With nearly 10 million cut flowers sold every day, knowing where flowers are grown for your bouquets and arrangements is important. Most flowers come from faraway places like Africa, South America and Europe, where fields of colorful blooms are grown in monocultures that are far from eco-friendly. A new directory called Slow Flowers has over 850 farmer and florist members who use domestically grown “farm to vase” materials. Learn more at slowflowers.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics says that just a small fraction -- 7.5% -- of commuters carpool to work. There are lots of reasons why carpooling is beneficial for the environment and your wallet. On average, drivers save $450 a year on gas by sharing a car. Carpooling also eliminates unnecessary wear and tear on your car. But the big benefit is that you get to your destination more quickly with designated HOV lanes that are set aside for cars with multiple passengers.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Yes, your garbage cans and recycling bins need to be washed on a regular basis. Trash cans and bins can be loaded with illness-causing bacteria like salmonella, listeria and E. coli. When you come in contact with them while discarding of trash, these bacteria can transfer to you. Washing your containers also helps make them less attractive to wild animals, since strong odors indicate there could be food inside. Just rinse the bins out with soap and water and let them drain on your yard.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION