Environment Friendly Dog Poo Composter

For the first time in my life I have a dog. While growing up I was allowed to have a cat or other small creature, dogs were not on the list of animals I could choose. Last year my husband bought me the cutest little yellow Labrador. One thing I didn't bargain for was how big this cute puppy could get. I'm sure you know where I am going with this. As he grew so did his, how can we put this, piles.

I love google! When I have a problem, google always has the answer. Enter the dog poo composter. It's a simple little contraption based on a larger septic system. This little guy can handle 2 very large dogs, or in my case 1 big Labrador, or up to 4 smaller dogs. As long as you add a little mixture and some water every now and then it's works perfect.

Now if I could just teach the dog how to use it himself.

Energy Users You Wouldn't Even Think Of

This morning with coffee in hand, from my always plugged in coffee pot, I sat down to read the newspaper. Imagine my shock as I read the article "Beware your Home's Standby Vampires" and saw coffee pots turned off but plugged in still suck down the energy. Sitting there doing nothing, it eats 1.1 watt. Not only that but leaving your power charger in the outlet after your phone is charged eats another 0.3 watts. Putting your computer to sleep before hitting the sack keeps it consuming 3.9 watts. That is while it's OFF! Here was the kick in my rear, leaving your DVR idle sucks up 43.5 watts. That is while you are not even watching television. Did you forget to turn the wii off completely, another 120 watts being sucked out of your house.
So now that your sweating as hard as I was, what can we do. Power Strips are perfect for controlling much of this energy loss. Plug multiple sources into one power strip and then when the day is done, instead of putting every computer to sleep, turning off printers, sound systems, game consoles and kitchen appliances, you just pop a few plugs out of the wall, and everything else sleeps quietly.

Interested to see what your house is using while you sleep? Try the Kill-a-watt. Plug it into a wall socket and then plug in the appliance you wish to look at. This will tell you much it uses while sitting there off, and while it's on. It's an eye opener.

I guess it's time for me to take the extra step and unplug, not just turn off.

Green Ways to Clean Up Your Yard

It's that time of year again, time to get the lawn mower out and make that winter lawn turn into a lush summer carpet. With all of us trying to save money, save the environment and keep our homes in top shape, it goes without saying that learning a few tricks our grandparents knew will help us.

One of the biggest things you can do for your lawn is mulch your grass clippings. Mulch? What is that? Most mowers that have been sold in the last 6 years have a mulching blade. This blade takes leaves and grass clippings and chops it into minute little pieces and leaves it where it found it. This means valuable nutrients are recycled back into your lawn. Recent tests have shown that some leaves, like those from the sugar maple when mulched back into your lawn actually control weeds.
I wonder what the neighbor will think when I go rake up his yard and put all his leaves in mine.

What can I do with all the Pulp from my juicer?

Everyone loves fresh juice, it's even better if there is no pulp inside. Kids enjoy carrot juice as much as apple juice when it's fresh and pulp free. Johns-Hopkins has a few tips here, for keeping up a healthy diet routine. 

Should I be juicing my fruits and vegetables? 

Juicing is not necessary, but can add variety to the diet and is a good way to 

consume fruits and vegetables, especially if there are difficulties with 

chewing or swallowing. Juicing also improves the absorption of some of the nutrients 

in fruits and vegetables. If you buy commercially juiced products, 

avoid those that have not been pasteurized. 

What do we do with all that pulp? Well interestingly enough the pulp left over from your fruits and vegetables are the perfect component your to your compost heap. If you do not have a compost heap, hoe the pulp right into your garden. Your plants will thank you.

Gluten-Free Goddess Recipes: Curried Carrot Soup with Pan Toasted Cornbread Croutons

Gluten-Free Goddess Recipes: Curried Carrot Soup with Pan Toasted Cornbread Croutons

Organic Gardening to Keep Pests Away

Have you ever heard of companion gardening? The basic thought is you place plants that certain bugs hate, next to the plants those same bugs seem to love. Here is an example. Take the tomato horn worm. As his name suggests he loves eat those tomato plants day and night. So how can we get rid of this pest without destroying our tomatoes? Plant marigold in between your tomato plants, or rows of marigolds before and after your row of tomatoes. Since tomato horn worms hate marigolds it will deter them from coming near your tomato plant. You have successfully kept a pest at bay by companion gardening.

I found this great article blog posted at ToadStool Aquaponics that will give you more ideas on plants your garden pests hate. If you have any more great ideas for companion gardening please leave a comment.