How green is your green thumb? Traditionally, gardening is viewed as a pretty eco-friendly activity. You’re planting life that can offset carbon and if you’re growing vegetables or herbs in your backyard, you really can’t eat any more local than that, right? However, there are a couple of not-so-eco-friendly aspects to consider about gardening.

First of all, when bugs or other garden pests arrive, what do you do? If you reach for a chemical pesticide, somethings gotta change! Leave the toxins out of your garden and try a natural solution instead like Flower Pharm Organic Ready to Use Inscecticidal Soap. The natural remedy calls on pure cinnamon oil to keep intruders out of your garden. It promises to control insects and prevent fungal spores from causing trouble. Plus, if you have kids and pets running around near your garden, you won’t have to worry.

Similarly, chemical fertilizer is a big eco no-no. If your garden needs a nudge to grow, sprinkle used coffee grounds or compost over the soil–they’re both effective natural fertilizers. And don’t let water conservation go to the wayside when it comes to your garden. Rely on nature to wet the soil with rainfall. If you don’t want to wait for the weather to change, keep a rain bucket nearby to collect water during showers that you can use days later.

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In a long awaited action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will soon—and for the first time—require pesticide manufacturers to test 67 of the chemicals in their pesticides for potentially harmful effects on humans and animals, especially endocrine system issues. Ultimately, all chemicals in pesticides will be required to be tested.

The news comes after concern from researchers led the EPA to decide that the common chemical needed more investigation to keep American’s from potentially harmful exposure. One of the biggest worries raised by the researchers has been hormone changes in animals who are exposed to pesticides, with even strange changes like male fish bearing eggs. The possibility of endocrine disruptors was especially worrisome to EPA officials because of their effect on developing systems (those of children and infants).

Although testing will begin this summer, it will take about two years for the data to be compiled and then an additional year to reach a ruling on the chemicals. But the move is encouraging for consumers and researchers who have been concerned about the effects of the widely used chemical. Click here to read more

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Do you ever feel like as soon you take out the garbage, the bag is full again? Especially in the kitchen? It’s no wonder when you consider that the average American creates almost four and a half pounds of trash per day—that’s more than 17 pounds a day for a family of four. A lot of it winds up in the kitchen garbage can, too, with bathroom garbage usually consisting of lighter impact items like tissues and floss. Make a point of reducing the waste you toss into the kitchen trash bin will help you put the brakes on your overall waste creation and, as a perk, make those trips to the garbage bins outside less frequent. Here’s a few quick and easy to ways to slow the stream of garbage in your kitchen (or at least make it a bit more biodegradable):

Compost What You Can

Much of what we throw away can be put to better use, like foods scraps, leftovers that are past their prime, and fruit that’s been forgotten until it’s too late. Instead of trashing these items for an unnecessary transfer to a landfill, pick up a countertop compost bucket (like this bamboo version from GreenFeet) and a garden composter where you can transfer the loads to. Use the wonder waste to keep your flowers, vegetables and fruits growing beautifully—without chemical-containing fertilizers.

Don’t Waste It, Wash It

Ditch some of your daily disposal items for alternatives that will last longer (with a little upkeep). Swap out paper napkins for sustainable hemp napkins that can be washed when necessary (and don’t be afraid to have each family member hang onto their napkins for a couple nights if they’re not in serious need of a cleaning). Choose reusable cloths over paper towels for cleanups and washable dish cloths over short-lived sponges. When you must use paper products, like paper towels, opt for those made of recycled materials, but remember that even they can’t compete with reusable offerings. Click here to read more

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Liz Lange has been a leader in the maternity fashion world for about a decade, creating flattering fashions to help preggers moms look and feel gorgeous. She’s been designing her budget-friendly Target line for years, but this season is the first time she’s added organic clothes to the line. Considering pregnant moms are uber concerned with their own health and that of their growing baby, it’s about time she created an eco-friendly clothing collection.

The line features super-soft offerings made of organic cotton, nylon and modal, a sustainable fabric created from beech tree cellulose. The collection includes pants, sweatshirts or graphic tees like the organic cotton butterfly tee pictured here or the multicolored crew tee made from a blend of organic cotton and modal. Click here to read more

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When it comes to greenwashing, you can forget about the classic sins like greed, gluttony and sloth—although there’s definitely a certain amount of laziness and money-hunger involved when companies promise you a level of green they haven’t really achieved. Instead of the classic deadly sins, greenwashers usually commit one or more of the Seven Sins of Greenwashing outlined in a new report by Terrachoice Environmental Marketing and EcoLogo, and while they may not be deadly, they are worth watching out for.

Ironically enough, the emphasis Americans are now putting on going green is partially responsible for the growing number of greenwashers. As we seek out products that we perceive to be greener or more natural than conventional options, some companies are looking for ways to promote their products accordingly without actually making changes to the goods. Often it’s cheaper to design new packaging or put a few key green terms on the outside than it is to re-evaluate what’s inside. But you’re not buying green products because you want a label with some trees on it and the word “natural” used repeatedly—you want products that will make a difference for your health and the planet, and that’s why it’s so important to be aware of greenwashing and know how to recognize the signs.

To keep you find pure green products, here are the Seven Sins of Greenwashing, from most common to least common, as presented in TerraCycle report:

1. The Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off occurs when one environmental issue is emphasized at the expense of potentially more serious concerns. In other words, when marketing hides a trade-off between environmental issues. Paper, for example, is not necessarily environmentally-preferable just because it comes from a sustainably-harvested forest. Click here to read more

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