With California facing one of the worst droughts and water crises ever, more attention is being paid to the way we use water at home. One big culprit is the lawn. Green, verdant, lush lawns often mean an extraordinary amount of water being used to keep the grass thriving and alive. Instead of wasting water on grass, one easy solution is to look into xeriscape, which is gardening that takes advantage of rainfall retention in an area. Lush and green groundcovers like thyme, yarrow, succulents and sweet woodruff require almost no mowing or maintenance and can thrive on very little water. Every climate is different in plant choices, so ask a local nursery what works for your growing region.

Bees aren't the only insects who help pollinate fruits, flowers and veggies. Butterflies are also an important part of the ecosystem. To help attract butterflies to your garden, avoid insecticides altogether, because they are lethal. Be aware that butterflies aren't attracted just to flowers, but to flowering plants and bushes that are rich in nectar. Look for flowers like milkweed, mint, zinnias, buddleia and heliotrope, which are nectar-rich. Also, filling a shallow dish with fresh water every day is a simple way to give them a place to drink, too.

It can be difficult to buy only organic for everything you eat, but if you like coffee, consider brewing and drinking organic java. Almost all coffee is grown and harvested the United States, and some countries can have very lax environmental regulations. When you find coffee that is United States Department of Agriculture-certified organic, it means that the foreign-grown beans have to follow very strict standards. Certified organic means no chemical pesticides or fertilizers were used, so that means there won't be any trace amounts of those in your morning cup, either.