Black Gold

Here's a useful youtube video on how to make your own black gold - compost! Compost can be used as a mulch to keep down weeds, and as a natural fertilizer to help enrich your soil for growing vegetables, flowers, or grass. I think I may follow the tips in this video to make myself another compost bin. I bought a compost bin August 2008 that you could use for anything, including meat (which you can normally never put in compost). It has worked well but is now completely full, and never had enough room for all of my yard waste.

Nifty Thrifty

I wish there was a map of all of the thrift stores near Richmond, Virginia. Oh wait a minute, now there is! Using the fantabulousness of Google Maps, I was able to combine various maps that other people have made for thrift stores in the Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Washington DC area into one super-map! Now you can easily save money and the environment, all in your own backyard!



View Virginia and DC Thrift Stores in a larger map


To combine your own maps is easy, just follow these simple steps...

Really Really Free Yourself From Consumerism

Richmond, VA's "Really Really Free Market" is a new found phenomena for me, and something I will be sure to start visiting! Held on the last Saturday of the month, rain or shine, everything you find there is free for you to cart away. Expect to see books, movies, toys, furniture, food, clothes, anything! You can bring your own things to give away, or just come to reap the free goodness. I've heard there are often free workshops by community members, such as how to change a tire! And as the weather gets better there is sure to be free music as well.

Not only do events like this save you money, but they also allow items to find new homes, reducing the amount of new materials and items being made, and keeping old items out of landfills. Plus, I seem to remember a few of you resolving to get organized and clear out your clutter, hmmm? So stick it to the man, and make it out to the next Really Really Free Market:

RVA Free Market
Saturday, February 27, 2010
12:00pm - 5:00pm
Monroe Park
Corner of Laurel and Main Streets
Richmond, VA
Contact Phone: 804.300.0026

If anyone knows of any similar free markets in their community, let everyone else know by posting a comment!

Composted Goodness

Whether you realize it or not, composting saves green. Trash pick-up is included or subsidized by the taxes you or your landlord pays. The more often and the greater the quantity and/or weight of trash collected, the more the city is charged for this service. And the city is kind enough to pass that charge along to you.