Spring "Greening" Tips

It's finally springtime, and spring cleaning time. How about turning it into spring greening? First, the laundry. Wash only full loads, use cold water whenever possible, hand your clothes and they will be so fresh!

Second, use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean most things instead of bleach and save your lungs and the oceans.

• Soak your toothbrushes in peroxide to keep them free from germs, use it as teeth whitening - way cheaper than other methods!



• Clean your counter tops with it, kills germs and bacteria - same with your cutting board, keep some in a spray bottle.



• Soak any infections or fungus on your body in it



• A cup of peroxide in laundry keeps it white and bright



• It cleans mirrors streak free!

Third, plant your garden with organic seeds and soil, and plant food. You can follow my son Jesse Grimes' adventures in his garden in Dana Point. He calls it the Trailer Trash Gardener at: http://jessebythesea.blogspot.com/ He is planting an organic garden in his yard at his mobile home, proving you can reap lots of food in a tiny space.

My Mighty Mini

In Orange County, where I live, the general consciousness of the population is not mostly individuals striving to save the planet, reduce waste, lower their carbon footprint, etc. As a matter of fact, I still get lots of questions when I say I am an EcoBroker and Green Real Estate Agent. People often ask me questions including: "what is green real estate, and why is it important?" Then they usually say: "Are you selling lots of green homes in the OC?" And truthfully, my answer is no, because there are not a lot of green homes in the OC....yet.

I am continually learning, training, and getting prepared for the day when most people look for a green home when they look to buy a home. However, they are starting to look for green features in a home, and starting to green up their lifestyle. So it is getting closer. Some are doing it because of their financial situation, and some because they have children and want to make a better future for them environmentally, and some because codes or laws force them to make changes. Whatever the reason, the trend is good. People I am finding are more and more aware of the need for a green lifestyle.

So, you are asking, what does this have to do with your Mini?

When I bought my mini in 2002, I did not know it was number 8 of the top ten green vehicles. I just knew it was like no car I had ever seen, and I had to have one! After all, it was a beeemer for less than $20,000. Now I could really fit in with my so-cal neighbors, owning a beemer, I joked. When I was studying for the Ecobroker certification, I considered getting a hybrid, until I found (back in 2004) mini's scored just as well as hybrids on the driving green stats. Now they are #17 out of the top 100, because so many other car manufacturers have finally made higher milage cars and jumped into the arena.

Anyway, I titled this "My Mighty Mini" because as I was at Home Depot on Saturday, once again loading very large cargo into the back of the car, I laugh because I have hauled so much in this small but mighty car. Bookcases, computer desks, lumber, and on Saturday, two rolls of 6'x13' bamboo fences. In the 8 years I have owned the Mini, I have never had to rent or borrow a van or truck to get something from place to place. The cargo space in this car with the back seats down, is amazing!! Why I laugh is people often tell me they need their large gas guzzling vehicle because they have things that they need to haul from time to time. So they justify the SUV. My Mighty Mini hauls a-- compared to theirs! For more info on green ratings and vehicles, go to http://www.greenercars.org/

Waste Free OC? Is it possible?

Well, maybe we will never be waste free, but how about a 10% reduction? OC Waste & Recycling (OCW&R) has launched a new, interactive campaign - Waste Free OC. Save Room for Tomorrow

- to help community members reduce everyday waste from entering local landfills. The campaign's call to action is realistic and attainable: Reduce waste by 10 percent in 2010.The campaign is significant, as the average Orange County resident in 2008 generated five pounds of waste per day. With more than three million residents countywide, that number adds up to approximately 15 million pounds of solid waste per day."The time is now for us to take action and realize that if we don't urge people to make behavioral changes, our landfills will be filled to capacity," said Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. "We cannot afford not to take action."Everyone has habits, and the simple ones like drinking coffee out of paper cups can be the source of up to 10% of what we throw away. But you don't have to give up the things you love. There are a lot of ways to lighten up on our landfills.

5 Easy Ways to Start Reducing Waste Today

1. Pay bills electronically and put a stop to junk mail.

2. Bring reusable bags with you to the grocery store.

3. Start composting.

4. Reduce packaging waste by buying in bulk.

5. Avoid contaminating recyclables to be sure they stay out of the landfill.

"The 10% in 2010 Challenge means producing less waste to begin with, reusing items as many times as possible and recycling even more," said OC Waste & Recycling Director Mike Giancola. "In doing so, we can reduce 1.5 million pounds of waste from going into our landfills over an entire year." Residents can take the "10% in 2010 Challenge" at http://www.wastefreeoc.com/.