February signals the start of the tax season and the rush to gather documents.  It is also a great time to organize your files and clear out the clutter.   

Start by taking a few minutes to look at your documents folder in your computer.    Make a new folder labeled 2010 and archive old files.   Keep one folder labeled taxes and put any files pertaining to your taxes in that folder.    In your archive folder you can make sub folders to separate business, personal etc.     Once this is complete backup this file to external hard drive or online backup service for safe keeping.     Make sure you delete unwanted files.   Next go to your email provider Outlook etc and clean out the old emails including the sent items folder.     Finally empty out the deleted items folder.  Now that you have tackled technology, let’s work on the stacks of paper on the desk and in the file cabinet.   Go through the old bills and keep only the current month.   Scan copies of statements and items that you need to keep and store in a folder labeled archive on the computer.   Once scanned shred the originals for recycling.  ...

When most of us think of a sustainable vending machine, we think of one that sells celery sticks and carrots.    Now we have a new way to vend that does not even involve money.   Enter the world of the   Swap-O-Matic.

The Swap-O-Matic is not a regular vending machine. While a conventional vending machine helps us to buy stuff in places and times where other alternatives are out of reach, the Swap-O-Matic offers a swapping experience, enabling users to donate and receive items, instantly and for free. According to its website, the Swap-O-Matic tries to remind us that “reusing and recycling can be just as fun as buying something new.”

Here’s how it works: The machine has a touch screen with three options: swap, donate or receive. It works on a point/credit system, where you earn a credit for every item you donate and ‘pay’ a credit for every item you take. New users receive 3 credits to start after entering their email address. It’s a very easy and user-friendly...

Livia Firth used the Golden Globes to kick off the 2012 Green Carpet Challenge; a platform introduced by the eco-fashionista three years ago as a way to expand the use of sustainable and ethical creations on Hollywood’s red carpets.

Firth wore a design from Georgio Armani who used a weave created from recycled plastic bottles (all sourced from Northern Italy) in designing his creation. “Armani went for fibre from Newlife ™, a project developed by Filature Miroglio that takes place in Northern Italy,” Green Carpet Challenge co-founder Lucy Siegle writes. ”Rather than a vertical supply chain this has been developed horizontally through a system of certified partnerships, all in Italy. This means it’s fully traceable – which gets a big thumbs up from the GCC. The end product – the yarn – is fully derived from recycled plastic bottles.”

The possibilities are endless and could give...

As we start the New Year everyone is focusing on organizing and clearing the clutter.  I want to share some creative uses for everyday items to keep them out of landfills.   Let’s start with the plastic grocery bag.    Most of us have used these bags for trash can liners, lunch holders or to carry items to donate.   Next time you mail a package use bags instead of packing peanuts.  It will save you money and your recipient can reuse the bags again.   Want to get even more creative.    Cut the bags into a long strip and crochet it into coasters, mats, reusable shopping bags, purses etc.    If you start at one of the handles you can cut the bag into one continuous strand to make it easier to crochet.  If you vary the colors of the bags you make a colorful pattern for your door mat.   These are not only durable but are easy to clean off with a spray of water.       Now turn your attention to all the mounds of gift wrap paper.    One easy solution is to shred the paper to make colorful filler for gift bags or baskets. ...

Yes, we are talking Christmas trees and which is greener a real or a fake tree.   Actually real trees are greener because younger trees planted to replace the cut ones actually produce more oxygen.    1 tree gives off enough daily oxygen for 18 people.   Tree farms plant three or four trees for every one that gets cut.  The trees contain no arsenic or lead and are not produced from OPEC oil in a Chinese factory.  Real trees are 100% American made.   Once you are finished the trees then can be recycled into mulch.   

Now decorate that real tree with ornaments you make yourself.   Recycled paper can be used for garland and beautiful stars.    Popcorn and cranberries can be strung around the tree and then put out for the birds after Christmas.   Make cookie ornaments that can be eaten by family and friends as they visit.   Not only will the tree look beautiful but you will cherish the memories of getting the family together to make everything

Save money and the environment by using your china and silver...

As our attention turns to Christmas our thoughts turn to spending time with family and friends and sharing time honored traditions.    Many of us grew up making ornaments, decorations and gifts.   It is time to show the next generation the beautiful items that can be made out of paper.     Not only are these easy to make but in most cases there is no cost and reduces waste.   

Let’s start with paper chains which can be used as garland on a tree or hanging from a mantle or anywhere you need some color.   Instead of buying construction paper use strips of last years holiday cards.   Don’t have cards use the junk mail that fills your mailbox.    You can combine paint and glitter to make these plain paper strips shine.   Colorful pages of magazines or strips of old wrapping paper can be used as well.     

Turn strips of white paper into German Christmas Stars.   You can cut up pieces of used office paper or ask your local printer for some ends of jobs.     The stars make a great family project and can be used as ornaments, table decorations or bows for gifts.  

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As our focus this week is on the Thanksgiving holiday and connecting with friends and family, we often spend time thinking about those less fortunate and reaching out to our neighbors.     Local charities collect food and communities gather to give a hot meal to those in need.   Some families spend their day cooking and serving others while others spend time reflecting on their blessings.   This is a great time to look around you and see if you have extra clothing or food that could be needed elsewhere.    Children can look through their toys to purge older ones that they don’t play with and donate them.   Not only does this make room for the new toys that they will get next month but it teaches children to share what they have with others.    While you are purging have everyone in the household go through their clothes and donate all that are not fitting or not being worn.   It is a great time to find out if there is a child at your children’s school that may need some clothes or shoes.   Invite neighbors to share the Thanksgiving meal with you or prepare a special meal and deliver it to them.  It just takes an extra minute to bring joy to someone else’s life.   

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   Knoxville businesses are now able to recycle and help the local garden project at the same time.   Due to a partnership with the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort (ORRE) and SP Recycling, the business community receives a paper recycling bin at their offices at no cost.    Recycling helps the business save green$ by reducing their waste.  Then SP Recycling pays a rebate to ORRE based on the weight of the paper recycled.   This green$ will be used for the Flower Garden Project in Grove Center.   Now the Center will have a new green look.   Of course paper recycling saves trees and keeps our environment green but when you partner with an organization that uses the funds for such things as a flower garden the “green” effort goes up exponentially.    For a list of locations or to help the ORRE you can contact (865) 272-3009.    

 



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1. Start with the grocery clutter.  Get a few sturdy reusable shopping bags - and use them!  That means you store them in the car so you have them when you need them.  The average American uses about 500 plastic shopping bags every year.  Clean all the bags from under the sink, in the closets and the garage and bring them back to the store for recycling.  2. Next on to the plastic bottles of soda and water.   Yes they are recyclable but they take up so much space in the kitchen.  For water simply get a reusable bottle and use a good filter.  Then make your own soda from home.  Here is just one idea on how to make homemade bubbly.  www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/organic-parenting/home-soda-maker-review.



3. Switch to reusable napkins and towels.  Watch how much less your trash can fills up with this simple solution.   They are decorative and can be tossed in the wash when soiled...

Reality is making a comeback in the world of “Extreme Couponing” in part due to angry customers who flooded the stores with complaints when they saw the regular coupon policies being ignored for the benefit of the cameras.   The latest store to admit wrongdoing was Lowes Foods, Winston-Salem NC who issued an apology after allowing the show to film in two of its stores.  “While we can’t undo our participation in the taping of “Extreme Couponing”, what we can do is share with you our reason for doing so and some truths that will not be aired with the show.   Lowes wanted to show that they were a coupon friendly store with outstanding customer service.  “Some of what appears in the clip you saw was staged by the production company… We definitely made a poor decision by participating in the show.”    The truth is that this show undermines honest couponers and stores that play by the rules.    

Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, and others around the country are helping families benefit from coupon savings in the real world.    Jill teaches how to get and use coupons without stealing papers, clearing shelves and hoarding.    “Extreme” tactics are not necessary to save money.   www.jillcataldo.com

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