Green

The Low-Tech DIY Washing Machine

Heather Clisby — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:55:33 +0000

Great for you off-the-grid types or compulsive campers everywhere. This blogger is taking on the bucket-and-plunger approach as part of a wider challenge:

"This is a great method for off-the-grid low-tech clothes washing or, in my case, diaper washing as part of the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge. The total cost to make this washer was around $6, and about 10 minutes. The amount of time it takes to operate depends entirely on the quantity of clothing and the type of material being washed. Denim, for example, will take more effort than t-shirts."

Image "Laundry" via Shutterstock

Introducing Community Transition Series

frugalmomofmultiplekids — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:29:28 +0000

Introduction

Since with all the new changes, I have decided to do a new series every Thursday starting May 31, 2012 so you guys can understand what being self-sufficient, steps to take and how to transition your community. I feel very passionate about this since I found out that our school district must cut programs out of the budget in order to keep the school open for next year. I feel as though if we all come together to take action to help rebuild our homes we wouldn't have to depend on the grant money that the government gives us each year.

What is it?

It's a place where there's a community-led process that helps that town/village/city/neighbourhood become stronger and happier. There are tons of countries, communities, and towns who are already in the process of transitioning. Check here for the list. These communities have started up projects in areas of food, transport, energy, education, housing, waste, arts etc. as small-scale local responses to the global challenges of climate change, economic hardship and shrinking supplies of cheap energy. Together, these small-scale responses make up something much bigger, and help show the way forward for governments, business and the rest of us. Really, it's the opposite of us sitting in our armchairs complaining about what's wrong, and instead, it's about getting up and doing something constructive about it alongside our neighbours and fellow townsfolk. It begins when a small group comes together with a shared concern about shrinking supplies of cheap energy (peak oil), climate change and increasingly, economic downturn. This group recognises that:

Climate change and peak oil require urgent action.
Life with less energy is inevitable. It is better to plan for it than to be taken by surprise.
Industrial society has lost the resilience to be able to cope with energy shocks.
We have to act together, now.
Infinite growth within a finite system (such as planet Earth) is impossible.
We demonstrated great ingenuity and intelligence as we raced up the energy curve over the last 150 years. There’s no reason why we can’t use those qualities, and more, as we negotiate our way up from the depths back towards the sun and air.
If we plan and act early enough, and use our creativity and cooperation to unleash the genius within our local communities, we can build a future far more fulfilling and enriching, more connected to and more gentle on the Earth, than the life we have today.

If we wait on our government it will be too little, too late. So what is it you can do to change your community, city, state, country, or even the world! Since I'm just starting out, I will be walking through each of the steps and how-tos, sharing information as I obtain it, as well as, my experience on how I manage to rebuild my community.

See You Back Here Thursday May 31, 2012! :)

5 Reasons to Compost

kgreenmartin — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:51:24 +0000

Gardeners and sustainable activists get excited as the word composting is mentioned. This process improves the environment and your home life in many ways as this process becomes a habit.

1.Reducing greenhouse emissions

Each time your organic waste goes to the landfill, the sitting waste produces the term coined as "greenhouse" gases of methane and CO2 that are then trapped within our atmosphere, which is what has caused our climate to drastically change and for global warming to occur so rapidly.

It's been crucial spreading awareness as our greenhouse gases and the amount of waste we are producing alone as a nation is increasing.

By composting you can eliminate greenhouse gases by allowing them to compost over a period of time and planting them in your garden.

2. Building a compost bin is easy

There is nothing easier than starting a compost bin. There are many resources online that give you step-by-step instructions but there is no certain guideline to follow when making your bin.

A bin can fit in almost any space. This video gives good direction in starting an indoor composting bin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcv69QL_Ers&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

3. A colorful garden - and thicker wallets

By going to a store to buy soil such as Miracle Grow or even store-bought compost, the bills can get expensive. By making your own fertilizer, the amount of money that can be saved could amount to hundreds each year.

The guilt and buyers remorse associated with wasting fruits and veggies can be lessened by composting and reusing the uneaten food to feed your garden, making it easier for plants to get the nitrogen and essential nutrients that they need, thus increasing the expectations of your garden.

4. Social life expanded

Composting could further benefit your home life, but can also bring more benefits to your social life with many clubs and organizations to join like http://compostingcouncil.org/ or blogging communities such as http://www.diggrowcompostblog.com/ and http://www.redwormcomposting.com/.

The possibilities are endless in finding acquaintances and resources to benefit your every day life. Similar interests bring others together. You could grow new perennials as well as new friends.

5. New products create less mess and can speed up compost process

Compost has gotten a bad name for smelly food scraps and lack of cleanliness in the past but the increasing popularity of new products and innovative ideas have made compost a convenient part of every home with less mess. There is nothing easier than starting a compost habit.

The Green Cycler makes participating easier than ever before (for younger children, too!) The reasonably-priced product helps make compost up to ten times faster by chopping and shredding organic waste with one easy motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iOaetdqtiI.

To order this product and get more info visit www.thegreencycler.com.

Money Matters: Making a Little House Work With a Big Family

Rita Arens — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:01:08 +0000

My dad is the oldest of four kids who grew up in a two-bedroom farmhouse in Iowa. (I think there were more bedrooms back then.) (I have no idea where they put them. This was not a big house.) I'm sure they were positively on top of each other. I was interested in Karla's recent post on their life with four kids in a two-bedroom, supposed-to-be-a-flip house.

She writes of Laura Ingalls Wilder:

Laura made it sound so sweet and wonderful. I don’t recall a single argument or shouting match being mentioned.

I would love to know Ma and Pa’s secret for keeping the peace.

Small spaces can be difficult and bring out issues that may not otherwise occur in a larger space.

The fact is, by today’s standards, we live in the same sort of space.

Credit Image: David Hepworth on Flickr

A Guide to Used Cloth Diaper Conditions

Heather Clisby — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:36:36 +0000

I had no idea there were so many acronyms to determine the quality of a used cloth diaper but Maria has written a very helpful guide on how to purchase a quality money-saving, landfill-reducing product:

"Buying diapers used is a great way to pad your stash without breaking the bank. There have been lots of articles written with tips on buying and selling used, and here is another resource to help people wanting to sell diapers. It seems that buyers all expect pretty much the same things, but they continue to see diapers described as 'EUC' or 'GUC' that don’t meet those expectations."

Image credit: bmkinz via Flickr, Creative Commons.

When (Green) Attachment Parenting Goes Wrong

Heather Clisby — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:43:28 +0000

When one nursing eco-mom teams up with another for an interstate road trip, they end up experiencing more nature than originally planned:

"Quicker than you can say 'crunchy-granola,' the Florida sun disappeared and was immediately replaced by black, rolling shadows and cracks of thunder. The heavens opened up...and down came the rain. I am here to tell you that, when you're wearing a cotton maxi skirt and rubber flip-flops, with a baby strapped to your chest and clenched down on your boob, all while pushing an umbrella stroller more than half a mile from your car, you're basically screwed."

Image credit: terren in Virginia via Flickr, Creative Commons.

Clean and Green

beckeyp — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:14:59 +0000

(originally posted @ My Day Job)

I finally took the step to start making some of my own household cleaners. After much consideration and plenty of googling to find recipes that seem simple enough and have ingredients I can actually find at my local stores.

I have three pretty good reasons to start producing my own cleaners:
1) I have 2 cats and a dog that are into everything. It would be nice not to get stressed out each time I clean the toilet that one of them is going to decide that they need to sneak in and try out that huge water bowl while some sort of highly toxic cleaner is still inside.
2) There is a grand baby who will be running about before we know it.
3) A gallon of vinegar and some baking soda is WAY less expensive than commercial household cleaners!

I'm sure there are so many more reasons for going with natural, home made cleaners, but those are the ones I had on the top of my head.

To start I have compounded my own fabric softener, mildew remover, and tub/shower cleaner.

Mildew Remover:

1/2 White Vinegar

1/2 Water

10 drops Tea Tree Oil

Mix ingredients in spray bottle. Spray mildew and let sit.
(alternate use: soak a cloth or sponge in solution, wipe down any area with mildew growth)

I tried this in the kid's bathroom last weekend. Verdict is still out. The exhaust fan had not been working in there for a couple of weeks which led to some mildew/mold growth. This seems to have help eliminate some of the mildew, but not all.

Tub and Shower Cleaner:

12 ounces White Vinegar

12 ounces Dawn Dish Detergent (original blue)

Heat vinegar in microwave until hot and pour into squirt bottle. Add the Dawn soap. Put the lid on and shake to incorporate. Spray onto shower/tub surfaces, scrub, and rinse. For tough soap scum: spray the mixture on and allow it to sit as long as overnight. Scrub and rinse.

This may be the best bathroom cleaner I have ever used! Seriously! Soap scum and grime just melted away! There was no "scrubbing" for me! If this can cut through what my almost 14 year old male offspring can do to a bathroom, I feel confident it can handle almost anything! And despite the vinegar, it had a pleasant scent and left the bathroom smelling fresh and clean!

Fabric Softener:

2 cups Scented, Inexpensive Hair Conditioner (and there are lots of yummy scents in those super cheap brands!)

3 cups White Vinegar

3 cups HOT Water

Heat water. Mix conditioner and water in large pitcher with lid until dissolved. Add vinegar and mix well.
Use in Downy Ball or add 2 Tablespoons to rinse cycle

Works great! I admit that in the bottle, the smell is a little funky with the blend of the hair conditioner scent and the vinegar. But I don't notice it on any of the laundry. And I've had not problems with static using this.

Sources:
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/householdsavings/qt/Mildew_Remover.htm

http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275

http://sweettea.typepad.com/sweet-tea-by-lori-frank/2012/04/homemade-cleaning-product-recipes.html

Veggies - here we come!

Diane Hite Weidenbenner — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:08:24 +0000

I signed up for my first CSA experience (community supported agriculture). Next week Joe and I will pick up our first one-half share of locally grown, organic vegetables, fruits and herbs from White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.

Being “wild” about eating my vegetables is a fairly new experience for me. Knowing how to prepare vegetables so that they are tasty is even a more recent experience. While I enjoy most raw vegetables, cooking and serving them for a meal is a whole different story. After moving to Indiana seven years ago, and having access to locally grown organic produce, I appreciate the fact that it seems to taste 100 percent better than canned, frozen or trucked-in varieties.

Tomatoes are an excellent example. I’ve compared hot house or similar tomatoes from the grocery store to vine-ripened, pesticide-free heirloom tomatoes and the taste difference is amazing. The color difference is amazing. The naturally grown tomato is wonderfully tasty and juicy.

In a recent farming experience at the University of California, researchers found that “organically grown tomatoes are richer in certain kinds of flavonoids (antioxidants) than conventionally grown tomatoes.” Tasting is believing, for sure! Read more of the story here.

I like to know where and how my food is grown. “Organic” means the farmer does not use chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, animal antibiotics and growth hormones, and they aren’t treated with waxes or preservatives. Did you know that many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before research linked them to cancer and other diseases? The EPA now considers 60 percent of all weed killers, 90 percent of mold killers and 30 percent of insecticides as potentially cancer causing. I’m not super keen on putting these chemicals into my body, are you?

Sometimes produce in the grocery store is made available whether it’s ripe or not, due to consumer demand. I’m excited to get produce that is picked at its peak and at its best. It will also be a challenge to fix it before our next “share” is ready for pick-up.

Here’s the list of items that I hope to enjoy with the CSA: onions, tomatoes, salad greens, spinach (okay, maybe “enjoy” is too strong a word), potatoes, green beans, green onions, eggplant, cabbage, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet peas, beets, mustard greens (someone please take my share), asparagus, radishes, fresh herbs, carrots, peppers, and some surprises. White Violet Center is also good at providing recipes. One year at their Saturday market I brought flying saucer squash. What a great name for a vegetable! The gardener gave me several ideas on how to prepare them and, while they weren’t my favorite, it was fun trying something new.

Consuming locally grown food also reduces my “footprint” because it takes less gas, pollution and other harmful environmental factors to produce and deliver my food when it’s grown less than a mile from where I work. I was paying more for organic produce in my local grocery store so I feel that I may even save money on our summer eats while supporting local agriculture.

I’ll let you know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed and if you have any tasty recipes for Kale, please let me know – soon!

Homemade Aloe Vera Face Moisturizer

Nadia R. — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:15:06 +0000

Since I discovered the aloe vera gel, I can’t get enough of it. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. The aloe vera gel moisturizes and heals the skin. It is known to have a beneficial effect on skin problems like acne, redness, sunburns, pigmentation and dryness. It brightens the skin by removing the dead cells.

Image: Matt Biddulph via Flickr

In this simple homemade moisturizer recipe for face I mix aloe vera gel with a little oil. That’s it!

My Homemade Moisturizer Recipe for Combination Skin

- 4 tsp of aloe vera gel. I use Lily of the Desert, but you can choose another brand or even take the gel directly from an aloe vera leaf.
- 1 tsp hazelnut oil (it regulates excess sebum). Other vegetable oils that can be used for moisturizing a combination skin (oily T-zone) are: almond oil, wheat germ oil, grape seed oil.

Directions: Mix the ingredients till a homogeneous gel is attained.

Result: an aloe vera gel moisturizer with a very pleasant texture and a non-greasy finish.

Homemade Moisturizer Recipe Variations

- Oily Skin: aloe vera gel can be combined with grape seed oil (it regulates the process of skin greasing);

- Dry Skin: aloe vera gel + almond oil, avocado oil, rose-hip seed oil or olive oil. To choose the most appropriate oil for your skin, check the properties and uses of 19 healing vegetable and carrier oils.

Tip: Apply the homemade aloe vera gel moisturizer right after bath to “lock” the moisture in your skin.

Keep it simple. Choose organic. Be healthy.

~Nadia

Nadies blogs at I Prefer Organic

Benefits of the Shoeless Home

Heather Clisby — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:54:29 +0000

For health and environmental reasons, this blogger kicked off a new 'leave your shoes by the door' policy in her home:

"And how far does one go? Does the plumber remove his shoes as well? The movers? Or are there social exceptions for service folk? What about if you want to step outside to your deck or check in on your [aspirational] vegetable garden? Mats by the outdoor entrances with back yard shoes? Backyard shoes!? Outdoor shoes! Indoor shoes! Shoes for guests! Oh my! Going shoeless could be hefty on the budget!"

Image credit: Caitlinator via Flickr, Creative Commons.