I’M A GREEN-LIVING GIRL STRIVING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
GREEN LIVING | RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | NON-TOXIC BEAUTY | HEALTHY EATING | FITNESS
What is this blog all about
Do you ever sit and wonder what’s going to happen if we don’t start to look after our planet? I do, all the time and it frightens me.
I’m Katie and my blog is about green living, responsible travel, healthy eating, non-toxic beauty and anything that relates to leading a better quality of life in general.
My goal is to educate and help my readers to get them on the path to leading a better, more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
Our planet is in desperate need of resuscitation and if my blog can inspire just one person to improve their carbon footprint, it’s a job well done.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Travelling is a gift and it’s one that I try to grab with both hands when I can. Exploring faraway lands and seeing how different life is for those of us that aren’t so fortunate gives me purpose.
I’m a big advocate of responsible travel and love the fact that small changes when travelling can make a BIG difference.
It’s all down to making a conscious decision to plan better and educate oneself on why it’s now more important than ever before to give our planet the respect and care it deserves.
Responsible Travel
Green Living
Healthy Eating & Fitness
MY BLOG
Natural Methods for Mosquito Control
Mosquitos are a problem for most people in virtually every area of the world. Some have a few mosquitoes and other areas may have them ten months out of each year. It has a lot to do with how much moisture is in the area where you live and how cold the winters get. Another […]
Composting Toilet Vs Self Contained Toilet
With the constant interest in thriving through a “greener existence” we see a lot more of the tiny homes and people who enjoy RVing today. This is because people are trying to cut down on their overall carbon footprint and living life in a more simplified way. They opt to leave plots of land for […]
Sustainable Non-Synthetic Fibers
Our world is vital to our future. Without it, we would have no place to live and thrive. Yet, every day, we do things that damage our Earth and the damages that we cause today will take years and years to repair. The resources that we use, may never be replenished. For this reason, there […]
Natural Methods for Mosquito Control
Mosquitos are a problem for most people in virtually every area of the world. Some have a few mosquitoes and other areas may have them ten months out of each year. It has a lot to do with how much moisture is in the area where you live and how cold the winters get. Another problem stems from the fact that not everyone wants to use chemicals to combat mosquitoes and their itchy, painful bites. In this case, we recommend you consider more natural methods for mosquito control.
What Mosquitoes Love to Live In
Areas that are damp are an instant mosquito magnet. They thrive in damp, dark places. Swampy areas are prime real estate for them to make their home in. The same is true for river beds, creeks, and lakes. These nasty little insects can even make a home in an old tire that you have lying around, your dog’s water, and your compost pile or bin. If there is any source of water available, they will make their home near it. Can you eliminate all the potential moist areas around your home? Or would you prefer to seek out ways to gain control of them and keep the water?
Natural Pest Control
If you are not worried about a little chemical being used, you can use very small amounts to help. We used a backpack mosquito fogger to pre-treat our lawn. Afterward, we looked into natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes. We built a garden that was filled with all the plants that are known to naturally send mosquitoes away. These plants include lavender, marigolds, catnip, citronella grass, and scented geraniums. We also planted rosemary and basil herbs. You can also use a natural spray around your home and your body when you go out during peak mosquito hours. A lot of scented oil options can be used to safely apply mosquito repellent to your clothing. You can find recipes or buy a spray that is all-natural and pre-made.
Another natural option for gaining control of your mosquito problems may be to use a trap. However, these devices may not effectively eliminate mosquitoes quickly. This could be a problem if you are trying to plan a backyard event that is coming soon. Bug zappers are also useful according to many home owners.
Things to Consider
Mosquitoes serve very little purpose except to bite us. At times, their larvae and the adults may be used as food for some animals, but overall, if we lived in a world without them, we would all simply be happier. However, because they are a natural part of the world we live in, extermination of them will not come easily. If you live in an area where you are the only one who works to eliminate them, you will still have some that find their way to your home. This means, in a neighborhood where everyone has a compost pile and only one person trying to control the mosquitoes; that person will always be trying to get rid of them. In similar neighborhood where everyone works together to regain control of these pests, everyone will begin to notice fewer of them.
Composting Toilet Vs Self Contained Toilet
With the constant interest in thriving through a “greener existence” we see a lot more of the tiny homes and people who enjoy RVing today. This is because people are trying to cut down on their overall carbon footprint and living life in a more simplified way. They opt to leave plots of land for the wildlife and live off the grid where they do not have to deal with outrageous electricity usage. With the sudden tiny home movement, we also hear a lot more about our toilets, since they are often impractical in a tiny home or an RV. Do you know which one is better between composting and self-contained toilets? Would you be comfortable using either of them?
Composting Toilet
A composting toilet is a toilet that turns your poo into something that can be used as fertilizer for your garden if you want it to. It is safe, sanitary, and sustainable. You do not need to hook up to a septic tank or a water line and a lot of them can work without electricity. Your toilet will have a ventilation system to ensure that you never have to worry about a visitor stopping by and smelling your bathroom. All that is required of you is that you use natural microbes to keep it sanitary and cut down on the smell of what you leave behind.
Considering most American households use 74 gallons of water a day, with more than a third of that being toilet water, how much water do you think you would save? Research shows that on average 6,600 gallons of water will be saved for more important things than a toilet flush if you switch to a composting toilet. How is that for a greener existence? Water preservation and free fertilizer in one.
Self Contained Toilets
Self-contained toilets are more ideal for some families. They do not require you to deal with your “deposits” after you have put them where you needed to. They are ideal for smaller spaces that cannot hold a traditional sized toilet. You can easily hook it to an existing sewer line. This makes them much easier to work with. If you consider reading Sanicompact toilet reviews, you will see that some water is required for use. They are macerating toilets that use only one gallon of water per flush. It works by simply pushing a button. Everything else is handled for you.
The beauty of this toilet option is that whether you have a tiny home, an RV, or an attic that needs a space for you to “go”, you can have it with this toilet. It is ideal for people who want a toilet in an area that doesn’t normally have one. You can even use the water supply at a sink to ensure it’s a clean flush. Older people, disabled people, and anyone else can benefit from putting a fully functional toilet where they need it the most. As to whether it is good for the environment or not, on average a traditional toilet can use up to seven gallons of water per flush. You are cutting it down to only one gallon. For many people, that is enough of a savings to make them happy.
Which is Best For The Environment?
There is no single right or wrong answer to which one is best. It depends on what you want from your toilet. Some may say that using no water and having fertilizer is perfect and others may be willing to sacrifice all comforts except for their toilet. The choice is yours.