With water rates getting more and more expensive, and the introduction of mandatory water rationing programs being introduced throughout most of California, replacing grass with regional drought-resistant plants is a smart move. However, major changes to landscaping can be a scary thing. Hopefully, this post provides you with the inspiration you need to tackle your own home transformation.

In this first edition of a new series called Home Transformation – Before & After, we feature this home in Southern California

There are a lot of easy and effective ways to eliminate weeds and pests from your garden without the use of commercial pesticides. Most of these methods have been used for decades by traditional farmers with success.

Photo: Meredith_James
But first, an overview on why the commercial options should be avoided:
The number one selling herbicide, or weed-killer, is Roundup. Roundup is produced by the U.S. company Monsanto and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. In the US, 5-8 million pounds are used every year on lawns and …

Photo: marinegirl
I was first introduced to natural cleaning products last year, and have since completely switched over. These new products are great because they work well, and your hands aren’t left with a terrible bleach smell that lasts all day. (Not to mention how much better they are on our planet!)
Most of the popular cleaning products you can buy off the shelf have refreshingly simple ingredient lists. Which made me think…I can probably save a few dollars and make them at home. Well, sure enough, I did some experimenting and …

Now that Earth Day has come and passed, hopefully you took a few ideas away from the fairs and festivals to practice at home.  But, what about the place where you spend 40 hours a week?  That’s right, the office.  Not only can you save the company a bit of cash, but you can do your part to conserve resources.  By recycling where possible we can reduce the amount of energy used to create new products.   Here are some ideas to explore at your next company meeting:
 
 
 

Recycle paper products – …

For most people, the word sustainability and a career in environmental conservation, is considered new. However, Michael Laurie, owner of Watershed L.L.C. based in Vashon, Washington, sustainability and a career revolving around environmental activism is something he has been doing for over 25 years! He is currently a sustainability consultant specializing in indoor and outdoor water efficiency. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Western Washington University, an Associate of Technical Arts in Energy Management from Edmonds Community College, and a Masters …