ECO TIPS
At Home:
• Run a full dishwasher whenever possible. It uses half or less of the water and energy of washing the same dishes by hand. And don’t waste water by rinsing before loading (today’s machines are designed to power off the mess.)
At Work:
• Configure your office printer or copy machine so it prints on both sides of the page.
• If you’ll be away from your computer for more than 20 minutes, change it to ‘sleep’ mode.
Before Bed:
• Plug your devices—TV, DVD player, computer—into a UL-certified power strip; switch the whole group off for the evening to prevent phantom electrical draw.
Observe an Eco-Sabbath:
• For one day, or afternoon or one hour a week, don’t drive your vehicle, buy anything, use any machines, switch on anything electric, cook or answer your phone. Give yourself and the planet a break.
Green Your Ride:
• Once a month, check the pressure of each of the tires against the guidelines listed in your car’s manual; add air if needed. Doing this can improve mileage by about 3 percent.
• Replace filters regularly. A new oxygen sensor alone can improve mileage by as much as 15 percent.
Be a Part of the Solution:
• Avoid creating or accepting trash. When ordering food, ask in advance not to receive plastic utensils, straws, mounds of napkins, or unnecessary wrapping.
HISTORIC SITES
Members are encouraged to take some time to volunteer or visit these wonderful places in our backyard.
Clermont State Historic Site
Woods Road, Germantown, NY, 518-537-4240
Olana State Historic Site
Route 9G, Hudson, NY, 518-828-0135
Wilderstein
Morton Road, Rhinebeck, NY 845-876-4818
Montgomery Place Grounds
River Road, Annandale, NY, 845-758-1036/5264
The Palatine Parsonage
52 Maple Avenue, Germantown, NY 518-537-3600
Resources
RESOURCES
American Horticultural Society:
ahsgardening.org
Sensible, straightforward information on a variety of gardening topics, events, and books, plus links to state master
gardener sites.
Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc.:
www.car-sgc.org
Cornell Cooperative Extension:
cce.cornell.edu
The Cornell Cooperative Extension serves urban, suburban, town, and rural areas by offering programs in five broad areas: Agriculture and Food Systems; Children, Youth, and Families; Community and Economic Vitality; Environment and Natural Resources; and Nutrition and Health.
Federated Garden Clubs of New York State:
www.fgcnys.com
District III of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State:
www.fgcnys.com/District-III.html
The Digest, online newsletter of District III:
www.fgcnys.com/threedigest.html
Germantown Library:
www.germantownlibrary.org
A Kid's Guide to Gardening:
www.kremp.com/kids-guide-to-gardening
Great resources for teaching kids the many aspects of gardening.
Gardening Basics:
www.diy-gardening-and-landscaping-ideas
DIY gardening projects and landscaping ideas to save money.
Mid-Hudson Library System:
midhudsonlibraries.org
National Garden Clubs:
www.gardenclub.org
National Garden Clubs Member Services Shop:
Contains garden tools, gardening books, floral design handbooks, floral arrangement ideas, engagement calendars,
jewelry, and various publications. You can shop online at www.shopgardenclub.org/shop/
The National Gardening Association:
www.garden.org
NGA offers the Web’s largest and most respected array of
gardening content for consumers and educators, ranging from general information and publications to lessons and grants.
Plant Propagation Guide for Beginners
www.avasflowers.net/plant-propagation-guide-for-beginners
When you want to increase the number of plants in your yard or home, you can apply plant propagation techniques. Plant propagation makes use of several different methods to multiply plants in a particular space.
