This is a great resource, for families with kids because it’s a scavenger hunt, but I especially like page six with “recipes” for natural cleaning supplies. No more chemicals that make you cough and sneeze, or kick off an asthma attack. No more worrying about how to discard those chemicals.

While these are not safe for eating or drinking, they are much safer than the cleaners we buy. Check it out! www.epa.gov/OGWDW/kids/wsb/pdfs/682.pdf

Check out the Green Office Web site for school supply packages with green products customized by grade. I know every school and every teacher seems to have their own special supply lists, but these packages have the basics your student needs. There’s even a teacher kit. I’m not a teacher (yet) but I want to get that one since a I am a writer and writers need paper, pens, etc. I might as well reduce my carbon footprint since I’m buying them and using them anyway. For $49.99 I get:

Green Teacher Kit
This kit contains eco-friendly and non-toxic school supplies including:

• 1 – Envirotech™ 100% Recycled Wirebound Notebook
• 1 – Aurora Products Elements Eco-Friendly Round Ring Binder, 2″ Capacity, White
• 1 – Aurora Products Elements Eco-Friendly Round Ring Binder, 3″ Capacity, White
• 1 – Economy Tab Dividers, Buff, 5-Tab Set, 36 Sets/Box
• 1 – Fluff Out® Recycled White Facial Tissue in Six-Pack, 100/Box, 6 Boxes/Pack
• 1 – Earth Write® Pencil (12-pack)
• 1 – Jimnie® Clip Retractable Ballpoint Pens, 1.0mm, Clear Barrel, Red Ink
• 1 – LH-Refills for Jimnie® Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, Red, 3/Pack
• 1 – EXPO® Chisel Tip Markers with Eraser and Grip, 12-Color Set, Chisel Tip

The K-2nd grade kit is $16.99, grades 3-5 is $24.99 and grades 6-12 is $29.99. We all probably spend close to that anyway for all those chemical-filled products. Less chemicals are better for each of us as people, young and old, and better for the environment.

You can shop on the site for individual products, too, if the packages don’t interest you. And look for other household products, office supplies and even furniture while you’re there. www.thegreenoffice.com

I read this tip recently, and while I’m not sure it’s right for my life, it may be for those of you who garden or have lots of house plants.

We all know how much water goes down the drain while we wait for the water to heat up for our shower, right? Try putting a bucket in the shower to catch that water while you wait.

You can use that water for your plants, inside and out. For that matter, it’s clean water. If you keep your bucket clean, you could transfer the water to a pitcher in your frig and have cool H20 ready and waiting for the family and guests.

More and more of us are using cloth bags when we shop – at the grocery store, Target, etc. In fact, Target sells some awesome bags made from their own “recycled” bags. These bags are sturdy, they hold a bunch of stuff and cost only $6.

Here’s my tip: when you can, do your grocery shopping during the store’s slow hours. Packing in cloth bags takes a little more time and thought. Life is easier on the employees and other customers, during a non-rush hour.

Remember, we did not inherit the earth from our fathers, we borrow it from our children.