Summer’s just around the corner, and soon families around the country will be celebrating the warm weather by hitting the pools, going on bike rides, and embarking on family vacations. This year, though, why not try to incorporate some eco-friendliness into your summer activities? It’s easy to do, and it will be good for both your family and the environment.  For example, here are four creative ways you can have eco-friendly fun this summer.

1)      Join a Clean-Up Hike. If you enjoy hiking, you should put your talents to good use this summer and join dozens of other nature-lovers on a clean-up hike in your area. What is a clean-up hike you ask? Well, it’s a group outing designed to keep our parks and forests free from litter and debris. Hikers gather at the start of the trail with a bag and trash stick, and then they embark on a leisurely stroll, stopping to pick up any trash they see along the way. These hikes are a great way to get some exercise while doing your part for the environment.

2)      Upcycle Some Patio Furniture. Now that summer’s here, a lot of people will be spending money on new outdoor furniture. However, it’s much more affordable and also better for the environment to just build some new patio furniture yourself. Don’t worry – this is a lot easier than it sounds. All you need are a few discarded shipping pallets, a sander, some wood glue and a spare cushion or two. Using these plans from The Fun Times Guide, you can build yourself an entire set of weatherproof pallet patio furniture in just one weekend.

3)      Go Camping in Your Backyard. The backyard campout is a tried and true summer pastime. It combines all the thrills of camping – the s’mores, the sing-alongs, and the scary stories – with the comforts of the suburbs – which include an opossum-free campsite and indoor plumbing. This fun, low-stress activity should definitely be featured on every family’s summer to-do list, especially since it helps your household reduce its carbon footprint by cutting your power usage for the evening. For some ideas on how to make your backyard camping adventure great, check out this guide at Parenting.com.

4)      Visit a local Farmers’ Market. Summer is a great time to teach your kids about where their food comes from by visiting a local farmers’ market. Get the little ones excited about eating healthy by allowing each member of your family to pick out any three items of produce they want, and then plan family dinners that feature those ingredients. By eating organically, you’ll help support local farmers and the environment and you’ll be doing your body a few favors as well.

There are so many eco-friendly ways to have fun this summer that it’s impossible to list them all in just one blog post. When looking for activities for your family, let your creativity be your guide. Try to incorporate the concepts of recycling, reducing energy usage, conservation and education into all sorts of unique and original activities – and feel free to share what you come up with in the comments below!

Biofriendly Blog wants to thank Lucy Clark for her insightful, and eco-friendly guest post. Lucy Clark is an editor for DIYMother.org and a master at refurbishing old furniture. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her daughters and tending to her produce garden.

Images by Echo Valley Ranch and zetrules via Flickr Creative Commons

As a follow-up to last week’s post, “A Biofriendly Way to Tap Into Renewable Energy? Use Existing Properties.“, I thought I would discuss how the use, or reuse, of existing properties could increase sustainability. One of the problems we have on this planet is that people are constantly trying to come up with new ways to expand outward. In all honesty, there is only so far we can go before there is nothing else left. We shouldn’t have to use all of our natural resources, and spaces, in order to live on this planet. We definitely shouldn’t have to use them up by continuing to build massive solar and wind farms on open land in order to “become more dependent on renewable energy”, or having to take every last open space in order to farm and grow food so as to “increase sustainability”. We can do both of those things in moderation while using, reusing and re-purposing existing properties.

Why build new when there are so many existing properties that have been left abandoned or empty? Shouldn’t we simply re-purpose, or make better use of, those properties and leave the open spaces alone? I think we should, and investing in these types of adaptive reuse programs can save money, have less of a harmful impact on the environment, revitalize urban (and rural) areas, create jobs and in some instances, increase the sustainability of both the property and the local community. In fact, there are many individuals, organizations, and cities who not only agree, but who are taking steps to do just that.

Take New York, for example, they took a historic, elevated rail line that was beginning to decay from non-use and turned it into a beautiful public park known as the High Line. In Mexico City, an unused rooftop helipad was recently transformed into a garden and co-working space. These corn silos have been re-imagined as a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Oregon wine country. In this instance, the Whole Foods in Brooklyn decided to turn their existing rooftop into a 20,000 square foot greenhouse in order to start growing some of their own herbs and vegetables. Talk about fresh produce! Another great example is this company, who is working to refurbish existing properties into green multiplexes that will also help revitalize the local community.

All in all, it’s very simple. If we use, reuse, and re-purpose existing properties in order make better use of them, rather than keep trying to build outwards, isn’t that action in itself more sustainable? Then if we re-purpose some of those properties in order to grow our own food, harvest renewable energy, re-create green/outdoor spaces, we will only add to that sustainability. I say it might just be worth the investment. What do you think?

Image by Shane Gorski via Flickr Creative Commons

As our society begins to intensify its efforts to move away from fossil fuels and invest in more renewable energy sources, the signs of this expansion can be seen all over the world. We can see wind turbines going up off the coast of major countries, solar farms being spread across open deserts, and farmers switching from food-based crops to fuel-based crops, just to name a few. These efforts, no matter how beneficial they may seem, are not always applauded by the general public.

I mean, think about it…why does a wind farm need to be placed right off the coastline when there are skyscrapers all across the country, and around the world, that have open, relatively empty space on their roofs? Same goes for solar. Wouldn’t it make more sense to add solar panels to the roofs of homes, offices and other buildings rather than plop them down in the middle of a wide open desert space? I mean, take a look at this map which shows New York City’s rooftop potential for solar power. Personally, I think it makes a lot more sense to use the properties we have, and to figure out a way to make them more biofriendly, than to further tap into the limited resources on this planet. For example, take a look this low-maintenance, bladeless wind turbine that can be mounted on the side of a building or on a rooftop. Here is a solar rooftop project looking for online investors to help add solar panels to the roof of a New Jersey convention center. As far as the future goes, I cannot wait until we are able to see something like these technologically-advanced, solar roads.

In reality, the biofriendly ways to tap into renewable energy are limitless. What are some of the best ways you’ve seen for our society to tap into renewable energy using existing properties?

Image by Constellation Energy via Flickr Creative Commons

Sustainable agriculture has often been described as a way to grow food in a manner that does not have an adverse effect on the environment, that is healthy for the consumer, the animals and the land on which it is grown/raised, that takes into consideration the health and welfare of the workers, and which supports and gives back to the local community. Sustainable agriculture is not only about conserving, but preserving as well. As a rule of thumb, sustainable agriculture believes what gets taken out of the environment should be put back into the environment. You can find out more about the growth of global organic agricultural and sustainable food practices in this report from the WorldWatch Institute.

Now, in the name of food sustainability, here are some tips and tricks to help you acquire your own fresh fruits and vegetables:

• One of the best ways to ensure your fruit and vegetables are organic, pesticide-free is to grow them yourself. Growing your own food is not only more sustainable, but saves you money too. Here is how you can save money by growing your own fruits and vegetables.
• Speaking of pesticide-free…another important reason to grow your own organic fruits and vegetables is that an active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup Herbicide has been linked to cancer, autism, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
• Before you start digging up your yard in order to plant a vegetable garden, however, you might want to read up on some of the personal and environmental benefits of container gardening.
• For those of you who live in apartments or houses that have very small yards, with no real space to put a full garden, here are some tips for growing food in a small space.
• If you are not really the gardening type and would rather not have to deal with all the dirt and mess that traditionally goes along with gardening, you might want to check out some of the benefits to having a hydroponic, organic garden. As a matter of fact, plants grown through organic hydroponics are 150% more nutritious than organic vegetables grown in dirt.
• You can even take your hydroponic garden one step further, by taking advantage of all that technology has to offer, with one of these 12 plug-and-play home hydroponic systems.
• Another option is to subscribe to, or join, a local CSA (community supported agriculture) like Farm Fresh to You. With this type or program you will be able to get fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs delivered straight from the farm to your doorstep, without even having to do any of the gardening yourself.
• Of course, if you do not want to grow your own food, and do not want it delivered to your door, there is always the option of going to a local farm and picking it yourself. Check out pickyourown.org for a listing of the PYO farms near you.
• Since local farmers do a lot, not only for you, but for the community at large, here is a list of ways you can support and give thanks to your local farmers.
• Keep in mind that starting your own garden, and growing your own food, will help encourage healthy eating. This goes for school gardens as well. In fact, a recent study suggests that schools who establish gardens, and involve their students in a school gardening program, help promote healthy eating and cultivate an interest in trying new foods.

Turning to fresh, local and organic fruits/vegetables will help bring about improved health and overall well-being. By doing the above actions, along with lessening our food waste, and using composting as a smart way to give back to the environment (and invest in our future food supply), we will truly be on the road towards greater food sustainability.

Image by USDAgov via Flickr Creative Commons

With 192 countries, countless organizations, thousands of schools and over a billion individuals celebrating Earth Day last year, this year is bound to be even better. Why? Because more and more people are wanting to involve themselves with biofriendly actions and activities that make this planet we live on just a little bit better.

I already shared my Earth Day list on how to get your kids involved and now I wanted to share this infographic with you. My friend, Beth Buczynski was nice enough to share this with you, and I figured it would be a good way to give you some quick, historical facts and figures on Earth Day itself.

Earth Day graphic produced by the Kars4Kids car donation program “Responsible vehicle recycling for future generations.”

I hope that infographic gave you a little better idea of what Earth Day is all about and what you can do to make a difference. Remember, all it takes is one simple act of green to get you started. To make it even easier, here are 10 simple Earth Day do’s and don’ts to give you an idea on what you can do today. Happy Earth Day everyone!

This year Earth Day is all about educating people on climate change and the effect it is having on people all around the world. It goes way beyond that, however, as this Earth Day strives to highlight the exceptional acts being taken by people, like you and me, to combat climate change and do what they can to make a difference.

While many times people consider such efforts to be spearheaded by large groups, non-profit organizations and adults, it is important that we remember to involve our kids in our Earth Day, and other sustainable, efforts as well. Trust me, there is nothing to gain by not including your kids. Most kids are eager to learn, eager to help and eager to do what they can to protect the earth around them.

Here are some simple activities you can do with your kids to help get them involved in Earth Day and spark their interest in making a change:

1) First and foremost, go to the Earth Day Network to educate yourself, and your kids, on what Earth Day is all about and the purpose it serves.

2) Educate your kids on the truth about plastic bags to help them understand the damage plastic bags can cause on land and at sea, then teach them how to reduce plastic bag waste. This lesson plan can be used to help you do that. You can also participate in a local beach or park cleanup to help get rid of plastic waste.

3) Read books to your kids, or have them read books, about the environment and/or what can be done to protect the environment. A few of my personal favorites are The Lorax by Dr. Suess, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell.

Of course one of my favorite Dr. Suess quotes is from The Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

4) Teach your kids about what items can and should be recycled. Then you can have them help you set up a recycling container in your home so that they too can recycle bottles, cans, newspapers and other materials that should never end up in landfills. Here are some specifics from Earth911.com about what can and cannot be recycled.

5) Discuss different forms of transportation with your kids, and discuss how these each of these can either hurt and/or help the environment around them. Have them tell you what they consider to be the most environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Then work out how you, and your family, can lessen your impact by making changes in how you get around.

6) Have your kids pick an herb, vegetable or fruit they would like to grow and then work with them to help set up their own little garden. This can be done indoors or outdoors. By letting your kids choose what they want to plant, and educating them on how to care for their garden, you will find they will enjoy growing their own fresh, organic foods. Who knows, it may even help them eat better too! Here are 10 tips for organic gardening with children and a little more information about how to turn digging in the dirt into a lifetime of love and respect for nature.

7) Last, but not least, you and your kids can each commit to doing something to protect the earth. As part of Earth Day efforts more than a billion acts of green have already been pledged or completed. By everyone doing just one act of green, that number can be over two billion in no time!

Happy Earth Day image by LollyKnit, beach plastic image by Jason Karn, and garden image by Robin Pokorski are all via Flickr Creative Commons.

As I sit here looking around, I realize that the time has come to dive into some spring cleaning. Of course, to many people, spring cleaning means doing a little dusting, maybe straightening out a bit and leaving it at that. We, however, have managed to amass a number of items that we no longer use, many clothes the kids have grown out of, toys that either do not get played with anymore or that are missing pieces, and the place is beginning to feel cluttered. So while I figure out my plan of attack, I wanted to share some of my favorite green cleaning tips that will help you spring clean your home and your life.

• The first step, and the most essential one, in spring cleaning is to stop procrastinating. You won’t get anything done unless you take the first step.
• Once you have done that, make the decision it is okay to let things go. If you aren’t willing to let go of items you no longer need or use, you will not make the progress you could (and should), and your home will be just as cluttered as when you started. Trust me, clearing out the clutter not only has physical value, but emotional and spiritual value as well. Try it!
• Now that you have made some key decisions, go room by room through your home in order to get rid of items you no longer need or use. Going room by room makes it a little easier than trying to tackle the whole house in one day/weekend. As you go, put items you can sell in one pile, items to donate in another, and items to toss in a third. Here are some tips to help you decide whether you should sell, donate or throw it out. (Note: Keep in mind that many “throw out” items can also be reused in some other fashion. The key is to not keep it simply because you want to hang onto it, but keep it because you can actually use it.)
• The kids recently got a bunch of new clothes since a) they need new summer clothes and b) they have grown out of many of their old ones. While most of their old clothes can be donated, there are some that have stains, are worn-out or simply aren’t suitable to donate. They will, however, make great cloths for cleaning.
• When it comes to cleaning products, go natural. Instead of using store-bought chemicals to “clean” your house, use natural products. For example, here are 5 foods that make eco-friendly cleaners and here are 27 household uses for a lemon. Since cleaning your windows will let more of the spring shine through, here is a window cleaner many tout as one of the best.
• While you are at it, get rid of those chemical cleaners. I mean, do you really think you are doing your home, your family, or yourself any favors by adding chemicals into your home? Well, you aren’t. Follow these tips on how to dispose of toxic cleaning supplies and we will all be better for it.
• If your house seems a tad bit musty and lacks that fresh spring smell, forget the air freshener, open your windows. After having your windows closed up for the winter, it is time to open them up and air your house out. This is something you can do every week or even every day. Believe me, it is worth it!
• Now that you have aired out the place, try adding some plants inside your home. Indoor plants can bring a little of the outdoors inside, while at the same time they can help get rid of indoor air pollution and keep your home feeling fresh. Check out some of the top houseplants for improving indoor air quality.
• Another tip, mentioned by one of my readers, is to remember to do some digital spring cleaning. Unused files, massive amounts of photos stored on your hard drive, and all manner of other issues can slow down your computer and your ability to get work done. Spring clean your digital life and you will find your efficiency will increase too. Take a look at these tips to unclutter your digital devices and social media presences.
• Do not forget to spring clean your car. During the winter months our car sometimes gets loaded down with jackets, blankets and supplies we need when traveling in colder weather. Now that spring is here, and summer is just around the corner, it’s time to clean out your car and get it running more efficiently. Some simple ways to do that include rotating your tires and ensuring they are properly inflated, getting routine maintenance performed, cleaning your car with a waterless cleaner, and adding a proven fuel additive to help increase your fuel economy and lower your harmful emissions.
• Remember that our bodies can use a spring cleaning too! Recently I was put on a low-sodium diet in preparation for surgery, and I have to say I was really able to tell the difference in how I felt after eating fresh, unprocessed, low-sodium foods. The first few days were a little rough, as I felt as if I was detoxing, but after that I noticed I had much more energy, felt better, was not as hungry, my body did not ache as much, etc. So, here are some simple tips that may be able to help you spring clean your diet.
• Life just wouldn’t be complete without nature, would it? Not in my mind. Getting yourself outdoors every day, whether it is to go for a walk, ride your bike, play with the kids, enjoy a little fresh air, get some sun, watch the clouds or gaze at the evening stars, is an essential part of life. As kids, we spent many of our waking hours enjoying the great outdoors. No reason to stop now that we are adults, right? Besides, getting outside every day is a great way to get a little exercise, relax and clear your mind.
• Next on the list, now that you have a cleaner home, cleaner car, and you are working on spring cleaning your diet too, is growing some of your own herbs, vegetables and (if you have room for it) fruits. One of the best ways to ensure you are eating fresh, organic, local fruits and vegetables is by growing your own. Keep in mind that you can do this whether you have a big yard or not. In fact, here are some good tips for growing food in a small space.

In reality, there are so many different ways we can spring clean our lives. These are a few of the green ones I try to use and I hope you will be able to find them useful as well. Now, since there is no time like the present, happy spring cleaning!

Image by Dan McKay via Flickr Creative Commons

Having an environmentally-friendly project or idea come to life is something that numerous people, from all around the world, hope to accomplish at some point in their lives. These particular projects, however, have been brought to life by today’s youth. These are not people who have gone through college, or spent years on end doing an in-depth, scientific study in one particular field or another. These are kids, like your kid and my kid, who had an idea on how to make some aspect of the world just a little bit more environmentally-friendly and did not stop until they brought it to life.

Do not take my word for it, though. Take a look at these innovative kids and see what you think. In my humble opinion, they are truly inspiring!

• This 17-year-old won $100,000 for her bedroom biofuel laboratory, where she has been working on developing algae that will create biofuels more efficiently. You got that she is doing this from her bedroom, right?!
• Meghan Shea, an 18-year-old high school student, from Pennsylvania recently became a 2013 Intel Science Talent Search finalist with her invention of a relatively cost-effective water filtration method. Although more research is required, Meghan’s invention was shown to reduce E. coli bacteria in water by up to 99%.
• Then there is this incredible Kenyan teen who invented solar-powered ‘Lion Lights’ that save both predators and prey. Keep in mind he is only 13-years-old!
• These Israeli teens are bottling algae as part of a superfood project geared to feed a hungry Africa. Not a bad idea, especially considering the fact that algae has an estimated 70% protein in it. They aren’t planning on stopping there either. In fact, they are hoping to introduce their invention to the world market within a year.
• This one is a win-win invention, as not only are these Wilmington kids working to save endangered animals, they are doing it by creatively educating people on the benefits of recycling. Check out how their “little” art project is making a big difference.
• Turning our attention to the very real problem of plastic polluting oceans around the world, this 19-year-old student designed an ocean cleanup array that could remove 7,250,000 tons of plastic from the world’s oceans. Not a small feat.

• This next project involves the building of a teeny, tiny house. The main difference between this house and others before it, is that this tiny house is being built for, and by, a middle school student. After raising more than $1,500 through Indiegogo to help fund her project, she is not only being environmentally-friendly with the size of her new home, but she is including green elements as well, her favorite of which is a sawdust composting toilet. (I’d say this 12-year-old girl puts it best when she says she is planning to “be number #1 in the business of #2″.)
• This is quite an inspirational story. It is about a group of fourth graders, from North Carolina, who decided they would take it upon themselves to crowdfund their own solar-powered classroom. While they originally hoped to get $800 (through Kickstarter), as of the last time I checked, they have already raised more than $5800. That’s quite an accomplishment, don’t you agree? Way to go Aaron Sebens and his fourth-grade class!
• Who better to educate kids on the importance of recycling than other kids? Just ask the kids involved in the Friends of Deckers Creek Youth Advisory Board and they’ll tell you. In fact, this group of school kids has been so successful that they are taking their recycling education program to more than 11 schools in their district in order to educate other kids and “make it cool” to recycle.
• Last on my list, but definitely not least is this eco fridge, invented by two 16-year-old high school students from Jordan, that requires zero electricity to operate. Now that’s quite an invention all on its own, but to be able to have such a resource when you live in an extremely hot, desert climate, that is something which could prove to be completely invaluable.

Each of these ideas, projects, and inventions are pretty awesome in my book, but the fact that they were brought to life by today’s youth makes them that much better. It is really encouraging to see the efforts being made by kids, all over the world, to make a difference, make a change and do something about the situations they see and experience every single day. It simply goes to show what people, regardless of their age, can do when they put their minds to it.

School image courtesy of our friends at Sherman Carter Barnhart, PSC

Making a difference on a broad scale begins with simple actions from individual people. When you add all those actions together, then you will start to see a change, see an improvement and see the difference you long to achieve. Earth Hour is all about people joining together for a common purpose, and showing their support for the planet and the world in which we live. Some would argue that one hour isn’t really that much, but when millions of people, businesses, governments and countries across the globe are all doing the same thing, that one little hour clearly shows that it is not just you, or me, who wants to make a change, it is a global wish and a global effort.

This year Earth Hour takes place on March 23rd, at 8:30pm local time. So, hour after hour, around the world we will be able to see the impact people like us are capable of having on both a small, and large, scale. The question becomes, however, what are you willing to do for Earth Hour. Are you willing to turn off your lights, for one short hour, as a sign of your commitment to be part of the global community that is making a difference? Are you willing to do more?

Here are some of the things you can do in honor of Earth Hour 2013:

1. Sign the Earth Hour pledge.
2. Dare the world to help save the planet by either accepting one of the many “I will if you will” challenges, or by making a challenge of your own. Here is a challenge, for example, wherein One Million Trees in One Day will plant a million native trees in Ireland, providing that 1000 people take the challenge to turn off their lights for Earth Hour 2013. Here is one your kids may love to do, Pocoyo and his friends will clear 2 tons of trash from the oceans, if 100,000 kids will play the ocean clean-up game.
3. Have your own Earth Hour event.
4. Find out all the different ways you can use social media to help spread the word about Earth Hour, and then do so!
5. Encourage others by sharing your own story about what you are doing for Earth Hour 2013.
6. Of course you can also join one of the many Earth Hour events that are already scheduled around the globe. As of right now there are events planned in more than 7000 cities in more than 152 countries/territories. Check out where an Earth Hour event is being held near you.

Yes, Earth Hour is only one hour, but that one hour can make a world of difference. It can bring people together, from around the world, and unite them with a common purpose. So why not join in? It is our planet, we might as well join together to take better care of it, don’t you agree? And as Dr. Seuss reminds us in the book, The Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

Image by Evan via Flickr Creative Commons

Water is one of the earth’s most valuable resources, it is also one that is intrinsic to life itself. Therefore, in honor of World Water Day 2013, which this year is focusing on water cooperation, I thought it would be good to share 10 eco-friendly water tips that can help you through your day.

To start things off though, let’s get you in a water cooperation and water conservation frame of mind by taking a moment to review this infographic covering key water statistics from around the world:

Now that you have done that, let us get onto the tips you can use to help you conserve, save and make good use of the fresh water we do have:

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth in the morning (and at night).
• Limit your showers to 2-5 minutes. If you decide to take a bath, be sure to plug the tub before you start running the water, then adjust the temperature accordingly.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge. This will prevent water from running down the drain while you fill up cups and will also curb your use of plastic water bottles.
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables in a pan or tin rather than leaving the water running while you clean them off.
• If you don’t have a water-friendly (aka water-wise) garden already, create one. Until that time, you can work on conserving water while still keeping a beautiful garden. One good way to start is to adjust your watering schedule to coincide with seasonal weather conditions.
• Use a broom, instead of the water from a hose, to clean off your driveway and/or walkways.
• Turn your regular toilet into a low flow toilet in just a few simple DIY steps.

• Use your compost more and your garbage disposal less. Adding compost and mulch to your garden, and around your trees, will also make it so you do not need to water quite as often.
• Refrain from using your dishwasher until you have a full load of dishes, and hold off running your washing machine until you have a full load of clothes. If you must run a smaller load of clothes, then be sure to adjust your water level to the size of your load.
• Opt for a waterless car wash rather than a traditional car wash, which can use between 80 and 140 gallons of water. A waterless car wash will help the environment, while saving water and money at the same time.

As there are at least 783 million people who do not have access to clean water, the least we can do in honor of World Water Day 2013 is to take these 10 simple, eco-friendly water tips to heart. Hopefully, as a result, you will soon find conserving water becomes just a natural part of life.

Image by GaelForce Photography on Flickr Creative Commons