- Rain Barrel
Spring is here and with it comes the rain. If you haven’t installed a rain barrel yet, now is the time.
A rain barrel is a great way to recycle rain water for use in your garden. You can easily attach one to a gutter downspout and will be rewarded with gallons of free water after the first rain. You can even connect multiple barrels together.
Tips:
Choose wisely. Rain barrels come in a variety of sizes and materials and range greatly in price, quality and style. Many people prefer plastic barrels as they are sturdy and come in a range of colors and styles. Some individuals prefer wooden barrels that are often recycled from old wine barrels. Others have reported that wooden barrels tend to rot over time. Take the time to read reviews and learn what items are included with your barrel.Rain barrels can be purchased at many big box home improvement stores as well as online. Amazon.com also has a selection of rain barrels (see the one below) and offers free shipping on some styles.
- Homemade: Great Green Recipes
One of my favorite things to do is to make something by hand. Whether it’s cooking, a craft project, or working in the garden – I get a lot out of making something from nothing.
This is one of the reasons I love the book Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally
.
This book is filled with recipes from green cleaning products to health and beauty recipes that will save you money and help the environment at the same time.
Our favorite tips:
Apple Cider Vinegar makes a great hair rinse for product build up and helps to decrease dandruff.Ground oatmeal mixed with water makes a great facial or body scrub for pennies compared to the store bought version.
White vinegar, rubbing alcohol and water make a great glass and window cleaner that is far less toxic to your health and budget.
To learn more or to purchase this book from amazon.com click on Homemade.
- Low VOC Paints
If you are thinking about repainting the interior of your home, you might want to look at some of the many new paints that are available.
Paints contain VOCs also known as Volatile Organic Compounds – organic chemical compounds which have significant vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health.
Now you can find no and zero VOC paints at a variety of paint shops and home improvement stores.
Following is a list of some of the most popular brands:
AFM (American Formulating and Manufacturing)
www.afmsafecoat.comBenjamin Moore & Co. (Pristine® Eco-Spec® )
www.benjaminmoore.comBioShield Paints
www.bioshieldpaint.comDevoe Paint
www.devoe.comDuron Paints and Wallcoverings (Genesis Odor-Free products)
www.duron.comICI Dulux Paints
www.iciduluxpaints.comKelly Moore
www.kellymoore.comOld Fashioned Milk Paint Company
www.milkpaint.comSherwin-Williams (HealthSpec® paints)
www.sherwin.comOne of our favorites for all around color choice, dry time and low odor is Aura by Benjamin Moore.