Growing plants, vines, flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables and just about anything else you put in the ground with all natural methods most people would refer to as organic gardening. Gardening the organic way means the use of pesticides, chemicals or other environmentally unfriendly substances used to produce fruit and foliage are never used. Organics are normally associated with fruits, vegetables and herbs, as people do not want chemicals on their foods. However, organic production can also be applied to the production of meats.

Soil preparation is where it all starts in organic gardening. The first step is building a soil full of nutrients for the plants grown in the soil all without the use of manufactured fertilizers and chemicals. This step of organic soil preparation can take some effort but makes the end result worth the time.

It is easy to become overwhelmed when one hears exasperating discussions about global warming, pollution and diminishing resources. It is truthful to reason that we can all contribute to help the environment we live in. The most important way is to do small, but impacting efforts and encourage other people to do the same. The following lists five basic things one can do to help the environment.

1. Recycle
Haven’t we all heard this word, ‘recycle’, more than once. But do you know the importance of recycling? It is important because it reduces waste we dump into our landfills, and recycling cuts energy usage because the cost and energy of making a product from scratch is much greater than making a recycled product. There are also benefits in that pollution is reduced. Most garbage services will gladly offer you recycling information and containers to get you started and also, check your local directory for a local recycling center, which takes products like plastics, aluminum and paper products too.

Whats the easiest way to clean windows and mirrors?

With spray cleaner and paper towels right? WRONG. This method is not only expensive, it is also one of the hardest, least effective and most harmful ways to clean your windows and mirrors. The amount of paper towels you go through alone are pretty costly, but when you add in bottle after bottle of windex or other chemical based spray cleaners, it really starts to add up. Plus these sprays and wipes aren’t really that effective, and often lead to more frustration than anything.

When and How Do I Train My Puppy?
Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that training a new puppy is a challenge, but essential. With any new dog, puppy training starts the day that you bring your new pet home and continues for months as they continue to learn the basics becoming a part of the family. By the time you bring your new puppy home they are ready to learn. In fact, puppies can be trained from a very early age as long as we don’t expect too much of them right away. By natural design the mother dog has been educating her litter for several weeks, preparing them to survive on their own. By seven weeks the puppy’s development allows him to leave the mother and ensures the strongest human ties and best socialization possible. Older puppies may be less inclined to attach to humans right away, but eventually with love and affection and our constant interaction the bond will be just as strong. No matter what age you bring your puppy home, the important thing to remember is that they are ready to learn, they just need patience and practice!

On the East Coast they’re called tag or garage sales. In some urban areas they’re stoop sales. And in parts of the Midwest they’re rummage or yard sales. Whatever you call them, these sales can be a fun and profitable way to clear out the clutter. Just ask Janice Huff, an on-air meteorologist for a New York City television station, who recently called in a professional organizer to help her pare down and sell off items she no longer has use for. “I’ve never had a garage sale before, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve run out of space in my house,” says Huff, who shares a four-bedroom home in New Jersey with her husband, Warren, and their black Labrador, Malik. An admitted pack rat, Huff has a basement that houses a collection of lamps, furniture and knickknacks that she wants to get rid of. Huff also has two walk-in closets that are stuffed with clothes, shoes and accessories.

Environmentally conscious shoppers don’t want their families, friends, or pets exposed to harmful substances. But let’s face it: Harsh chemicals are found in many of today’s popular, older-style cleaning products. Those chemicals invariably come into contact with people, while their bit of pollution to the environment. Fortunately, there are alternatives.

The markets for natural cleaning products has taken off in recent years, with more — and more environmentally safe — product offerings now available in enlightened stores. The surge in their popularity shows that an increasing number of consumers are concerned about the potentially dangerous ingredients found in the traditional product category.

Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home (J.P. Tarcher, 1997) and other natural-living titles, says there has been a definite increase in the popularity of natural products since 1982, when she began her career as a consumer advocate.

Best-selling food writer David Goldbeck, coauthor of the newly published The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond: Delicious Alphabet Poems Plus Food, Facts, and Fun for Everyone (Ceres Press, June 2007, $16.95), says that he is tired of the “eat your vegetables” scolding. A former elementary school teacher he created this book to help kids develop a broad, easy-going relationship with these foods.

The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond is noteworthy in that it is really two books in one. The first part, the ABC’s, consists of coauthor Steve Charney’s clever and zany poems about twenty-six common and unusual fruits and vegetables. Charney is a noted children’s entertainer, songwriter, author and literacy promoter. He brings the same genius to the poems as in the songs he wrote for “The Bear in the Big Blue House,” Jim Henson’s Emmy-nominated show.

If you could, you’d probably eat all organic all the time. You’d fill your cart with organic produce, pasta and pet foods and cram your cupboards with organic coffee and cookies. You know they’re better for you, the environment and local farmers.

Problem is, all that tasty goodness comes at a price. Organic fare still costs more–sometimes a lot more–than the mainstream stuff. The good news is that with the growth of the organics industry, prices are becoming more competitive even as variety increases. In the meantime, here are some ideas for buying organic without breaking the budget.

• Seek out a store’s private label for significant savings. For example, Whole Foods has about 185 items in its “365 Organic Everyday Value” line, from hearty whole grain cereals to barbecue sauce. Also explore bulk bins for organic grains, cereals, flour, dried fruit, legumes, rice and granola.

Question:
Can the microfiber cloths be used with cleaners or furniture oils if desired and then washed?

Answer:
You can use your favorite cleaners or furniture oils with the microfiber
cloths, but the great thing about microfiber is you don’t have to. With just
water the cloths will remove 98-99% off all dirt, dust, bacteria etc. so
there is no real need for cleaner. You may still have a desire to use oils,
and the only thing to worry about is that over time residue from these and
other common chemical cleaners can build-up and coat the fibers, making the
cloth less effective. To prevent this, wash after use, or you may want to
designate one cloth to use with cleaners and the others with just water.

Bottom Line:
Cleaners that contain bleach will corrode the fibers, and others may coat
and clog them, but for the most part you can use anything you want.
Microfiber Cleaning Supplies

Question:
Can you please recommend cleaning method for a black ball-point ink mark on my microfiber couch that I’ve only had for a few months? The couch color is called “Pear” and is a beautiful green color (it’s kind of a “microsuede” material). The ink mark is about 2-1/2″ inches long and is on the inside arm.

Thanks for your help!

Answer:
As long as it is ball point pen ink, Quick n Brite will work great. It won’t work on permanent ink like a sharpie, but blue or black ball point pen ink is no problem. Use the paste, full strength. Apply just a bit of it using your fingernail or a toothbrush and work it into the stain. Then take a clean, dry terry cloth towel and buff the stain out of the fabric. You will see the stain transfer from the couch to the towel quickly and easily. You never have to worry about colors or surfaces when you use quick n brite. It is all natural and contains no chemicals, so it will never harm any surface you use it on. It also comes with a full money back guarantee. Quick’n Brite