Ducks are nesting in playgrounds.

Ducks are nesting in playgrounds. They found a mother duck nesting under the playground slide. While kids are out for recession. The school put yellow tap around the steps but
that hasn't deterred the kids from feeding her popcorn and giving her water. The kids just love the way she catching the popcorn when they throw it to her.
Most of the younger children go and check to see how she is doing.
They have pictures hanging up of the duck and her 11 eggs in the cafetaria. They are excited about the ducklings hatching. It has become a school item because yearly its the same duck
that has made her nesting by returning every year.
She couldn't have picked a better spot for hatching because of all the TLC she gets from the kids.
Caution ducks nesting.

This is a good thing.

Hula hoops are a popular activity.

Hula hoops are a popular activity. Don't through those hula hoops away.
Recycle them or just give them to some kid in the neighborhood.
This is a fun activity for all ages.

Plants are recyclable.

Plants are recyclable. If you are getting your yards landscaped and need to get ride of them. Some of your plants can be recycle them. You can put a sign up in your yard giving permission to take certain plants. They either can dig them up or you can just put them out in front for someone to pick up.
Maybe you have a tree that isn't to big that also can be picked up.
Your putting in a patio and don't need the grass so the sod can be taken up and reused.
Even house plants can be recycled either because your moving or you just want to get all new plants someone out there would appreciate getting them.

These are just a few ideas on how to handle giving the plants away or even selling them?
It all depends on how you want to recycle them. Maybe tell your friends they might like taking them off your hands. Just recycling them will put those plants or brushes in good use.

There are a lot of families that cannot afford their yards landscaped but brushes or other plants can get new life from being recycled to someone that will take care of them.
This is a good thing.

Rain barrels used to recycle rain water.

Rain barrels used to recycle rain water. What is a Rain Barrel system?
The system collects and stores rainwater run off from the roof. This will divert water run off from getting into storm drains and streams.
It's easy to install just by directing the downspout from the homes gutter by attacking it to the rain barrel. Than it will collect rainwater that reducing the amount of water that gets in to sewer systems by helping conserve water usage.

Lets preserve our natural resources.

Lets preserve our natural resources. State legislators need reminding.During budget cuts legislators need reminding about inclusion of monies for the protection of our natural resources. Most of their constituents have it in their hearts and minds in the preservation of all the states
natural resources protection.
Programs that need to be made into law is critical this provide enforcement of
states conservation efforts. These conservation in energy dependence on oil and
and coal should be supportive of Energy independence funds used for implementation and staffing.
This program will insure that businesses, local communities and their institutions will benefit from by us protecting our states natural resources. By investing in our states natural resources programs. It will be money well spent and we will reap dividends besides. This is a good thing.

Police held auctions.

Police held auctions. These police auctions are held once a year in most cities across the country. Police auctions are held by their department and the municipal services department also. Most items were either found or were stolen and never
claimed than an auction is held to raise funds that will be put into the police department funds.
These items could be considered recycled because their still usable and
can be obtain for a good price. Here is a listing of some items you may find
being auctioned.
cars, all-terrain vehicles, digital cameras, bicycles all makes and sizes, printers,
computers, fax machines, children's toys and many other types of items.
If you buy something take notice; they only except local checks or cash.
Many of the items are in good condition but you do have to take them as is.
So yearly you can check out your local police auctions in cities nearest you.
Good luck. You just might find a treasurer for yourself.
This is a great way to recycle and item by keeping it from the landfills.
This is a good thing.

Websites:
http://www.timespastauctions.com/

I will be adding more sites to the listimg.

Arbor Day Foundation offers 10 free trees.

Arbor Day Foundation is offering 10 free trees with membership. The nonprofit foundation's Trees for America Campaign is a program dedicated to the environmental stewardship by the planting of trees. By joining the Arbor Day Foundation during the month of August new members will receive 10 free Colorado Blue Spruce trees.
These trees can be used as wind blockers for energy savings. The trees will be shipped Post Paid between October15th and December 10th in time for planting season.
They have a written guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge.
Also their height are 6 to 12inches. Included will be a book called "The Tree Book." It will explain about tree planting
and care. In order to receive the free trees.
send $10. membership contribution to the following address.
Ten Blue Spruces
Arbor Day Foundation
100 Arbor Avenue
Nebraska City, NE 68401

Family times spent sledding.

Family times spent sledding. Fathers and mothers braving the cold elements for some outdoor winter family fun. Sisters and brothers climbing up the hill to slide down on their sleds.
Not to mention snowboarding is another fairly new winter sport. It's sort of like skiing on one board instead of two. You may find them actively on a hill in some park near you. It's another winter fun activity for all.
Just being with your kids will bring out the kid in you.
Try it you just might like it.

Frugal cleaning tips.

Frugal cleaning tips. You cam make your own cleaning solutions for any household cleaning jobs. It will eliminate storage of toxic chemicals in your home. If you have small children chemicals are harmful if swallowed. This will be safer for them and you.
Most cleaners for windows and floors can be expensive at the stores by making your own solutions will save you money.
The ingredients you will be able to find in your house. The Internet has information sites that will give you more expert information.
If you can save on cleaning solutions than why not make your own ego friendly?
Books you can find household cleaning solutions:
The Urban Homestead written by Kelly Coyne and co author Erick Knutzen. It is a guide to self sufficient living in the heart of the city. This book contains recipes for those cleaning solutions.
These main ingredients all contain mainly the same solutions are the following:
White vinegar distilled used as a disinfectant and deodorant.
Baking Soda used as a deodorant and mild abrasive.
Castile soap its made from 100 percent vegetable oil.
Using all three of these ingredients you will be able to clean your toilets, windows, tubs,sinks and floors.
By adding a touch of lemon as a disinfectant plus a dash of olive oil lubricant.
You will be able to put a shine to dinning room table.
Toxic if using borx for your tub scum ring. It is considered dangerous if swallow but does do the job.
Containers to put the liquid solutions could use plastic milk containers.
Recycle motto reduce-reuse-recycle.
House cleaning book reference called "Knack Clean Home Green Home", written by Kimberly Delaney's.

General Purpose cleaner.
Mix one-third cup of Borax with one gallon of warm water. than add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia.

Wooden floor cleaner.
Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 of vegetable oil.

Shower cleaner solution.
Mix 1/4 of Lysol or other alternative cleaner with a 1/2 cup of isoproply alcohol and water.

Chrome Cleaner.
Use toothpaste or crumbled up aluminum foil.

Glass Cleaner.
Just use plain white vinegar and corn starch for shiny windows.

Websites:
http://www.thiftyfun.com/
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/

California firm recycles coal fly ash to make bricks.

California firm recycles coal fly ash to make bricks. Recycled coal fly ash made from the by products of a Power Plant will be used for making these bricks. The company also will be creating new jobs in the processing.

CalStar Cement associates are planning on starting production with zero emissions using WE Energies fly ash coals by product from its Oak Creek Power Plant.

This brick is much stronger than the conventional brick and they are far more environmental friendly. The brick is neither made from cement nor clay elements.
This is the first fly ash brick manufacturing facility of its kind in the country.

Luke Pustejovsky CalStar's vice president of business development. The reasons they chose We Energies Oak Creek Power Plant in the state of Wisconsin is because of their proposal submission and screening their offers that were made. They screened them by their utilities for fly ash volume, quality and proximity to
location of their manufacturing plant. There were a total of 35 applicants from different Midwestern states who applied. We Energies were chosen because their offer was the best proposal made.

The company is from California's Silicon Valley that will set up their first manufacturing fly ash brick producing plant. Our economy is in transition and this is prove that its one of the turning points of the future of manufacturing
with using recyclable materials such as fly ash from power plants. The company is also creating new jobs.
This material is considered subtainable for construction. Their companies start up capital expenditures will run around $8 million compared to other brick start up companies of $55 million quite a jump in cost comparing to the savings. There will be setup 25 distrubuters in the chicago market.
Bricks will come in natural buff color of cream City tint found in this area plus up to 8 or 10 other tinted colors.
In the development lab there could be in the near future other by products created from fly ash.
This is a good thing.