The Compost Wizard

This is the new Composter we bought for Bluemoon Farm. It is called Compost Wizard, a 12 cu. ft. tumbler composter.  It is made from 98% recycled materials and comes fully assembled. We put it out by the garden, in a sunny spot to ensure it stays hot, (between 95 degrees and 160 degrees)!

Compost bin outside the fenced garden area

I have started getting the composter composting (?) by adding 1/3 green – nitrogen rich composting material such as eggshells, parts of fruit and vegetables, grass cuttings etc to 2/3 Brown – carbon rich composting matter such as paper, cardboard, straw or hay, wood chips and dried leaves or grass.  After I put matter in, I turn the tumbler at least once a week and when ever I add new items.

Composting matter inside the tumbler

It takes any where from 4 to 6 weeks to break down the materials into something brown, moist, and soil like with an earthy smell, kind of like DIRT! When you add new ingredients, it takes 2 to 4 weeks for those to break down. So far, it has only been about 2 weeks and I have been adding things so I have not started my count down yet. I will let it set after I get it about 2/3 full and just turn it without adding more material. I let you know what happens!!

1. Reel Lawn Mowers: What is that? Well reel lawn mowers are muscle-powered, no engine required. Using them not only conserves energy but also helps keep the air cleaner!

2. Cut Back on Lawn Space: If you have a large front or back yard, you might consider filling the space with more areas that do not require mowing, wildflower beds, rock gardens, native ornamental grass beds or a even a fish pond. Lawns require more watering than planting beds. In watering planting beds comprised of individual plants, you can target the watering better (using drip irrigation, for instance), thereby promoting water conservation.

3. Reducing Chemical Herbicides: Ralph Waldo Emerson once said ” What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered” Indeed, one of the best chemical-free approaches to weed control may simply be to control our intolerance toward weeds. If we re-evaluate the weeds in our yards, seeing if maybe we might have overlooked the “virtue” here or there.

4. Edible Landscaping: Blueberry bushes, fruit trees, edible “weeds”. From berry bushes to Apple trees and even in the case of some weeds, incorporating edible plants in your yard can be one of the simplest and practical ways to be eco-friendly with your landscaping.

With just a little bit of work and some of these tips, I bet I could start making my yard and landscape even “Greener” than it was last spring. If you have some tips for a “Greener” yard, let us know.

Since it is oh so cold but it is almost February and warmer weather will be just around the corner in March (hopefully), I thought I would do some sprucing up around our house. Touching up the paint on walls and trim or better yet, painting a wall an entirely different color, can gives your home a whole new feel.

I ran across some ways to be planet friendly and preserve the paints I use. Here are some of those ideas:

1. Keep paints stored in moderate temperatures in the home, a closet or pantry. Temperature lows and highs can cause the ingredients in paint to separate. Extended exposure to extremes can make the separation so severe that no amount of shaking and stirring will restore the paint’s texture.

2. Don’t paint from the can. Pour paint into an open bucket or a roller pan and dip your brush or roller in that. The fewer items you stick into the paint can, the less likely the paint is to become contaminated.

3. Keep paint cans closed as much as possible while you’re working. at the end of the day, put a piece of plastic wrap over the top before securing the lid to help create an airtight seal.

4.When saving leftover paint, make sure the can lid is on tight, then turn the can upside down to create an airtight seal and to avoid the formation of a “skin” of thickened paint on top.

5. Keep some paint in a baby food jar or canning jar for touch ups. It saves opening a gallon of paint each time you need to use just a little.

Now that I own an e-reader, I started to wonder if it is eco-friendly to use one of these or better to buy the books. Here is what I found out…

The current book ordering system in the U.S. encourages bookstores to order more books than they could every really sell. This certainly increases the number of published copies but it also creates more returns. You not only have all the resources that go into producing the book, as in the printing , packaging , shipping and the paper (from trees), you also have the cost of shipping, gas and packaging to return it back to the publisher. For some Publishers, it isn’t worth the expense for the bookstores to return the books, so they have the store strip the covers and return only that for credit, they then throw away the rest of the book. That leaves about a third of the mass market paperbacks that are printed being dumped in a landfill without ever being read!

Amazons Kindle Electronic Book Reader

Here’s an excerpt from an article about reading on a computer vs. printing out an article to read it;

“The contrast is quite convincing, one-tenth of a pound of greenhouse gas emissions from reading the document on the computer, versus almost one-quarter of a pound of greenhouse gas emissions for printing it out!”

Another article lays out the environmental impact of reading a newspaper on a reader and reading the New York Times on an e-reader. Their conclusion;

“Reading the physical version of the NY Times for a year uses 7300 MJ of energy and emits 700 kg of CO2. Reading it on a Kindle uses 100 MJ energy and emits 10kg of CO2.”

Are e-book readers the perfect answer? No, There are problems with energy consumption, the raw materials used to make them and the best way to dispose of an old e-reader, but the technology to reduce the “carbon footprint” that e-readers leave on the environment is improving. They may soon be considered “carbon neutral”…

There are various e-readers for sale and I would recommend Amazon.com to compare prices;

For those who love the feel of the paper and the smell of a new book, e-readers may not be for you, but as time goes on, the e-reader will become a more eco-friendly way to read the printed word. What do you think?

How about using a living tree as your Christmas Tree this year. I am talking about an in the pot, alive when you decorate it, alive at the end of the holidays tree. Living Christmas trees are becoming more popular because of their many advantages over other types of Christmas trees.

Some of the biggest advantages of using living Christmas trees are the lessening of fire hazard, their future use in the landscape and the fact that they may often be used more than one year as a living Christmas tree in the home. Living Christmas trees offer year-round beauty when planted in the landscape after Christmas and can also serve as outdoor Christmas trees for many years to come. Planted in the landscape living trees also become a yearly source for cut greens to use during the holiday season.

Left planted in containers, the living Christmas tree may be moved from one area to another during the holiday season. However, because most living trees used for Christmas trees are fast growing, they should not remain in a container for more than two years.

The fragrance of many of the living trees is very pleasant when they are used in the home. The varieties of pines have an especially nice aroma.

There are a few important steps to follow for best results in caring for a living Christmas tree in the home.

1. Line the tub or container in which you place a living tree with plastic, waterproof paper or foil to keepexcess water from dripping through onto your floor or carpeting.

2. Be sure to water the tree regularly while it is being used in the home. By using a sandy loam soil, mixed with ample moist, not soaking wet, peat moss, packed around the root ball in the container, you will 1 lessen the frequency of watering.

3. Avoid direct contact of hot Christmas lights with the needles of a living tree, as the heat from some lights will sometimes burn the needles, slightly discoloring them. The newer low watt lights are seldom hot enough to burn needles.

4. Keep the living tree in the home for about seven to ten days only. Prolonged exposure to warm household temperatures would force new growth to develop on the tree and this growth would be apt to freeze when the tree was transplanted outdoors after Christmas.

5. Living trees should not be sprayed with colored Christmas paint or snow. After Christmas, if the weather should happen to be very cold place the living tree in the basement or garage where it is cool, but not below freezing, for a few days only: Then, when the weather improves, the tree is taken out of the container and planted into the garden.

The following is a list of a few of the most popular types of trees that are used as living Christmas trees.

NORWAY SPRUCE -, One of the most popular living trees. It is a stiff, pyramidal tree with dark green foliage. Often used in the garden by itself, or in groups, or as a trimmed hedge or wind break.

COLORADO BLUE-GREEN SPRUCE – Another very popular living Christmas tree, Very stiff, beautiful formal tree with green or blue-green foliage. Koster’s and Moerheim spruce are a beautiful silvery blue in color, but not generally as well-formed as the Colorado blue-greens The spruce varieties are most often used as specimen trees because of their individual beauty.

ALBERTA SPRUCE – Grows only about six to eight feet at maturity, It is a stiff conical, tight-growing spruce. Excellent for a small table, living Christmas tree and is very suitable for year-round container growing. New foliage in the spring is a soft chartreuse color. An excellent miniature living Christmas tree.

DOUGLAS FIR – Dark green foliage is dense and handsome. Native to the Northwest, the Douglas Fir grows well in most any soil except low, undrained swampland. An excellent tree for sunny or shady locations. A fine, soft-textured tree that is often used for screens and hedges, or as a specimen tree. Boughs are used for swags, wreaths and general holiday decorating.

WHITE FIR – Abies Concolor – The foliage is gray-blue. Growth is approximately 12 to 18 inches per year when the tree becomes established. Simple pruning will control the height of this tree. Boughs are excellent for holiday decorating. It makes a nice specimen tree, or is excellent for screening and hedging in the garden.

ALPINE FIR – Often called silver fir, the foliage is dark green with a silvery-green color underneath. Shape is generally irregular unless the trees are nursery grown locally.

NOBLE FIR – A symmetrical, pyramidal tree with darkest green foliage, bluish-gray on the tips and silvery-green underneath. One of the finest living trees for use during the holiday season.

SCOTCH PINE – One of the most popular pines for a living Christmas tree. The needles are a bluish-green color. Boughs are often used in wreaths and swags.

Local nurseries and garden centers have great selections of living trees during the holiday season, many of which are already planted in containers.

Living Christmas tree costs are comparable with the cost of most cut trees, and after the holiday season, you can plant a tree for the new year!

Try a Living Christmas Tree

Image by Our City Forest

Merry Christmas and Heres to a Greener New Year!

Green Resolutions for the New Year

1. Plant more plants in the yard, in the community, on the planet:

Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. Trees also absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. Check out this site if you don’t have space to plant a tree around your home:  Trees for the Future

2. Reduce my use of an automobile:

We have now become a one car family. With just my husband and I, it seems to be working out for us. We have found that we don’t need two cars. We also own two bikes and are in good health so walking is also an option. So far so good. There really is no need to drive short distances, I recommend getting a bike or if you have the money, an electric scooter.

3. I am absolutely going to start using my eco-friendly/reusable grocery bags:

I have them, they are in the car; I am going to take them into the store, I mean it!!

4. Any new appliances we buy will be the energy star variety:

As we get into the new year, any item we need to replace we will research and purchase the most energy efficient  item. First on the list, our electric can opener is near its end. My choice, an old fashion hand crank can opener. Not as quick but we just don’t use that many can goods, so I think it will work.

5. Recycle…. More!

Reduce our purchase of packaged products and buy more bulk with less extra wrap! Don’t forget to make lots of visits to Our Everyday Earth.com in 2010, we hope to make a difference in our lives and others by passing on as much earth friendly information and ways to simplify your life.

There you have it, my top 5. What about you? Leave a comment on any resolutions you think might help out planet.

Instead of planting yourself in front of the TV for the day, well maybe just for the Football game, consider getting out some and getting fresh air or play a board game. Take advantage of the time together with family while decreasing your energy usage.

If you are going to someone else’s home for dinner, consider turning down the thermostat and turning off the lights to save energy at home while you are gone.

Don’t forget to recycle. Encourage everyone to pitch in and put the recyclables in bins. Recycling all the packaging from the fixings for the meal, as well as any beverage containers, will significantly reduce the number of times you have to take the trash out, as well as the amount of garbage you send to the landfills.

Using all of those LEFTOVERS is super green

When you decorate that table, use produce, leaves, acorns and branches, bring the outdoors in and use your good dishes instead of paper plates, that of course goes without saying!

We have so much to be thankful for here in Texas. Sharing time with family and being in the company of the ones we love. Hope your Holiday is a wonderful one.

Photo by: Momster

Its almost Halloween and along with the season comes the carving of the pumpkin.  The pumpkin carving ritual isn’t complete until you have cleaned out all those seeds. Here is a great idea, recycle and reuse them, by roasting them in the oven. Roasted pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrition and low in carbs. For 1/4 cup, it is about 5 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber. They have a nutty flavor and are packed with protein. You can salt them or better yet flavor them with your favorite sweet or savory spice. The smell and crunch of roasted pumpkin seeds will add  new dimensions to the carving experience!! Of course when possible, by an organically grown pumpkin for organic roasted seeds!

Here are the directions to roast those seeds!

Ingredients:

Photo by: kzimmer

• Pumpkin or squash seeds
• If you want to add salt or seasonings, you’ll need a bit of oil so it will stick

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

1) Clean the pulp off the pumpkin seeds, and dry with paper towels.

2) If desired, toss with a little olive or other oil. You only need enough to barely coat, otherwise, they will be greasy. Add salt and any kind of seasoning you want – garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, dried chili powder, or whatever sounds good to you!

3) Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the seeds out in one layer.

Bake for 3-5 minutes, until seeds just start to color and are fragrant. Sometimes I use a longer but safer method of using a lower temperature. If you roast the seeds at 250 degrees F., you don’t have to watch them as carefully. It takes about 45 -60 minutes.

By the way, did you know the origin of carving pumpkins? The story of the Jack o’Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the Earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern.”

Fall has arrived here in Texas. The cooler weather makes me think about the holidays and decorating. There are so may ways you can dress up your house for fall, Harvest parties and the holidays in a eco-friendly way. Here are just a few ideas ideas, if you have others, let me know.

• Table fashions: Dress your table to the nines with eco-friendly, reusable table fashions including tablecloths, skirts, and napkins. Options made from sustainable fibers like bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton will amp up the greenness even more.
• Eco-dinnerware: Don’t clog your trash bin with disposable dishes, cutlery, and cups. Instead, choose table tools that are reuseable, recycled or biodegradable
• Living decorations: Opt for live herb or flowering plants in pretty pots for centerpieces. Or, display an artful arrangement of branches, leaves, dried flowers and stones from your yard or garden or a colorful bowl of fruit.
• Organic bouquets: Can’t live without vibrant blossoms? Seek out organic or local flowers to add a blooming green quality to your event.
• Ban on balloons: Find alternatives to balloons, especially those released outdoors. Even when released far inland, balloons can travel hundreds and even thousands of miles, ending up in the ocean where they kill marine life. If you can’t live without them, choose to play with balloons indoors, being careful to dispose of them properly once the party is over (in the garbage, that is).
• Finishing touches: Add the final touches to your special event with eco-friendly party decorations. Instead of disposable streamers, opt for reusable ribbon, scarves, or beads. Light the room with natural candles, and opt for banners and signs that can be re-purposed at future celebrations. If reusable items aren’t readily available, just be sure to opt for recyclable options—that means foil and vinyl balloons, signs, and confetti are out.

Going Green in the Fall

After the Partys over, you can continue the green with these clean up hints:

• Recycle: Put disposable soda bottles, beer cans, and wine containers into your recycle bin along with any paper, plastic, and tin waste.
• Compost: Whether it’s leftover food or decorations, much of what remains can be composted. This simple act will cut your greenhouse gas emissions while producing rich, organic matter for your garden.
• Green clean-up: Wash your reusable table linens in natural laundry detergent. Your dishes can be soaped up using eco-friendly soaps, too.
• Away for another day: Keep and reuse decorations for future functions, like tablecloths, streamers, banners, and candles.

The information for this article came from the wonderful Green Your weblog and is reproduced here under the creative commons license.

Did you know that a whopping 46 percent of home energy use is actually energy loss! In other words, there is no productive energy use at all! Here are 10 simple ways of reversing this energy lose, by changing some old habit and starting some new ones! Check out this list, these are some very simple solutions to save energy and reduce carbon emissions for the planet. Some of them will even save you money!
Thanks to climatecrisis.net and The Home Energy Diet (New Society Publishers, 2005), for many of the carbon savings figures.

10 Tips to Save Energy (and Money) in Your Home

1. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year.

2. Cook with a slow cooker or a toaster oven (or even a solar oven!) to reduce electrical use from kitchen appliances. For a meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven, and which uses 2.7 pounds of C02, a crockpot uses 0.9 pounds of C02 for seven hours, a toaster oven takes 1.3 pounds of C02 for 50 minutes, and a microwave only 0.5 pounds of C02 for 15 minutes of cooking. A solar cooker requires NO C02!

3. Switch to a laptop instead of using a desktop computer and cut three-quarters off your electrical use. Turn off the laptop at the end of the day.

4. Switch to cold water washing and save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated $60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save 700 pounds of C02 a year.

5. Plug anything that can be powered by a remote control or that has a power cube transformer (little black box) into a power strip, and turn it off, and/or unplug, when not in use. (Power cubes are 60-80 percent inefficient.)

6. Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45 percent. Stop using heat-producing halogen lamps (they can also be fire hazards). Install occupancy or motion sensors on outdoor lights.

7. Switch to compact fluorescent from regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.

8. Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket and save 1,000 pounds of C02 a year. Insulate your hot water pipes.

9. Use public transportation whenever possible, carpool, shop locally, and ideally switch to a hybrid or energy-efficient car (if you haven’t already).

10. Keep your tires inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent. Every gallon you save also saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.