?Going green,? ?eco-friendly,? ?sustainability,? it?s almost impossible to open a magazine, browse a news blog, or walk into a home improvement store nowadays without being encouraged to change our ways for the sake of mother earth.

Despite this eco-barrage ? and to the dismay of the green movement ? the majority of us are just not thinking ?green? as we go about our daily lives. But most of us will admit that we?re not adverse to the idea of green living, so long as it fits into our busy lifestyle.

For the eco-guilt-ridden among us, take heart. It?s surprisingly easy to incorporate a few green habits into everyday life. In fact, with summertime revving up and the kids out of school, it?s the perfect time to start a few family-wide green living initiatives. Who knows? The kids ? and maybe even us parents ? may learn a thing or two!

Here are three easy, budget-friendly green activities to try. These slide right into the busiest lifestyle without much disruption and have measurable impact on waste generation over time ? so they?re actually worth the effort.

Go-Green Tip 1: Compost!

Turn kitchen trash into gardening treasure by starting a backyard compost container this summer. It?s a great learning tool for science-minded kids and just plain fun for those inspired by ?gross? things. All it takes is a mid-sized container with a lid, a trash can or hamper will do. Drill a few holes in the bottom of the container and place it in a large plant drip tray to catch the liquid ?tea? the compost will generate ? plants love it. Build compost with a little damp newspaper starter, composting worms from the garden center, and kitchen scraps like fruit peels and used coffee grounds. In a few short weeks, fresh dirt!

Need help inspiring the troops? Place a countertop composter by the kitchen sink for easy scrap collection. To learn more about backyard composting check out ?A Beginner?s Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening? it?s only $2.99 on Amazon Kindle.

Go-Green Tip 2: Mix Up Some Home-Made Cleaners

Kids are always game for mixing up concoctions, so how about a few useful green cleaning blends made from ingredients already in the kitchen? The Come Clean Natural Cleaning spray bottle with recipe book makes it easy to turn household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a squeeze of lemon into effective cleaners. Heck, the kids might have so much fun mixing up cleaners they may actually use them. One can hope.

Go-Green Tip 3: Use Recycling to Make a Clean Sweep

Recycling isn?t all about collecting milk jugs and newspapers. Encourage kids to ?think outside the recycling bin? by sorting through outgrown clothing and unused toys and games. Recycle these through hand-me-downs, resale shops, garage sales or donations. Okay, this is really a ploy to get them interested in cleaning out closets and drawers, but if it works, voila! Clean rooms ? and maybe even a little extra cash in the pocket.