Whole Living Today – Green Blog

Compost Bins & Systems

Biobags™ are a great way to handle kitchen scraps. No more messy kitchen compost containers. These bags are biodegradable and can just be tossed into the compost pile.

Compost Tumbler systems make it easy to turn and aerate your compost pile. Just toss your kitchen and garden wastes in and give it a tumble.

Bin Systems such as the Easy-Open Composter are an easy and neat way to have a compost pile. Just through all our kitchen scraps and garden wastes in and let it do its thing. Typically this style of bin is made from recycled plastic and has lower doors to conveniently empty the compost as it is ready.

Although not necessary, products such as Compost Plus contain microorganisms nitrogen-rich nutrients to speed up the composting process.

Composting Resources

Composting at Wikipedia
An extensive resource on all aspects of composting.

The Compost Resource Page
This site is intended to serve as a hub of information for anyone interested in the various aspects of composting.  Includes general information, home composting, vermicomposting, large-scale composting, composting toilets, products/services and a forum.

Cornell University Composting Site
This website is maintained by the Cornell Waste Management Institute and provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.

U.S. Environment Protection Agency Composting Site
Composting offers the obvious benefits of resource efficiency and creating a useful product from organic waste that would otherwise have been landfilled. On this web site, you will learn about the following:

• Basic Information – provides a general description of what compost is and which materials should and should not be composted.
• Where You Live – contains information about regional and state composting programs.
• Organic Materials – provides more detailed information about the specific materials good for composting.
• Frequent Questions – presents frequent questions about how and why you should compost.
• Laws/Statutes – discusses regulations for organics materials and composting facilities.
• Environmental Benefits – explains how composting benefits the environment.
• Science/Technology – discusses how the composting process works and the different methods of composting, such as creating your own composting pile
• Publications – contains a list of composting and related publications.

www.mastercomposter.com This site provides information on how to compost, how to use finished compost, the benefits of composting, what to compost, and many other topics related to home composting. You can compost with almost no effort or you can become an expert. The more you work at it, the faster you will produce finished compost. Use whatever level of effort is right for you.

Compost Guide at VegWeb.com
Covering articles on Fundatmentals, How to Compost, What to Compost, Composting Bins and Systems, Composting Resources and more.

Composting:  Journey to Forever Organic Garden
How to turn wastes into clean, healthy food, making compost, compost bin, composting indoors, worm composting, composting toilet, soil fertility

Victory garden vegetables

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead

Victory Gardens were a concept started during the W.W. II era as a means to help with the food shortages created from the war. Nearly 20 million Americans grew Victory Gardens during this period producing up to 40% of all that was consumed.

It’s time to bring back the Victory Gardens for multiple reasons, we can all make a difference.

“Today our food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table. The process of planting, fertilizing, processing, packaging, and transporting our food uses a great deal of energy and contributes to the cause of global warming.

“Planting a Victory Garden to fight global warming would reduce the amount of pollution your food contributes to global warming. Instead of traveling many miles from farm to table, your food would travel from your own garden to your table.

“Our current economic situation is other good reason to start a Victory Garden. Every time that food is shipped from the farm to the store and your table, gasoline is used. As gasoline prices rise, food costs rise.” ~ From: Revive the Victory Garden

Growing a garden offers many health benefits as well. Because of the long distance our food travels before reaching the stores and the time and procedures involved in processing and shipping, much of our food has lost its vital energy. Fresh grown and picked fruits and vegetables are full of vibrant energy which we absorb into our bodies, providing a higher nutritional value and goodness as well. If grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers, we are able to eliminate some of the toxic chemicals that enter our bodies through our food.

Taking the time to grow our own gardens is not only satisfying but reduces stress as well, just the connection with nature provides that. It really doesn’t take that much. Fruit, vegetable and herb plants can be grown in containers or mixed in with other plantings. Take the time to watch the following video… it’s amazing what CAN be accomplished!

HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION – Radical Change Taking Root

Like Victory Gardens of yesteryear, start your own homegrown revolution, grow your own food in your back or front yard — for more information visit the urban homesteaders at PathtoFreedom.com

Here are some great gardening resources:

• Richters Herbs: Offering a huge selection of Herb Plants, Seeds, More!
• Gardens Alive!
• Click here to order a Free Nature Hills Nursery Catalog
• Gardener’s Supply Company
• Herbkits.com- Indoor Herb Growing Kits
• Burgess Seed & Plant Co.
• Gurney’s Seed and Nursery

THIS IS THE WORLD’S FIRST GLOBAL ELECTION, BETWEEN EARTH AND GLOBAL WARMING.

On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour.
Or you can vote global warming by leaving your lights on.

The results of the election are being presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. We want one billion votes for Earth, to tell world leaders that we have to take action against global warming.

With modern washing machines and detergents, washing your clothes in cold water gets them just as clean as washing in hot water but saves a lot of energy. With really tough loads, you can still make a difference by washing in warm but rinsing in cold. Not only an energy saver but washing clothes in cold water allows fabrics to retain their color and strength longer.

According to various sources on the internet, switching to cold water washing  could amount to a savings between $52 and $145 each year in water heating costs.

“Since 86 percent of the energy consumed by a washing machine goes to heating the water, one household can eliminate 1,600 pounds of annual carbon dioxide emissions by washing in cold.” (Sierra Club Magazine)

Plastic recycling codes come from the The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) that introduced its resin identification coding system in 1988 after lobbying by recyclers. The recycling codes are explained below.

Number 1 Code – Polyethylene Terephthalate, PETE

Figure 1. Symbol for PETE plastics

Name of Plastic – Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET or PETE
Description – PET or PETE is a clear, tough plastic commonly used as single use bottled beverage containers. It is easily recycled, inexpensive, lightweight and poses a low risk of leaching breakdown byproducts into the environment. It is in high demand for remanufacturers but recycling rates are only around 20%. Can also be used as a fibre.
Recycling Method – Collected through most curbside recycling programs
Virgin Plastic Uses – Soft drink, water and plastic beer bottles, pillow, quilt and sleeping bag fillings, food containers.
Recycled Plastic Uses – Polar fleece, packaging film, carpets, tote bags, furniture, building materials like paneling and occasionally new containers.

Number 2 Code – High Density Polyethylene, HDPE

Figure 2. Symbol for HDPE plastics

Name of Plastic – High Density Polyethylene, HDPE
Description – HDPE is a readily recyclable, versatile plastic commonly used for packaging. It is usually white or coloured and poses a low risk of leaching.
Recycling Method – Collected through most curbside recycling programs. Some programs only allow containers with necks.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Some garbage and shopping bags, milk and cream bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, motor oil containers, butter containers, yoghurt tubs, milk crates, rubbish bins, pipes and moulded products.
Recycled Plastic Uses – Oil bottles, recycling containers, drainage pipes, floor tiles, synthetic timber, fencing, laundry detergent bottles.

Number 3 Code – Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC

Figure 3. Symbol for PVC plastics

Name of Plastic – Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC
Description – PVC can be either a hard and rigid plastic or flexible and elastic plastic. It can be clear, white or coloured. PVC is a tough polymer and weathers well so is commonly used for siding, pipes and other building materials. PVC contains chlorine so should never be burnt as bruing will release toxic chemicals. The manufacture of PVC can release dangerous dioxins.
Recycling Method – Rarely recycled. May be accepted by synthetic timber or plastic timber makers.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Cleaning product and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, food packaging, wire conduit, medical equipment, pipes and fittings, siding and hoses.
Recycled Plastic Uses – Pipe and fittings, decks, paneling, truck mudflaps, drainage mats and flooring, speed bumps, mats and shoes.

Number 4 Code – Low Density Polyethylene, LDPE

Figure 4. Symbol for LDPE plastics

Name of Plastic – Low Density Polyethylene, LDPE
Description – LDPE is a soft, flexible plastic
Recycling Method – LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs. Many stores have programs that allow for plastic shopping bags to be returned to the store for recycling.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Squeezable bottles, shopping bags, food bags like bread and frozen food bags, dry cleaning bags, clothing, carpet, garbage bags, black plastic sheeting, ice cream container lids
Recycled Plastic Uses – Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile Film for builders, industry, packaging and plant nurseries, bags, agricultural piping

Number 5 Code – Polypropylene, PP

Figure 5. Symbol for PP plastics

Name of Plastic – Polypropylene, PP
Description – Polypropylene is a hard, flexible plastic that has a high melting point and is suited for high temperature applications like holding hot liquids
Recycling Method – Collected through some curbside recycling programs.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Ice cream containers, drinking straws, lunch boxes, potato crisp bags
Recycled Plastic Uses – Brooms, brushes, rakes, compost bins, recycling crates, plant pots, motor vehicle parts

Number 6 Code – Polystyrene, PS

Figure 6. Symbol for PS plastics

Name of Plastic – Polystyrene, PS
Description – Polystyrene may be either a rigid, brittle plastic or made into foam products. Evidence suggests that polystyrene can leach toxins into food.
Recycling Method – Collected through some curbside recycling programs.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Imitation crystal glassware, plastic cutlery, takeaway food containers, hot drink cups, meat trays, egg cartons, CD cases
Recycled Plastic Uses – Insulation, packing materials, rulers, office equipment, clothes pegs, coat hangers, light switches, air conditioning vents

Number 7 Code – Other

Figure 7. Symbol for other plastics

Name of Plastic – All other plastics
Description – Number 7 plastics simply icludes all other plastics. These include compostable and biodegradable plastics like polyactide through to acrylic, nylon and polycarbonate.
Recycling Method – Traditionally not recycled but now being collected through some curbside recycling programs.
Virgin Plastic Uses – Water bottles, CDs and DVDs, bullet-proof materials, sunglasses, telephone, MP3 player and computer cases, signs and displays, clothing
Recycled Plastic Uses – Plastic timber, outdoor furniture, pipes, injection moulded products

Source: AZoCleantech