If you’re trying to reduce your contribution to the landfill, composting is a great way to go!  Perks of composting include saving money on trash pick-ups, better soil in your garden, and lowering your garden water needs by up to thirty percent!

Still need a reason to give it a try?  Consider the fact that yard trimmings and food scraps accounted for 25% of all solid municipal waste in 2006 — that’s one quarter of all trash that could have been turned into fertilizer for home gardens!

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a compost bin for a reduced price.  If not, you can inexpensively build one of your own.  Once you’ve got your compost going, read this list of astonishing items that can be safely composted!

Composting doesn’t require a huge lifestyle change, either. Just keep a small bin in your kitchen where you can toss food scraps as you cook.  Then empty it into the larger bin outside.  You will need to pay attention to the ratio of things you put in, however.  Compost works best when it contains equal amounts of “green” and “brown” organic material.  Green materials are things like fruit rinds and grass clippings, while brown materials include twigs or dead leaves.  Keeping your compost moist at all times will also help to break it down quickly into super fertilizer!

Are you already a master composter?  Leave us your best tips in the comments!

It’s hot here today in Portland, and all I want to do is stretch out in a shady park and read a good book.  Below you’ll find a selection of books that are both great summer reads and excellent inspiration for eco-friendly lifestyle changes.  Pick one up from your local library, or purchase a used copy from independent bookstore Powells.com.

• No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process

• Sleeping Naked Is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged Her Fridge, Sold Her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days

• Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability

• Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills

• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)

• Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat

• The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City

• The Farm to Table Cookbook: The Art of Eating Locally

• Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture

Leave your own suggestions for green summer reading in the comments!

I’ve been a little under the weather and missed last week’s Green Goal post.  This week, I thought what better topic for the Green Goal than eco-friendly first aid?  It’s surprisingly easy to take care of minor issues without having to head to the nearest pharmacy.  And, when you do it yourself, you’re avoiding packaging and manufacturing waste and petroleum-based products.

Of course, if you have any medical concerns, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant, you should always ask your doctor!

Your Green Goal this week is to start stocking your medicine cabinet by following some of the tips below.  As always, please share your ideas and feedback in the comments!

•  Break off part of an aloe vera plant and what’s inside?  Aloe vera gel!  Use it to soothe irritated or sunburned skin naturally.

• To treat a stuffed up nose, crush up a few dried eucalyptus leaves in a bowl and fill the bowl with boiling water.  Cover your face and the bowl with a towel and breathe in the steam through your nose to help clear out congestion.

• Chewing on fresh mint leaves is said to ease indigestion.

• Rub lavender oil on insect bites and stings to reduce inflammation, or on your temples to help calm headaches.

• A common folk remedy for gas is to drink a strong tea made with basil leaves.

And of course, just taking time to rest, eat properly, and drink plenty of water can help you feel healthier!

Summer nights are what barbeques are made for!  But you don’t have to set aside sustainability to have a barbeque that’s fun and delicious.  Check out the tips below for easy, eco-friendly ideas!

• Go veg!  Grill veggie burgers and dogs, or try a marinated portobello mushroom in place of a patty.  Need a refresher on why reducing meat in your diet is better for the planet?  Click over to our Where’s the Beef? Green Goal!

• Grill with propane rather than standard charcoal briquettes to reduce your carbon emissions.

• Use washable dishes rather than disposable plastic plates.  If you have to use single-use dishes, make sure you can compost them after!

• Pick up a growler (a refillable jug for beer) rather than a six-pack.  You’ll be reducing your impact and probably drinking tastier beer, too!  Keep an eye out for vegan and organic beers.

• Use organic vegetables in your kabobs and organic onions, tomatoes, and lettuce on your burgers.  Pick ‘em up fresh from your local farmer’s market for an even greener meal!

Did you knows you could use solar power without spending a dime?  It is as easy as hanging your clothes outside to dry after washing.  And air drying your clothes is easier than you think!

Letting your clothing hang dry is actually doubly beneficial: not only do you avoid the energy use of the dryer, but your clothes will last longer.  Dryers are responsible for many of the reasons we replace our clothing, like pilling, lost elasticity, and of course shrinkage.  You can save money in electricity, repair costs, and/or quarters.  Additionally, I think clothes smell better when they are let out hung out to dry.

There is more than one way to dry clothes.  If you have a clothing line or can easily hang one up in your yard, go for it!  If not, a drying rack is a great tool and can come pretty cheap.  You can also hang them on a clothing rod or a few items in your closet if you make sure there is enough space for it to dry.  When I lived in a house with a very small backyard (about 4 feet wide) I would hang my clothes with hangers on the chain link fence.  Check out Air Drying Without A Clothes Line for more tips and tricks and Laundry Drying Dilemas? Pull a Solution Out of Thin Air!

And people say solar power is expensive!

Do you air dry your clothes or do you want to?  What are your experiences?

One of the easiest ways to eat local in the winter is to prepare in summer.  During this season’s bounty, it’s hard for me to remember that in winter the farmer’s market stocks only kale, onions, and mushrooms.

Fortunately, taking advantage of summer’s abundance is both fun and rewarding.  What’s better than a peach pie in February or strawberry preserves in November?  And buying fruit in season is often far cheaper than buying out-of-season produce at the supermarket.

For many, canning is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about preserving food for the winter.  But canning isn’t the only way to save your favorite treat for the colder months!  Drying, freezing, or simply keeping items in a cool cellar are all equally great ways to preserve foods.

Your Green Goal this week is to try at least one of the tips below.  Have a better way?  Leave us a comment and share your knowledge!

• Prepare and freeze fruit pie fillings.  For an even easier pie, freeze your filling in the shape of the pie pan, so all you have to do is prepare the crust and pop the frozen fruit inside before baking!

• Use this handy drying guide to find out the best way to dry produce from your garden.  Dried cherry tomatoes make a yummy, summery addition to soups and pastas!
• Try your hand at freezer jam!  A quick and easy alternative to canning, you can use almost any kind of fruit you have available.

• Store your root vegetables in a cellar, basement, or create an insulated storage box with these guidelines from the National Gardening Association.

• Did you end up with more cucumbers than you can eat? Try this recipe for Bread-and-butter pickles to create a snack that will last you through the year.

• For even more ideas and detailed information on home canning, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s website.

Now that it’s finally summer in most parts of the country, fresh produce is in abundant supply.  If you’re not able to grow your own, why not check out the farmer’s markets in your area.  Farmer’s markets are an easy, fun way to stock up on local fruits and veggies while supporting small farms in your area.  An added bonus is that many farmer’s markets focus on organically and sustainably grown crops, and the price is generally comparable — or better than — prices at the grocery store.  And many markets have vendors selling more than just produce; you may even be able to find locally made cider, honey, and cheese!

For your Green Goal this week, visit the Local Harvest website to find a farmer’s market in your area.  Bonus points for buying an item you’ve never tried before!

This week’s Green Goal came to me a few days ago as I was stitching a patch onto my jeans.  While fumbling with the needle — I may know how to sew, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at it — I grumbled to myself, “why even bother?”  My first answer was, because these are my favorite jeans. I don’t want to have to go shopping to find a new pair. 

But when I thought about it, I wasn’t just patching my pants because I hate the mall, but because making do with what you have is an important step in reducing your environmental impact.  Think about that old saying: use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.  Popularized during World War II, I’ve always associated that motto with negativity, scarcity, and my mom telling me I couldn’t have something new I wanted.

When you think about it, it’s actually a pretty positive saying.  You probably have everything you need already so you don’t need to worry about buying anything new.  Don’t have what you think you need?  Time to get creative and make something work!  Or decide if you really need that thing in the first place.

It’s a pretty good feeling, knowing that with a little bit of effort you can make a previously unwearable item (pants with a hole in the seat) totally functional again.  “Making do” shouldn’t feel like a burden, but an accomplishment!

GladRags community, your Green Goal this week is to make do with something.  Mend ripped clothing instead of throwing it out, use a pretty glass jar to hold flowers instead of recycling the jar or buying a vase, or come up with ideas of your own!  Be sure to comment and let us know what you did!

Did you know that the United Nations has stated that the meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions?  Or that consuming just one pound of meat is equivalent to driving an SUV 40 miles?  Or that you’ll save more water by not eating that one pound of meat than you will by not showering for an entire year?

No matter how you look at it, skipping the meat in your meals is better for the environment — and your health!  Even if you aren’t ready or able to go completely veg, limiting meat consumption to just a few servings per week can make a huge impact.  Your Green Goal this week is to try replacing bacon at breakfast with veggie sausage, the turkey on your sandwich with hummus and avocado, and serving a bean or quinoa-based dish as the main course at dinner.

Of course, even with the plethora of fake-meat products on the market, it’s always better to substitute whole foods like grains, beans, or veggies for meat.  You can even make your own “burgers” from black beans!

Alex and I had a blast at the Seattle Green Festival this past weekend!  We were crazy busy, but it was so much fun to meet everyone — from women who’ve been using GladRags for years, to those who’d never even heard of us before.

One young woman spotted our booth and ran up to tell me that she had only heard of the Green Festival because her sister in Minneapolis had told her that GladRags would be there.  Another told us, “I hope this isn’t too much information, but I’m using a GladRag right now!”  Funnily enough, about five other women told us the same thing over the course of the weekend!

The other exhibitors were just as friendly as the festival attendees.  Our fellow Portlanders Honest Tea kept us supplied with delicious beverages (have you tried their kombucha??) and Sandrine swapped two bags from her June 15 collection in exchange for a set of GladRags.  Organic Essence let us try their brand-new lip balm (in awesome biodegradable packaging!) and we shared some pantyliners with our booth neighbor to take home to his teenage daughter.

Overall, Seattle was a great experience and one I hope we can repeat at the next Green Festival!  More importantly, it reminded me that living a sustainable life shouldn’t be a solitary pursuit.  On that note, your Green Goal this week is to get involved with your neighbors, friends, and community to talk about what you’re doing to save the planet.  Make connections, get inspired, and support each other in the pursuit of sustainable living!