Trash Talk

by Dave and Lillian Brummet

Water Conservation in the Kitchen

It can sometimes be difficult to visualize the importance that simple conservation efforts can have, especially when we are bombarded with pro-consumption information regularly. Let's take a look at what a few changes in the activities around the kitchen sink can do.

Rather than running the tap when cleaning vegetables, use a bowl of water. Later, reuse it to water outdoor plants. Rinse out your coffeepot, then re-use the coffee-water for outdoor plants, the compost or the lawn. Rich in nitrogen as well as some trace minerals, coffee residue should be diluted with water before using on plants. Choose a different group of plants every day and you may find you no longer have to water or fertilize them very often at all.

Cooking water (pasta, steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes etc.) can be used in the same way: just let it cool first. All of these water sources contain extra nutrients that will aid your gardens immensely. Very hot cooking water can be used to kill weeds. Simply pour it directly on the weed and around its roots.

After meals, scrape your dishes into the compost bucket before rinsing. While rinsing, place other soiled dishes, jars and utensils underneath while you work; it will begin the presoaking process, reducing labor and water use. Anything caught in the sink basket can be contributed to the compost, too.

Save about five gallons of water per washing by doing dishes in a few inches of hot soapy water. It may seem funny to do this, but by turning the hot water tap on to rinse the dishes into the sink, the level will slowly increase and will maintain a hot temperature. This way, another sink full of water solely for rinsing is no longer necessary. We sometimes use rinse water to pre-soak difficult-to-clean dishes as well.

In the winter, the water from washing or soaking dishes should be left to cool. This way it releases its valuable heat into the home, rather than the sewer. Dishwashers--the ones that are not built-in--drain into the sink, allowing reuse of the water for pre-rinsing heavily soiled dishes. The water can be trapped in the sink, or a soiled pot, where the heat is slowly released into the home, saving energy costs in the winter. Of course, the opposite applies in the summer, when extra heat is not desirable.

Very hot water is not always necessary for all washing and rinsing needs. Usually, by the time we are finished washing our hands, the water is just beginning to warm up, so all we have really done is heat up our pipes. We can conserve water easily by turning off the tap while lathering hands. The running water is only necessary for initial wetting, then rinsing.

Now, if you measured the amount of water saved each day by those simple methods we just described, there would be dozens of gallons of pure, drinkable water left untouched in the reservoir. By reducing hot water consumption, our energy bills are a little bit smaller. All this, just from the kitchen sink!

Lawn Mowing

Ahh, summer, with the beautiful twittering of birds preparing their nests for the unborn. What? Can't hear them? The low rumble of lawn mowers not only drowns out natures' symphony, but also disturbs skittish wildlife and sleepy neighbors.

Gasoline-powered mowers produce a cut that results in greater water loss and increased disease problems in lawns. Although many are now made with 4-stroke engines (much less polluting than 2-stroke engines), they still produce emissions.

There is a returned interest in push mowers due to environmental awareness of gas-engine pollution and electricity use. Typically, crowded cities are resulting in smaller lawns, reducing the need for large, heavy mowers. Push mowers are light and easy to operate and, being much smaller, take up less storage room and do not pollute. These mowers are actually quite cheap and many stores are rising to meet the increased consumer interest. We have read that seven-blade models are considered better than five-blade models.

There are other choices on the market than electric, push and gas lawn mowers. There are solar-powered models, too. We read of one featured in Omni magazine that operated on its own, traveling the entire lawn area during the day and resting at night. It looked to be about the size of a vacuum power-head. Apparently, a special fence is used to keep it within the lawn boundary and there is a built in alarm to prevent theft.

Old defunct lawn mowers that are not operating still have some use. Remove the blade, motor, cords, wires and gas tank, leaving the four-wheeled caddy and its push handle. Secure a box to this and create a wheeled cart that is perfect for harvesting or toting material.

The metal frame of most lawn mowers is recyclable and its wheels are often prized by workshop-creation crafters. The motor and remaining parts might also be appreciated at a repair shop where they could be reused.

There are alternatives to traditional grass, from wildflower mixes to low-growing ground covers, which rarely need mowing. Landscaping a portion or the entire area with drought-tolerant, wildlife supporting plants is a very environmentally active engagement that either eliminates or reduces mowing needs. And really, who couldn't use a little more time on their hands?

So get your exercise, reduce air and noise pollution; save yourself some money and have a healthier lawn. Or let the sun run the mower for you. Either way, the world will breathe a little easier and maybe you will hear a songbird or two.

Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their book, Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and manage resources better. It's a guide for all who are concerned about their impact on the environment. (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)