Grow Baby, Grow!

One of the most exciting and rewarding sustainable things at our home is our kitchen garden. Our garden is modest in size with very high ambitions! I’ve had four summers with the garden and each year I try something new. Though I read books, articles, blogs like an overachiever in a Harvard Law class, the truth is I usually just go with my gut. This is sometimes good…sometimes bad.

Planting a kitchen garden can be done anywhere. For my friends living the urban lifestyle fresh herbs, lettuce, even peppers can be grown indoors. Plant in a sunny window box or a few small planters on a window sill.

Do you have a small yard? Pick a spot, could be in the front, could be on the side and plant a tomato or a zucchini plant. Not only will you have the joy of eating the vegetables but the plants themselves create a beautiful rich landscape. Speaking of tomatoes, I generally plant 5 – 6 tomato plants because, well quite honestly, I love them. Sidebar: Plant what you love! You'll never see a celery stalk in my yard, want to know why? Because it is the devil's vegetable!! Oops, back to tomatoes. I choose different varieties. This year I included, two Black Krim and a Purple Cherokee, plus a tomatillo plant.

Always remember to be patient with your garden. I don’t use any commercial fertilizers because I do eat the food I grow and I want to know it is safe. I use the most amazing tools I have, my hands, to do all the weeding. In the spring I turn my soil and add organic compost to it. I use both the compost material I have on hand (leaves, grass clippings, etc) and manure. The first year I had old tree roots and rocks to contend with. There wasn’t a single worm to be found. But the area where my garden was hadn’t been planted in a long time, so I took a chance. My first year yielded an amazing amount of tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and lettuce. In fact there was so much that in the fall we were picking green tomatoes for preserving. Two years ago I purchased and planted a blackberry bush, and waited and nurtured, and waited. This year is the first year with actual fruit!

Every year since the first the soil has become richer. The earthworms are more in abundance. And I’m contending with less roots and rocks. I don’t test my soil as so many blogs and books recommend. I look at it. The richness of your soil is very obvious, as is the ease of turning. This makes the red face, sore back and endless dirty socks so worth it!

If you're thinking now it is too late for you to venture into the world of kitchen gardening I will tell you I once completely would have agreed. Now I realize it is never too late. Vegetables and greens are amazingly versatile and can be planted at different times during the years. I just planted lettuce and pea seeds to harvest at the end of the summer beginning of fall.

Don’t be shy with your garden! Try different things. Include flowers with your veggies! Oh the power of a marigold! It is a natural bug repellent! I also have noticed a certain bunny is avoiding my garden this year now that I surrounded it with the marigolds. Plant flowering perennial herbs like chives in the corners of your garden. I love my chives and their purple puffs! I planted oregano in my front garden and it took off! Plus flowers will attract the right kinds of visitors like bees!

50 Shades of Ahhhhhhh....

New Englanders LOVE to ask about the weather. Most recently we had a few days of triple digit temperatures. It had everyone answering the question, “How is it out there?” with, “It’s a real scorcher.”

When temperatures here reach “scorcher” level windows are adorned with air conditioning units. But not every home goes through this trouble. After all, we are New Englanders and if we “lived for 40 years in this house without air conditioning, we’re not going to start now.” (thanks Mom) How do these homes stay cool in this oppressive heat? Well, growing up in a home without A/C taught me a few tips that I use in our home now. On moderately warm days these tips keep our home cool and comfortable. Not to mention keep our electric bill lower.

First tip – Close your windows and your blinds! Our home is south facing so in the morning on those scorcher days I make sure to close the blinds tight. My mom taught me as a kid to close you blinds so the smooth side is on the outside. This creates a better reflective service for the sun.

Second tip – Install ceiling fans. Our home has a second level and in the rooms upstairs there are ceiling fans. These are great at night for circulating air while we sleep or work. The fan on the right speed and the window open can actually get chilly on certain nights.

Third tip – Open the right windows at the right time. When temperatures outside start to cool off, usually in the evening, open the windows. We live on a hill and have the most amazing breeze that is pretty constant. The windows that I like to leave open are on the second floor. It keeps the temperature up there bearable and allows the natural flow of air to feel like air conditioning.

Fourth tip – Ice Cream!!! Ok, well not just ice cream, but eating cooler foods and drinking cooler beverages will actually help you feel more comfortable in your home. Plus you have an excuse to always have Raspberry Sorbet sitting in your freezer. You can take your sorbet and a good book out in to the yard, sit in the shade and enjoy being outside, ahhhhhhhhhhh….

When it comes down to it, if the temperatures outside are truly at death con scorcher level, you may not have any other choice but to run the A/C. We have two very furry little kitties who on those days need to be provided with relief. The best thing is to set your units at a temperature within the 70 degrees range, whatever is comfortable for your home. Close your windows and blinds. If your unit comes with a clock, set the timer. If you know the hottest time of the day is going to be from 11am – 2pm, set your unit to run then. I like to make sure I have unplugged as much as I can on these days to cut down on the electricity.

The Big Green Dream

Buying our first (and hopefully only) home was the most stressful even of my life. I had these nightmares where I was frantically trying to fax forms over to the bank but the fax machine would delete the signatures on the forms. I’d jump up from a deep sleep and have an urge to review the paperwork over and over again. Even our closing felt frantic. And it took me about a week with the keys in hand to realize, no one would take our little dream home away from us.


We bought a small home. It is described as a bungalow style house but “bungalow” for me isn’t how you describe our home. It was the only home we walked in to that felt as if it had known mostly and primarily joy. It had been loved for a long time and in turn the house had loved its owners.


One of the things that the hubz and I had discussed prior to finding our forever home was that I wanted a home we could make sustainable, with the ultimate green dream being a home that was powered by a renewable energy. And I REALLY hoped/ wanted that renewable energy to be solar.


For any one who has ever looked in to solar you know the expense can be far out of reach. Mmmm, strike that…not far…galactically out of reach! That is it used to be galactically out of reach.


My hubz is an amazing studious individual. He is a fan of reading and reads everything, including and thankfully one of the major newspapers in our state. He was perusing the paper on line one fine day over a year ago and came across an article about leasing solar panels. LEASING SOLAR PANELS!! We could do that. One phone call to Sunrun Home and we were meeting with a representative. Our house was reviewed, shade was analyzed and on April 22, 2011 (don’t think the meaningfulness of the date is lost on me) we signed and faxed our contract to have solar panels installed on our home.


Excitement doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. The big green dream was going to become a big green reality. When you sign on to lease solar panels, the beauty is you don’t have to do any of the paperwork…they do! You don't need to do anything to maintain or care for the panels. They are monitored and maintained by the company. You reap the energy rewards without doing much effort. We were fortunate to have to pay $0 down for our panels and $0 for the installation. OK folks…do that math…we had solar panels purchased and installed for $0 + $0 = $0!! The company who did the installation is a local company, Alteris Renewables. The fine dudes from Alteris were professional, courteous, and beyond well informed. They were great guys who really loved what they were doing.


The leasing part comes in once the panels are generating electricity. We pay a small rate per kilowatt of generated electricity. Our solar electricity goes right in to the grid, we pay our electric company only after we have used more than we generated. Our last electric bill was a credit of $12. You read that correct…a credit of $12.


Our little, classic, bungalow style home, is an electricity generating machine! You’re welcome neighbors!!


Check your states, search for leasing agencies in your area. Visit http://www.sunrunhome.com and see if they are in your area. Become a powerhouse of renewable energy! Recognize your BIG GREEN DREAM!!

Defining My Simplicity

I just finished reading Less Is More,http://www.amazon.com/Less-More-Embracing-Simplicity-Happiness/dp/0865716501, a book containing essays about simple living or voluntary simplicity. I have a strong interest in "voluntary simplicity" and its part in sustainable living and because of this seek out these types of collections. That being said this book offers a perspective that is well argued and articulated, which could reach beyond your average "treehugger", if you will.

While reading through the essays, I took time to think about my own living. How would I define my own simplicity? Can I define it? And finally, can I live by my own definition? The more I thought about the more I realized that simple living is well with in reach for all of us. And in fact I could define and live it without effort. That in and of itself should define simplicity - without effort. Most importantly I had to decide for myself do I live simply by having less? Or do I live simply by having enough?

I'm not Amish. Nor do I believe that living without modern conveniences is a choice I can make. Clearly, by using the interwebs to put this out there I am embracing the most modern of modern common activities. However, I know I can make a choice to not run out the door to purchase the latest and greatest of whatever new electronic toy exists. What I have is enough, for me. I don't want more, and I can live off less, if I need to. My focus now changes to how do I take enough and make it efficient?

We lease solar panels for our home. I'm not willing to live without electricity, again, I'm not Amish. By putting solar panels on our home we took electricity, a necessary convenience, and made it efficient and sustainable for our little home. I unplug appliances before leaving our home in the morning and when I'm finished watching television at night I turn off the power strip. These activities come without any effort and help define my simplicity.

Taking the time to put thought in to my simplicity was effortless and worth it. I'd invite everyone to take a moment and think about how you would define your simplicity. Can you say out loud "I have enough" and mean it? Once you say it, can you change from wanting more to enjoying your moments? When I say, I have enough, I enjoy my time with my family and friends. That moment where everyone erupts in laughter. Having enough makes the afternoon spent at the beach with my nephew and nieces, much sweeter.

If 2012 were your last year on earth?

In just a few days it will officially be 2012. For some of the masses this is it, the last year! The end of civilization as we know it. And let's be honest, after this year, maybe civilization needs this kind of wake up call! In most recent years (decades) humankind seems to be the "destructors" of life. As an advanced species we kind of, well, suck! If 2012 were my last year on earth, I'm not sure I would spend it any differently, but I am sure I would want to leave it better than how I found it. Even if the general area I leave better is our little occupation, or our home. That way if 2012 isn't the last year on earth, 2013 will be off to a great start!!

New Year Resolutions for a Sustainable You!

1. Commit to one Meatless Day Have you heard of Meatless Mondays? They're catching on everywhere. Universities, school districts, businesses, even entire towns, are committing to one meat free day. And Meatless Monday is just so darn catchy! And this isn't a commitment to eat salad for an entire day. You can explore and enjoy menus and recipes that don't have meat as their center. Consider making Meatless Mondays a culinary adventure!

2. Reduce your indoor toxins Try to rid your house of at least two toxic cleansers in 2012. Just TWO will make a difference. Windex can easily be replaced with a white vinegar, water mix. Have ants? Get rid of the Raid and replace it will soap...yes SOAP! Use the power of the internets (intended) and search for non-toxic household cleaners. There are enzyme based cleaners that are just as powerful as your chemical based cleaners. But they're not harmful to you, your pets or your kids.

3. Start a garden Growing your own food is so rewarding! You don't need a green thumb to grow tomatoes or beans. Lettuce and kale can be grown in a flower box! If you chose to grow, grow organic. Pick organic seeds or go to a local farm for starter plants. Build a compost to reduce your waste. Plants love decaying plants to feed on! Take pictures of what you sow and show them off!! Share your veggies! Actually, share your veggies with me! I'll trade!

These are just three simple ideas for this new (and possibly last) year! But this isn't where the ideas stop. I just think it is better to pick simple things to change instead of committing to big changes. Three simple changes can be the equivalent of one super - uber change! For me, one day out of the weekend I will not drive the car. Driving over 80 miles a day is more than enough car time for anyone!

Happy New Year!

Hello LONG weekend!!

Some of us are on the brink of a well deserved long weekend! Days like this are notoriously hard to focus on actually getting work done. My mind is on table settings, baking and cooking. There are worse things to be thinking about. Of course now I'm hungry...

In getting ready to leave work and tackle the commute home tonight, I'm thinking about how to set my office up for the weekend. Here are some things I will be doing to lesson the impact my little office will have while I am not here.

1. Unplug for the weekend. If you know you will be away for an extended period of time, unplug or turn off the equipment you won't be using. For me I will turn off and unplug my surge protector. There is no need for my radio and computer to be plugged in for four days. Four days...doesn't that sound like a mini vacation!!

2. Empty the clutter. I will be emptying my recycling box and cleaning out. That way when I return my office will clean and ready for me to start fresh. If you've been holding off on replacing your ink cartdige do it before you leave. Take the empty cartridge to a office supply retail store that will recycle it for you. Some will even give you money for each cartridge!

3.Close your blinds. If you are fortunate to have a window in your office, before you leave for the weekend, close the blinds. Closing the blinds helps to keep the heat in your office.

4. Turning the heat down. If you are the last to leave tonight, turn the thermostat down. No need to keep the office heated if there are no bodies that need to stay warm. Making this a habit on your way out will actually help your bottom line.

5. Lights off for the weekend. Finally, it may seem like common sense but so often people forget to simply turn the lights off. In offices especially we tend to think someone else will get it. Well, elect yourself to be "someone else" and just turn them off. If someone needs the light on they will be more likely to turn it off when they exit if the lights were off when they entered.

These are just a few simple office tips before leaving for your long weekend. Or really any weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! And happy mini-vacation for some of us!

Frugalocasaurus Greenovaraus

My nephew loves dinosaurs. I'm not sure he has discovered the 'Frugalocasaurus Greenovaraus'. This particular species though difficult to spot has become more and more popular. The more common name is the 'Frugal Greenie', not to be confused with the 'Cheapasaurus Manivore'.

I know a lot of people tend to feel that being "green" costs more than it's worth. I'm not sure where or how this idea came to be but in fact being green can also be frugal. It's in the motto..."Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"! Now let's be realistic do I bring my travel mug in to every coffee shop I go to? No. But I make an effort and have noticed that this pays off (pun intended). Here are some tips and ideas that are also main habits of the 'Frugal Greenie'.

1. Toss the dryer sheets and get on the ball! I haven't used a dryer sheet in years. I bought a set of dryer balls at a discount store and have never looked back. I've also had them for almost three years. Well worth the $2.99 I spent on them. The dryer balls reduce static, keep the clothes nice and fluffy and now most dryer balls can be purchased scented in case you enjoy the scent of your dryer sheets. Now I know that dryer sheets can be used for so many other things but come on, when is the last time you put one in your pocket to keep mosquitoes away? Seriously?

2. Bring a little class to the office lunch. I use cloth napkins with my lunch. My mom had given me a few old cloth napkins that had been my grandmother's. They're nothing fancy but they do the trick. I use them at breakfast and lunch in the office. In fact they are a permanent fixture in my lunch bag. I don't spend that much money on paper napkins and I'm reducing my waste at the office. Plus everyone knows cloth napkins equal CLASSY!

3. With napkins comes utensils. The internets (intentional) has so many bamboo travel utensils and biodegradable utensils that you can use at the office, in your kid's lunches, etc. But why not bring a set of utensils in to your office and leave them there. I have in my little cabinet a large coffee mug which also seconds as a bowl, a spoon and a fork. Everything I need to make it through the meals I have at work. Fortunately my office recycles but not every office does. After a week or so of being in the office and using paper towels to dry off my utensils I brought in a dish towel from home to keep in the office for when I do my dishes. I don't have to by boxes of plastic utensils to keep at my desk (saving) and I don't waste the plastic or paper towels.

4. Reusable drinking apparatus. I know everyone knows about travel mugs and reusable water bottles. And I know that you can't always have either with you but having it with you makes a difference. A lot of major coffee chains, as well as smaller ones, will charge you less when you bring in your travel mug. As for the water bottle don't be afraid of bringing that water bottle with you everywhere and filling it up at any tap. Tap water is better regulated than bottled water PLUS it's free! Cha-CHING!

5. FIRE..starter! This is one I haven't tried yet but I do plan on doing this going forward. I also tried to find where I had read this because there were other great frugal tips that went with it but alas memory (both mine and the computers) have failed you. On with the frugality! Take the lint from your dryer trap and stuff it in to a used toilet paper roll. Once successfully stuffed use it as a fire starter! Considering how much money we can and do spend on kindling and other commercial fire starters, this can save so much. Plus using your fireplace wisely can reduce the need for running your furnace on those nights where there is just a chill in the air. As far as I can see this is a win, win for the earth and for my big ol' bag o' money!

These are four tips that I am doing daily. Once the habits were formed these were all so easy for me to do every day. This fifth tip is one I plan on trying and am looking forward to a positive outcome. I like to take the money I save and celebrate 'Bagel Day' every Friday. 'Bagel Day' for this 'Frugalocasaurus Greenovaraus' is the perfect ending to my work week!