10/8/09

Here's a recycling idea that can help you show a little love, too. If you're getting your long locks of hair cut off today for a fresh new look, donate your hair to Locks of Love. It's easy: If you're cutting off more than 10 inches of hair, ask the stylist to bundle it into a ponytail or braid and place it in a clear, plastic bag. Send it to Locks of Love, which will weave it into a hairpiece and send it to children who have lost hair because of medical reasons. Learn more at www.locksoflove.org.

10/7/09

When raking leaves, be sure to keep them out of the streets. Leaf piles in the street decompose and are washed away down sewer drains. From there, they go into lakes and rivers, where the decomposing mess "feeds" the waterways, turning the lakes green -- from algae -- in the summertime. Instead, rake up leaves and run your lawnmower over them, and scatter the nutrient-rich matter all over the lawn to help feed it. Next summer, your lawn will be greener, healthier and richer.

10/6/09

Here's a festive autumnal way to dress up the front porch or lawn. Pick up a bale of hay from the nursery and decorate it with pumpkins and colorful gourds on top. When the Halloween festivities are over, use the hay as mulch all over your yard or to insulate delicate outdoor plants from the upcoming harsh, winter season.