Well, here it is Saturday again.  I don’t know if you agree but, most Saturday evenings, there is just nothing on TV.  At least, that is what I thought last weekend, when I convinced my husband to watch “The Garbage Moguls,” on the science channel.  So, here I was watching this program, mouth hanging open in utter amazement, thinking UNBELIEVABLE!

If you didn’t know, this week has been National Compost week.  Most people that are into gardening, know that worm castings (vermicompost) is like black gold for your garden. I know this to be true, by working at a local worm farm, where developmentally  disabled adults maintain the worm bins. They chop after market fruits and vegetables, feed the worms, and then dry, sift and bag the castings.  You then, can make your own worm tea (liquified worm poop) from the bagged product (castings).

In 2001, two Princeton University students, Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer, set out to turn the concept of  worm compost, into a real-life commercially viable “green” business. Thus, TerraCycle was born.

The TerraCycle Story, is a story of Eco-Capitalism at its finest.  The flagship product,   TerraCycle Plant Food™, is 100% organic certified, liquid plant food, made from worm waste (poop).  It is then, packaged in reused soda bottles, the sprayers are other companies leftovers, and the boxes that they use for shipping, would have been trashed for printing mistakes.  To date, this company has kept at least 100 million tons of plastic bottles, juice pouches, and other types of packaging out of landfills.

Today, TerraCycle  can be credited for not only turning something as simple as worm poop, into a household name, but for leading the way in how we look at many environmental issues.  They look at new and innovative ways to take the waste that people and companies generate on a daily basis, and turn garbage, that would otherwise wind up in our landfills, into 100% profitable and usable products.

TerraCycle has teamed up with such companies as Office Max, Office Depot, WalMart and Home Depot, to name a few of their clients, to bring you new (from recycled material) and unique products.  The company collects all kinds of waste products, such as discarded electronics, soda bottles, drink pouches, cookie wrappers, and yes, worm poop (their flagship product) and turns it into household cleaners,  office supplies, backpacks and other usefully unique products.

This young and unique company, has not only successfully turned trash into gold, but they have given new meaning to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  They truly are working toward a better tomorrow for the entire planet!

Wednesday April 22, 2009 was the 39th Earth Day.  It always revitalizes my goal of treating everyday as if it IS Earth Day.  I think of “green” as an action and success color.  To me green symbolizes earth, nature, and life.   Especially, during Spring season, green IS life in abundance.  It signifies a renewal of life, health and the environment, while evoking a sense of calm, balance, harmony and stability.

My goal is to share with you ways to become Earth conscious, energy smart and optimally healthy.  So, when the following segment crossed my desk the other day, I felt compelled to share it with you.

Richgail Enriquez is a video journalist for Current TV and San Francisco IAM.

She  recently did a story on a neighborhood in the  SF Bay Area, where people
call a center to harvest their extra fruits and vegetables from their
backyards. The donations go to the needy and low income families.
People who signed up to participate get a tax deduction. The program is called:

“Gifts from Our Gardens”

Check in your local area to see if such a program exists or how, you may be able to  create one. Perhaps, you could even start a community garden.  Another way to help, is by donating to your local food bank, or shopping at Farmer’s Markets.

Here’s another story she  did on SF Bay area youth involvement in the “green” movement.

Here, also is another one of my favorite sites from National Geographic.  It is the “Green Guide to Everyday Living”.  I hope you find this information as inspirational and helpful in your quest to live “green” as I do.  Here’s to working toward a better tomorrow!

Most of us are doing our Spring cleaning from our house to our garage. Before you make a trip to the dump, check  your discard pile to see if there is anything you can give new life.  You just may save yourself some gas money and a trip to the dump.

If you have a tall wastebasket, use it to corral wrapping paper or crafting supplies.  You can even use hair scrunchies or elastic pony tail holders to keep the paper rolls in control.

Old furniture can often be put to use in a different room. An example, is a small nightstand or end table.  Either can be used in a bathroom to free up counter space and give extra storage for lotions and toiletries. Just paint it to your liking and you have a whole new look.  Coffee cups are useful to hold anything from make-up to pens and pencils.  Those hanging baskets that were meant for fruits and vegetables work great in little kids rooms for storing those small stuffed animals.  It looks adorable.  Give one to a teenager and they will find some cool use for it, just to have things close by the bed if nothing else.

Those old sheets and table clothes can be stitched up and used for storing, comforters, pillows, and blankets free from dust.  Sheets can also be made into easy tab-top curtains,or throw pillows.  All that is needed is a little time, ribbon and embellishments of your choice and you’ve put something old to new use, and saved money too.

Backless bar stools and laundry baskets work well to store anything from toys,camping gear, sporting  goods, or garden tools. Just turn the bar stools upside down and they do a great job of holding these bulky items.

Don’t toss those three-ring binders.  They are great for organizing recipes, (get page protectors), vet records, CDs (get the vinyl inserts) and anything of importance that you want to keep handy.  If they have writing on them, or they don’t match your decor, consider covering them with contact paper.

These are just a few ideas to help you wittle down your trash pile.  If you have books you want to get rid of, consider donating them to homeless or women’s shelters, nursing homes or hospitals.  Contact local thrift shops in your area for drop-off sites or possible pick-up of your unwanted items. Online sites to consider are charitynavigator.org and earth911.org for information on where to recycle specific items such as electronics.

Written in association with  waste management experts