Soon the leaves will start to fall. But before you start raking and bagging them for your curbside garbage pickup, there may be more…
When the leaves start to fall in our tepid Texas autumn, it leaves (pun intended) many of us with the dilemma of what to do with them all. Many…, A small amount of leaves left lying on your lawn can be beneficial. It insulates the ground, keeping the soil from drying out or freezing. It can…,
One strategy is to mow over your leaves, as they lay, with a mulching lawn mower. Chopping them up allows the leaf pieces to fall between the…, Another option is to collect the leaves and use them as mulch. Here again, you can use a mulching lawn mower with the bag attached. Mow over the…,
If you rake and collect your leaves, consider working them directly into your flower bed soils. A thick, six-to eight-inch layer of leaves tilled…,
Composting leaves is another great (and green!) way to use them. A healthy compost pile has a 50/50 ratio of browns and greens. Your leaves, along…, For those who live in a city or suburb, your local garbage service may have a “Greens Pickup” event. This means that you can leave out your bagged…,
It may sound a little crazy, but it’s possible that you could find someone who actually wants to take your bags of leaves. If you live close to a…,
When leaves and grass clippings blow into the streets they usually end up in our storm drains, eventually clogging the system and causing…
The wind in your face, the hum of chipseal under your tires, and the joyful effort of self-propelled travel—nothing beats riding a bicycle. Learning…
Bicycles effectively emit zero emissions (depending on what you eat before the ride 🙄) compared to most cars, and the impact from manufacturing…, The best way to incorporate cycling into your life is to replace car trips with bicycle trips whenever it is practical.
Grocery shopping and…, Most bicycle safety advice and traffic laws can seem like common sense, but it’s helpful to review TXDOT’s guide. In general, bicyclists have the…
Collaborative strategies focus on utilizing the different viewpoints of peer-to-peer, small group, or large group members and allow those…
Collaboration in a classroom setting provides many advantages, including increased student retention and a boarder understanding of different…, Collaborative Strategy: Think-Pair-Share/Write-Pair-Share
Lesson Plan: Create Your Own Compost
Think-Pair-Share or Write-Pair-Share is a…
In Texas, heating and cooling account for as much as 40% of your home’s energy usage.
With the arrival of colder weather, it can be tempting to…
1. Open your curtains or blinds during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home through windows. Close the curtains at night to help…
Rainwater is a superior option over municipal sources for watering plants such as trees, garden crops, flowers, and turf grass. It is surprisingly…
I’ve written about and promoted the idea of rainwater harvesting for years. I have a confession: I don’t practice it! There are no rain barrels at my…,
Next apply some data found in the Rainwater Harvesting guide to a simple formula:
Rainfall x yield rate x catchment area x runoff…, Using the formula above, I found that a single rainfall event of one inch would yield up to 1,300 gallons of water—if I had gutters and barrels all…, Get outside your house, office building, school, or shed and start measuring to get an idea of your rainwater harvesting potential. Bring a notebook…
If you've ever hosted a holiday celebration, joined the gift-wrapping assembly line, or celebrated just about any holiday, you've noticed the amount…
Each Texan throws away over 7 pounds of trash each day. That means your family is expected to throw away over 200 pounds of trash per…, As Texans, we can still go big for the holidays while wasting less.
Find options for zero-waste or low-waste gifts. Consider gifting…
Fuzzy socks, gift cards, plastic toys...it's time to say goodbye to these go-to gifts! Sustainable gifts help reduce waste, and they can also save…
Repair a beloved item. While this will take you some time, it doesn't require you to purchase an entirely new item.
Give the gift of your time…,
Instead of a physical item, purchase tickets to an upcoming concert, festival, or event in your area. In addition to reducing waste, you'll create…,
A reusable coffee mug, cup, or thermos can be great for teachers to keep their coffee warm all day long. Consider adding a pack of reusable straws…, Giving a meaningful holiday gift doesn't have to create extra waste. Take the pledge for more holiday tips!
'Tis the season to get together and celebrate, Texas-style, but that doesn't mean our impact on Texas landfills has to be as big as the parties and…
Instead of paper invitations, opt for digital options. Not only does this reduce paper, but it also saves money as you won't need envelopes or…,
Plan your shopping list ahead of time. Include the exact items you need and the appropriate quantities. Account for any food preferences or dietary…,
Use real plates, cups, napkins, and utensils instead of disposable options, if possible. While disposable partyware is appealing, as it cuts down on…,
Encourage your guests to bring reusable food containers to the party. That way, they can take any leftovers home with them. Or, if you have an…,
If your holiday celebration includes a gift exchange, be mindful of the wrapping. Let your guests know they can bring their gifts unwrapped or…, It's easy to make simple changes to our holiday celebrations that can make a big impact. Take the pledge for more holiday tips!
The beginning of the year is a chance to start new habits or restart some that may have waned during the year. Did you promise to use fewer plastic…
We have heard repeatedly how carpooling, walking, and riding your bike can lower carbon emissions. Often though, because of convenience, driving a…, There are many items we use every day that have a reusable alternative. Switching to more environmentally friendly options is a small step that can…, Once those kitchen towels need to be washed, make sure to load your washer with a full load of laundry. With washing and drying machines using…, The average person spends between 8-10 minutes taking a shower and often uses hot water. Using warm water and shortening shower time by half can…, Phantom power, also known as “standby” power, is wasted energy that is the result of having electronics plugged in when they are not in use. Think…, Another small step you may not be aware of is switching the direction of your ceiling fan blades. Ceiling fans have a switch that turns the blades…, Installing a rain barrel around your home is an easy process that you won’t need to worry about much once it’s set up. In the US, a rain barrel can…
Those with an environmental mind know that it’s wise and prudent to recycle what we can no longer use. But what you can do with your holiday tree…
If your artificial tree has simply run its course and is no longer reusable, don’t add it to your curbside recycling—it can’t be recycled that…,
Your city may have drop-off locations for real trees or offer to pick them up along with your curbside trash and recycling. Often, they will…, Whether real or artificial, when you recycle or reuse your tree, you’re reducing your impact on the environment. Every action you take makes a…
The winter season is not usually the time of the year people think of when deciding to plant vegetables. However, for some hardy vegetables, this is…
The first tip is to choose your vegetables wisely. This is just as important as how you care for them during the ever-changing winter months.…, Grouping hardy vegetables such as Swiss chard, lettuce, and kale around perennials and within flower beds can add color to landscaping when the…, If a garden bed is more your style, this is the time to clean it out. Remove any shrubbery that may have collected during the previous months to…, While frost can injure the leaves of winter vegetables, the greatest risk to these plants is when the soil temperature falls below a certain point.…, Winter is a suitable time to start preparing your potatoes for planting. Gather potatoes and cut them into small pieces about 2 inches by 2 inches.…, Growing hardy vegetables during the winter months can provide easy access to food, colorful landscaping, and extra protection for other plants and…
Let the Earth Day celebrations begin with a fun step-by-step activity! This is ideal for children of all ages and can be done at home or in the…
Most of these materials can be found in and around the home:
old/used paper
water
bowl
blender
wire hanger
panty…, During the recycling process there is a step where you will need to press the pulp into a sieve, which is used to strain liquids from solids. It is…, Making recycled paper with kids is an interactive way for them to see the recycling process first-hand. With these steps, tips, and tricks,…
Now that the cooler months are upon us, we can breathe a collective sigh of relief when our lawns no longer need the vigilant daily care the summer…
“Winter is a good time to check your sprinkler heads to make sure they’re functioning properly,” Whitney says. A cracked or broken sprinkler…,
Prune your oak trees before February starts. It’s recommended you don’t trim your oaks between February 1 and June 30 due to oak wilt disease.…,
Remove any dead annuals from your gardens. Prune back any dead material from your nandina or any other evergreen shrubs you have. However,…, For more information on gardening, check out our article on Planting for Pollinators. If you’re a teacher, read our article on the benefits of…
Love is in the air, and what better way to show your significant other how much you love them than by giving a gift that is thoughtful and helps the…
Hand soaps are a unique gift that can also help your local community. Many farmers markets and local flea markets have vendors that specialize in…, Plants can be a fun alternative to gifting flowers, and certain plants can even help keep the air around your special someone clean and healthy.…, They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and what better way to do that than by cooking their favorite snack. Baking something…, Make your Valentine’s Day card stand out by making it yourself. Gather materials from around your home such as markers, construction paper, buttons,…, Use your keen listening skills to take note of items your special someone needs and look for long-lasting alternatives. For instance, purchase a mug…, They say the best gift of all is the gift of time, and we cannot argue with that sentiment. Planning a picnic at a local park, visiting an art…, The best way to sustainably celebrate Valentine’s Day is to focus on the love that is shared between family, friends, and our planet. When thinking…