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Courtesy of Patricia Lombard

I have always preferred linen napkins to paper ones.  I never use paper or plastic dishes and I hardly ever put anything in the dryer if I can help it. I much prefer to hang clothes outdoors, one of the benefits of living in a sunny climate and having a big enough backyard to string a clothesline. Long ago, we got rid of our front lawn, preferring the carpet of leaves that fall from the eleven live oak trees we planted when we bought our old house 14 years ago. I must admit I thought I was pretty “green” before it became fashionable, despite a serious dependence on Ziploc plastic bags! But since I started doing research for this “Green House” column, I realize there’s so much more to being “green!” Just like anything else there’s a lot of misinformation out there. For example, what does “certified organic” mean and who certifies it?  
I’m interested in making little changes like carbonating my own water instead of buying plastic bottles, as well as big changes like better insulation in our house and installing a solar roof. I’ll report on these efforts, of course, as we go along. Disclaimer — I’m not an expert, far from it, but I’m curious. And I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn on this blog and hearing from readers who have expertise to share too. Send any sustainable suggestions you might have to info@homelamag.com, and I’ll share them here.