glass jars

Line your pantry shelves with recycled jars filled with items that you would typically put in plastic containers or bags.  Your shelves will be more organized and your food will be well preserved.  

Glass jars are great for transporting soups, smoothies, snacks, juice and nuts to work. No more exploding plastic containers!

paper, paper, paper

replace paper napkins with cloth napkins 


replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for great towels) - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse


purchase toilet paper that is made from recycled paper


if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or an alternative-source paper)


reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of gift cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible


read books, magazines, and newspapers from your local library


create and use note pads from once-used paper


leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board


make your own cards/letters from once-used products (gift wrap, tissue paper, received cards and notes)


 reuse gift bags

sharing is good!

Share With Friends: Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, recipes and newspapers between friends or neighbors.

replace disposables

Replace Disposables:   Wherever possible, replace disposable products with reusable ones.  Razor, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, plates, cups, drinking bottles, furnace or air conditioner filters, etc.

white vinegar

White vinegar cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.

keep slugs away

Help keep slugs away by planting certain plants near or in your garden.  Corn, Sunflower, Geraniums, Pumpkin as well as certain herbs like mint, chives and basil, naturally repel slugs. Slugs love beer!  Get a shallow container and place it in the garden close to the plants where you’re finding the slugs. Place it in the ground so that the top is approximately level with the ground and fill it with an inch of beer.  The slugs will come in droves! Clean out the slugs and refill the beer as needed.

Cucumbers Repel Ants

Not everybody likes cucumbers. You may be interested to learn that ants hate cucumbers, especially cucumber peels. You'll especially appreciate that fact if you want to get rid of them. Just spread some cucumber peels - the more bitter, the better - anywhere you don't want ants.


People are slicing up cucumbers instead of spraying pesticides because they don't want toxic chemicals in their homes or in their garden sheds. There is growing evidence that synthetic pesticides pose a health risk to humans and animals.