Maureen Wise

Thinking Sustainably
When you're starting your family's compost journey, it may be overwhelming. What bin should you get? How much space do you need? Can you compost eggshells? What about grass clippings? There's really only two things you need to get started: knowledge of what can you compost and a place to gather and let your compost do its (decomposing) thing.
We've explored the location decisions and options for housing, such as bins, rotating drums, and piles. Knowing what can be compost...

Natural Products

Families are making the switch to old-fashioned, DIY laundry detergent left and right. Not only is it much less expensive than store-bought varieties, but it's better for the planet and your family. Creating your own laundry detergent is also a fun project you can do with kids of a certain age.

Why Switch?

Many conventional detergents are petroleum-based and thus don't break down in sewage treatment systems as much as they should. This means we end up with soapy, polluted wat...

Thinking Sustainably
It's finally summer: the air is warm, the kids are out of school, and your vegetable garden is growing. But there are some pesky animals eyeing your kale, chard, and broccoli plants. Are you surrounded on all sides by deer, groundhogs, and other critters? Keep animals out of the garden naturally with a few Earth-friendly tricks.
The Best De-Fence
Your first line of defense for common garden pests is, of course, a fence. Keep it high and be sure it goes underground a few i...

Thinking Sustainably
There's a lot of talk in the green scene about how there's only one Earth and we need to take care of it, and this couldn't be more true. But it's captivating to look beyond our own small, blue planet and survey the rest of the solar system to gain a further appreciation for our natural resources. Involving my kids in my (admittedly deep) interest and study of space has pushed me to learn even more. Here's how teaching the solar system for kids to understand helps them re...

Whether you've tasted eucalyptus as a tea, smelled a candle scented with its oil, or hung a leafy eucalyptus wreath on your front door, you're likely familiar with how this beautiful plant can be much more than just another boost of green in your horticulture collection. If you're wondering how to grow eucalyptus indoors, we've got great news: it comes in all sizes!

Helping Hands
Establishing more environmentally friendly habits at home is a great way to live more sustainably, but you can widen your reach by extending those initiatives to the land and people around you. Look beyond your own domicile and help those in your community green their lives, too. You don't have to be an "activist" to do some good for your neighborhood. Here are a few ways to improve the environment where you live.
1. Plant a Tree
Or, plant lots of trees. Find an area in your nei...

Healthy Feeling
Nothing kills your workout momentum like an injury. Your doctor may tell you the most important thing for recovery is rest, so you'll often have to take a break from exercising altogether. But what happens when you're healthy again? Once your doctor says it's OK to begin easing back into exercise, you'll still need to be careful and strategic about your workouts.
I've been a runner since high school and have never taken much time off from the sport, but this past August, while...

Thinking Sustainably

If you're an avid reader, you probably have a bookshelf bursting with books . . . and stacks of books that don't fit on that bookshelf . . . and probably a few out on loan from your local library. That's great! The power of literature has been scientifically studied—though a good story's full mental and emotional impact likely touches us in ways we will never fully understand.

Do you have books that have already worked their magic on you and are now lying around, collecti...

Thinking Sustainably
Recycling has evolved dramatically over the decades, and many products that once fell to their fate in landfills can now find a new home through recycling. However, there are still some things you can't recycle curbside. On top of that, there are many items that were once recyclable just a few years ago that can't be recycled anymore.
These facts create plenty of confusion on what happens with our recycling. Here's what you need to know about the recycling process and wha...

Thinking Sustainably

Every parent knows that babies put everything in their mouths, and thus you want to ensure what they get their hands on is safe. What about the things babies are actually allowed to put in their mouths, like their baby feeding utensils? You can be sure these items are safe as well. Time to hunt for some non-toxic baby feeding gear to complement your eco-friendly baby products.

Many parents are steering clear of any baby products containing plastics with BPA, PVC, and mela...

Thinking Sustainably
Water use may not be the first area you think to tackle when it comes to reducing your personal waste. But reusing water can go a long way toward lessening your personal environmental footprint, as clean water is a limited resource. If you want to know how to recycle water at home, there are two major kinds of water to reuse: greywater and rainwater.
According to Greywater Action, greywater is "gently used water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machine...

Thinking Sustainably
Even if you are committed to using a reusable water bottle for your daily water intake while on the go, there still may be times you find yourself drinking from a single-use plastic water bottle at an event or an unplanned thirsty moment. But once that water bottle is empty, how do you go about recycling it properly?
Plastic recycling has changed over the past few years. It's important to know how to recycle water bottles the correct way, so be sure you're up to date on t...

Thinking Sustainably
Summer is one of the best times to get outside and enjoy nature's wonders. Hiking, biking, camping, and kayaking are all great ways to enjoy the outdoors with your friends and family. But, once you're indoors, you likely head straight for an air-conditioned space to cool down. Eco-conscious individuals may wonder about the environmental impact of air conditioning and how to choose more sustainable options. We've rounded up some sustainable air conditioning solutions as we...

Thinking Sustainably
You know conserving energy keeps your utility bills down and limits our use of fossil fuels. But how does water factor in? Remember that it takes energy to treat, transport, and heat water, so it's a good idea to use as little as possible to limit the power you use to get it. Let's talk about your morning (and bedtime) routine, and how you can take shorter showers for a fabulous greener living goal.
If everyone in the United States—all 320 million of us—reduced their aver...

Thinking Sustainably
Choosing to take a bath over a shower or vice versa often depends on what kind of mood you're in and what you're setting out to accomplish—whether you need to quickly clean yourself up or just want to soak and relax. But what if there's more to consider when choosing between the two—specifically, which one is better for the environment? Let's settle the bath vs. shower water usage debate.
To understand the environmental impact of bathing, there are a few things to conside...