Instead, go for the real deal, terra cotta. It literally means "baked Earth," which means it's fired-up clay. While terra cotta may chip or break, nothing can compete with the organic texture and feel of clay. And terra cotta is good for the Earth, too. If terra cotta should ever break, use the chips as a ground cover on an indoor plant.

4/2/10

4/1/10

While it's tempting to use lightweight, plastic faux terra cotta pots for your outdoor garden, it's best to avoid them. Most plastic pots are made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which is made from a nonrenewable resource that is not biodegradable.

3/31/10

When cleaning the lint trap from your dryer, don't throw it away. Instead, place it outside where birds can easily find it, near a bird feeder or bird bath. Break up the dryer lint into small, manageable pieces. They'll pick up the soft mass and use it to feather their nests.