Hi Ladies,
Once again we are calling on you for some tips. We want to know (for the next issue of Wondertime) what you and your family do around the home, or in daily life, to encourage green living. ie. recycle your wrapping paper, use bath water to water the plants etc. We're sure you have loads of ideas to share so please post them below.

When it rains we put out the buckets and then use the water to water the pot plants that don't get a soaking from the rain.

We recycle all that we can and put all food scraps into the compost heap which we then use on the garden.

Instead of using the air con all the time, we use ceiling fans and open windows once a cool breeze comes through.

We turn off lights when not in the room, and turn off most appliances from the powerpoint instead of leaving things like the tv on standby.

I recycle best when I have two inside bins. One for the regular rubbish and waste and the other for the recycling. That stopped me getting lazy and just putting it all in the rubbish.

I brought a bike with a child seat on the back so we ride most places instead of driving. We also compost, recycle, have a veggie garden, turn all appliances off at the power point and aviod using the heater and airconditioner whenever possible. I only wash clothes in cold water with no phosphate, grey water safe washing liquid. And we eat very little meat and try to get organic locally produced meat when we do.

We go green where ever possible.
- Changed all cleaning products to brands such as eco brand,earth, use vinegar in the dishwasher once a week to clean it etc
- Use a sabco broom/mop which only require small amount of water to wash floors, try not to use vaccuum
- Clean oven with bi carb soda works a treat
don't have a dryer, walk around to laundry mat if absolutely necessary
- Go to the markets for out fruit & veg, and use trolley not plastic bags
Recycle everything we can
= Cook with fresh food majority of the time
- I use little reusable containers to pack lunches and snacks, no glad wrap or bought plastic bags etc Buy one big tub of yoghurt and put portions in the reusable containers,
- My 2 year old puts majority of recycling in bin, he has a stool and his own box that he takes out to the bin, teaches them early
- Turn off our appliances at the wall
- Walk whereever possible, use the pram or a baby carrier (good fitness also)
- Have a water tank
- Both children bath together
- Planted natives that require very little water, have a herb garden
- My 2 year old's art work is turned into wrapping paper
- Store pens, playdough, craft materials in used icecream containers and a used cardborad box to store them in. My two year old decorates them with cut outs from the catalogues that come in the mail, paints etc.
- When we make fresh juices, we make muffins with the pulp

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