OC CNPS ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR

Recently, I got to visit some gardens on the Orange County chapter of the California native plant society annual garden tour.  Admittedly, there were 14 gardens on the tour but I could not see then all.  So I picked 6 to go visit and video tape. 

These gardens are a mixture of professionally designed landscapes and DIY'd ones.  Interestingly enough it was very easy for me to spot the ones where the homeowner clearly hired a pro designer. 

In this video I share with you the 6 gardens I visited and my thoughts on each.  You will see clearly which is my favorite. 

TOP 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SHOP AT THE FARMERS MARKET

I go to the farmers market every Saturday, because not only is the produce there fresher than the grocery store but also more local.  I also believe that supporting the local farmers is a great thing to do.  In this video I share with you 5 reasons why I believe you should go to the farmers market. 

INDOOR CAT ROOM TOUR 2018

I live in a 424 square foot condo and don't really have use for the storage spaces that came with the condo.  Even the pantry is of no use to me.  I live a zero waster lifestyle, which means that don't buy food that is packed.  In plastic or cans I just don't buy them.  This means I had a nice size pantry to do something with and since I have two cat I thought, hey what about a cat room. 

TOP 5 BENEFITS OF GETTING IN YOUR GARDEN

I like to set goals not resolutions.  Maybe it's just the term resolution that I dislike.  As if you are resolving to achieve something that you did not the previous year.  But goals are nice.  One goal that I hope you make this year is to get out in your garden.  I am not talking about getting out there and weeding (although you should from time to time), but rather using your garden as a place to workout, meditate etc.  In this video I share with you the 5 benefits of getting in your garden.



I myself have a 100 square feet pad of concrete where the front door is that I use as my garden.  I have a table and two chairs in one area to dine in and in the other area I have a DIY bench that I can sit in and relax.  I use this space regularly, especially since I work from home and need to take breaks to recharge.  Now I am curious do you get in your garden?  If so comment below and tell me more.  Share your stories.

TOP 5 TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY BILLS

I can tell you from my 10+ years of designing landscape that one of the things my clients want is to spend less money in the long run.  What can we do to use less energy watering and maintaining our garden as well as saving money inside?  There are many things you can do to reduce your energy bills and in this video I talk about the top 5.

If you are inclined to do any of these tips I would suggest you first look at your lifestyle and determine which is most suitable for you.  Not everything will work for everyone, but these tips are tried and true.

These tips are...
1. Kill (or reduce) your lawn
2. Plant properly
3. Water efficiently
4. Harvest rainwater/graywater
5. Plant deciduous trees

This video explains more in detail.

TOP 5 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE

The holidays are nearing and it's easy to generate lots of waste and end up with things that you may not ever really have use for.  I would like to propose the idea of giving experiences rather than gifts.  Think about it...  Someone can give me a shirt for Christmas but I probably won't remember that in 5-10 years more than I will if that person gives me the gift of time and experiences.

Other things you can do to reduce your waste is to buy package free and locally as much as possible. Use materials that are better than the traditional toxic chemicals that are out there such as the ever so toxic Clorox.  Clorox products even smell toxic.  It bleaches nicely, but what bleaches even nicer and is non toxic is baking soda.  Instead of using a plastic toothbrush consider a bamboo.  There are many alternatives to the traditional toxic products we use.  Choose and think wisely.  This video goes into more detail.

ZERO WASTE PLASTIC FREE SHOPPING

What I love about shopping plastic free is just that...  I get to do so free of plastic and mostly free of packaging.  You can go shopping almost anywhere and not use plastic.  You can bring your own reusable bags and things.  It is not really inconvenient but is so much more thrilling and fun when you get the glory of knowing that you are not polluting the environment.  I made some reusable produce bags that I sewed by hand and some that I bought at IKEA.  It really is not complicated. 

For me living this lifestyle was not just about the environmental impact but also my health.  I wanted to eat as cleanly as possible.  I will only live once and wanted that one life to be as awesome as possible.  On that note watch this video to see how I shop waste free. 

INTRODUCTION TO ZERO WASTE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING

I have been living a zero waste lifestyle for over two years and thought it was time to share my journey with you and give you an insight on how and why I do that.  When I started I was just trying to do something that I believed was healthier for me and did not know that is would totally transform my life in a way that would become almost an obsession about wanting to live more sustainably.

I wanted to share my journey with you to show that there are alternatives to the traditional American lifestyle of excess and unhealthiness.  My goal is to empower at least one person to live more sustainably and make one positive lifestyle change.  This video explains more.