How to Protect the Earth at Home

Take a realistic approach to
protecting the earth and first
consider what you can do in your
own home. This is much more
manageable than taking on the
world. It is in these simple everyday
steps that one can make an impact.
By setting a good example for your
children, you are fostering a sense
of stewardship that will last
generations to come.

1.Make your own non-toxic cleaning
products. Doing this will reduce the
use of plastics because you are
reusing plastic containers to hold the
cleaning products. The ingredients
are also biodegradable which means
it is gentler on the environment.

2.Use cloth bags at the grocery store
and for all your grocery needs.
Store them in the trunk of your car
so you always have them on hand.
You don't have to limit their use to
the grocery store. If you don't have
a cloth bag with you when you are
shopping, ask yourself if you need a
bag at all.

3.Explore the idea of purchasing
energy-efficient appliances. They
may cost more upfront but in the
end you will save money because
they use less energy. Replace
regular light bulbs with their energy
efficient counterparts. You pay a little
more, but the life of the bulb is
significantly longer.

4.Set up a compost bin. Add a few
less things to the landfill by
composting your kitchen scraps. All
plant-derived foods, coffee grounds
and tea leaves can be composted.
Have a small container in your
home to place items in. When the
storage container gets full, transfer
the waste to an outdoor bin.
Use the
resulting rich fertile soil in the
garden.

5.Grow an organic garden. Being able
to rely on yourself for fresh produce
is very rewarding. Share your
harvest with neighbors, can and
preserve the excess for years to
come. If you don't have the space
or time to grow a garden, shop
locally and support local farmers.

6.Reduce the use of car travel.
Consider using public
transportation, walking, car pooling
and bike riding to get to where you
want to go. If you must travel by
car, shop for a fuel efficient/hybrid
vehicle and keep up-to-date with
emissions checks.
Reuse clothing. When possible, look
for hand-me-downs for your
children's clothing. Shop resale
shops, garage sales and pass
clothing items on to friends and
family. Consider doing this with
toys too. When you do buy toys,
choose ones that are built to last. So
many of the plastic toys available fall
apart quickly and end up in the
trash.