10/9/09

Reuse and sharing is everywhere if you know where to look. If you're planning on doing a DIY home repair project this weekend, consider renting tools instead of buying them. Many home improvement stores have little-known rental sections that will let you borrow pricey tools, such as paint sprayers, carpet cleaners, pressure washers and so much more, at a fraction of the cost.

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.