And to help keep this planet beautiful, take a minute to check out my new book Knitting Green: Conversations and Planet-Friendly Projects. It's full of essays and projects that show how knitting can be included in the green revolution. You can learn about it (and purchase it online) at the Interweave Store.
I think this is cause for another give-away. Write a green tip in the comments box below and I'll put your name in the hopper for a drawing for a free book (autographed if you like). If your computer won't let you respond in the comments box, send your tip to me at annbudd@annbuddknits.com. I'll draw a name and announce the winner on April 30, 2010.
Posts
118 comments:
You may be spoiled, but you are a generous spoiled person.
My green tip: craigslist or thrift shops. Buy used. That's as green as can be. No additional use of natural (or synthetic) resources, no manufacturing processes, and reduced landfill fodder.
Make your own household cleansers. It's amazing what you can do with vinegar, baking soda, and a little borax or castile soap!
I don't need to be entered in the drawing, though--because, look. I've got my review of your book up already! It's a peach!
http://knittingscholar.com/2010/04/22/knitting-green/
Found this on a website, great if you have animals!!
Most commercial flea and tick sprays contain carbaryl, which works by attacking pests' nervous systems. But carbaryl also can harm developing fetuses in both animals and humans.
To keep fleas off pets add garlic and brewer's yeast to pets' meals, which makes pets taste bad to bugs. Many such products are sold in pet supply stores. But pets may need to take these remedies for several weeks before they work.
my green tip: buy a stainless steel water bottle and refill it with your own water. it's much more earth-friendly than always buying water in plastic bottles and throwing them away. i take mine with me wherever i go!
My tip: Everyone seems to have at least one reusable shopping bag. The trick is to remember it, both on your way into the store and on your way back into the car. I can't help so much with the first, other than to make it part of your shopping habit. But as for the last, AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE UNLOADING, put the bags back into the car so they're ready for your next trip. Or at least hang them on the door handle, so you can't possibly get back to the car without noticing them.
I love this idea. I have been making rugs and purses from grocery bags for year, but they crochet up better then knitting (too fine a "fabric" for quick knitting) I have a couple of projects on Revelry you can see under the Tag plarn (plastic yarn). I can't wait to cut up that silk skirt I have that requires ironing that I NEVER wear.
My non-knitting hint, set up all your electronics on timers. All the TV's and computers in my house stop working at 12 midnight and start again at 7am. We save $10 a month on phantom energy charges, my teenage can't stay up on the computer, I did not have to buy a fancy whole house power control system. Make sure to purchase timers that does not use a lot of energy itself or plug in something that you need to keep time like a Tivo.
My Green Tip: See if your local area has a freeCycle program. It's a great way to both find items & to get your so called "junk" to people who can really use it. I've even freecycled broken grills and lawnmowers to people who can either reuse or recycle the parts.
I think the best green tip is to plant your own garden and buy the rest of your food from a local farmer's market. I love our farmer's market. When it's in season, I can buy everything there: bread, fruits, veggies, soap, yarn (!!), and even free-range meats. I love that I'm supporting local growers and that my tomatoes taste like tomatoes! Imagine that! And to water your garden (if you plant one of your own), purchase a rain barrel to catch rain from your gutters to use for watering. Some municipalities offer them for sale at a discounted price.
I am a potter, and I try to conserve water
by reusing the water which settles out after
making pots or glazing them; I water my garden/
houseplants with it.
Hi Ann,
I hope you don't mind entries from Canada :)
We make everything from scratch - we have a LOT less garbage (packaging) and recycling (cans etc) that way AND it saves us money to boot :)
charron(dot)k@gmail.com
My tip would be to teach children as much as you can about recycling which increases the knowledge and the chances for more change!!
My green tip: pretty simple, but hey, every little bit helps! Print out downloaded patterns on the back side of used paper.
green tip ... stop buying plastic container to store things and start using glass. You can pick up some really nice glass refrigerator containers at resale shops ... this tip is not only healthy for you ... it is healthy for the environment!
Turn out the lights when you leave the house, and having a programmable thermostat is wonderful
My green tip's a simple but effective one. Leave your car at home, and walk/bike/take public transit wherever you can. I'm an avid walker, and love the way it keeps me in motion, while not creating more pollution!
My tip is to reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water, the britta pitcher we got is awesome and Consider organic cleaning products like vinegar, borax, and baking soda. Have a great Earth Day!!! Our high schoolers are loading on the bus today to go pick up garbage along side the roads (o=
I have 3 elementary school aged children who grow out of clothing quickly but not all of it is in good enough condition to be reworn. Rather than trash the clothing that cannot be reworn, I take off all the buttons, working zippers, and any other embellishments that can be "upcrafted" and re-use in knitting projects.
My green tip...rather than complaining that your workplace does nothing toward recycling, find whatever solutions you can that help. For me, this means taking home any water bottles or soda cans to recycle that I might have brought in, using reusable lunch packaging and again taking home to recycle anything that I might have gotten as a convenience during the day, and the most effective one for me, I save every page I print (I work in publishing and it really adds up) and I recycle them into pages for collage journals I make as gifts for friends.
I scan knitting patterns and put them into a picture folder on my iPhone rather than make paper copies or printouts when possible. Or I'll open up PDF files via Ravelry and read them on my phone. I've learned there are very few patterns I actually need paper copies of.
I don't really have a green tip but I will say that my kids are excited about this book! They want to cut up their old jeans to make yarn out of them and then knit rugs for the kitchen in our new house! Thanks for inspiring them! :)
My tip is not original, but I keep a cute Mickey Mouse bag in my purse in addition to the stash of bags in my car. This way I am never caught without a reusable bag :)
We also save old white t-shirts and socks for rags for wiping glue and other misc projects.
My Tip: Instead of using a paper towel every time you wash your hands put a towel by the sink that is JUST for hands and one JUST for dishes and counters. It is the little things that add up.
Learn how to cook from scratch. Less waste and lower in sodium as well! Also, find creative uses for old clothes and household items. I ordered your book Monday...can't wait to knit up a basket for my bicycle (circa 1963).
I love reading all the green tips. My green tip is to use organic cotton yarn to make your own grocery bags. I used a hobo bag pattern from Lion Brand Yarn company. I love my bags and they hold a HUGE amount of groceries and are very washable. I have requested all the time from people to make them a bag or two.
My green tip is that I take all our newspapers and the ones from work and bring them to the boy scouts who recycle and get money for their projects at the same time. I also save up my yarn scraps for the birds, though one greedy robin took it all and made a nest so heavy it almost fell out of the tree, but it was the prettiest nest by far!!
The newest thing I'm working on is to think before I buy. Do I really need it? Is there a version of it in more eco-friendly packaging? Can I buy it in bulk to minimize packaging?
speaking of GREEN - check out how to give a NO TRASH party at Amy's page: http://www.wmshc.org/zero-waste-event.html
My green tip: Instead of buying books, try your local library! You can rent books, movies, music, DVD's for free.
Although I frequently make pasta sauce, if I am buying it pre-made I always buy the brands that are packaged in re-usable Mason jars. I love mason jars - I store dry goods in the cupboard (oats, lentils, nuts, etc.) and have a foodsaver that can draw the air out to keep grains fresher. I also use glass jars more and more for food storage in the fridge (lessening plastics use), and of course many get used up for putting up peaches/jam/apple butter, etc.
Thanks for the contest, Ann!
I recycle copier paper when printing off patterns..That's my green tip... :)
my green tip would be to visit thrift stores for old wool sweaters. Purposely felt them and make into cool purses and bags. You can also take a nice wool sweater from the thrift store and take it apart and recycle the yarn! I would LOVE to be entered to win a copy of your new book!
Hooray! Happy Earth Day to you!
Green tip: buy local of course. wash clothes in cold water. clean with baking soda. In fact, I just found a wonderful little book-zine called Make Your Place, by Raleigh Briggs that teaches you how to clean with natural homemade products, use natural first aid for various boo-boos, and tricks for gardening organically. Love!
Cheers!
Daisy
Plant native plants to your specific area! Have less lawn! Native plants conserve water, feed local insects and animals, have deep roots that loosen the soil and build soil tilth, don't need fertilizer and are beautiful. I could go on and on.
Thanks for the opportunity to win your terrific book.
I make plarn out of plastic bags :)
Your book looks awesome :)
My green tip is to recycle. Not just your own cans and bottles, and not just when it's easy. If we are in one of those areas where they don't recycle, we will carry our cans and bottles home and recycle them there.
My green knitting tip- old purses and tote bags can make great knitting bags. I've found quite a few at my local thrift store, and can now have different projects going in different bags all set to go with me at a moments notice.
Take a good look around each room in the house and make note of the things that have become clutter and aren't used anymore. Have 15 minute decluttering sessions sorting items into give away, throw out, and put away. Make sure the 'give aways' get out to the car when you are done. Take 5 minutes to take to put aways back in their original location. Your clutter can be another person's treasure. Buy your clothes at the resale stores first.
My green tip -- shop handmade! Support artisans and craftspeople who often used green practices in their small business, instead of shopping for products from big manufacturers, who are often anything but green.
My green tip: Turn off the dry cycle on the dishwasher and allow them to drip dry. It saves on electricity!
My green tip is to save all of your kitchen food scraps(no meat products) and use them to make compost for your veggie garden. Also, when brushing your teeth or washing dishes, don't leave the water running.
Hi Ann! The new book looks like a lot of fun, can't wait to knit from it!
I have two green tips for you: 1.) Something we started years ago was putting out rainwater barrels in the yard to water the garden from . . . but we quickly found them full of mosquito larvae! (YUCK!) So we bought a few feeder comets at the pet store and put 3-4 in each barrel. Within days they had eaten everything else in the barrel & we didn't have to use any harsh chemicals. At the end of the season we take them back to the pet shop (they take them happily) and pick up a few new ones next year.
My other tip, esp. for people with kids (they go through everything so fast) is to use Freecycle.org You can give away almost anything you don't use anymore and its great for picking up kids clothing and yard toys among other things. There are lists for almost every area and its all done locally so a minimal amount of transportation is involved.
I take a bucket with me into the shower. Even in a 5 minute shower I manage to fill half the bucket - this is enough for a couple of toilet flushes and keeps clean water from being used unnecessarily. And the half-full bucket is a perfect shaving aid: turn the shower off, rest your foot on the bucket and rinse the razor in the water.
Green Tip: I had the idea of cutting up old worn out T-shirts and clothing into squares and using them instead of paper napkins. I only use clothes that are not fit for donation or hand me downs. My husband and children both wear through a lot of clothes - also old stained maternity shirts make a lot of "napkins". I was afraid my family wouldn't like the idea so I cut up a bunch and set them out in a fancy bowl and we call them "fancy napkins." We just wash them in the washing machine and reuse them. I keep a bowl for dirty napkins by the sink. Now the only time we use paper napkins is when we have company. We also have greatly reduced the number of paper towels we use.
At the office I make "scribble pads" out of unwanted printed memos, copier mishaps, spam ads that come over the fax etc. instead of tossing the paper into the recycle bin. Makes good grocery list pads too.
I've been switching from paper towels to rags. It makes such a difference! I use old bath towels and cut them into squares. Some day I might even get around to serging the edges!
julie k, kundhi.com
My green tip ,never leave your TV ,computer or anything else on standy ,turn it off properly and you save a lot of energy.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day. One of the non-knitting things I do for the planet is to buy local, organic produce. It cuts down on oil dependence and helps the farmers. Farmer's Markets are going to be open soon. Visit one in your area.
A knitting tip is to repurpose a non-knitting item instead of throwing it out. In my knitting bag I carry an empty container that had Mini M & M's in them (the larger, longer one) and put darning needle, stitch markers, and a pencil inside. I use the tube itself as a Nostepinde to rewind my wool, in case I have to un-do my knitting. A traveling tooth brush holder works the same. You may need to put a piece of duct tape over the vent holes in the bottom.
My green tip is to buy groceries from the clearance section or if you're fortunate, like me, shop first at a salvage grocery store (stuff most stores would throw out), if you're smart, it's all still very useable and much cheaper. I also am on freecycle, shop thrift stores and shop the classifieds! We garden, and cook from scratch all the time too!
My husband and I have made it a priority to work and shop within 10 miles of home. This saves gas, wear and tear on the car, and our sanity.
I also grow some of my own veg, plant native plants, use homemade or green cleaning products, and cook from scratch.
If you have young children, teach them about "being green" at an early age. I've always made a point of telling my kids about things like recycling and turning off the lights when we don't need them... now my 5-year-old "catches" me when I'm being lazy and reminds me to practice what I preach!
This may be a little too much for some... My husband and I realized we could live a happy and normal life without our automobile. So, we donated it and now rely on feet, bike and bus to make our way around Anchorage, Alaska. At the time it seemed completely unfeasible but we gave it a try and are happy. It is cost friendly and friendly to our earth. Is this a green tip? Well, I think making exceptions in life and finding out that you don't need everything could be a 'green' tip. Especially if that means future generations may get to enjoy a little bit of clean air, water and food. Happy Earth Day everyone.
Knit or crochet a market bag out of hemp to be used over and over again. Using man-made fibers is the best in eco-friendly resources.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3295773796_f229d67c5b_s.jpg
Turn off your computer! Well when your not on it anyway! It will save you $90 a year on your electricity bill too!
I've started taking my wool sweaters that I don't wear anymore, and that are too shabby for the thrift store, and felting them.
I use the felt to make coasters, totes and other items I needle felt designs onto and then give away as gifts.
you're*
Sorry spelling gods.
My green tip is to buy clothes in second hand shops. I live in Sweden and we have lots of nice second hand shops that are cheap and where all the money raised goes to charity. Instead of buying a new leather jacket for 2000 swedish crowns (aprox. 170 dollars) I bought one for 200 swedish crowns (aprox. 17 dollars) in a second hand shop. And that's where I've bought new skirts for the summer, craft books and sweaters which I unravel and use the yarn to knit up new stuff. Second hand shops are just awesome, for the enviroment and your economics!
(btw, I bought the book you've med with all the different sizeing and gauges, don't remember the name att the moment though, but I've knitted a lot from it and absolutely love it!)
//Paulina from Sweden
Green Tips:
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
- Use cloth kitchen towels instead of paper towels.
- Hang dry your laundry in your yard. This can even be accomplished in the winter. Wind is more efficient than sun light. Can hang dry clothes in your house too. Most clothes dry overnight.
- Store left overs (food) in re-usable containers (avoid plastic wrap, sandwich bags, and foil)
- Plant fruits and vegetables
Tina Miklas
La Grange, IL (Just outside of Chicago)
I collect the water from the dehumidifier and use is to water the garden and houseplants and wash the dog and the car,
I cut up my husband's old t-shirts into the same size & shape as the Swiffer duster and mop covers. Now instead of buying and throwing them away. I reuse the t-shirt towels all the time.
I am so looking forward to getting a look at this book. It sounds so great.
I am ruthless with donating to the local thrift shop. I wash the clothes and donate them as soon as my kids outgrow them, this way the styles are still current for the next person that buys them. I also donate shoes, if they are washable, they get tossed in the washer and cleaned really well... I'm pretty sure the recipients are appreciative, and I'm sure that the items get adopted that much sooner....
I also try to keep current with cleaning... this way I do not need to use strong harmful chemicals to clean something that would have been easily cleaned with less caustic cleaners
Happy Earth Day!!!!
We recycle cans and papers; take plastic bags to a grocery store that recylces them into materials for park benches; buy local as much as possible; changed light bulbs 2 years ago to more energy efficient ones ( also better for seeing tight stitches). I also use bags I've knit for groceries - want to try yours! One of my favs is the Stowaway which has a pocket knit into it that allows you to fold up the bag, button shut and put in my purse. That way I always have a bag with me for that quick stop on the way home.
Find out about your communities recycling program and use it. Some do curb side pick up with the trash and others have drop off locations. I have curb side and it's so easy. I have a seperate trash can inside for recycling items and when it's full I dump it into the recycling can provided by the city and wheel to the curb on trash day. I have two cans due to the amount of recycling I do.
Buy produce locally at a farmer's market in your community. It's fresh and organic, and supports local farmers. Also buy grass-fed beef and pork from local growers.
I cut-up plastic grocery bags which I receive~~those from grocery stores, large big-box stores etc~~ from a pattern I got online years ago and have knitted 'clean your shoe' mats, bath mats, carrying tote bags for our local farmers' markets, round plant coasters so they don't leak on the floor and scrubbies for my pots while doing dishes. My grandmother showed me a unique way of folding plastic bags so they become tiny and take up very little space so I can accumulate a lot and not have it overwhelm my other yarn 'stash' and let me tell you...it works!! Am looking forward to the book even if I don't win and thanks for this opportunity~~Ann you rock!
Use the clip tag from the bread/roll package for hanging yarn when you have not finished your project. It really helps since it does not get in the way.
My green tip is to buy yarn from the Red Cross stores. I've bought much yarn thar way
Get pet worms!
I love my worm bin. They eat my leftover food, make compost for my garden, and keep everything hyperlocal.
Also, it is very fun to tell people you have pet worms.
Reduce how much you use your garbage disposal: start a compost pile! Great for home gardens. Toss the occasional lemon from your tea into the disposal and run it for a few minutes so it doesn't feel neglected, plus the lemon is a better way to clean it than using some sort of chemical from the store. Also, we have a "free table" at work...one man's junk is another man's treasure, after all.
My green tip is there should be more orinoco scrap stores, take a peak at the link http://www.oxorinoco.org/ we all meet once a month for the swap shop and take things we no longer need and swap them for things we do!! local businesse also donate things. You can buy things at the scrap store too and all money goes to charity and the lovely volenteers there even make you a lovely cuppa, truly a fantastic recycling day out, the exciting thing is you never know what you are going to find!
I save all the little pieces of yarn from my projects. I put them in what I call compatable colors together. Then when i knit a bag to felt they can be added for accent color or on fine yarn to decorate a quilt. Never just toss that little piece of yarn or lonely bead.
My green tip...recycable shopping bags...no more plastic bags in our home! We have them with us no matter where we go shopping!
~ Kathy (Oregon)
My family and I quit using paper plates and we've cut back on using paper towels by using old-style cloth diapers that someone gave me when I was pregnant with my oldest. They work great!
Use knit dishcloths instead of paper towels - they're more colorful, stronger and cheaper in the long run! Also, I save snipped bits of yarn for stuffing knit toys.
When my daughter was little, i cut down handmedowns and thrift dresses, pants etc. into clothing I could sew for her. Everything was recycled. I only needed to buy a few patterns and some notions. Very inexpensive especially when we had very little income.
Green Tip: Raise your lawnmower deck up a notch! Most people cut their grass too short, leaving it more open to disease and making it necessary to mow more often. By removing only 1/3 of the height of the grass at a time, you're encouraging a healthier, more drought tolerant lawn with fewer weeds, a stronger root system (to prevent erosion), and just prettier in general. Also, clean air filters and check spark plugs to make sure your mower is running at optimum efficiency.
See if any of the farms in your area have CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs that you can join. It's a great way to get fresh food directly from local farmers. You reuduce the carbon footprint for the food you eat and support local farmers in the process.
Hi Ann! My tip: Find a center that takes old electronics and makes them new again. For example: I know there are organizations who use old cell phones to give to soldiers so they can call home to their families. I also know of a place that recycles old computers and the people who work there are disabled, so it gives them a living and saves the planet from unnecessary waste!
Cloth diaper babies and use cheap cotton washcloths as wipes! if you are a crafty person, you can even sew your own diapers...
we keep reusable grocery bags in the car and in the house and i make my sons cloth diapers so we dont have to use the disposble ones
and i never cared for paper towels i always use rags or towels we use 2 keep old holy socks and shread old torn up t shirts for rags 2
Knit washcloths instead of disposable paper towels, "sponges", etc. Make sure you use real organic cotton to make it even more earth friendly, shop at warehouse stores, stock up, no need to drive to the store once a week.
Green tip:
stay away from chemicals, and if you like to have a cocktail every now and then, that vodka can be used for more things than a good time.
1. To remove a bandage painlessly, Saturate the bandage with vodka. The stuff dissolves adhesive.
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, Fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, Let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.
3. To clean your eyeglasses, Simply wipe the lenses with a soft, Clean cloth dampened with vodka.
The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.
4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka And letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
5. Spray vodka on wine stains, Scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.
6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face. As an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, And stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle with vodka And spray bees or wasps to kill them.
9 Pour one-half cup vodka And one-half cup water into a Ziploc freezer bag And freeze for a slushy, refreshing ice pack for aches, Pain or black eyes.
10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar With freshly packed lavender flowers, Fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly And set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, Then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
11. To relieve a fever, use a wash cloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
12. To cure foot odor, Wash your feet with vodka.
13 Vodka will disinfect And alleviate a jellyfish sting.
14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy To remove the oil from your skin.
15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.
......And silly me! I've only been drinking the stuff.
Think about what you need before you purchase it, and decide if you can borrow it, barter for it, or buy it used.
My green tip is to fill old gallon water bottles (or milk or whatever) with the cold water while you are waiting for hot water. In my house it seems to take forever for the hot water to get to the bathtub upstairs and I can fill one, sometimes two, gallon bottles while I'm waiting. We use the water for the humidifiers in the winter and watering the garden in the summer.
Turning off appliances/electronics is good but even turned off they continue to use electricity often referred to as "Vampire Electrocity." It is best to unplug things you are not using if you can get to the plugs without having too much difficulty.
I like to think being "Green" is being self reliant. Stay home to eat dinner because it saves on gas in the car and make something with the things you grow in your own garden! Which is much healthier for you and great for the environment because you grew it hopefully all organically and saved gas money from going to the store to keep picking up fruits and vegies!
This one will not be for everyone, but ladies can look into alternative menstrual products like cloth pads and menstrual cups. Taken care of properly, they are perfectly sanitary and don't generate nearly as much waste as commercial pads and tampons. Ladies, think about how much you're throwing away over your lifetime!
Omit needless purchases. This tip is easy to achieve if you can leave your kids and/or significant other at home while you shop. Make a list and stick to it. So many of those "extras" end up in the garbage. And think of the money you'll save! You won't believe how much my yarn budget has increased because of this...
How about put out a rain barrel to use for watering your flowers/garden rather than city water?
I live on a college campus that puts out a newspaper three times a week. I keep the issues that I pick up and reuse the paper. I keep a bunch of it for when I need to pack to move, and I have a fair amount of fragile objects. I also use it as wrapping paper. It's even better when I can have the paper actually relate to what the present is.
Happy Earth Day to you too! My green tip is to plant a veggie garden. Even if it's a mini one set up in front of your kitchen windows. You'll save on groceries, and the gas to transport all those other veggies from across the country/globe. Plus, you can share the extras with neighbors and make new friends!
If you get the Sunday newspaper, save the comics and use them for wrapping paper on gifts, especially for kids and kids at heart.
hi please enter me into the giveaway. i take my 'green ' bag everywhere i go. today it had my yarn while at the dentist. then home and was my mailbag on our hike to get the mail. then i brought items to my MIL and put grinders in it from store-no plastic products, WAHOO
Yeah!! Thanks for being green!! I used only recycled and re-purposed items and have for over 35 years!
Shop at Half Price Books!! Yay! for recycled books! AND I can often find older knitting books for great prices (1/2 off or less in clearance).
Turn the water off when you are brushing your teeth, washing your face, etc. Leaving the water running wastes water, puts unnecessary water back in the water recycling system and increases your water bill!
Looking forward to seeing your book Ann. I've heard so many good things about it.
My green tip:
In order to keep from buying so many new clothes for my daughter, when my husband's old shirts have holes in them or aren't in good enough shape to give to Good Will, I make pajamas for my preschooler. She grows out of stuff so quickly that I can save money & keep from buying more stuff.
Trying to get a recycle program started in our small town. Kathy
callahanlarrym@gmail.com
My best green tip (although it has been mentined previously) is vinegar and bicarb for cleaning. Easy on the wallet too!
Plus there's so many other little changes we can make every day that are good for our environment - reusable shopping bags, freecycle, eating seasonally, growing our own food, organic pest control (garlic and dishwashing liquid is tops for aphids), second hand baby clothes (so quickly grown out of), washing line instead of dryer, opening doors and windows instead of AC, bicarb to absorb smells instead of artificial 'air fresheners'.....the list goes on!
Always use a stainless or ceramic coffee cup instead of paper or styrofoam. We also use reusable cups at lunch for our drinks-no more styrofoam cups at school.
Carol Stephen
I love love love the tin foil, baking soda and boiling water to clean silver.
I donate all my good items we no longer use to the Vets or to the American Cancer Society.
While it's not knitting related, my most recent 'greening' was to make cloth dinner napkins from a curtain panel that I didn't need in this house, but wasn't up in the last house long enough to fade the fabric. Also, bought some from a second hand store. Enjoy knitting dish towels and cloths from cotton yarn(no fossil fuel needed). Use old washcloths and cotton t-shirts for cleaning up, instead of paper towels. Buy organic and local.
Donna
sewlady003 At YahOo dot cOm
I like to go to thrift stores to purchase sweaters I can frog for yarn to make into dishcloths (from cotton) scarves and other wearables.
Thanks!
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com
Going green....to me means teaching my kids and listening to them. I love re-cycling out of date clothing and re-configuring them into "new" items...household and garment!
For Earth Day, I purchased a tree to plant in the yard.
After living in a motorhome fulltime for seven years, I learned to think twice - or even thrice (!) - before I bought something. Recyling is important, but if I don't bring it into the house in the first place I don't have to worry about recycling it later!
Other than that, I'll just echo previous posters. I knit dishcloths, use rags instead of paper towels, have almost all of the lightbulbs in the house switched over to CFLs. I have a big sensitivity to chemicals, so I use vinegar, baking soda, lemons and hot water for most of my cleaning.
One thing I haven't seen posted: I don't use shampoo or soap. I rinse my hair with plain water and use a loofah and water to bathe. This might seem extreme, but it does work and it keeps the chemicals away.
Check out classes at your local parks and rec on composting and gardening. They are wonderful resources to develop green home gardens and supply wonderful, fresh foods. One class even gives you a supply of worms to start your own home composting system.
Use a mug at work instead of those styrofoam cups at the coffee machine.
This one is pretty basic: Do not buy what you don't need. I mean really, really need.
And thrift stores are a great source of fiber, if you know how to look. :)
Save yarn ends and snippets of fiber, hang in recycled mesh bag used to hold onions or fruit, and hang outside for the birds to use as nesting material.
My green tip: Instead of nasty insecticides, put Borax on the ant-hills in your driveway or yard.
My tips: as many have said, thrift stores/craigslist. I use fabric softener sheets to clean-smell my trashcans. I just put one in the bottom and then I don't have to use the aerosol sprays on the trash. We also clean with vinegar in the showers instead of harsh cleaners. I use newspapers on my garden beds covered with grass clippings or straw to keep the weeds out - works better than spray killer and who wants that on their food!
My green knitting tip. Use what you have. I make a point of shopping my stash first, before I make a new purchase.
My non-knitting green tip is to assign each family member a color. Then they get a towel in that color. After bathing, the towel is hung to dry and can be reused several times before it needs to be laundered.
It also helps with arguements over whose towel is left on the floor.
My green tip: fix what you have.
I can make things last a lot longer than most of my friends do.
My green tips:
1) Eat a vegetarian diet to deduce your carbon footprint
2) Shop library book sales and antique stores
I don't use paper napkins anymore - I use pretty cloth ones that I have made.
I reuse old clothing to make purses, pillows, puppy toys, scrunchies for my nieces hair,etc.
And old jeans, with holes, or torn belt loops make great skirts, pocket purses, book covers for scrap books, and rag rugs... I spin my own yarn, but I use a lot of old fabric too. If it's not good enough to give to someone else to use/hand down, I find some use for it. No sense in throwing decent material away. (=
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