Top 10 Simple Ways to Be Green

Go green the right way

There are right ways to be green and wrong ways.

Consider the following 10 simple tips on ways to be green.

Plant your own patio or deck garden:

Make a habit of growing your own garden, if possible. You will be amazed at how much produce you can grow in a small space, like a window sill, patio deck or a tiny corner in your yard. Purchase decorator planters for your patio deck. You will have the added joy of watching your little garden grow. An extra perk for you is the fact that you have fresh vegetables for yourself and your family. You can share these with others. Gardening is a healthy, relaxing hobby and an excellent way to teach others to be green. Looking for a friend? Try taking a gift to someone, like a wooden planter. Throw in a couple of packages of seeds and teach them how to grow some herbs or tiny tomatoes.

Grow some unique house plants:

A home with house plants looks lived in and loved by its owners. Find some house plants like Phalaenopsis orchids that blossom for months, at a time. They are not that difficult to grow. This can be rewarding in terms of interior decorating and home beautification. Every plant gives off oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide. Improve the quality of the air in your home, with the added benefit of enjoying the flower blossoms too.

Use only natural compost:

Make and use natural compost for your garden and house plants, instead of artificial fertilizers, as every chemical that you use in your home, yard or garden, eventually returns to the air, soil or water over a period of time. Natural compost from coffee grains, tea leaves and egg shells is far less costly than artificial fertilizers in the long run. Organic gardening will produce far healthier vegetables for you.

Find all natural products for your home:

Natural products will not give off chemicals that may harm you and your family. Everything not constructed from natural products, has the potential to release chemicals at some time, in its lifespan. Use glass instead of plastic, if possible for your dishes and containers. Buy natural wood furniture instead of plastic furniture. Do the same with your children's toys.

Open your windows:

Allow your home to breathe twenty four hours a day if possible, in order to allow the oxygen level to be at a maximum. You will find that you and your family will feel a better health wise. Remember that if you always have an open window somewhere, any harmful fumes will disappear, as well. If you are a smoker, remember that you do not want others in your home to be nauseated or to be green from the smell of your cigarettes. Find out how many chemicals are in cigarettes you are smoking. These are harmful to your health, as well as that of others. Respect others and smoke outside. It may save everyone dollars in medical costs in the long run.

Give away unused items:

Find a positive and constructive way to dispose of unnecessary or un-needed items, as they are all potential dust collectors. Ask yourself how much of what you have collected in your lifetime, you need or want to keep. Getting rid of those extras will allow room for what you do need. The items that you are not using may be of benefit to someone else. Garage sales are great. Many places will pick up unused items for free. Ask around.

Use an outdoor clothesline:

Try using an outdoor clothesline to dry your clothes whenever you can. It is extra  work, but can you remember how good fresh linens smelled when your mother or grandmother, took them into the house, after they had been drying outside for a while? That alone makes the effort worthwhile.

Become knowledgeable:

Be aware that the expression to be green may mean something else, other than using natural products, composting, etc. On the streets in some places, particularly among teenagers, the word green is used for marijuana or pot. While this may shock people, make certain your children know the difference. Teach them to go green the right way. Talk to them seriously about it.

Let your pets spend time outside:

Even house pets need to be outside as much as possible, because it helps them to stay healthy. They will feel better from the extra exercise and you will have the added benefit of having a happier, more contented pet that will not keep you up, or be running in and out all night. Spend extra time outside with your pet for your own health and well-being.

Pass along ways to be green tips:

Word of mouth is always the best way to sell anything, including the ways to be green. Take advantage of every possible opportunity and the awareness of people everywhere will increase. You might be known as a green expert. Ask others about what it means. Use your local library to find books or attend courses on environmental issues. Do research on the Internet about ways to be green. Share your knowledge. Show that you are serious about the environment and others will follow in your footsteps.

If you live in a city or an area where there is no green in terms of trees and grass, then you will know from personal experience how wonderful green can be. We need all of the colors in our lives, especially the color green.

If you have ever lived through a forest fire or gone through the area immediately after a fire, you will understand how important it is to protect our forests. If out camping, remember that it only takes one spark to get a fire going, but thousands of animals, flowers and trees are lost with every fire, so build your campfires wisely and according to regulation.

Learn ways to be green and you will be glad that you did.