One of the best things about spring and summer is the opening of local farmer’s markets in our area. Now we can take advantage of all of nature’s bounty while saving money and supporting local farmers.

Farmer’s markets have the freshest product and local goods available, because everything is sold in season. None of the produce is forced ripened or preserved with a wax coating. Supporting local farmers can help lower the prices of many products in your local grocery store, as grocery chains try to compete with the demand. Produce and other goods found in farmer’s markets are often priced a lot cheaper than in your local stores, making eating healthy and naturally affordable for your family. If you have any questions about types of produce, and how to prepare them you can ask the farmer directly, enhancing the entire experience. This spring and summer, visit your local farmer’s market and experience wholesome produce at great prices. Feed your family the utmost in local and natural produce. You never know what you may discover at your local farmer’s market.

Gardening is a great way to go green, and to provide your family with the utmost in nutrition and healthy, delicious food. Gardening is also an opportunity to reuse many old items you have lying around your home or garage in order to properly grow different types of vegetables.

For example, old fencing can be staked and used as a way of holding up pole beans, peas, and tomatoes. Bamboo chutes, or old tiki torches can be cut and used as markers for garden rows, or as stakes in your garden. Screens that are no longer used can be recycled and laid down over your mulch to prevent cats and other unwanted animals from going to the bathroom in your garden. Mulch is a great opportunity to do something helpful for the environment as well. For example, old hay and straw, and even old rubber hoses and tires can be chopped up and used as an excellent form of mulch. Get creative in your garden, and clear away some of the junk lying in your basement or garage this gardening season. Reuse many old items in your garden to have a fruitful growing season.

If you live in an urban area, it may be tempting to completely forego recycling, because you may not think there are the means to recycle in your area. While recycling in urban areas may be tricky, it’s important to seek out alternatives to simply throwing out all your trash.

If you live in an apartment building, ask your superintendant about recycling measures throughout the building. Many buildings require newspapers and glass bottles be separated from your regular food trash. If your building does not partake in recycling, ask local waste management companies if they participate in recycling. If so, see how much it would cost to bring this to your building. If they do not recycle at that company, do research and discover other waste management companies that do participate in recycling. It’s so necessary to reuse as much of our waste as possible, so be diligent and relentless in your efforts to recycle, no matter where you live. It could be the start of a wonderful recycling effort throughout your building, and your neighborhood.

Have you heard the news about light bulbs? Congress has recently banned regular light bulbs from being sold in stores. Instead, retailers are required to provide CFL light bulbs for consumers from now on.

Congress intends on phasing out all outdated forms of light bulbs in order to use less energy across the United States. As we now know, CFL light bulbs burn brighter and longer, and also save more energy than regular light bulbs. Right now, consumers have the option regarding which type of light bulbs to purchase. However, by the year 2012, Congress expects all retailers to stop selling regular light bulbs. Many consumers are worried because CFL light bulbs are more expensive. However, because these light bulbs save money, consumers will actually being saving money on their utility bills. Additionally, these light bulbs last longer than traditional light bulbs, so consumers will be replacing their light bulbs less frequently, diminishing the need to purchase more. Stay tuned for more information on this influential piece of legislation as the United States moves towards greater energy efficiency.