Old T-Shirts
Ahhh, the miracle of worn out cotton tees -- every single one of us has a closet packed to the gills with them and yet we can never seem to get around to weeding any of them out of our closet (even if they're riddled with holes). When we finally DO thin out the ranks, replacements seem to materialize out of nowhere, magically re-cluttering our closets. "Someday" we tell ourselves, "this rad Milli-Vanilli t-shirt won't get me laughed out of the post office." While that remains to be seen, if you have an army of outdated, holey and/or ill-fitting tees, it just so happens that you are instantly endowed with one of the very best green-lifestyle tools imaginable.
Why? Old t-shirts can undergo a DIY metamorphosis (along with the assistance of a sharp pair of scissors), taking on a new improved life as: a) machine washable dust rags/cleaning cloths b) a string bikini c) recycled yarn d) men's shorts e) a fashionable scarf f) a memorable party dress g) a tote bag -- seriously, the list of t-shirt repurposing possibilities is practically endless. Try your hand at making toddler's clothing, cloth diapers, hand sewn protective pouches for your laptop/sunglasses/ iPhone, reusable fabric gift bags, homemade throw pillows, hand-tied pet toys, purses...need I go on?
Baking Soda
We all know that naturally occurring sodium bicarbonate has myriad applications, whether helping baked goods to rise, acting as a natural antacid or serving as a surprisingly effective toothpaste. Still one of the most affordable household staples around - often available for well under $1.00 per box -- the simple white powder can also draw the venom out of jellyfish stings, discourage rabbits from noshing on your garden, make fluffier omelettes (when you add ½ teaspoon per 3 eggs), prolong the perkiness of fresh cut flowers (by adding 1 teaspoon to the water), be turned into kiddie-safe modeling clay (when mixed with ¼ cup of water and 1 cup of cornstarch) and act as a natural ant deterrent. When combined with equally affordable oatmeal (in a ratio of 1 part baking soda to 2 parts ground oatmeal), a very natural but effective facial scrub can be created. Are you a fan of the nutritional and budget-friendly benefits of beans but run in the opposite direction due to their all-too-familiar gastrointestinal side effects? While soaking your legumes, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water and the gas will automatically become neutralized. This dirt-cheap, non-toxic product is an absolute must-have in any greenie's arsenal, as is plain white vinegar.
A Freezer
While this may seem like a surprising recommendation, having the ability to store perishable edibles for future use is just about as budget friendly as it is green. Since a perfectly good freezer is automatically attached to the refrigerator that all of us are already fortunate enough to own, let's just say that it's a "free resource" begging to be used to its full potential. The waste not, want not adage applies here - if you can't get through your weekly supply of groceries in time, don't compost them...freeze them, instead. Leftovers actually rock, despite what the majority of the population believes, and who in their right mind would really want to cook a meal from scratch if they could have the opportunity to take a day or two off, instead? By the way -- you can tuck just about anything into your ice box, including excess eggs, milk, fresh fruit, herbs, wine, leftover chicken stock/tomato paste - when in doubt, pre-portion all the aforementioned foods into ice cube trays, freeze solid and then pop the food-cubes out into a heavy duty zip top bag for future culinary adventures. Happy future eatin'!
A Portable Reusable "Everything Kit"
You want to make as minimal of an impact as you can while you're out and about? Then consider filling a large reusable bag filled with the following totable resources: a stainless steel bottle, reusable silverware, several rubber-lid covered tempered glass or stainless steel food containers, a few shatter-proof plates and several cloth napkins. Keep this collection of food and beverage facilitators in your car at all times and when the whim strikes for a spur-of-the-moment Italian to-go-fix, supply the restaurant of your choice with the reusable containers that you'd like them to fill. What if you're on your lunch break and just looking for a quick Subway sandwich? Ask them to skip the paper/plastic bag combo and instead tuck your Sammie into the container that you furnish. Ditto for any other imbibing, chugging, guzzling or munching that you may do throughout the day. Steer clear of the disposable versions once and for all!
Coupons
It's high time that we all drop the stigma surrounding these clippable wonders - they are truly the means to a more wholesome, organic and budget friendly end. Now more than ever before, numerous natural and organic companies are issuing high-value printable manufacturer's coupons that, when paired with sales, enable the more strategic shopper to shave a large chunk off of what would normally be a rather sizable bill. You like free money, right? That's exactly what coupons are, pure and simple. If you want to increase your intake of organics for the benefit of your health and that of the planet without moaning in agony at the cash register, then get clipping. It really is a small price to pay upfront for access to better nutritional and eco-friendly household resources.
Organic Vegetable Seeds
Planting a garden from scratch may seem like a mighty task, and although it does require commitment, consistent maintenance and a fair amount of sweat equity, the fruits of your labor will taste all the more sweet. Here's why. By having complete control over the cultivation of your veggies (via organic fertilizers and natural pest management techniques), you can rest assured that every edible morsel that you pluck off the stem will be truly wholesome. Unlike produce raised through conventional techniques, your crops won't be subject to illness-inducing parasitic contaminants - plus, they'll carry virtually no carbon footprint since you'll just step right outside your door to access them.
For at least 4-6 months out of the year (depending on your growing region), relying on your organic garden rather than the grocery store will also give your wallet a break and boost your health. Furthermore, you will reduce your role in the consumerism circle by taking fewer trips to the store...which ultimately means producing far less waste overall. As far as the seeds are concerned, if choose to pay full retail price, prepare to suffer from sticker shock unless there's some fabulous buy-one-get-one-free deal. However, if you are open to more creative techniques for obtaining them such as via seed swaps, Craigslist, Freecycle, or via generous green thumb gardeners who are more than happy to share their seed surpluses with wide-eyed aspiring greenies, then you'll definitely be able to pull your organic garden together with minimal budgetary hardship.
DIY Skills
If you are capable of creating many of the lifestyle essentials that you need with your own two hands - food, clothing, household goods, gifts, etc. - your personal carbon footprint will automatically take a nosedive (in a very good way). Frankly, who needs Walmart when you have a perfectly good supply of needles and thread instead? Even if whipping up 10% of what you really require on a regular basis is more your pace, you'd still be doing pretty well overall. Sure, it's tempting just take a quick jaunt over to the store in search of some instant retail gratification, but there are so many reasons why DIY is a better way to go. Simply put, it's fulfilling and it helps us to appreciate tangible things so much more (rather than quickly casting them aside when we become bored) - it's the sweat equity that makes all the difference. Also, DIY generally entails repurposing supplies that you already have on hand, making it a minimal carbon footprint and exceedingly budget-friendly affair. It also happens to be fun, helping us to reconnect to a simpler time when people were prideful of what they were capable of creating. In this case, old fashioned values = an eco-forward lifestyle.
A Bicycle
Obviously, it's far easier on the wallet than driving and it's even a little...dare I say...fun. Overall, riding a bicycle is the equivalent of taking advantage of free healthcare with a hefty portion of C02 neutralization thrown in for good measure. If more of us pedaled to work, we could engage in a heart-healthy and naturally stress-reducing form of transportation which would significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, thereby positively impacting Mother Nature. If you're still holding out because pedaling all the way to work is impractical due to sheer distance or type of terrain, consider toting your bike in the back of your vehicle and then using it during your lunch break to run errands, etc. Come on...surely you know by now that every little effort really does add up. Good -- then how about following through this time?
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