Ecohouse

Ecohouse
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Sunday, January 30, 2011

We're Back!

Winter Break

After a long and relaxing holiday break, Winter quarter is back in full swing...and so is life at the ecohouse! In my last post, I mentioned that it was my goal over break to share what I have learned about eco-friendly living with my family and friends. My family was really excited about the new information, and were on board with trying to recycle more. They are now recycling aluminum, plastic, and cardboard!

Now that they are recycling more, my next goal is to have them start their own composting bin. While living at the ecohouse, I have found composting to be my favorite lifestyle change. It is very simple to do, and there are many benefits. Not only does composting divert trash from the landfill, it also creates nutrient-rich soil that can be used in the place of chemical fertilizers. While my mom finds composting to be interesting, I am still trying to convince her that it is easy and mess-free (for more information about how to start your own compost bin, refer to my previous post). For now, increasing their amount of recycling is a step in the right direction, and I am happy that they were so receptive to the idea.

Winter Quarter Projects

Every quarter the ecohouse residents devote 14 hours of work to projects that pertain to sustainability and eco-friendly living. This quarter, the three of us have all chosen a common theme: DIY. There is a large amount of information available related to do-it-yourself projects, so we decided that narrowing down some of the best methods for sustainable DIY projects would be worthwhile. We will be updating the blog throughout the quarter with what we have found so that you can try sustainable DIY too!

Since much of our time during Spring quarter will be devoted to making our own food by gardening outdoors, we decided that we wanted to learn about other sustainable options that can be made year-round. Jim's main focus this quarter will be on making food. He has already successfully made sprouts and homemade yogurt (posts will be coming soon on how to make these yourself). More projects are in the works to make Kombucha tea among other things...stay tuned for more!

Kate is more interested this quarter in DIY body care. She is in the process of making face/body scrubs that can be made out of simple ingredients that are all-natural and nourishing to your skin. Most body products out on the market actually contain petroleum and toxins, and that is not good for our bodies! She will be making guest posts to talk about what products she has found to be the easiest to make and the most sustainable.

As for me, I am going to be looking into green cleaning products in addition to sustainable food ideas. Growing up, my mom was always very meticulous about cleaning our house, and this is a habit that I have carried with me into my adult life. As strange as it may seem, I actually enjoy cleaning. It always feels great to have a clean house. Cleanliness is especially important living at the ecohouse, where people are constantly taking tours or visiting. At this point, all of the cleaners I use are considered "green," as most of them have ingredients derived from coconuts. However, many of the eco-friendly cleaning products on the market are expensive and come in packaging that isn't recyclable. It is my goal to make my own cleaning products this quarter that are inexpensive and sustainable while still being effective.

So that's the breakdown of this quarter's projects. Look for my next post coming soon on how to make sprouts!