Power of the Sun

I came across an article written by Susan McQuillan called
10 Easy Ways to Harness the sun.

I thought it was worth repeating.
So here goes.

1. Sun dry a batch of tomatoes. You can use any variety. Halve or thinly slice them, depending on size, remove seeds, and arrange in a single layer on a clean screen or mesh rack. Cover loosely with cheesecloth to keep out dust, debris and insects.Lay the covered screen on a table outdoors in direct sunlight. If more drying is needed, take them indoors at night and set them outside the next day.
2. Dry your clothes outdoors. When the sun is high, your clothes will be dry in an hour or so. You'll have to forego fabric softner sheets; try Green Way Lavender and Rose scented liquid softner in the wash.
3. Remove stains. Use the suns bleaching/fading power to remove stains from white and light colored laundry by leaving clothing, cloth diapers and linens out in direct sun for several hours longer after they've dried in the sun.
4. Freshen up throw rugs and fabrics. Direct sunlight destroys musty odors and even some bacteria. Air out shower curtains, small rugs, table linens, and anything that's been sitting in the linen closet over the winter.
5. Dry your hair outdoors. Put down the blow dryer, put on some Live Better! sunscreen, go out in the backyard to brush your hair dry under the sun.
6. Highlight your hair. Instead of using chemical lighteners, stop at the supermarket and pick up a few fresh lemons or a container of real lemon juice for light hair or a box of America's Choice chamomile tea for darker hair. Combine lemon juice with an equal amount of water, or brew the tea. Streak, spritz or saturate your hair with either liquid, and be sure to apply protection to your skin before going out in the sun. Wash it out before the end of the day.
7. Catch some vitamin D. Natural vitamin D forms under your skin, using ultraviolet rays from the sun. Go out for 10 minutes during low sun periods (in the morning or later in the day) to pick up enough rays to supplement your diet without getting a burn.
8. Kill some weeds. Cover fall planting sites with plastic tarp for a couple of weeks to kill weeds with trapped heat. (This method is only effective in areas where there is a lot of sunshine.)
9. Make sun art. Purchase sun sensitive paper or even simple construction paper at a local art supply store. Have children gather a variety of natural items like leaves, rocks, and flower petals. To make prints, follow directions on the paper package or at www.ehow.com/how_5779488_make-sun-art.html
10. Learn to use a compass.
Both old fashioned, hand-held compasses and newer smartphone compass apps use the sun to help you find your way.

For other ways to incorporate green into your everyday life http://bit.ly/bKh8Sj

Water wise

I was reading about water conservation, which started me thinking about what we can do in our own homes to save water and money. You can take a few steps inside your home like taking a shower instead of a bath. This can save 40-55 gallons of water.

You can install water saving showerheadsalong with the great standby taking 2 minute showers. Turn off water when brushing teeth. Use an egg timer to brush teeth and don't turn the water on until the timer is up. (that helps with the little ones)

Run only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Lastly check your water using appliances for leaks, especially your toilet, a leaky toilet can waste up to 100 gallons of water every day.

Outside your home you can utilize quite a few ways to conserve water. Water lawns and gardens only when needed. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios and walkways.

Plant flowers and vegetables that are drought tolerant.
Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants. A four inch layer helps to keep the soil moist and roots cool. Bathe pets outside in areas that need water.

source: www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com