Low Interest Loans for Storm Damage Available

I know it's a little after the fact, but you can still apply!
Low-interest loans available for claims due to last month's storm damage

Homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations in Orange County - along with those in the counties of Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino and Ventura - are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover physical damages caused by the severe winter storms, flooding, debris flows and mudflows that began on Jan. 17, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced:"This is just the first step toward helping those affected get back in their homes and their businesses operating," he said in a letter. On Jan. 22, the governor proclaimed a state of emergency for Orange County.

For more information about SBA loans, call 1-800-659-2955 (or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired).

Rip up your Lawn - save water, work, use your yard as a grocery store!

As you may have read in previous blogs, I am a great proponent of ripping up your lawn. Why? Well, lawns use an amazingly large amount of water to upkeep, gas mowers contribute to air pollution, and lawns are not native to this area of the country. This is a great time of the year to consider this, as you can coordinate it with your regular spring planting.

Native plants are always a better choice for Mother Earth. Tree of Life Nursery http://www.californianativeplants.com/ has great classes with instructions on how to du this and alternatives once the lawn is removed. There are many beautiful landscape options available. Xeriscape landscaping creates a garden that will withstand drought conditions.

Or, why not grow a vegetable garden? A vegetable garden is not only an attractive alternative to a lawn, but with proper planning it uses significantly less water (30 percent to 60 percent less, depending on which study you read). Growing vegetables as a lawn substitute can be a rewarding experience while creating a very interesting landscape. Urban Plantations will help you with any aspect of this process. http://www.urbanplantations.com/.

A great Green concept for people who want new homes, and don't want to recycle a pre-built home!

Remember, every time you buy, sell or lease any pre-owned home you are recycling©." ~ Darlene H. Grimes, Certified EcoBroker©

This is on the home page of our website http://www.ocgreenrealty.com/ where I like to encourage people to purchase already built homes, and keep as much open space and urban sprawl to a minimum. My partner, Mary Jane Humphreys and our team help you to find a great pre-owned home, then help you with the resources to green it up so you can live healthier, save money, and help save the planet (that's green real estate in a nutshell.)

However, a colleague of mine, Michael Vairin - President & Founder of Builder's Development Group has a great program for those who want a great deal on a lot that will not contribute to urban sprawl. You can read about it on his blog entry from Jan 26th http://blog.buildersdevelopmentgrp.com/

They find smaller lot deals that have been overlooked. Some are infill type new home projects and some are lots in newer projects that did not get finished but since there are usually a small number of lots, it does not make sense for the public home builders in California, so individual buyers can get them and usually at a great price!

Toilet to Tap Campaign? They need a better name!

The City of San Diego City Council just approved a campaign to educate people about reusing greywater. Details can be found here: http://sandiegonewsroom.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40233:toilet-to-tap-campaign-approved-by-council&catid=110:city-of-san-diego&Itemid=34

Summary:

San Diego currently imports almost 80 percent of its water from outside the region, according to Coastkeeper Executive Director Bruce Reznik, who addressed the city council on Tuesday. This campaign seeks to lessen the city’s reliance on energy and expensive imported water. “Our over reliance on these sources has tremendous environmental and economic impacts on our region,” Recycling wastewater into drinking water is a reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to enhance our local water supplies,” said Reznik.

I agree wholeheartedly. Years ago a friend of mine had a porcelain device on top of his toilet tank that took the clean tank water before it went into the toilet and pumped it like a faucet into a small sink that rested on the top of the tank. It was brilliant!! One could wash their hands after peeing with the toilet tank water and not turn on the sink tap and waste water. The soapy hand washing water just went into the tank for the next flush. I recently saw one of these online and vowed to purchase it, just can't remember where I saw it!

The name of the campaign though - Toilet to Tap? What are they smoking? This does not make me want to recycle my grey water, it makes me think the toilet water, not the tank water is being used for the tap.

Recycling grey water is surely the future.