It seems that kids spend most of their time indoors playing video games or watching television these days. Want a way to get your kids off of the couch and save some money at the same time? Start a family garden.

The benefits of a garden are numerous. First of all, you get to save money on food. A garden is not just for flowers, although there are some that have edible leaves. In a garden you can grow fruits and vegetables which have been the staples of a healthy diet since humans first discovered them.

Number two, a garden is very eco-friendly. By growing your own food you save on trips to the grocery store which saves gas and decreases pollution. Also, fresh foods contain more of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs so you’ll be getting healthy.

Introduce your kids to nature in a way that shows how it directly benefits them. If you take the care to tend your garden, you will have delicious food to eat anytime. There’s nothing like feeling hungry and going outside to pluck a juicy red tomato off the vine.

Here are some tips for families who want to “go green” by producing their own food in a family garden.

1. Get everyone involved. Tilling the soil is a big job. The entire family can help prepare the ground for the garden.

1. Read up on gardening. The reason so many people don’t have vegetable gardens is because they don’t know what’s involved. When you start without a plan, you are soon to fail.

1. Decide what you will plant. Most gardens are begun at certain times of the year depending on what vegetables you choose and where you live.

1. Use organic fertilizers and insect repellants. Organic gardening products are eco-friendly and allow you to eat foods right off the vine or out of the ground if you choose. Early settlers didn’t have chemical pesticides. Adding friendly insects to your garden, like ladybugs, will take care of undesirable pests without any chemicals.

1. Weed the garden. Weeds can choke growing vegetables and ruin a garden. Regular weeding is a necessary part of bringing your vegetables to harvest. Take turns so no one feels like they are doing all the hard work themselves.

1. Freeze or give away extra vegetables. You will have enough for the months when nothing is growing. Sharing your vegetables with friends and neighbors might inspire them to begin their own garden.

1. Watch your garden grow. There’s nothing wrong with taking a daily tour of the garden with your kids. They can see the fruit of their labors as the vegetables enlarge and push through the soil. You have a front row seat to see nature at work.

Do you want a family activity that is environmentally sound and saves money? Start a family garden using the tips above. Also contact your local cooperative extension office for more on gardening.

]]> http://www.residential-alternative-energy.com/tips-for-a-family-garden/feed/ 0 http://www.residential-alternative-energy.com/institute-a-family-chore-day-go-green-and-save-energy/ http://www.residential-alternative-energy.com/institute-a-family-chore-day-go-green-and-save-energy/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:55:54 +0000 admin http://www.residential-alternative-energy.com/?p=455

No one likes to clean up – especially the kids. Instead of fighting with your family to get it done, or worse, doing all the work yourself, create a day when everyone pitches in and gets the job done fast. A family chore day gets everyone involved in taking care of the home. You all live there so it is everyone’s responsibility to keep it looking nice. Family chore day can be all day or just in the morning. It’s best to start in the morning when the entire family is peppy and fresh. That way, the afternoon is left for other more fun activities.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should leave the house an utter disaster area until that “one” day. If company is coming over or the sink is full of dishes you might have to take care of the issue. But, for the most part, family chore day should take care of the things that no one wants to do during the week. Some specific items that come to mind from my own house are: washing clothes, cleaning bedrooms, washing windows, vacuuming, etc.

You will have to have a few ground rules for family chore day. Everyone agrees to be available for that particular day and period of time. This is important, especially when you have teenagers who make plans on the weekends or dads who want to spend some time with the guys.

1. Decide on a day. You can rotate the day each week or keep it the same. Keeping it the same lets everyone plan around the activity easily.

1. Make a list of what chores need to be done. You can team up to tackle big jobs so it doesn’t take as much time.

1. Get your supplies ahead of time. When Saturday morning (or whatever day you choose) rolls around, you want to be able to hit the ground running. Have buckets, cleaners, equipment and paper towels or rags all in one area ready to grab and put to use.

1. Make it fun. On that day, the family gets to eat out for breakfast. Feeding everyone will keep them from pooping out too soon. Listen to some music while you work. Take turns choosing music so you satisfy everyone’s tastes.

1. Family chore day saves energy and thus, money. Washing clothes on one day means full loads which saves water and energy over washing a half load every other day.

1. Change chores assigned each week. No one wants to get stuck cleaning the bathrooms every week. Take turns doing the yucky jobs.

Are the dishes piling up or does the house look a wreck? Try a family chore day to share the job of keeping your home livable.

We celebrate several special occasions throughout the calendar year. These include birthdays and holidays of all sorts. Learn ways that you and your family can celebrate these special days in a more eco-friendly fashion.

“Going green” takes a bit of creativity. We have relied on modern fixes for so long that we forget that a lot of things we need, we can make on our own. That doesn’t mean that modern conventions are bad. Pick and choose which modern items you will use based on whether it is good for the environment or not. With that said, here are some suggestions for celebrating the “green” way.

1. Make your decorations. Use construction paper to make shapes, confetti and streamers. Store the decorations for future uses.

1. Shred regular paper to make stuffing for gift baskets and bags. Instead of filling an Easter basket with plastic grass, use green construction paper. In Christmas gifts, instead of tissue paper, use shredded paper and recycle it.

1. Buy from countries that sell eco-friendly products. There are many countries that participate in fair trade. They create ornaments and gifts created from natural products. The price is cheaper and you would be helping a craftsman in need as well as the Earth.

1. Decorate gift boxes instead of using wrapping paper. Kids can use crayons and markers to beautify their gifts. The wrapping paper just gets thrown away anyway. If you don’t have any drawing skills, wrap presents in colored butcher’s paper. It can be recycled when you are finished with it.

1. Give a gift that keeps on giving. Some folks opt to make a donation in the name of another to a favored charity. If you know the favorite charity of the person receiving the gift, choose that one. Another gift idea is to have a star named after someone.

1. Rent tables, chairs and meal utensils for big parties. You might not have enough silverware or plates for fifty people, but renting them is a better choice than going with disposable ware. You decrease your waste and everyone still has a good time.

1. Give people reusable containers for leftovers. These containers are cheap to buy and each guest can continue to use them in their own home. It’s better than using two disposable plates.

1. Go potluck. Each person brings a dish and they also take their dish back home. You have less to clean up and wash after the celebration.

1. Give eco-friendly party favors. Instead of birthday hats, give kids a wooden toy they can play with over and over. If you do the party hat thing, use real hats instead of paper ones. You can even make it a fun part of the party and let them bring their own crazy hat. Kids and adults alike will have fun with all the different head wear people can come up with.

Who says that having fun can’t also be environmentally friendly? Use these suggestions for your next celebratory gathering.