Earth Friendly Ways to Beat the Snow and Ice

 The snow has already begun to fall in Cleveland, and many are predicting a long, hard winter.  Instead of breaking out the snow blowers and chemical de-icers this year, why not try things a little differently.  Not only will you be contributing to the well being of the planet, but you might just save a little time in the process.      

Chemical de-icers, while effective, are harmful to pets and to your lawn.  The very name 'chemical de-icer' suggests that they are not in tune with an all natural lifestyle.  As a safer alternative, sprinkle some clay cat litter or sand onto your walkways.  Both of these products provide excellent traction and do not contribute chemical waste in the process. 

When it comes to snowblowers, why not simply leave it in the garage and break out the good old fashioned snow shovel. In addition to lowering your carbon footprint, shoveling snow is a great workout.  However, I do not recommend this for everyone, especially those with health issues.  So instead, how about giving the neighborhood kids a couple bucks to do it for you. It will save you a lot of time and effort, and make a child's day in the process.  Or, if you simply cannot give up your snowblower, why not form a neighborhood snow removal co-op.  Each person takes turns plowing a couple of driveways at a time, and the system would then rotate.  This has several benefits:  to begin with, think of how much you will enjoy sleeping in when it's not your turn to plow.  Plus, it's a great way to get to know your neighbors while drastically reducing the amount of snow blowers and plows operating at the same time, cutting down on emissions and pollution.

While winter is inevitable in Cleveland, there are still many ways to make it a more enjoyable and earth friendly time.