Rest assured, there is. In fact, there is much that you can do at home and in your everyday lives to contribute towards a more sustainable global society and in this article, we’re going to share some of those ideas with you. 

If you aren’t quite convinced of there being any point to it, let this excellent quote proceed over the article: 

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito” – Dalia Lama. 

How can I be more sustainable at home?

So, what’s the first step to leading a more sustainable life? Well, it all begins at home! But how does one go about being more sustainable at home? 

You’ve already taken the first step and that is doing some research. You have proven that you are conscious of your impact on the environment and would like to do more to reduce your carbon footprint. That is a very big step – very few people have any interest at all in the impact that they have on the environment and the lives of others around them. Bravo. Now onto the next step: 

• Eat more sustainably

• Shop more sustainably

• Travel more sustainably

• Consume more sustainably 

• Dispose of waste more sustainably

What are examples of sustainability at home in everyday life?

To expand on the points listed above, what are some examples of sustainability at home? 

• Be conscious of where your seafood is caught: overfishing in many areas is rife and whilst there is little you can do about that as an individual, being conscious about where and from who you buy your seafood is critical.

• Drink tap water where possible: avoid single-use plastic bottled water like the plague. Provided the tap water in your area is safe to consume, make the switch. There are many filtration systems you can have installed at home quite easily. 

• Reduce your meat consumption: you don’t have to give up the occasional steak dinner, but be mindful of how much meat you are consuming. There are plenty of delicious vegetarian dishes that will leave you equally as satisfied. 

• Cook more: not only will cooking at home more often save you a tonne of money on dining out and getting takeaways, but it will significantly reduce your single-use waste. 

• Shop with reusable bags: there’s no excuse to be using plastic bags any longer. Stock up on reusable bags and keep them handy when you go shopping. 

• Purchase certified sustainable goods: take your time to find and buy certified sustainable goods. Some might be more expensive, but if you can afford to swap it will make a big difference (plus, you can save a significant amount of money in other areas when being more eco-conscious) 

• Buy and consume less: in the US alone, nearly 40 million tonnes of food go to waste — every year. This is largely due to overconsumption (buying what you don’t need and throwing out waste that invariably spoils). 

• Shop seasonally: buy local seasonal produce as and when it comes in. Do you need to have a Dragon fruit from Southeast Asia? Importing produce from all over the world is terribly wasteful, particularly when there’s plenty of local produce available. 

• Switch to eco-friendly products: read the labels of your beauty products and start throwing out any that are not eco-friendly. Shop more responsibly and fill your home with eco-friendly products.

• Ditch fast fashion ideologies: yes, you can wear that dress more than once. Fast fashion is terribly harmful to our environment and it can all change when individuals like yourself to make a conscious effort to resist. 

• Use public transportation: you don’t have to drive everywhere, particularly if it’s within walking distance or you are on a bus route. Be mindful of your travel habits and you may just save an awful lot of money on fuel consumption. 

• Fly less: that’s not to say that you shouldn’t treat yourself to a holiday, but try and fly as little as possible. Can you get there by train? Is there a ferry that will make the journey? Perhaps a road trip? 

• Grow your own produce: tend to your garden and start growing fruit and vegetables of your own. There is so much garden space in the world that is left empty and untended because people can’t be bothered. And yet, you can produce so much food for yourself with a little effort. 

• Replace single-use items: even something as seemingly insignificant as switching to glass straws at home can make a big difference. 

• BYOM to work: bring your own reusable coffee mug to work with you. Do you need to use single-use foam cups every day? 

• Upcycle: get creative and start thinking about ways that you can upcycle certain items before throwing them out. Can that item of furniture be saved with a lick of paint? Give your waste items some love and rehome them where possible. 

• Ditch your bad habits: smoke less, drink less, and spend less time binge-watching television. There are so many harmful habits out there that are not only detrimental to your physical and mental health, but to the environment as well. 

• Compost: buy an electric indoor composter and start turning all of that organic food waste into food for your plants! This is even better if you have made the decision to grow your own fruit and veg at home as well.  

Why is sustainability important in daily life?

Sustainability is so important for a wide variety of reasons, namely because it can reduce your carbon footprint thus lowering the number of toxins released into the environment. Not only that, but leading a more sustainable lifestyle sets a good example for those around you. When people see you thriving whilst leading a cleaner life, other people may be inspired to join you – not to mention teaching your children how to be conscious consumers.

The post How can I be more sustainable at home? What are examples of sustainability? Why is it important in daily life? appeared first on Hokie Joint.

Here we will take a look at one of the key types of tree care – pruning. Once you know when and how to correctly prune your trees, or get them pruned, you will be well on your way to a healthy and well-maintained garden.

What are the different types of pruning?

There are many different ways that you can approach pruning and a variety of cuts that you can elect to use. The key is to know what it is that you are trying to achieve with your cut before you make it, and go steadily as you try to accomplish it. The main types of pruning are:

• Dead pruning – when your tree has areas that are dead or dying, the best way to save the rest of the tree is to cut it off. Dead pruning is used to make the tree look and feel better, but also to prevent possible danger from dead branches falling on their own.
• Crown thinning – used to, as it sounds, literally thin out the crown of the tree and therefore allow more light to permeate, this reduces the number of branches on the tree. Having fewer branches means that those remaining get more of what they need to flourish and look great.
• Crown lifting – branches lower to the floor are removed, raising the height of the main body of the tree and again improving its aesthetic as well as for more serious reasons. These low branches can often be dangerous to people on foot or taking transport, and should be removed when the tree is young.
• Crown reduction – used to decrease the height of the tree overall, this involves cutting the top branches instead of those lower down to let them grow and flourish.
• Pollarding – this is where the top branches are removed and the tree is encouraged to grow dense foliage, keeping trees at a uniform height and looking smart.

Whether you are pruning for presentation or health, the method that you use will have hugely varied results. If you aren’t sure what to go for, consider asking a professional from a highly qualified firm like Lakeside Trees and Stumps for advice and a quote.

Taking the wrong action can cause irreparable harm to your trees, so make sure that you take care and ask the experts if you are in any doubt.

Why is it important to prune trees?

There are a great many reasons to prune your trees, some of which are pretty obvious and have been mentioned above, and some that may be a little more unexpected. Here are some of the top reasons why you should make pruning your plants a priority:

• Health – as stated, cutting off dead and dying parts of the tree can be the only way to keep up the health of the entire plant.
• New life – pruning is a great way to encourage new growth. Think of it like giving your hair a trim when you are growing it out, you will get more length with a regular cut than if you leave it for ages.
• Shape – whether you are carefully cultivating the most beautiful and creative shapes or simply like your trees to look smart and tree-like, pruning is the way to achieve this.
• Size – you may be restricted on size because of your location, or simply preferences, and pruning the tree and even the roots can be the way to keep your plants at the correct size.
• Light – crown thinning and pruning can let more light pass through. This is not only good for the branches of the tree but also can brighten and lighten your garden too.
• Safety – one of the most important reasons to prune your trees is for the safety of yourself and others. Dead branches can fall and hurt someone. Your tree could topple onto power lines, cause damage to your neighbours, and so much more if not properly cared for, so don’t take the risk.

For all these and so many other reasons, it is so important to prune your trees yourself or hire the right company to do it for you.

When should trees be pruned back?

When you should prune trees depends on why you are doing it and what you hope to achieve. If you are pruning to get rid of dead and dying material, it should be done as soon as you notice that something is wrong. Leaving these kinds of branches where they are risks further harm to the tree and also the danger of falling branches to people.

If you are pruning for more aesthetic reasons, the time of year will alter based on the kind of plant that you have. Generally, winter can be a good time to choose as the tree is dormant and so will take less harm from the process of pruning than it might in the full growth of spring.

You should avoid pruning in the spring for this reason. A great deal of energy is being used for new offshoots, buds, and foliage. If you cut into it then it can stress out the tree and cause longer-term issues.

In general, trees should be pruned when needed, but not in spring unless there is a danger to the tree or others from dead and dying branches. Once again, consult the experts for further tips and advice, or to get your pruning taken care of professionally and perfectly.

Final thoughts 

Pruning your trees is absolutely essential to maintain the health and care of your garden. You can do it yourself in the winter months, keeping on top of any dead branches all year round, but you must be careful not to cause more harm than good.

For the best results, you may wish to check out one of the excellent arborist companies like Lakeside trees and stumps who use all of their combined knowledge and experience to do the best job for your trees.

The post What are the different types of pruning? Why is it important to prune trees? When should trees be pruned back? appeared first on Hokie Joint.

But rather than go for the more traditional office furniture, have you considered office antique reproduction furniture? That’s right, you can transform your office into something out of a period drama. Perfect for the discerning type who has a taste for style and refinement. 

It might seem a little over-the-top to some of you. However, you’re investing in your home either way. So, why shouldn’t you indulge in some beautiful furniture for your home office? Create a space for you to thrive and take pride in. 

The benefits of buying furniture from an antique reproduction shop 

There are other benefits to buying furniture from an antique reproduction shop besides the aesthetic appeal. For example, think about the cost implications involved with purchasing antique furniture. The difference in cost between the real-deal and an exact reproduction copy is staggering. 

Unless you’re an avid collector, then there should be no reason not to save your money and go from a quality reproduction piece instead. 

You don’t need to look very far for antique reproduction furniture 

Finding a certain antique piece is easier said than done. In fact, you might struggle for a long time trying to find a certain item, and when you do eventually find one, who’s to say that it’s going to be in mint-condition? 

The fact is, when you purchase antique reproduction furniture, you don’t need to look very far at all. You can select from one of the reputable dealers and find precisely the style that you are looking for. Additionally, you can even have certain styles replicated especially for you, and even improved upon if you have any style or functionality preferences. 

You won’t be afraid to use your office antique reproduction furniture 

There’s no good buying an actual antique piece if you have the intention of using it every day. When something is so old and valuable, you wouldn’t want to run the risk of causing it any damage. However, when you purchase some office antique reproduction furniture, you won’t need to worry so much. 

These items will be designed using modern crafting methods and will be designed to last a life-time. That and you’ll likely receive a certain amount of warranty, whereas an antique shop most certainly will not. 

These are all things worth considering before going ahead and making your purchase. Just take your time, do your research and weigh up the pros and cons. In any case, we wish you the best of luck with your new home office, no matter how you decide to furnish it.

The post Office Antique Reproduction Furniture for the Discerning Type appeared first on Hokie Joint.

And of course, owning a swimming pool isn’t exactly cheap. You will need to maintain it, keep it clean and ensure that the pool equipment is in working order. Keeping the swimming pool heated and working regularly is going to result in higher utility bills as well, though again; it’s all worth it. In this post we’re going to highlight these benefits to you. 

The Benefits of Having a Swimming Pool with Children 

If you have children and you’ve got a swimming pool, then your life is going to be much easier! It will be easier in the sense that tiring your children out and getting them ready for bed is rarely going to be an issue due to how much exercise they will be able to get from using the pool. 

In addition to that, owning a swimming pool will give you the unique opportunity of being able to teach your children how to swim from a young age which is great. This will make them feel more confident, it will teach them useful life skills and you won’t worry so much once they’ve of age and they start heading out with their friends. 

In addition to that, hosting birthday parties for your children will be much better as well. You won’t have a houseful of screaming children because they’ll all be outside knackering themselves out. (Not to mention the amazing health benefits of children and swimming) 

The Benefits of Having a Swimming Pool (For You) 

Swimming is one of the most incredible exercises that you can undertake. It’s a low-impact cardiovascular exercise which works all of the body. This is great for bolstering your health, strengthening your heart and lowering your blood pressure. 

In addition to that, the mental health benefits are certainly not to be snuffed at! Imagine coming home from a long and stressful day at work; what better a way to unwind then by enjoying a nice and relaxing swim? 

You can invite friends over to share your swimming pool with you as well. Not only are the physical and mental health benefits huge, but it is also a serious amount of fun as well! 

If you’re interested in having a swimming pool installed, or you own one which needs bringing back to life; check out a reputable company. You won’t regret your decision if you invest in a swimming pool for your home. Just think of the amazing memories that you can make with you and the people that you hold dearest?

The post The Many Ways in Which Owning a Swimming Pool Can Improve Your Life appeared first on Hokie Joint.

Sure, that might seem like an awful lot of effort to go to, just to stop a few flies from coming into your house, but there’s so much more to it than that. In this post we’re going to take a look at the other benefits and applications for having such screens installed. 

First of all, they’re not all that expensive, particularly when you consider how useful they are. It can get so hot in the home in Australia, and it can be terrible expensive having to run your air conditioning all of the time. 

A great alternative is having these screens installed and then opening your windows and doors. Sure, that’s not going to be quite as cold as air conditioning, but the breeze can certainly cool your home down.

The mesh from the fly screen is also very effective at reducing the impact of UV light coming through into your home which in turn, lowers the overall temperature of a room. 

This is also great if you have young children and toddlers. Having the doors open, but the screens closed and locked will prevent them from running outside and onto the street when your back is turned for a moment. 

On a nice sunny day, it’s nice to have the breeze come through the house without having to worry about whether your toddler is gonna waddle off into the garden and fall into the swimming pool. 

On top of that, the additional security benefits are certainly not to be snuffed at. A burglar is going to be significantly less likely to want to rob your house because not only do they have to contend with getting past your doors or windows, but the great big mesh metal things covering them! 

Now, you might think: ‘great big mesh metal things’, that sounds like a real eye sore, – but you’d be wrong. They’re actually very discreet and can be fitted to match your homes windows and doors. They’re not half as bulky or ugly as you might imagine and considering how many great benefits they come with, it’s certainly worth it. 

Security screen doors are perfect for anyone who is looking to keep those pesky pests out of the house. And that is referring to insects and unwanted visitors such as burglars alike! Up the security of your home and keep your living areas free of pests and insects. You’ll feel all the better for it and you’ll be able to relax in the knowledge that your family is safer.

The post Retractable Fly Screens Offer So Much More Than Protection from Insects appeared first on Hokie Joint.

If that’s not enough to get you excited about re-turfing your garden then I don’t know what will – however, if your garden is showing any of the following 5 signs, then there’s a good chance that it’s time to re-turf anyway! 

1 – Dry Patches and Dirt Spots 

If your lawn is looking rather patchy with plenty of dirt spots scattered throughout, then it’s time to dig it up and replace it with some fresh turf. You could always try and re-seed it, though for the sake of saving yourself much time and effort, a new batch of turf will soon fix it no problem. 

2 – Too Many Weeds 

The presence of lots of weeds on your lawn is a clear sign that the grass is poor, with an abundance of weak spots. If you replace it with fresh and dense turf you will be able to successfully choke the weeds out and prevent them from growing back in the future. A lawn full of weeds is not a pretty sight, so do away with it all together and successfully turf your re-garden. 

3 – Lawn Disease 

Lawn disease can be incredibly difficult to cure, and sometimes it’s impossible altogether. If you have significant lawn disease in your garden, then we would advise that rather than try to rectify it with the potential of failing and wasting a great deal of time, bite the bullet and re-turf your lawn instead.

4 – Poor Drainage 

If after rainfall you notice water pooling in your garden, then it’s evident that there is poor drainage on your lawn. A great way of rectifying this is by having your lawn replace and re-turfed with a high-quality turf with much better drainage. 

5 – If you Don’t Like it 

You don’t have to have a seriously good reason to re-turf your lawn, other than you don’t like the grass that you have at the moment. And you might be thinking that, ‘grass is grass’, however there are so many different types for you to choose from. If you fancy a change and you’d like some examples of the many different variations available to you, You’ll be able to get some more information on the different features and qualities to find the perfect fit for your garden.

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