With the stay at home order extended another month in Wisconsin, you may find yourself looking for new projects to occupy your time. In honor of Earth Day, here is a list of eco-friendly projects you can do at home.
1. CULTIVATE A VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Vegetable gardening is a great reason to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Growing your own produce means spending less at the grocery store, and you can re-grow many vegetables from kitchen scraps. If you are limited on space, building a raised garden bed may be a good option for you.
2. START A COMPOST BIN.
Composting is a great way to reduce what you put in a landfill. Food scraps from produce, coffee grounds, and tea bags are a few examples of what you can put in a compost bin. It is a great way to add nutrients to soil, that can be used in your garden or houseplants.
3. MAKE A RAIN BARREL.
Using a rain barrel can help conserve water. The captured rainwater can be used to water your lawn, garden and plants.
4. PLANT TREES TO SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILL.
Planting trees in specific places on your property can help conserve energy and lower your heating and cooling expenses. Trees can provide shade in the summer, and can break the chilly wind in the winter. Planting trees to shade your air conditioner can help it run more efficiently. To find out the best places to plant, visit the Arbor Day Foundation’s website.
5. BUILD A BIRD HOUSE.
Attracting birds to your yard can help control pests and increase flower pollination among other benefits.
6. MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD FEEDERS AND BIRD BATHS.
Re-purpose items such as old glassware, teacups, an empty wine bottle, or old plant pots and create your own feeders and bird baths.
7. ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.
Make your yard pollinator friendly by leaving a natural area for native plants to grow, plant flowers that attract butterflies and bees, choose a mix of plants that will bloom from early spring to late fall, and stop using pesticides.
8. UNSUBSCRIBE FROM JUNK MAIL.
Help save paper and unsubscribe your address from receiving junk mail. There are online tools you can use to remove your name and address from mailing lists. Return mail intended for previous residents. Cross out all barcodes on the envelope and write “return to sender: recipient moved” in an effort to stop the sender from mailing items to your address.
9. GO PAPERLESS.
Switch your bills to paperless to save paper. Set a reminder on your phone and/or write your bills on your calendar as a reminder to pay them. Going paperless will also help you cut back on the amount of personal papers to shred.
10. LEARN ABOUT YOUR LOCAL ENERGY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO SAVE MONEY.
Since the City of Oconomowoc is a Public Power community, there are seasonal incentive programs you may qualify for. Learn more on the City of Oconomowoc’s website.
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