by Susan R.

New England winters can be hazardous for driving. I keep a large bag of clay kitty litter in the trunk of my car during the winter. This not only helps with added weight, but should I need traction on the roads, it will not damage the streets as the salt melt products do.

by Barbara

Hello from central Massachusetts!

I dragged my co-worker Sue out here last weekend for the 9th annual Garlic and Arts Festival. What is it all about you ask? Here is their mission statement.

The festival mission reads:
The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is a celebration of the artistic, agricultural and cultural bounty of the region. The purpose of the festival is to unite North Quabbin people whose livelihoods are connected to the land and the arts, and to invite both local residents and those who do not live in the region to experience the richness of an area that is often overlooked. The festival emphasizes what is homegrown and high quality, as well as what helps preserve and support the environment. The festival is an engaging, fun and educational celebration for all ages.

Everything about this festival promotes environmental “green” design. This was the first year an actual wooden stage was built for the musical performers. Please note that the amplification for the sound system is solar powered.

We were able to purchase many different varieties of Garlic. One of our favorites is a Siberian Garlic that has a hot & spicy taste!

There were wonderful signs around the festival and this is also a festival that for the amount of people produced little trash! Last year for a two day festival that was attended by about 5000 visitors they produced 2 bags of trash. All else was composted. Even the “plastic ware” was a cornstarch based product that will decompose.

Of course this festival was definitely about the garlic! Anyone who knows Sue knows that she lives for good garlic! Yes, Super Garlic Man was there!

I was able to get exercise……AND pick out a new lawn mower.

In all it was a wonderful day and we left with arms full of good produce and crafts.

So if interested, this festival occurs in mid-September. Please check out more information at http://www.garlicandarts.org/

By Susan R.

I have not had a paper napkin in my house for over 20 years. Cloth napkins, are used by my husband and I and I make sure we have different napkins that sometimes will last us up to 3 days. They take up little room in the wash and create a wonderful table setting.

By Barbara

Remember how mom wrapped your school lunch sandwich in waxed paper? This was back in the 60’s. We all thought it was so cool when some kids brought their sandwiches to school in little plastic bags. So, recently I ran out of plastic wrap and wrapped my sandwich in the waxed paper in the utility drawer. I had forgotten how easy it is to use! Fold it, crease it, it stays put. It is far more biodegradable than any plastic.

AND now I am ready for preserving any wonderfully colored leaves that come my way in October.

By Mary Jo

I use the water from my dehumidifier to water my special plants especially during our town’s odd/even water ban. With the recent humid weather in the Northeast my morning glories, daylilies and petunias are still thriving.

I purchased bigger plastic wide mouthed water bottles for my kids to use for sports instead of disposable water or Gatorade bottles. Each child has their own colored bottle which is easy to distinguish from the other team members.

I encouraged my tennis team members to use reusable water bottles or jugs vs. disposable water bottles.

I have become more conscious of opportunities to carpool to meetings or sporting events. It saves gas, reduces emissions and gives us a chance to catch up socally before the events.

Our town is looking at instituting a policy where our trash bins will not be picked up unless we also put out a recycling bin(s) as well.

Trying to get more news online instead of buying a traditional newspaper during the week days.

Using the library more instead of buying books at the local chain bookstore.

Using less paper plates and disposable cups than usual at home during the summer.

Mercia Tapping

One of the great contrasts I saw after a recent trip to England, is that people rarely use a clothes dryer; whether they live in the city or country. Of course my family owns dryers, but they hang their clothes out to dry. Now in this country it is often forbidden—and seen as littering the landscape—interesting!

Mercia Tapping

I recently returned from the UK, where I grew up with solar panels, and where recycling wasn’t even a term—it was a way of life. We reused every piece of string and paper bag. Foil or cling wrap were carefully washed and reused, and we never went from one room to the next without turning out the lights. After living for 35 years in America, I realized just about a year ago that I had forgotten my roots; and was a greedily guzzling resources like many other Americans. Continue »