Author Archives: aesquiv6

Earth Health, Why You Should Care

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Who’s ready to kick off Earth Week! Let’s talk about the importance of caring and taking care of our Mother Earth. Whether you live a sustainable life or not, it is always important to understand and appreciate the Earth since it is considered quite an essential part to our survival.

(Cough Cough) Air Pollution, where is it coming from?

Air pollution is a term that refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are bad for human health and bad for the planet as a whole. Pollutants come from the burning of fossil fuels that release gases and other bad chemicals into the air and these pollutants cause air pollution that affects almost everything on this Earth. Starting with humans, long term effects of air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and other problems. In turn, air pollution can damage Earth’s ozone layer and cause climate change. It’s important that we are cautious about our air quality and one way you can help is by watching how much gasoline you are burning. Instead of driving places, take your bike or walk to your destination a few days out of the week.

Protecting our Ecosystems

The way we treat the Earth has a direct impact on our ecosystems. Pollution such as plastic and waste being thrown everywhere ends up in our oceans and our natural habitats. When plastic ends up in the ocean it hurts not only the quality of the water but hurts species living in the ocean that are looking for food. As for pollution hurting our natural habitats, pollution can cause muddy landscapes, poisonous soils that allow for bad plants to be grown and good plants to be killed and it can also hurt animals that live in that area. How can you help? You can limit pollution by limiting the waste you produce! You can do this by recycling, by composting and by volunteering to pick up trash around the area you live.

Did someone say jobs? Foster Economic Growth and Pave the Way for the Future!

When the environment is protected and taken care of, it paves the way for future jobs that can help keep up with environmental conservation and increase the economic value of local communities. The way we treat the Earth today will affect future generations to come. It is important that you do your part to live a sustainable lifestyle, help volunteer where you can and educate others around you of the importance of taking care of the Earth we live on. By doing all of these things, you will set the positive tone for a greener future and environmental awareness for the public!

CHALLENGE: Let’s Take Bold Steps Forward to Protect Our Planet!

I challenge you to save this checklist by downloading it or taking a screenshot and take 30 days to complete as many tasks on this list as you can! By checking off the tasks on this checklist you are taking bold steps forward to protect our planet! Show us your tasks by tagging us at #Envirojunkiess on Twitter and @Envrojunkies on Insta!

Done!10 Tasks to Help Protect the Earth
Recycle 25 items
Volunteer for a local clean up in your community
Educate at least 3 people on ways they can protect the earth
Conserve water for 2 weeks straight
Invest in a reusable bag for grocery store runs
Only shop at a thrift store for clothes for 30 days straight
Plant a plant (bonus points for a tree!)
Learn About Composting
Take the bike instead of the car at least 5 times
Buy a reusable water bottle and ditch the plastic ones

Check Out This Motivational Video Encouraging You to Take Bold Steps to Protect Our Planet

References

https://www.greenspaces.com/blog/2020/9/30/6-reasons-why-we-should-care-about-the-environment

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know

Reasons Why We Should Care About the Environment

5 Tips to Help You Create a Sustainable Garden

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Sustainable living is a lifestyle that helps better the planet we live on and there are so many different ways to live sustainable. On this blog, we hope you have learned more about going paperless, learned more about composting basics and ways to repurpose items. But there is still so much more! Today, to continue this journey of giving you ways to live a more sustainable life, I am going to teach you how to create your own sustainable garden!

Tip 1: Create a Garden Design

In creating a sustainable garden it is important that you take some extra things into consideration. The main factor is to take into consideration how your garden is going to help the environment and not hurt it. So starting with the design of your garden, you’ll to want to put some thought into what you want from the garden. Maybe you are wanting a garden for more shade, a garden to grow fruits and vegetables or even just wanting a garden for a pretty landscape. Start planning on where you are going to put what and make sure you leave about 6-12 inches for small plants, 12-18 inches for 2-3 foot plants and 18-36 inches for taller plants.

Tip 2: Eco-Friendly Resources

Consider using rain barrels that can be used for watering your garden. Rain barrels are helpful because they use natural resources such as rainwater that way you don’t have to use drinking water that comes from your home. Another resource would be to fertilize your plants with manure. I know that manure isn’t one of the best smelling fertilizers but it is actually great for your plants! If you don’t have livestock at home, try getting manure from a farmer or farmer’s market in your local area. By using these two eco-friendly resources you are to promote a sustainable garden by using natural resources and saving money!

Tip 3: Let Nature Do Their Thing!

Beneficial insects are nature’s ways of controlling pests that could be found on your plants. By letting beneficial bugs do their thing you are saving yourself money and helping the environment by not buying harmful chemicals such as pesticides and other things. (However, please be aware of the difference between beneficial bugs and harmful bugs, link below this paragraph for details) Another way to benefit from nature is to let your plants produce seeds and collect them. By saving the seeds your plants produce you are able to use the seeds to grow more plants next year.

https://www.gardentech.com/blog/pest-id-and-prevention/identifying-good-and-bad-bugs-in-your-garden-infographic

Tip 4: Compost and Do Your Own Mulching

Instead of throwing away your dead leaves and plants try composting them instead! You can compost your dead leaves and plants into your fertilizers that will make your soil much richer and healthier. Another way to compost your dead plants and leaves is by mulching. Mulching is a technique done when you take dead leaves and plants, grass cuttings or even sticks and chop them up into what is called mulch. That mulch is then used for a protective layer that goes on top of the soil and around your plants to keep moisture for the soil and to overall help your garden (minimizes weeds too!).

Tip 5: Be Creative With Your Garden!

Get creative! Make it fun! You can do this by making wooden plant tags that allow you to label what you are growing and where you are growing it. Try using scrap wood and fall branches to create an organic fence around your garden and make your sustainable garden unique to you!

Follow us on Twitter and talk to us! We would love to hear about your sustainable gardens or more tips and tricks about ways you garden!

Resources:

https://sustainabilityx.co/15-sustainable-gardening-ideas-b22be80dfc7f

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/how-far-apart-should-i-plant-my-perennials/#:~:text=If%20you%20can’t%20find,perennials%2018%2D36%20inches%20apart.

It’s Time to Go Paperless!

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Suppose you have been with the EnviroJunkies family from the start. In that case, many of you understand that one of our primary goals is to share and promote ways for our readers and followers to live a more sustainable life. So what better way to do that than to share ways to go paperless.

“Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.“

“Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper a year; about 680 pounds per person.”

“The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most are packaging and junk mail.”

https://www.usi.edu/recycle/paper-recycling-facts/#:~:text=Approximately%201%20billion%20trees%20worth,is%20packaging%20and%20junk%20mail.

Things You Need to Live a Paperless Lifestyle

Converting to a paperless lifestyle is, of course, great for the environment. Still, some things need to be taken into consideration before you jump right in. For starters, starting a paperless lifestyle means that you need a couple of electronics and devices that you might not already have. Number one, you need some form of a scanner. Most smart phones have scanning apps that allow you to scan documents, however, if your phone doesn’t allow you to scan documents, you will need to purchase some form of a scanner to allow you to make copies of important documents that you might be throwing away. Number two, you need a computer: a laptop or a desktop works with enough memory that allows you to store your scanned documents. Your computer will also be essential in going paperless as you can convert to receive catalogs, subscriptions, or billing information via email. Finally, I wanted to mention that it isn’t necessary but is still really cool to have, is some form of iPad or tablet. Having a tablet allows you to take handwritten notes and do almost all the same things your computer does, but on a smaller, more accessible, and easy to use just about everywhere device. Snapshots of my favorite gadgets I use and highly recommend are below if you want to see what I use to live a paperless life!

Author’s Choices for a Paperless Lifestyle

iPhone 11 ProMax 256 GB

I use my iPhone to answer emails, make electronic billing/payments. I also use my phone to scan important documents.

Apple MacBook Pro 15′ (2017) 500 GB

I use my MacBook for all of my school work. I type my notes on it, write papers, answer emails and store my scanned documents on here, etc.

iPad Pro 11′ (2020) 256 GB

I use my iPad for note-taking (I also purchased the 2nd Generation iPad Pencil; however, you can use any form of stylus found just about anywhere if you wanted a cheaper option), I buy my books on my iPad so that I can read electronic copies, I answer emails, store scanned documents on here, etc.

Converting to the Paperless Lifestyle

(Once the Electronics and Devices are Purchased)

What I need to get rid offHow I get rid of it
Mailed CatalogsCall or email your subscription and learn about ways to receive promotions via email or text.
Printed DocumentsAll the documents that you have filed all around your living area scan them and upload them into your computer.
Paper/Mailing BillingSign up for electronic billing; most companies allow for payments to be made via email, phone, or online.
Paper Subscriptions (Magazines, books, etc)Subscribe to digital subscriptions that you can read via phone, tablet, or computer
NotebooksInstead, type up your notes on your electronic devices or download note-taking apps that allow you to write stuff down on your device

Once everything is scanned, make sure you recycle all of the papers you are throwing out and tag us @envirojunkiess on Twitter or @envirojunkies on Instagram! We would love to see your new lifestyle

References

https://www.jotform.com/how-to-go-paperless/

https://www.usi.edu/recycle/paper-recycling-facts/#:~:text=Approximately%201%20billion%20trees%20worth,is%20packaging%20and%20junk%20mail.

Learn About Recycling! How to Help with Plastic

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http://greenpagebd.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/87514.ngsversion.1465407024514.adapt_.1900.1.jpg

Plastic is material used worldwide and there is about 260 million tons of plastic that the world produces each year. Most plastic is not biodegradable (meaning, not being able to naturally decompose to an environmentally safe condition overtime). This is because plastic that is non-biodegradable is cheap to make and companies choose a cheaper option vs a more eco friendly option to produce. Going back to the 260 million tons of plastic the world makes, 79 percent is accumulating in landfills, ending up at the ocean and eventually sinking to the bottom where it damages sealife and the seafloor. 

What are Plastic Identification Codes?

How can you help? I’m so glad you asked! You can reduce how much plastic is going to landfills and ending up in the ocean by learning your plastic identification codes! On the bottom of most plastic packaging there is what is called plastic identification code that helps consumers be able to identify if what they bought is recyclable or not. Below, I have an image that explains what each number means, what products each number is usually on and if the plastic is recyclable or not. Screenshot it and use it everyday! Send it to family and friends! Teach people around you about plastic identification codes and let’s make a difference together!

The Numbers on Plastic Bottles: What do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? | Recycle symbol, Recycling information, Recycling

How do I use the Plastic Identification Code Chart?

Easy. All you have to do is start with the product you have and compare it to the product examples listed on the chart. From that point, once you have identified a similarity, confirm the symbol that you see on the bottom of your plastic container to the chart and see if what you have is recyclable or not. If I’m losing you, let me give you an example. Let’s say I have a gas container that I am trying to recycle and I noticed that it is listed on the chart under the column called product examples. From that point I need to see if my gas container is indeed the recycle kind so I then look at the bottom can for a triangle with the number 7… Ah I found a triangle and it says 7. Yay! After this the last thing I need to do is look at the recycle curbside column. If it says yes, my gas container is recyclable and if it says no, my gas container is not recyclable and it belongs in the trash… Whooohoo I looked at the last column and it is a yes! I am going to put it in my recycle bin and take it out on Saturday for recycling pick up in my neighborhood. On with recycling!

Where Can I Recycle?

You can recycle just about anywhere in Austin.

  1. You can recycle at your home, ask your fellow neighbor what day is recycle day.
  2. You can recycle at a local drop off station. Austin, Tx has many a drop off and recycle locations. To name a few, there are
    1. 2514 Business Center Dr, Austin, TX 78744. You just have to schedule a drop off time on their website https://austintexas.gov/department/recycle-reuse-drop-center
    2. 1602 Bench Mark Dr, Austin, Texas 78728. You can check out their website to see what else they take besides plastic at https://htownrecycling.com/
  3. You can recycle at your schools located in Austin, many campuses have recycling bins on campus that you can throw your recycling bottles in

Tag Us When You Recycle and Follow For More Facts About Recycling!

References:

http://www.bioplastics.guide/ref/fossil-based/non-biodegradable#:~:text=The%20term%20non%2Dbiodegradable%20describes,low%20cost%2C%20versatility%20and%20durability

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F701928291897773969%2F&psig=AOvVaw1jdo8LHtdIK_0xMIuliuIj&ust=1615386515504000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCLDSm–1o-8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAn

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/whopping-91-percent-plastic-isnt-recycled/#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%E2%80%9479%20percent,the%20oceans%2C%20the%20final%20sink.

When The Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide