Got Leaves? Get Composting!

Have you ever met a kid who didn't love jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves? I certainly haven't! So with a beautiful fall weekend almost within reach, it's time to rev up you rakes and get ready for some weekend fun. And after your kids get finished smashing the leaves to smithereens, be sure to add any leftover bits to your compost pile. Composting is the ultimate recycler, turning your yard waste and kitchen scraps into usable (and sought after) plant food. If you don't already have one, this is the perfect time to get started.

Why Compost?

1. Save Money: Why pay money for plant food and fertilizers when you can make your own with some broken down leaves and newspapers. Composting is not as hard as you think and it can save you a fortune in yard care products.
   
2. Reduce Waste: Every scrap you put in the compost bin is one less scrap that's locked away in a landfill.
   
3. Protect Your Plants and The Planet: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "compost has been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops." The organization has also found that the composting process can help absorb odors, bind heavy metals, and break down toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Starting A Compost Pile

There are tons of resources out there that cover the composting process inside and out. Basically, to get started you will need 2 types of ingredients:

• Carbon (shredded newspapers, cardboard, and straw)
• Nitrogen (lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and weeds).

Combine them together and before long you'll have compost. If you're feeling lazy you don't need to do anything else (but wait and wait). You'll have usable compost by next year even if you never touch the pile again. If you'd like things to move along a little more quickly, you'll need to turn the pile and add a few drops of water every few weeks. If you really want to get the most from your waste, check out a few online resources:

How To Compost.org
How To Make Compost
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Composting Info

Heat Things Up with Non-Toxic Antifreeze and De-icers

Brr...Well folks, summer is officially over and the crisp cool air of fall is moving in. Before you know it, winter will be here, and despite the best efforts of global warming, many of us will still have to deal with snow and ice this season. And while the white stuff isn't falling yet, the temperatures are already dipping into the freezing zone in many regions. So, I wanted to go ahead and post this information about non-toxic anti-freeze solutions that are safer for the environment, your children and your pets.

1. Ice Clear: This solution is a non-toxic, bio-based, food-grade solution that works just as well as conventional anti-freeze for de-icing sidewalks but without the petroleum based, toxic chemicals.

2. Birdseed: Use bird seed on icy sidewalks. It gives you traction, and the birds help to break up the ice while they eat it.

3. Vinegar: Mix up a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and spray it on your car's windshield before you go to bed. It will keep the ice from forming on your windshield and save you that early morning scraping.

4. Propylene Glycol: For your car, look for an anti-freeze that uses propylene glycol in place of it's toxic cousin, ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is still petroleum based so it is not great for the environment, but it is non-toxic and safe for pets and children.

Going Locavore

Just when you thought you had this whole eco-friendly thing figured out, (with your organic, locally grown produce and cage-free, non-genetically modified poultry,) the guy next door goes and ups the ante by growing and raising all of the food he needs to feed his family of four in his own backyard farm. Every morsel. From potatoes to chickens; from cantaloupe to rabbits. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that his "farm" is located in his 20 x 40 foot Brooklyn backyard?

Meet Manny Howard, locavore extraordinaire, or at least that is who he attempted to become. Manny is the first to admit that his experiment was far from purist; he had to cut a number of corners and shell out a load of cash ($11,000) in order to grow "barely enough to feed one grown man for a month." But while Manny's experiment may not have been an overwhelming success; it definitely made me reevaluate the potential farm in my own backyard.

Up At Dawn?

Water plants first thing in the morning. The cooler temperatures will prevent water from evaporating too quickly and watering at dawn rather than dusk helps prevent the growth of fungus.