Earth Day!

Let me start by saying happy Earth day. I am a huge believer in keeping our world clean. Born and raised in Vermont we really do not have bad pollution but I hate seeing the garbage along the roads. Makes me so mad. I can still do my share to help though.
This post will be in sections. 

First.Tips on gardening and lawn care for cheap. And ideas.

Second will be how to keep our earth clean. Tips on reusing. Etc. Link on how to start compost and more.

Third will be items that really we need to keep out of landfills. A little info on how fast certain items break down and which ones do not.

Last will be some photos to end the post. =)

These tips and ideas were from readers!

"I do a little at a time to get my yard ready for summer. I start with the birds,get all bird feeders and such ready to roll. I then get my soil and anything else I might need. Then the seeds. Then I plant accordingly. I then pick up the little things like twine for holding back my tomatoes,bug killer,ETC and I am set." Lilly J.

"My lawn in small, so I coat with grass seeds,water and wait then I line it on one side with flowers from walmart. Cheap and easier." Becky S. 

"Hanging plants add a little character and you only need 1 or two" Anonymous. 

"Some areas have a plant swap" Kaitlyn L.

"A walk way is a must, it really shows good lines and a welcomeing to your house. We use stones from home depot." Lucas T. 

"Grass-cycle” your grass clippings.
"Grass-cycling involves letting your lawn reuse the grass clippings created by mowing. The great thing about grass-cycling is that it’s easy! You simply leave your grass clippings on the lawn instead of throwing them away. Why would you want to do this? Because it’s been proven that grass clippings will quickly decompose and return needed nutrients to the soil. The grass clippings also act as a natural mulch, helping your grass to retain water." -http://www.cleanairgardening.com




"I ask for people old containers,start the veggies in my home then move to the garden." Anonymous.  


http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/cheap-garden-pest-control-1206  <---A great site! Check it out on more tips!



Now for some earth friendly ideas and tips!

Lets start with a link to how to start composting and what it in-tales. 

http://www.wikihow.com/Compost

http://grist.org/article/rot-n-roll/

Here are a few things I do to reuse products. And a few other tips/ideas.

 Wine bottle as a vase? Don't mind if I do!!

 Re using plastic bottles for kool aid and other drinks? Sure! When done we recycle. 

 Cardboard from different things,I like to save them for projects! Egg cartons,anything like that can be reused for something.

Here are a few other ideas,not mine but are from pinterest. Everything has a second value,try and find it before trashing!

 I think we have all seen this idea!! ^^^

 Grown plants in eggshells then transfer!

 Old tires painted and reused as a planter!

Heres a few more tips/ ideas.

• You septic friendly toilet paper!
• Use towels instead of paper towels.
• Home made cleaning supplies
• Take a piece of furniture and re vamp it.
• I re use clothing as dust rags.
• Save and re use all plastic bags.
• Buy glass if you can.
• Cut up those soda can holders,that are plastic to help the animals that can get their heads stuck or etc.
•  Use Freecycle.org
• Recycle.
• PINTEREST! Good ideas on what to do with old out of style clothing,how to re use items and so much more!
• Don't abuse trees! Nailing things to them and etc can damage the tree.
• Manure is great for gardens!
• SHUT the water off when not using!
• Keep your propane tank to your grill off.
• Re use paper!

I know there are more but my mind is buzzing with all the info I want to get out there and share in honor of earth day!! 


Lets break it down...Tvs...Furniture...All hard items to get rid of but do some research and you might find a way. 

1. Cell phones are now given to certain companies or donated instead of being thrown away.
2. Donate donate and donate.
3. Cloth diapering keeps 27.4 billion disposable diapers (used each year in the US) out of the landfill.
4. Anything wooden,break it down and re use it. Camp fires,fire places,re build...etc.
5. Re use Re use and Re use!

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/save-earth-top-ten.htm 

A list of items and how long it takes them to decompose. Think about it.

• Banana Peel: 3-4 weeks
• Paper Bag: 1 month
• Cardboard: 2 months
• Wool Sock : 1 year
• Tinned Steel Can: 50 years
• Aluminum Can: 200-500 years (But if recycled, it can be reused within 6 weeks!)
• Disposable Diapers: 550 years
• Plastic Bags : 20-1000 years
• Plastic Jug: 1 million years
• Glass : 1-2 million years
• Styrofoam: 1+ million years

 
Keep these things out of the landfill as much as you can!!




Now enjoy the earth. Enjoy what it offers. Lets keep it clean. Do not litter. Earth friendly items. Use less. Re use more. So on and so fourth. Some of my photos to end this post. =)

Lets use our hearts and our creativity to help our earth!