Can you imagine a BLT without mayonnaise or a hot dog without ketchup? Would salads be nearly as satisfying without that tangy vinaigrette? Our favorite condiments transform dishes from dull to delicious, from ordinary to original! When you take the
Read more…Have you ever thought about your water usage when doing laundry? Older agitator top-loading washing machines use over 40 gallons of water on an average size load of laundry. Wouldn’t it be great if you could divert that water directly to your outdoor
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Trying to figure out what Community Resilience Challenge pledge to make (and complete) to save energy? The perfect opportunity is coming up this month – Bike to Work Day! Not only will it build some exercise into your daily routine, it will help the
Life Scout Adds Permaculture to Pleasant Hill Middle School Garden
By Nikolo Vo
When I was a student at the Conserve School in Wisconsin last year, I first learned about permaculture from a presentation made by Bill Wilson, a founder of the Midwest Pe
Read more…Yes, we all recycle. Perhaps we have installed drip irrigation, or have even replaced our lawn. As Sustainable Contra Costa supporters, we share a passion for creating a more just, sustainable world. Is there anything else we could be doing?
Take the
Read more…Clean water and air, fuel efficiency standards, EPA funding, protecting open space, banning dangerous pesticides, CLIMATE CHANGE… if any of these issues are important to you, now is the time to speak up and let your representatives know.
What’s the f
Read more…The following is a process for grounding and natural renewal provided by Amy Erez of Sugi Health. Amy will be co-presenting a workshop with Sustainable Contra Costa "Living In Sync With Nature" on April 1st. More information and registration is here.
Read more…Nail polish remover, paint, kerosene, window cleaner… Sometimes we buy cleaners and other chemicals, use them a couple of times, and then retire them to the back of a bathroom cabinet or that dusty shelf in the garage. So what do you do with that st
Read more…Insecticides (which kill insects) and herbicides (which kill weeds), often grouped together collectively as “pesticides,” are used worldwide to the tune of 5 billion pounds per year. These poisons infiltrate our water, soil, air, and food, thereby af
Sustainable Contra Costa has teamed up with Central San to teach elementary and high school students about local water issues and protecting the local watershed. Through the Water Wizards program, we take elementary school kids on an interactive adve
Spring is on the horizon! Was this winter particularly ravaging on your landscaping? Did you add "replace dead plants or grass" to your to-do list?
Green hillsides, full reservoirs, and flowing creeks are signs that our drought woes may be subsiding (at least for now). Yet, the glorious downpours bring up another issue: stormwater runoff. Aside from what’s collected in rain barrels or absorbed
When we hear the term "permaculture," many of us don't now what that means. There's a lot to learn, and as a movement and philosophy, permaculture is still evolving and expanding. If you'd like to understand more about permaculture, don't forget that
With a new year comes the opportunity to hit the refresh button and reevaluate everything from your haircut to where you keep your money. So now is the perfect time to switch your money over to a credit union. Credit unions are non-profits owned by m
Read more…Making decisions and purchases is a part of every day life. To make more environmentally and socially conscientious purchases, check for certifications and product standards like the ones listed below:
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification
FS
Read more…While we are thinking about where to spend our money that has the most benefit and the least harmful impact on the global environment, we might consider another question:
Do I need to buy this at all?
The "post-consumer" movement is gaining steam a
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