Posts filed under ‘It’s Simple’
Monthly Trivia Game: May
May Showers
Installing rain barrels on your home’s downspouts can help reduce water bills in warmer months. How many inches of rain does it take to fill a 55-gallon rain barrel?
A. 3 inches
B. 33 inches
C. .3 inches
Click here to submit your answer.
Rain on the Roof Can Mean Money in Your Pocket
Besides helping the environment, harvesting rainwater can also save you some other “green.” Depending on the size of your house and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system, making a big impact on your water bill. All those drops can be put to good use in your home and garden.
When warmer months roll around, municipalities may implement restrictions on water usage to ease the stress on underground aquifiers. Rainwater collection helps keep water available for days when access is limited. As no filtration system is required for water in landscape uses, you can take it directly from a rain barrel to your garden. And since rainwater is naturally soft—devoid of minerals, chlorine and other chemicals—plants respond very well, possibly improving the health of your lawn and trees.
Consult with a local conservation group or your hardware store for practical systems to use in your area. Bear in mind that uncovered containers pose risks for small children. Fine screens will keep wild and domestic animals from getting trapped in barrels or deter insects from breeding.
Click here to submit your answer to our May trivia question.
Infographic: 6 ways you can go green for Earth Day
On April 22, 1970, Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, called for an environmental teach-in, or Earth Day. Over 20 million people participated that year, and Earth Day is now observed on on that same date each year by more than 500 million people and several national governments in 175 countries. Moreover, that event aided the creating of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Clear Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
There are plenty of ways that we can make small changes in our everyday lives to benefit the environment and our own well-being. Check out our latest Earth Day infographic for green ideas and be sure to share with your friends!
Start Your Own Green Acres
Spring brings to mind growth and renewal, as well as the seasonal varietals of fruits and vegetables soon to be available at the market. For most of us, that is. In many cities, inadequate, unreliable and irregular access to food is a recurring problem. Urban agriculture has been a positive response to addressing those concerns. Households and small communities take advantage of vacant land and contribute not only to their household food needs but also the needs of their resident city.
Supplemental food production beyond rural farming operations is not a new concept. As early as 1893, Detroiters struck by the Depression were asked to use any vacant lots to grow vegetables. Nicknamed “Pingree’s Potato Patches,” then-mayor Hazen S. Pingree intended these gardens to provide income and food supply for the poor in times of hardship.
Generally practiced for income earning or food production, other communities find recreation and relaxation to be the primary motivation for urban farming. Social benefits have emerged as well: better health and nutrition, employment and food security.
If you’ve got the space, growing your own can save your household food dollars for other non-garden items. No green thumb? Explore your local farmers’ market for fresh, flavorful produce. You’ll boost the local economy and do your body a favor at the same time.
Image source: Wikipedia
Upcycling: To Everything There Is a Purpose
The term “recycling” has become rooted in our vernacular. But drop the word “upcycling” into conversation, and you may be met with a blank stare. Upcycling involves converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Though the word may be new, thrift is not a new concept.
Prior to the ’50s or so, upcycling was actually commonplace. Everything was used until it was in no way beneficial. Today’s upcyclers put just about anything they can find to good use. For example: tires and bike tubes are transformed into flip flops and belts; wooden pallets are fashioned into furniture and flooring; broken guitar strings evolve as jewelry; juice boxes get new life as handbags.
It’s unlikely you have the means to remanufacture your own stuff. But before discarding an unused item, try to think of another purpose for it. If you can’t, consider donating to thrift centers (such as Salvation Army or Goodwill) or even church rummage sales. Find a FreeCycle Network™ in your neighborhood where you can give unwanted goods to folks who may need them, reducing waste and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
A Game with Purpose
Welcome to our 2012 calendar trivia game! Continuing our “Simplicity” theme, join us as we challenge ourselves to find ways where we can make a difference by following the core principles of Forgotten Harvest: to repurpose. A little redirection of thought and actions can effect big changes.
Each page of our 2012 calendar features an environmental trivia question. That question is also shown here on our blog. Go to the column at the right to submit your answer. One winner per month will be selected at random from correct entries. The winner will be notified by contact information provided on the submission form.
Resolve to Reduce
You’re probably still recovering from overindulging at your holiday meals. If so, count your blessings! The number of people still struggling to put basics on their tables is staggering, and the need for emergency food relief services is growing.
As you formulate your meal plans and grocery lists this year, give some thought to making the most of your purchases. Seek out imaginative ways to reuse leftovers to minimize waste. Pack your lunch for work to use up remainders rather than dining out. Starting that weight loss program? Smaller portions may not only reduce your waistline, they may also cut back on food overruns. And you can always freeze surplus for a rainy day.
Don’t like reheats? Become a composting enthusiast. Save your citrus rinds, apple peels and other fruit skins/trimmings, dry them on a rack or food dehydrator and make homemade potpourri. If you can’t think of ideas on your own, there are numerous web sites and blogs devoted to the subject that can help. Repurposing possibilities are endless!
