If you’re a tea drinker, you may want to think twice about exotic blends from around the world. If you think about it, tea grown in Asia has to travel a long way to get from the farm to your tea cup. To reduce the carbon footprint of your tea, think about making fresh tea at home using mint and basil. These herbs grow prolifically, and you can make tea from them by simply steeping them in boiling water. You can add other pantry staples like honey, spices and a slice of lemon.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Organic fruits and vegetables have been grown without the use of chemical insecticides or herbicides. But when you get them home, you should still wash them thoroughly before eating, because even organic produce can have pesticides on them. The reason? Wind can carry the chemicals used on neighboring farms raising conventionally grown produce onto the fields of organic farms. The good news is that the organic produce still has significantly less residue; but even the lower levels should be removed with a thorough washing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you store leftover house paint in the can it came in, take a few extra steps to make sure it stays fresh and will work when you need to use it in the future. One of the worst enemies of stored paint is air; it dries it out and can dramatically change the original color. To prevent air from getting into a can of paint, cover the top with plastic cling wrap and place the lid on top. Then hammer securely in place and flip it upside down (so the lid part is now facing the ground). This will significantly reduce air exposure, prolonging the life of your can of paint.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION