Greening Up My Act

Xeriscaping literally means "dry-scaping", and it's been popular in desert towns in the U.S. since the 80s and 90s. But it's got a lot of promise for fixing the issues you may have with making an eco-friendly lawn even if cactus isn't your aesthetic. Get some tips for xeriscaping on a budget in this episode of your favorite greenliving podcast. BONUS CONTENT: A bit about r...

This week on your favorite sustainability podcast, Tiffany teaches Kat about bee hotels and whether they're really saving the right bees. Watch out for tarantula hawks and the Wasp Surprise! Sources: UC Davis on ‘beewashing’: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=30929 Scientific journal PLOS One study on bee hotels: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journ...

What do you do when you've grown too many tomatoes? Other than pawning them off on coworkers, you can try canning. But is this home method something anyone can do? Or is it just the realm of doomsday preppers and stay-at-home trad wives? Explore the eco-friendliness of home canning with Kat and Tiff in the latest episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. Bonus: count how many times Kat...

Are biodegradable flower pots full of greenwashing? It depends. Listen as hosts Tiff and Kat jump over the moon for CowPots (and trip and fall over others). Find out what biodegradable plant pots are made of, how they work, and which ones studies say work best in this episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. Sources CowPots website: https://cowpots.com/ Biodegradable pot trial: https://img...

Spring has sprung and gardeners across the U.S. are planting their vegetable gardens. Find out if growing your own tomatoes will reduce your carbon impact and save you money in the latest episode of your favorite green living podcast.  Sources: The Garden Continuum - 6 environmental and health benefits of growing your own food - https://www.thegardencontinuum.com/blog/the-6-environmental-and-healt...

Word on the street is that leaving your leaves on your lawn -- rather than keeping up with perfect lawn care -- is better for the environment. But is it? Marketing writers Tiff and Kat explore potential greenwashing behind the popular hashtag in this fun episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. Sources Treehugger: https://www.treehugger.com/is-it-better-to-rake-or-leave-leaves-4864213   Na...

Hardscaping isn't one of those flashy lawn replacement movements that you hear about on Instagram, but it's got some pretty interesting benefits. Listen as Kat and Tiff walk you through this underrated aspect of sustainable landscaping. Sources: The Spruce - What is Hardscape? https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-hardscape-2131060 Ernest Maier - 7 Benefits of Adding Hardscaping to Your Outd...

Tiff and Kat take you through the pros and cons of the wildflower lawn movement -- the kinder, gentler alternative to turf lawns that could be a gateway drug to overthrowing your HOA. Explore how to spot greenwashing in the world of wildflower and meadow lawns with your two favorite marketing writers in this upbeat sustainability podcast . Sources: American Meadows - Plant a Wildflower Lawn &...

Clover lawns are all the rage — but should they be? Hosts Tiff and Kat answer: What eco-friendly claims do folks make about clover yards? Are they true? Why is Reddit so uncomfy? What are the disadvantages of clover lawns? Explore how to spot greenwashing in the world of clover lawns with your two favorite marketing writers in this upbeat sustainability podcast . Sources Martha Stewart: https://ww...

Is your turf grass destroying the planet — or is it more complicated than that? Welcome to season 4 of your favorite sustainability podcast , where hosts Tiff and Kat head to the Great Outdoors. In this episode, learn about potential greenwashing behind the no mow movement, whether not cutting grass for bees makes a real difference, and if you should nix your lawn altogether. Discover Magazine on...

Good news and bad news, friends of Greening Up My Act! The bad news: We had to delay season 4 until February 20. The good news: We have a whole new format which will be easier for us and more fun for you! Tune in Tuesday, February 20 wherever you get podcast. And thank you <3 Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram : @greeningupmyact Facebook : Greening Up My Act Email us with questions...

Have you heard that dry shampoo causes cancer? In our last episode of season 3 (and first of 2024!), Kat and Tiff dig deeper into the savior of every harried working woman to find out if dry shampoo is as bad as you may have heard for your health or the environment and come up with more hope than you might expect.  What we used: Batiste Dry Shampoo Sources: The Earthling Co., What’s Wrong with Aer...

In this bonus episode of your favorite sustainability podcast, Kat and Tiff look back at the past year — and forward to the next year. Learn to set realistic green New Year's resolutions that you both care about and you can accomplish. And just remember: Progress wasn't built in a day. Or Rome. But also progress. Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram : @greeningupmyact Facebook...

There are an estimated 550 billion cotton swabs thrown out every year. Now that's a statistic! So what's the alternative? In this greenwashing podcast, marketing writers Tiff and Kat examine the company LastObject's LastSwab and LastRound. The hosts say "swab" far too many times while determining if LastObject is full of it — or legit. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from...

Washing your hands is probably second nature since the onset of the Plague 2.0, but the big question is: Which soap to use? And if you're interested in living as sustainably as possible, which soap has the least impact on the environment? Join marketing writers Tiff and Kat in this week's deep dive into potential greenwashing behind bar soap vs. liquid soap to learn which type of soap re...

The horribly named "no poo" movement may need marketing help, but solid shampoo companies are making big claims.  It's supposed to be "more sustainable shampoo," "plastic-free shampoo," "naked," "clean," or "vegetarian" choices. Are these claims just greenwashing (a.k.a. green hoey)? Or not? Find out from marketing writer hosts Tiff...

If you find it hard to draw a line between "sustainable" and "non-toxic" products in the greenwashed landscape, marketing writers Tiff and Kat are right there with you. Join them this week as they explore the sustainability of makeup brand Beautycounter and see if it passes muster. What we used Beautycounter makeup - Beautycounter.com  Sources Absestos.com - https://www.asbesto...

Stinky stories abound about natural deodorant: "It doesn't work. I still smelled like sh*t. My family started to avoid me." You get the picture. Marketing writers Tiffany and Kat cut through the greenwashing so you don't have to wonder if it actually helps the earth.  Learn this and much more in this fun sustainability podcast . As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying p...

It's Thanksgiving, which means the consumer season is upon us! Skip Black Friday's buying frenzy this year and be grateful for what you have with our first Anti-Black Friday Gift Guide. Whether you make your own gifts, give digital gifts, buy local, or choose to opt out and maybe just give your time and affection this year, Tiff & Kat have a few ideas to help you make sustainable hol...

Is there such a thing as green wrapping paper or eco-friendly holiday cards? Join hosts Tiff and Kat on this sleigh ride of an episode to learn the answer, and how to avoid becoming 25% more wasteful during the holiday season. They discuss DIY wrapping paper and holiday cards, or if you ain't got time for that, more eco-friendly options from the store. And learn how to lumberjack it up by cut...

Find out if toilet papers or bidets are more sustainable and count how many times Kat can say "butthole" in this week's episode of your favorite sustainability podcast. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links. What we used: Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper   Tushy Bidet Sources: Cottonelle - How Much Toilet Paper Should You Use...

What the heck are toothpaste tabs? Do they work? And are they more sustainable? Your hosts Tiff and Kat walk you through the marketing behind the company Bite, what Tiffany's dentist has to say about these Bits, and whether they're actually less wasteful in this fun and funky sustainability podcast . As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid lin...

In their bloodiest episode yet, marketing writers Kat and Tiff dive into reusable period products. (Freddy Kreuger ain't got nothing on them!) Get over your squeamishness and explore the impact tampons and pads have on the environment plus whether or not reusable products like menstrual cups and period panties are worth it. Join your favorite sustainability podcast for all the deets. As an Am...

Be afraid... be very afraid... of your plastic Halloween costumes never degrading in the landfill. In this special Halloween episode, your favorite sustainability podcast hosts Kat and Tiff explore how to have a blast — maybe without the 16-foot skeletons. Listen as they chat about more eco-friendly costume ideas and how to do Halloween candy better. Sources Instagrammers libery.mai fully vintage...

Learn why we've been talking so much trash about landfills throughout season 2 of your favorite sustainability podcast. Find out why you should be trying to keep stuff out of landfills in this mini-episode and get a teaser for what's up in season 3 (starting October 17)! Sources The EPA - https://www.epa.gov/landfills and https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/learn-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls Uni...