Happy Earth Day!

The first Earth Day was started almost 40 years ago as a way to promote environmental awareness through local, state, national and global efforts, with the common goal of achieving a healthy and sustainable planet for future generations. You may be asking what you can do to help. Well the answer is simple....start at home! Here are a few tips that will help you "be green" (and these are just the tip of the iceberg):

Support your neighborhood Farmers Market/CSA and buy local

• When you buy locally, the food is fresher because it hasn't traveled so far; therefore, less fossil fuel used for transport. Shorter distances also mean fewer preservatives, which are commonly used to make sure the food is stable by the time it gets to your plate.
• Added bonus: Local farmers who sell at farmers markets or have farm stands generally get to keep the majority of each dollar spent.
• Buying local means eating seasonally. Farmers can only sell what they produce, so you, as the consumer, are getting the food at peak season. Look for these delicious foods coming up in NY this May: Asparagus, Broccoli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach.

Be an educated consumer.

• Being green doesn't mean that you have to forgo all meat and be a vegetarian, but you can take a stand and not purchase foods from companies that are inhumane to animals. Select meats and poultry from animals that are grass-fed or free range (cage-free). Again, check your local farmers market for these tasty meats, which are usually hormone and antibiotic-free to boot.

Refrigerator Tips:

• Keep the temperature constant. Don't stand in front of your refrigerator with the door open for too long. As my father used to say, "Nothing is going to fly out!" Make sure your refrigerator and freezer have airtight seals.
• Cover liquids and wrap foods in the refrigerator. They make the compressor of the refrigerator work harder because of moisture released.

Water tips:

• Use tap not bottled water. NYC tap water meets all the state and federal health based drinking standards and it tastes great. Like it cold? Don't run the water until it cools, fill a pitcher and keep it in the refrigerator to chill. Not only are you helping to conserve water, you're also saving money too!
• Don't let the water run while washing dishes. Kitchen faucets use 2 to 3 gallons a minute. Filling a basin only takes 10 gallons to wash and rinse*.
• Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth and save about two gallons in one brushing session.

Reuse plastic bags from the store.

• If you're like me, you have a stack of plastic bags sitting in your cabinet. Bring them to the supermarket the next time you go instead of using new ones. Or bring your own canvas bag that you can use over and over again.

Just like in rethinking your diet, one small change goes a long way.

Remember, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle!

Enjoy!

For more information about Earth Day and what you can do to "Go Green," visit: http://ww2.earthday.net/ and www.thedailygreen.com

For a farmers Market near you visit: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/
For more energy saving tips visit: http://www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/100tips.asp

*Source: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/ways_to_save_water/dodont.shtml