Wipe the blade on a towel or clean rag to remove any lubricant and metal fragments from the sharpening process. Stropping is running the blade edge across a leather strap that has been covered with an abrasive such as stropping paste or green chromium oxide. It puts a final polish on your knife edge. Move the blade in the opposite direction you did when sharpening. Run it over the leather with the "spine" of the blade at the front and the sharp edge behind. Stropping the blade between sharpenings can help keep your blade sharp longer. Once you think you're done sharpening the knife, check to see if the blade is sharp. There are several ways to do this. Cut some paper. A razor-sharp blade will easily cut right through. Shine a bright light on the sharpened edge. A dull edge will reflect the light. Drag the edge lightly across your thumbnail. The blade should scrape the nail cleanly, without catching or vibrating.

Summary: Dry the blade. Strop the blade. Check the sharpness.

Take a 112in (3.8cm) piece of fresh ginger that hasn't been peeled and grate it against the coarsest side of a box grater. Then, hit a 3in (7.6cm) cinnamon stick lightly with a rolling pin to crush it. Since ginger is an underground produce, you might want to scrape off any soil on it. Put the ginger and cinnamon into a medium-sized pot. Reduce the heat so the water simmers and keep the lid off of the pot so liquid can evaporate. You'll need to stir the liquid occasionally and keep simmering until 1/3 of the liquid has evaporated. The simmering water should smell very fragrant once it's finished heating.

Summary: Coarsely grate the ginger and lightly crush the cinnamon stick. Turn the burner to medium and simmer the liquid for about 20 minutes.

One of the most fundamental tools you have to fight the loss of global biodiversity is your wallet. Make an effort to buy only products and services that were made with an eye for the environmental health of the planet. Avoid buying from companies with practices that threaten global biodiversity. Remember, companies will sell what people want to buy, so tell companies that you want products that do not harm biodiversity. Research environmentally friendly brands before you make major purchases. For starters, this Fortune report lists a good selection of responsible companies. " There's no way around it: Since early in our history, humans have always created a lot of garbage. Today, however, the massive amounts of waste being produced on a global scale pose a major threat to biodiversity. By following the "Three Rs," you can minimize the impact of your waste. The "Three Rs" are: Reduce: Decrease your consumption. Don't buy products you don't need. When you do buy things, try to make choices that generate a minimal amount of garbage. For instance, buy things with limited packaging (or none at all) rather than things that come in many boxes or containers. The less garbage you generate, the less you'll contribute to the loss of biodiversity when natural habitats are used for landfills. Reuse: Decrease the amount of goods you throw away by using things more than once. One easy example is bringing a backpack or a reusable bag to the grocery store so that you don't use new bags. See our Home Organization articles for more great ideas. Again, less garbage means less loss of biodiversity from expanding landfills. Recycle: When you do have to throw something away, recycle it so it can be converted to something useful again rather than being added to a landfill. Click here for a good guide to recycling in the U.S. There are numerous other ways to encourage global biodiversity. Best of all, many of these are things you can do in and around the home! For instance, reducing your reliance on commercial crops decreases natural habitat destruction when cleared for farming. See below for a few easy suggestions. Start a family or community garden. Less demand for large-scale agriculture means less habitat loss and fewer native species displaced. Use composting at home. The compost can be added to the family garden or the community garden to boost your harvest. This further reduces your reliance on commercial agriculture. Even better, this is a great way to recycle organic waste and kitchen scraps! We've all heard it hundreds of times: Burning fossil fuels is bad for the environment. While human carbon emissions have been linked to global climate change beyond a shadow of a doubt, many don't know that they also have a direct impact on the planet's biodiversity. Climate change leads to habitat loss and more stressful environmental conditions that put at-risk species on the brink of extinction. Thus, slowing climate change by reducing emissions is one effective way to preserve biodiversity. Usually, this can be done by reducing the energy we use. For instance, you might try: Purchasing a zero- or reduced-emissions car for your next vehicle purchase. Carpooling during your daily commute to save money and reduce the fuel you consume. Walking or riding your bike instead of driving. Using energy-efficient electronics to reduce carbon emissions. In the U.S., electronics that are made to use a minimal amount of electricity are given an "ENERGY STAR" label by the EPA. Look for this label. Investing in efficient insulation and heating for your house to reduce energy usage. Considering alternative home energy sources like solar panels, which were once too expensive for many people but are getting cheaper each year.
Summary: Be an informed consumer. Follow the "Three Rs. Practice eco-friendly food strategies at home. Reduce your carbon emissions.