Save on 6% of your household’s energy usage

Clothesline, by Professor Bop on flickr.

NO TO TUMBLE-DRYERS!

And Now Green Jeans

stained, dirty, ripped, frayed — that’s what hip  jeans is all about…

Tristar is about to launch jeans that are made of organic cotton grown in a plantation in Brazil that uses no water and  pesticides. The jeans are meant to be frozen in the refrigerator instead of washing. One-day freezing is enough to kill the bacteria, but if stains are bothersome, the jeans can still be washed the conventional way, which means you will be able to save energy and water in between uses. (Read more… )

Image by TreeHugger

Learning from the Oidas: Working in harmony with nature

A Mini Ecosystem

surfers Mike and Alma Oida

Mike and Alma Oida of Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte are  synonymous with green. Their eco-design resort continues to attract the environment-conscious, the lovers of nature, healthy food, peace and tranquility. Now, they have managed to create their own organic garden. (Click to read related story)

On our recent visit to Kapuluan, we discovered great green gardening ideas that we need to share with you.

vermicomposting

worm castings, natural non-toxic fertilizers that don't smell or attract flies

cayenne pepper

Swiss chard, also known as, silver beet or spinach beet

coriander

greenhouse gardening

When we asked Mike what is the secret to raising healthy vegetables, he answered, “Basically, looking back where we left off… the classic style.” He and Alma grow sweet corn, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, chili, pepper, coriander and Swiss chard. Alma says, ” We are able to grow only for the restaurant, but that’s for now.” About the benefits of eating organically-grown veggies, Mike says, “It is believed to be more potent with nutritional values.” How does he deal with pests? “Gardening cooperatively with nature. Just leaving the pests alone.”

the green and delectable Hummus Burrito from Kapuluan's kitchen

For the resort, we asked Mike what other eco-friendly practices  have they adopted lately — and he says, “EM, or effective microorganisms in organic waste management.” EM control odors, do all-purpose cleaning, reduce or replace all the cleaners, and recycle stuff like food leftovers, a good way to create a healthy environment. In gardening, EM cut on fertilizer costs, improve soil quality, soil health, and the growth, yield and quality of crops. These beneficial and effective microorganisms have many uses in other sustainable activities. “We’ve stopped using chemicals”, Mike added.

[photos by blauearth]

Copyright © Blauearth™ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Click to read related post about Mike and Alma Oida

Reduce your plastic footprint

A plastic footprint is the amount of plastic any one individual or entity contributes into the environment, either through consumption or manufacturing.

What you can do to reduce your plastic footprint:

Practice the 3 Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

> bring your own reusable grocery bag whenever you go to the market
> instead of bottled water, try using reusable bottle containers like Nalgene and washable plastic tumblers to serve water
> always dispose of any and all plastics you use in approved recycling receptacles, or bring them to recycling centers. Plastics can be re or downcycled into innumerable other products

BYOB "Bring Your Own Bag": A Green Idea by Mike and Alma Oida

Click to visit Kapuluan Vista Resort