Green Life Tips

Category: Environment

How organic is your organic milk?

Organic dairy products are not created equal, according to a report from The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based research institute that touts "ecological principles and economic wisdom underlying sustainable and organic agriculture."

To see how your favorite products and brands stack up, check out the institute's dairy survey, which rates milk, butter and other items available from small farms to large-scale retailers like Costco and Kroger.

Category: Environment

Use pump sprays over aerosol

Choose pump spray bottles instead of aerosol cans whenever possible. The cans are not easily recyclable. Instead, buy products that are packaged in plastic or glass bottles, which can be readily recycled.

Category: Environment

Dine on locally harvested fare

Cooking locally harvested foods at home is probably one of the most green things you can do for your diet, but for the times when you want to venture into a restaurant look no further than the Green Restaurant Association's web site for suggestions.

The association has a multi-tiered certification process for restaurants. Eateries are certified according their performance in categories that include energy and water efficiency, recycling and composting, use of sustainable food and pollution prevention.

To see their listings, visit dinegreen.com.

Category: Environment

Avoid PVC-containing wallpaper in your baby's nursery

To keep the air quality in your nursery healthier for your new arrival, avoid traditional wallpaper, which can contain polyvinyl chloride. PVC releases toxic materials while being manufactured. As an alternative, try wall decals, which are available at many big-box retailers.

Category: Environment

Pick your own fruits, veggies

It's a great time to get fresh fruits and veggies, and there's no way to get fresher produce than visiting a local farm to pick it yourself. Locally picked produce has a lower carbon footprint because it won't need to be shipped from afar to get to your table. Check out www.pickyourown.org's list of you-pick farms in Michigan. While on the site, see their tips for picking.

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Category: Environment

Buy fair trade-certified products

Consider using products that are fair trade certified, which means they are grown using principles that include environmental sustainability, fair wages and fair labor conditions.

Among the products that can be certified are: coffee, tea, chocolate, wine, honey and flowers.

TransFair USA certifies companies in the U.S., as well as their suppliers. The organization is a member of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, which certifies and audits products from 21 countries.

To find out where you can buy products that are certified Fair Trade, visit www.transfairusa.org.

Category: Environment

Skip the herbicides, use vinegar to kill weeds

To kill grass in unwanted places, like sidewalks and driveways, pour full-strength white distilled vinegar on it, instead of harsh chemical herbicides. The same trick works on weeds, too. If they don't bite the dust on the first try, just reapply on new growth until the weeds die.

Category: Environment

Invest in 'green' companies

Want to put your money where your mouth is? Consider investing in companies that have a 'green' mission. Sustainablebusiness.com can help you track the performance of firms that take sustainability seriously. Check it out here.

Category: Environment

Pop the question with a conflict-free diamond

If you're in the market for diamonds, be sure they're conflict-free.

Conflict diamonds, according to the United Nations, are ones that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments. They're sometimes called blood diamonds.

To help consumers identify conflict-free gems, the World Diamond Council instituted the Kimberley Process, which is used by 74 diamond-producing countries in the world. For tips on finding one, check out this guide on theknot.com.

Category: Environment

Invest in sustainability

Want to put your money where your mouth is? Consider investing in companies that have a 'green' mission. Sustainablebusiness.com can help you track the performance of firms that take sustainability seriously. Check out their list of the top 20 'green' stocks in the world