13 IHeart: Earth Day

It's an IHeart Happy Earth Day today!  I am SO excited for today, I have a ton of activities planned with the kiddos to teach them {above and beyond our typical speakings}, all the reasons why it's so important to take care of our earth.  It's great to get them motivated now, so that when they are our age, they have the same beautiful surroundings for their munchkins!

I know there are still so manly things that I could do to be more earth friendly, like not drive as often or buy ONLY organic foods and materials.  And I totally hope to get there someday, it's all about doing things in strides and making one change at a time.  EVERY little thing helps!

I know I am only skimming the surface, but here are a couple of things that can be done around the organized home, to help our friendly planet.

When it comes to organizing, whether you are cleaning out that cluttered junk drawer or taking on the whole garage, make sure you are aware of the items you are disposing of.  Check with your local waste company to see what guidelines they have regarding disposing specific products/electronics/paints/etc... It's also good to really consider if your items could be donated, sold or reused, vs. tossed away.  Freecycle.org offers up a way to locate someone in need of something or to post your unwanted treasures.  It's always better to reuse then to waste!

Take a peak around your home for things that you already own, that can double as storage!  For example, I have used the most adorable filing basket around my house in my living room, by my kitchen sink and in my office space for various purposes, meaning I didn't just settle for it being a file basket specifically.  Or snag an old Kleenex box to hold spice packets or remotes or a soup can for your tools, desk supplies or kid utensils.  You never know what you have at home that can be beautified and used to maximize your storage!

Go paperless!  Paper not only can take up a TON of space around the home, it's also a source of many missing trees.  Switch all of your statements to paperless options that can always easily be accessed online.  Or scan in old statements, greeting cards, receipts, etc.. and store them on an external hard drive and recycle the paper version.  Your old paper can be turned into new paper, and going paperless for your bills will save a ton more trees besides!

 

Stash a supply of green bags into a handled storage tote in your pantry or vehicle trunk for easy grab and go when heading out for any shopping trip.

Or better yet, snag an uber adorable basket for your bike and ride to the store instead of taking the gas chugger 'burban in your driveway.  I am guilty as charged, I am hoping to do that more this summer!

Aside from organizing, when cleaning, there are now tons of earth friendly products on the market for any chore, most I have found work just as good or better than non earth friendly options.  Or, you could save some mega moola and vow to make your own?  That's my plan Stan!

And of course, when cleaning, it's always good to have a bin full of reusable microfiber sponges and rags, vs. using paper towels.

Another completely obvious option is recycling!  Place a easy to access basket in all rooms in the house that are frequently used and create any waste.  Especially home office and kitchen spaces.  I really heart these cheapo stacking plastic bins for holding paper to be recycled.

And finally, another something I vow to take on this year, is to create a yard compost and plant a veggie garden.  Of course I will post on the projects along the way.

 

For other ways I am going green, check out my green kitchen post, my green office post and my cleaning post.  The feeling you get when you know you are working to do the right things, is reward enough for any life changes that are being made!  And this gal hearts rewards!  Of course, as I feature more spaces around the homestead throughout the year, I am hoping to add to my list of "live green" posts!

I am going to finish off where I started.  Kids.  They are our future.  I am a strong believer that getting them into the right habits now, will make it easier for them to continue down a green path.  To get my kiddos excited about helping out in a "green" way, I gave them each ownership of one task.  One is on "water" patrol, one is on "recycling" patrol and one is on "electricity" patrol!  It's amazing how well this works, three boys all in charge of something!  And I added in a little competition, in hopes of making this fun task stick!  For each time one finds a light left on, or water running too long in the shower or while brushing teeth, or if something is in a waste basket that should have been recycled, they get a dime.  And of course to make it even more about the earth, their nickles & dimes will add up and be put towards purchasing their very own personal tree to plant in our yard!

All it took was a glass jar and label for each little earth keeper, and some spare nickles & dimes, and we were all set to start the challenge!

And P1 already found three lights left on {shame shame!} so he is having fun sticking his $ into his jar!

And of course, once they earn half of the tree cost, then mom and dad will happily cover the rest!  And once everyone is all loaded up with their dinero, we will head out as a family, pick out our new family trees and have a happy family day planting them in our yard!

IHeart how excited they are to do good!  Hears hoping it sticks!

How are you fellow friends making changes in your lives for the sake of our planet?  Any easy peasy small changes you can share, that make a huge different for our earth?  Anyone reuse or re-purpose anything unique and different for the sake of getting things organized {like a cereal box or empty paint cans?}.  Do share your green tales, for we would all love to hear how to give this earth a happily ever after!