Attract Maine’s tiniest bird, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, by purchasing a feeder at your local hardware store or garden shop. Wash it with warm soapy water and rinse it well, then fill with a combo of one part sugar and four parts boiling water (red food dye unnecessary). Let cool before filling feeder. Refrigerate extra nectar… Continue Reading
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Choose Locally Raised Grass-fed Beef
Not ready to give up that cheeseburger? Choose grass-fed beef, which has a lower impact on the environment. Most U.S. beef cows are fed grains that require a lot energy to produce and are not natural feed for cows. Grass-fed cattle eat grass, and do so in tune with the seasons, giving biodiversity a better… Continue Reading
Turn in Your Old Thermostat
Replace your old mercury-containing thermostat and bring it to a hardware store for a $5 coupon. Mercury that ends up in the environment threatens wildlife and people. This recycling program has been in place since 2006 and has kept more than 300 pounds of toxic mercury out of Maine’s environment. To view more tips, click… Continue Reading
Inquire about Your Meal
When eating out, ask questions about where the food comes, from where and how it is grown to whether it’s organic. Restaurant owners and managers need to know that their customers care about eating local, organic food. To view more tips, click here. To subscribe to our Tip of the Day RSS feed, click here…. Continue Reading
Make a Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a pump-spray bottle, clean, and rinse with a damp cloth. It really is that easy—and safe! For other great non-toxic cleaning recipes, download NRCM’s Clean and Healthy Housekeeping brochure. To view more tips, click here. To subscribe to our Tip of the Day RSS feed, click here. … Continue Reading
Cook with Safe Non-stick Pans
A pan covered with a non-stick coating such as Teflon can heat to more than 700 degrees in less than five minutes, releasing toxic gases including carcinogens. Avoid the risk by using enamel, cast-iron, or stainless steel cookware. Bonus: many cooks agree that these are a better for cooking and are more durable. To view… Continue Reading
Test Your Seals
Check for gaps in the rubber gaskets in your refrigerator and oven doors. Hot or cold air escaping through bad gaskets adds up to lots of wasted energy. To view more tips, click here. To subscribe to our Tip of the Day RSS feed, click here.
Nature of Kids
Children will eventually inherit the planet. Raise them to value the environment by encouraging their love of nature. Keep a bird feeder in clear view of a window—have a bird book handy and help them identify what they see. A pair of binoculars can also help. Keeping a family bird list on the fridge listing… Continue Reading
Put Wood Ash to Work against Slugs
Wood ash can help deter slugs and garden snails—it draws water from their bodies. Sprinkle it around the base of plants slugs love. Sprinkling ashes, or anything dusty, on the leaves of cabbage family plants deters pesky, destructive flea beetles. To view more tips, click here. To subscribe to our Tip of the Day RSS… Continue Reading
