Eco-Friendly Flour Sack Kitchen Towels and Napkins

This vintage tractor embroidery design was featured on a flour sack dish towel that was made by Vicki Adamski, local artisan at the Antigo, Wisconsin, Farmers' Market. The towel is extra large and super absorbent, my #1 piece for drying dishes.

To cut down on paper disposal, replace your paper towel and paper napkins with flour sack napkins. OR check out the fun Fabkins, cloth napkins for kids. I'm no kid but I like these Garden Friends fabkins!

Paper Towels & Napkins vs. Cloth

Pay Less For Gas by Debra Lynn Dadd

Pay Less For Gas

by Debra Lynn Dadd,
Author of Really Green & Home Safe Home

Order Debra's books here:
http://www.dld123.com/reallygreen/

Now that gasoline prices are higher than ever, here are ten simple tips for conserving gasoline and getting the most out of every gallon. You'll save money, save energy, and reduce air pollution as well.

1. Plan errands

Run errands in logical sequence so you don't have to backtrack and drive extra miles. You'll save time, too.

2. Drive conservatively

Lower speeds, slower starts, and gradual accelerations improve fuel economy.

3. Anticipate traffic stops and slowdowns

Look ahead for red lights. If you are approaching a red light that has been on for a while, see if you can coast toward it at less than full speed so that by the time you reach it it has a chance to turn green and you can go through the light without having to stop completely. This saves gas.

4. Minimize use of air conditioning

Using air conditioning can significantly increase your gasoline consumption. Before turning on the air conditioning, open windows to flush out hot air from the car. Park in the shade or use an inexpensive window sun shade to keep your car cool. Carry frozen water in bottles to keep your body cool and hydrated. You can reduce or even eliminate the need for air conditioning by choosing a car with light exterior and interior colors and side vent windows, or add window glazings that slow solar adsorption or a sunroofs to your existing or new car.

5. Remove non-essential weight from your car

Don't carry items that you don't need all the time, such as a toolbox, or a full or partial gas can. Carry what you need, but remember that more weight uses more fuel to move the car.

6. Don't leave the car idling for extended periods of time.

If a drive-through line looks longer than a minute or two, park instead and go inside the building (you'll probably get faster service, too).

7. Maintain your tires

Keep them inflated to the proper pressure, and make sure they are wearing evenly. Align, balance and rotate as needed. Even one underinflated tire can cause more gasoline usage. Get an inexpensive tire pressure gauge (available at any auto supply store) and check your tires at least every month. Check tires when they are cold (before you have driven on them) to measure pressure properly.

8. Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles

The oil filter removes dirt and particles from the engine so the parts move more freely. Old oil gets less slippery and doesn't lubricate as well. Well-lubricated engine parts require less fuel to run and create less pollution.

9. Change the air filter at the recommended intervals

This could be from 6,000 to 30,000 miles depending on conditions. A new air filter allows more clean air to get in the engine, allowing it to burn more efficiently.

10. Maintain your automobile

Increase fuel efficiency with regular tune-ups at intervals recommended by the auto manufacturer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her new book Home Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products. http://www.dld123.com

http://www.dld123.com/reallygreen/

Copyright ©2005 Debra Lynn Dadd - all rights reserved.

How To Be Green (in five minutes or less) By Gary Unger

How To Be Green

(in five minutes or less)
Author: Gary Unger
www.garyunger.com

One of the biggest failings of the green movement is their focus on spending more money on things in order to be green or greener. I think what they should do is show people how to do green things that will save them money first. And then after the money is saved, they can then transfer the saved money into more environmentally sound purchases.

Here’s what I propose are things you can do to be creative and save money:

• Unplug unused electronics. If it’s plugged in, it is creating a circuit. If it creates a circuit, power is flowing through. The power company charges you for everything that creates a circuit. Go to each electronic device in your house and unplug the items you don’t need to be making a circuit all the time. Does your stereo, guest bedroom lamp, cell phone charger need to be plugged in while you are gone?

• Turn down your water heater setting. It’s summer here in the States right now- even lukewarm water feels too hot sometimes.

• Adjust the setting on the coolness of your refrigerator. Same concept as the water heater, food doesn’t have to be almost frozen to be contained properly.

• Use heavy curtains on the sunny side of the house. Closing the curtains on the sunny side of the house will hold back a lot of sun heat coming through the window so you’ll use less air conditioning power.

• Stop turning on the light in a room that is well lit naturally.

• Turn off the light when you leave the room. Even if you are going to be back in “just a moment.” Moments have a way of being longer than intended.

• Shut down your computer at night or while at work. Turning off your monitor when you put it to “sleep” for a meeting saves twice as much energy than just putting it to “sleep.”

• Don’t print out that web page or pdf in order to read it. Every computer in recent years has a text enlarging option. Enlarge it on screen if you can’t read it very well.

• Unplug printers and other devices that you only use occasionally, like your printer, speakers or other external devices. Most people know when they’ll be printing or playing music or loading a device before they start their computer for the day.

• Take some mastic duct tape under the house and tape over any exposed ducting. Sealing off air leaks keeps your power usage down.

• If your attic doesn’t have quite enough insulation and you can’t afford more, go to the grocery store and get their free used boxes. Break them down flat and place them all over your attic. Who can pass up free insulation?

• Drive slower. A state driving corrections officer once told me that the difference between speeding to your destination and driving the speed limit is an average three minute difference. But can cost up to twenty five percent more in gas.

• Starting off slower at lights will increase your gas mileage.

• Change the oil in your vehicle. A well maintained vehicle gets better gas mileage.

• Take the first parking spot you see instead of driving around for the closer one.

• If you are driving less, let your insurance agent know. Carpooling, telecommuting, working from home, etc. Depending on your policy, it should save you a couple bucks there as well.

In five minutes today you can cut your electric bill down immediately!
Taking little steps each day can decrease the money going out the door to the energy and oil companies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gary Unger is the author of How To Be A Creative Genius (in five minutes or less). If you’d like to be more creative and have fun learning how to turn your creative gene into genius visit www.garyunger.com.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/garyunger

Check out Gary's book interview here:
www.readingwithceleste.blogspot.com