Household

By Fredrica Syren a.k.a. Green Mom: You might have seen on Facebook or Instagram that I have joined the Plastic-Free July challenge. I know it might seem as though it would not be much of a challenge for me, who constantly nags about plastic, but the truth is that I’m …

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By Fredrica Syren: Since going the Plastic Free July Challenge I have gotten lots of questions about how we store food without plastic. For us, reducing plastic has been a work in process for a while; little by little, we have worked on changing our routines to exclude plastic. Food storage …

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By Larraine Roulston: Lead (chemical symbol Pb) is one of those hidden pollutants that could be in your home — especially if your house was built prior to 1980. If left untouched, lead in wall paints most likely will not cause a problem at all. Should you start scraping off old paint around windowsills …

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By Fredrica Syren: Since going zero waste and learning to live a simpler life, my family and I have been enjoying the many benefits. Most important among these are reducing our environmental impact on the world, having more time, and experiencing better health. An extra bonus to our zero waste …

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By Larraine Roulston: Life extension specialist Paul C. Bragg and his family are among America’s health crusaders for natural apple cider vinegar (ACV). Their books and bottled ACV have helped millions by enhancing growth, health and offering a key to longevity. For example, Bragg’s method for fighting arthritis is to drink an ACV …

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By Kim Robson: I see people using old IKEA bags at the laundromat and grocery store all the time. They’re capacious, tough as nails, lightweight, easily folded flat, inexpensive at a buck, and easy to carry because of their sturdy woven handles. “Frakta” means “to carry,” and since 1996, the …

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By Fredrica Syren: They’re cheap, appealing and easy to find. Store-bought disinfected wipes might be convenient, especially when the buyer reads that they kill 99.9% of germs on surfaces. I can see how, during cold and flu season, that might be considered a lifesaver. However, what the package does not …

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By Larraine Roulston: The evening my fiancé and I announced our engagement, my dad took my future partner aside and said, “She’ll save you a lot of money.” A rather good endorsement, I thought. Hearing stories of my grandparents and parents living through the Depression and learning of their thrifty habits, I was guided towards …

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  By Larraine Roulston: Your blue box and recycling bins found on city streets, and in parks and community buildings collect food packaging consisting of plastics, metal, glass and paper. There also are many other progressive ways to eliminate even more recyclables from landfill. Most residents can take household hazardous waste …

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By Larraine Roulston: What is “Precycle,” you may ask? The prefix “pre” together with “cycle” is the latest term that builds on the idea of preventing many recycables from entering your blue box in the first place. By being mindful of unnecessary packaging and avoiding disposable items when you shop, you will have less …

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