Enjoy the WHITE stuff this winter, but don’t forget to be GREEN afterward! Recycle all your Holiday waste with Mr. Murph – over 60 FREE drop off sites, plus I will accept Christmas Trees, Styrofoam, Cardboard, Paper, Plastic, Aluminum, and Glass at 1150 N. Peoria!

Portion of proceeds from recyclables benefits United Way of Western Connecticut and The Salvation Army Tulsa, OK.

Merry Christmas and have a Murph New Year!

Be sure and bring glass, aluminum, paper, and plastic so we do some handy dandy Mr. Murph recycling.

Admission is FREE!

Hope to see you there!

Murph

Charley Young Park is the site of the Gazebo stage, and games, surrounded by food and crafts booths. Just a hop and skip over is the Youth Stage and Carnival. Cool off during the heat of the day by joining in a few rounds of bingo in the building at the corner of Charley Young Park.

Best yet, you can check me out in the parade…I’ll be the ONLY one with a conveyor on my back…you can’t miss me.

Meet me out there and we’ll have a blast…

Mr. Murph

Remember, composting is an excellent way to take organic residue of our households and turn it into something useful like nutrients for plants. It reduces the footprint of landfills and helps the environment.

Here are some things you may not have thought of for composting:

• Vacuum dirt and dust is great for composting. It’s just mostly particles of organic matter…dead skin, lint, so forth. Empty it on the pile each time you vacuum. Hopefully that’s more than once a decade.LOL

• Kitchen stuff. That includes tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, crumbs, pizza boxes, stale bread, wine corks, moldy cheese, and old jam. Don’t do meat or dairy…they attract too many critters.

• Pets. Yes, even Lu lu’s nail clippings, fur, cat litter and pet food are up for grabs. Just keep the pooh out due to the toxins and germs.

• Household odds and ends. Didn’t know what you’d ever do with that old potpourri did you? Compost it. Also, throw in some used matches, newspapers, receipts, sticky notes, and pencil shavings.

That’s really only the tip of the iceberg (I mean compost pile) when it comes to the time honored tradition of composting. If I have time in other posts, I’ll list some others.

Well, peace out, and keep composting.

Remember, you’re doing something good for the earth, so keep at it.

Mr. Murph

Actually, they’re not all my ideas…some I’ve gotten off the web…but, they’re all pretty good nonetheless. My next step is actually implementing them all, which may take some effort.

Here it is so far:

• Rechargeable batteries (I know a no-brainer…but, cut me some slack).
• Replace napkins and paper towels with washable towels. This is a hard one.
• Purchase a reusable shopping bag.
• Water filter instead of buying bottled water. (May save you small fortune).
• Use a mug or cup instead of paper cups.
• Use washable stainless steel utensils instead of plastic.
• Refill bottles and containers for beverages and detergents.
• Refill ink cartridges instead of buying new ones.
• Jam jars or any container you can reuse for another purpose.
• Fountain pens instead of disposables.

As you can see, the list is just beginning. So, I need more ideas. If you know of any re-usables I’ve left out, let me know and I can add them to my list in future posts.

See you soon,

Mr. Murph

• Instead of bleach and other toxic cleaning agents, try using baking soda. Mixed with water, it’s great for cleaning grout, counters, and fixtures. Also try mixing it with vinegar for an ideal window cleaner.

• Mineral oil is a terrific furniture polisher and floor wax without the overpowering smell.

• Use garlic to get rid of mold and mildew and beer, believe it or not, to get rid of pests in the house. Peppermint oil also works to repel pests and rid your pets of fleas.

Other ideas…

• Plant sprays— wipe leaves with mild soap and water.

• Ant control—sprinkle equal parts of Borax and powdered sugar on the anthills. Paprika around the house is also a good bug barrier.

• Borax and water—good detergent and spray disinfectant.

• Club Soda—instant stain remover.

• Air Freshener—simmer cloves and cinnamon in boiling water; vinegar, baking soda also work well.

Hear of something good?

Let me know and I’ll include in upcoming posts.

See you soon,

Mr. Murph

Independence, says…not all eco-lighting is created equal. Ok, it doesn’t actually say that, but you see what I’m saying… all bulbs don’t perform the same.

Anyway, here are some tips to picking the right type of light bulb for your home…

• Pay more now, save later…that’s usually the motto with anything green. Remember your object is to save money and energy in the long run. The best way to do that is pick a light bulb that lasts the longest. Yes, that means coughing up funds up front, but I think you’ll be glad you did.

• CFL’s (not to be confused with the Canadian Football League) are great if they have to be on for long periods of time. You may want to go with a high efficiency halogen lamp if your fixture is infrequently used or in enclosed areas.

• If you need dimmable light bulbs, be aware that most green lightbulbs, except halogen lamps, can’t be dimmed. Be sure to check the label and see if it’s marked. You’ll also want to make sure the bulb is compatible with your dimmer or you could run into problems. Being called a “dim light bulb” by your mother in law…now, that’s another story.

• Spiral CFL’s are the cheapest type of eco-lighting these days, so buy them in bulk and use them in non-enclosed and commonly used areas. Beware though, they often give off a harsh light and can be annoying if looked at often.
Remember, buying greener lighting is a good thing to do…for both your family’s budget and mother nature. Make the investment up front and enjoy the savings later.

Go Green and Go MURPH!

Mr. Murph

Heck, even I used to…and I’m Mr. Murph!!!!

I thought it meant growing my own fruits and veggies and peddling a bike to generate enough energy to watch Jeopardy. It was the enormity of the task that kept me from doing it because I thought it meant completely changing my lifestyle.

But, then I realized that there many simple ways I could lead a more enviro-friendly life…small stuff I could do without installing solar panels or sweating to Alex Trabek.

Here are just a few of them:

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If reducing the impact of waste is the name of the game, then be sure to follow the 3 R’s. That involves knowing how much you use, reusing it when you can, and buying products that are biodegradeable.

• Go Low Energy. That means looking for low energy products such as light bulbs, dishwashers, and washing machines to purchase. Most will have the Energy Star approval seal, so it’s easy to do and can make a big difference in savings.

• Turn Off Electrical Products. Things that use electricity can also waste a ton of energy. The best thing to do is make sure they’re turned off when not in use and even invest in an automatic system that does the job for you. Who said you had to give up convenience?

• Buy Local. When you buy locally, you’re reducing your carbon footprint. Not only are local items fresher, they haven’t been transported across country to reach you…less fuel, less impact.

• Insulate. Great idea for saving money and saving energy. Anyway you can block energy from escaping your home is a big benefit in more ways than one.

• Get Involved. Be sure to support community initiatives and share the message of green living. There are a lot of community programs springing up, so be sure to get involved and make a difference.

Remember, going green doesn’t have to mean you swear off modern living. These steps can be done by anybody and can have a far reaching effect on your life and the environment.

Mr. Murph