Working with what nature gives you, my issues :)

 One part of being eco-friendly is learning how to work with what mother nature has given you. In my case, mother nature has given me a lot of sun for several months of the year. So much sun in fact that growing vegetables for my own use has become very tricky in the hotter month's of summer. This year I have decided to try and set up a shade structure!

One other consideration is that in my area mother nature has also given us random hurricanes, so anything I put up either needs to be able to withstand a storm or needs to come down quickly.

After much research, I have decided that this year I am going to build a shaped cage using PVC pipe and fittings as well as some shade cloth that I used to use over a poultry pen. The plan is to make what basically looks like a giant box kite on its side, sew the edges of the shade cloth over the pipes, and use wire to wire the pipes to existing cement blocks holding up the garden Pallets. the total cost of the structure not including if I had to buy shade cloth again looks to run about $75. We will soon see if this is successful in keeping my pepper plants from burning up in the hot Florida sun!

a sun green circle butterflies eco design.png reusable water bottles by Hydroponics
Design a personalized water bottle online at Zazzle

Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design on a pet bowl

Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design.png from Zazzle.com: Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design
Great fun green design! Let your pet Celebrate your favorite planet with this awesome ecology eco themed design!

Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design.png by Hydroponics
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clown with cane - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel

clown with cane - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel: Description: Clowns are a great way to cheer up everyone, fun cute, bold, colorful, fun, funny clowns to decorate a kids room - or silly crazy and scary clowns for adults!

Tree Hugger Bag from Zazzle.com

Tree Hugger Bag by shopaholicchick
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hug a tree today and help save the planet - get a reusable tote today - they also make it easier for you to carry since you can fit more in them it is less trips to the car to bring in the groceries!!!Tree Hugger Bag from Zazzle.com: Tree Hugger
This little boy is hugging a tree. show everyone you are a tree hugger and you love the planet!

Go powerless

will actually generate their own power?  there are Did you know that some types of exercise equipment some great exercise bikes, rowing machines and more that the power used to run the monitors and screens is actually generated by your use of the machine!!  in some cases you can even hook them externally to a light and your exercise can power the light to light the workout room!!!  You can also purchase rechargeable batteries that can be powered by your workout - which can be used to sustain power on other appliances.  If you plan to exercise anyways why not get some good use out of all that energy you are burning off!

two abstract trees right corner eco design on playing cards

two abstract trees right corner eco design.png from Zazzle.com: two abstract trees right corner eco design
Great fun green design! Celebrate your favorite planet with this awesome ecology themed design!

two abstract trees right corner eco design.png by Hydroponics
See more Playing Cards at zazzle.com

watre gun shoot out - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel

watre gun shoot out - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel: Description: Clowns are a great way to cheer up everyone, fun cute, bold, colorful, fun, funny clowns to decorate a kids room - or silly crazy and scary clowns for adults!

uses for old newspapers

There are plenty of ways to get rid of old newspapers...other than just sending them to recycling

• you can cut them into strips and use them for paper mache - the easiest thing to make is a bank  you need 

• 1 bottle of elmers white glue, 
• 1-2 cups water, 
• a large bowl with a lid, or large coffee can with lid, 
• several sheets of newspaper cut into roughly 1 inch wide strips 6-8 inches long - do NOT use plastic or shiny feeling ads
• several sheets of paper (8-10 sheets thick) to cover the table or floor where you are working
• 1 large round baloon
• 5 bathroom cups (paper or plastic)
• tape
• scissor or knife
• pink streamers, tissue paper or glue (of the color you want your piggy)
• cover the counter table or floor where working make sure it is nice and thick with paper
• blow up the balloon
• tape 1 bathroom cup over the knot of the balloon as a snout and 4 on the bottom to make legs
• mix 1 bottle of glue with water in large bowl 1 part glue 2 parts water
• dip paper strips into the glue mix covering it thouroughly
• use finger to gently run along paper to get off excess then apply flat over the pig
• cover the entire pig in random order all over the pig being sure to overlap the strips in various directions - cover the balloon and the cups make sure the cups retain thier look so they look like legs
• when pig is covered place lid on glue mix and leave the pig to dry overnight
• once totally dry carefully pull it off the paper - it is ok if it sticks some

• repeat the same steps as yesterday covering the entire pig in another coat (using colored parts of the paper one day and black and what the next helps to see what needs another coat)
• cover the glue mix and allow to dry overnight again
• cover the last day with your color paper or paint the pig
• allow to dry then using scissor or knife cut hole in top of pig to insert money - this will pop the balloon
• Donate them to a local animal shelter to help train puppies or line bird cages (if they need them)
• Donate them to a local school for rt projects if they need them
• After reading drop it off to a local senior center so they can read it or use it for crafts projects

Blue drop, white bamboo, blue text hydroponics shirt

Blue drop, white bamboo, blue text hydroponics shirts from Zazzle.com: A hydroponic design featuring a blue waterdrop , a white bamboo type plant, and the word hydroponics in blue lettering underneath. Great for anyone involved with hydroponic growing!

Blue drop, white bamboo, blue text hydroponics shirts by Hydroponics
Make t shirt at Zazzle.

S clown - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel

S clown - clown designs - Skreened T-shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Kids Tees, Baby One-Pieces and Tote Bags Custom T-Shirts, Organic Shirts, Hoodies, Novelty Gifts, Kids Apparel, Baby One-Pieces | Skreened - Ethical Custom Apparel: Description: This clown is perfect for your child with their initial - get one for every member of the family!!! Clowns are a great way to cheer up everyone, fun cute, bold, colorful, fun, funny clowns to decorate a kids room - or silly crazy and scary clowns for adults!

doggie bag from Zazzle.com

doggie bag by shopaholicchick
View more Litter makes me bitter Bags

plastic bags make waste that is often littering the streets - so stop using them!! help clean the planet by using reusable cloth bags.doggie bag from Zazzle.com: doggie
Litter make me bitter, please don't trash my home. This great little animal is begging you to please keep the planet clean, you are not the only one who lives here.

reusing plastic soda or water bottles

There are a lot of great things you can do with used plastic water or soda bottles, other than refilling and reusing them.

• fill them with water and put in the freezer before a big store - fill all you can fit in there - then when the power goes out your freezer will stay frozen much longer and you can use some to keep the fridge cold - they last much longer than small ice cubes up to 3-4 days if you keep the freezer/fridge/cooler closed!!!
• cut one in half and use the bottom to plant herbs on the window sill
• got flies in the house?  cut one in half in the bottom mix sugar and water then remove the cap and invert the top making sure there is space between the top of the bottle and the sugar water - flies will fly in but not back out
• fill with sand and use as a door stop during a BBQ to keep the door open

two abstract trees left corner eco design Newborn Bib - White | Susan's Zoo Crew

two abstract trees left corner eco design Newborn Bib - White | Susan's Zoo Crew

two abstract trees left corner eco design Great fun tree design! Celebrate your favorite nature or ecology love with this awesome green graphic themed design!

blue puzzle globe pieces fall out eco graphic

blue puzzle globe pieces fall out eco graphic.png candy jars by Hydroponics

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Tree Hugger Tote Bag from Zazzle.com

Tree Hugger Tote Bag by shopaholicchick
Get the best custom tote bag printing online at zazzle.com

using a reusable tote is a great way to save the planet - it is even better when that tote is organic!!

Tree Hugger Tote Bag from Zazzle.com: Tree Hugger
Have you Hugged a Tree Today
This cute little guy is hugging his tree have you hugged a tree today?

Reusing old books

If you have a stack of old books, that no one will be using or needing, and the library does not want them, they can still have a new life!!

There are some books that even the library will not want need or take use as out of date text books from classrooms.  That does not mean these books are worthless.

Here are some great new fun ways to use old books:

• A stack of books can be used to make a lamp – you will need a stack of books, a drill, and a lamp kit with hard center tube.  First stack your books to determine the order you want them in then start with the top 2 books, clamp them together well then slowly drill through them in the center to make a hole through the middle  when you are through the books slide in the tube then use the tube to mark the next book – clamp the next 2 books together and drill through them – and repeat this sliding them onto the tube  until all the books are on the tube, then complete the lamp per the directions.


• Hard bound books can make a neat end table or side table.  1st pick a good stack of sturdy hard cover books.  Stack them up so that they are stable then take each book and glue the pages shut.  I find an easy way to do this is to take elmers white glue and mix it 2 parts glue to 1 part water in a plastic cup, then with an old paintbrush paint heavily the edges of the pages all the way around gluing all the pages together and gluing them to the covers. You will want to place something heavy on them to make sure the pages stay flat as they dry hard with the glue.  Then, once all the books and dried like giant blocks, using a more heavy duty glue like E6000 glue the books to each other in a stack in the order and style you like.  You can rotate each slightly, or stack them random or by size.  It is up to you.  Top it with a mirror, glass or Plexiglas square or round to make a table top.  If you are concerned with it tipping off you can glue this on also!


• Got a book cover that fell off a book?  Well drill a small hole in the middle and buy a clock kit.  You can get small numbers at the craft store (where you can also get the clock kit) and turn it into a neat clock!!  Some clock kits even come with the numbers.  Perfect for your home library!!

Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design Newborn Bib - White | Susan's Zoo Crew

Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design Newborn Bib - White | Susan's Zoo Crew: Two ladybugs on green leaf stem eco design Great fun tree design! Celebrate your favorite nature or ecology love with this awesome green graphic themed design! Our newborn infant bibs are smaller than our regular infant bibs these make the perfect gifts for newborn babies. Infant Bib 100% Cotton