Over the last several months we have been making a number of changes in how we use water in our home. We just received our bi-monthly water bill and for the last period compared to last year at the same time, we reduced our water usage by 47%! I was amazed. So what did we do?

1. Use only the low-water washing machine. We actually have two washing machines in our home. I used to be a massage therapist and my husband is a small engine mechanic.

We've all heard the expression to "stop and smell the roses". It really only takes a moment to look around us and breathe in the beauty of nature. It may be a flower, the snow, cloud formations and crystal blue of the sky. Take a moment out of each day to appreciate the gift of this great planet we live on.

It is so easy to get focused on where we are going, what's next. But that moment of taking in nature, reconnects us to the present moment and the ability to remember our connectedness.

In 2005 we built a solar greenhouse. The beauty of the greenhouse has been fresh tomatoes in January, a quiet place to escape and a learning space about gardening and nature. In 2007, we decided we would add an aquaponics system to the greenhouse.

Our solar greenhouse

We use paper everywhere... paper towels, paper napkins, toilet paper, kleenex. The list goes on and on and unfortunately, all that paper isn't really sustainable. This last spring we watched a documentary about rain forests being cut down and replaced by forests of trees to make our paper products. It's still forest, you might say. However, the needs of these trees are very different from what was cut down. And, the result is water shortages and contamination for those living in the area.

A couple weeks ago I finally invested in some of those cloth reusable bags for grocery shopping. Now I just have to get into the habit of using them. I remember as a kid my mom using those and using them for everything. I figure they will come in handy for just about anything and save me from the depths of plastic bags.

Then yesterday I finally cleaned out or recycle bin and brought it inside to encourage me to recycle. We get a newspaper every day so that will come in handy. Will see how little I can make my garbage :-)