Klean Kanteen

Another wonderful locally-owned Chico company, Klean Kanteen, is thriving even in this challenging economy. I'm still using several Klean Kanteens I purchased several years ago and recently became a "fan" of the company on Facebook, just because I think it's such a great product--and a healthier, more ecological alternative to the Personal Hydration Plastic Bottle Syndrome. (Did you know 8 out of 10 of those bottles end up in the landfill, even though they are recyclable?)

My dear friend Robin emailed to say she had just been thinking about looking for just such a thing when she saw the link on my Facebook page. So I dutifully pulled up the Klean Kanteen web site to email to her and noticed they have now branched out to meet the needs of BOTH ends of the generational spectrum, with the new 12 oz. "Sippy" as well as wine carafes for the 21+ crowd. All now offered in a rainbow of colors. (P.S. They make great gifts!)

411

Still lugging out that fat old phone book to look up numbers? Here's a little time-saving tip if you happen to be at your computer and need a number fast: www.411.com This site offers white pages, yellow pages, reverse phone search, reverse address (although I didn't have any luck when I tried my own address to test it), area code and zip code assistance with a handy mapping feature. I did have to click a button to skip a Comcast ad, but that only took a sec. Save the site as a favorite to save even more time. With all the time you'll save, you can A) Veg in front of the tube watching more Olympics coverage; B) Spend a few minutes browsing my web site at www.ChicoLaura.com or C) Read some of my old posts on this blog. (Just remember to toss that phone book in the recycle bin rather than the trash!)

"Grounding" your plants

Don't have the space to compost but love healthy plants? Instead of adding those coffee grounds or used tea leaves to the landfill, just spread them around your acid-loving plants (roses, azaleas, blueberries etc.). Not only do the plants thrive on this nitrogen-rich stuff, it can help deter slugs and snails. (Many coffee shops have bins where they offer free coffee grounds to patrons.) Especially here in California, where the soils are typically highly alkaline, coffee grounds can improve both the quality and texture of the soil. If you DO have an area where you can create compost, all the better! I simply picked an out-of-the way spot, dug three holes, and started throwing all my kitchen waste (no animal products other than smashed eggshells), coffee/tea grounds, grass clippings, and garden waste into the first hole (occasionally supplemented with horse manure from a friend), turning it occasionally with a pitchfork and sprinkling it with the hose during the dry season. When that hole got full, I rotated the compost to the next hole and started a fresh batch in the first hole. But the time the first batch got rotated to the third hole and ripened there for a while, it was ready to use: rich, dark, and crumbly. My plants (including houseplants) LOVE the stuff! And I feel better about reducing the amount of household/yard waste going to the landfill. Try it; you and your plants will like it! (Check out the ChicoLaura web site: www.ChicoLaura.com )

ChicoBag

What's strong enough to hold 20 pounds, small enough to fit in your purse (or on your belt) and can help save the planet? It's the affordable, handy, chic ChicoBag!

I keep a ChicoBag in my purse and another one in my car for those quick stops at the grocery store.

Developed by one of our own local Chico citizens Andy Keller, ChicoBag has been featured in Real Simple, Entrepreneur, PARADE, Natural Health, Money, and Vision magazines.

Talk about "green"--ChicoBag even has a recycling program for expired ChicoBags! Expired ChicoBags are "repurposed" into door mats, dog beds and prayer flags. (And no, I don't own stock in the ChicoBag--I'm just a fan!)

Don't let Plastic Bag Monster get you!