Do you have old, lightly used furniture you would like to donate instead of sending to a landfill? The Furniture Bank Association is a nonprofit that helps families who are in need of furniture get it at little or zero cost. The families work with a number of organizations across the country where Furniture Bank connects people who have pieces to give with people who need them. All you have to do is visit furniturebanks.org and find what organizations within a 15- to 20-mile radius of you accept furniture. Many of them will come to you to pick up everything from lightly used beds to tables, sofas and more.

When it comes to feeding wildlife in your backyard, it's perfectly fine to set up a birdfeeder for our feathered friends. Just be sure to choose a feed mixture appropriate for the nutritional needs of the types of birds in your region. And also be sure to keep your birdfeeder in a place that is dry and protected from the natural elements. But when it comes to other wildlife, like deer, squirrels and raccoons, avoid the temptation to feed them. When these animals become dependent on food from humans, they lose their sense of fear, which can lead to a deterioration of their natural instinct to forage and continue to be wild.

With warmer weather, many of us are moving outdoors to turn our backyards into extended living spaces for our homes. It's tempting to install bug zappers, those electric bug lights that kill mosquitoes at night. While they are effective at killing bloodthirsty mosquitoes, they also attract thousands of harmless insects, too. These insects are food for animals like birds, bats and even aquatic wildlife, and they help keep the biodiversity of the forest intact. Since bug zappers don't know the difference between beneficial insects and pests, they can do more harm than good. To keep mosquitoes at bay, simply bring fans outdoors. The breeze will be enough to keep them away.