It’s sum-sum-summertime

Be cool. It’s easy to beat the heat in the summer without air-conditioning, especially here in the country. Close your windows during the day, and if you have curtains, draw them closed to keep out the sun. Open the windows at night to let the cooler air in. And if you don’t have sheltering trees around your house, plant some now. For another energy-saving idea…

Hang out. The laundry, that is. No need to use the clothes dryer or those nasty fabric softener sheets which contain—are you ready?—benzyl acetate, linked to pancreatic cancer; benzyl alcohol, an upper respiratory tract irritant; ethanol, on the EPA’s hazardous waste list because it can cause central nervous system disorders; A-Terpineol, which can cause respiratory problems and central nervous system damage—well, I won’t go on. You get the picture. Hang your sheets on the line, and when you take them down, bury your nose in them. What a scent.

Bug spray? Stay away. Commercial insect repellants contain DEET, which reportedly peels paint, damages rayon and spandex and melts plastic. When applied to the skin, up to 56 percent of DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream. Reactions include rashes, muscle spasms, nausea and, in extreme cases, seizures and even death. A much safer bet is a natural repellent made from the essential oil of citronella, lemongrass, pennyroyal, lavender or lemongrass. For evening gatherings on the patio without mosquitoes, burn citronella candles. Remember: what you put on your skin ends up in everyone’s water.

Bug off. Read up on pesticide-free gardening and experiment with techniques to reduce the residue of harmful chemicals in the air, water and soil. Be kind to the bugs—we need them.

Keep your sunny side up. Everyone knows the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun. But does slathering on all that sunscreen pose its own dangers? The Environmental Working Group has researched 924 brand name sunscreens and found that only 15 percent meet their standards for safety and effectiveness. Four out of five products do not provide adequate protection from the sun’s harmful rays. To help you choose carefully, visit ewg.org/sunscreen.

Ummmmmm, good. Summer is the time for perfect food served in perfect settings. Locally grown produce is widely available at area farmers markets or fresh from your own garden. With such abundance, it’s a great time to try a vegetarian menu at least three or four days a week. Grill up vegetable kebabs, corn on the cob, portabella mushrooms, veggie burgers. And for everyone’s sake, limit barbecuing meat to special occasions rather than every day.

Barbecuing meat at high heat creates two known carcinogens--heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons--that form on charred meat and in the smoke from dripping juices and fats (another reason to stick with vegetables rather than flesh food). Studies indicate that populations eating large amounts of barbecued meats have a higher incidence of stomach cancer.

When you do opt to use the grill, be aware that charcoal emits harmful volatile organic compounds and 105 times more carbon monoxide that propane, while propane is a fossil fuel that adds to levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Use slow burning woods or super-dense carbonized lump wood. And for goodness sake—don’t serve your luscious, healthful meal on paper or plastic plates. Use inexpensive plates, glasses and utensils available at yard sales and local thrift shops.

Staycation. Whenever I get the wanderlust, my friend reminds me that thousands of travelers from all over the world come here for vacation. So save fuel and money—take to the river, take a walk in the woods, take in the many cultural happenings right at home.

- Marcia Nehemiah