Magnum Heat 

If you have a pellet stove or fireplace, then you’ve got some nice gardening products readily available come spring. The ash byproducts from your stove can be emptied right to your garden plot all winter long, or can be moved from their temporary spot to your flower or vegetable garden when the ground thaws. Clinkers (the solid ash you find in your fire pot) result from burning corn. Both clinkers and the ash from burning wood pellets make great organic fertilizer.

In addition to having readily available garden fertilizer to get your garden going naturally, here are some other organic gardening tips we’ve pulled together for you:

• Plant a variety of herbs and flowers that naturally repel various pests from your garden. It can be as simple as planting things like marigolds, dill, and basil close to specific other plants. There seems to be an bit of an art to it though, as placement makes all the difference. For a nice tutorial on deterring garden pests by planting specific items, visit Wellness Mama who has an excellent, detailed article on this.
• A series of sprays can be made to spray on leaves of plants using things like onions, garlic, and cayenne pepper. For some easy recipes and instructions, visit Organic Gardening.
• Another common recommendation is building a raised garden bed, bringing the growing area up off the ground. BLEND: Better Living and Exercise Daily shared a story of building these types of beds, along with pictures so you can visualize how you might take advantage of this option to help control pests and weeds.

Do you have a good organic gardening tip you’d like to share? Maybe you have a resource that is very helpful that you can recommend to someone starting their first garden. Share your comments below and post your pictures to our Facebook fan page, Heating Your Home with Alternative Energy.

Living green means something different to different people. Some people are making significant changes in their lives, while others are slowly taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint (and learning what that means). However, living more green does not need to be difficult. There are things individuals and families can do, while helping kids learn how to pitch-in and help. You can make smart choices every day and make your imprint on the planet lighter and more green.

Here are some simple ways to live more green:

1. Turn down the heat or air conditioning when you leave, the house can be a bit less comfortable and use less energy.
2. Learn more about green furnaces and heating sources that use renewable energy.
3. Wash your clothes in cold water if possible. The cost of heating water for warm and hot loads uses the most energy.
4. Use filtered tap water in a re-usable container instead of bottled water. The plastic water bottles you buy are a major source of waste, plus take lots of resources to manufacture.
5. Recycle your electronics. When you get the latest gadget at Christmas or on your birthday, do not put it in the trash. Sell it, donate it, or give it to someone else. Places like Best Buy take old electronics.
6. Use reusable bags when shopping. Most of these bags come from recycled materials. Also, you will not be using paper or plastic bags that take plenty of resources to make.
7. Keep your faucets and toilets in good repair. A slow drip can waste hundreds of gallons a year.
8. Keep unused areas of the house closed off. There is no need to heat or cool unused space such as the attic, a three season porch, or storage space.
9. Pay your bills online and lower the amount of paper waste you get each year by half. Some places are offering electronic receipts too.
10. Buy in bulk when possible. Buy the largest containers that you can use without wasting contents. This will reduce the amount of packaging your purchases have while preventing you from wasting the product. Many grocery stores, bulk cooperatives, and farmers markets even encourage you to bring your own reusable containers.
11. Shop local when possible. Foods, fuel, and other items that don’t have to travel long distances can save on the environment.

What are some additional simple tips for people to live a little bit more green? What small steps did you take at first?

Why would anyone switch to a flex-fuel appliance?

The article in Highlander Magazine, September Issue, “Better, Most Cost Effective Way To Stay Warm” talks about the advantages of investing in a flex-fuel appliance manufactured by American Energy Systems and gives real-life stories from American families. Learn more about what makes flex-fuel appliances (such as the Magnum Countryside and Baby Countryside) so unique, and contact us with any questions you may have at 1-800-495-3196.

To read the whole September Issue of Highlander, an environmentally friendly publication, click here.

We care a lot about heating with renewable energy, and so do a lot of Americans. The trend in renewable energy is growing in American households, so the question we’re wondering is: Does it matter to you if your favorite movie actors, television personalities, and music performers get behind a cause like clean energy? Most people are looking for ways to reduce their heating costs, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and save on the environment.

While celebrities are less likely to have a meager, tight heating budget, many stars share in your concerns too. If you’re wondering which celebrities support being green, there is a lengthy list of stars who are getting behind clean energy, biofuels, and other environmental issues.

Ripped from the Headlines: Stars Talk About Environmental Issues and Clean Energy

Some popular celebrities who aren’t afraid to talk about their passion for being green and reducing reliance on oil include Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Other notable green celebrities include Woody Harrelson and Leonardo Dicaprio who are proponents of clean energy and renewable energy sources. These two lists include more stars who use their talents and voice to promote green issue: Greenest Celebrities and Green Celebrities List.

What green initiatives do your favorite stars promote? What is important to you? Do you think it’s important for Hollywood stars to promote causes and do you think it makes a difference?  We’d love to hear from you.

Heating with renewable fuel fits with many buy local campaigns. There is an eco-friendly “green” movement that many community members find important both for our environment and local economy. When we are able to keep dollars within our own communities, so many people benefit. Renewable fuel is another way people are moving toward local spending.

Buying foods grown locally can reduce costs and increase quality standards, and renewable fuel is no different. You can buy fresh, dried corn or wheat from a local farmer to burn in several of our multi-fuel burning pellet stoves like the Countryside and Baby Countryside.

Is shopping local important to you? Have you heard of the new “Cash Mobs” to local businesses?