The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

Where can you buy Handcrafted items? Etsy. There are loads of talented artists and craftspeople selling items at Etsy.

<shameless plug>I personally make handmade soap and candles.</shameless plug> I don’t sell at Etsy yet but hope to rectify that soon. The competition is fierce as the products are top notch. That’s great news for us as consumers. As a seller, I will certainly be kept on my toes.

1. Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. Note: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.

2. Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush. Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow (do not use a brick, it may dissolve and loose pieces may cause damage to the internal parts). Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.

3. Check toilet for leaks. Put dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak that should be repaired.

Just by adding a gallon jug of water to our existing toilet, we will save a gallon of water per flush. If we flush around 15 times per day, that’s a savings of 15 gallons per day and approximately 450 gallons each month. Each Month! We’d save even more by replacing our water-guzzling, five to seven gallon per flush toilets with one and a half gallon, ultra-low flush models.

Obviously not all toilets will accommodate a gallon jug but even a half gallon jug would be better than nothing. I’ve found a few interesting water conservation products such as the Toilet Tummy and the Fill Master on this website: http://amconservationgroup.com/catalog.aspx?catid=148
Each device costs $5.95 plus shipping and would pay for themselves very quickly I would think.

The amount of water saved is truly amazing when you think about it. Furthermore, if we can save that much water by simply adjusting the toilet, think of what we could save by conserving via the sink, tub and shower! Can you say Cha-Ching?

If searching Google doesn’t return the info that you need, try Earth911. If you scroll down, the right hand column lists each state. Click on your state to find recycling programs near you. This site has additional info that I found very helpful.

Did you know? An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now! But a can that has been recycled can be back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That’s a much a faster turn around time than for plastic and glass and a another great reason to use aluminum whenever possible.

Once I figured out what we can recycle in our area, I purchased bins to house our recyclables. I found regular 20 gallon plastic storage totes on sale at a local discount store. I needed one for each of the following categories: aluminum, glass, plastic, mixed paper, newspaper and tin cans. Because we read the paper online, I didn’t actually have to get a bin for newspaper.

Next - I marked my makeshift recycling bins for what they will contain and lined them with plastic bags. We’ll thoroughly rinse everything that goes into the bins first. This will cut down on smell and ANTS!

My final step was to start filling up the recycling bins. They fill up faster than you would think and it is causing me to rethink the curbside pickup service our city provides (for a monthly fee.) I’ll give the drop off centers a go for a few months to see how necessary pickup will be.