Tuesday 20 April 2010

Part 2: How to Have a Green Lifestyle

Recycle

When I lived in London, I lived in a neighborhood in East London,where there were no recylcing bins to even put your recycling in.I was pretty disgusted with the apathy of the local people.(It's not to say that all London neighborhoods are like this). I called the local Recyling Center and asked them to deliver the bins to our house. They were delivered within about a week. But, then you also have to encourage your other neighbors to RECYLCE. So, if you aren't recyling in your neighborhood or you live in apartment where the landlord has not called the Recyling Center, be proactive and call them yourself. Your neighbors will thank you.I think a lot more people would recyle if they had the bins and it was easier.


Given the state of the planet, everyone should be doing there share of recycling. But, there are some things that get thrown in the Trash that should have been RECYCLED. For example you can recycle your old sneakers by taking them to Nike Grind. Nike uses this material for playgrounds.


Grow Vegetable Garden

It's so much fun to have your own garden. You can have food all year round. Plus, you have pesiticide free vegetables and fruits. You also don't have to worry about wasting gas or commuting costs, which also contribute to air pollution and environmental destruction. It's best to have an
organic vegetable garden
and do your own composting.




Use Eco Friendly Cleaning Products

David Steinman, coauthor of The Safe Shopper's Bible, advises looking at labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage, rather than triclosan. You can also mix your own cleaners,a few safe, simple ingredients such as plain soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice, and borax can satisfy most household cleaning needs -- and save you money at the same time.


These products have the best results, and clean just as well as your brand name products.Remember, this is your home not a hospital.


In future blogs, I will be writing more on how to Make an Eco-Friendly Cleaning Kit and offering other solutions on how to clean your house, and your clothes,without damaging the environment.




Famers Markets

Going to Farmers Markets in your area where you live or if you are travelling is the best way to save on produce and also a great way to help the local farmers. Sometimes if you go late they will even give you a few deals. Going green shouldn't be all work and no play, and the best green cities celebrate their eco-friendly lifestyles with farmers' markets full of tasty (and unusual) treats, bars and restaurants serving the best organic fare, intriguing exhibits by ecologically minded artists, and music festivals that offer bike valet parking and solar-powered stages.



Santa Monica photo by clarity flickr





Borough Market London







L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax

L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax

Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening


Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening


More Eco Friendly Lifestyle tips in Green Bohemian Living!

Sunday 4 April 2010

Part 1: How to Have a Green Lifestyle

The best way to be GREEN is to incorporate good GREEN habits in your lifestyle.Once habits are so ingrained in your being things will be automatically second nature.We all have to be responsible for our own carbon footprint.



Ride a Bike

The best way to cut down on pollution and take hold of your carbon footprint is to ride a bike, instead of using a car.I haven't driven a car in nearly 6 years.
I didn't have to living Berkeley in 4 years, where they have the best transport system in the nation. Also, it's quite chic to ride your bike everywhere in Berkeley. I bought a vintage bike for $100, and I fell in love with riding it.
Riding bikes turned into a hobby and I actually would think deeply about my life and write poetry in my head while riding my bike.Plus, it's great excercise and to be out in the fresh air is such a positive feeling.Of course, if you live in Los Angeles, where there's the worst air and pollution in the nation, you might want to consider when and where you ride a bike, but by and by, ride a bike as much as you can.



Also, living in London, many people ride the tube and commute to work. Many people actually don't have cars, and being carless is no big deal.
The people that do have cars, many of them, ride bikes as much as possible. Whatever, the reason, try to incorporate riding a bike in your everyday life.






Put the cotton canvas in your purse
The best way to not use those silly plastic bags or even paper bags is to put a canvas bag in your purse or if you are a man stash it in your back pack. This way you always have it for unexpected runs to the store, or let's say you want to do some shopping if you are a woman. Well, now you have it. The planet organic store in London sells them for just 2.00.It's very chic instead of using those tacky bags.







Use Clothing at a Thrift Stores/Charity Shops
Shopping at thrift stores is an excellent way to save money. Not only that you will build a wardrobe on some unique clothing items. Sometimes, you can spot beautiful haute couture items to make you feel and look like a serious fashionista. One time, I found a Cynthia Rawley jacket for just $8 at a local thrift store in Los Angeles.Every time, I wore it I felt like a rock star.In Los Angeles, since there are many celebrities there are also just as many stylist.Celebrities will wear an outfit once or twice and donate it to charity or thrift stores. So there you go a gorgeous outfit for under $20. Not to mention, all the wonderful accessories you can buy so you can have unforgettable style.





Use Thermos



While I lived in London, often head down to Kensingston Gardens or Hyde Park and enjoy my Spanish omelet and my thermos of Earl Grey. This travel mug helps me save hundreds of paper cups from ruining the environment. Starbucks gives me .25 p off and I don't have to waste cups. Those paper cups, especially the Styrofoam cups have a lot of chlorofluorocarbons in them. This is very bad for the environment.
Bodum Travel Mug




Use Hemp


Use Hemp whenever you can. When you are decorating or re-decorating, think,HEMP. Hemp is extremely versatile, you can use it for curtains for your living room for a light and airy feel. You can use it for shower curtains, lining for just about anything, covering and pillow cases.If you don't like it's natural color, you may also dye it to suit your decor or the theme of your room.

Hemp is naturally one of the most ecologically friendly fabrics and also the oldest. Hemp has superior insulation properties. Natural organic hemp fiber 'breathes' and is biodegradable. Hemp blended with other fibers easily incorporate the desirable qualities of both textiles.
So Think Hemp!





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