Books & Music...

It's the hard part of being green that makes you really feel like you're making a difference. For example, my wife and I recently decided disposable diapers really weren't that disposable and made the transition to cloth diapers from Bum Genius. And while it's not nearly as time consuming or tedious as washing old-school cloth diapers like my mom did, it still takes more effort than a quick wrap and a dump into the diaper pail.

However, simple is good, too. So for all the difficult things I do to play my part in saving the earth as I resist the urge for convenience, it's still nice to know there are some simple things I can do as well that make just as much of a difference.

John, Sophie and Jessie Javna have updated their classic book 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth: Completely New and Updated for the 21st Century. And I have to admit that its simplistic approach to complex issues is the real beauty in this book.

Check out this green nugget as it pertains to saving the rivers in America and water conservation:

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Your Partner: American Rivers, a national organization that "protects and promotes our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety, and quality of life." Meet them at americanrivers.org
Your Goal: Make using water wisely a focus of our society. "One of the challenges," explains American Rivers' Betsy Otto, "is that water-efficiency isn't sexy. People just don't perceive that we need to use water more wisely ... until we run out."

Start Simple
Start saving. American Rivers' "3 simple ways to save water": 1) Fix leaks. A faucet leak of 60 drops per minute wastes 192 gallons a month; outdoor leaks from hose connections and irrigation systems can lose 50% of the water used. 2) Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, which can cut flow by 50%. 3) Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth or shave. You'll easily save over 5 gallons each time. More tips: 50simplethings.com/savewater