After reading this post, don't forget to enter our contest – you could win a new dishwasher. Plus, do you have your own story to tell? Send it to greenchallenge@canadianliving.com (no more than 300 words, please), and you could win one of 30 daily prizes. Today's winner is Stacey Airhart of Kingston, Ont.

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Going green is not difficult when you realize that even small changes can contribute to improving our environment. Currently I'm attending graduate school which proves that even those on a budget can go green. Obviously, recycling is an easy essential element to going green. I am also fortunate enough to have a composter in my backyard therefore eliminating even more household waste. Another measure I have taken is replacing all lightbulbs in my house with energy-efficient bulbs. This not only assists the environment but cuts down on electricity costs. In the summertime, I hang my laundry out to dry, once again another energy-saving measure. In the winter I must admit I do use the dryer, but also use a drying rack to dry towels and other heavy items that take longer to dry. I try to be conscious of turning off lights and turn down the heat at night. I use re-usable grocery bags when buying groceries, which creates less plastic waste. Attempting to carpool is another form of going green that I avidly try to partake in. I also aim to participate in physical activities that create little or no emissions, such as cross-country skiing in the winter and kayaking in the summer. Another green initiative I have partaken in is raising hens. I have five layers, which provide one egg each per day. Though the green impact of this project may be minimal, every little bit helps. This summer I hope to plant a vegetable garden and become a little more self-sustaining. All in all these initiatives can be implemented on a budget and without noticeably affecting your daily routine.

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Thanks to Stacey for sending in her story – and don't forget, if you still haven't entered, there's still time to send your own story to greenchallenge@canadianliving.com. Stacey wins a Jubilee Gift Set from Dr. Hauschka, which includes: • 1 Rose Day Cream • 1 Cleansing Cream • 1 Facial Toner Today's code word: chickens Read more: • What you can do about rising food prices • Excerpt: The 100-mile diet • Make your grocery shopping greener