Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
One of the best things about being eco-friendly and saving money is that the two principles go hand-in-hand. Here are some steps you can take to implement both of these ideals.
1. Buy seasonal, local food. This is eco-friendly because it reduces "food miles," thus saving fuel. It saves you money because seasonal, local produce takes less effort to grow and to transport. (You have to pay for a lot of extra energy if you're buying hot-house tomatoes in the middle of January.)
2. Combine your shopping trips. This will save fuel - you buy less of it, and fewer emissions go into the atmosphere.
3. Turn off lights and appliances when you aren't using them. Conserving electricity definitely saves you money. And when you use less of it, that means less fossil fuel is used to produce it.
4. Unplug appliances and electronics so that they do not charge up all the time. This includes laptop and cell phone adaptors.
5. Reduce your water usage - and your water bill. Time your showers. Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes. Install aerators on your faucets and, if your budget permits, low-flow shower heads and toilets. If possible, set up a rain barrel to have free water available for plants and other non-drinking applications.
6. Reuse. This is such a basic principle but it saves so much money and prevents so much waste. Learn to make tote bags, scarves, blankets, pillow shams, and other basic items out of used or torn clothing. You can even cut up old t-shirts for rags, thus reducing your use of paper towels.
7. Choose cloth over paper. Whether it's for cleaning up a spill or wiping your hands and mouth at the table, using cloth will save you a bundle. Not having to buy paper towels and napkins can save a lot, and it greatly reduces the amount of waste paper your household generates.
8. Don't pay for packaging. Excessive packaging makes food more expensive and generates lots of waste. Save yourself some money and increase your health by eating whole, fresh foods instead.
9. Maintain your car. It gets expensive to drive a poorly-maintained car; it uses more oil and gas. Spending a little to keep it in top shape is better for the environment and will save you money in the long run. Make sure your tires are inflated according to your car manufacturer's instructions, too. This extends the life of your tires and increases the fuel efficiency of your car.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.shoptamm.com
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Simple Steps to Eat More Ethically
Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
Are you concerned about the farming methods and other processes that go into producing and growing food? More and more people are with you - there is a growing desire to know where our food comes from and to be more connected with it. Concerns about potentially unethical farming practices have prompted many people to become better shoppers and eat more ethically. Here are some steps you can take to make your table a more ethical one.
1. Find out where your food comes from. Make phone calls, do a search online, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If a store is not transparent and forthright regarding its food's origins, find somewhere else to shop. Local, smaller stores are probably less likely to give you the runaround, especially because the store's owner is often readily available. Ask for the name and contact information of the store's food supply sources. That way, you can research and contact the source directly rather than just taking the store's word for it.
2. Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic, toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, making it a healthier and more environmentally-friendly choice. Because of the lack of poisons, organic food should be at the top of your ethical shopping list.
3. Free-range meats and dairy products are also worth looking into if you don't morally object to eating animals and their products, but only object to cruel treatment in conventional stockyards, slaughterhouses, and dairy farms. Contact the company that sells the free-range meat or dairy products you want, and visit the site if possible. Make sure their practices are up to your personal ethical code. Free-range, organic meats are less likely to harbor dangerous bacteria, too, since their animals are not kept in overcrowded conditions.
4. Fish are healthy foods consumed even by some vegetarians. However, it pays to look into the source of your fish - is it farmed or wild-caught? Have dyes been added (particularly a problem with salmon)? Is the species of fish endangered? Are other species, such as dolphins, harmed in the fishing process? These are important questions to ask as you probe into the sources of your fish. Farmed fish may be more susceptible to bacterial contamination, since they are grown in crowded, contained ponds or containers rather than in open waters.
5. Grow or hunt your own food, or hook up with someone who does. Hunting is considered by many to be the ultimate source of free-range meat - certainly no questionable practices went into the raising of the animal, and a good hunter can be far more humane than conventional slaughterhouse techniques. Like the commercial farms, check into your hunter friend's practices and see that they are ethical and humane. As for fish, the art and sport of fishing can be an enjoyable way to put healthy food on the table.
6. Growing your own vegetables and/or trading goods or services with a neighbor who has a garden are viable ways to stay connected with your food and know its source. Look into orchards and produce farms that have a "pick your own" option, too.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.shoptamm.com
The Affiliate Mini Mall
Are you concerned about the farming methods and other processes that go into producing and growing food? More and more people are with you - there is a growing desire to know where our food comes from and to be more connected with it. Concerns about potentially unethical farming practices have prompted many people to become better shoppers and eat more ethically. Here are some steps you can take to make your table a more ethical one.
1. Find out where your food comes from. Make phone calls, do a search online, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If a store is not transparent and forthright regarding its food's origins, find somewhere else to shop. Local, smaller stores are probably less likely to give you the runaround, especially because the store's owner is often readily available. Ask for the name and contact information of the store's food supply sources. That way, you can research and contact the source directly rather than just taking the store's word for it.
2. Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic, toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, making it a healthier and more environmentally-friendly choice. Because of the lack of poisons, organic food should be at the top of your ethical shopping list.
3. Free-range meats and dairy products are also worth looking into if you don't morally object to eating animals and their products, but only object to cruel treatment in conventional stockyards, slaughterhouses, and dairy farms. Contact the company that sells the free-range meat or dairy products you want, and visit the site if possible. Make sure their practices are up to your personal ethical code. Free-range, organic meats are less likely to harbor dangerous bacteria, too, since their animals are not kept in overcrowded conditions.
4. Fish are healthy foods consumed even by some vegetarians. However, it pays to look into the source of your fish - is it farmed or wild-caught? Have dyes been added (particularly a problem with salmon)? Is the species of fish endangered? Are other species, such as dolphins, harmed in the fishing process? These are important questions to ask as you probe into the sources of your fish. Farmed fish may be more susceptible to bacterial contamination, since they are grown in crowded, contained ponds or containers rather than in open waters.
5. Grow or hunt your own food, or hook up with someone who does. Hunting is considered by many to be the ultimate source of free-range meat - certainly no questionable practices went into the raising of the animal, and a good hunter can be far more humane than conventional slaughterhouse techniques. Like the commercial farms, check into your hunter friend's practices and see that they are ethical and humane. As for fish, the art and sport of fishing can be an enjoyable way to put healthy food on the table.
6. Growing your own vegetables and/or trading goods or services with a neighbor who has a garden are viable ways to stay connected with your food and know its source. Look into orchards and produce farms that have a "pick your own" option, too.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.shoptamm.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Using White Vinegar as an All-Round Cleaner
Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
If you are looking for a safe, non-toxic cleaner and overall household helper, look no further than white vinegar. This humble substance can be used in a variety of ways to clean and disinfect your home. Here are some ideas for how to use this inexpensive liquid.
1. Deodorizer
Vinegar can help remove odors from clothes and drains. For drains, pour about 1 cupful of baking soda into the smelly drain. Then pour in about 2 cups of vinegar and leave overnight. In the morning, flush with hot water.
For removing odors from clothes, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda to your laundry. You can add this at the beginning of the wash cycle or during the rinse cycle. This mixture has a fabric-softening effect as well.
For removing odors from your home, add about ½ cup of white vinegar to a small dish or bowl and let it sit on your countertop or some other place in your kitchen. The vinegar will draw the odors out of the air into the dish. Try it, we’ve done it for years.
2. Drain Clog Remover
In addition to eliminating drain odors, vinegar can help unclog drains. Follow the steps in #1 above. The foaming action dislodges many clogs.
3. Toilet Cleaner
To clean and disinfect your toilet bowl, sprinkle in about a cup of baking soda. Then pour in 2-3 cups of white vinegar. (You will find your kids more willing to help you clean if it involves a fizzy toilet!) When the fizzing dies down, use your toilet brush to clean as usual. The vinegar inhibits the growth of mold and mildew as well as killing germs.
4. All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
You don't need to buy chemical spray cleaners. Just mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 3 cups of water, 10 drops of tea tree oil, a teaspoon of liquid soap, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil in a 1-quart spray bottle. Use this disinfectant spray on countertops, sinks, floors, and any surface that needs cleaning.
5. Mold Eradicator
Vinegar is effective against mold. Spray your shower with white vinegar and allow it to soak for about 20 minutes. Then scrub and rinse. Add some tea tree oil to the vinegar for even better effectiveness. Spray your shower after each use to prevent mold from forming again.
For a moldy shower curtain, add a quart of vinegar to the washing machine when you wash the curtain.
6. Weed Killer
Pour or spray white vinegar directly onto weeds. Thoroughly wet the leaves and let the vinegar soak into the ground.
7. Window Cleaner
Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap per cup of water. Spray onto windows and wipe thoroughly, or dip a cloth into a bucket of this solution and wipe. Use a squeegee to scrape off the cleaner.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.shoptamm.com
The Affiliate Mini Mall
If you are looking for a safe, non-toxic cleaner and overall household helper, look no further than white vinegar. This humble substance can be used in a variety of ways to clean and disinfect your home. Here are some ideas for how to use this inexpensive liquid.
1. Deodorizer
Vinegar can help remove odors from clothes and drains. For drains, pour about 1 cupful of baking soda into the smelly drain. Then pour in about 2 cups of vinegar and leave overnight. In the morning, flush with hot water.
For removing odors from clothes, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda to your laundry. You can add this at the beginning of the wash cycle or during the rinse cycle. This mixture has a fabric-softening effect as well.
For removing odors from your home, add about ½ cup of white vinegar to a small dish or bowl and let it sit on your countertop or some other place in your kitchen. The vinegar will draw the odors out of the air into the dish. Try it, we’ve done it for years.
2. Drain Clog Remover
In addition to eliminating drain odors, vinegar can help unclog drains. Follow the steps in #1 above. The foaming action dislodges many clogs.
3. Toilet Cleaner
To clean and disinfect your toilet bowl, sprinkle in about a cup of baking soda. Then pour in 2-3 cups of white vinegar. (You will find your kids more willing to help you clean if it involves a fizzy toilet!) When the fizzing dies down, use your toilet brush to clean as usual. The vinegar inhibits the growth of mold and mildew as well as killing germs.
4. All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
You don't need to buy chemical spray cleaners. Just mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 3 cups of water, 10 drops of tea tree oil, a teaspoon of liquid soap, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil in a 1-quart spray bottle. Use this disinfectant spray on countertops, sinks, floors, and any surface that needs cleaning.
5. Mold Eradicator
Vinegar is effective against mold. Spray your shower with white vinegar and allow it to soak for about 20 minutes. Then scrub and rinse. Add some tea tree oil to the vinegar for even better effectiveness. Spray your shower after each use to prevent mold from forming again.
For a moldy shower curtain, add a quart of vinegar to the washing machine when you wash the curtain.
6. Weed Killer
Pour or spray white vinegar directly onto weeds. Thoroughly wet the leaves and let the vinegar soak into the ground.
7. Window Cleaner
Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap per cup of water. Spray onto windows and wipe thoroughly, or dip a cloth into a bucket of this solution and wipe. Use a squeegee to scrape off the cleaner.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.shoptamm.com
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