Lifestyle

"Be Green in Quarantine!" offers eco-friendly tips for home health, food, and gardening during the coronavirus lockdown. It includes advice on eco-friendly cleaners and home air filters, highlights local veg takeouts, gardening tips, and discusses virtual nature education. It also covers event cancellations and postponed eco-festivals.

North Texans encourage reviving Victory Gardens, a WWII tradition of home gardening, due to its health and environmental benefits. Gardening boosts immunity, mental well-being, and offers fresh produce. Experts advise on starting seeds, choosing plants, and utilizing small spaces, emphasizing patience and local resources.

Local vegan and vegetarian eateries have adapted to the pandemic by offering takeout and delivery options. Favorites like V-Eats, Nature’s Plate, Spiral Diner, Kalachandji’s, Reverie Bakeshop, The Healthy Hippie, Boulevard of Greens, and Righteous Foods are providing creative solutions to continue serving plant-based meals while encouraging community support.

Texans face high indoor pollution due to pollen and dust, worsened by potentially useless HEPA filters against coronavirus. Experts recommend reducing contaminants at home with better indoor quality practices, eco-friendly air filters, and using houseplants. Various air purifiers, like Guardian and Alen models, help cleanse indoor air effectively.

Explore eco-friendly cleaning options like Wet It dishcloths, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, and Mrs. Meyer's products. Discover biodegradable and plant-based alternatives such as ECOS, If You Care, and Dropps. Make DIY cleaners using household ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to reduce chemical exposure.

Oak Cliff Earth Day, initially slated for April, is on hold due to potential city restrictions. Updates will be provided to vendors and sponsors. Meanwhile, Earth Day features will appear mid-April online. The event may be rescheduled later in the year. Stay safe and green!

Organic strawberries at Storm Farms, Arlington, will ripen early this year. The farm, offering U-Pick strawberries and other crops, is located in Dalworthington Gardens. Proprietor Johanna Storm, adding new crops annually, emphasizes agricultural practices and community engagement. Visits are recommended via Storm Farms' Facebook or web page.

The Austin-based band Montopolis has rescheduled "The Living Coast" multi-media environmental performance at the Texas Theatre in Dallas to June 14, 2020. Originally set for March, the show was postponed due to COVID-19 guidelines. Tickets were refunded, and updates will be shared on Facebook.

Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, opened in 2011, was the state’s first net zero school and the nation’s largest at the time. It combines solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal systems for energy efficiency. Educational tours and activities emphasize its eco-friendly features.

Dr. John Haley, a Dallas ophthalmologist, adopted solar energy early, installing panels at his home and office to mitigate Y2K concerns. The upgrades significantly cut energy costs—by up to 70% at his office—and highlight the environmental benefits and financial incentives of solar power adoption.