Post a few everyday things to help the environment

[Kevin_PR]

For the first half of my life I was all about Environmental conservation and marine biology. I attended the H.S. for environmental studies(yes its really named that) and then continued studying environmental science through college at Drexel university in PA I've worked at the NY Aquarium(Intern) and the Hudson river oyster restoration project. Through all this I have noticed that people focus on the large out of control problems and do not see the simple things that can make a big difference.

So everyone post a simple thing that can help the environment.

1 STOP USING STRAWS!!! I always refuse straws or tell the server no straw. Is it really so much that you can't drink from the glass and wipe your mouth. That one straw that you will use for less than an hour will be on this earth when your grand, grand, grand..... children are growing orchids.

2 I save all the packing material I receive and reuse the boxes and material for sharing orchids w friends

[Orchid Whisperer]

3 If you live in a place where tap water is safe and of good quality, don't buy bottled water! This is especially important if you don't have a recycling program where you live or work. Carry a water bottle with tap water instead.

[AnonYMouse]

Please stop perfuming my air with synthetics!

I use lots of baking soda. Scrub sinks, tubs and greasy pans.

Add it to your shampoo to get rid of product build up. Dab it on your tooth brush to freshen your dental routine.

[Island Girl]

4. Don't overuse pesticides.. Especially when bees are out, only use them if you absolutely must! (besides, sometimes nature takes care of it for you.. Lizards, frogs, praying mantis (not sure on the plural of that one, ), and bats, spiders... etc. can take care of them for you.) Just the other day, I saw something that looked like a red spider mite, on my noid Dendrobium, but it could be seen with the naked eye... It was a red spider mite predator, and it actually looked like it was hunting. I was happy to see that!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have another one.

Many of us have electric dishwashers. They can be pretty efficient at using water, BUT . . . the size of the compartments on the machine are WAY too large compared to the amount of detergent really needed.

An appliance repairman told me that a typical machine requires ONLY 1 TEASPOON of powdered detergent. At that rate, 1 box of detergent would last my family a year. I have greatly reduced the detergent we use - the dishes still get clean.

[Kevin_PR]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I have another one.

Many of us have electric dishwashers. They can be pretty efficient at using water, BUT . . . the size of the compartments on the machine are WAY too large compared to the amount of detergent really needed.

An appliance repairman told me that a typical machine requires ONLY 1 TEASPOON of powdered detergent. At that rate, 1 box of detergent would last my family a year. I have greatly reduced the detergent we use - the dishes still get clean.

That's a good one to know I'm a pourer
Edit: Ha I just read it again you said dishwasher, I don't have one HAHAHA. but still a good one. I thought you wrote clothes washer for some reason.


---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Island Girl

4. Don't overuse pesticides.. Especially when bees are out, only use them if you absolutely must! (besides, sometimes nature takes care of it for you.. Lizards, frogs, praying mantis (not sure on the plural of that one, ), and bats, spiders... etc. can take care of them for you.) Just the other day, I saw something that looked like a red spider mite, on my noid Dendrobium, but it could be seen with the naked eye... It was a red spider mite predator, and it actually looked like it was hunting. I was happy to see that!

Keep your property as dark as possible at night too. Remember when there used to be fireflies in the world. Now I rarely see them. Their larvae are said to eat snails.

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

3 If you live in a place where tap water is safe and of good quality, don't buy bottled water! This is especially important if you don't have a recycling program where you live or work. Carry a water bottle with tap water instead.

People complain about the price of gas how about the price of bottled water $$$$IMO I always use tap.

Oh another one is put a brick in the tank of your toilet and you use less water. It may also be a good way to cure a chunk of cinder block for mounting orchids on.............Went to check my toilet and I can def fit 1/2 a cinder block in there.

[Island Girl]

Gotta say, I love fireflies... But, I live by myself, on a kinda bad street (about two blocks away from some of the worst in town)... I have to leave lights on, for safety! Lol

Other than that... Yea!! I constantly argue with my dad about the dishwasher thing, and he is also obsessed with the fact that I wait until it is very full, before I run it... He's like waters free! Wash your dishes when it's half-full! (don't know why I bother ) Lol, maybe I'll get some good back-up! (my dad is actually a very environmentally conscious person, he's just wierd sometimes... But aren't we all?

I can see you now, growing orchids in the back of your toilet tank... Gotta window in there Eskevingo?

[WhiteRabbit]

Actually - I have heard that you should not put a brick in the toilet tank - the brick does erode ... a full bottle or jug of water will work the same tho.

Good to know about the dishwasher detergent! I've read that about laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc ...

I too like using baking soda or vinegar for cleaning

Re-use, Recycle!

Ride your bike for errands when possible! Good for you! Good for the environment! Saves money on gas!

[mexorchid]

Tomato stains
Good to have a friend that studied chemistry from her I've learnt: if you have tomato stains on your clothes you don't need aggressive detergent. Most tomato stains disappear if you let it hang in the bright sun after washing. The sun breaks up the chemical connection of what gives the colour to tomato...

[vjo]

I recycle everything possible! Every can, every bottle, every box, every bit of paper. All that is left for the trash man is one small walmart size plastic bag of real garbage. The rest of the walmart and other plastic bags get recycled. I don't use straws either...Jean