After you’ve enjoyed a fresh banana, what do you do with the peel? You can add it to your compost bin or boil it to make banana-peel tea, but why not try banana-peel fertilizer spray? Bananas are loaded with nutrients like calcium, potassium, phosphorous and sulfur, which plants love. To make it, dry the peels in a hot, sunny place until they are completely dry and brittle. Pulverize the peel in a blender or food processor, and add the powder to a spray bottle with water. Spray it at the base of your plants to give them an all-natural boost.

One easy way to make healthy snacks at home is to use a dehydrator to transform fresh fruits and veggies into delicious treats. But investing in a dehydrating machine can cost hundreds of dollars -- excessive if you don’t plan on dehydrating every day. Some recommend using your oven as a dehydrator; all you need to do is set the oven to the lowest temperature possible, crack the door open and let it slowly dehydrate your food overnight. But this uses a ton of energy and adds heat to a home -- not to mention the safety hazard. So forget the full-size oven and look toward a toaster oven instead. It’s more energy efficient, and it has vents to release moisture.

Clean, used aluminum foil is fully recyclable, but before you crumple it and toss it in the recycling bin, give it a reuse at home. Fold the sheet of used foil in half, then half again, and one more time. Take dull scissors and cut into it several times. The foil will help sharpen the dull blades of the scissors. When you’re done, wad the foil and recycle it.