Image by Horia Varlan

Remember when mom used to tell you…”Put on your sunblock.” “Don’t ride your bike in the street.” “Don’t eat the sand at the beach”. and more? Well, Summer is officially here, so it would probably be a good idea to get a refresher on some of those mom-approved green rules of Summer.

Now, don’t get me wrong, these aren’t hard-core, iron-clad rules or anything, more like tips or suggestions. But when it comes to greening up and enjoying your summer, mom would probably want you to take note:

1. Use sunblock or cover up. There is no reason to get burned  - whether or not you need Vitamin D, a sunburn will not help you in any way. But be sure to use a safe and effective sunscreen.

2. Drink plenty of water. If you buy a BPA-free water bottle, you can bring water with you wherever you go. When it’s hot out, drink more water to ensure you don’t get dehydrated.

3. Open the windows to cool your home down at night. Even when it gets hot during the day, you can turn off the a/c and cool down your home by opening up some windows at night.

4. Pack snacks for trips. Why spend lots of money on fast food, when you can be prepared and pack healthy snacks ahead of time? You save money and eat better too.

5. Vacation locally. Many people tend to want to “get away” during the summer, but who says you can’t do that relatively close to home? Check out local vacation spots (less than an hour away) first, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Image by 1suisse

6. Get outside. Don’t keep yourself couped up, get out and enjoy nature. Go for a walk, ride a bike, go hiking, go for a swim, go jogging on the beach, etc.

7. Lower your emissions – drive less. If you have to drive try car-pooling or ride-sharing and if you aren’t driving a hybrid or electric vehicle, then be sure to check out a proven fuel additive to lower your emissions even further.

8. If you do drive, drive smart. Check out these “Top 10 Summer Travel Tips“.

9. Water your plants in the early morning or evening. You don’t want to water during the hottest hours of the day, as the water tends to evaporate faster and you end up needing to water more often.

10. Keep your air conditioning off as much as possible. Here are some simple and cool tips for a cooler summer.

11. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables…ideally from local growers. A nice cold watermelon, sliced strawberries, some fresh squeezed orange juice or some cool, crispy grapes may be just what you need on a hot summer day. Bananas are a great boost too, especially if you need more potassium.

Image by The Gifted Photographer

12. Cut out sodas and other sugary drinks. They tend to make you more dehydrated on hot days, not less. Water is a great choice…maybe add a slice of lime, lemon or other fruit for added taste.

13. BBQ some of those Summer meals rather than heating up your home by using the oven/stove to cook. Whether it’s gas or charcoal, who doesn’t like to barbeque now and again?

14. If you can solar charge, do so. Summer is a great time to start solar charging your phone, computer, car, etc. Plus it will probably get you outdoors more.

15. Try camping rather than staying in a hotel. Camping is a classic summertime activity that you don’t want to miss. For those of you who have kids, check out some tips that can make your family camping trip better.

Image by Fiona MacGinty

16. Hang your clothes out to dry. No need to waste energy if you can hang your clothes on a clothesline and let the sun dry them for you.

17. Avoid spraying poisons and other chemicals to get rid of summer bugs/pests. Use organic methods that won’t adversely affect you, your family, your pet or the environment. For example, coffee grounds and/or cayenne pepper work well to deter ants.

18. Leftovers…make good use of leftovers. Especially during the summer, when we tend to have guests over or make more than we actually need, there are often leftovers. Be sure to put leftovers in the fridge/freezer and use them for simple meals throughout the week.

19. When cleaning up try using re-usable rags or towels. ShamWow towels or PeopleTowels work well when trying to clean up and they are better for the environment than paper towels.

20. Don’t buy more “stuff”. Rather than buying more things to have around the house, find creative activities that you can do using existing supplies.

So, there are your 20 green ‘mom-approved’ tips for this Summer. Do you have any other green tips that can help make Summer better? I’d love to hear them! Have a safe and happy Summer!

As we enter Spring and head towards Summer, camping is often the vacation of choice. Who doesn’t have memories of going camping with their family? I sure do and I hope you do too, because camping is a great way to get outdoors and connect up with nature, to bring you and your family away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to enjoy the great outdoors. In celebration of the great outdoors, here are a few ideas for bio-friendly camping destinations:

1) Maho Bay Camps: Located in the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park is the Maho Bay Camps. The Maho Bay Camps actually opened back in 1976 and were a premier eco-resort before there were eco-resorts.

Originally there were only 18 tent-cottages, all built by hand construction methods so as not to disturb the natural beauty and environment. Now there are 114 units nestled amongst the trees and foliage to help provide privacy and to help blend in. Wooden walkways connect the units with the shared bathrooms, which of course contain low-flush toilets and pull-chain showers. Both of which are connected to a recycling system that provides irrigation for the nearby plants and trees.

2) Concordia Eco-Tents: This next destination grew out of the popularity of the Maho Bay Camps. The Concordia Eco-Tents were added as a new and additional destination about 25 miles from Maho Bay.

Each of the 25 eco-tents has an ocean view, private bathroom, sink, deck and are powered by solar energy. Due to the screened windows, the eco-tents allow campers to be as close to nature as possible without actually sleeping outdoors. Although you could probably sleep on your private deck, if you wanted.

3) Chepu Adventures Eco-Camping: Chepu is a rural village of little over 200 people. Located on the west coast of Chile, Chepu is surrounded by 5 rivers, an evergreen forest, wetlands, dunes and the beach on the Pacific Ocean.

The Chepu Adventures Eco-Camping offers only 4 camping sites for your privacy and to protect the environment. A 2 KW wind generator powers the outdoor lighting, a solar water heater heats the 3-minute showers and all organic waste is composted.

If one of the camping sites isn’t for you, they also offer little dorms that can accommodate up to 4 people each. Basically it’s a single room with bunk beds. If you want your own private bathroom, a cabana is probably the way to go.

4) Mayne Island Eco-Camping: This one I like, even if it’s mainly for the great outdoor tree shower. Mayne Island Eco-Camping is a private campground that not only offers a choice of oceanfront or forest sites, but they offer outdoor showers and outhouses as well. Their campground is laid out so you can be close to nature and the wildlife that inhabits Mayne Island.

Like most eco-campgrounds, if you don’t feel the desire to sleep right up against nature, you can always opt for their Seal Beach B&B or Cottage. Neither appear to be especially bio-friendly, however, so personally I’d stick with the eco-camping. Besides how often do you get to use an outdoor tree shower?

5) Alentejo Adventure: Set in the Alentejo region of Portugal, in the Serra da Sao de Mamede Natural Park, the Alentejo Adventure is truly designed to get you connected back to nature.

They have their own private lake, which is filled from natural mountain streams. Bird-watching and checking out the local wildlife is a favorite past-time in this area due to the location being a little further off the beaten path.

Additionally, an indigenous tree will be planted for each guest car. However, with so many winding trails and areas to explore, there is no real need for your car while you are staying there.

Your camp consists of a “Soul Pad” tent placed in the middle of your own private meadow, by a mountain stream or possibly near the olive trees. Any location puts you right up to nature so you can experience the full outdoor experience.

One of the very cool things about the Soul Pad is that when it is opened up, it appears to be floating. The walls can be moved up or down to let in more or less air as you see fit.  Each Soul Pad also comes with a futon bed, stylish furnishings and solar lighting.

Bathroom facilities are nearby in a centralized wet-room which includes a shower, toilet and sink. All used water then goes to irrigation for the gardens and trees.

6) ECOCAMP® Patagonia: Located in Torres del Paine National Park, EcoCamp has become a widely recognized symbol of eco-camping destinations.

The dome-shaped tents were designed after the traditional Kawesqar dwellings, which were usually built using organic materials found on site.

Each dome is laid out to be close to nature, like in a regular tent, but with the extra amenities of a high-end hotel. The domes are not meant to stand out, they are meant to blend in to their natural surroundings. And since each is completely portable, the domes are removed every winter to let nature take its course.

You can take a look at this promotional video for more information on what EcoCamp® Patagonia offers:

7) A Dispersed Campground: This last one is a kind of “do it yourself” camping destination and probably the most bio-friendly one of all.

Rather than traveling out of state or even going to a pre-designated campground, try dispersed camping in an area close to home.

Dispersed camping is camping on public lands, but not in designated public/private campgrounds. It’s the ultimate way to rough it and really connect up with nature. And there is no reason to travel long distances to enjoy your dispersed camping destination, when closer more fuel-efficient methods are available.

One key thing, if you are going to do some truly bio-friendly camping, is to ensure you don’t leave any trace you were there. When you are done camping, clean up and remove ALL evidence you camped there. That way it will be just as beautiful for the next people. Also don’t forget to check in with the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to see if you need any special permits or there are any specific guidelines you need to follow.

Image by Jeremy Levine Design via Flickr

One of the main obstacles reported by individuals trying to “go green” is that they have often found it’s easier and cheaper to do things as they’ve always done them in the past. For example, initial cost to buy a gas-guzzling vehicle is still usually cheaper than buying a hybrid. Why pay for solar panels to be installed when you can just continue to pay your electric bills as-is? Why buy organic, when fruits and veggies loaded with pesticides are cheaper and more readily available?

Well, to those of you who have already made adjustments towards a greener way of living, the answers to these questions are obvious. Going green isn’t just a catch phrase, it’s an actual life change. Changing the way you think, changing the way you live.

Don’t do it because your friends say it’s the thing to do or because “everyone is doing it”. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s all or nothing either. Making healthy and more environmentally-friendly changes in your life can be good for you. Eating out less or eating less processed food is easier on your health and your wallet. Using natural cleaners around your house and adding plants to help lower indoor air pollution, will make your home a safer place to live. I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the idea.

For those of you who are looking to make some green changes, here are a few you can make in your sleep….literally:

1) Sleep on an organic mattress: According to a recent survey by the Specialty Sleep Association, about two-thirds of consumers expressed concern about the safety and health aspects of the products they were purchasing. For those purchasing new mattresses, safety was the top environmental concern. Sales reps also reported that at least 75% of their customers were looking for natural, organic or environmentally-friendly mattresses.

Because of that, “The Mattress/Bedding Industry ‘Green Initiative‘ was created to identify definitions and terminology, as well as existing standards and certifications that apply to the mattress industry.” They intend to standardized how retailers label their green bedding products, so it will be easier to ensure you are in fact getting “green” bedding. Sounds good to me.

Another key reason to get green bedding is because some mattresses, especially crib mattresses, are covered with toxic fire retardant chemicals. These chemicals are continuously being released into the child’s room. Organic mattresses are usually filled with materials such as wool, which provide a natural fire retardant without the added toxins.

2) Ensure your room has been painted with non-toxic, low voc paints: Most people spend at least 8 hours of their day in their bedroom and you don’t want to be inhaling toxins for 1/3 of your day. So, if you plan on doing any painting, touch-ups etc in your bedroom (or any room in the house, for that matter), you are going to want low voc paints that ideally are non-toxic too.

Earth Safe Finishes carries Generation Green “Perfect Paint” which not only allows you to paint without the added toxins, but you can get a variety of colors out of one base container of paint.

3) Keep plants in your bedroom: While you are sleeping, your bedroom plants might be hard at work getting rid of the toxins commonly found in homes. In order to curb existing toxins, you’d be smart to check out “Plants That Naturally Detox Your Air and Improve Indoor Air Quality“.

Why worry about toxins while you are sleeping? Put a few nice plants around and you’ll get a fresher, cleaner bedroom. Besides, bringing a little of the outdoors in always brightens a room.

4) Let in natural light/fresh air: During the day, open your blinds and/or windows and let in some fresh air and natural light. Opening up your room, allows it to be aired out. Bringing in some sunlight will help brighten (and sometimes heat) the room to a more comfortable temperature.

There is no need to turn on the heat or the A/C when you can let nature help you out.

5) Clean with natural cleaners: Especially if you are keeping your windows open, you are going to need to dust and clean more often.  It may not sound very exciting, but you will probably notice the difference in the air you breathe.

Another important reason to clean regularly is you don’t want dust mites running around your bedroom. Unfortunately every home probably has some dust mites. Washing bedding, dusting regularly, vacuuming and cleaning with non-toxic cleaning supplies all help to keep the bedroom clean and keep away most of your unwanted bedfellows.

All of these changes will help ensure you sleep a little better at night. But, as I said earlier, there are many green changes you can make in your life, some big and others small. Whatever you choose to do, make it your decision to make changes that can benefit you, your health, your family and the environment around you. That said, what green changes you have made recently?