Cooking with the CoastRider
As Paul Mutter is on a well deserved
holiday this week, I’ve decided to try
my hand at Spanish cooking.
Keep your Paella, gazpacho and
other “giants” of Spanish cuisine,
without a doubt my favourite aspect
of any Spanish eatery is the “tapas”.
They are a versatile, varied and
invariably tasty dish which I am
surprised haven’t caught on around
Europe.
Tapas can be meaty, fishy or
veggie and can be used as a starter or
snack, a party food, something to
soak up your beer or, often, when you
have a wide variety, a substitute for an
entire meal.
So, this week, I’m going to have a
bash at my favourites. And don’t
worry, Paul (along with his expertise)
will be back at the stove next week!
Boquerones en Vinagre
½ Kilo of fresh, large white anchovies
(boquerones)
2 small glasses of sherry vinegar (vinagre de
jerez)
4 table spoons of salt
1 glass of water
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped (ajo)
3-4 table spoons of finely chopped parsley
(perejil)
5 tablespoons of olive oil
Wash the anchovies well, removing all heads and bones.
Wash thoroughly again.
Dry the fish well and in a separate bowl, prepare the
vinegar, water and salt, stirring the mixture well until the
salt has dissolved. To test the mixture, take one anchovy and
place it into the liquid. If it floats right in the middle, the
correct mix has been obtained. If it floats on the surface,
there is too much salt. If it sinks to the bottom, there is too
much vinegar.
Once you are happy with the mixture, add the
remaining anchovies. Cover the bowl with cling film and
place in the fridge for at least 24 hours (48 hours if you
can).
Before serving, rinse the anchovies lightly in cold water
and place in a dish covered with the garlic, the chopped
parsley and drizzle of olive oil.
Boquerones are also delicious served on slices of toast
rubbed with garlic.
Dátiles con Bacon
One of the simplest, and most delicious, tapa is
the date wrapped in bacon. Ideal for party food,
and even better smoked on the BBQ, these little
parcels are easy to prepare and are a taste
sensation.
12 slices of bacon
(smoked flavour if you can find it)
24 deseeded dates (dátiles sin hueso)
Toothpicks
Cut each slice of bacon in half lengthways. Wrap each date
in a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place each
date on a lined backing sheet and roast in the oven
(preheated to 180ºC) for around 15 minutes, or until bacon
is brown and crispy. Remove from the backing sheet and
gently take out each tooth pick.
Alternatives: Instead of using toothpicks, spear each
date onto a BBQ skewer and cook the lot on a smoky BBQ
until the bacon is brown. If you fancy a more luxurious
version, fill a piping bag with soft ricotta cheese. Pipe the
cheese into the centre of the date (where the stone would
have been). Wrap in bacon and cook as above.
Albóndigas de Atún
These albóndigas de atún, tuna balls, are a delicious
snack, or accompanied by a salad or jacket potato can
make a substantial lunch or even dinner. Make sure
you buy a decent brand of dolphin friendly tuna as
many of the supermarket’s own brand tuna nowadays
is nothing more than a beige coloured mush.
100 grammes of tinned tuna (atún)
1 onion (cebolla)
1 clove of garlic
2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley (perejil)
2 eggs (huevos)
Flour (to coat the albóndigas)
In a chilled bowl, crumble the tuna fish with a fork. Add the
onions, finely chopped, as well as the parsley and garlic
(crushed). Beat the eggs and add to the mixture. Using cold
hands (I find running your hands under the tap helps stop
the mixture sticking to them), form the mixture into ball
shapes. Sprinkle the flour onto a plate or chopping board,
and roll the balls in the flour to coat. Deep fry in hot oil until
the balls turn brown.
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Total Gardening
Every year our garden plants set masses
of ripe seed. With the minimum of care,
home-saved seed offers an easy
method of propagation and an ideal
way of raising large numbers of plants,
absolutely free!
Seed collecting is fun gardening with
a purpose. Furthermore it is a great
activity for the whole family to do
together. Once you know how to collect
from your own garden, you will soon
start finding opportunities to add new
plants to the landscape by collecting
seeds everywhere you go.
However, collecting seeds does not
come in a one-size-fits-all type program.
Plant seeds are as different as the plants
that produce them, and so ways to
collect and harvest them are just as
diverse.
Why Collect Seed?
There is one thing better than growing
your own plants and that is growing
them from seed you have saved
yourself. Enthusiastic gardeners love a
challenge, and find great satisfaction
from mastering the technique of
collecting and planting seed. The
creation of new varieties is perhaps the
most exciting aspect of growing plants
from seed you collect yourself at home.
When two plants are crossed, each
resulting seed is unique in its
characteristics. Because of genetic
variability, the offspring can be totally
unlike either parent. Through controlled
crosses many fine ornamentals and
vegetables have been created and avid
gardeners may be able to create new and
exciting hybrids in their own backyards.
For the job at hand, most of the
materials that you will need can be found
in your kitchen or office: Scissors,
greaseproof paper, a strainer, envelopes,
re-sealable containers, stickers, and a pen.
You can do it indoors or outdoors, but it is
essential that you do it in still air. Outdoors
is probably best if you are an asthmatic
because there is a chance that you will be
creating some dust.
Which seed?
Annuals are some of the best and most
popular plants to grow from home-saved
seed, but bulbs, perennials and even
some shrubs and trees can be equally
rewarding. Many people ask whether
seed can be collected from fruit trees and
then propagated to grow another tree
(Much like a child asking if they can grow
an apple tree from the seeds in their apple
core). The answer is definitely 'Yes'.
However, because many fruit trees have
been grafted the seed that you plant
most probably will not produce the apple
that you just ate. It will always revert back
to the original plant. Therefore most fruit
trees are better grown from cuttings or
other forms of propagation than to plant
from seed.
How to collect seed:
~ Allow the seed cases to turn brown and
die.
~ Remove the seed cases from the plant
and place them on a tray with some
baking paper underneath. Leave the tray
in a cool, well ventilated place to dry out.
(The paper is to help you find the seeds
after they have been evicted from their
casings).
~ Once the pods or casings are
completely dry, it is just a matter of gently
shaking them onto the paper. Remove
any husks and dry foliage from the seeds
and pour into an envelope. Place the
envelope in an airtight container with a
desiccant such as calcium chloride or
silica.
~ Label and date the seeds and store for
the next season.
When it comes to storing the seeds of
peas and beans, it is important to remove
them manually from the pods and dry
them thoroughly. Seed will store best in a
resealable airtight container - try camera
canisters or jam jars. Another tip is to add
a pinch of powdered sulphur to control
pests and diseases during storage. Seed
viability depends on airtight storage in a
dry, dark, cool place. Remember that
seeds, when exposed to air, have a limited
life and the minute a sealed container is
opened, the seed will start to age.
A refrigerator is a good place to store your
seed collection because it has a cool even
temperature and is dark. However, if you
are worried about children getting into
the seeds, a cool, dark, airy cupboard
would be suitable instead.
Sowing the seeds of love…
Some seeds, such as those
recommended below, are very
straightforward and simply require
storing until they are ready for sowing,
either into pots or directly outside. Others,
however, may need specific preparation
before they will germinate, such as
exposure to certain temperatures,
soaking, or breaking the seed coat. You
will have your successes and failures –
which makes it all the more interesting.
Some easy seeds to collect and sow:
Tomatoes, lettuce, pepper, eggplant,
beans, peas, carrots, herbs, foxglove,
love-in-a-mist, sunflower, cosmos,
honesty, anemone, etc.
With most garden seeds their shelf-life
is usually a few seasons. However,
germinating them when they are fresh
is usually your best option and will give
you better results. Before planting, it is a
good idea to check stored seed for its
germination rate. Planting these seeds
directly in the garden may be a waste
of time and effort if germination rate is
very low. To check germination rate,
place some of the seeds between
paper towels that are kept constantly
moist and check the seeds daily for
germination. If the germination rate is
low, consider buying new seed.
Seed saving is simple, saves money
and allows for crop improvement. But
best of all, it is possible to experience
the pleasure of growing plants through
their entire lifecycle - from seed to seed.
Email your gardening questions to info@total-gardening.com or see www.total-gardening.com
Marc Vijverberg
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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS -
THEY TOLD ME “ONE DAY AT A TIME”
“When I first came to Alcoholics
Anonymous, I did not know what to
expect. I thought I would be taught
to drink properly.
If I had known that in AA you
don’t drink, I’m not sure I would
have gone. But my life was a mess,
and I had become a person that I
didn’t want to be.
I found a small announcement in
a local newspaper. It said: ‘If you
have a problem with alcohol, call
this number.’ One day, after a heavy
bender, I called and said: “I need
help.”
And I got help. I wasn’t 24 hours
sober when I attended my first
meeting. But people were so
helpful, and welcomed me. “You do
not have to drink again”, they said,
“one day at a time”.
That was simple, I could grasp
that. But I was honestly thinking, I
am just kidding myself. But when,
one day at a time, I found I had
been sober one year, I thought then
that there was hope for me too. I
went to meetings regularly, and I
read the AA literature.
The one day I was asked to go
and talk to another alcoholic, who
needed help. I thought - I can’t do
this. But the person I went with said:
“You just tell them about yourself”,
so I did and it helped them and me.
I’ve done the same many times over
since – when asked, you are ready.
An old-timer at the meetings
used to say to me: “It will get
better!” And I thought, that’s easy
for you to say. But days turned into
months and months into years, and
that old-timer was right, it did get
better and still does.
I have spent most of my sober
life in Spain, and I have, over the
years, made lots of friends in the
fellowship of Alcoholics
Anonymous. I have seen people
come, and I have also seen people
go. Some of them come back, but
some of them, I never see again.
Where are they?
I have seen AA grow here on the
Costa Blanca in Spain and that is
good and I am pleased I have been
a part of it.”
If you think you have a problem
with alcohol and would like to
know more about how Alcoholics
Anonymous works, pick up the
phone and call the Helpline or why
not go along to the next Open
Meeting.
OPEN MEETING
Friday, 5th September, 2008
13:00-14:15
Calle San Miguel de Salinas 2 (Corner of Calle
Santomera)
Acequion, Torrevieja
Helpline – Costa Blanca South 625 912 078
Costa Blanca North 648 169 045
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The 10 Emotions of Divorce
Some marriages work and others do
not; it is an easy arrangement to
enter yet devastating to exit. In therapy
terms, the emotional baggage
that remains is very similar to bereavement,
and usually takes as long to
get over.
There seems to be a number of ingredients
needed to improve the odds
of a marriage working. Sometimes by
looking for the missing ingredients,
we can identify the reasons for a possible
failure. An ideal combination in
a couple would include: similar backgrounds,
similar ages (plus or minus
3 years), similar friends, similar interests
and the approval of both families.
It helps if the parents on both
sides have had a good marriage.
Where the parents have disagreed,
their disagreements have been resolved
successfully.
With these ingredients in place, the
happy couple will have an expectation
that their marriage will last. Family
and friends will be there to
support them in times of need. When
problems arise, they will have background
knowledge of how to deal
with them successfully.
To make the marriage continue,
there should be a commitment to
making it a success. In addition each
party should respect the other’s
needs and be prepared to compromise
where necessary.
A marriage fails when it is easier to
stop it than to fight to make it work.
When one or both parties feel that
they get less out than they put in.
When the decision to divorce is
made, there is initially a huge feeling
of relief.
It is interesting to note that the feelings
that arise following the break
up are very similar to someone who
is suffering from bereavement. In the
case of divorce, however, the person
is still around, making closure more
difficult.
The emotions that arise come from the
unconscious mind. As a result, they
cannot be reasoned away and keep reappearing.
They can only be dealt with
at an unconscious level. The ten emotions
of a divorce are as follows:
1. Guilt Your unconscious mind has
always believed that your partner is
“the one”. Being perfect, your partner
can do no wrong and therefore the
break-up must be your fault. You feel
guilty.
2. Failure You feel that you did your
best but your best was not good
enough.
3. Anger You keep saying to yourself,
“Look what my partner did to me.
What did I do to deserve such treatment?”
4. Confusion You cannot understand
why your partner has decided to
leave. It all seemed to be going so
well. You were looking forward to
growing old together. You had just
made plans for the future.
5. Abandonment You have a feeling
of being left alone. This is not the
same as loneliness, that comes later.
6. Loneliness This is one of the real
fears. The feeling that you will be
alone, with no one to talk to or confide
in haunts us all. All your friends
are couples and you will feel excluded
by being single.
7. Insecurity You feel that you are on
your own, with no one to support
you.
8. Low self esteem You feel worthless
and your opinion does not matter.
9. Betrayal You feel let down by the
one person in the world that you put
your trust in. You feel that you will
never be able to trust anyone again.
10. Rejection You gave your best in
this relationship and it was rejected.
Surely you must be truly worthless.
Though these emotions are not logical,
we are not dealing with the conscious
mind and its ability to evaluate.
We are dealing with the child-like unconscious
mind. The unconscious
feels all emotions to the full and will
carry on doing so until it feels satisfied.
This may never arise, but if it
does it is called “closure”.
It is necessary to work with the unconscious
and demonstrate, bit by
bit, that break ups are common and
not necessarily the fault of either
party. If you are guilty of some misdemeanour
in the relationship, then
you need to deal with it. This may
mean speaking to or writing to your
partner with words of sincere regret.
You are probably not seeking reconciliation,
simply closure. You are seeking
peace of mind.
If you are not guilty or if neither party
is guilty, clear the air. Have a discussion
with your partner and talk it out.
Do not seek to blame, it is worthless;
instead look for understanding and
acceptance. Remember that both
parties need help and they can assist
each other in obtaining closure.
If you have deep seated issues, talk to
a psychotherapist. A full discussion
can remove these feelings and, with
appropriate therapy, you will have
the peace of mind that you seek.
There is no reason for the torture and
sleepless nights to continue. Though
this is a breakdown of a marriage, it
is not the breakdown of your life.
For more information call Grahame
Milton-Jones on 96 678 6810 or visit
the website www.san-luisclinic.co.uk
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The Soaps
Emmerdale
Unhappy Birthday. Carl enters into a
bidding war against Anna for Mill Cottage,
but when he approaches his
brothers for extra capital he is shocked
to learn of their dire financial straits
prompting Donald to betray his
daughter and loan his protege the
money himself. Douglas decides to
leave the village to be with Hilary but is
devastated to receive a call from her
requesting a divorce Bonnie tells Val
her tattoo refers to a barman she met
on holiday and forces her into an allday
drinking session in return for keeping
it from Eric. Doug drowns his
sorrows in the pub as news of his impending
divorce spreads, and Katie returns
to the village to find her business
in tatters thanks to Gray. Paul uncovers
Bonnie´s deception and tells her to
leave the village. Val looks forward to
getting her marriage back on track,
and Jo enjoys a stress-free day with
Andy. Laurel is shocked by Doug´s behaviour
when he returns from a shopping
trip with a sports car. . Jo stands
up to Andy when he becomes violent
and throws him out of the house.
Brenda tells Bob to seek help from
Jamie as he struggles to cope running
both the cafe and post office alone,
while Laurel is disgusted to learn Doug
spent the night with BonnieDaz
searches for Andy when he learns he
has not been seen all weekend but,
when he eventually finds him, his
brother is reluctant to return home.
Marlon and Paddy decide to take revenge
on Jamie for throwing them out
of the Woolpack, and Nicola continues
her efforts to get Rodney to write another
book and schemes to use Belle
in her efforts
EastEnders
Jase´s job takes an unexpected turn,
putting himself and Billy in danger and
bringing terror to one resident of the
Square. Dawn is disappointed by the
turnout at her hen night, but Shirley
and Heather are only too willing to join
her. Vinnie is pleasantly surprised by
the identity of an intruder; Billy is faced
with a moral dilemma as things take a
dangerous turn between Jase and
Terry leading to a fatal outcome.
Dawn´s hen night deteriorates as
Shirley delivers a few home truths, but
the staggered bride´s resolve to
change her materialistic ways comes
too late Garry delivers devastating
news to Dawn on her wedding day,
and a grieving Jay blames her for forcing
Jase back to work. Honey is proud
of Billy´s heroic behaviour, but horrified
when he finally confesses what really
went on. Minty receives an
unusual payment from a customer.
Dawn struggles to pick up the pieces
following her bereavement and worries
that Jay may arrange the funeral
without her knowing. Max behaves
impeccably to convince Tanya he is a
changed man and Honey and Billy
make a decision about Jase´s money.
Stacey is horrified when Bradley and
Callum strike up a friendship.
Coronation
Street
Feeling increasingly unwell, Jerry is
pleased to see Teresa, but Mel loses patience
and gives her dad an ultimatum.
Jealousy gets the better of Tina,
who bursts in on David and Amber at
the Platts´, while Dev is puzzled by
Nina´s behaviour in the hotel. Sean begins
to suspect Marcus is two-timing
him. (As Jerry lies unconscious on the
floor, Teresa wipes her fingerprints off
his tablet bottle and calls for an ambulance.
At the hospital, the family gather
round and are told to prepare for the
worst. Tina comes to a decision about
David and Sean give Marcus the silent
treatment, while Dev discovers more
about Nina.Fearful that her secret is
about to be discovered, a panicstricken
Teresa flees the hospital and
prepares to leave the Street as Jerry
fights for his life. Dev grows frustrated
when Nina starts calling all the shots,
and Marcus tells a dejected Sean that
he is spending a few days away with
Noel. Back at the hospital, Teresa resolves
to come clean to Jerry, but he
has a confession of his own to make.
Dev decides to end his affair with Nina
following an awkward evening with
Prem, and Tom offers Sean a shoulder
to cry on. Gail worries about dating Joe
after Tina almost blows their cover.
Hollyoaks
Steph worries Tom is spending too
much time with Niall and growing to
rely on his friendship. Newt meets his
social worker to decide whether he
should stay with Frankie. Myra gives
John Paul and Kieron her blessing.
Niall visits his father´s grave. Darren
asks Frankie to pay off the loan sharks
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FashionPhiles
Punkdory
Not since the rebellious 70s has punk been more fashionable with this season seeing a massive
revival of everything punk – studs, zips and most importantly, attitude!
To create the punk look, you might not have to spend a fortune (although you can if you
wish!) and can instead have a dig around in the deep dark corners of your wardrobe.
Find any anarchic accessories? Any controversial tshirts? A lime green animal print
belt or two? You’re halfway there already!
But just in case you’ve decided to start the look from scratch, here are some of our
favourites:
These fishnet gloves from Asos (£6 online) will punk up any outfit. Team with a
rebellious tshirt, or even dumb-down a pretty dress with these essential punk
accessory.
Fishnet gloves - Once you’ve rooted out your old frayed denim shorts, team them with a pair of funky
tights such as these delicious legcessories from Bebaroque. These “Miss Godiva” tights, with
reinforced gusset to last, are embroidered with Swarovski Crystals.
Bebaroque tights - The ultimate in punk footwear – Dr Marten boots. Affectionately known
as DMs, these boots are comfortable, stylish and will last you forever. Go to
www.drmartens.com to check out the brilliant vintage collection.
These 14 hole oxblood pair is where it all began – direct replica of the very first boots to be
produced by Dr Martens in April 1960. The vintage boots are handcrafted using the
original construction techniques of cobblers in the original factory in Northamptonshire.
DMs - Alternative clothing website www.infectiousthreads.com has a great range of women’s
and men’s punk clothing and accessories. Some are mainstream, some are a bit
more...daring!
We love this Nancy Vicious top for $44
Nancy vicious top - You can’t get more authentic than this Sid Vicious
Chelsea hotel tshirt. Available from most punk clothing websites
(including www.damselworld.com) for around $20
Sid vicious tshirt - And finally, no punk lineup would be complete
without the Mother of all things punky, Vivienne Westwood.
This Vivienne Westwood handkerchief is just £15.
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Electricity in our bodies
Electricity is everywhere. The nucleus of every atom—the basis of everything
you can see and touch—consists of particles known as protons and neutrons.
Around that nucleus there are electrons that revolve around it constantly at
very high speeds. Without this electrical energy, our bodies would be unable to
function. Electricity is of vital importance to the survival of every one of us, as well as
for our ability to speak, move our muscles, and sense the world around us. In the
absence of electrical flow, vital functions come to a halt, and the individual will be
crippled or die. All members of the animal kingdom—human beings included—
communicate, move about, and employ their five senses by means of the electricity
generated within their bodies. Even if you have been unaware of it before now, even
before you were born into the world, your life depended on mechanisms that in turn,
depend on electricity, and you became acquainted with your surroundings and grew
and developed by means of these mechanisms. That is the reason why electric shocks
are administered to cardiac patients whose hearts have stopped beating. The heart
first of all requires electricity in order to function. And so, when the body’s electrical
system is damaged for any reason, nothing can replace it. It must be re-started, or
tissues will begin to die.
Even the space between the earth’s strata and the Ionosphere contains positive
potential of about 3 X 105 volts while the earth’s interior contains an equivalent
amount of negative charge. On an average, every living organism on the earth bears
a subtle electrical pressure of the order of 5 volts/m created by the lowest layer of
the Ionosphere situated about 60 km above the earth’s surface. This potential
generates an electric current in the human body, which is a good conductor of
electricity. At first glance, this small quantity of current may appear to be negligible.
Nevertheless, its effects are incredible because of the existence of some subtle power
centers in the human-body.
With all this scientific information we have, how many of you have thought that
one step further? Could we be beings of pure energy? Is this what some people see
when a person passes on from this earth, the white light of pure energy leaving this
worlds shell behind. Sometimes known as the soul. Many say that this white light
goes on to another realm, could it be that it is just going home, back to its creator.
Their work here is done but they continue on in the other realm. Think also of the
reverence and care taken over the shell that is left behind, is it ingrained in us that
maybe we owe a great debt to this shell which we have had the use of for so many
years, learned so much in it and to think that it all started with a small electrical
impulse! Keep an open mind and never rule anything out, our world is full of
possibilities.
Sharon Hadley p.h.D. Tel. 686 315 372 or 966 111 238
Email. shadders@hotmail.com
Clairvoyant and teacher, tarot reader, teacher
and holistic therapist.
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Let's all save water!
As Spain is in the middle of its worst drought in over half a century with forest fires ravaging the countryside and riverbeds lying dry and scorched. Environmental officials have warned that the poor water management system means the crisis is only going to worsen.
Environment Minister Cristina Narbona has warned that "It is very probable that next year will also be a dry year."
Both livestock and crop farming have suffered a blow from the drought and experts believe wild animals to be in danger due to the water shortage. Contributing to the problem are the hundreds of new urbanisations and countless golf courses, all of which are a huge strain on water consumption.
We have been contacted by a number of readers this week regarding water wastage (see one of our letters on page 18). We decided this is the perfect time to offer everyone some advice on conserving water, so here are some special CoastRider water saving tips:
Saving Water Outdoors
- When watering the garden, use a watering can rather than a sprinkler. A sprinkler can use 1000 litres of water in an hour - as much as six people use in a day. -Collect rain water for plants. Almost impossible here at this time of year, but perhaps something to keep in mind for the winter months.
- Use 30 times less water by washing the car with a bucket rather than a hose.
- Fix irrigation system leaks. If you have an older irrigation system, over 50% and even more than 75% of the water can be lost to leaks.
- Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
- Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil
moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
Saving Water Indoors
- Take a shower instead of a bath (30 litres rather than 80 litres). If you're really serious about saving water, you could always share a shower with a friend!!!
- Don't leave the tap running when brushing your teeth. This action would save a family of four an entire bathful of water EVERY DAY.
- Use a bowl of water rather then a running tap when peeling vegetables.
- Do a full load of washing or dishwashing rather than a half load.
- Make sure all your dripping taps are repaired. Homes can waste more than 10% due to leaking, which costs both you and the environment.
- Replace old toilets. (The toilet is the single largest water user in your home).
- Replace your washing machine if it is very old. (The washing machine is the second largest water user in your home). Energy efficient machines use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. This saves you money on both your water and electricity bills.
- Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it like watering plants or cleaning.
- Verify your home is free of hidden leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two hour period when not water is being used. If the meter does not read the same, there is a leak somewhere along the line.
- Rather than using a waste disposal unit in your kitchen (which uses a lot of water to operate properly), start a compost heap as an alternative method of disposing of your home's kitchen waste.
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