10 ways to go green this weekend

With the vast amount of "green" information out there it's easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to knowing what you should be doing. Just remember that every little bit counts, and making a few small choices this weekend can make a big difference. Making green choices helps us create a healthy environment for our planet and our bodies, something we can all get on board for. Here are a few tips to help you have a green weekend and save you some cash at the same time.

1. Visit a farmer's market. You can get local produce, meat, eggs and dairy, have fun and support your local economy.

2. Have a green barbeque. Use local, seasonal produce, and buy meat and dairy from farms in your area. Better yet get your supplies from your farmers market. To get a charcoal fire started without petroleum-based lighter fluid try a charcoal chimney, and when you're ready to clean your grill you can make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub it with your barbeque brush.

3. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher or turn it off at night or if you're not going to be home to save on cooling costs.

4. Skip the bottled water while you're out and about. Use a water filter to purify tap water and fill up your own reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic.

5. Try drinking organic beer or wine from environmentally responsible companies if your weekend plans include cocktails, and always recycle your cans and bottles. Drinking locally produced beer and wine decreases the carbon footprint of your happy hour. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in California uses Fuel Cell technology to reduce their environmental impact and New Belgium brewery in Colorado is wind-powered.

6. Use sunscreen and bug-repellant that are free of harmful chemicals. Find out what's in different products here.

7. Walk or bike around your area instead of driving elsewhere. This saves on gas and parking and is great exercise too.

8. Camp consciously. Keep track of all your trash and recyclables, and remember to leave no trace.

9. Keep your garden green. Keep pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers out of your garden and use natural pest control methods. Try starting a compost bin and fertilize your garden with your kitchen scraps.

10. Volunteer. Check out what you can do to improve your community. Planet Green has a list of nonprofit environmental organizations they recommend, or check out President Obama's United We Serve web site, an online resource helping you find ways to volunteer in your community.

Stay informed about going green and sign up for the World Watch Institute's weekly newsletter.

For more tips how to go green and save money visit The World Watch Institute web site at WorldWatch.org, and for great guides on all things eco-friendly from pets to weddings visit Treehugger.com.