12 Ways for kids to be GREEN!

By: Jenilee Rivera

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Examine what you buy and decide if it is really needed. Then, think about ways to use things over and over again. If they can’t be reused, they may be able to be recycled. Bring a lunch box instead of a paper bag to school. Use washable plastic containers to pack food, instead of plastic baggies that are thrown away. Trade toys that you no longer use with friends. Use both sides of a piece of paper before putting it in the recycle bin.
2. Walk or take your bike. Think about walking or taking your bike, instead of getting a ride in a car, the next time you travel to school or a friend’s house. Make sure you have a safe route to travel, and get your parents’ permission first.
3. Save water. We use a lot of water every day, water that wildlife also needs. You can conserve water by turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing dishes. You can also take shorter showers. Try washing dishes with water in the sink, instead of letting the water run.
4. Turn off the lights. If you are not using something, turn it off. Lights, CD players, computers, TV sets, and other electronics use a lot of energy. Make sure you are conserving by shutting off lights and turning off stuff that needs electricity when you are not in the room.
5. Put trash in garbage cans. Litter makes parks and roads look bad, and it can be harmful to wildlife. Animals may eat plastic or paper that smells like food, and get sick as a result. Trash can also end up in rivers and streams, which is bad for fish and other animals that live in the water.
6. Attract native wildlife to your backyard. Many animals need specific plants for habitat – food to eat or a place to live. You could work with your parents to plant native plants in your backyard to attract birds, butterflies, and even toads! Another way to help is by hanging a bird feeder to provide food for native birds. And you get to watch the wildlife show from your home!
7. Recharge those batteries. Most of us use toys and games that have batteries. Ask your parents to buy rechargeable batteries so that the same batteries can be used to power the toys again and again.
8. Green up your school. Talk to classmates and teachers at school about putting recycling bins for paper in every classroom. See if your cafeteria serves organic or locally grown food items. You can even start an Eco-Club to work with other students who care about the environment.
9. Use cloth napkins and washable plates. When eating at home or on vacation, bring reusable plates and napkins. Check to see if there is a way to wash plates and napkins when you get back home, instead of buying paper and plastic that gets thrown away after one use.
10. Start a composting bin. Some of the foods that we throw away could be composted instead, enriching the soil in our gardens. Ask your parents if you can keep a compost bin or worm bin (with a lid) to compost grass clippings, leaves, and fruit and vegetable peels. Over time, this organic mix turns into great fertilizer.
11. Share what you know about animals and habitats with others. One of the best ways to make a difference is to tell someone else how they can help. Ask family members and friends to think about being “green” when they make choices. Together we can make a big difference!
12. Visit and learn about places where wildlife live. Zoos, aquariums, national parks, wildlife refuges and nature centers are all homes to wild animals. You can learn about these animals and how people can help them by visiting these places with your family or with your school.

How to Recycle Christmas Cards

By: Terry Shannon

     Now that the holiday season is here, and almost over, it’s time to start pondering what to do with all those holiday greeting cards that are displayed throughout your house.  Besides throwing them away, here’s a really neat idea how to recycle them for next year’s holiday.

     Why not make beautiful, decorative holiday coasters out of them?  Not only will you be reminded of the senders next year, they’ll brighten up your house as well.  And, it’s easy to do.

     Cut out a 4 ½-inch circles from the Christmas cards.  Cut the same number of circles from the gift boxes.  Cover one side of the gift-box circle with the duct tape* and then apply a thin coat of the glue mixture to the opposite side of the gift-box circle with the craft brush. 

     Place your Christmas-card circle on the glue side of the gift-box circle. Make sure your Christmas image is facing up and the ends of circles match.  Use your hands to apply pressure to the circles to make sure there is a good connection between the two circles.

     Wash and dry the craft brush.  Use the same brush to apply a thin coat of the Aleene's® Paper Glaze™ over the Christmas image and let the glaze dry.  Apply two more coats in the same way.  The thinner the coat, the faster it will dry. Applying a thick coat can cause crackling, so it’s better to stick with thin coats.

     Once the glaze is finished, your coaster is ready for use.  Duct tape now comes in many fun colors, even Christmas patterns!  So, coordinate your tape with the images you use for the coasters.

ECO- FRIENDLY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION FOR 2012

By: Diane Garza

Every step you take toward going green for the new year always helps a family household. Gathering ideas of going green for the new year may save your family money and on your way to becoming organized.

Top 10 Tips are as followed:

     1.     Try to avoid toys or gadgets that require batteries and don’t add much value to your lives.

     2.     Use Re-usable grocery bags every time you shop.

     3.     Paying Bills online or upfront- this will avoid “paper and mailing “paper back again.

     4.     Buying in Bulk is always eco-friendly too. This method if used can also save money.

     5.     Composting is another great method of going green. It is typically used in gardens and    landscaping and rich in nutrients and it’s a key ingredient in organic farming.

     6.     Using less paper for school or homework. Tips to share with your teachers or your kids teachers to be considered would be turning over poster boards, reusable paper for writing spelling words as an example.

     7.     Planning greener birthdays or holiday parties - Saving jelly jars and serving drinks in jars with initials on top. Making birthdays with signs with fabric and sewing words in yarn.

     8.     Do less laundry - Reuse a bath towel a few times before placing in laundry basket. Along with pj’s and this will definitely save on detergent or doing more laundry in the future.

     9.     Buy and use less “cleaners” and use more natural cleaners - Discovering that good old baking soda and vinegar will do many household cleaning jobs very well and are better for the earth too.

    10.  Be more organized and plan ahead – One may have greener options that escape us because we ran out of time. For example, handmade Mother’s Day gifts or cards. Planning ahead and being more organized can save money and help do our part to save the earth.

For more information www.getgreenliving.com