Biofriendly Cheatsheet: Making the Most of the Fall Season

For those who are interested in making the most of the fall season, here is a simple biofriendly cheatsheet we have put together to help you get started.

COMPOST

Now that you have leaves falling all over your lawn, you need to find something to do with them. Raking up leaves can seem like a daunting task, however leaves and other natural materials can also be used for composting. Composting falling leaves and holiday food scraps is a smart way to reuse these types of waste. By setting up a compost, you will have a natural fertilizer you can use in your garden or yard. You will also make good use of any of those scraps you don’t end up using in holiday recipes. If you are not sure how to get started, here is a very informative article on how to compost food scraps.

ELIMINATE INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Another simple, yet brilliant way to make the most of the fall season is to open your windows periodically to help climinate indoor air pollution and naturally air out your home. There is nothing quite as nice as the clean, crisp air found on a cool, autumn day. Airing out your home is beneficial to the health of you and your family. Since indoor air pollution is often far more concentrated than the air pollution founds outside, it is important you do everything you can to limit your risk of being exposed to harmful toxins right in the comfort of your own home.

Houseplants can also help beat the winter blues by adding green.  Plants are wonderful because a plant will use carbon dioxide, as well as other toxins, and convert these unwanted pollutants to oxygen. There are many health benefits of having houseplants as well. Improvements in blood pressure, attentiveness and productivity are just a few of the benefits of plants.

MAKE HOME HEATING MORE ECO-FRIENDLY

For those who have home heating systems they use throughout the fall and winter, adding a little of Biofriendly’s Green Plus® liquid fuel catalyst can help you get the most out of your home heating oil. Green Plus for home heating oil has been thoroughly tested and is certified safe. It is also government certified on five continents to help lower toxic emissions. Using home heating oil has been proven to improve boiler fuel economy and significantly reduce home heating costs, so is a environmentally-friendly investment for any homeowner. Check out the Green Plus Saving Calculator to get an idea of how much money you could potentially save.

BRING IN THE LOOKS AND SCENTS OF FALL

Decorations can be very simple, especially for those wanting to bring in the looks of fall. Pine cones, decorative ears of corn, pumpkins and other types of gourds are perfect for centerpieces, mantles and various places around the house. Even fallen leaves and twigs can be used to make creative designs.

If you are interested in having your house smell like the holidays, there are natural ways to bring the scents of the season into your home. Pomanders are one of the simplest options as all it takes is an orange and some whole cloves to give your home a nice fresh scent. Baking bread, cookies, pies and another seasonal foods is another way to fill your home with the scents of autumn. For those who want the smells of holiday cooking without having to cook, try having a simmer pot prepared with your favorite scents (apples, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, nutmeg, oranges, lemons, rosemary, cloves, etc.)

Whatever you do, stay away from “canned” air fresheners. You want to eliminate harmful toxins and pollutants from the air, not add in others that can affect your family’s health.

SPEND SOME TIME OUTDOORS

Now that the weather has begun to cool, you have a good opportunity to spend some time outdoors every day. Whether you want to take advantage of the cooler temperatures by going for a leisurely walk, ride your bike for exercise or simply bask in the beauty of this time of year, the options are limitless. The key is that you take the time to step outdoors and admire Mother Nature’s hard work. Fresh air is not only good for your health, but nature is a wonderful stress reliever as well.

Composting leaves image by Jeremy Noble, Open window autumn image by Donald Lee Pardue, Pomander image by Nicky Fernandes, Autumn nature walk image by Nicholas A. Tonelll via Flickr Creative Commons license