1) Air dry all laundry- had a put a lock on the dryer cord to convince my daughters I was serious- they have learned to plan ahead! I wash all laundry in cold water, always wash full loads, and use a drying rack inside if it is raining. I use soapnuts for laundry- see http://www.zamuta.com/
2) Buy all organic.
3) Buy all organic non-toxic beauty care products and make-up. I make my own skin care cleanser and moisturizers. I make my own soap. I use Jane Iredale cosmetics.
4) Use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning the bathroom. I use Ms. Meyer Clean Day for dishes, Citri-Clean for counters and general purpose cleaning. I use a loofah for scrubbing dishes (I am growing my own right now so I won’t have to buy them anymore!) My sister is making scrubbies by crocheting them, we will offer these for sale soon!
5) Take cloth bags to store for groceries and all other purchases. Take muslin bags I made to grocery store for produce.
6) Recycle, re-use, make my own and have stopped buying anything I don’t really need.
7) Don’t use paper towels, never have. Used cloth diapers for all 5 kids.
Don’t buy stuff in plastic, I try to buy all glass. Store all food in glass. Re-use glass jars. I mostly buy real food (meat, produce) try to not buy anything that needs a label, so no packaging.
9) Have been using recycled toilet paper for years but am considering switching to cloth at home. (don’t freak, we all used that same choice when we used cloth diapers and wash clothes on our baby’s tushes!)
10) Make my own gluten free granola, make my own mayonnaise, salad dressings, spice blends.
11) Compost all kitchen and garden waste. I have just started vermiculture (red worms).
Why? Worm Farming
How? Cheap Worm Bin
13) Bokashi (a way to deal with indoor kitchen scraps with NO odor and yields compost WAY faster. I have been using the Bokashi method of dealing with kitchen waste for about 3 weeks now…I love it!
14) Use very low flow shower heads. Ace Hardware has a 1.5 GPM with a shut-off valve.
15) Use all CF light bulbs…and use them as little as possible. I have one evening a week that I use no lights..on Shabbat! Dinner by candlelight!
16) Use grey water from shower (I keep a 3 gallon bucket in shower and use it throughout the day to flush the toilet, take what’s left to the flower beds.
17) Use water from rinsing dishes to water flower beds.
18) Use a broom on all my wooden floors instead of using vacuum cleaner.
19) Run as few errands as possible, car pool and combine trips.
20) Use micro-cloths to clean with, even on glass you do not need cleaning products!
21) NEVER buy bottled water. I bought a Kleen Kanteen at Native Sun for each person in the family, we refill and take with us. I’ve had mine over a year.
22) Go paperless or CD-less as much as possible. I provide my clients with emails of my book, but still put cookbook software on CD.
23) Unplug all appliances not being used. Yes, that cell phone charger and TV are using power when you aren’t using them! I use power strips to keep them plugged in, turn them off at night, or when I’m gone all day.
24) Use only a hurricane lamp when we sit outside at night. It gives enough light to read by…but is perfect turned low …for just hanging out. Very romantic, too!
25) Use candlelight at dinner, not just on Shabbat!
26) We are building an outdoor batch-type water heater to use with an outdoor shower.
27) I just put in raised beds, have seeds started for lettuce, tomatoes, herbs. I have sweet potatoes growing, beets (mmmm, beet greens), onions and tomatoes, a banana tree.
28) I use a non-disposable razor, an old-fashioned stainless steel, very high quality razor that uses double edged blades. It was 24.00 from ClassicShaving.com. The blades are 10 for 5.99, and they are double edged! They give the closest, smoothest shave you can imagine! No disposable blade can compare.
