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GO NATIVE. "Our backyards are corridors to wild habitats," says Debra Strick, a spokeswoman for the New England Wild Flower Society, where flora that grow naturally in New England yards will flourish without the use of fertilizers or pesticides, and require less watering than nonnative varieties. Plants should be nursery-propagated, not taken from the wild, and be sure to avoid invasive species altogether.

COMPOST. SERIOUSLY. Composting kitchen and yard waste is one of the best ways homeowners can reduce the amount of garbage they're sending to the dump. Yes, organic waste is biodegradable, but without light and oxygen, anything can become virtually mummified in a landfill; according to the EPA, 30-year-old cabbages and carrots have been identified in dumps. Even city residents can make a difference. In Boston, for example, leaves and grass clippings are turned into compost that enriches the city's 150 community gardens. "Gardeners call compost 'black gold,'" says Valerie Burns, president of the Boston Natural Areas Network "Without it, our community gardens couldn't grow food year after year, because the soil would become depleted of nutrients." Apartment dwellers, you're not necessarily off the hook: The network recommends vermiculture - that's letting worms make mulch out of your organic waste - for indoor bin composting. Ask about getting started at a gardening store.

PASS ON PARTICLEBOARD. Indoor air quality is affected by formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, found in carpeting, plywood, subflooring, paint, and furnishings. You don't have to remodel your entire house, but choose lower-VOC options going forward. Strong fumes are one indicator of harmful gases, but some products, including interior paints, indicate whether they are "low-VOC" on their packaging.

PLUS

Buy food at farmers' markets to help support local agriculture. Turn the water off while shaving and brushing your teeth. Use aerating shower heads and faucets. Insulate your hot water heater's tank with a $20 insulating jacket from the hardware store. Insulate yourself with a cardigan, and turn the thermostat down to a comfortable 68 degrees this winter. (Lower it to 55 while you're out or sleeping.) Seal the gaps around windows and doors; a typically leaky US home has the equivalent to a 3-by-3-foot hole in the wall, according to the nonprofit research and lobbying organization Natural Resources Defense Council. Use a clothesline if you can. According to Energy Star, washers and dryers account for 6 percent of the average home's annual energy bill. Recycle obsolete computers and home electronics (it costs just $10 per large item, like a monitor, at Staples stores).