Earth Saving Tips from Earth Share

Shhhhhhh!

Autumn conjures up many images - and sounds, too, as homeowners tackle the big job of raking leaves, clearing gardens, and cleaning up other yard debris. These are tasks that can make neighborhoods noisy and a bit more polluted if they're done with loud, motorized power tools that burn gasoline or other fossil fuels. Many citizens are opting for quieter, cleaner alternatives like those listed below:

Use a rake instead of a leaf blower. If you need a power tool for a hard to reach spot (like your roof, or in between shrubbery), try an electric leaf blower, rather than a gasoline-powered one. Electric leaf blowers are usually quieter and more energy-efficient than their high-powered counterparts.

Hire neighborhood kids to help. If the idea of doing the raking doesn't appeal to you (or you don't have time), hire a couple of high school kids to help out. They'll be affordable as well as ecological.

Choose hand-powered hedge trimmers. As an alternative to more energy-intensive trimmers, you can also try electric trimmers.

Consider a hand-powered lawn mower. Many yards are so small that a hand-powered lawn mower does the job just fine. You'll replace the roar of a power mower with the quiet whir of the low-tech model; even an electric mower is quieter than one requiring gasoline.

Compost as much as possible. Leaves, twigs, and other yard debris can be quietly composted in a corner space of your yard. In the spring, the compost will be ready to nourish other parts of your garden.

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Earth Share, a federation of America's leading non-profit environmental and conservation charities, promotes environmental education and charitable giving in employee workplace campaigns.

For more tips or to find out how your workplace can help the earth, visit the "Get Involved" section of our website, or call (800) 875-3863.