Little Tips

We all know that our earth is precious and most of us are getting into the spirit of trying to help her dissolve the mess that we have caused. Here are a few simple ways to help out even if recycling is beyond your means or if driving less is not an option:

1. Get into the habit of taking re-usable bags to the store. It really is only a habit that you need to create in yourself.
2. Use biodegradable plastic bags to line your bins.
3. Try and reuse everything in your house rather than throwing it away, even old toothbrushes can be reused as helpful little tools around the house.
4. If you get a lot of junk mail or catalogs in the post, phone the sender and let them know that you are not interested and they must take you off the mailing list (this is a real biggy - in USA it is estimated that each year 19 billion catalogs flow through American mailboxes, which equals around 53 million trees and the use of 53 billion gallons of water and South Africa is fast following this lead in advertising). So reassess the mail that you are receiving and get rid of that which doe snot interest you or which you really don't use.
5. Opt for organic as much as possible and also opt for the local products instead of the imported ones.
6. Change your light bulbs to energy saver (how many times do we have to ask this).
7. Switch of the lights when you leave the room.
8. Switch of all appliances that aren't in use and refrain from putting your laptop or computer on hibernate.
9. Opt for indigenous plants for your garden.
10. Grow some herbs on your window sill if you do not have a garden. Fill your house with plants (indigenous preferably) as much as you can. Not only do they beautify your house, but they also keep your air clean.
11. Refrain from buying cut flowers as this is one of the biggest markets for pesticides, water usage (wastage) and plant hormones. Rather buy a pot plant. It will last longer and makes less of a mess.

These are just a few simple ideas for those that want to do something, but find that all the extremists attitudes towards environmental care a little daunting. Everyone can do something, all it takes is a little adjustment or a little attention.