Keeping a small flock of backyard chickens has numerous benefits. These feathered friends make lively pets, are endlessly entertaining for children, and provide garden fertilizer. Having laying hens is an excellent way to boost local food production and is possible in both urban and rural settings. Ideally, hens produce a steady supply of fresh, nutritious eggs and decrease our reliance […]
Organic waste — from food scraps to yard trimmings — are compostable. While you can compost these items at home, most of the materials end up in commercial composting facilities or landfills. This Earth911 quiz tests your knowledge of what can be composted in a commercial composting facility and how it works. Are you ready to break down commercial composting? […]
The average water heater lasts anywhere from 6 to 13 years. These appliances require upkeep. Heating water accounts for about 20% of your household energy use, so it’s important that your water heater runs as efficiently as possible. If you hop in the shower and the water doesn’t warm up at all, your water heater may not be turning on. […]
If you’re planning a move soon, your mind is likely a whirlwind of checklists, dates, and deadlines. Factor in the impact your impending move may have on the planet and things get even more stressful (think: the horror of lugging 10 trash bags to the curb on move-out day). Here is a list of tips that will help shrink the […]
If your summer water bills – or your local government’s water use restrictions – have you doubting your future as a vegetable gardener, take hope. Farmers in dry climates have developed a suite of strategies to grow crops with little to no irrigation. Called dry farming, or dryland farming, these strategies can be adapted to your home garden. So even […]
When it comes to taking steps towards a zero-waste lifestyle, one easy step you can take at home is reducing the amount of food wasted. While it may seem like a small step, it can have a big impact. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, between 30% to 40% of all food in the United States is wasted annually, food […]
When you think about climate change, food waste might not be the first issue that comes to mind. But over two-thirds of household food is lost or wasted — a staggering amount — and approximately 8% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions result from food loss and waste. Those emissions enter the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise and drive […]
Many regions throughout the United States — and throughout the world — are experiencing drought. As climate change makes droughts more frequent and severe, it’s more important than ever to be careful to conserve water. But does that mean you have to give up your summer garden? One of the best options is to choose plants that are native to […]
When we hear the word “bees,” most people think of honeybees, but there’s a lot more to the bee world than just honeybees. And as wonderful as backyard honey is, honeybees are not all they’re cracked up to be. Could your backyard hive be hurting native pollinators? And can you protect wild pollinators without giving up your honey? The answer […]