GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

Benefits To Growing Our Own Food

7/16/2018

blueberries, blueberry jam, preserves, Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Fresh Picked Blueberries

I believe I can safely say that everyone who is reading my Going True Green Blog at this time is blessed to have shelter, an apartment or house of some type. That fact offers all of us a powerful gift where we can grow some food for ourselves!

Perhaps we have a window ledge inside our apartment windows or access to the building’s flat roof that has been approved as a “green roof” by an architectural and engineer firm. Is there a balcony or some space for clay pots? (Try to avoid plastic pots because only glass, porcelain and wax paper do not leach carcinogens into our food or drink) Maybe we are fortunate to have a small back yard, plot of land or blessed to have a half acre or more of property.

No matter what the situation we have, we should be growing food for ourselves and perhaps some to share! The reasons and benefits to do so are numerous and the “How To” is much easier than we think.

Benefits and Reasons:
Save Money
No Pesticides
No Growth Hormones
No Chemicals or Fertilizers
No Genetically Modified Food
Cooking and Eating Healthier
Make Money Selling Surplus Crops
Self Satisfaction when Sharing with Others
Enjoying the Amazing Taste of Fresh Picked Food
Enjoying Time Together to Can or make Preserves
Abounding Compliments when Sharing with Others
Peace Within Ourselves when Giving to others at Church’s Food Kitchen
Less Trips to the Food Store, just Harvest Our Own Freshly Grown Food
Having Homemade Gifts for others at Christmas, such as Blueberry Preserves or Grape Jam

How To:
The first step to growing our own food is to start making our own Top Soil and Fertilizer, AKA - Composting.

Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Compost Strainer in Sink

Placing an open curved stainless steel strainer in the corner of your sink starts us off. When preparing a meal, deposit all food scrapes into the strainer, but NO meat or dairy. Never compost Meat, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics and Paper with Ink or print.

When the strainer is full, place contents into the compost bin. Let it be a small one for under the sink in apartments or a larger bin for outside. Compost bins come in all sizes and designs. Building one is also feasible, just make sure there is enough air flow to assist in decomposition. If there are animals about the outdoor area, make sure the compost bin locks tight to keep out all woodland neighbors.

Outdoor Compost Bin

Never have any one element in the compost bin build up to more than 2 inches high. A good blend of food scrapes, leaves, small twigs, dried out weeds, is the best way to go. Grass clippings should be used like salt. Just sprinkle on a little ever now and then, but grass is not necessary. Egg shells and coffee grinds are great and about 10 weeks later the finished product will be nutrient rich top soil that will nourish plants and keep weeds from growing.

Currently GTG is looking into finding a company to Sponsor an OnLine Class/Workshop at GoingTrueGreen.com about methods and benefits to composting. This OnLine Class/Workshop will operate like our FIRST money and earth saving Inter-Active On-Line Workshop on WATER. For more Info please visit our webpage at:
GTG's WATER Workshop and view our Trailer below.

The end results would be amazing if everyone, who could, started to grow some food. Even businesses and corporations that have big lawns, which cost them money, could be making money by having the land yield a crop such as organic corn. For most parts of America there are two crops of corn per year based on the weather. Every time I see a half acre or more of land that is not used for sports but has grass, grass and more grass, I see a waste compared to what God's Green Earth can yield for us in food. If everyone did what they could, we would have no need for Genetically Modified Food to feed the masses, because the masses will be feeding themselves. Thus we could delete hunger in our country, in our world.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

Video Trailer Above is for Going True Green's OnLine WATER Workshop. For More Info CLICK HERE
Our GTG OnLine WATER Workshop is sponsored by BBV Publishing - Telling the Untold Stories

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Fruit of the Vine

6/27/2018

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wine, grapes, going green, going true green, grape vines, grape jam, eating grapes, amish, peaceful valley, pergola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LED, LEDs, red grapes, patio, Peaceful Valley Furniture

Grapes abound on my Pergola made by the Amish

Five years ago, within my budget of little time and money, I began working on building a patio with a grape vine overhead. My entire backyard project is ten years in the making and I am still working toward completion.

Nevertheless, this year I should enjoy the fruits of my labor on the patio section and I believe my Grandfather would be proud. I planted two grape vines 5 years ago, one is Swen Red grapes for eating and the other, Bluebell for making jam.

I selected these two vines for their ability to flourish in my zone of weather patterns and to have organic grapes that have several medicinal values. The parts to my wooden Pergola kit were custom made to size by the Amish. The ordering and coordination was done through the Peaceful Valley Furniture store in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The customer service and workmanship was impeccable.

Peaceful Valley's Pergola

So while my grape vines where growing along my new fence, the Pergola was delivered at the end of August and pouring the cement footings was paramount before the weather turned cold at night. I didn't have the time to complete the top of the Pergola until November and the sand for the patio stones sat all winter long in a pile.

I installed Bistro style lights across the Pergola's top and each light bulb you see in the image to the right uses only 1 watt of electricity. They are LED bulbs and they are operating off of Solar electric power. The entire set of lights consumes a total of 15 watts of electricity, but is providing a light level equivalent to 375 watts of old style Edison incandescent bulbs.

First crop of Bluebell grapes

At the end of last year's growing season I had a small crop of grapes, however the night before harvest, the birds, squirrels and cats had a war. Despite my Owl facsimile, the next morning I found all the red eating grapes gone. Not one was left. The squirrels must have torn open my netting, the birds ate the grapes and cats ate some birds. The patio floor told the tale of a brutal scene. Smashed red grapes with squirrel and cat foot prints stained the stone, bird feathers were everywhere and a torn off bird's leg was left behind. For some reason, most of the Bluebell grapes survived and I was able to make a few jars of jam.

This year after the arrival of the patio table and benches, all made from 100% recycled plastic, many friends and family have expressed their enjoyment of the ambience created under the grape vines. Almost everyone has asked me why not grow grapes for making wine? My Grandfather made wine with his grapes and I remember all the work involved. So I am leaving the wine making to the professionals. The only thing left for me to do is buy a stronger netting before this year's harvest.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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Fertilizer Out Of Thin Air

8/14/2017

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Lightning, Thunder Storm, fertilizer, save money, sustainable living, going green, going true green, static electricity, you can't get money out of thin air, or can you?

Lightning from Space: NASA Image

Many of us have heard of sayings such as: “Money doesn’t grow on trees” and “You can’t just make money appear out of thin air.”

Well, let us try this… How would you like to know how you can save money by getting something for Free “Out Of Thin Air?” Too good to be true, right? This time the answer is TRUE!

Do you have flowers, plants, or crops? Do you spend money on buying fertilizer to help your garden grow? If yes, then you are wasting your money on a product that you really don’t need because you can get fertilizer for free out of thin air!

When a lightning storm occurs, that will naturally fertilize all living plants! The science behind this is as follows: Lightning causes the nitrogen molecules in the air to cling to the oxygen molecules. This bond forms nitrogen oxides. The nitrogen oxides will either fall from the sky or be collected by the rain drops. Fertilizer’s main ingredient is nitrogen. So stop buying a product that God provides to us for free.

Now to enhance this Free benefit from the sky, many farmers will run bare copper wiring around copper stakes to form a loop around the flower patch or tomato plants. The copper wire will attract static electricity and add more nitrogen to the soil. However, I found the following to be an easier step and a better solution.

First, nitrogen from lightning will not be enough for many plants to grow as strong or as big as you may like. However, that is seen by some people as one’s own opinion. NASA has data showing that more than 2,000 thunderstorms take place around the world at any given time. Combined, these storms produce at least 100 lightning flashes per second. Yet, in addition to nitrogen helping plant life, so does bacteria. That is the extra step I take to fertilizer my plants and food that I grow. COMPOSTING.

I make my own dirt, aka Top Soil, aka Fertilizer. To read more about how to fertilize for free and save even more money, go to my GoingTrueGreen.com Blog dated 4-7-2015 under the Topic called Composting. The title of the blog is: There Is Money In Composting

These are just two more Going True Green actions to living a more sustainable life that saves you money, energy, health, and our environment! Now that is Going True Green.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Read a Historical Novel that presents data based probabilities proving the truth.
Below, view the original Book Trailer

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Clay Pots & Plastic Buckets

6/30/2017

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Growing tomato plants in 5 gallon buckets, 5 gallon buckets, 5 gallon pails, growing food in plastic, storing food in plastic, clay pots

5 Gallon Plastic Pails

We all like to save money and improvising another way of doing something is very rewarding. However, we must take the time to evaluate all the details before implementing.

One example can be reusing old 5 gallon plastic buckets to grow food when you don't have enough ground space to plant. This is a great idea under the “Three Rs” rule known as: Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce. You may have also seen some YouTube videos and many different "How To" articles for growing food in 5 gallon buckets. I disagree with all of them.

I strongly suggest against reusing any 5 gallon plastic bucket for growing food. Residue from the original contents may remain in the bucket. Products such as Paint, Sheet Rock Spackle, or a toxic cleaning agent, may still lurk within the cracks and corners. In addition, the plastic will contain BPAs (BisPhenol A ) that can leach into the soil and then into your tomato plant, eggplant, or any food, being grown. Now, this won't kill you tomorrow, but why risk adding contributing factors to issues later on in your life. I see this like cigarette smoking, over time you may have problems.

Personally I avoid eating food grown in any plastic container, served in any plastic container, or stored in any plastic container. Only three (3) things Do Not leach carcinogens into our food and drink. They are Glass, Porcelain and Wax Paper. So instead of 5 gallon plastic buckets, try a good old Clay Pot that is just about the same size of any 5 gallon plastic container. Clay pots have been used for thousands of years and still don’t cost much. They can be reused year after year and are great for growing inside when winter arrives. If you wish to learn more facts on BPAs, please use this LINK to visit my page at EnergyHotwire.com.

We all need to live a more sustainable life and growing some of our own food that we consume is definitely part or that solution.

Bill Lauto, at Going True Green
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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TELOMERE, by L. J. Williams "Telling The Untold Stories™ BBV Publishing

Watch Video Trailer for the Novel Telomere below...

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Springtime Rapture Ruptured

4/6/2017

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Aah, Springtime! The mild warm breeze, the birds singing, the crisp fresh air, the green colors emerging, and the blissful quiet of new life being born. Until the rapture of springtime is ruptured by the bellowing noise of Leaf Blowers!

Springtime, clean air, leaf blower, composting, going green, going true green, nutrient, topsoil, mulch, lawn care, lawn contractor

Springtime Rapture is Ruptured by Leaf Blower Noise! Not One, But Two!

Once upon a time, leaves were raked up into piles for kids to jump in, then the leaves were added to compost piles to make nutrient rich topsoil. Today, we pay for "Spring" Clean Ups, we pay to blow leaves around, pay others to haul away compostable material, pay to create Noise Pollution, and pay more money to buy topsoil and fertilizer!

Can someone inform me when us humans created this new "paying" process outside the realm of what God gives us for free and nature's genius design?

I have NO tolerance for Leaf Blowers and all that is consumed by them: First consumed is your money, then gasoline, then oil, then the serenity of Springtime with a noise level that literally ruptures the rapture of Springtime. The end results are the thief of natural nutrients, so you spend more money buying mulch and fertilizer after paying someone to haul away your own FREE fertilizer! Then the sum total from using Leaf Blowers is damage to our environment and our health. My ears hurt just thinking of the noise level produced by these inventions.

The least homeowners and lawn contractors can do is use a vacuum (electric and charged with solar power) that chops up the leaves to help compost them. I say this because I have seen State contractors cleaning up a public park and along the outside fence they are blowing leaves into the street! They should be issued a summons. Also contractors can just as easily have two men with two different sized rakes, going through bushes to accumulate the leaves on a drop-cloth for collection or composting. The time difference is non-existing because blowing leaves all over takes just as much time to blow them back into a pile and off the street or lawn. Just look at the photo above!

I have multiple blog posts on this topic, just two Links are provided in the verbiage above. Also please peruse these topics by using my Category List on the right side of this page. You will emerge with rested ear drums, better health, more money in your pocket, and a better appreciation to a time God gave us that we call spring!

Bill Lauto, at Going True Green
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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This EASTER, read a Historical Novel that presents data based probabilities proving the truth.

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Waterless Lawns

7/26/2016

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Water, Drought, Southern California drought, California drought, water shortages, Los Angeles, saving water, rain barrels, rock gardens, waterless lawns

A Waterless Lawn

Several GoingTrueGreen.com followers have been asking me about the wave hitting the West Coast to combat the water drought in Southern California. That wave of improvisation is known as Waterless Rock Gardens or Rock Lawns. After all, to use clean fresh drinking water for your grass lawn just doesn't make sense in a severe drought. At least this makes sense to all the households in Los Angeles where income doesn't afford watering lawns. Those lawns are now all brown.

The reason for not watering is because there isn't enough water. Yet, if that isn't reason enough, there are higher water costs and fines to endure. For the average and low income families, that is all understood. However, in towns such as Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, and Bel Air, those lawns have been "green" the longest according to local news papers. Some of the very people maintaining lush green lawns for as long as they can in this devastating drought, are financially secured celebrities that many low income kids look up to. Some reports have claimed that well known and very vocal environment friendly celebs, are the most heinous offenders! Only after being identified and embarrassed did they take steps to save clean drinking water.

Rain Barrel

Now taking steps to save water was made very easy by the state and cities of California. Four years ago they offered lawn owners $1.50 per square foot to replace your lawn. These tax credits had Los Angeles homeowners, along with commercial businesses, pulling out a million and a half square feet of grass. The grass has been replaced with rocks, vines, trees, shrubs, gravel, cacti, succulents, and perennial plants. Homeowners earned even more money from the utilities if they used drip irrigation, weather over-ride systems, and eco-friendly sprinkler heads. I even suggest catching rain water off your roof with Rain Barrels. For more of my blogs on this subject visit More Garden, Less Lawn.

Recently the L.A.'s DWP, Department of Water and Power, increased the amount from $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot for grass removed so even more water can be saved. At that rebate price, some land owners could make one or two thousand dollars. However, before you run out to buy rocks and tear up your lawn, you have to follow set rules. You can find details on your local town or city website. Such as the LADWP, (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), website for how to get pre-approval to present before and after proof. Without following the rules for proposed changes, you may not receive any rebate or tax credit.

All of us must take water saving steps, drought or no drought. The reasons are many and one is because clean drinking water has already become hard to find in many places around the world. A topic that I address in my first Online Workshop which is about WATER.

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
Contribute your comments!

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Telling the Untold Stories: TELOMERE by L. J. Williams

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Follow Up On Weed Killer

8/24/2015

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albert einstein, Einstein, Science, weed killer, going green

Albert Einstien

I received the following email from a Follower and would like to share this with everyone:

Hi Bill,
I used a very similar mixture two weeks ago with great success. Then a friend posted it on Facebook and some chemist came back with a reply that the combo of the chemicals was MORE toxic than Roundup. There was something in the Dawn detergent we used that combined with something else to become quite lethal. If I remember his response correctly, it was something to the effect that a similar dose of Roundup would be enough to kill 6 rats, while this mixture would kill 60. We used Epsom salts. Any thoughts?
Ted

Hi Ted,
Excellent query and thank you for requesting additional information from us.

I went over this scenario with a Chemist I have worked with and the first thing she stated was, "Everything is relative." Yes, the mixture can actually calculate out to ten times stronger than Roundup, (that is your 6 to 60 rats ratio) but like all chemical mixtures, (roundup or any salt with vinegar and soap) the results will depend on many different factors. For Example: How much was applied, was the dose applied topically, orally or injected? Then the size and weight of the recipient comes into play. When the mixture is more toxic than Roundup, an oral consumption is used. Thus intelligent use of any chemical mixture must be honored, because in all cases, oral consumption of any chemical mixture will do serious harm and should always be kept away from children and animals. When I mix some, I use all of the solution and never store any amount.

So depending on the ratios, too much of anything can be lethal. The brand name of the soap or type of salt will not make one solution worst than another, the amount does. Nevertheless, I find the homemade version comes with more control:

First: I only make what I use.
Second: When the recipe is sprayed onto weeds (best when small and young), if a few drops land on some nearby flowers, they will not die off. The leaf may dry up, but unlike roundup, the flowering plant will not be killed. If a drop of roundup lands on a leaf, it will spread throughout the plant and probably kill the whole plant.
Third: The lingering effect depends on how much was applied and how fast that amount will dissipate. The salt and vinegar mix does dissipate after a few rainy days and will not hinder growth of plants in the future when sprayed or poured on in sensible amounts.

In addition, and I am sure you are aware of this, there are concerns created by reports of various weed killers with various ingredients that "may" be causing a range of health issues, especially in children. I have not read any report on vinegar, salt and soap getting into our drinking water and creating concerns from studies that show the same toxic results from weed killer sprays. The DEC stated 124 detections of Atrazine in 51 locations of groundwater, just on Long Island, New York!

Atrazine is dangerous and is an unacceptable risk to our health and our environment. After being banned in the European Union back in 2004, the United States is just starting to follow with banning the product in spring of 2014. Does the fear of lost business have such a strong grip on America that we have to wait ten years longer to do what the rest of the world already did? This chemical has the largest use, 76 million pounds dumped on our soil each year. Scientific studies proved Atrazine is an endocrine disruptor. The New York Times ran a story in August 2009 about the potential for birth defects or low birth weights with an Atrazine intake well below federal standards. The other two pesticides used in weed killers are Metalaxyl and Imidacloprid. Neither have been addressed as of yet. Only God knows how much time will be needed to ban them.

So since everything is relative and with a larger picture in mind, I choose to use my own homemade mixture and be sensible when using it. I hope this helps. You may visit the original Going True Green Blog post with the Home Made Weed Killer info by clicking HERE.

Bill Lauto, Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com

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Deep Sea Dumping

5/13/2015

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Deep Sea Life

Last week I posted on Going True Green's Blog that I was going to share the answer Dr. Sylvia Earle gave me about a troubling situation developing at a Wastewater Treatment plant on the East Coast. What I heard from an inside source had me concerned as an Environmentalist, but perhaps I didn't know all the facts about Deep Sea Dumping and I was over reacting. Therefore, I asked Dr. Earle about her thoughts on the topic because she is a marine biologist, explorer, author, lecturer, National Geographic explorer-in-residence, first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, named first Hero for the Planet in 1998, and provided wise consultation to America’s Presidents. Below is the situation:

I have recently been told that New York's Nassau County Department of Public Works, Water and Wastewater Engineering Unit operating with the 730 million FEMA money at Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant has resigned to some choices that concern me greatly.

The Plant was damaged and shut down for 50 hours by the storm Sandy. The result of 50 hours of down time was 200 million gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Atlantic and surrounding properties. The solution: Harden all equipment and build more resilient Flood walls around the entire perimeter. However, instead of raising equipment and building surrounding walls to a height that offers maximum protection, they are going to the minimum height just so they don’t - and I quote, “Waste Taxpayer’s money.” Unquote.

More importantly I was told that this Wastewater Treatment Plant, when dealing with advanced Nitrogen Reduction and Lower Phosphorus levels, will NOT meet the new lower levels that were established. The Wastewater Plant’s solution is to obtain permission and / or wavier from New York State to build a pipe line for conducting Deep Sea Dumping. A pipe line large enough to drive cars through will dump treated wastewater high in Nitrogen into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island.

So with years of data proving the damage done by Algae Over Growth, large swings in pH, and Dissolved Oxygen, from high levels of Nitrogen, are my concerns with Deep Sea Dumping justified?

Deep Sea Dumping: "Don't do it."

Dr. Sylvia Earle

According to Sylvia Earle's response, my concerns are well justified. After hearing the words, Deep Sea Dumping, Dr. Earle's reaction was a short gasp and then a sharp "to-the-point" answer, "Don't do it." At 81 years of age, unequaled credentials, and speaking at Cold Spring Harbor's National Laboratory, that is all she had to say.

Nitrogen has become a tremendous problem in our groundwater, bays, harbors, and coastlines. The source of Nitrogen is diversified and comes from fertilizers on non-organic farms or grass lawns to outdated septic systems. Also we now have volatile organic chemicals or VOCs, increasing in concentrations. VOCs can be found in most hair shampoos and other cosmetics. They are all labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely carcinogenics.

I tried to obtain additional help from news reporters since I learned about this possible Deep Sea Dumping, so that we can ascertain the spoken information to me is viable with a second confirming source. I have yet to heard back from any news media. If this comes to fruition and we could have prevented another Deep Sea Dumping abuse, I will never be able to get Dr. Earle's words "Don't do it," out of my head.

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
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There's Money In Composting

4/7/2015

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Composting: Black Gold

Some may think that composting is only for people who have a garden with flowers or grow food. After all, who would want to “deal” with something like composting and why? Well, if just a few of the following items sound persuasive to you, perhaps you would be one to deal with composting just to have rich black soil that will:

SAVE MONEY
Having your own compost to use around your plants and garden will replace the need to buy chemical fertilizers. Also compost is known to suppress insects so buying chemical pesticides may not be needed. Buying replacement bushes can be avoided as compost improves plant resistance to diseases. In addition, how does a lower water bill sound? Compost creates better water retention and prevents erosion.

CROPS WILL ABOUND
Agricultural crops in your garden with flourish when you regularly add compost. Higher yields will look and taste delicious. Flowers will be robust as the soil holds beneficial nutrients and nitrogen, along with earthworms. The soil’s pH will be stabilized as contaminants are filtered out.

REDUCE YOUR SOLID WASTE AND GREENHOUSE GAS
With composting year round, you are removing large amounts of waste from the solid waste stream. Less garbage to be hauled away is another benefit. Methane, which is a greenhouse gas and twenty-one times more potent than CO2, is also reduced when you compost.

So How Does One Compost? Start with an open curved stainless steel strainer that fits in the corner of your sink. (see image one) Your food scraps are tossed into this strainer and when full, carried outside to your compost bin. If winter weather isn’t cooperating due to snow piling up, keep your food scraps inside a small pail under the sink until you can dump it outside in your compost bin. (see image two) Compost bins for outside come in all sizes and designs. You can even build one yourself, just make sure you have enough air flow to assist in decomposition. If you have animals about your area, make sure your compost bin locks tight to keep out your woodland neighbors. (see image three) Never compost any of the following: Meat, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics, Paper with Ink. More information will be available at GoingTrueGreen.com on composting, methods and benefits.

Image One

Image Two

Image Three

When done correctly, composting should not have any smells. Compost itself will absorb odors. The secret recipe is to have food scraps mixed with some leaves and a few twigs that you pruned. An occasional small pinch of lawn trimmings and you are cooking! Along with earthworms, the natural heat from decomposing does the rest to save you money, energy and our earth.

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
Contribute your comments!

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Homemade Weed Killer

7/9/2014

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Summer, yard, yardwork, garden, weeds, weed killer, atrazine, environment, health, Roundup, weed killer, poison, weeds, weed spray, monsanto

Summer Weeds

So the first few weeks of this year's Summer have come and gone. If you are fortunate to own a house with a yard, then you may have also noticed that the weeds came, but have not gone.
Before you go to the stores to buy the latest batch of poisons to roundup your weeds and kill them, why not make your own safe, cheaper, organic and just as effective solution. Interested? Here is the VERY simple recipe:

Bill Lauto, Going Green, Going True Green, weed killer, organic weed killer, home made weed killer, natural weed killer, environmentalist

No Lab Needed

Mix 80 percent organic vinegar, 15 percent sea salt, 5 percent dish-washing liquid. You can try using a spray bottle to apply, but keep spray away from all other flowers and plants. Also the salt may clog the spray nozzle. I pour my mixture onto the weeds generously for the best results. By the next day, the weeds and grass in the cracks were all shriveled up.

FYI: The dish-washing liquid cuts through the weed's protective coating of oil on the leaves, thus allowing the salty vinegar to be absorbed better. Below are before and after photos.

Weeds Before Photo

Weeds 1 Day After Photo

The studies on weed killer sprays show one of the three worst toxic chemicals in weed killer sprays is being found in many groundwater locations. For more details see my Blog posted on 6/21/2013 called Weedkiller vs Drinking Water.

Atrazine is dangerous and is an unacceptable risk to our health and our environment. After being banned in the European Union back in 2004, the United States is just starting to follow with banning the product in the spring of 2014. Does the fear of less business revenue have such a strong grip on America that we have to wait ten years longer to do what the rest of the world has already implemented? This chemical has the largest use, 76 million pounds dumped on our soil each year. Scientific studies proved atrazine is an endocrine disruptor. The New York Times ran a story in August 2009 about the potential for birth defects or low birth weights with an atrazine intake well below federal standards. The other two pesticides used in weed killers are metalaxyl and imidacloprid. Neither have been addressed as of yet. Only God knows how much time will be needed to ban them.

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
Contribute your own formulas when commenting back to us!

4 Comments