If you’ve never tracked your yearly spending on cleaning products you may not have a sense of the magnitude we consumers spend each year.  I think you would be as surprised as I was, to discover how high that actually is. Consider just the multitude of categories of products we use for the care of wood, tile and other materials.

A couple of years ago while preparing my taxes, I took the time to calculate how much I was spending on cleaning supplies and was astonished by the results.

Not only was the cost over a thousand dollars a year, but the overall combination and amount of different products I was using was huge. This discovery prompted me to search for an affordable and effective general-purpose cleaner. …read more of Tax Refund Comes Early: Save Money by Using Natural Cleaning Products here

It’s the time of the year when I feel a strong yearning for spring and the fresh greenness of vegetation. I’m hatching plans to bring more of the beauty of plants inside and outside my home. I may try a scaled down version of a living wall.

Green or living walls can be seen worldwide in and on buildings, adding bursts of unexpected plant life, particularly in urban settings where gardening space is at a premium. The vertical gardens designed by Parisian Patrick Blanc, an innovator in this area, are often elaborate, huge undertakings.

To add greenery at home …read more of Bringing Green Walls to your Home here

Looking for a unique holiday for your family?  Want to teach your kids about our amazing natural world and environmental responsibility first-hand?  Do you like hiking, biking, and lobsters?  Look no further than beautiful Maine.

A recent list published by National Geographic Traveler featured Maine as one of the “places doing well” for its authenticity and stewardship.  That’s especially true, noted the report, the further north you go.  One such destination is Mount Desert Island, home to Bar Harbor and the 46,000 acres of Acadia National Park.

Rainer Jenss, former publisher of National Geographic Kids, just lived a life-long dream to take a year off and travel the world with his wife, Carol, and sons, Tyler, 11, and Stefan, 8.  After the first two months and 20 states, he published his U.S. Top Ten List.  The choice for the family’s “Favorite National Park” was Acadia. …read more of Acadia National Park in Maine here

“We like our bike.
It is made for three.
Our Mike sits up in back, you see.
We like our Mike and this is why:
Mike does all the work when the hills get high.”
- Dr Seuss


Image: Sanyo Eneloop

Most trips we take are less than 3 miles from our home. With our cities and streets becoming more bike-friendly, and bikes becoming more pedal-friendly, you may want to give bikes another look. While they may not include Dr. Seuss’ “Mike”, the new wave of electric bikes (ebikes) includes some impressive battery power.

At the Consumer Electronic show last week, Sanyo unveiled their new Eneloop Electric Bike which looks like your typical bike, but will take over for the hard stuff (or if you just aren’t in the mood to pedal) . With the battery neatly tucked away and weighing only a few pounds, you can ride the Sanyo as you would any other bike whether you’re in the city or the suburbs. And when the going gets tough, the battery gets going.

…read more of Not in the Mood to Pedal? That’s OK here

While it’s freezing outside, don’t freeze your workout routine.  Staying active in the winter can be a feat of willpower when it is tempting to hibernate.  Here are a few suggestions to keep your heart pumping and muscles flexing despite the ice and snow.

In addition to helping you stay healthy, the following ideas are also eco-friendly—in many cases reducing oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  Be inspired, change your routine, find something you enjoy, and get your family involved.  Don’t let the cold get you down. …read more of Simple Activities to Help You Stay Fit This Winter here