankton, and the food chain around the world.

Speak, call, write, and use social media to alert manufacturers, 

politicians, and community, state, and national governments. Express 

your concerns about the direct environmental link between your safety 

and health and the use of plastics.



Advocate for products made from biodegradable materials and ones that 

use minimal packaging. Buy stock and products from companies that 

don't contribute to global warming. Use your buying power to show 

companies you care about reducing the world's carbon footprint by 

supporting those manufacturers, distributors, and stores who care too.



Here is additional reading:

consumer-products-safe and eco-friendly, and what's not from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).


Before you go, please take a moment to comment about your green 

efforts or mine, and share the word about Tips to Heal the Planet and 

You.


Wishing you a Happy Earth Day and best wishes for a year filled with 

daily efforts to conserve, reuse, recycle, and think and act greener!


The quote for today is from Margaret Mead:
"We won't have a society if we destroy the environment."


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Smart Ways to Green Your Lifestyle

Earth Day is tomorrow, and I've been reviewing possible ways to double up on my efforts to live greener. I assure you most of my eco-friendly ideas can be implemented easily, but make a big difference in protecting the air, water, soil, and living beings in a world that struggles to retain its quality of life.

Unless each of us takes a more active role to halt global warming, we and the planet are in deep trouble. 

Even if you don't think this is true, the steps I suggest saves money, conserves natural resources, and are simple to accomplish.

Start from where you are today. When you embark on a green adventure, you're sure to find that many of these actions simplify living by removing clutter from your office, home, and mind. Join the green crowd and make behavioral changes that you and your family can be proud about.

1. Curtail impulse spending by being more mindful and shopping with a list. Make new purchases only if you really need the item. This practice reduces the amount of clutter you accumulate and cuts down on the amount of junk that’s eventually dumped into a landfill. 

2. Plant a tree. This action fights global warming big time, by taking carbon dioxide from the air and cuts down on both heating and cooling costs. Trees also hold the earth in place, prevents soil erosion, runoff, and improves water quality. Trees make your home more desirable, adding as much as 15% to its resale value.

3. Study labels. Don't assume that if a household product is marked "natural" or "green" it is.  Commercial cleaning products can contain limonene (the chemical that gives it a lemon scent). This toxic chemical hurts the lining of your lungs and environment, when it enters the air and water stream. Lemon scented dusting polish can react with other gases in the air to make formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen. Choose fragrance free products or mix up a homemade, environmentally safe olive oil or jojoba oil scent- free furniture polish instead. Buy minimally packaged biodegradable ingredients in bulk. Products made from these ingredients can be stored indefinitely, conserving gasoline, time, energy, and money.

4. Switch from chemical cleaning agents to household staples like soap and water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and elbow grease. Here's an excellent recipe for homemade lemon oil furniture duster and polish from Annie B. Bond.  Lemon Oil Furniture Duster and Polish

5. Carry a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle instead of reaching for a one-use plastic bottle. Our landfills are overflowing with toxic additives from plastic bottles. Plastic doesn't biodegrade for at least a thousand years. Making bottles to meet America’s demand for bottled water uses more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. That figure doesn't include the oil needed for bringing those bottles to market and the gas you use to get it to your home or office. If you drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day from the tap, it costs about 49 cents per year; that same amount of bottled water is about $1,400. Here's more about H2O. How to Save Water, Money, and Empower Yourself

6. Reuse, recycle, and conserve daily. Carry reusable shopping bags to the market, department stores, specialty shops or anywhere and everywhere you shop. If you do use plastic bags for veggies and fruit, reuse them (wash and air dry after each use). Hang clothes to dry. Use cloth instead of paper to mop up spills, dust, diaper baby, and to replace paper napkins, etc. Here's an example of one way I re-use and recycle.

6. Join up with Leonardo DiCaprio and many of us, who agree that climate change is occurring at an alarming, accelerated pace. We believe it's important for us as individuals and in groups to work to reduce our carbon footprint. Here's a link to a blog post I wrote about the topic last year. Divest from Fossil Fuels/Reinvest in Eco-friendly Ones. Here's a link to the DiCaprio Foundation, that addresses the same issue. Leonardo DiCaprio Joins-More-than-400-Institutions-Pledging-to-Divest-from-Fossil-Fuels/.

7. Take an earth-saving moment to reflect about how many new ways you can live greener.  Read this post, published a few weeks ago, for additional ideas.  Eat Less Meat and Save Our Planet.


Did you pick up a new green tip or two today? Please comment below. The more we exchange ideas the better off the planet will be! 


The quote for today is from Robert Swan, Explorer and Environmentalist:

“The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it ... The last great exploration on earth is to survive on earth. So as I gaze out the window into my future, I hope to see Antarctica in my midst. I only hope that our children’s children will see it in theirs too. When you gaze out of the window into your future, what do you see?"

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It's Your Life Magazine Online: Great Ideas for Wellness

It's Your Life Magazine Online: Great Ideas for Wellness 

I want to share my excitement about It's Your Life Magazine, an online resource that features articles, recipes, projects, products, and ideas to help you enhance the quality of your life. 

Natural living topics like health enhancers, organic gardening, organic food, healing with herbs, powerful reasons why journaling is good for the soul, and effective methods to nurture mind, body, and spirit are provided in the Oct.-Nov. issue just for you.

The Publisher, Joyce Wheeler Presents Oct-Nov 2015 Issue

In this issue, she writes. "Discover the health problems with electronics which give off electromagnet fields, how they affect our health, and what to do about it. Please subscribe. It's free and get bonuses. Every 2 months you'll be offered a new paperless edition to your inbox.  Here's the link to sign up. Subscribe to It's Your Life Magazine."

The quote for today follows:

"The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind." Paracelsus


Sharing is caring. Please take a moment to share a link to my blog with friends, family, fans, and followers. If you like what you see, become a follower. That way you'll always get a new post as soon as it's published. 

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Photo Challenge That Illustrates Why I Live Green

I've decided to Take the Change the World Wednesday Challenge and snap photos this week of those things I love, enjoy, cherish, or want to preserve. 

I've included photos which show some of the reasons why I think it's important to live green. I invite you to get your camera out and start snapping too. Post the photos on your blog or share them with #CTWW (link below). If you'd rather not, just take photos to remind yourself of why you live in an Eco-friendly way. 

Every time I've made a small change in my daily life and live greener, I'm contributing to a global effort of common people to make significant strides in helping to save our planet from devastating effects of global warming. Climate change with severe weather extremes has already destroyed homes, killed men, women, and children, and left people starving and with no clean water to drink.

Here's one mess I'd like to change or prevent, that has been captured in the clip art below.

This photo wasn't taken by me, but it does show exactly what is happening to some parts of our planet.

Now here's the good part. Following are some things that I'm doing to conserve, reuse, recycle, and live green 

1. reusing glass jars from foodstuff as storage containers
2. recycling rubber bands that come from store-bought vegetables as an office supply
3. using large food cans, tires, and jars as garden planters
4. using china, glass, silverware instead of paper goods at large gatherings and at small parties too. If I don't have enough of my own dishes or glasses, I ask guests to bring their own.
5. taking my stainless steel thermos bottle along with me for water instead of drinking from plastic throw away water bottles. Just to illustrate plastics' impact on our environment, here's a statistic that may floor you. In 2012, the United States generated almost 14 million tons of plastics as containers and packaging, about 11 million tons as durable goods such as appliances, and almost 7 million tons as non-durable goods, such as plates and cups. See more on this from the Environmental Protection Agency.
6. recycling hangers as mobiles, and for other arts and crafts projects
7. exercise by walking in my neighborhood or doing yoga at home instead of driving to the gym, park, etc.
8. donating my time, money, and energy to the cause of reducing my carbon footprint. I have spoken out to elected officials, government agencies, written blog posts and articles, and contacted companies that manufacture products that are environmentally friendly or harmful and will continue to do this.

I spotted these beautiful flowers in a neighbor's yard, while out for my morning constitutional. Aren't they gorgeous? If climate change made it any warmer here in Arizona, I doubt I would be able to walk outside or see beautiful things like this. I bet this type plant wouldn't even be able to grow so well.

Here's a picture I snapped at a botanical garden. Aren't the plants beautiful and what about these delightful creatures? The earth's water supply is finite. If climate change continues at its rapid pace, I'm worried there won't be enough water for people and animals to survive. In some third world countries, this is already the case.

Don't forget to read what Reduce Footprints and guests @ #Take the Change the World Wednesday Challenge say about this topic. Please comment by email at obloggernewbie@gmail.com or reshare the blog on social media.

Be well. Live well. Lead a colorful, yet green life!

Here's the quotation for today:

"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man." Stewart Udall

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How to Save Water, Money, and Empower Yourself

Did you know that saving water is good for your pocketbook, conserves a dwindling, precious natural resource, and empowers you? To assure we have enough water to meet daily needs now and in the future, we need to do our share. I'll describe which efforts worked for me. Please try them as well as think of additional ways you can save water too.

First, ask yourself whether you’re for water and take the “WaterSense Pledge.” It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Check toilets for silent leaks (the link below explains how).

2. Twist and tighten pipe connections.

3. Replace the fixture if necessary. 

See more at WaterSense Pledge

Then, look for the WaterSense Label, which is affixed to products that have been independently tested and certified to meet EPA WaterSense criteria for efficiency and performance. Following are many easy ways to save water, so read to the end. After you're through, please take a moment to comment. I'd love to hear whether you're concerned about a water shortage throughout the world and what are your tips for conserving water too. Here's the sign that will appear in stores that sell WaterSense Products.

TOILETS

We recently updated an older model toilet to a new gravity-flush water efficient model. Our old toilet was stained from the hard water we have here in Arizona, and the toilet had started to leak. My husband and I were mindful to purchase a new one that limits water consumption to 1.28 gallons or less per flush and is designed to resist staining. It does the job, reduces water consumption, and saves money too, because low-flow toilets reduce water usage by 40% to 50% a year.

We found out that if a toilet was made before 1991, and you replace it with one that carries the WaterSense label, you may be eligible for a tax rebate from your local water supply company or municipality. The store where you purchase your new toilet will supply rebate information and discuss details about rebate programs in your area. 

By replacing old, inefficient toilets with the WaterSense labeled models, the average family can save at least $110 per year in water costs, and $2,200 over the lifetime of the toilets. Nationally, if all old, inefficient toilets in the United States were replaced with WaterSense labeled models, we could save 520 billion gallons of water per year, or the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days. 

For more information contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Helpline at- 1-866-987-7367 or write the Office of Wastewater Management (4204M), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20460.

See what makes it easier to pick out a new toilet from Consumer Reports at Consumer Reports Help for Selecting Low-Flow Toilet

WASHING MACHINES

Wash only full loads of laundry to get the most out of water use. Your washing machine water level should assure that clothes are immersed in water and move easily, but goes no higher. When it’s time to replace this appliance, choose one that has a top Energy Star rating. In the long run, you'll save dollars and water. Energy Star certified clothes washers use about 20% less energy and 35% less water than regular washers. They also have a greater tub capacity which means you can wash fewer loads to clean the same amount of laundry.

SHOWER

Convert to a water efficient shower head and cut your showers by two minutes. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.

DRINKING WATER

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats running tap water to cool it for drinking. This measure saves 200 to 300 gallons a month. 

SINKS

Be sure to fix all leaking faucets. The water that comes out of faucets in your home or apartment accounts for more than 15 % of your total indoor water use or 1 trillion gallons of water across America each year. The aerator tip of the faucet determines the maximum flow rate of the faucet. If you have an older kitchen faucet, consider getting an inexpensive new, water-effective one.

When preparing fruits and veggies, refrain from using running water to clean them. Instead, fill the sink or a large bowl with water and immerse produce to clean. Afterward, water can go to water plants in your garden and cuttings can be dumped on your compost pile. This can save 150 to 250 gallons of water per month.

"When you're brushing your teeth, turn off water, while you are actually brushing. Use short bursts of water for cleaning your brush. This saves about 80% of the water normally used.” For additional tips about conserving water go to the Water Project Website Water Project 17 Tips for Conserving Water

LANDSCAPE

For home landscaping water needs, remember automatic landscape irrigation systems are a home's biggest water user. To make sure you're not over-watering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in the weather and install a rain shutoff device, soil moisture sensor, or humidity sensor to better control irrigation. Create a visually attractive landscape by selecting low-water, drought-resistant plants. Conform to water conservation methods like watering early in the day and plan for water harvesting of rainwater and gray water use.

Here’s a thought provoking article from Robert Brears who eloquently states, “We live in an interconnected world where water and food scarcity will impact us all no matter where we live in the world.” See it at

Interconnected World by Robert Brears

When you take simple steps to reduce, reuse, and conserve water you are being proactive and this is empowering. Help yourself, your family, your country, and the world by doing your part in saving this finite resource. "Water is key to all life and survival." Nancy Andres

The quotation for today follows:

Water is the driver of Nature -Leonardo da Vinci 

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How to Make Fabulous Cooking Spray in 2 Easy Steps

Make your own healthy, happy, and eco-friendly homemade cooking spray from 2 ingredients you probably already have on hand. It’s economical, gentle on our planet, and good for your health.

How to do it:

1. Get a small glass spray bottle, remove the top, and sterilize both parts by placing them in a saucepan of boiled water that is off the stove. Let the spray bottle and top soak for a few moments.

2. Use a funnel and pour in 5 parts distilled or filtered water to 1 part organic canola or organic soybean oil. Then, put on the top. Make the commitment to your health to use organic products, and avoid ingesting genetically modified ingredients. 

Here’s a link from WebMD.com that provides information about cooking oil fat content and health benefits.  WebMD. 

    This is a link that explains when it's appropriate to use olive oil: WorldsHealthiestFoods.com

Note: It’s true that oil and water don’t mix, but if you shake the container right before you need to use the spray, enough will combine to make it work.

Why Mixing up your own oil spray is a good idea:

Compared to using a costly cooking oil spray sold in supermarkets, this homemade version costs pennies on the dollar.

Commercial sprays contain propellant as a rule, a chemical that enables the substances inside the can to be misted. Most contain grain alcohol as a preservative, and some contain artificial flavors and additives too. All are ingredients I'd rather not have.

The aluminum spray bottles used to house commercial sprays have to be thrown out after they are empty, and aluminum may have a link to Alzheimer’s’ disease. Read about it here: Mercola.com

Glass or BPA free plastic spray bottles can be reused. When you make your own cooking oil spray, you are free to select the exact grade of cooking oil you prefer and control the quality of the oil. I used organic canola oil, because it has a high smoke point.

Note: Try experimenting with the percentage of water to oil being used, and see whether you can reduce the fat content even more.

Happy Cooking with your New Homemade Spray Cooking Oil Dispenser Folks! 

* Please let me know which kind of oil you prefer and how this make-your-own venture turned out for you.

Here's the Quotation for today:

The people who can most successfully lose weight and maintain a healthy life style are foodies. When it comes to healthy eating, people who know how to cook and make ingredients taste good have a distinct advantage over those who can't.

Edward Ugel, I'm With Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks, 2010

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