Instead, how about cooking with the wood found on your own property? Here on the small suburban lot we lovingly call the “microfarm,” our pine trees drop enough dead fall branches to keep us cooking out all summer long. You can cook in your standard kettle grill, or use a large free-standing fire pit or a pit you have dug in the ground and surrounded with rock. Regardless of what you choose, keep it well away from the house and overhanging trees!

Collect deadfall pine branches and those you have taken off during trimming; this means you are not taking down a tree for the purpose of grilling out. Cut your wood to the proper length for your fire pit, and let it “season” or dry so that it lights more easily.

Pine contains a lot of resin and will light readily; those fire starting sticks you can buy for your home fire place are typically heart of pine, the most resinous part, so you can see the potential of burning pine. If you would like something even faster-lighting to start your fire, add a few pine cones or a handful of dried pine needles. (Don’t burn pine or other soft woods indoors, because the resin will coat your chimney and create a fire hazard).

A wood fire is generally ready to cook on almost immediately. Of course, you can throw your favorite grill meats on the fire, but to be even more sustainable, consider grilling your own fresh garden veggies. You can buy a grilling basket that will contain small slices of veggies when on the grill, which makes the task much easier than relying on skewers. We like to grill zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and even carrots. Marinate the veggies if you wish, and sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill until they are the desired tenderness. What a great way to enjoy cooking outdoors, almost entirely from your own land!

Composting is essentially organic recycling. It is a biological process that occurs with the use of microorganisms that digest the matter and leave you with a nutrient rich and soil-like substance — compost!

So, how do you compost?

You can just throw everything in a pile outside, but there are more efficient and more useful ways of composting. A common approach is to use a bin. There are two types of bins that are typically used: open-sided and enclosed. You can even make your own bin! The key is to get one that holds in the heat and the moisture. This is because heat will increase the composting rate. The hotter it is in your bin, the faster the materials will decompose and turn into useful compost. If you can, you want to somehow heat your compost bin or at least manage the temperature of the bin.

Okay so you have the bin, now what?

Now it’s time for the materials! Yes, it really is that easy. After you have the bin, you’re essentially home free. All you have to do is keep throwing in those green and brown materials.  To have  a really good compost mix, they say that you should throw in one part “green” for every three parts “brown”. Apparently this is done in order to balance the carbon to nitrogen ratio and this increases the microbial activity. Not surprisingly, an increase in microbial activity will lead to more composting occurring and more heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide being generated.

As your continue to compost, keep an eye on your bin. You may have to add water once in a while.

Sun Chips has a recipe for composting. I will happily share it with you below:

1 part food scraps

2 parts leaves

2 parts grass

2 parts hay

1 part finished compost

When you are ready to start composting, place all the materials in your bin, mix them well,

and add water so that the mix is damp to the touch

1. Natural Cleaning Agents

Instead of buying the pre-made cleaning products in the stores (which are filled with all kinds of chemicals and bleach), make your own using items already found in your home. These items include vinegar, baking soda, natural soaps and lemon.

2. NO to Bottled Water

Buy a filter for the faucet or a pitcher with its own filter and start drinking from the tap. When going out, bring your own mug and fill it with tap water. Just this act alone can eliminate usage of at least 300 bottles a day.

3. Reusable Shopping Bags

Make it a habit of bringing your own shopping bags to eliminate the use of plastic or paper bags for your items. The bags only cost between $0.99 to $2 (some cost more but you don’t need to buy those) and use them again and again.

4. Avoid Plastic Wrap

When putting leftovers in the fridge, don’t use plastic wrap to cover your food. Use container covers or brown wax paper.

5. CFLs and Energy-Saving Appliances

Switch to CFL bulbs and energy-saving appliances and notice the big change in your electricity bill.

6. Grow Own Food

If you have the ability and the space to do, grow your own food. Just buy some pots, soil and seeds and plant away. You can plant spinach, mushrooms, tomato, eggplant, any kind of fruits or whatever else will fit in your space. Don’t forget to take care of the plants, though.

7. Don’t Be Afraid To Buy Used

There are some items that you can always buy used, like furniture (including book cases, chairs and tables, etc.), clothes, DVDs, CDs and other items that won’t compromise your health or will be with you for the long haul.

8. Say NO To Paper

Go paperless for all your bills and statements. Cancel all catalogs, print newspapers and other subscriptions and choose to view them online instead.

So are you ready to switch to a green lifestyle? Take the challenge and start now!

Spring Cleaning

Remove all the clutter. Go through drawers, cabinets, inside the closets, the garage, attic and everywhere you can think of. Start going through all your things one by one. It will take some time to get through all this, so be sure to set aside time for this activity. Or better yet, get the help of a family member or a friend. Create separate piles for things you’ll never use, things you can reuse and things you can donate or recycle.

Spring Break

Plan the ultimate road trip and avoid flying to your destination. Travel with family or friends to take advantage of the car’s space. Be sure to stay at a green hotel with good ratings. Or stay at a rental house with lots of other friends. You’ll save money and have more fun! Support local establishments. Eat local and buy local. And always remember to dispose trash properly and recycle.

Dating

How to find someone who shares your green ideals? Try online green dating sites like Green Singles or Green Passion. Or volunteer at your local environmental organization to meet other like-minded people. Take them to green restaurants or restaurants that serve locally-sourced food. Or make your own food and plan a picnic. Cook food for your date using locally-sourced food and organic alcohol.

Work From Home

Choose an area in your place that will give you no distractions and allow you to be very productive. Determine what kind of desk you’ll need, if you need lots of drawers or a wide space or a foldable one. Be sure to do your research and invest in desks made of sustainable wood. And make sure your chair is ergonomic and has good lumbar support designed to go easy on your posture and muscles. Before buying office supplies, check your place first for supplies you already may have to avoid overstocking.

Workout

You don’t need to join a gym to work out. You can do it at your own home. Do lunges and squats while watching your favorite shows on TV. Lift weights while watching the news. If you want to go out, go running or biking outside. Encourage other people to join your workouts. And don’t forget to go green with the equipment you use. Buy used bikes and/or weights, eco-friendly yoga mats.

Next time, we’ll discuss how to apply green tips in your life.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

Visit the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and walk or bike across its 1.9-km walkway. An average walk may take at least an hour and a half to go to the other side of the bridge. Depending on a person’s resistance to strong winds, it may take him longer. You also can rent a bike to ride from end to end of the bridge. Most bikes are available for rent at $7/hour. To get to the bridge by Muni bus, take bus number 28 from Laguna Street (on Chestnut or Lombard) or along 19th Avenue.

2. Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is the third most visited city park in the United States. Its 1,017 acres of park area houses several sites you can visit. There’s the Kezar Stadium, Conservatory of Flowers, the AIDS Memorial Grove, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Stow and Spreckels Lake, the Golden Gate Park Stadium, the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. There are several ways to get here through Muni transportation. Take the 5 from Market Street through Fulton Avenue. Take the 71 from Market Street through Haight Street. Take the 28 from Golden Gate Park. Or take Muni Metro N and get down at 19th Avenue and either take 28 or walk from there.

3. Farmer’s Markets

Make a difference. Eat local. Shop local. And what better way to do it than to shop at one of the numerous farmers markets all over the city. Be sure to visit year-round market at the Ferry Building, Alemany Market, Divisadero and Noe Valley. Most farmers markets in San Francisco are accessible by Muni. Check out http://www.511.org to find the right bus.

4. Transportation

San Francisco is a small city and using a car to get around the city can be a burden, what with all the one-way streets and hills and lack of parking spaces. Navigate through the city through Muni transportation (which includes the electric bus, commuter trains and cable cars). There’s always a bus going to any of your destinations! Or better yet, be one with the locals and walk the streets of SF.

What else can you contribute as an eco-tourist? Let us know your thoughts through the comments box!

But what about when you shop or eat out?

The bad news is that not a lot of shops and restaurants practice a green lifestyle just yet.

The good news is that there are places that contribute to your green lifestyle. And there’s at least one in every state.

San Francisco

1. Fish & Farm –

Fish and Farm opened its door in October 2007 in San Francisco, promising to deliver the freshest and tastiest dishes and drinks made with locally-grown products. Chef Michael Morrison, formerly of Michael Mina and Fringale in San Francisco, adds the finishing touch to this eco-friendly restaurant. Fish and Farm has dedicated itself to living a green lifestyle. Their bamboo floors and marble countertops are reclaimed and recycled. They have a rooftop garden, where they grow the herbs they use in their cocktail drinks. Don’t forget to try their specialties, Morrison’s own homemade duck sausage, the San Francisco martini and The Huckleberry Friend, all made with organic products sourced from farms within a 100-mile radius of the city.
339 Taylor St. San Francisco, CA 94102; (415) 474-3474

2. Rainbow Grocery –

Operating in San Francisco since 1975, the Rainbow Grocery aims to provide vegetarian products that are both affordable and environmentally/socially friendly. Products from local farms, bakers, dairies and other local businesses are found at the Rainbow Grocery for your convenience. They do not sell any products that have preservatives, artificial flavors and colors, and hydrogenated oil.
1745 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA 94103; (415) 863-0620

3. A Happy Planet –

A Happy Planet offers organic bedding and mattresses for your home. They also offer chemical-free home essentials including bath products, wood furniture and organic intimates, among others. All their products are made of either organic cotton, organic wool, natural rubber or renewable wood, among others, to ensure you of a good and healthy lifestyle.
4501 Irving St. San Francisco, CA 94122; (415) 753-8300

If you would like to highlight a particular city and its eco-friendly shops and restaurants, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

Next city: Los Angeles

We are renting a house with a spacious yard full of fruit-bearing trees and grass. My dogs can’t access the yard easily because there’s a bamboo fence. So, what they usually do is they relieve themselves in the grassy area of my garden which is disgusting to see. So, my husband and I decided to dig a compost pit in the fenced area of the yard. Every morning, we pick up their feces in the garden and drop it in the compost pit.

The advantage of making a compost pit for dogs’ waste is you can fertilize your soil and you can limit the spread of diseases and bacteria like E. Coli because you won’t have to throw the waste in the garbage. However, the disadvantage is you can’t use the dogs’ waste to fertilize the soil of your root crops.

Do you want to know how to make your own compost pit? Here’s how:

1. If you have a spacious yard, choose the area that is away from root crops or the vegetable garden.
2. Dig a hole in that area.
3. Put some stones at the bottom of your dug hole, just enough to cover the floor of the hole. You also can use gravel.
4. Choose the size of your bin. The bin I chose can hold 8-10 liters. You can choose bigger bins if you have many dogs at home. Make tiny holes at the bottom of the bin, this is for drainage purposes.
5. Finally, put the bin on top of the stones or gravel and make sure to cover it.

Now that you already know how to create compost pit for your dog’s wastes, why don’t you try it out, too? Let me know once you’ve tried it, I would be glad to receive your feedback.

Every time I see a pumpkin, I remember not Halloween but my grandmother. She used to grow her own veggie garden with lots of pumpkins in her backyard. She used to make pumpkin soup. Now that I’m living far from her, I wonder if I can grow my own veggie garden, too. Here’s what my granny told me:

1. Place your vegetable garden near a water source and with access to sunlight. Vegetable crops need a lot of water and sunlight everyday.
2. Plant only vegetables that you and your family like. My family likes pumpkin, okra, tomato and eggplant. All of these can be seen in my grandmother’s vegetable garden.
3. Fertilize your garden. If you want to use commercial fertilizer, always remember to follow the label instructions. My grandmother used organic fertilizer because according to her, her veggie crops thrive better with organic than commercial fertilizer…and most of all, she can save money when she uses organic fertilizer.
4. Choose the best location for your garden. If you have a spacious backyard, that is better. Make sure to put your garden away from a pathway, so that family members can’t accidentally step on the crops. If you have dogs at home, it is best to put a fence in your veggie garden to prevent dogs from getting into the garden and destroying the crops. My grandma’s dogs loved to dig and destroy her crops, so she put a fence in her garden.

With food prices getting expensive nowadays, having a vegetable garden can provide a family with fresh vegetables at no cost at all! And if you’re creative in the kitchen, you can make different kinds of vegetable dishes, too. My grandmother can make different dishes from those vegetables she had in her garden, and one of my favorite is her pumpkin soup.

Growing a vegetable garden is so much fun! Not only will it can keep you busy, but it is also rewarding to feel that you have grown your own crops. So, plant a garden today and enjoy this healthy, fun and rewarding activity!

-Charcoal briquettes give off plenty of carbon monoxide that is bad for the environment. Combine that with lighter fluid, and you are now affecting the ozone at ground level. Try lump coal instead. It is better for the environment but still gives you the smoky barbecue taste you love. Another option is hardwood charcoals. In this case, make use of an electric fire starter that you can bury as far into the coals as possible. One brand that contains no pollutants whatsoever is called “Wicked Good Charcoal”.

-If you must use charcoal, then buy lump brands that derive from sustainable managed forests or invasive tree species. Be aware that briquettes are choked full of coal dust and/or other types of additives such as binder.

-Stop using lighter fluid to start your barbecue. Instead switch to a chimney starter.

-Gas grills are more eco-friendly than charcoal grills because there are fewer fumes dispelled into the environment. You also might want to consider purchasing an electric grill.

-To be as eco-friendly and as green as you can be, buy a solar oven or stove so emissions stop being a problem altogether.

-If you must cook meat, choose lean meats and always trim the fat off of the meat before placing it on the barbecue. Barbecue organic, hormone-free meat (and preferably local) as well as fish. For added variety, grill a selection of fruits and vegetables.

-Veggie burgers are greener than hamburgers or hot dogs. Veggie burgers do not produce the same carcinogens as meat burgers, and they are better for the environment.

-Make your veggie burgers from scratch instead of buying them prepackaged. Make them out of soy, chick peas, black beans, lentils and other types of legumes.

-Better yet, grill veggie burgers in a sun oven. Barbecuing in this manner uses 10 times less energy, and it uses 100 times less water than cooking burgers made of meat.

-When you are choosing items for the picnic table, it is best to go with reusable dishware and silverware, as well as cloth napkins. Another excellent option if this one is not available to you is to use biodegradable or recycled-paper dinnerware, as well as recycled paper napkins and unbleached cups.