Environmentally Grown Christmas Trees

When shopping for a Christmas tree choose locally grown trees.

Trees grown in an area are acclimated to the climate and will more easily take root and survive should the decision to plant the tree after it's served it's purpose as a Christmas tree be planned.

A locally grown tree will not harbor pests from another area that might not be living in a locale. By purchasing a locally grown tree no new harmful pests will be introduced into the yard, garden, city and surrounding areas.

Artificial trees of course pose no problems and can be reused year after year.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Be A Green Santa

Be a green Santa this year and help save the environment all year.

For gardening friends you can't go wrong in giving tools for working in the garden, seeds, plants, and organically related products that are safe for children, pets and the environment.

In light of the fact that many cities are now banning plastic shopping bags many stores are starting to charge extra for sacks and promoting the use of reusable canvas shopping bags. A canvas shopping tote, or two, makes a perfect gift for an environmentally conscious friend.

One of the most beautiful gifts that will be cherished by anyone is a living tree planted in memory of a birthday, a beloved pet, or other special occasion.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Money From Unsold Garage Sale Items

If, after a garage sale is over, and there are still unsold valuables left over, money can still be made from them.

Pawn shops are seeing an increase in carpentry tools, TVs, jewelry, household decor such as lamps, furniture, kitchen appliances, and CD, DVD, and MP3 players being brought in to sell.

While it doesn't really matter whether the items sold at the garage sale or at a pawn shop the result is the same. More money for unwanted items.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Santa Letters Reflect Economy

Most children ask for dolls, games, toy trains, stuffed animals, or even computers for Christmas. But this year, the poor economy is reflected in the items children are asking Santa for.

Many store santas are reporting that children are asking for jobs for their parents, money, and even for their mortgaged homes to be returned to them.

Writing to Santa has always been fun for children. Hopefully, some of the letters that these children are writing, will be answered.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Garage Sales For The Holiday

Unused items, almost new clothing, gifts that you never used. All these would make excellent low priced gifts for just the right person looking for a bargain.

Many people, who swore they would never have, or attend, a garage sale, are now having sales and buying at them because of the sluggish economy.

If you have never had a garage sale now is a great time to have one and sell items that you no longer need. It will be just the thing someone out there is looking for.

The items you don't sell can also be donated as Christmas gifts to those in need as well.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Garage Sale Environmentalist

While shopping at garage sales it is very easy to help save the environment.

Bring your own reusable canvas shopping bags to take home small item purchases. Or if buying lots of items keep a cardboard box in the car in which you can empty the bags from one garage sale to the next sale. Cardboard boxes can always be recycled by saving and using it for the next garage sale.

Plastic shopping bags take 20 to 1000 years to deteriorate and paper bags only 30 days in the open environment but neither will ever deteriorate in an airtight landfill.

Over 100,000 birds, whales, seals, turtles and other wildlife worldwide are killed by plastic garbage every year.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Safe Home Heating

Because the home heating costs of electricity, gas and fuel oil are expensive many homeowners use short cuts to reduce costs. Be sure they are safe and not a fire hazard.

Many homeowners resort to kerosene heaters. These are highly combustible and are outlawed in some cities.

Using turned on kitchen stovetop burners and open ovens as well as barbecue grills are other unsafe practices.

Small electrical space heaters can do wonders to warm up a room or a small area of a room in order to prevent the need of raising the thermostat on the primary heat source. But keep blankets, clothing, toys and other flammable items away from the heater.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Garage Sale Fees

Before having a garage sale be sure to check whether your city or town requires a fee.

Some communities charge fees to raise extra money for the city. Others do it in order to ensure that only homeowners hold garage sales selling personal items and not conducting businesses in their backyards.

But because the process of filing the applications costs more than the fees and with no way to be sure a homeowner having a garage sale actually has a permit, some communities are eliminating the need for permits.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Electricity Improves Gas Mileage

Electric cars are in the future but electricity can actually be used to improve gas mileage by up to 18 percent in almost any car on the road right now.

According to tests at the Department of Physics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Electrorheology, a process invented in 1947, is the key, and it could save 300 million barrels of gasoline, or 150 million barrels of diesel annually in the U.S.

Simply stated, a tiny bit of electricity is given to the gasoline before it's injected into the engine's cylinders and lowers the viscosity of the fuel making the droplets more efficient.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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