Can you really expect your children to prefer washing the dishes instead of tossing out harmful plastic-ware? Will your newborn notice the difference between organic onesies and non-organic clothes? Thankfully, raising your kids to be environmentally conscious is getting easier, more affordable, and more rational, thanks to kid-friendly educational websites, online games, special TV programs, networking events, and youth conservation groups that inspire kids to save the environment. Find 100 of the best tips and resources here.

Understanding the Environment

Check below for kid-focused articles, interactive websites and other fun resources that introduce kids to the environment.

1. Understanding the Human Impact: The Save a Snowman group helps kids understand the real human impact on the environment.
2. The Green Squad: School-aged children will learn how their school affects their health and the environment. The Green Squad shares ways to investigate their school’s safety rating according to an Enviro-O-Meter and more.
3. TreePeople: TreePeople specifically serves school children and the communities in the Los Angeles, CA, area, but anyone can benefit from their website, which has resources, tips and event planning ideas for planting trees and finding solutions for urban ecosystem problems.
4. Volunteering: Helping the Environment: PBS Go! asks kids, "Do you love your mother…Mother Earth that is?" Find reasons and tips to take care of the planet here.
5. Discovering the Oasis: This interactive site challenges kids to discover an ecosystem near them and report back by answering questions about what kind of environment they visited, what animals and insects they saw and more.
6. Just for Kids: The University of Illinois sponsors this website, full of games and interactive pages that let kids explore their environment, from insects to plants to planting a garden.
7. The Nature Conservancy Fun Stuff: From nature e-cards to conservation quizzes to slideshows, videos and audiochats about different ecosystems, this page is a great resources for introducing your kids to the environment.
8. A Bigger Splash: This Splash Zone from the Monterey Bay Aquarium is designed to help "children forge a lifelong love for the oceans." They can play in the interactive Coral Reef Kingdom look at pictures from the Enchanted Kelp Forest and more.
9. EPA Environmental Kids Club: The Game Room at the EPA Environmental Kids Club lists "a bunch of games that will help [kids] learn about the environment and have some fun at the same time."
10. EEK! Environmental Education for Kids: Let your kids play around this site to learn about the planet, animals, and more.

Infants and Toddlers

Start raising your kids to be environmentally conscious when they’re babies, and pursuing an organic lifestyle will come natural to them.

11. Organic Baby Food: According to this article on Good Green Fun, "making your own [baby food] is cheaper and safer." Learn how to make your own baby food in this post.
12. Green books series: The Green Eaters: This series of green books for toddlers focuses on five farm animals.
13. Chapter One Organics: The Green Eaters author also designs this organic clothing line for babies.
14. Wholesome Baby Food: Check out this website for wholesome menu ideas for babies from 4 months to 12 months.
15. 10 Ways to Raise a Green Baby: Ecostreet lists ten ways you can raise a green baby, from breastfeeding to using reusable diapers.
16. Cutting Down on Plastic Toys, Gizmos and Doodads: This author knows that when you have a baby, it’s hard to spend the time and money searching for Earth-friendly toys and "gizmos." Read her tips for cutting back here.
17. How to Raise a Green Baby: The LifeScript Connect Network shares "natural and organic choices for your baby" in this article.
18. Are Organic Baby Clothes Necessary?: Check out this post to find out if all the hype over organic baby clothes is really worth it.
19. Phthalates in Baby Care Products: How to Avoid Toxins Without Losing Your Mind: Reduce harmful toxins in baby care products by following these tips.
20. Hazel Wood Children: This online shop specializes in "environmentally conscious products for infants, children and parents," from clothing to furniture to bedding to skincare.

Nutrition

Part of raising an environmentally conscious child is getting them to eat healthy foods, especially all-natural or organic meals. Look to these sources for kid-friendly options that are tasty as well as Earth-friendly.

21. Chocolate Dreams: Chocolate That’s Good for People and the Earth: Most kids adore chocolate, but some chocolate comes from harmful sources that rely on excessive chemicals or even slave labor to work in chocolate fields. Use this guide to find out which chocolate is good for your family and other communities.
22. Make Smart Seafood Choices: The Monterey Bay Aquarium helps eco-smart parents make decisions about picking out ocean-friendly seafood.
23. The Best (and Worst) Products for Making Baby Food: From the potato masher to the mini food mill, find out which tools are best for making your own baby food.
24. Granola Chic: Granola Chic publishes lots of kid-friendly recipes that are also organic, natural and/or raw-based.
25. Organic and Other Environmentally Friendly Foods: Turn to this guide to help you understand the meaning of organic foods, sustainable foods and other natural, Fair Trade or grass-fed foods.

Cleaning Products

Be a green example for your kids by making your own cleaning products and getting creative when doing your household chores.

26. Controlling Mold Without Toxic Chemicals: A moldy house can result in a harmful environment for your kids. Get rid of mold without adding toxins to your air with the tips presented in this article.
27. How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit: This guide from the Care2 website shows green moms how to make oven cleaner, window cleaner, furniture polish and other non-toxic household cleaners.

Medicine and Health

Understand how the environment and your kids’ health are intertwined with the help of these resources and guides.

28. Ozone, Air Quality and Asthma: KidsHealth.org helps parents and kids understand how the ozone and air quality affects asthma.
29. Eczema Rise in Kids Worldwide: Is There an Environmental Connection?: This article questions the rise in kids with eczema, and lists several factors that can contribute to or worsen symptoms.
30. Herbal Medicine and Children’s Health: This resources is especially helpful for parents of young children, who can’t take over-the-counter meds to help ease their symptoms.

Special Activities

From starting eco-friendly holiday traditions to planting trees, these special activities will keep kids interested in saving the environment.

31. ZOOM Into Action: This organization partners with local PBS stations to inspire kids to volunteer, recycle, and let other kids know how they’re helping save the environment.
32. Sierra Club Action Center: The Sierra Club’s Action Center website lists current projects like the Help Save the Polar Bear plea. Check back often to find ways your kids can make a difference in legislation, saving the animals, or just learning more about energy and the environment.
33. Plant a tree: School kids have been planting trees on Arbor Day for decades. Make it a family event to plant a tree each month or year in yard, a friend’s yard, or anywhere that’s practical (and legal).
34. 5 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Holidays: Show your kids that the holidays aren’t an exception to green living. This quick guide has tips for keeping the holidays fun and eco-friendly.
35. Visit the zoo or aquarium: Getting to see animals from around the world in replicas of their natural habitat will give kids a better idea of how ecosystems affect one another.
36. Throw an organic birthday party: Bake an organic cake or batch of cupcakes following one of these economical recipes.
37. Visit your local farmer’s market: Visit your local farmer’s market to give kids a chance to talk to the farmers and gardeners who grow their own food. It’s also way more fun than going to the grocery store.
38. Take a drive out to the country: If your family lives in the big city, take your kids on a vacation or just a drive through the countryside. If they’ve never been exposed to nature, they won’t understand how or why to appreciate it.

Tips

Get your kids to go green early by following these Earth-friendly tips.

39. Recycle: One of the easiest ways to get kids to make a difference is to recycle. Set up an extra recycling container next to the trash can for empty soda cans, old papers and plastic.
40. Carpool: Save gas and the environment by taking turns driving the kids on your block to school or practice.
41. Write on both sides of the paper: When your child gets a new notebook or coloring book, encourage them to write on both sides of the paper so it’ll last longer and waste less paper.
42. Get political: If your child feels strongly about a particular issue, help them write a letter to your Congressman or U.S. Representative. You’ll not only promote environmental advocacy, but your child’s participation in the political process as well.
43. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth: Ask your kids to turn off the water when they brush their teeth to cut down on water consumption.
44. Make a birdhouse: Offset urban and suburban development by giving the birds a place to live. Making a birdhouse is a fun activity for kids too.
45. Ride bikes: If you have to run a short errand to the corner store, ride your bikes or strap on roller blades instead of jumping in the gas guzzling, air polluting SUV.
46. Grow your own vegetables: Kids might be more likely to eat their vegetables if they grow them themselves. You’ll also help cut down on the harmful mass packaging and transportation it takes to deliver goods to the grocery store.
47. Make book covers out of recyclable materials: This guide suggests that kids use paper grocery bags and old newspapers to make book covers instead of buying ready-made ones at the store.
48. Be aware of watering rules: Make sure you only water your yard on assigned days, if your city has a shortage.

Toys, Arts and Crafts

These fun activities are eco-friendly and promote environmental awareness.

49. Zen Design Group: The Zen Design Group designs and manufactures fun, engaging, good-for-the-environment toys for kids.
50. Artists Helping Children: This list of resources from Artists Helping Children has online interactive coloring books, homemade art supplies recipes and more arts and crafts ideas, some of which are green, and others are not.
51. Water Filter: Kids learn how to make their own recycling water filter in this quick guide.
52. Send Nature Ecards: Letting your child pick out nature-oriented ecards for special days is fun and good for the environment. Plus, they’re all free.
53. Monterey Bay Aquarium Learning Activities: Even if you don’t live near the Bay Area, you can introduce your kids to the animals and sea life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This page has printable coloring pages, online games and more fun facts about oceanic ecosystems.
54. Discovering Outdoors Sheets: Projects on this site include bird watching, building a nest box, and growing plants without seeds.
55. Organic Crafts: Kimberly Monaghan posts 75 different Earth-friendly arts and crafts activities for kids of all ages.
56. Art from Recycled Materials: Kids will enjoy turning everyday items like coffee can drums and coasters into art items.
57. Green Crafts: Find organic and Earth-friendly art activities here.
58. Ten Green Toys for 2008: This list of ten green toys, including Fair Trade footballs and a bamboo xylophone, are safe and fun for kids.

Articles and Guides

These articles and guides have tips for parents, as well as fun games for kids that promote an eco-conscious lifestyle.

59. 50 Ways to Save the Environment: The Kids Corner at JustGive.org lists 50 ways for kids to save the environment, from promoting conservation at home, in the yard and at the store.
60. Recycle City: The EPA’s kids’ site introduces children to recycling here.
61. Bindi The Jungle Girl: Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi has her own show on Discovery Kids, and a website with games, videos and photos that teach kids about respecting animals and the environment.
62. Bringing Up Green Baby: This how-to guide has tips for raising green babies and older kids too.
63. Green Mom Guilt: This post helps guilt-ridden moms feel better about juggling their motherhood instincts and their environmentally-conscious lifestyles.
64. Tree Hugging Family Browse posts about Earth Day, eco clothing, organic cooking, and eco youth on Tree Hugging Family.
65. Mindful Momma: Find out what the Mindful Momma has to say about raising kids to be environmentally conscious.
66. The Green Mommy: This green mommy blogs about consumerism, raising her son to be environmentally conscious and more.
67. Eco Baby Blog: Find out everything you need to know about prenatal vitamins, harmful chemicals, children’s books about the environment, environmentally friendly products and more.
68. Be a Green Kid: If your child wants some advice on what he or she can do to make a difference, direct them to this guide at KidsHealth.org.
69. Can We Build It? : Turn your little kids on to Bob the Builder, if they’re not watching him already. According to RiverWired, Bob is "America’s greenest builder" and takes on projects that use solar panels and hay bales to increase insulation the natural way.
70. Discovering the Oasis: More Resources: This page lists books about recycling, endangered animals and other environmental subjects for kids of every age group.

Games and Interactive Websites

These online games give kids the chance to have fun while learning important facts about the environment.

71. Inspiring Kids Making a Difference: Kids will be inspired when they read about what other kids their age are doing to help animals, other children, and the environment.
72. Eco Child’s Play: This blog is devoted to sharing green finds, from organic toys to kids’ books about the environment to green holiday ideas.
73. Natural Family Online: This website gives tips, resources and products to promote "whole living for the whole family."
74. Kids’ Planet: Kids’ Planet is a colorful, interactive website that encourages kids to be "defenders of wildlife."
75. The Big Blue Bus: This website teaches kids about water consumption, different marine ecosystems, and more through games, a Water Wizards Club and more.
76. Nature Challenge for Kids: Kids take 10 challenges with tour guide David Suzuki to protect nature.
77. Kids Go Wild: Kids Go Wild! is sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society and includes fun facts about wildlife, an arcade with different games and more.
78. TMWA Academy: The Aqua Academy has facts, games, science guides and more fun stuff about water, organized for kids in grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-12. There’s also a special section for teachers.
79. My First Garden: This "guide to the world of fun and clever gardening" has a garden gallery, tutorials explaining gardening basics and more.
80. Kids Saving Energy: Kids can play games and learn about renewable energy on this interactive site.
81. NRDC Kids’ Links: Visit this page for even more websites, games and resources for kids interested in energy, air pollution, conserving water, protecting wildlife, and preserving the environment.

Networks

Make protecting the environment a fun way for your kids to make new friends and feel like they are part of a big movement. Read below to find information on eco-driven movements kids can join.

82. Earth Force: Earth Force is a network of youth who care about saving the environment. The site has lots of "tools for teachers," as well as a list of local offices around the country, and a list of programs, like Earth Force After School.
83. Earth Day Network: Encourage your kids to join the Earth Day Network, or get the whole family to sign up. You’ll find a list of programs held throughout the year, as well as basic information on how to promote Earth Day ideals everyday.
84. Save a Snowman: Save a Snowman is a nonprofit group promoting "a fun, positive approach to solving the climate crisis." Kids can adopt a snowman, and parents can sponsor a family or raise money at work.
85. Ocean Action Team: Join the Ocean Action team, sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to get your kids involved in saving the natural habitats of whales, sea otters and other sea life. This page also has quizzes, volunteer information and more.
86. Care2: Care2 is a popular social networking sites for environmentalists. Encourage your teenager to join, or set up your own profile on behalf of the whole family.
87. The Environment Site: The Environment Site has its own MySpace profile for networking purposes.
88. Kids F.A.C.E.: The Kids For A Clean Environment group has more than 2,000 chapters all over the world and sponsors tree planting events and other activities.
89. Idealist.org: Find volunteer opportunities for your kids or show this site to your teens to connect with environmentalists all over the world.
90. Environmental Groups: The Natural Resources Defense Council publishes this inclusive list of environmental and conservation groups alphabetically.

Teenagers

Get your teenagers involved in environmental activism by showing them these sites, resources and ideas.

91. I Buy Different: This website gives teens the message: "You have the power to make the Earth a better place because of what you buy." Encourage them to make responsible decisions.
92. Sierra Club Outings: This page has information about trips around the U.S. and around the world. Travelers will learn how to offset their carbon footprints during their vacation and will meet up with other nature enthusiasts during trips to the glaciers, the mountains and more.
93. Green Alternatives to Typical Spring Breaks: RiverWired’s eco-travel post has alternative Environmental Spring Break ideas for conscious teens.
94. Top 10 Eco Celebrities: Show your teens this list of some of the hottest and most powerful green celebs on the planet to give them some inspiration.
95. Nature Stories Podcast: If your teenagers are stuck in front of their XBOX 360 day in and day out, inspire them to get outdoors and experience nature with these exciting podcasts. They feature adventures from Australia to Mongolia to Appalachia.
96. Eight Ways to Go Green: These environmental tips are geared towards teenagers.
97. How To: Recycle Your Computer: TreeHugger explains the process and importance of recycling a computer.
98. Shop green: Lots of designers, celebrities and stores like H&M, Kate Hudson, Natalie Portman, Stella McCartney and Barney’s have come out with organic or all-natural clothing lines. Shop around for green products that are good for the environment.
99. Drive an eco-friendly car: Even SUV manufacturers are getting in on the action to give consumers more options for driving green.
100. Ecorazzi: Visit Ecorazzi, a blog that dishes up "the latest in green gossip," from animals to shopping to movies to cars.

By Kelsey Allen

Going organic is appealing for most, but it’s often an expense that proves to be cost-prohibitive. However, the organic lifestyle does not have to be expensive. In fact, there are a number of things you can do to make organic living more affordable, and we’ve listed 25 of them here.

Food

Food is perhaps one of the largest organic expenses. Follow these tips to trim your grocery bill.

1. Stay away from the supermarket: Traditional supermarkets tend to command a premium price for organic food, so check out alternatives.
2. Shop during the growing season: Buy produce when it’s easiest to make, and you’ll pay less for it. You can buy canned or frozen organic foods in the off-season.
3. Buy in bulk: Split with friends.
4. Don’t buy everything organic: There are a number of foods that are considered to be low in pesticides, so even if you buy cheaper, conventional versions of them, you should be safe.
5. Grow your own: One way to ensure your food is organic is by growing it yourself, and you can often do it for cheaper than you’ll find at the store.
6. Do your own prep work: Buy whole chickens instead of boneless, skinless breasts, and peel your own carrots.
7. Buy "seconds": When you’re at the farmer’s market, ask for misshapen produce that’s just as good as the rest, but cheaper.
8. Consider value: Organic food offers more nutrients for your buck, and it’s cheaper for your health in the long run.
9. Eat less meat, more fish: Organic beef is expensive, but fish isn’t, so if you make the switch you’ll see a savings.
10. Join an agriculture program: In these programs, you’ll pay for a portion of the farm’s operating expenses, and get fresh produce from the harvest.
11. Put your freezer to good use: If you’ve snagged a good deal on some organic produce, freeze your extras for later.

Lawn Care

Don’t spend lots of money on pesticides, weed killers, and other lawn care items. These tips make it easy to take care of your lawn the natural way.

12. Mow high: Let your grass stay reasonably high so that it will shade, and kill, weeds instead of the other way around.
13. Water infrequently: If you ration out your watering, you’ll force your grass roots to dig deep, which will make them stronger than most week roots. Weeds up top will die off in the dry ground, but your grass will get its moisture from deeper below.
14. Add compost: Use your compost to soften up your lawn and help it grow. It’s not cheap to buy, but you can make your own with vegetable scraps and other items.
15. Dust lime on your soil: Put a small dusting of lime on your soil to ramp up earthworm production.

Personal Care

Follow these tips to avoid paying too much for personal care and beauty products.

16. Become a beauty detective: Seek out information on your favorite products to see which ones really are worth the higher price.
17. Don’t fall for the word "natural": Don’t spend extra money on a product just because it says that it’s natural. That doesn’t mean it’s organic.
18. Use less makeup: Carefully consider just how important every beauty product is to you.

Pets

With these simple tips, turning Fido organic doesn’t have to break the bank.

19. Make your own food: It’s fairly easy to turn your organic produce into affordable food for your pet.
20. Make your own toys: Pets are fairly easy to entertain, and you can create entertaining toys on your own with organic cotton and other materials.

General

These tips apply to nearly every type of organic product, whether it’s food, clothing, or gifts.

21. Shop around: Check out different stores to find out who has the better price for the items you buy the most.
22. Change the way you buy products: Focus on higher quality organic produce and other items, and cut down on low quality items like fast food and disposables.
23. Be flexible: Don’t have your heart set on certain items and be comfortable with buying alternatives.
24. Clip coupons: Visit sites for organic products and join their mailing list for coupons. You can also check out alternative publications.
25. Shop online: There are lots of sites online that offer organic products at a discount price, and it’s easier to compare prices in this setting.

With jobs, families, social commitments, workouts and more making up our daily lives it can often be difficult to slow down and take the time to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. For many people, the clutter in their closets and the never-ending to-do lists can make even days that should be relaxing be filled with guilt at all the things they’re not accomplishing. Of course, things don’t have to be so hectic all the time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the things in your life, perhaps its time to evaluate what’s really important and scale back. These 100 blogs are dedicated to helping you do just that, so take a few minutes to see if they can start you down the right track of living a simpler, happier life.

General

You’ll learn the basics of living more simply from these blogs which cover a wide range of topics.

1. My Simpler Life: Learn to get your life under control with tips and advice from professional life coach Beth Dargis. You’ll learn how to have more fun, be more organized and pare your life down to the things you really care about.
2. Down to Earth: Here, blogger Rhonda discusses simple living topics like gardening, green cleaning, cooking simple meals, and living well on less.
3. Simple Living in a Complex World: Learn to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with posts from this crafty blogger. Recent posts have given advice on baking artisan bread, knitting and gardening.
4. The Smart Woman’s Guide to a Simple Life: Ladies looking to simplify their lives will appreciate the advice and posts in this blog. You’ll get tips on everything from caring for children to being more productive.
5. Plastic Drifter: This blog is a great help to those living the modern life who want to simplify things and get rid of the junk that clutters their homes. Read about freecyling, buying less and finding fulfilling careers.
6. Everyday Simplicity: Designed to provide information to both the newbie and the veteran simple lifers, this blog focuses on aspects of organization, daily life and providing readers with inspirational quotes.
7. Simplicity in Kansas: This blog can be a great read for anyone interested in spending less and still enjoying life to the fullest.
8. Redomestication: Blogger Michelle is a mom, an entrepreneur and a homesteader interested in sharing her experiences with living the simple (or sometimes not so simple) life with readers.
9. Finding Simplicity: Navigating through the mess of finances, junk and consumerism that is a big part of many of our lives can be difficult. Read about blogger Sharon’s journey to simplicity to get some advice on your own.
10. My Green Side: This blog is full of simple tips to help you start living simpler and be more conscious of the impact you have on the environment. Get recipes for green fabric softener as well as a host of other simple household products.
11. In Search of a Simple Life: Here you will find many posts for this UK blogger about enjoying the simple pleasures in life like baking, spring showers and being with family.
12. A More Green and Simple Life: Blogger Donna Ellis records her journey towards a less cluttered and hectic life in her posts. She shares her experience with making small changes in her life that help her finances, family and the environment.
13. Choosing Voluntary Simplicity: Just like anything else, simplicity is a choice, and this blog is dedicated to the daily choices we can make that help make our lives less complicated. Its posts are geared towards giving readers the tools to lead more balanced and fulfilled lives.
14. Less is More Balanced: Find information on beautifully designed products that can help you on your path to living more simply and balanced.
15. Tiny Choices: This blog is all about the tiny choice you make every day that affect your life and the environment. You’ll get advice on everything from living in small spaces to drinking bottled water.

Organization and Clutter

There’s nothing that can derail a simple life like cluttered closets and overstuffed drawers. Learn how to clear out the clutter from these blogs.

16. Neat and Simple Living: Ariane Benefit is a professional organizing coach, author of several books and a blogger. You can read through her great tips on how to whip your home, car, garage, office and anything else into shape.
17. Unclutterer: Whether you’re trying to get organized for the first time or just keep your current organizational systems functional, you’ll find help with Unclutterer’s daily tips.
18. Get Organized Now!: Entrepreneur Maria Gracia shares her tips on how you can organize your business or home from tossing out old clothes to giving book recommendations.
19. Psychology of Clutter: Get into the inner workings of your mind and find out what makes you clutter tendencies so hard to break with this blog by professional psychologist Dr. Amie Ragan.
20. The Home Office Organizer: Who isn’t guilty of creating stacks of papers to deal with later on their desk, especially if you work from home? Learn how to whip your home office into a productivity zone with some advice gleaned from this blog.
21. Clear and Simple: Check out this blog with monthly tips from professional organizing team Maria, Donna and Kelly. If you like what you read, you can also sign up for a newsletter.
22. Discover Organization: Get tips, multimedia and a variety of tutorials on how you can get your home organized and make your life simpler and better on Discover Organization.
23. FlyLady: Perhaps one of the best known anti-clutter bloggers, the Fly Lady will get you on the right path to clearing out your home, office and life of all the clutter that’s weighing you down.
24. The Clutter Diet: Author of the book of the same name, Lorie Marrero gives readers some tips on how to save time at work, make your family life run more smoothly and most importantly, clear out all your junk.
25. Creative Organizing: For many people, creativity and organization are two things that simply don’t go hand and hand. This blog shows otherwise and gives readers loads of great ways to keep your creativity tools organized so you’ll be able to find them when inspiration strikes.
26. Let’s Talk Organizing: Get the motivation you need to clean out your closet from professional organizer Suzanne Babb. You’ll be able to read about the rewards of organization, find out if you’re chronically disorganized or streamline your workday.
27. Online Organizing: Online organizing is home to loads of online resources for helping even the worst of clutterbugs get their stuff in order. You’ll find blog posts from people in your same situation to provide inspiration, advice and encouragement.

Frugality and Finance

Pare down your spending or get control of your messy finances to make your life more simple with some assistance from these insightful blogs.

28. Wise Bread: Wise Bread is dedicated to "living large on a small budget". You’ll find posts on a large variety of topics ranging from how to sell your hair to tips on getting out of debt.
29. The Simple Dollar: Keep your finances simple with advice from this penny pinching blog. You’ll get advice on eliminating your debt and creating better spending habits.
30. Frugal for Life: Here you’ll find tips and posts on helping you life a fuller, simpler life through scaling back on expenditures and staying healthy.
31. Frugal Village: Learn about topics like frugal cooking and decorating, gardening, thrifting and simple living on this blog with posts by blogger Sara Noel.
32. Blunt Money: Get access to frank discussions of money with this blog, and educate yourself on your net worth, how to refinance your mortgage and managing finances when you’ve got kids.
33. A Year Off: Think you could go a whole year without making any indulgent shopping purchases? This family is trying to do just that, and this blog chronicles their progress, trials and setbacks as they attempt to break poor spending habits.
34. Tight Fisted Miser: While simplicity doesn’t require you to be miserly, this blog can provide you with some tips that will help you cut back and create a more realistic budget.
35. The Dollar Stretcher: Learn to make every penny go further with tips from the articles on this site. You’ll find everything from insurance advice to ways to cut your grocery bills.
36. Savvy Frugality: Get enthusiastic about being frugal with the infectious spirit of this blog. You’ll get access to all kinds of shopping tips to help you get the lowest prices on everything from groceries to new clothes.
37. A Frugal Living Blog by a Frugal Guy: The author of this blog has gone through some tight times and has learned the true meaning of making every penny count. Learn from his experiences with this blog.
38. Simply Thrifty: Blogger Deb posts about a variety of thrifty issues including how to get freebies and what to do with old socks.

Family

Managing a family can make even the most organized of lives crazy and busy. Learn how to create order from the chaos and make family life simpler with these blogs.

39. Parent Hacks: Get useful tips, tricks and advice on parenting from this blog, written by other experienced parents who’ve tried it out on their own children.
40. SouleMama: This super creative mom shows how to make simple and beautiful crafts while enjoying the pleasures of raising small children.
41. Amy’s Humble Musings: Mother of six Amy Scott writes about her experience raising her children while still trying to keep things simple and stick to her values.
42. Life is Not a Cereal: This blog emphasizes the spiritual side of living simply while raising a family. Blogger Jenny shares her thoughts on faith, the trials of child rearing and everyday life.
43. This Simple Life: This mom of two shares her thoughts on simple living, parenting, and faith as well as many photos.
44. The Simple Family: This blog chronicles the journey of a suburban family trying to make the switch from a typical suburban life to one that’s greener, simpler and, hopes the mother, happier.
45. The Frugal Family Kitchen: If you find yourself struggling to come up with simpler recipes or ways to save money on your family’s food budget, this this blog could help you out. It gives ideas on all kinds of DIY, simple meals for every time of the day.
46. MotherLoad: Every mom (and dad) needs a little help and assistance now and then to keep from getting completely overwhelmed. This blog can give you some helpful parenting tips, recipes, career advice and more to make caring for your family a little easier.
47. Living on a Dime: You can learn to make the most of even meager resources with this blog. Read answers to visitor questions, get advice on making cheap meals, and more from mother and daughter team Tawra and Jill.
48. The Simple Wife: Read about the adventures of mother Joanne as she raises her children, enjoys simple pastimes, and attempts to live a less stuff-filled life.
49. Tree Hugging Family: Make your efforts to go green and live more simply a family affair with advice from Jennifer Chait and Peggy Rowland, authors of this informative blog.
50. The Green Mommy: This mom is trying to keep her spending in check, eat organically and care for her small child. Read about her experiences here.

Green Living

There’s nothing simpler than living a life that’s in harmony with the earth. Get some pointers on what it takes to green up your life from these earth friendly blogs.

51. Green and Simple Living: This blog deals with concerns of conserving resources, reducing waste, and living a more environmentally friendly life. Blogger Shirley gives her take on topics like organic foods, renewable energy and green living in this blog.
52. Natural Living: This blog shares stories of working on a farm, being a health nut, and enjoying the simple and earth-friendly pleasures life has to offer.
53. Towards Sustainability: Here you’ll find the story of this Australian family of five slowly attempting to make the change to a greener and ultimately more sustainable lifestyle. It’s written by a mom and former environmental scientist who shares her experiences gardening, cooking and being crafty.
54. Treehugger: Treehugger wants green living and sustainability to become things that aren’t fringe elements of society. On this site, you’ll find loads of info about green products, ways you can make every part of your life greener, and even some tips about eating healthier.
55. Eat Local Challenge: If you’ve ever stopped to think about it, you’ve realized that much of what we eat on a daily basis comes from all over the nation and even the world. This blog is all about eating foods that are grown organically and locally so they don’t have to be shipped all over, using energy and resources.
56. NatureMoms: This blog serves a guide for those needing help creating a more earth-friendly life at home. Mom Tiffany shares her challenges with this through the posts on her blog.
57. Green Living Tips: Need a few tips to get you started on your new, simpler lifestyle? This blog is full of tiny ways you can start living a more earth-conscious life.
58. The Green Life: The Sierra Club is known for its efforts to save wildlife and work towards getting people from all over the world to conserve more and waste less. You can read about their mission on this blog.
59. A Year of Living Greener: This blog tracks the progress of a mom who hopes that by the end of 2008 she’ll be living greener and more responsibly. You can read along with her journey as she declutters, gives tips and struggles with decisions on organic food.
60. Low Impact Living: Learn to make your carbon footprint a little smaller with home improvement tips, organization and recycling advice and loads of other factors to consider when trying to live greener.
61. Green Living Ideas: From flooring and lighting to banking and eating out, this blog explores how you can go green in every aspect of your life.

Productivity and Work

For most people, work plays a big part in what they do on a daily basis. Help streamline and simplify your work with some assistance from these productivity stimulating blogs.

62. Lifehacker: Lifehacker is a mecca for productivity tips, especially for those who love their gadgets and technology. Check it out to see if you can’t get your work or home schedules to be more efficient.
63. Zen Habits: This blog can give you some advice on living more simply and purposefully but also on how to get the most out of the time you spend at work, doing housework and anything else that needs to be done.
64. The Lazy Way to Success: Why work for hours on end at a job when you can get the same amount done in half the time? This blog will show you how you can work less, earn more, and still feel like you’re getting things done.
65. Dumb Little Man: The little man in this blog is hardly dumb and can provide you with a wide variety of tips on boosting your productivity in everything you do.
66. Web Worker Daily: Even if you don’t work solely on the Internet, chances are pretty good that you use it for at least some part of your job on a daily basis. Give this blog a quick read to see how you can more effectively use the net to get your work done, network, and find job happiness.
67. Life Clever: Designers of all kinds will appreciate this blog which gives tips on how you can make your design work better and more productive. Of course, there’s something for the rest of us too, with loads of suggestions on improving other aspects of life as well.
68. Success Begins Today: Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today, especially when that something is starting working towards your success? This blog is dedicated to helping you improve your personal productivity and meet your goals.
69. Make Use Of: Web addicts will love this blog, which gives reviews and advice on all things Internet. Check out some of the recommended programs, as they can streamline your processes and make your life a little easier.
70. Ian’s Messy Desk: The tagline of this blog is "helping you get the most out of the 24 hours in your day." Who doesn’t want a little help with that? Read up to find out ways you can be making the most of your time.
71. Business Hackers: Don’t worry, despite the title, there’s nothing sinister about this blog. It’s simply full of tips and suggestions to help get a Web business up, running and making money without spending too much time and effort doing it.
72. Dave Cheong: Read about this software engineer’s ups and downs in his journey to entrepreneurship, and get some helpful advice on how to improve your career and work attitude as well.
73. The Lean Blog: Learn to be less wasteful and more purposeful in your business practices with inspiration from this blog, which advocates the "lean method."
74. Simple Productivity: Being productive doesn’t have to be complicated, as this blog proves. Read it frequently for simple ideas to help you get more done.

Personal Growth

Learn to grow as a person in your quest for a simpler life with some guidance from these blogs on how to be happier, healthier and more fulfilled.

75. LifeDev: This blog is dedicated to creative people who want to learn to get more done and improve their lives one step at a time. Get loads of tips on boosting your creativity and working to maximize your time.
76. Life Optimizer: Get some inspiration to find the best in yourself from this upbeat blog. It’s aimed at helping readers fulfill their true potential and live the fullest lives possible.
77. My Empty Bucket: Here you’ll find posts that are all about learning to create your own happiness and personal fulfillment, from giving, to exploring new things, to waiting for the right time, you’ll find inspiration here.
78. The Positivity Blog: Feeling a little too negative lately? Get some positive energy from the posts on this blog dedicated to helping you see the bright side of things.
79. Life Reboot: Do you sometimes feel like you want a do over when you think about your career? It’s not too late to make a change and this blog can give you some inspiration and guidance on how to makeover your life.
80. Ignite Living: This blog gives tips for "productive, simple and happy living." Read about how to take criticism and how you can help your business and yourself.
81. Personal Development Made Simple: Making changes in your attitude, lifestyle and outlook doesn’t have to be as hard as you might think. This blog breaks it down and helps make it easier to make the leap.
82. Life Coaches Blog: If you’re looking for your own little personal cheering section as you make life changes, a life coach may be just the thing for you. Get some inspiration for and by life coaches in this helpful blog.

Health

Make staying in shape simple with some guidance from these health and fitness blogs.

83. Daily Cup of Yoga: Learn all about yoga related issues and get some pointers on this yoga-focused blog that can help you learn to be more centered and healthy.
84. Take Back Your Time: Stress is one of the leading factors that cause almost every known illness known to man. This blog is about taking back time for yourself, not overdoing it, and making sure you’re staying happy and healthy.
85. Simple Nourished Living: This blog is full of ideas on how you can live a more nourished and healthy life without doing anything fancy while keeping things simple and stress free.
86. Fitness Health Zone: Want some simple suggestions on how you can start getting in shape? This blog is full of short tips, exercises and advice on living a healthier lifestyle.
87. Green Health Information: Learn to stay healthy while going green with the posts from this blog. You’ll learn some natural ways to deal with a variety of illnesses and how to keep yourself fit and environmentally friendly.
88. Really Useful Fitness Blog: Simplify your workout routine with tips and activities suggested in this blog.
89. Simple Health Ideas: Registered massage therapist Denise Mackinnon gives advice in this blog on nutrition, exercise and a variety of other wellness issues.
90. Dani Spies: Looking for some simple but healthy recipes to feed your family that won’t have you in the kitchen for hours slaving over the stove? Dani Spies, a health counselor and fitness trainer, provides new recipes regularly to help keep you simply healthy.

Miscellaneous

Here are a few more odds and ends that can help you read up on the simple life.

91. The Simple Pastor: Follow the travels of this UK-based pastor who embraces his spirituality and tries to live a simple, religiously focused life.
92. Simple Living America: Simple Living America is one of the most widespread organizations dedicated to helping people live simpler, less consumer driven lives. You can read about their work and learn to change your life in this blog.
93. Faces of Simple Living: If you’re thinking about changing your life to live more simply you’re not alone. This blog follows the travels of Gerald Iversen as he meets people all over the US who have decided to simplify their lives.
94. Soulforce: This organization is dedicated to promoting simple, human values like equality and tolerance through the non-violent methods of leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Learn to incorporate these values into your daily actions and how to get involved from this site.
95. Isle Dance: If you’ve ever dreamed of selling all your stuff and moving to a remote island, this blog is for you. This single blogger lives in an eco friendly cabin and sleeps in a hammock while trying to keep things simple.
96. Found Clothing: Most people have seen the odd shoe, sock, or shirt abandoned on the sidewalk or at the beach. This blog chronicles the lives of these lost clothing items which readers save and recycle.
97. The Laws of Simplicity: Whether you work in design or just appreciate it you’ll learn how simplicity can be a desirable factor in all kinds of products from chocolate to running shoes.
98. Musings from a Stonehead: Embrace stone croft houses with this blogger from Scotland as he writes about his experience operating a traditional farm and trying to be environmentally friendly.
99. Sarah’s Homestead Blog: This Oregon blogger talks about her experiences working on a farm, raising animals, making crafts and basically doing everything she can herself.
100. Not So Virtual Homestead: Here you can read about how this family aims to be self-sufficient on their small farm in the middle of New Jersey while raising two small daughters.

With all that goes into daily life, the average family’s environmental footprint is often wasteful. With soccer practice shuttling, family meals, and vacations, it all adds up. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, we’ve compiled 50 ridiculously easy ways to cut down on your household waste without a large impact on your lifestyle.

Cooling & Heating

One of the worst environmental offenders in any family’s home is temperature control. Here’s how to tame it.

1. Turn down your hot water heater: Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater, and you’ll reduce the amount of energy required to heat your water.
2. Install a programmable thermostat: Fairly cheap and easy to install, programmable thermostats offer a great way to manage your home’s temperature in an energy-friendly way. You can set them to use less energy while you’re away from home or sleeping, and stay comfortable in your waking hours.
3. Adjust your thermostat: Save energy and money at the same time by turning your thermostat just a bit warmer in the summer, and a little cooler in the winter.
4. Improve your insulation: Help your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter by checking to make sure that you’ve got proper insulation.
5. Use house-warming appliances strategically: When you use your washer, dryer, oven, or dishwasher, your house will become warmer, so use them in cooler summer nights and mornings, or anytime you’d like to be warmer in the winter.
6. Use a ceiling fan instead of the AC: Whenever possible, use a fan instead of turning on your air conditioner.
7. Replace your AC filter: Make your air conditioner more efficient by replacing your filter as soon as it needs it. Many new thermostats will tell you when you need to make the change.
8. Insulate your hot water heater: Make it easier for your water heater to retain the heat it has created by insulating it, and you’ll use less energy.
9. Invest in a tankless water heater: If you’re looking for a new water heater, consider a more efficient tankless model.

Electricity

Cut down on electricity usage using these tactics.

10. Turn off and unplug devices: A plugged in hair dryer, cell phone charger, and other devices will all pull energy even when you’re not using them, so don’t just turn devices off-unplug them, too.
11. Enlist the energy police: Ask your family to keep a watchful eye on wasteful electricity by turning off lights that are left on, or TVs that aren’t being watched.
12. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs: When your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Large Appliances

Get more efficiency out of large appliances like your refrigerator and washer using these tips.

13. Wash with cold water: Unless you absolutely need to, avoid using hot water to wash your clothes. You’ll save energy by not having to heat up the water.
14. Replace old appliances with Energy Star ones: When it comes time to get rid of your old refrigerator or washer, buy a new model that conforms to Energy Star standards.
15. Hang-dry your clothes: Your clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house, so you should dry your clothes outside or in your bathroom whenever possible.
16. Place your refrigerator strategically: Even worse than the dryer is your refrigerator, so make sure you give it a fighting chance at staying cool by keeping it away from sunlight and warm areas.
17. Properly maintain your refrigerator: Once a year, wipe down your refrigerator’s coils to keep it efficient.
18. Let food cool before refrigeration: Don’t take food from the stovetop straight to the fridge, or your refrigerator will have to work to cool it down. Instead, let it cool to room temperature before putting it in.

Water

Practice water conservation at home using these easy methods.

19. Install aerators: By putting an aerator on all of your faucets and showers, you’ll save thousands of gallons a year. These devices work by injecting air bubbles into low water flows, so that your water pressure stays the same even though you’re using less water.
20. Take a shower instead of a bath: Save water by taking a shower, which will almost always use less water than a full tub. Alternatively, you can bathe small children together in the same bath.

In Your Mailbox

Follow these tips, and you’ll cut down on the paper waste your household generates.

21. Cut down on junk mail: Reduce junk mail by asking credit cards to not share your information, manually removing yourself from lists, and signing up with services specifically designed to reduce mail.
22. Sign up for paperless billing: Get bills sent to your inbox instead of your mailbox to save paper and transportation costs.
23. Cancel unread magazines: If you get lots of magazines, but read only a few of them, cancel your subscriptions, or just catch the online version instead.

In the Kitchen

Follow these tips to make your family’s kitchen greener.

24. Eat at home more often: Instead of hitting your fast food joint or picking up takeout, consider eating at home. You’ll use a lot less packaging, and probably eat healthier.
25. Consume less animal products: Commit to at least one meatless meal a week to help cut down on packaging, processing, and transportation of animal products.
26. Eat local: Most food has to travel across countries and regions before it reaches your plate, burning fossil fuels the entire way. Eliminate this waste and support your local community by eating and purchasing food that’s grown in your area.
27. Eat organic: Organic foods are easy on the earth, so eat them instead of conventional foods whenever possible.

Cleaning

Make sure your cleaning doesn’t dirty the environment by following these tips.

28. Use cleaning products that are reusable: Instead of cleaning with paper towels, use a sponge that can be sterilized and reused.
29. Bring in large-leafed plants: Use plants to freshen and clean your air instead of filters and air scents.
30. Clean with baking soda, vinegar, and other natural products: Avoid using harsh chemicals that require lots of resources to produce, and use milder, more natural cleaners instead.

At the Store

Follow these methods when out shopping.

31. Buy recycled products: Look for items that are made of recycled products, particularly paper items like paper towels and toilet paper.
32. Bring a reusable bag: Cut down or completely cut out your usage of plastic bags by bringing a bag that you can use over and over again.
33. Consider every purchase: Although most consumers are trained to buy, buy, buy, put this urge on the back burner and ask yourself how important it is that you buy a certain product.
34. Look for products without a lot of packaging: Cut down on waste by purchasing items that have very little or no packaging.
35. Buy used: Hit the secondhand store or eBay for one of a kind finds that don’t create more waste.

Travel & Transportation

Reducing your family’s travel footprint doesn’t have to mean garaging the car permanently or forgetting about family vacations, but it does require strategic planning, which can be found in these tips.

36. Stay on top of car maintenance: Keep your tires inflated, your car tuned, and all fluids at their proper levels to make sure you’re getting every mile you can out of your car.
37. Carpool: Whether it’s your kids or yourself, make every effort to share rides with work and classmates whenever possible.
38. Get gas in the evenings: Fill up your car when the sun is down to cut down on evaporation.
39. Take direct flights: A lot of the emissions created by airline flights are given off during takeoff and landing, so by avoiding layovers, you’ll save energy.
40. Take fewer trips: Consider taking fewer trips, but staying longer each time so that you cut down on transportation waste.
41. Travel light: Whevever possible, walk or bike instead of taking your car. You can also clean out your car to improve its efficiency.

Waste

Use these methods to make your family’s waste as green as possible.

42. Recycle whenever possible: With the wide availability of recycling programs, there’s just no excuse for not recycling many items. Whether that means using your neighborhood’s curbside pickup, or hitting a recycling center every few weeks, just do it. If you need help finding out where and how you can recycle, check out Earth911.
43. Compost organic waste: Instead of throwing banana peels and garden clippings in the trash, put them in a compost to reduce waste and enjoy a high quality mulch.
44. Use appropriate disposal methods: Never dump paint or oil down the sewer drain. Instead, locate facilities that will accept your waste and dispose of it properly.

General Rules & Tips

Keep these tips in mind when trying to reduce your family’s consumption.

45. Never replace an item when it can be repaired: If you’ve got a shirt that needs mending, stitch it up instead of buying a new one.
46. Share with friends: Whether it means buying in bulk and splitting the cost, or recycling clothing and toys among friends, sharing with others will help reduce your family’s footprint.
47. Use your local library: Cut down on paper waste by checking out books, magazines, and other media at your library.
48. Use renewable energy and resources whenever possible: Whenever you have the choice, always choose renewable energy, like wind or solar, over fossil fuels, and go for rapidly renewable resources like bamboo instead of hardwoods.
49. Show your children the beauty in your own backyard: Encourage your kids to explore your grass, garden and insects so that they can appreciate a healthy environment.
50. Plant a tree: By planting a tree (or ten), you’ll help reduce your home’s energy costs with shade. Even better, they absorb CO2 from the air and create oxygen.

Much has been said about blood diamonds, but many people don’t realize that there are a number of other conflict resources that facilitate violence around the world. Products from lumber to your cell phone all play a part. Here we’ll take a look at these products, and discuss how you can help to reduce their impact.

1. Gold

   So, you’ve taken every step to ensure that you’ve purchased a clean diamond, but did you know you’re probably putting it in a bloody setting? The mining of gold is responsible for both environmental and human rights atrocities. In a 2005 report, armed groups and international companies in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo were found to have caused ethnic slaughter, torture, and rape of indigenous people.

   Often, the mining companies develop relationships with armed groups who will grant them access to new sites. One company, AngloGold Ashanti, refused to wait until peace agreements were signed in the Mongbwalu area of Congo to start mining, and had to interact with warlords to do their work. It’s estimated that between June 2002 and September 2004, up to 2,000 civilians have died as a result of fighting between armed groups just in Mongbwalu alone. What’s worse, the same people who are suffering are the ones who work in the mines, often forced into labor by combatant groups.

What can you do about it?

Unlike blood diamonds, there is currently no official process for finding "clean" gold. However, there are a few steps you can take.

• Instead of purchasing new gold, you can recycle old jewelry. Bring in old rings and other gold items and have them melted down to create a new piece.
• Support retailers that create recycled gold products.
• Buy vintage and antique jewelry.
• Only shop with retailers that support the Golden Rules. This includes Tiffany & Co., Brilliant Earth, and even Wal-Mart.
• Sign the No Dirty Gold Pledge.

2. Wood

   Forests are perhaps one of the worst natural resources to be exploited, because they’re not just a source of revenue-they’re home. People live in them and depend on the vital resources forests produce. Furthermore, cutting down forests only serves to make global warming worse, as trees are excellent at absorbing CO2.

   In 1992, the Khmer Rouge’s war against the Cambodian people was being funded by a secret timber trade by up to $20 million every month. Now, Burma’s corrupt military regime gains power and revenue from granting logging concessions. In Liberia, former president Charles Taylor used illegal logging earnings to finance a civil war that killed nearly 10% of Liberians. In fact, investigations revealed that the Liberian government facilitated the use of a timber company warehouse for storage of weapons as well as housing. Even when timber does not support conflict, illegal timber logging steals revenue from the countries and people that need it to survive.

What can you do about it?

The obvious question is, how can you make sure that your building materials and furniture in your home aren’t made of conflict timber? There’s not a lot you can do, but we’ve highlighted a couple steps that you as a consumer can take.

• Write to Congress. In 2003, Congress passed a law against conflict diamonds, and the Sierra Club is working to support a similar law for timber.
• When purchasing wood, ask about the origin of the products you’re buying.

3. Oil

   In the past, oil has motivated violence in a number of situations, from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Gulf wars. Perhaps the most high profile example of oil-fueled violence is Saddam Hussein, who used resources from oil to arm himself for attacks on Kuwait and his own people.

   Even when oil companies attempt to provide aid to indigenous communities, it often ends in violence. Specifically, ChevronTexaco’s attempt to aid communities has left those who don’t get aid feeling underprivileged, and sparked conflict between the communities. Another failure is the practice of paying "ghost workers," who are really local troublemakers, a salary for doing nothing at all. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group says that it supports human rights, but they have allowed death and violence by supporting militarization and repressive government acts.

   Even more painful is the knowledge that oil revenues could do much good if they stayed in the communities that actually own the oil. Every year in Angola, $1.7 billion in oil revenue goes missing, an amount that would be more than enough to solve major health problems like AIDS in the country. More recently, China has been linked to violence, selling arms to Khartoum while increasing Sudanese oil imports. These arms are used in the genocidal conflict going on in Darfur. Examples like these are plentiful, but the point is obvious: oil is perhaps one of the most violent products in the world.

What can you do about it?

Oil violence is an ongoing problem that has entangled most of the world. When faced with such a large problem, what can you do?

• One obvious way to help is to cut down on your personal fuel consumption. The more demand there is for oil, the worse violence is.
• Consider alternative fuels. Great strides have been made in recent years to make fuels like biodiesel, vegetable oil and electricity more viable.
• Contact oil companies and US officials. Let them know that you’re painfully aware of the problems oil consumption is causing, and that you want them to do something about it.

4. Cocoa

   Chocolate may be sweet, but the process that brings it to you is not. In the Cote D’Ivoire, the government, along with rebels, has used cocoa to fund a civil war. In fact, President Laurent Gbagbo, combined with opposing rebels, has used more than $88 million to fight in the civil war from 2002-2003. There is fear that, given the resources, these groups would be free to create conflict once again.

   More recently, Gambit Investment is facing allegations that it traded cocoa for military helicopters that are suspected to have been used in attacks on civilians. Between October 2002 and April 2003, government helicopter attacks killed 370 civilians.

What can you do about it?

• Support companies that offer transparency in their records. NGO groups have requested that cocoa exporters publish their levies and tax payments so that corruption will be easier to find.
• Buy fair trade chocolate. By purchasing this type of chocolate, you’ll not only ensure you’re helping to stop violence, you’ll also be supporting better labor conditions, human needs, and environmentally sustainable chocolate production.

5. Tech toys

   Miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo work extremely hard in dangerous situations, just to get the cassiterite that goes in your cell phone, laptop, and other high tech devices. When they come out of the tiny holes in which they have to dig for the mineral, they’re greeted by soldiers at gunpoint that will take it. Other miners work on sites that are directly operated by the military and other armed groups. Even when they’re not working directly for these groups, they’re heavily taxed by them, or just robbed outright. Often, these mines collapse, leaving many miners and their rescuers dead.

   The war over coltan has caused the death of more than 4 million people in central Africa, mostly civilians who have died from starvation, disease, or displacement. In addition to human life, the Eastern lowland gorilla is being driven to extinction through poaching and habitat loss tied to mineral mines.

   Even worse, as phones become "greener," the demand for cassiterite, coltan, and other high-tech minerals like them has risen, and violence along with it. Although the amount of these minerals in each individual electronics device is small, it all adds up.

What you can do about it?

• Recycle your devices. By donating your cell phone or laptop to services that know how to properly disassemble them, you’ll help reduce mining for the minerals it contains.
• Buy used or refurbished. With technology growing at an ever-increasing rate, the turnover for devices is high enough that you can purchase a used or refurbished cell phone, laptop, or other device that is perfectly able to stand up to your demands.
• You can cut down on this turnover yourself by avoiding full upgrades as long as possible. This can be achieved with proper maintenance, repairs, and upgrading specific parts rather than your entire device.
• Buy for quality. If you’re going to buy a new device, make sure that you’re purchasing one that will be functional for years to come, rather than one that will be discarded within a few years or months.

More Actions You Can Take

In addition to specific product cautions, there are a few general actions you can take to help ensure that the products you buy aren’t responsible for violence in other parts of the world.

• Donate to Global Witness: This organization works to expose exploitation and end resource-linked conflict. In the past, they’ve helped to close down the Khmer Rouge and instigated the Kimberley Process. Currently, they’re the leader in research devoted to stopping resource violence.
• Purchase fair trade products: Although not directly linked to stopping resource violence, fair trade certifications can offer the assurance that the products you’re buying are made in a socially responsible way.
• Educate yourself: We’ve highlighted just a few of the products that have a socially negative impact on our world, but there are many more out there. Do some research to find out more about how you can be a socially responsible consumer.
• Invest responsibly: All of these human rights atrocities are enabled not just by consumers, but by investors who make these ventures possible in the first place. Be sure that any investments you make are good not just for your personal finance, but for the world at large as well.

By now, you probably know that buying locally produced, organic food is best for both your health and the environment. But why not take it a step further, and create that food right in your own backyard? Here we’ve compiled a number of top-notch resources devoted to helping gardeners create their own personal organic farms.

Basics

Whether you’re new to gardening, or just organics, these resources can provide lots of guidance.

1. Basics of Home Vegetable Gardening: This document offers 7 basic rules for organic gardening.
2. What is Sustainable Agriculture?: Get a look at sustainable concepts in gardening and farming here.
3. The Future is Abundant: This publication offers resources for sustainable agriculture.
4. Organic Guidelines: Read about what exactly goes into gardening organically here.
5. How to Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables for Frugal Sustainability: This guide offers tips that even novice gardeners can appreciate.
6. Organic gardening: Kick the chemicals: This article recommends that you carefully look after your soil.
7. Organic Gardening Techniques: Take a look at this guide for in-depth information on organic gardening.
8. Gardening at a Glance: Check out this chart for planting dates, distances, and preservation techniques.
9. Grow Your Own Organic Garden: This guide walks you through the steps of organic home gardening from soil to harvest.
10. Organic Gardening Tips: Find tips for organic gardening in this resource.
11. Organic Vegetable Gardening: This guide covers vegetable gardening from planning to selling.
12. Growing a beautiful edible landscape in an urban neighborhood: This guide takes a look at gardening in a restricted area.
13. Organic Gardening: This guide offers a quick look at organic gardening principles.
14. Plant Glossary: This glossary will help you build your organic gardening vocabulary.
15. You’re a What? An Organic Gardener?: This article offers an easy guide to answering questions about organic gardening.
16. Organic Vocabulary: Check out this glossary so you’ll always know what you’re talking about.
17. Organic Gardening Essentials: This article describes the benefits and requirements of organic gardening.

Inspiration

Take a look at these urban gardeners to see what can be achieved when you work hard on your organic garden.

18. Path to Freedom: This family is part of the homegrown revolution.
19. Reasons to Garden Organically: If you’re not already convinced you should garden organically, check out this article.
20. A day in the life of an urban farmer: See how families are developing their own small-scale farms.

Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation for every successful garden, so be sure to pay attention to these helpful resources.

21. Garden Soil: Why it Matters-Making it Great: Find out how to create healthy organic soil with this guide.
22. Soil Biology Primer: Learn all about microorganisms and other important components of healthy soil in this book.
23. Managing Clay Soils in the Home Garden: Learn how to deal with hard clay soil using this guide.
24. Factors Influencing Soil Health and Quality: Check out this animation to get a good look at what makes up healthy soil.
25. Soil Health: This site has a number of resources and recommendations for healthy soil.
26. How to build new topsoil: Follow this guide to create healthy new soil.
27. Amending Your Garden Soil-Making Good Soil out of Bad: Get the dirt on how you can make any soil good for gardening here.

Composting

Follow these guides to turn household scraps into rich fertilizer for your garden.

28. Compost: The Backbone of an Organic Garden: Find out why compost is important, and how you can make your own.
29. How to Make Compost, a Composting Guide: This guide will help you create rich, cheap compost.
30. Organic Gardening Compost: Consider composting’s benefits and how you can use it with this guide.
31. How to Know when the Organic Compost in your Bin is Ready: This video explains when your compost is ripe.
32. Composting: Find out what the Veggie Lady has to say about composting.
33. Make your compost bin work: This gardener runs down what you’ll need to do to create a good compost.

Planning

Check out these resources for help in creating the perfect organic garden.

34. Planning Your Vegetable Garden: Here you’ll find information for planning your location and space as well as plant selection and schedule.
35. Easy Garden Anyone Can Make: Plan your garden the easy way with this resource.
36. Hey Grow UP!: This article explains how you can make use of more space with fences, trellises and stakes.
37. My Ideal Garden: Use this resource to create a garden you can love.
38. Planning a Child’s Garden: Check out this resource to learn how to create an organic garden your kids can help with.
39. Plan and Prepare: Figure out where to plant your garden and what to put in it with this guide.
40. When You Plan Your Garden, Here’s Some Things to Know: Keep these tips in mind when planning your garden.
41. Plan a Beautiful Vegetable Garden: Follow this guide to create a gorgeous vegetable garden.
42. The Gardening Calendar: Check out this calendar to see what you need to be doing in your garden each month.
43. Fruit Salad in a Pot: Make the most out of a small space by growing fruit in a pot.
44. How to Plan Your Organic Garden: Check out this video for tips related to planning an organic garden.
45. Getting Ready for Planting: This guide offers information on purchasing seeds and plants, as well as getting started before you plant.
46. Know When to Plant What: Find Your Average Last Spring Frost Date: This guide will help you figure out when you need to start planting.

Maintenance

Once you’ve created your organic garden, keep it up with the maintenance recommended by these resources.

47. Caring for Your Vegetable Crop: This document discusses irrigation, weeding, and thinning your garden.
48. Fertilizer Products for Organic Gardening: Check out this report that helps make sense of organic gardening product labels.
49. Vacation: Read this article to find out how to deal with your garden before you leave for vacation.
50. Organic Fertilizer: This resource describes a number of different fertilizers you can use.
51. Garden mulch: Look at different kinds of mulch and how you can use them here.

Pests & Weeds

Staying organic is a challenge for some when confronted with pests, but these resources offer a wealth of chemical-free solutions.

52. Organic Insect Repellents and Insect Control: Find out how to control insects in your organic garden here.
53. Slug & Snail Trail: Check out this site for advice on keeping snails and slugs at bay.
54. Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide: See how others are using baking soda to keep mildew and other diseases away from their gardens.
55. Ten Steps Toward Organic Weed Control: Follow this guide to take care of your weed problem organically.
56. Plant Disease Control: Take a look at organic disease control methods here.
57. Weed Photo Gallery: Check out this photo gallery to find out which weed you’re up against.
58. Organic Weed Control: Find out how this gardener controls weeds organically.
59. Mulch: The Organic Solution for All Your Weeding Worries: This article discusses mulch as a way to keep the weeds at bay.
60. Plant-Disease Index: In this index, you’ll find details for the various pests that affect gardens.
61. Weeds, Guardians of the Soil: This publication discusses weeds as a positive gardening tool.
62. Beneficial Insects: Find out about the beneficial insects you can make use of in this article.
63. Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America: This site offers lots of information for combating pests.
64. Management of Insect Pests in Organic Vineyards: Find out how the wine business takes care of pets.
65. Insect Pest Finder: Check out this tool to identify pests.
66. Fly Predators: Make use of fly predators for a natural fly control method.
67. Organic Apple Disease Spray Guide: Here you’ll find organic methods for protecting your apples and other crops.

Harvest

Check out these resources to make the most of your harvest with storage, pickling, and more.

68. Harvesting and Storing: Find out how to make the most out of your harvest here.
69. When to Harvest: This guide will tell you when the right time to harvest is.
70. Secondary Edible Parts of Vegetables: Take a look at parts of vegetables you never thought about eating.
71. How to Store Your Garden Produce: This article takes a look at food storage and waste.
72. Home Canning Basics: Get the lowdown on canning here.

Techniques

Here you’ll learn about specific organic gardening techniques like hydroponics, moon cycles, and greenhousing.

73. Grow Biointensive: This technique makes growing large amounts of food in a small area possible.
74. Organic Hydroponic Gardening: This article has great information on the hydroponic technique.
75. Water Features: Check out this article to find out how you can bring water into your garden.
76. Garden Beds: Follow this guide to digging excellent garden beds.
77. Gardening by the Moon: Find out how to garden based on the moon’s cycles with this article.
78. Year Round Gardening with a Greenhouse: Check out this guide to find out how you can use a greenhouse to grow your garden throughout the year.
79. Hanging Basket How-to: Here you’ll find out how to grow in a hanging basket.
80. Saving Water in the Vegetable Garden: This guide has practical tips for conserving water in your garden.
81. Sustainable Soil Management: Here you’ll find out how to create high quality sustainable soil for your garden.

Specific Crops

Here you’ll find a bit of advice with specific crops in mind.

82. Growing Cantaloupes: Find out how to grow cantaloupes with this guide.
83. All About Growing Lettuce: This resource discusses everything you need to know about growing organic lettuce.
84. Herbs: Find out how to make the most out of herbs in your home garden.
85. Blueberry Planting Guide: Check out this guide to get the most out of your blueberries.

Products

Check out these product resources to find tools that will make organic gardening easier.

86. 11 Useful Organic Gardening Products: Here you’ll find 11 really neat and useful products for organic gardeners.
87. Organic Materials Review Institute: Find out how your products stack up with this resource.
88. Garden Seed Catalogs: This resource has great advice for saving money on seed orders.
89. The Organic Pages: Here you’ll find loads of links to useful organic gardening products.
90. Clean Air Gardening: This site features lawn and garden supplies that are environmentally friendly.
91. Better Grow Hydro: This hydroponics supplier is helpful for indoor gardeners.

Blogs & Communities

For ongoing knowledge about organic gardening, check out these blogs and Internet forums.

92. Tiny Farm Blog: Check out this blogger who is working on an organic microfarm.
93. Down-to-earth: This blog discusses the life of a family living simply on the outskirts of a rural town.
94. Seed Swapper: Check out these forums to get your hands on some excellent seeds.
95. Calendula & Concrete: See how well this urban gardener is doing.
96. Organic Gardening Information: This blog offers lots of great links and ideas.
97. Organic Gardening Forum: Share tips and advice on this organic gardening forum.
98. Veggie Gardening Tips: Here you’ll find lots of great tips for cultivating your organic garden.
99. Garden Rant: Check out what these opinionated organic gardeners have to say.
100. Organic Flower & Garden Tips: Follow this blog to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.

By Kelsey Allen

Water conservation is an important part of responsible living. Water is a precious resource which is not to be squandered. Fortunately, there are a number of really easy ways to save water without a whole lot of hassle, and we’ve compiled some of the best here.

In the Kitchen

Cut down on water usage in your kitchen using these methods.

1. Wash only on a full load: This is true for both washers and dishwashers. By washing in bulk, you’ll cut down on the number of cycles you need to run. Also important to keep in mind is the fact that most dishwashers on a full load can clean dishes more efficiently than a hand wash.
2. Cut down on your disposal: Instead of using your disposal, start a compost pile for food waste.
3. Buy foods close to their natural form: Water is needed to produce just about everything from Coke to boxed mashed potatoes. You can cut down on your water consumption by avoiding processed foods that require lots of water to make.
4. For large washing jobs, fill your sink: Instead of running water to wash dishes or produce, fill your sink to wash them all at the same time.
5. Cut back on rinsing: If you’ve got a fairly new dishwasher, it should be powerful enough to clean your dishes thoroughly without pre-rinsing.

In the Bathroom

Save water while still enjoying good hygiene using these tips.

6. Check for toilet leaks: Drop some food coloring into your toilet tank and let it sit about half an hour without flushing. If you see color in the bowl, you have a leak that needs to be repaired. This is generally easy to take care of, as replacement parts are cheap and install easily.
7. Avoid using your toilet as a trash can: Throw tissues, insects, and cigarette butts in the trash instead of the toilet. You’ll save about 6 gallons with each flush you avoid.
8. Turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth: Certainly you’ve heard this one before, but it’s simple and important enough to be repeated. Turning off your faucet while brushing can save up to 10 gallons a day.
9. Make your toilet low-flow: Place weighted plastic bottles in your toilet tank to save water in your tank. You’ll need to make sure that there are at least 3 gallons remaining in the tank so that your toilet will flush properly.
10. Replace your flush handle: If your flush handle sticks and lets water run, it needs repair or replacing. These can usually be found in the hardware store for a few dollars, and are incredibly easy to install.
11. Take showers instead of baths: Showers generally require less water than baths, coming in at 20 gallons versus a bath’s 50 gallons.

Outside

Water conservation doesn’t have to mean a dried out lawn. Follow these strategies for a lush outdoors without a huge water toll.

12. Insulate water pipes: Pre-slit foam pipe insulation is cheap and easy to install, so it’s a convenient way to get hotter water, faster. By getting faster hot water, you’ll cut down on the time you have to run your faucet while waiting for water to heat up.
13. Bathe your pets outdoors: By washing your pets on the grass, you’ll water your lawn while getting Fido clean.
14. Give your lawn a deep soak: Although it may seem counter-intuitive, water your lawn for a long time so that the moisure will go town to the roots and encourage a deep root system. When you’ve achieved a deep root system, grass can get more natural moisture from below.
15. Water strategically: Pay attention to the time of day you water. Water early in the morning and late in the evening so that you’ll lose less water to evaporation. Watering early is also great because it defends against garden pests and fungus.
16. Collect rainwater: Put a water-catching barrel outside to collect rainwater that you can use for your garden, lawn, or cleaning.
17. Lay down mulch: Put down bark, peat moss, or gravel to slow down evaporation. This is an easy way to save literally hundreds of gallons a month.
18. Be a lazy waterer: Water only when you absolutely need to. A good rule of thumb is to check it by stepping on your grass-if it springs back when you lift your foot, you can put off watering for a bit more.
19. Never use a hose when you can use a broom: Don’t clean sidewalks and driveways with water-use a broom instead.

Everywhere

These tips will help you just about everywhere around the house and in daily life.

20. Install an aerator: Easy to install, and often quite cheap, aerators are about the easiest way you can save water at home. Water aerators in your showers and faucets will help you use less water while still enjoying high pressure, achieved by putting extra air bubbles in the water flow.
21. Reuse excess water whenever possible: Instead of pouring old water glasses and boiling pots down the drain, reuse the water for pet dishes or plants. You can also use fish tank water on household plants.
22. Dispose of hazardous materials properly: Keep oil, prescriptions, and other contaminants out of the water, as these items can effectively eliminate water from our supply. Do some quick research to find out how you can properly dispose of them.
23. Use a commercial car wash: Often, car washes can wash your car more efficiently than you can in your own driveway. To save even more, find one that recycles their water.
24. Fix leaky faucets: If you’ve got even a slow drip, you’re letting money go down the drain. Even more importantly, you’re wasting hundreds of gallons over time. Pick up a wrench and fix your leaky faucets for a quick and easy way to curtail water usage.
25. Locate your master water shut-off valve: In case of a pipe burst, you’ll need to know how to shut off water in your home. This will not only save gallons of water, but potentially your property as well.

When people talk about organics, generally they are referring to foods that have been grown without the aid of harmful chemicals. But organic products aren’t just limited to foods that you put into your body-what you choose put on your body can have an impact as well. Buying clothing and accessories that come from wholly organic and environmentally friendly sources can be an important part of doing your part to reduce the amount of chemicals released into the environment as well, both in the growing process and during manufacturing.

While organic clothing will likely always be a little pricier than its mass produced counterparts, that doesn’t mean that wearing it has to break the bank. Here are some tips and resources for buying clothes that both you and the earth will appreciate.

Quick Tips for Buying

These are some basic tips and guidelines to pay attention to when you make your next organic clothing purchase.

1. Learn what makes clothes "organic." A lot of things nowadays have an organic label slapped onto them for the purpose of enticing consumers to buy them rather than because they’re truly an organic product. Do a little research about the clothing you’re thinking of purchasing to make sure it truly is created using a more earth friendly process.
2. Look for certification. The Organic Trade Association has created a certifcation process for fiber processing and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements monitors and rates how cotton is grown worldwide. Look for approval from either of these groups or from other reputable organics organizations to ensure you’re getting the highest quality and most authentic organic clothing.
3. Buy clothes that require no dry cleaning. Perhaps the biggest impact clothes have on both the environment and your wallet is in the cleaning process. Clothes that allow cold washing and that can be line dried are the most environmentally friendly, while those requiring harmful chemicals to be cleaned should be avoided. If you’re going to take the trouble to buy organic, ensure that your clothes will stay that way.
4. Look for longevity. The best organic clothes you can buy are those that are durable enough to last you through several years of wear and classic enough not to go out of style before you’ve even broken them in. Many organic clothing manufacturers produce a large number of items that fit this bill and can help you get your money’s worth.
5. Sometimes compromise is OK. While organic fibers are ideal for many who would like to go green, sometimes a compromise of synthetic and organic fibers can help a garment to last much longer than it would otherwise, delaying its trip to the garbage. Additionally, some labor intensive processes that use bamboo and soy to create sythetic-like fibers can be a way to wear clothing that will eventually biodegrade while getting the look and feel of a synthetic.
6. Realize that more expensive doesn’t always equal better. Just like anything else, the most expensive organic clothing isn’t always going to be the highest quality or the best investment. Some manufacturers will use the organic label as an excuse to bump up the price without any real change in quality. Whether you’re buying in person or online, take a look at reviews of other customers or use your own judgement to choose fashions that will last longer and fit into your budget.
7. Learn about the fibers. A vareity of different kinds of plants are used to provide the raw materials for organic clothing. These can include hemp, bamboo, cotton, modal and linen. Some companies even create a more environmentally friendly type of silk. Each has its own pros and cons, so read up before you make your purchase.

Guides and Articles

If you’re looking for some additional guidance on buying an organic wardrobe, check out these articles.

8. Green Basics: Organic Cotton: Learn all there is to know about organic cotton including how and where it’s grown, harvested and manufactured as well as a few reasons why you might want to add it to your wardrobe.
9. How to Green Your Wardrobe: Get the facts, figures and basics on how to make every part of your wardrobe a little more earth-friendly with this informative and comprehensive guide from Treehugger.
10. Organic Clothing Blog: Here you can read about how to green up your wardrobe for everything from a walk down the aisle to a hike in the woods. Articles focus on eco-fashion and the use of hemp, bamboo and organic cotton.
11. Guide to Modern Organic Clothing and Fabrics: Get the lowdown on the makers and materials involved in organic clothing. You’ll learn what to look for and where you can get the best deals.
12. How to Buy Earth Friendly Sustainable Clothing: This guide from eBay will give you the basics of organic clothing as well as provide some guidance on what you should look for when you’re shopping.
13. How Organic Clothing Works: Interested in how organic clothing is produced, manufactured and sold? You’ll find the answers from How Stuff Works and get to know why you should wear organic clothing as well as a few places to go for more information.
14. Organic Clothing Not Just For Hippies Anymore: This article from MSNBC outlines the organic clothing movement and gives you some suggestions on where you can shop for the hottest organic fashions.

Online Organic Clothing Stores

You don’t even have to leave your house to get deals on organic clothing. Check out these online stores for earth-friendly options.

15. Better for Babies: Babies have soft, delicate skin and the chemicals used in clothing manufacture can sometimes irritate their skin. This online retailer sells a wide variety of products that are totally organic, practical and not outrageously priced.
16. Loomstate: Loomstate specializes in designer organic clothing that is modeled after classic casual wear. The New York based company works to ensure that every stage of the design and creation process is fully organic so you’ll not only look stylish in their designs, but will feel great about helping the environment as well.
17. Beklina: Find adorable and eco-friendly organic clothing from this online women’s clothing boutique that specializes in green designs and materials.
18. Coco’s Shoppe: This online retailer sells a wide vareity of organic clothing brands in styles that are so fashion forward you’d never even think they were organic.
19. The Green Loop: This site is a one stop shop for men or women looking to buy organic clothing. Dozens of organic brands are listed and visitors can find everything from t-shirts to sunglasses that are earth friendly and fashionable.
20. Kaight: Women looking to stay on the cutting edge of trends while still looking out for the environment can do both with this upscale New York company. Like any other designer brand, the clothes aren’t on the cheap side, but if you want to look your best and stay green they can be a great investment.
21. Panda Snack: While other brands may focus on materials like cotton and hemp, Panda Snack is all about the organic bamboo. Both men and women can find casual and dressy fashions that fit their needs and their budget
22. howies: This British company sells organic clothing for men, women and children and provides great casual options that not only make a statement fashion-wise, but environmentally as well.
23. Janano: Whether you’re looking for environmentally friendly cashmere or a simple organic cotton t-shirt, this shop has what you need. With both men’s, women’s and baby fashions, you’re bound to find something that fits your budget and your style.
24. Rawganique: This shop specilializes in selling organic hemp clothing in styles that will fit every lifestyle. They also carry a full line of organic linens and cottons as well.
25. Earth Speaks: Find organic hemp clothing on this site in designer styles. From flirty skirts to winter coats, all products are completely organic.

While it’s unlikely that your wardrobe will ever be completely organic, you can begin making a few steps towards reducing the pollution that mainstream clothing produces through farming and manufacture. Some studies have shown that for each organic t-shirt you buy, 4 ounces of chemicals are prevented from entering the environment. It may not seem like much, but every little bit helps!

As many lifestyles continue to get busier at a breakneck pace, people often wonder how they can increase their energy level. Generally, this just means drinking another cup of coffee, but there’s so much more that you can do. Read on to learn about 69 methods that will help you improve your energy in a natural way.

Habits

Daily habits can be a leech on your energy, so take these steps to change your habits for the better.

1. Practice deep breathing: Try breathing with your abdominal muscles to improve your energy.
2. Give yourself a more flexible schedule: Work on tasks when they feel appropriate to your energy level, or pick up something else to do.
3. Turn on the lights: When you wake up in the morning, turn on all of the lights to trick your body out of bed.
4. Always eat breakfast: Breakfast will give your body the fuel jumpstart that it needs.
5. Schedule down time: Regularly give yourself time to recharge and relax.
6. Spend your energy wisely: Know when your energetic moments are, and don’t waste them on trivial actions.
7. Stay organized: Avoid losing energy by keeping everything in its systematic place.
8. Act like you have energy: Trick yourself into feeling more energetic by moving faster, like pacing while you talk on the phone or putting more energy into your voice.
9. Keep a manageable, even pace: Manage your time and energy more efficiently to avoid burnout.
10. Take up a hobby: Make a habit of nurturing a hobby, and you’ll always have something energizing to look forward to.
11. Practice altruism: By doing good work, you’ll help your energy with enhanced happiness, satisfaction, and health.
12. Eat 3 meals a day: Give yourself lasting energy by eating on a regular schedule.
13. Don’t smoke: Smoking deprives you of oxygen, which is necessary for energy.
14. Avoid late night TV: The light emitted from your TV and computer can confuse your hormones by telling them it’s still daytime.

Exercise

Take on these exercise strategies for lots of added energy.

15. Stretch: Maintain a good blow flow to your brain and the rest of your body by practicing stretches daily.
16. Exercise in the morning: Shake off sleepiness and snap out of your grogginess with a bit of exercise in the morning.
17. Find the right balance of exercise: Don’t exercise too much or too little-either way can cause you to lose energy.
18. Exercise on a gradual, steady basis: Ease into exercise, and then keep it up. You should aim to be active for 20 to 30 minutes each day.
19. Play a competitive sport: By playing a sport that requires thought, you’ll spark your mental energy.
20. Go for a walk after lunch: Shake off post-lunch sluggishness with a short energy boosting walk.

Sleep

We all know that sleep is essential to energy, but are you getting the best rest possible? Take these steps to make sure.

21. Sleep according to the sun: Sleep hormones are linked to natural light exposure, so you’ll get better rest if you do most of your sleeping when the sun is down.
22. Establish a sleep ritual: Improve the quality of your sleep with a ritual such as book-reading before going to bed, and you’ll enjoy more energy in your waking hours.
23. Kick your animals out of bed: Pets can hog the bed, make noise, and otherwise disturb your sleep, so you’re better off giving them their own separate place for rest.
24. Wake up without an alarm clock: Go to sleep early enough so that your body can wake up naturally when you’ve gotten enough sleep.
25. Take a nap: An afternoon nap can be refreshing, and won’t interfere with regular sleep patterns if you do it early enough.
26. Turn off the lights: Keep your bedroom as dark as possible to ensure your sleep hormones stay on track.
27. Avoid alcohol before bed: Alcohol may put you to sleep, but it makes for a lesser quality rest.

Food

Follow these tips to make sure you’re getting the proper fuel for your energy.

28. Decrease sugar consumption: Sugar will cause fluctuations in energy that can leave you feeling burnt out.
29. Increase your iron intake: An iron deficiency can cause chronic fatigue, so make sure you’re getting enough.
30. Eat a snack if necessary: Keep your blood sugar levels consistent with snacks throughout the day.
31. Eat smaller meals more often: By eating smaller, more frequent meals, you’ll avoid the groggy feeling that comes with eating large meals.
32. Drink enough water: Don’t leave your body dehydrated-drink enough water so that your body doesn’t need to conserve resources and zap your energy.
33. Eat "brain food": Eat healthy fats like those found in fish and green, leafy vegetables to increase your brain power and energy.
34. Eat more protein: Protein offers a great way to combat fatigue.
35. Eat whole grains: Whole grains have complex carbohydrates that take a while to break down, providing you with energy that lasts.
36. Drink juice: Energy from juice separated from the pulp has been found to provide lots of energy.
37. Cut down on coffee: Although coffee can give you a rush of energy, in the end it will cause fatigue. Coffee does not have to be eliminated, but you probably shouldn’t drink more than one cup a day.
38. Eat your largest meal at lunch: Instead of eating a large meal for dinner, do it at lunch while your digestion is more active.
39. Eat lots of fiber: Fiber’s time-release effect will help give you sustained energy.

Health

Take these steps to make sure you’re in top-notch health for lots of energy.

40. Check for allergies: Decreased energy levels could be due to an intolerance or allergy, so try eliminating a specific food for a few weeks to see if you have any improvement, or see a doctor for a full allergy screening.
41. Take supplements if necessary: If you don’t get enough vitamins, consider taking supplements to cover deficiencies.
42. Lose weight: Carrying around extra weight takes a toll on your body and energy, so take off a few pounds to get more energy.
43. Try yoga: Yoga poses like the Breath of Fire can energize your body.
44. Take a hot and cold shower: Take a shower in which you alternate between hot and cold water to get energized.
45. Get a massage: A massage will help stimulate blood flow and relieve tension. You might even catch a refreshing nap at the same time.
46. Get your thyroid checked out: It’s been suggested that between 70 and 90 percent of Americans have an imbalance in this energy-regulating gland.
47. Ask your doctor about fatigue: Low energy can be brought on by a number of different conditions, like iron imbalances and low thyroid function.

Environment

Make these small changes in your environment to improve your energy level.

48. Listen to energetic music: Find music that motivates you and wakes you up for an energy boost.
49. Clean up: Clear your clutter both physically and emotionally, and you’ll feel better.
50. Go outside: Take advantage of sunshine and fresh air for some energy.
51. Put a fresh plant on your desk: By placing a plant on your desk, you’ll increase energy-bearing oxygen.
52. Listen to classical music: Classical music will stimulate your mind while relaxing you at the same time.

Emotional Boosters

These strategies will help you clear your mind and improve your energy.

53. Have something to look forward to: Having something to look forward to is a great motivator.
54. Practice meditation: Get your worries off your back for a while, and you’ll come back more refreshed.
55. Talk to an energetic friend: Gain energy by interacting with an upbeat friend.
56. Avoid energy "vampires": Energy vampires always have something to complain about, or a problem that needs to be fixed, and they’ll drain your energy by making you listen to them about their problems or by giving them attention.
57. Start your day with active work: Get started with something that requires you to use your brainpower instead of doing passive activities that will allow you to stay drowsy.
58. Wear something nice: Put on something you love to shake off the blahs.
59. Discuss something that interests you: Get your mind firing on all cylinders by talking about something you feel passionate about.
60. Let loose: Schedule time for leisure so that you’ll have an emotional outlet.
61. Practice visualization: Try imaginging a place or feeling that gives you energy, even if you can’t experience it at the moment.
62. Eliminate worry: Get the monkey off your back by taking action, making decisions, and dealing with problems right away.
63. Let it out: Find an outlet for your feelings so that they can’t drain your emotional energy.
64. Practice stress reduction: Use stress-busting techniques like deep breathing or meditation to take a load off and improve your energy.
65. Get things done: Do you have a task that’s weighing heavily on your mind? Just do it, and get the monkey off your back.

Other

These are just a few more helpful strategies for increasing your energy level.

66. Give up on pleasing people: Don’t spend your time and energy making others happy-do what you want to do.
67. Go with the flow: Accept that you’re not always going to feel your best, and learn to take advantage of the times when your energy is higher.
68. Fix your squeaky wheel: Upgrade your computer that can’t keep up, or replace your dishwasher that requires you to spend time washing before and after.
69. Put an end to your Internet addiction: Spend less time surfing the Internet, or at least make it more efficient with technologies like RSS.

Welcome to our blog! Our goal is to help consumers be better informed about what it takes to lead a natural and sustainable lifestyle. Please check back soon for a wealth of information related to your health, the environment, and low-impact living.