Foremost Focal: Focusing on your designs

It Works!

I went online to drop my name from catalog lists.  I was shocked to see that we received over 50 unwanted catalogs!  And that's not counting the catalogs that were not on the list.  I've noticed the amazing difference in our mailbox and in our paper recycling bin.  I also received the first email from a company verifying that I was removed from their list.  Sure they wanted to remind me that I can always purchase online or just call them for information but that's a whole lot better than sacrificing tree after tree.  Try it- it works!

Sometimes you wonder if what you are trying to teach your kids ever really gets through.   I am thoroughly enjoying watching my adult sons recycle.  Yeah, when they were teenagers they moaned and made faces when I would catch them throwing out something that should have gone in the recycling bin.  One son has it easy because in our town we have curbside recycling pick-up but I was very happy to see my Chicago son load up his car and stop at the recycling center on his way to work.  As he awaits his first child, I'm hoping that he's persistent in teaching her the same respect for the environment.  Keep at them - it works!

Welcome to our  

Environmentally Friendly page!

Right now, people in Texas are probably thinking that they will never run out of water! Of course, it's been raining through the Midwest for the past few days as well and our county is currently under a flood watch. However, the fact is that some areas are experiencing drought conditions and seeing their water resources shrinking.  So what can we do each day to preserve this most important resource - one with which we literally could not live without?  Here are some ideas from several different earth-friendly resources:

• Use what remains of ice cubes in your drink to water your plants.

• Purchase an easy to install low flow shower head with a turn-off mechanism so the water doesn't run while you're soaping up. 

• Start washing your dishes with just 2 to 3 inches of warm water in the sink.  Rinse the dishes over the soapy water so by the time you hit the big pots, you have enough water to clean them.

• Throw used tissues (and the dead bugs in them!) into a wastebasket.  Flushing the toilet can waste 5 to 7 gallons of water.

• Take a bucket into the shower with you.  Use the water to flush the toilet.

• Instead of watering widely scattered plants with a sprinkler, you can buy special watering cones that fit over 2-litre pop bottles.  The cone is pushed into the ground and "leaks" the water through small holes directly to the roots of individual plants.

• Mulch around your outdoor plants.  This helps keep the soil moist and better yet, stops a lot of weeds from growing.

• When planning your garden look for "xeriscape" plants.  These need less water and still provide a beautiful landscape.

• Hosing off a driveway is probably the most inefficient and costly way to clean it.  Get out the broom and push off some calories while you're at it!

• Wash your produce over a bowl or pan and then use that water in the garden.

• Composting is not only great for the garden but helps reduce water consumption.  How?  Garbage disposals require a great deal of water in their operation.

More or less is a common phrase used every day.   Eartheasy is a website devoted to helping people have more with less - less impact on the environment, less pollution, less energy, less health risks.  What does all this less mean to you?  Check out their website www.eartheasy.com and see.*

*We provide names of websites we think you might be interested in.  The views and information on these sites are theirs and theirs alone and in no way necessarily reflect those of Foremost Focal Beads.

November: Cleaning the environmentally friendly way

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If you have a topic you'd like to see us tackle, email us.