Resources for making your lifestyle more sustainable and healthy

Your skin absorbs everything. Rethink what you use (and send to the fish). Easy natural alternatives to chemical-laden, hormone-altering (and expensive) shampoos, deodorants and lotions abound. WHY: http://www.ewg.org/newsclip/Saving-Face-How-Safe-Are-Cosmetics-and-Body-Care-Products+HOW: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hair.html

Ditch the dryer. Drape wash over racks or on a line. It’s meditative! At least slash usage time for this energy-sucking appliance (10 minutes just for what’s wrinkle-prone, remove and hang). http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/04/how-to-line-dry-your-clothes/

Freecycle. Receive what you need, give away what you don’t. This organization keeps “stuff” out of the waste stream and builds community. http://www.freecycle.org/

Compost like crazy. Whether in a bucket or a bin, composting creates healthy, nutrient-rich soil from kitchen wastes, leaves, even shredded cardboard. http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm

Care about creatures. Consider making your yard a wildlife habitat to help local species. You can even get certified: http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/create.cfm?CFID=19325519&CFTOKEN=2dbdc1c87b6ffd2f-19E3E270-5056-A868-A059C4FCA4FEBF97

Switch to soda. Baking soda (buy in bulk!) is a very effective substitute for hundreds of harsh cleansers. Sixty uses here: http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/60soda.htm It’s a mild skin scrub and even shampoo: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/.