5 Ways to Be Friendly, from Country to City

I grew up on a wooded 7-acer plot in the middle of Western Maryland, and little did I know that many of our habits as residents of such an out-of-the way piece of land were in fact following a very eco-friendly route. It was only after dorm life, and then apartment life, that I realize how many opportunities for green living country life offered.

Luckily, I came to adapt these techniques to my more urban lifestyle, so in that spirit here are five eco-friendly tips adopted from country living:

Compost:
Most of the food we ate on a daily basis, from the egg shells for breakfast to the salad with dinner, were fuel for compost. Decomposable materials, usually plant materials, are an everyday food, but most of the time the core or stem of the plant go right into the trash. Instead of chucking these pieces, we would dispose of them in a compost heap behind our garden.
But we don’t all have the luxury of a place to dump the smell. Instead use a gallon Tupperware container, or specialty-made home compost container. Remember to shake and air out the compost periodically to allow for proper aeration and decomposition. Tips for proper compost are easy to find, and as with everything, compost takes time, but it creates highly nutritious soil and is great for reducing unnecessary waste. Use it in your houseplants for maximum effect.

Home-Grown:
There’s nothing quite like a ripe tomato, still warm from the sun, and in the summer we would live off of what grew in my dad’s garden; everything from blueberries to sweet peas to asparagus (which I don’t recommend, since it grows like a weed). Our garden saved us a bundle on produce and you couldn’t get much fresher.
But a garden like ours isn’t very practical for most apartment of urban living. Instead, try potted houseplants or vegetables. You can set them on windowsills or in plant-stands. Just like a normal house plant, they help filter air for a fresher environment as well as producing literal “fruits of your labor.” Tomatoes are great with a big enough pot, as are peas with a trellis. And with the recent salmonella scare, you can settle those tomato cravings yourself. Not mention, natural gardening can be easy too, escpecally in smaller spaces.

Air Dry:
Here’s where we find the good, old-fashion clothes-line. In the summer, we hung our sheets and clothes outside to dry. It reduced heat produced by the clothes dryer as well as saved energy. But while this was great for country living, it can be hard in a metropolis, or even a dorm room.
Instead try investing in an indoor drying rack. It’s easy to store since it folds down and it’s a great way to save on energy (and money) when using public dryers. The clothes also tend to retain the smell of the detergent when hung indoors, so make sure you like the scent.

From the Tap:
I lived off of well-water as a kid, and when I needed it on-the-go, reusable plastic water bottles were brought in. While my tap water was high in iron, it also lacked many of the additives most city water has. When I learned living in a dorm or an apartment can bring the quality of water into question, I decided to invest in a water filtration system. A Brita pitcher or Pur filter both cut down on the amount of plastic waste caused by water bottles, and if you really need an on-the-go, try a reusable water bottle. They last longer and usually hold more.

AC and Heat Only When Necessary:
Air conditioning is a great invention, I will be the first to say it, seeing as I didn’t have central AC in the house until I was seven, but it’s not always necessary. Trying turning off the AC on some of those more pleasant days and opening a few windows. By allowing a better air flow you’ll find your body will become better acclimated to the season, causing you to actually feel the heat less. In addition you’ll cut down on energy costs from a constantly running AC. Standing fans work well to aid air circulation. I recommend the Bionaire, but just about any model will do.
The same applies to heating. I grew up with a wood-burning stove, and on snowy nights, it’s a must, but much of the time I found wrapping up with a blanket worked just as well. You’ll actually feel better by allowing your body exposure to seasonal temperature, not to mention keeping the house cooler in the winter helps inhibit germ incubation, keeping you healthier too.

AceFisch | My Bio & Articles

I am an junior English major/ Philosophy minor at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Currently I am spending the spring of 2009 studying at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.