How to take actionPaint - Look for zero volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and stains. VOC's are chemicals that vaporize and enter the Earth's atmosphere and our bodies. As a rule, oil paint is far more toxic, containing up to 60% VOC's (low odour paint just masks the smell, it doesn't reduce the carcinogenic petroleum fumes). But latex paints are also made from petroleum based plastic and contain chemicals toxic to you and the environment. Zero VOC paint reduces some of paint's toxicity, for you and the planet. Many paint suppliers now offer zero VOC options.
- Paint efficiently so that you waste as little as possible. If you are going to be painting again in a few hours or days, wrap the rollers, brushes and even the tray in plastic, ensuring everything's covered so it won't dry out. Sticking everything, including the plastic wrap, in the freezer will also keep it from drying and make it so you don't have to wash extra paint down the drain.
- Never let paint run into a . These usually flow directly into a water body, and paint will kill aquatic life.
- Never flush solvents or oil paint down the sink. They are not only highly toxic, but can also cause fires. Clean up oil paint by first wiping up all you can with newspaper, then using paint thinner to finish off the brushes etc. You can reuse paint thinner numerous times by letting the paint particles sink and then filtering it out. Dispose of the leftover sludge in your community's hazardous waste disposal. Paintbrushes can be reconditioned by soaking them in diluted shampoo.
Cleaners - Look for biodegradable and baby-safe household cleaners. Unfortunately, biodegradable doesn't always mean benign in this context. Many of these soaps can linger in the environment a long time and cause algal growth in water bodies, so research trusted brands and ingredients.
- Do you want fries with that? White vinegar and baking soda are still some of the best household cleaners you can get. The vinegar smell will disappear once it's dry, leaving only a fresh clean scent in its wake. Put one part vinegar, one part water in a spray bottle. Use baking soda for scrubbing as needed. Look online, or ask your grandparents, for other natural cleaning ideas.
- Don't be fooled by labels. Just because there is a picture of fruit or flowers on the bottle, doesn't mean what's inside is healthy or natural. If you do use store bought cleaners, check the selection at natural goods stores first, to get to know some trusted lines. And read the labels. If they say things like poison or warning, it would be wise to use caution before buying them.
- Avoid cleaners that contain ammonia. Most mainstream window cleaners contain ammonia, though not all, and it is highly irritating to the lungs. This is another place where white vinegar can do a good job.
- Don't use disposable mops, wipes or dusters. These items often contain chemicals, and all of them end up clogging the landfills.
Lawn Care - Don't aim for a uniform lawn. A monoculture green grass lawn is not as beneficial to the planet, or as appealing to the senses, as a diverse and colourful expanse that allows for other species to grow. So, don't fight them. Let some flowers sprinkle your lawn, add some clover to the mix, plant some crocuses and snowdrops and bluebells that will dot through the grass in spring. Even better, ditch the lawn and the lawnmower and put in a veggie and herb garden.
- Weed early and often. By far the most effective way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out, root and all, before they go to seed.
- Give your weeds a sweet drink. Here's something kind of terrifying, but also useful, to know. You can pour your flat cola (fizzy is fine too, but you probably want to drink that) on weeds and it will kill them in about a week.
- Or, give weeds a stiff drink. To get rid of unwanted plants in tough places, like between patio stones or in pathways, pour on some gin or vodka, mixed with water. Or use straight vinegar. Ensure you avoid hitting any plants you want to keep.
- Got pests? You need to attract beneficial insects, and the best way to start is to stop using pesticides. Insects like ladybugs and preying mantis are often used to get rid of garden pests, and there are plenty more useful insects that you can attract by growing some of the plants and flowers they like and interspersing them into your garden.
- Grow companion plants. There are many plants that help control insects in the garden. Many of them are great plants in their own right. "Shoo fly" is a pretty flower that can keep away white fly, while hyssop is another great flower and it protects your Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale, mustard, cauliflower, etc. …) from cabbage moths.
- Attract birds. And bats. They eat loads of insects and provide potent garden fertilizer with their wastes. Most hardware or garden stores sell bat boxes and birdhouses.
- Read the fine print. Don't believe that when it says 'organic' on your garden fertilizer, it means it came from all natural substances. It might have, but there can be synthetics added that aren't truly 'organic'. Purchase products with ingredients you recognize – kelp, alfalfa, corn, etc.
- Make your own fertilizer. For coastal dwellers, seaweed is a great source of nitrogen and minerals, and ground up oyster shells slowly release calcium. Ensure you collect seaweed in the fall. In the spring it will be full of eggs from aquatic species, and taking away the seaweed at that time will impact sea life. Other sources include horse and cow manure, fish meal, chicken manure and alfalfa. You can talk to local farmers about using excess manure. Don't forget that most manure needs to be cured before you use it on your garden – or you could end up burning your plants.
Why it makes a difference- VOC's in paint and other products are known carcinogens. Exposure is bad for your health, and pollutes the atmosphere. These chemicals aren't just released while the paint is wet, products containing VOC's can off gas for years to come.
- Nearly 70% of streams in the U.S. have tested positive for hormone disrupting chemical surfactants from household cleaners. These substances can feminize fish, making it impossible for them to reproduce, among a host of other unwanted effects.
- Over-cleaning our homes, perhaps in an effort to meet some unattainable standard where a bald man's reflection can appear on our floors, can turn our houses into a sparkling toxic stew of chemicals. Living in a clean, but less sterilized environment can in fact increase the immunity of the inhabitants.
- Growing a garden instead of a lawn, or for part of a lawn, increases the biodiversity of the local environment, and can provide you with fresh, inexpensive vegetables and herbs year round.
- Many areas have for cosmetic use, and with good reason: lawn pesticides can kill you. Pesticide use is linked to increased levels of some cancers, especially in children and pets who spend more time on the grass.
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