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MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON
For The Associated Press (AP) — Robin Blair does what she can to help her plants thrive. She plants them in good soil and keeps the weeds away. She also waters them regularly with rainwater captured in barrels in the yard of her Shrewsbury, N.J., home.Collecting the water is easy, she says, and good for her plants and the environment."Rainwater is void of chemicals. It's kinder to plants and landscaping," says Blair, who has two rain barrels and a cistern tied into her gutter system. "Water is a precious resource. Why not collect rainwater and reuse it?"Blair ...
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LEE REICH, For The Associated Press
For centuries, savvy gardeners used soap sprays to combat bugs.Andrew Jackson Downing, a gardening celebrity of the 19th century (who would have designed New York City's Central Park if his life had not been cut short in a steamboat accident), wrote in 1845 that a "wash of soft soap is very good for many purposes ... penetrates all the crevices where insects may be lodged, destroying them."Then, DDT and other harder-hitting, longer-lasting pesticides developed during World War II left soaps on the sidelines.Yet here we are in the more environmentally conscious 21st century, and soap sprays are ...
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(ARA) - Saving money is on everyone's mind this winter season. Between the holiday expenses, colder temperatures and tight budgets, finding ways to reduce costs can be a bit of a challenge. If you're looking for ways to save, look at your home, and see if you can improve on your energy efficiency - thereby keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket.* Program the temperature. You already know that the lower you set the thermometer in winter, the less your furnace will work. Having the temperature set in the low 60s when out and about makes perfect sense. ...
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(ARA) - Winter is quickly approaching and the holidays are in full swing once again. Gift-giving, parties, baking goodies and being with loved ones are great fun, but can often lead to waste and excess. This year, try celebrating using a few green ideas and give yourself and Mother Earth a gift.Nature's gifts:Whether decorating your home or cooking up festive treats, use the bounty that nature has already provided.Potted plants are the perfect present, and make wonderful centerpieces. A small pot of live herbs can add a fresh taste to any meal. Indoor potted plants can help ...
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Carole Feldman - Associated Press
Cleaning the bathroom can be daunting, even if you're armed with traditional cleaners laden with bleach and strong but perhaps environmentally unfriendly ingredients. But what if you want to go green and still get the toilet bowl, sink and tile to sparkle?
Start by stocking up on white vinegar and baking soda.
These two staples of the kitchen can help keep your bathroom clean in a way that's safe for the environment.
A little bit of chemistry helps explain why. "Vinegar, because of its acidity, can be good for (cleaning) hard water and soap scum," said Rebecca Sutton, a senior ...
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