| January - March 2008 |
| To extend the life of cut tulips to seven days, try changing the water every day. Fill the vase with cold water and drop in two ice cubes (no more). |
| Protect our drinking water---Pull weeds instead of using pesticides. By leaving your lawn three inches high, the healthier, thicker lawn will gradually choke out the weeds. |
| Go GREEN this St. Patrick's Day! Use natural greenery from your garden and use reusable and recyclable decorations for your home. |
| October - December 2007 |
| BEWARE-ask for a gift receipt when purchasing an item and be sure to enclose the receipt with the gift. In B.C. merchants are not legally required to offer a refund or exchange on an item unless the product is defective. B.B.B. |
| This protection might be useful. Pack some of your traveling companions clothes in your bag and vice versa. If one suitcase goes missing, you will still have something to wear. |
| The SAFER program is available for renters age 60 or older. A direct cash rent assistance will help make your rent more affordable. To learn more, contact BC Housing at 604-433-2218 or 1-800-257-7756 or www.bchousing.org. |
| August - September 2007 |
| Want to recycle a large volume of obsolete electronics? Call Encorp (not-for-profit) at 1-800-330-9767 to arrange for pickup. |
| If your recipe calls for drained fruit, purchase quarters or halves, rather than the more costly canned WHOLE fruit. Save the liquid and make a refreshing drink by adding some ice cubes and club soda. |
| Don't let extra bread spoil because you haven't used it. Just wrap it in foil and freeze it. Use later for toast, bread pudding or bread crumbs. |
| June\July 2007 |
| Save seed heads from your flowers to use next year. Cut a square of fine fabric and tie over the seed heads with thread. Dried seed heads will drop into the fabric bags. S.G. Fanny Bay. |
| Using an outdoor clothesline six months a year can reduce a families carbon dioxide output by more than 300 kg (700 lbs) annually. Gardenwise, 2007. |
| Seek alternatives to driving your car which can reduce BC's carbon emissions. Contact the Co-operative Auto Network, www.cooperativeauto.net or 604-685-1393 to share a vehicle around the Lower Mainland area. |
| Keep your suitcase secure while traveling. Slip a nylon cable tie through the zipper rings and pull tight. This tie must then be cut off to open your suitcase. J.P. White Rock. |
| Home and Car safety--keep your car alarm beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, hopefully discouraging the intruder. |
| Save rain water by purchasing an inexpensive rain barrel from your local community office. The same can be made by using an empty plastic barrel and inserting a metal tap into the side for draining. Adapt the intake of rain water to your own situation i.e. insert a downspout into the top of the lid or cover the barrel with fine wire mesh and let 'nature do its job'! |
| May 2007 |
| Reduce your energy consumption by 20% by installing dimmers on all your lights. |
| Replace or clean your furnace filter once a month. A clogged filter lowers the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, increases heating costs and can cause a fire. |
| This year, try to plant an extra row of vegetables for those in need. Contact your local food bank or www.growarow.org to learn more. |
| April 2007 |
| When mailing letters to your local Member of Parliament, the postage is FREE! |
| To remove unwanted fax's , just log into www.the-cma.org and follow the simple directions. |
| Preparing your Recreation Vehicle for travel? Prevent your fruit and vegetables from bumps and bruises. Place bubble wrap in the bottom of the refrigerator drawer as a pillow for your produce. |
| March 2007 |
|
1. Empty aluminum foil cardboard tubes can be used to
store doilies. Gently roll the doilies and insert into the tube. D. Ford, Salmon
Arm. 2. Recycle your old computers, laptops and electronics to a non-profit organization--THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING ASSOCIATION OF BC. Restored equipment is then donated to those in need. For more information call 604-215-4483, Monday to Friday, 9-5. 3. Measure the inflation pressure of your tires at least once a month when the tires are cold. Under inflated tires wear faster, waste fuel and are unsafe. |
| February 2007 |
|
Initiate some "Green Actions" in your workplace by: 1. Refilling the empty toner cartridges for your printer and photocopier rather than buying new cartridges. 2. Reuse fax and printer documents that have been used on one side only. 3. Keep a recycle box in the lunchroom for pop cans, cardboard, glass jars, tubes from aluminum foil and toilet paper, cans, newspapers etc. Usually anything that has the recycle symbol imprinted on the bottom of the used container can be recycled. |
| January 2007 |
| Buying and using rechargeable batteries mean less toxins into the landfill. When the ability to recharge is fully depleted, batteries like Eneloop can be recycled. | |
| Change your furnace filter monthly to keep air flowing freely and your furnace in top working order. | |
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| December 2006 |
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| Want a great draft dodger for drafty doors? Save the long, empty cardboard tubes from holiday wrapping paper. Stuff them tight with crushed-up newspapers, then cover them with bright fabrics. Roll them into place with your foot! |
| November 2006 |
|
Reduce your energy use and save money by: A. Putting on a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat. B. Running your dishwasher and washing machine with FULL loads only. C. Turn down your thermostat at night when you sleep. D. For energy-efficient products, look for the ENERGY STAR label before purchasing electrical appliances, fixtures, doors and windows. |
|
To eliminate an allergic reaction to strong
cleaning agents--GO GREEN--using natural cleaning solutions. Window Cleaner- 1/2 cup vinegar and l gallon of water.--Disinfectant (and to kill mould)-1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. Dusting-2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 quart of water. |
| Wondering what to do with the leftover tomato paste after you've opened the can? Try freezing it in one heaping tablespoon measures. Once frozen, I put it in a ziploc bag and use it up slowly as I make other tomatoey dishes. mj, Chilliwack. |
| October 2006 |
| Reduce your utility costs this fall, by installing new double/triple pane windows. |
| To keep stored items smelling fresh, put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag, tent and luggage before folding and storing them. |
| Save gas and time by working where you live or live where you work. |
| September 2006 |
| For a trusty, low-tech security system, consider getting a noisy dog. Burglars don't worry about getting bitten; they worry about getting caught. To burglars, the dogs bark is literally worse than the bite. |
| Try treating a cold without using drugs. Yes, chicken soup has been found to have therapeutic qualities, acting as a natural decongestant and expectorant. J.H.School of Medicine. |
| Before signing a contract for home repairs, contact your local Better Business Bureau for possible complaints. |
| August 2006 |
| A penny saved is a government oversight! |
| Laundry hint--wash screen-printed items inside out to extend the life of the print. |
| Save $$$. Just dial 1-800-FREE411 or 1-800-373-3411 to get FREE information on a wanted telephone number. A short advertising blurb will precede the information. |
| July 2006 |
| Composting is a great way to use up your organic matter. A composter can be purchased from any city hall at a very reasonable cost of approximately $35.00. Add fallen leaves, grass clippings, garden debris and kitchen peelings (no meat or bones) to the composter. When decomposed, spread the wonderful enriched soil on your garden and watch your plants grow! |
|
Don't throw out your dried-up slices
of bread--make Bread Pudding! TOAST 5 slices bread SPREAD with 2 tbsp butter or marg. ARRANGE toast in buttered 10X6 baking pan SPRINKLE with 1/2 cup washed raisins IN BOWL -stir 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup (minus 2 tbsp sugar)into 3 beaten eggs. ADD 3 cups milk, scalded, and stir well. POUR over the toast-let stand 10 min. PRESS toast lightly down into the milk so it soaks up most of the milk mixture. MIX 1/4 tsp cinnamon with 2 tbsp sugar and sprinkle on top. PLACE dish directly on oven rack. BAKE 350 degrees for 25 minutes until knife inserted comes out clean. Serve warm or cold. DELICIOUS!! |
|
Renting VS
Buying-Renting might be the best option for you in today's red-hot real
estate market. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on taxes,
insurance, all utilities and repairs, just call the landlord. You are
more carefree-can move around, try a condo, new neighbourhood, live by
the ocean, etc. A wise consumer considers every benefit before
committing on paper. |
| June 2006 |
|
Are your silk plants
looking 'dead' and covered with dust? Renew them by placing them outside during a heavy rainfall. Before bringing them
back inside, shake well!! |
|
Save on water when
taking care of your lawn. Mow less often in the summer months leaving
the lawn much longer in length, retaining moisture. Also leave the grass
clippings on the lawn as these added nutrients keep your lawn green and
healthy. |
|
Try The 'Only' Window
Cleaner sent in by a thrifty reader, Sandra R. 1/2 cup white vinegar,
1/2 cup non sudsey ammonia, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, and 1 1/2 quarts
of hot water. Use gloves and a cloth (old towel). Touch up with a paper
towel. |
| May 2006 |
|
Stop receiving unwanted junk mail and save
close to one hundred million trees every year. When you get a piece of
junk mail, write 'please remove this name from your list' on the address
card, put everything back into the postage-paid envelope and return it
to the sender. |
|
No need to use expensive garden-pest sprays
when good ol' soap and water will do. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of liquid soap
(never use detergent!) to 4 cups of water. Shake well. Spray gently and
sparingly. |
|
Spring is the best time to clean out the
clutter. Don't toss the 'don't wants, don't need's in the landfill;
instead, hold a garage sale or donate your items to a charity thrift
store. |
| April 2006 |
|
Donate your useable outdated computers to COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS. Check
out their website at
www.cfsbc.ca for
their requirements. To recycle old/broken computer equipment, call for
updated information at the Recycling Hotline 604-732-9253 or
1-800-667-4321.
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Plastic bottles can be reused. Just fill them with water, freeze and use
as an ice pack. Recycle them when no longer useful.
|
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Want to grow your own healthy vegetables and need a space to do so?
Community gardens are cropping up all over. Contact your local City Hall
for the one nearest to you.
|
| March 2006 |
|
Did you know--a leaky tap wastes 800 litres of
water in a month. |
|
One badly tuned vehicle can emit the same
amount of pollutants as 20 vehicles. Tuning up your car properly can
help the environment and save you money. |
|
Keep your dishwasher clean and free of problems
by throwing in a cup of vinegar and running a full (empty) cycle once a
month or so. |
| February 2006 |
|
Want to lengthen the
use of Swiffer duster clothes? Just place the used ones in a small
hosiery bag and launder in the washing machine. They will typically
stand up to 2 or maybe 3 washings. |
|
A gardener's
secret--to increase your snowdrop section, bend the seed heads over and
bury them in the soil. This will start new plants and thicken clumps
without having to divide them. |
|
Lots of cat hair on
your furniture? Rub the area with a sheet of Bounce. All the loose hairs
will magnetically attract to the Bounce. Rubbing a dry sponge on the
area works well, also. |
| January 2006 |
|
Dip cut flowers in a
solution of baking soda and water to extend their life, rather than
using commercial package solutions. |
|
To keep lettuce from
turning brown, wrap in paper toweling before placing in a plastic bag in
the refrigerator. |
|
Want to hide a nail
hole? Rub toothpaste into the hole and smooth with a damp sponge. |
| December 2005 |
|
A use for broken
candles - melt them down to make new candles and add broken crayons
for interesting colour combinations. |
|
Do you throw away
your used sheets of Bounce? Try using them again to wipe down the
screens on your television and computer. This will prevent dust from resettling. |
|
Did you know that 29%
of our greenhouse gas emissions come from cars, vans, light duty trucks
and SUV's? Try using local transit, cycling or walking more often. |
| November 2005 |
|
Idling your vehicle
for 10 minutes a day uses at least 100 liters of gasoline a year. This adds up to $70.00 a year. By turning off the engine, you can save $70.00 a year! |
|
Keep window curtains
open during the day in the winter. This allows passive solar energy
into your home and can save up to 5% on home heating. Close the curtains
in the evening. |
|
Think about what you
buy - can I find the same item with less packaging? Think about where
you shop--consider buying secondhand. Try to rent, repair, share and use
other things again or in other ways. These ideas will help save our
natural resources and energy which is needed to make something new. |