Many people have asked me: Is it OK to take down an abandoned bird’s nest? Generally, the answer is no. First, in many states it’s illegal to remove a nest, depending on the species of bird and what stage of use it’s in. It’s often hard to know the status for sure; your removal could be breaking the law. For your personal health, a bird’s nest is nothing like a decorative craft store one; it’s often loaded with parasites, bacteria and mites that can be harmful to humans. Even if a nest is absolutely abandoned, birds are notorious recyclers; it’ll get torn apart and the pieces will be used by other birds for new nests.

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.