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Get Ready for White Elephant Parties This Season During the holiday season, it is commonplace to receive some excess and some, frankly, unique gifts.  Trying to decide what to do with some gifts that are not necessarily useful?  Try regifting these presents, a way to recycle presents and give them to someone else. What is regifting? Essentially, regifting is the process of giving a received gift to someone else.  This is also occasionally called "recycling a gift." In America, an unofficial holiday "National Regifting Day," takes place the week prior to the Christmas holiday. What about etiquette?  Is it polite or appropriate to regift? Ultimately, this is up to personal preferences.  Some individuals may feel uncomfortable regifting or recycling gifts received during the holiday season.  Others may feel this is a great way to give more gifts during the holiday season. What are some regifting do's and don'ts? Below, the Grady's GreenLiving Tips team comp...

Think Before Letting Balloons Go After holiday celebrations, birthdays, or other special events, hosts and attendees may be left with a multitude of balloons.  While some may take the balloons home, others may think it is a good idea to let balloons "go" to float upwards into the sky. While this may seem like a nostalgic and harmless pastime, letting balloons float upwards can have devastating consequences for the environment.  Below, Grady's GreenLiving Tips details three of these negative environmental impacts: Animals Can Get Sick or Hurt From Balloons  After balloons float upwards, the balloons eventually sink downwards and land in a different place.  Once this happens, birds, fish, and other animals can mistake the deflated balloons as food.  This can, obviously, cause serious detriments for the impacted animal.  Animals can choke on the balloon.  In addition, balloon strings can entangle birds, turtles, and other animals which can limit or totall...

#BeRecycled for a Green End to the 2018 Year Recycling is an easy and efficient way to live a green life.  Sorting recyclables, such as plastic soda bottles, aluminum cans, and newspaper, from waste, re-using products, and re-purposing goods and supplies are all ways to recycle that will have a positive impact on the environment.   Thursday, November 15, is America Recycles Day , an annual, green, holiday that celebrates the positive impact of recycling.  Three ways to celebrate America Recycles Day include: Take the #BeRecycled Pledge : Located on the official America Recycles Day website, the digital pledge allows people to commit to recycling and even narrow down on a particular product or products to recycle more of throughout the year.  Signing the online pledge also allows individuals to opt in to receiving recycling tips via email. Attend a Recycling Event : Multiple recycling and GreenLiving themed events are taking place this week in honor of America R...

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our  website  or  Facebook  page.

Five Fun Activities at Summers Farm One way to live a green life is to appreciate local, natural beauty.  What better way to accomplish that goal this season than to visit a farm?  Perfect destinations for the fall, many farms feature animals, produce, foliage, and more. For this farm spotlight, the Grady's GreenLiving Tips team features Summers Farm in Frederick, Maryland.  Only 15 minutes from Downtown Frederick, several of the great features of Summers Farm include: 1) Pumpkin Patch : The Summers Farm team operates a wagon ride to their pumpkin patch when the farm is open to the public.  The pumpkin patch contains pumpkins of all shapes and sizes along with gourds and squash.  Those who pick pumpkins pay by the pound to take the produce home.  2) Corn Maze : A staple of Summers farm is the 12 acre corn maze.  The theme of the maze this year is the Washington Nationals baseball team.  The maze contains two trails: one designed to be a leis...

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our  website  or  Facebook  page.

Transform Books Into Decor, Art, Projects, and More With the fall season beginning in just a few days, it is time to plan for seasonal activities and events!  Trips to pumpkin patches and haunted houses are always fun, but some days, it is just as enticing to curl up at home with a good book.   For voracious readers, with stacks of novels at home, it may be a good time to comb through bookshelves and decide if any books are no longer needed.  Instead of throwing unused and unwanted books away, books can be "upcycled" and/ or re-purposed in creative, and green, ways.  Learn some methods for "recycling" books here: 1. Donate books to a new home : A great way to "recycle" old books is to donate them!  Many organizations, like non profit organizations/ charities, accept gently used books.  In addition, local libraries often accept book donations.  In the Montgomery County Public Library system, many branches accept book donations.  Learn more abo...

Car Free Day is September 21 and September 22 This Year Celebrating green holidays is a great way to promote a green and eco-friendly life.  One upcoming green holiday is Car Free Day  that will be celebrated on Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22 this year.  Car Free Day, sponsored by Commuter Connections , encourages participants to find alternatives for the car in order to commute to work. What are several ways to celebrate Car Free Day?   Learn three possible methods below : 1) Bike : Biking is a great way to commute to work or travel.  Biking is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to travel and, in many cases, is just as reliable as cars and other traditional vehicles. 2) Carpool : Though not, exactly, car free, carpooling is a great way to commute to work that simultaneously reduces the amount of vehicles on the road.  Less vehicles on the road (one of the main goals of Car Free Day) reduces the amount of pollution that is released in the a...

What to Know Before Adopting a Cat or Dog Thinking about pet adoption?  Adopting a dog, cat, or other pet is a great way to live a green life.  Many pets need a new home with loving owners, and adopting an animal is a fantastic, and green, alternative to buying a pet from a pet store. Pet adoption is a big undertaking, and it is important to understand all involved before beginning the adoption process.  It would be a sad day for both owner and pet if the adopted dog or cat is returned to the shelter.  That being said, before pet adoption, be sure to consider the following GreenLiving truths: 1) What type of pet is best for you?   Before adopting a pet, it is necessary to first determine what pet to adopt.  Cats and dogs can have different personalities and can fit into different lifestyles.  Dogs need to be walked and groomed more frequently than cats.  Cats can be more self sufficient, as they groom themselves and can use a litter box.  2) ...

During the remaining weeks of summer, many people are planning trips and excursions while the weather is still warm.  After spending time outdoors, remember to check for lingering insects and insect bites.  It is important to be precautions of bites because while some insects, such as ticks, can spread disease.  Insect repellent is a proven method to reduce the amount of bug and insect bites.  In addition to repellent, the following three methods are eco-friendly ways to limit painful and harmful insect bites: 1) Remember clothing options : When spending time outside in the woods for a camping trip, it is important to pack and wear long pants and shirts.  Though it is summertime, it is hard to receive ticks and other insect bites when wearing layers of clothes that protect the skin.  After these trips, it is important to wash any clothes worn because insects may be hiding on the fabric. 2) Consider the path : Walking through tall grass and overgrown shrubbe...

A Smoothie Recipe for A GreenLiving Lifestyle Want to reduce food waste?  Combating food waste is a great way to promote GreenLiving.  Ways to reduce food waste include  re-organizing the refrigerator and/ or creating lists when shopping at the grocery store.  Another is finding creative ways to utilize leftover food so very little to no food needs to be thrown away and wasted. This season, try to utilize some leftover fruit to make a delicious smoothies.  Fruits that are a few days past their prime ripeness are still the perfect ingredients for smoothies.  Below is a perfect recipe to try during a warm, summer day: Share a favorite smoothie recipe below! This post was originally published on Grady's GreenLiving Tips on March 28, 2017.  Read the original post, "A Recipe to Reduce Food Waste," here . Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service...

How to Limit Plastic Waste and Pollution Think about the amount of plastic used every day.  Grabbing a coffee in the morning and using a straw to stir in cream and sugar.  Enjoying an ice cold water after a work out by using a disposable plastic cup.  Grocery shopping and using the plastic grocery bags to carry purchases home.  Many people use at least one plastic item every day.  But, even though many plastics can be recycled, oftentimes plastic products are disposed of improperly and can create devastating repercussions in the environment.  Plastic bags and straws can harm fish and other animals and destroy marine ecosystems. It is easy to limit, and even eliminate, the need to use so many one use plastic products.  Learn how in the latest GreenLiving tips blog: It is first important to identify the type of plastics that can be easily limited during daily routines.  One use plastics are plastic products that are designed to be disposed of after...

Summer 2018 is here!  Spending a lot of time swimming in the community pool, attending barbecues, and enjoying the outdoors?  If so, it is easy to experience an unpleasant aspect of the summer season: bugs.  There is often an uptick in the amount of bug bites people receive in the summer.   Trying to avoid excess chemicals this summer in an attempt to live a greener life?  If so, instead of purchasing ointment or medicine from a store, try to use these eco friendly bug bite remedies.  These supplies are natural and are commonly found in pantries and cabinets at home: 1) Oatmeal : Oatmeal is often used to soothe the skin.  Oatmeal is an anti irritant and is very healthy for the skin.  For relief with one or two bug bites, mix oatmeal with some cold water until the mixture has the consistency of paste and apply the mixture to the bite with a washcloth.  For numerous bites, try mixing oatmeal in with a bath.  It is important to note th...

National Pollinators Week is Coming June 18 - June 24 What is National Pollinators Week? National Pollinators Week celebrates the insects and animals that help pollinate plants that, in turn, allow fruits, seeds, and flowers to grow.  This week long celebration will take place from June 18 - June 24, 2018. What is pollination and why is this process important? Pollination is the process in which pollen moves from one flower to another.  The pollen fertilizes the flower which is a necessary component in the creation of fruits and seeds.  Occasionally, this pollen is transferred from plant to plant due to wind and other environmental factors.  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website , "over 75% of all flowering plants are pollinated by animals."  Butterflies, bats, birds, and other creatures transfer pollen from flower to flower unintentionally because the pollen sticks to their bodies. Bees, however, intentionally gather and deposit pollen. What a...

This Type of Debris is Typically Found in the Ocean Summer 2018 begins in only a few weeks!  Trying to visit the beach this summer?  Remember, the beach is an ecosystem that is home to numerous plants and animals.  Unfortunately, the beach and ocean can become littered with rubbish and debris that people leave behind on vacation.   What type of debris is often most often recovered from the ocean? Plastic materials are most often recovered from the ocean.  The plastic materials found in the ocean most often include: plastic cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, and straws.   How can litter on the beach impact the ocean? Littering on the beach can have numerous negative impacts for the ocean and surrounding environments.  Trash and recyclables left on the beach can, eventually, be washed into the ocean.  Not only does this contaminate the water, but it can entangle or hurt fish, turtles, and other animals.   Is it poss...

Green Reasons to Participate in Upcoming Bike to Work Day #BTWD Bike to Work Day is taking place this Friday, May 18.  This annual event promotes biking as an efficient and reliable way to get around.  People are encouraged to forego the car, train, or bus for one day and ride a bike to and from work. Biking is an easy way to practice greenliving .  In fact, riding the bike does not produce any pollution or harmful emissions cars produce that can damage the environment.  Consider these green benefits to biking: 1) Biking does not utilize gas or fuel: This may seem like common sense, but one benefit of bicycling is that it is a method of transportation that does not require fuel.  Gas can leak and contaminate waterways and foliage which can harm the flowers, plants, and wildlife living in their natural habitat.  Cutting out a need to re-fuel can help save local eco-systems. 2) Driving cars and trucks can cause air pollution: Cars, trucks, and similar auto...

This Eco-Friendly Event Returns for the Fourth, Consecutive, Year The annual Montgomery County GreenFest will be held this Saturday, May 5, at Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring, Maryland.  The festival is family friendly and will include live music, interactive displays, food trucks, performances, and more! Several of the events that will be featured during the 2018 GreenFest include: The Repair Cafe : An event that will take place during the duration of GreenFest will allow attendees to bring items that need to be repaired.  The volunteers at the Repair cafe will attempt to fix items such as clocks, watches, jewelry, bikes, small appliances, and more.  This event is hosted by the Silver Spring Timebank . Uprooted Dance Performances : Three Uprooted performances will take place during GreenFest.  The performers will combine rehearsed choreography, music, art, and research in the premiere of the original show "The Legacy Project."  Learn more about Uprooted...

Three Easy Steps to Care for Damaged Plants With the weather getting warmer and the sun out for longer each day, it is now more important to make sure indoor and outdoor plants are getting the correct amount of sunlight.  Light exposure is a key component to plant health.  While sunlight helps plants grow, too much sun can be harmful for flowers and plants.  In particular, an over exposure to sunlight can cause leaf scorch.  Learn more about leaf scorch here: What is leaf scorch? Leaf scorch, also called sun scorch, is when plants and flowers receive too much sunlight or exposure to dry, rough temperatures and/ or climates.  In these situations, water evaporates more rapidly from plant leafs than usual, which causes the plant to become extremely dry.  Leaf scorch can happen during any time of the year, but occurs most often in the summer time. How is it possible to diagnose leaf scorch in plants? If plants are displaying leafs that are yellowing or browning...

Learn about Butterflies and Their Importance in the Environment  One important aspect of living a green life is attending and appreciating local eco-friendly and greenliving events.   Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland is hosting their annual "Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit", beginning this month, on April 18, in the Gardens' South Conservatory Building.  Wings of Fancy is an exhibit that focuses on butterflies and describes the impact these insects have on the environment.  The exhibit ends in September. A center-piece of the exhibit is that attendees can watch hundreds of butterflies flying around the Conservatory.  In addition to the exhibit, people of all ages can enjoy several related butterfly events during Wings of Fancy: Wings of Fancy Butterfly Birthday Party : Host a birthday party at Brookside Gardens during the Wings of Fancy exhibit. Garden after Dark: Wings and Wine : Enjoy an evening of refreshments with an opportu...

Easy Eco-Friendly Tips for an Office Space Grady's GreenLiving Tips often focuses on ways people and their family members and friends can practice eco-friendly tips and advice inside the home.  For example, green ways to clean kitchen counters or ways to reduce food waste at birthday parties or large family gatherings.  This week, learn five greenliving tips that can benefit an office space: 1) Recycle when possible : Recycling is an easy way to live a green life.  Remember to practice recycling even in an office setting.  Instead of throwing away old papers and folders, these materials can easily be recycled. 2) Reduce the use of plastic cups :  Visiting the office water cooler several times a day?  Using multiple plastic or paper cups, or other one-use products like plastic cutlery, is wasteful and can eventually damage the environment.  Try to reuse the same cup throughout the day.  An even better option is to bring a water bottle or mug from h...