http://www.tipbin.com Share what you know http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/506 A follow-up on my washer and dryer tip... donate your old washer and drier to a church or habitat for humanity. Tax right off and maybe you get to go to heaven, eh, eh. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:50:02 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/506 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/505 Although quite expensive, if you have money laying around, replace your old washer and dryer with a new large capacity/green machine. I did, and I promise I use half the amount of water and detergent. Plus, I do many fewer loads than I used to. So, I guess I will earn my money back in a few years. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:48:08 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/505 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/504 Have a kiddie pool you are going to throw out? Stop and fill it partly with dirt, organic matter and start planting your garden. It's just hard to move the darn thing (gets heavy) and if you live in the suburbs or city you'll be labeled as a red-neck... never stopped me before. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:25:35 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/504 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/503 If you shop at a large bulk food store, don't just recycle those 50 gallon barrels of mayo and pretzels, use them for your kid's or pet's toy storage. Also great for storing nails, potting dirt (poke holes in it for air purposes)... oh, and it makes for great planting containers. Your local hippie will think your pretty cool. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:23:27 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/503 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/502 Want to be really hip? Buy your fruits, veggies, meats. honey, flowers, herbs from a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture... it's a share program). Look it up. Plus, you may earn a discount if you give up some free labor. Hey, when is the last time you shoveled some sh*! Take your kids and show him/her where food really comes from. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:19:42 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/502 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/501 Listen, even old grumpy country folk agree. You may not be able to buy fresh greens and fruits in the dead of winter (at least in parts of the midwest/east coast). Just don't buy, for example, blueberries from South America (plus, they are packed way before appropriate harvest time and taste awful - I think). Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:15:43 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/501 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/500 Consider wind energy... you don't have to have a 20 story windmill in your back yard... they come in smaller sizes and pretty cool, I think. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:11:45 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/500 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/499 Compost bins come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and varieties... city, suburb, country folks can all get along now. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:09:20 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/499 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/498 Hey, my grandparents did this on regular basis: harvest your rain and storm water. Rain Barrels/Buckets can be attached to your downspouts. Use the water to wash your animals, cars, children, spouse - your garden will be bloomin' and healthy because you have water during the dry, hot months. If you live in the city, you may have zoning issues. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:07:44 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/498 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/497 Relax, the chemical Round Up is really not that bad. It does not stay in the soil after two weeks. Even my hippie, organic master gardener friends use Round Up. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:03:37 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/497 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/496 Take it easy with the weed killers. My favorite type of weed killer is my hand. In fact, I use none in my garden. If you plant enough and use annuals for filler, weeds will not be much of a problem. Plus, killing weeds with chemicals is really not easy... pre-emergent, post-emergent, etc. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:59:32 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/496 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/495 Worm composting: black gold/tea is what the bi-product is. Start with a few dozen or so red worms. Veggie waste, news paper shreds. Just follow the directions. My son and I did it for a while in a shoe box, but we forgot about it in the closet... but, I will do it again. It does not smell at all and you garden will love it. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:49:28 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/495 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/494 Composting your leaves is the easiest way to get into composting. If you are lucky enough to have an Oak or a Maple in your yard, your well on way. Be patient, though. It may take a season or two to really see some nice black, decomposed leaves. Your plants will love them. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:38:52 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/494 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/493 Composting is wonderful. May seem obvious, but do not compost or use pet poop (dog and cat). Listen, I know I'm not talking to you (of course) but people have done it and will become very ill. Plus, it's kind of weird. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:33:24 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/493 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/492 Using organic pesticides/herbicides/fungicides is probably better than traditional chemicals. But read the labels carefully. Many of the name brands will burn the leaves off your plants (no photosynthesis means a dead plant, may throw off your PH and really encourage pest and fungus problems - kind of defeats the purpose. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:30:47 +0000 http://www.tipbin.com/tips/detail/492