10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

1) Save energy to save money.
–Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
–Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
–Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
–Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
–Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

2) Save water to save money.
–Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
–Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
–Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
–Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3) Less gas = more money (and better health!).
–Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
–Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
–Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4) Eat smart.
–If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it’s even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
–Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
–Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
–Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5) Skip the bottled water.
–Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
–Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
–Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6) Think before you buy.
–Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether
you’ve just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
–Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
–When making purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
–Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7) Borrow instead of buying.
–Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
–Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8 ) Buy smart.
–Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
–Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
–Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9) Keep electronics out of the trash.
–Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
–Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
–Recycle your cell phone.
–Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10) Make your own cleaning supplies.
–The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
–Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Pony’s Time to Move

The very sad day came way too fast! I had Lady in the stall resting her hoof due to her hoof abscess and the pony was not happy about being alone. I knew he had to get used to it so I just ignored him.

3pm rolled around. I could hear the loud roar of the truck coming up the driveway. Malin, my old trainer, had her two horse trailer with her with a big smile on her face. I had a frown. My mom pulled up after her and hopped out to help Malin turn around. I had gotten Lady out to eat some grass and to be around for when the pony was leaving so she could say goodbye.

My mom grabbed his red halter and clipped it on him. He was so happy to be out it the grass and with Lady but he had no idea what was about to happen. I walked Lady up to the trailer so that the pony would fallow. He has only been on a trailer once in his life which was when we had first bought him. He walked right up onto that trailer like he had done it everyday of his life.

I put Lady back in her stall, locked up the door and ran to my car. My boyfriend Jim and I then fallowed my mom and Malin up the street to my mom’s house. The pony was not having a good time. He was jumping and whinnying, he was so upset. Malin had to pull over to make sure that something wasn’t wrong with the trailer; she didn’t know that it was him jumping around.

When we pulled into the driveway of my mom’s that poor pony was exhausted. We unclipped him and backed him out of the trailer. He was soaked in sweat. He nose was flaring from breathing so hard, the poor little guy was so scared. After walking him around for a minute or two to let him cool off we brought him over to the back of the house where there is a patch of grass. He had no interest in it. He was circling around me looking for his Lady. I walked him around to see the place and show him that it was ok.

After leading him around for some time to get him used to his surroundings I brought him over to his new paddock that my mom built for him. It’s a nice small little area, plenty of room for him to walk and run if need be. I let him go and he took a couple of step a shook. Poor little guy. He then walked around the perimeter of his new home and checked it all out, calling out for Lady once in a while but there was no one to call back.

The next day I called my mom to see how he did over night. She said that he did great. He was still calling out for Lady but was doing fine otherwise. He made a path around his paddock; my mom calls it his “merry-go-round” spot, very cute. Lady was also very upset. She ran around looking for him when I put her back out into her paddock. She yelled and yelled for him, hoping that there would be a response but there was nothing. It’s very sad to not have my cute little pony right out back but I know I can go visit him when ever I want or need to get a pony fix and that makes me happy.

Happy New Year

The holidays are over. All the presents were unwrapped, some exchanged, some put to good use, and let’s be honest, some put away for regifting next year. Many of us managed to finish every last left over and are now regretting eating them all. It is 9 days into everyone’s New Year’s resolutions. 

I struggled for a while to come up with a resolution for myself, reviewing all the standards that I, and most of the population, have made in years past, lose a few pounds, go back to the gym for regular workouts, get on a budget. I was really giving it some thought, should I resolve any of those things or all of them at once?  The answer was yes to all of the above, and then I looked across the room to my cat. She was sleeping peacefully, stretched along the back of the couch. She must have sensed me looking at her because she opened her eyes and yawned. After looking at me for a moment, she closed her eyes and went back to enjoying her snooze in the sunny spot.

As I watched her a funny thought occured to me. If Miss Kitty were to make a New Year’s resolution, what would it be? Would she vow to sleep less than 16 hours a day? Would she worry about dropping the winter weight she seems to gain every year? Probably not. As soon as the weather gets warm and she can chase moles around the yard, she slims right back down. Would she promise not to claw at the back of my leather chair anymore since she knows it annoys me? I don’t think so.

From here my thoughts turmed to the dog. What resolution would Riley Roo make? Would he promise not to shake all his fur around the bathroom after getting a bath?  Would he swear off the buscuits he enjoys after every long walk? Would he stop sleeping on the couch? Would he vow to let me brush him more often so he shed less hair all over the house? Pretty unlikely.

I realized that my pets just enjoy life for what it is. Of course they don’t have to pay the bills or worry about raising a family, but still, I think that there is something to be learned from them.

Can you imagine a day when you don’t feel the need to dream up all the ways you should improve yourself? How liberating it would be to simply stop fretting over so many things and just enjoy every day. 

My New Year’s resolution. Learn the lessons my pets have taught me.

I resolve to worry a little less. I resolve to enjoy my days a little more. I resolve to appreciate the warmth of the sun on my face.