Allie’s Answers

Enjoying all the local produce your farmer’s market has to offer? Buy a little extra to freeze for off season use.

The strawberries you pick now will make excellent smoothies in the fall. Blanch green beans before freezing and use them for your Thanksgiving green bean casserole.

The Green Guide from National Geographic has great instructions for freezing fresh produce.

Not only are you supporting local farmers, but you’ll cut down on the miles your food has traveled to get to your table.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

This tip is for me! I need to make a change.

I use the garage door opener all the time, even when I’m not parking in the garage, because I hate carrying keys. But think about it, a garage door opener uses electricity to open, a key doesn’t require any electricity at all.

So if you’re not putting the car in the garage, go low tech and use your house key. I will if you will.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Cloth napkins are not just for fancy restaurants and holiday dinners. Use them every day to eliminate the need for paper napkins.

They can be flashy, not formal, and you can even make your own.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Lots of public restrooms now give you a choice between paper towels and an electric hand dryer. It takes a little longer to use the hand dryer, but according to the Green Team at the National Zoo, dryers are twice as energy efficient as paper towels.

Although the production of the electricity that powers electric dryers generates greenhouse gases, the production of paper towels is twice as energy-intensive and creates more greenhouse gases overall. Also, the manufacture of paper towels emits pollutants, including chlorine, and many paper towels are made from virgin wood rather than recycled material. Your small choice can make a big difference.

Of course, at home, your best option is a cloth towel (washed in a full load in an EnergyStar washing machine and hung out to dry).

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

I always intend to take a quick shower, but the water is nice and warm, I’m still sleepy, and I just zone out.

The last time we went camping, the campground had coin operated showers. Five minutes for fifty cents. It kept me on track, and I realized that five minutes is a decent amount of time for a shower. Obviously, I’m not about to go coin-op at home, but I am going to start timing my showers.

Use a kitchen timer set to five minutes to keep yourself on track. You’ll save water and energy, and a little money on your utility bills.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

My oven could definitely use a good scrub down. I always put it off because oven cleaner is so toxic and the fumes give me a headache.

Annie Berthold-Bond over at Care2 has a great green solution for cleaning the oven with just baking soda and water. No scrubbing and no headaches.

Check it out here.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

My local grocery store chain has been gradually expanding the organic produce section. While I applaud this effort, I’m frustrated with the way they package their organics. Avocados in the non-organic section are stacked neatly in a bin, but organic avocados are wrapped in plastic on a Styrofoam tray. Same goes for cherries, broccoli, green beans, etc.

Instead of just complaining to you about it, I complained to them.

Does your grocery store do something similar? Do other stores you frequent use unnecessary packaging? Speak up! If the store has a suggestion box, leave them a note. If not, go to customer service and ask about the best way to communicate your concerns. A few minutes of your time could make a big difference in reducing waste.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

When your faucet leaks, it’s a waste of water and energy. Fix it!

DoItYourself.com has a great step by step tutorial to walk you through the process.

Our bathroom faucet was leaking hot water. What a waste! I fixed it the other day. I will admit that the language I used while fixing it was not exactly G-rated, but it wasn’t all that hard. If I can do it, you can too.

Good luck!

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

It takes 2.5 ounces of oil to make an inkjet cartridge. Don’t throw them out! Donate them.

Send them to Cents of Relief to support their Inking Out AIDS program.

Pick up an envelope on your next trip to Petsmart, and donate your cartridges (and cell phones) to Petsmart Charities. They’ve saved the lives of close to three million animals so far.

Or check with your local humane society, Meals on Wheels branch, PTA, or food bank to see if they accept donated inkjet cartridges for recycling.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Quinoa, (pronounced KEEN-WAH), is a grain that can be used as a side dish or a main meal. Dried quinoa looks like tiny white pearls, and is sometimes referred to as vegetable caviar. When cooked, it opens slightly and has a texture similar to hearty brown rice.

Quinoa is a great source of iron and fiber. According to Arrowhead Mills, it’s a “complete vegetarian protein on par with dairy.” It’s great in a cold summer salad like tabouli, mixed up with some stir-fried veggies, or plain, cooked in water or broth.

Arrowhead Mills Organic Quinoa is certified organic and comes in minimal packaging.

It’s a great way to get out of a rice rut and try something new.

Another Eco-Friendly Food from Allie.