50 ways to go green (and save money) in the new year

It's the start of a new year soon and there are hundreds of ways to make some green changes to save a little money, help the environment and improve your family's health at the same time.

Here are 50...

1. Start washing your laundry in cold water, or at least most loads.
2. Use Soap Nuts for an all natural laundry detergent.  Again, you can make the switch for just half your loads (such as towels, jeans or work clothes) and still make a big difference if you're partial to a favorite detergent for special items.
3. Hang laundry on indoor and outdoor clotheslines at least part time.
4. Reuse items that aren't dirty (such as towels and pants) before tossing them in the hamper.
5. Plant a garden.
6. Join a CSA.
7. Make friends with local farm families and ask about buying their surplus crops for preserving.
8. Pick your own strawberries, apples, grapes and other local goodies, then freeze them to enjoy later.
9. Start making weekly stops at the Farmers' Market in season.  Shop later if you want to bargain with vendors who don't want to bring a lot of produce home.
10. Join a coop like the St. Peter Coop.
11. Plant some edible landscaping like fruit and nut trees, raspberry bushes or even rose bushes.
12. Learn about foraging.  There are free, organic foods all over the community through sources like walnut trees, crab apple trees, blueberry bushes and even wild mushrooms.  Just be sure to follow rules about harvesting, get permission if necessary and make certain you know what you're gathering.
13. Start baking your own bread.  If you're intimidated by baking by hand, pick up a used breadmaker for a few dollars at a local thrift store and find the manual online.
14. Learn to can.  Ask a friend or relative to show you how, look it up online or take a class in the community. 
15. Go vegetarian at least one day a week.  If you're already vegetarian, go vegan for at least one day a week (more meal ideas are here).
16. Start clippings of friends' houseplants and create some free houseplants of your own to clean your indoor air.
17. Pack your kids' school lunches in reusable containers.
18. Start keeping some healthy snacks in the car for travel-time munchies so you don't have to rely on drive-thru stops or other unhealthy choices.
19. Buy often-used products like oatmeal, dried beans and rice in bulk and then store them in repurposed jars.
20. Purchase a pressure cooker to drastically cut cooking time and allow you to quickly and easily cook items like beans, roasts and vegetables.
21. Start making green smoothies for breakfast.
22. Walk or bike to run errands.
23. Carpool to work or school with a friend.
24. Make it a habit to check Freecycle and local thrift stores for needed items before buying new.
25. Organize a kids' clothing or toy swap with a group of friends.
26. Get your exercise through old fashioned work like gardening, chopping wood, mowing the lawn and shoveling snow.
27. Switch to a push reel mower.
28. Turn down the heat or air conditioning at night and when you go out.
29. Start recycling, or recycle more, and downsize to a smaller garbage can for garbage pick-up.
30. Learn to make your own dishes like refried beans for much cheaper, healthier and tastier results.
31. Breastfeed your baby.
32. Use raw garlic to naturally treat illnesses like ear infections, sinus infections and flus.
33. Make up elderberry syrup and take it to keep illnesses at bay or dramatically cut their durations.
34. Plant native garden plants to reduce the needs for water and special care.
35. Convert at least part of your lawn to garden space.
36. Start using hypermiling practices to improve your gas mileage.
37. Trade goods (extra garden produce, local honey, art, nice outgrown children's clothes...) and services (babysitting, tutoring, music classes...) with other community members.
38. Increase the number of home-cooked meals you serve. 
39. Decrease the number of packaged items (such as canned soups and mixes) you use for meals.
40. Aim to spend at least 30 to 60 minutes outside most days.  The fresh air and sunshine will benefit your mood and your health.
41. Invest in a water filter and start drinking lots more water.
42. Switch to homemade, natural cleaning products like vinegar and baking soda.
43. Make your own art and craft supplies (more here).
44. Cook with your kids.  They'll have fun and learn valuable skills, and you'll produce something healthy and tasty.
45. Start eating more foods that are affordable to buy organic, such as bananas and carrots.
46. Eat in season.  Learn what's in season to know what's fresher, more local and cheaper for each time of year.
47. Use natural products for skin care, such as coconut oil and shea butter.
48. Simmer ingredients like citrus peels, cloves and cinnamon sticks in water to naturally humidify the air and make your home smell great.
49. Turn your thermostat a few degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer.
50. Visit area libraries to check out more than just books.  Various branches in Minnesota carry items like music, movies, science kits, puppets, shaped cake pans and zoo passes.

This is just a drop in the bucket, of course.  Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

Happy New Year!