7/4/12

A backyard deck is a great place to entertain. You can extend the life of real wood decks with just a little simple maintenance. Traditionally, wood stains are oil-based products that simply coat the wood with a waxy, paraffin-based ingredient. Choosing a water-based stain will help it to saturate the wood for longer protection. It is a much greener choice since it allows the wood to breathe while it's being protected. Water-based stains contain a lower amount of volatile organic compounds, which means there are less chemicals contributing to smog and ozone depletion.

7/3/12

If you want to save time and money next time you do yard work, try grasscycling. When you mow your lawn, leave the clippings behind on the grass -- they’ll break down naturally and turn into fertilizer for the lawn. This can reduce your fertilizer needs by as much as 50 percent. The best parts? No bagging grass clippings, and no hauling those bags to the trash.

7/2/12

If you're like me, you love getting your news from printed newspapers every morning. You can recycle old newspapers in regular curbside recycling bins, but you can donate them, too. Animal shelters are always in need of newspapers to use as bedding for adoptable pets. And thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept newspapers to use to wrap fragile items.