[GREEN]Tuesdays

Spring Cleaning Part #3: Green Clean

For the last 2 weeks, I’ve talked about options for dealing with your unwanted stuff after you spring clean. BUT, I haven’t talked about the spring cleaning itself (silly me). While you are unearthing forgotten things and cleaning in places you otherwise forget about, consider using green cleaning products. There are several brands of green cleaning products available for purchase and even more options for making your own. Decreasing the amount of chemicals introduced in your home can contribute to lower occurrences of disease for the whole family. Check out these helpful links for more information:

Why use green cleaning products and how to make your own green cleaners.

Photo by Eastlaketimes

Spring Cleaning Part #2: Garage Sale

Have you done your spring cleaning yet? I haven’t either, but once I get around to it, I’m pretty sure I will have an embarrassing amount of unwanted items that I don’t know what to do with. Luckily, there are many options for getting rid of our home clutter. One option is to donate your surplus (check out last week’s post for more info), another option is to have a garage or yard sale. At first, the idea of holding a garage sale seemed too daunting. I thought, “First I go through my house and unearth things that I’ve never used, but somehow moved four times….now I have to catalogue them, put prices on them, and display them?!” At this point my brain shuts down. But have no fear, interwebs to the rescue! I have found dozens of “how to” lists about how to not only schedule and hold a garage sale, but also how to correctly price your items. I also discovered that many areas of the Twin Cities hold neighborhood-wide garage sales. Meaning they do all the advertisement, you just have to sign up and get your unwanted wares priced and displayed. How great is that! Maybe this garage sale idea isn’t as daunting as I thought.

Interested in having a garage sale? This is what I recommend:

· Find out if your neighborhood has a group garage sale. If so, join in!

· Check out a few of these “how to” lists for ideas on holding an organized and (dare I say it) profitable garage sale. Ehow.com, Howto.com, Garage Sale Tracker (great for pricing your items).

Photo by Brad.K

Spring Cleaning Part #1

Spring has finally arrived in Minnesota (at least until Thursday), and it’s time to throw open your windows and clear out your winter clutter. But before you toss out your lightly used clothes and household wares, consider donating them. Check out the below organizations that do amazing work with your unwanted items.

General Donations: Takes donations of clothing and most household items

Goodwill-Easter Seals, Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America (does not accept furniture), Lupus Foundation, Arc’s Value Village, Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

Clothes Only

Dress for Success, Courage Center, Also check your neighborhood thrift store for their donation rules and locations

Furniture and Kitchen, Dining, and Bedroom Essentials

Bridging

Cell Phones

Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women

Learn how to sell your unwanted items next Tuesday in Spring Cleaning Part #2.

Written by Samantha Strong for the 30 Days of Biking Blog

I got into biking because of a guy. 15 years ago, my boyfriend at the time was a junior pro cyclist. (He used to brag about riding with Lance. Wonder how he feels about that now?) Anyway … he built me a bike. It was a sweet Raleigh beach cruiser. I wasn’t going to win any races on this thing, but it felt good to ride it. And we rode a lot.

I would ride it to work on the nice days (bussing all the others). It made the tedious chore of getting to work much more fun. And there’s a point of pride in showing up to work with that pant leg rolled up and sweat running down your neck. “That’s right, I’m gross, but I worked to get here. What did you do this morning?”

He and I have long since broken up (and I would later realize that my bike wasn’t sized right_ ah, the metaphor). Coincidentally, it was stolen from my garage the same year my current partner and I shacked up.

This guy is also a bike fanatic. A year_round rider, never is it too cold, too icy, too hot, too wet for him to get on his bike and tackle the elements. Honestly, his stubbornness amazes me. Riding is the only option, anything else is an insult. (That’s his trusty winter steed above.)

I am not that person. I have my single speed, but it’s nothing to write home about. But because I am not that person, I want to do whatever I can to support the people who are. Biking is a simple way to get off your duff and enjoy your neighborhood, meet new people, and build community. This is what my company, Metamorphosis, is all about.

Thank you, ex-boyfriend, for getting me into biking, Thank you, JP, for being an inspiration. Thank you, 30 Days, for starting this movement. Metamorphosis is a big fan.

Did you know that the first Earth Day was held in 1970 as a day of environment learning? Twenty million demonstrators, together with thousands of schools, participated in that first Earth Day. In 1990, Earth Day became an internationally recognized holiday when 141 other nations joined in the festivities. We encourage you to be part of the tradition and join the rest of the world in participating in Earth Day this year. Not sure how to get involved? Check out a few of these sites for some ideas.

· Department of Parks and Recreation

· Friends of the Mississippi River

· List of Earth Day events in the Twin Cities

Photo by wiccahwang

Research has shown that having plants in one’s home, office, or school increases productivity and decreases stress. Succulent plants in particular have many added benefits. Many succulents are edible and provide herbal remedies for ailments like minor cuts and burns and sour stomach. Besides the health benefits, plants make any room feel fresh and cozy. Check out this University of California site on how to build your own vertical succulent garden for your home or yard.

Have you heard of the Minnesota Energy Challenge? The Elkhart schools certainly have. Simply by closing window blinds, closing doors, shutting off all electronics, and turning off the lights before leaving every evening, the Elkhart schools have saved $3million dollars over the last three years. Schools from all over the state are joining in on the challenge and the savings. There are many ways to take advantage of these savings in your own home. Take a look at the Minnesota Energy Challenge website for helpful tips.

Photo by Joe Biewala

Spring break!!! My favorite spring break memory is from my senior year of college. Before making assumptions, this spring break did not include me on a beach somewhere with hundreds of other college kids. I actually spent my break exploring the Twin Cities with a few friends. Despite the freezing temperatures and unexpected blizzard, we had a great time enjoying amazing restaurants, wandering through world class museums, and exploring new parts of the city. Although I no longer have the free time for a full on spring break vacation, I have decided this year to have a mini Twin Cities staycation.

Want to plan your own spring break staycation? Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

-Eat at a green restaurants or take a green adventure http://www.minneapolis.org/visitor/green-minneapolis

-Take a walking, biking, or even running tour of the city http://thefittourist.com/

-Make a staycation meal at home with locally sourced foods http://www.twincitiesfarmersmarkets.com/

-Take advantage of the cold weather and ski or snowshoe around the Landscape Arboretum http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/skiandsnowshoetrails.aspx

-Try a watercolor or ceramics class at Silverwood Park’s LEED certified center http://www.threeriversparks.org/events.aspx

What ideas do you have? What are your favorite things to do in the Twin Cities?

Every year at this time, we begin to have that all too familiar feeling, the dreaded spring fever. We begin to fantasize about being outside without a parka, seeing flowers and grass again, and having that first outdoor BBQ. Spring and summer are prime time to plan reunions, weddings, and other outdoor parties. Why not make your next outdoor event a green event.

Photo from Inhabitat

Recently, Roy Stokes, a spokesman for Great Britain’s Environmental Agency urged citizens to build snowmen to help prevent flooding. The thought was that tightly packed snow would take longer to melt and help avert flooding in urban areas.

Stokes’ advice was soon retracted, but he may be on to something. When the weather gets warmer, often ground snow melts into city sewers, causing flooding. Although a single snowman probably won’t make a difference, if cities took an initiative to start packing snow in urban areas, it may help stall melting and prevent urban flooding.

What do you think?