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SITE INDEX:
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our Blog
pages where you can keep up with
Life on the Farm.
Eden's In the News & On-Line
Farmer
Marie profiled in Green Source DFW June 29th, 2015
Growing Urban Roots -
Acres USA Dec. 2014 Issue
Voted Best CSA 2013!
Living Natural First Radio Interview
Featured in
Edible Dallas & Forth Worth -
Winter 2009
Market Day Feature Story in
NeighborsGo - July 2010
D Magazine -
Chefs for Farmers Launch long-table style benefit dinner at
Eden's.
Market Day - Our Humble Beginnings
"...an urban country adventure." - Kim Pierce DMN
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Who said "it ain't easy being
green"?
Well, Sorry, but Kermit was
wrong. It is EASY to be green.
Check out some of these tips
and links for more great ways to take it easy on the environment - and your
wallet!
Unplug your chargers when you
aren't charging something - cell phone, batteries, power tools, etc.
Teach the kids to "close the lights!"
when they leave a room
Get light sensors for outside
porch and yard lights so they don't have to burn all day in order to greet
you when you get home at night.
Replace your old style bulbs
with new more energy efficient and long lasting varieties
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Plant a native, deciduous,
shade tree on the southwest side of your house
(Deciduous is the kind that loses its leaves in
the fall - so your house will catch the warmth of the sun in the winter.)
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Plant native shrubs and
perennials in your landscapes and follow the 7 basic principals of xeriscape
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Carpool!
Better yet, walk or ride your
bike or take public transportation whenever possible
Make good use of those refrigerator science projects, feed the earthworms!
Many stores sell canvas bags
with very strong nylon handles for carrying groceries or you can bring back
the plastic or paper bags they sacked your groceries in the last time you were
there.
Note; I know there are lots
of pros and cons to types of bags. If I forget my canvas bag, which I do,
I prefer paper for a few reasons - trees can and are re-planted so they are a
renewable resource; I can use them for trash liners that will compost down; we
used to make some killer book covers with paper bags; and, best of all - you can
lay them out over a weedy area you want to make into a garden spot, put several
inches (6") of compost on top of them and water area periodically - spot spray
weeds that pop up with vinegar or pull them, and you'll be able to plant a new
garden in that spot after several months as the paper killed the weeds and broke
down and can be tilled in with the compost. Great to do right now for
either a late fall or early spring bed.)
Now I'm not a lover of a/c to
start with, but I hate to be cold in the winter. So, as much as I'd
like it to be about 80 in the house year round, set your temps up a few
degrees warmer in the summer and down a few degrees cooler in the winter
than you normally do. Good guidelines are 78 in the summer when you
are there, 82 when you are gone. In the winter, 65 when you are gone
and 72 when you are home. Use a fan to help circulate the air - it
will keep the air more evenly tempered throughout the room and either warmer
or cooler and ceiling fans don't use nearly as much energy as the a/c or
furnace.
And while we're on the
subject - change those filters! Keeping the coils clean and the
filters changed helps your unit run more efficiently.
Not only does it help support
your local city's economy and probably local vendors, but it saves you gas
and time - which may be worth more than the few bucks off on the item you're
buying. Look for "made in Texas" or "Texas Grown" or even Made in the
USA items. The closer they were to start with, the less gas that got
burned getting it to you - and again, you're supporting a local business
and/or employees. Remember, that is what America was founded on -
local, small, independently owned and operated businesses. So give
them a try first when you can. It can be a win-win situation!
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