I just came across this on another site and wanted to share.I do this already and I have a compost "barrel" too.I actually buried a few overripe tomatoes close to my newly planted Yellow Bells this spring and have two very nice tomato plants that have small fruit on them.You have to love free plants,especially veggies.This is a simple thing that everyone can do.You might want to chop up peelings and such,to hasten the cycle,but it helps keep what should go back to the earth out of the landfills.Also cuts down on the production of methane gas in our overfilled trash heaps.You actually can save a little money by doing this also,because it provides nutrients back to the soil.
So here is the paragraph that sparked this entry........."When peeling or cutting raw vegetables or fruits, please give them back to mother earth. Feed them to your plants and trees or dig a hole and let it disintegrate back to nature. Let this be food to them. It makes plants look gorgeous and you will feel the same. Onion peels, squeezed lemons, ends of any sort, banana peelings, etc." - Ann Hankins
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Showing posts with label Green Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Living. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Finally In My Craft room Again
I have finally made it back into my craft room. YEAH !!!! I should say,what is currently my craft room.I will be switching rooms in the near future.As many of you know,I am addicted to the Cricut MB.Well,that addiction has gotten me involved in several swaps and an ABC RAK.In addition to these,I am also part of a birthday club and now a Secret Sister swap on the same MB.
All of these things are making me use my creativity and my stash.I have quite a bit of supplies,and since I am not employed at the moment,I really don't need to be purchasing anything else.I actually am considering selling a few extras that I have,just need to decide.
Today brought the beginning of my first two page lay out.I am determined to finish it tonight,but seeing that it's 12:48 and I am posting here....lol.....it might not happen.I am not one to just go glue it all together just so I can say I did it.I like to take my time and seeing as this is something I am going to put in my E tsy store,I don't want to finish it if my eyes are glazed over.Oh yeah,I have decided to set up a store at E tsy.I was not focused enough this morning to read everything and figure it out,but I think it's pretty simple and straight forward.I will go over it some time tomorrow and get it set up.No immediate plans for items to sell,but I am going to make a few cards and some quick items to get the store up and running.I am excited about it.I have an eba y account also,but have never tried to sell anything.So much to read and then having to write so much about the items......uuuuggghhh. I know,I know.....it's important,it helps you sell,etc., etc.
I still plan on doing eba y,but I am more interested in getting the other started.
Staying with the "Green Living" ideas,lets see what I can find to add to my little blog....hhhmmm.......I found something.A lot of people aren't aware of this and I came across this article online,so here is some food for thought.
Bees and your food
Bees, food security and you
Michael Bloch
Imagine if 1 in 3 pigs started dying mysteriously or 1 in 3 cows? That would be likely to hit the front page and additional millions, perhaps billions of dollars would be immediately poured into research to find the cause and cure.
Let's say that major food crops were under a real and imminent threat - likely that would evoke the same response.
But it hasn't.
Bee Colony Collapse Disorder killed off about 29 percent of the USA's bee population last year. The bees are dying at unsustainable rates, but this crisis gets little coverage given the major threat it poses.
So why is it a crisis and what's the link between bees and food?
Bees do so much more than supply honey and beeswax.
Bee pollination of crops, something that most farmers heavily rely on, is responsible for as much as 30% of the U.S. food supply. Where bees are not available, they are called in, with apiarists (bee keepers) travelling around the country to provide the services of their hives.
Unless the cause and cure for Colony Collapse Disorder is found soon, many fruits and vegetables may disappear entirely from US produce. The flow on effects are mind-boggling. It's not just fruits and vegetables affected, but also stock feed and grains.
That's pretty frightening stuff. Other insects play a role in pollinating some of those crops, but even in those cases, to take 30% of the pollinators out of the population will have dramatic effects. Sure, I guess the USA could just import all those foods in if need be, but imagine the impact on food prices- and then there's the issue of food miles and the toll it exacts on the environment.
While the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder hasn't been pinpointed as yet, it's thought to be a result of parasites taking advantage of warmer, more humid conditions in some areas and possibly the effects of pesticides; a mix of poisons that have hit critical mass.
Those outside the USA shouldn't feel too comfortable that it's not happening in their back yard either - it could do.
What can you do?It's time to make some more noise about this. Talk to others about the issue; write to government representatives explaining why it's such a concern; point them to further information. We can also all do our bit by making our yards attractive to non-commercially kept bees; by planting flowers; or better still, a vegetable garden and most importantly - using less pesticides in our own gardens.
"Wild" honeybees may be all that's left soon, and in small numbers - where they haven't been affected by colony collapse disorder or have perhaps developed some sort of immunity to whatever causes CCD, they may be the populations that help save the species - and some of those may be visiting your yard. Planting your own veggie garden may also provides additional food security if the worst should come to pass - even without bees, there are ways to manually pollinate; but it is time intensive.
If you can't grow your own food due to lack of space or skills, consider joining a natural food cooperative - you can pick up the knowledge you need through those networks and also get organic fruits and vegetables at reduced rates in exchange for a little work, or check out community gardens in your area where you can rent plots at quite reasonable rates.
Perhaps consider keeping your own bees if your living arrangements allow it? There are many hobbyist associations around the world that can help you learn what you need to know - search on the term: beekeeping association countryorapiarist association country.. where country is your country or sateAs someone put summed it up nicely: "prepare for the worst while working for the best"
Michael BlochGreen Living Tips.comGreen Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact on the planet.
All of these things are making me use my creativity and my stash.I have quite a bit of supplies,and since I am not employed at the moment,I really don't need to be purchasing anything else.I actually am considering selling a few extras that I have,just need to decide.
Today brought the beginning of my first two page lay out.I am determined to finish it tonight,but seeing that it's 12:48 and I am posting here....lol.....it might not happen.I am not one to just go glue it all together just so I can say I did it.I like to take my time and seeing as this is something I am going to put in my E tsy store,I don't want to finish it if my eyes are glazed over.Oh yeah,I have decided to set up a store at E tsy.I was not focused enough this morning to read everything and figure it out,but I think it's pretty simple and straight forward.I will go over it some time tomorrow and get it set up.No immediate plans for items to sell,but I am going to make a few cards and some quick items to get the store up and running.I am excited about it.I have an eba y account also,but have never tried to sell anything.So much to read and then having to write so much about the items......uuuuggghhh. I know,I know.....it's important,it helps you sell,etc., etc.
I still plan on doing eba y,but I am more interested in getting the other started.
Staying with the "Green Living" ideas,lets see what I can find to add to my little blog....hhhmmm.......I found something.A lot of people aren't aware of this and I came across this article online,so here is some food for thought.
Bees and your food
Bees, food security and you
Michael Bloch
Imagine if 1 in 3 pigs started dying mysteriously or 1 in 3 cows? That would be likely to hit the front page and additional millions, perhaps billions of dollars would be immediately poured into research to find the cause and cure.
Let's say that major food crops were under a real and imminent threat - likely that would evoke the same response.
But it hasn't.
Bee Colony Collapse Disorder killed off about 29 percent of the USA's bee population last year. The bees are dying at unsustainable rates, but this crisis gets little coverage given the major threat it poses.
So why is it a crisis and what's the link between bees and food?
Bees do so much more than supply honey and beeswax.
Bee pollination of crops, something that most farmers heavily rely on, is responsible for as much as 30% of the U.S. food supply. Where bees are not available, they are called in, with apiarists (bee keepers) travelling around the country to provide the services of their hives.
Unless the cause and cure for Colony Collapse Disorder is found soon, many fruits and vegetables may disappear entirely from US produce. The flow on effects are mind-boggling. It's not just fruits and vegetables affected, but also stock feed and grains.
That's pretty frightening stuff. Other insects play a role in pollinating some of those crops, but even in those cases, to take 30% of the pollinators out of the population will have dramatic effects. Sure, I guess the USA could just import all those foods in if need be, but imagine the impact on food prices- and then there's the issue of food miles and the toll it exacts on the environment.
While the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder hasn't been pinpointed as yet, it's thought to be a result of parasites taking advantage of warmer, more humid conditions in some areas and possibly the effects of pesticides; a mix of poisons that have hit critical mass.
Those outside the USA shouldn't feel too comfortable that it's not happening in their back yard either - it could do.
What can you do?It's time to make some more noise about this. Talk to others about the issue; write to government representatives explaining why it's such a concern; point them to further information. We can also all do our bit by making our yards attractive to non-commercially kept bees; by planting flowers; or better still, a vegetable garden and most importantly - using less pesticides in our own gardens.
"Wild" honeybees may be all that's left soon, and in small numbers - where they haven't been affected by colony collapse disorder or have perhaps developed some sort of immunity to whatever causes CCD, they may be the populations that help save the species - and some of those may be visiting your yard. Planting your own veggie garden may also provides additional food security if the worst should come to pass - even without bees, there are ways to manually pollinate; but it is time intensive.
If you can't grow your own food due to lack of space or skills, consider joining a natural food cooperative - you can pick up the knowledge you need through those networks and also get organic fruits and vegetables at reduced rates in exchange for a little work, or check out community gardens in your area where you can rent plots at quite reasonable rates.
Perhaps consider keeping your own bees if your living arrangements allow it? There are many hobbyist associations around the world that can help you learn what you need to know - search on the term: beekeeping association countryorapiarist association country.. where country is your country or sateAs someone put summed it up nicely: "prepare for the worst while working for the best"
Michael BlochGreen Living Tips.comGreen Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact on the planet.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Living Green & Saving Money
O.K. ........ I know,I know.......I still haven't posted a card or any of my creations. To be honest,my scrap room is a total disaster area and I just haven't felt like cleaning it up. I have to get in there soon though,because my Birthday Club Buddies are patiently awaiting their packages and I want to make some goodies to go in their gift boxes.
Along the same lines as cleaning,I am trying to live more "Green" just like hundreds and thousands of people all over.So,I have several different sites under my favorites and this one I came across the other day and it has a list of more natural items you can use to clean with.I thought I would add it to my post today and hopefully spread the word.I haven't had an opportunity to check the site out completely,so I don't want to include a link yet.I will just add the list and........ Happy Cleaning everyone.
Cleaning That Comes Naturally
Guest Author - Kathryn Weber
The reward of cleaning is that fresh, sweet smell of a home that comes after a thorough cleaning. And while that clean smell is appealing to some people, it is a turn off to others because it makes their eyes water or their skin itch or throws them into a sneezing fit. Because of the harsh chemicals in most cleaning products, the desired effect of relaxation from your clean house can quickly turn into an auto-immune nightmare.Who should clean naturally? You may want to switch from chemical cleaners if you have children whose health you are concerned about, or you have someone in your home with an illness, or if you just want to use natural products in your home instead of harsh cleaners that have known carcinogens.There are a number of recipes for cleaning agents that will help get your house clean and without the worry, smell, or concern of strong chemical cleaning compounds.
Brew up a batch of your own homemade cleaners and you will find that your home is just as clean, doesn’t have that awful chemical smell, and saves you money, too. When you make own house cleaners, you will find that it costs less. That’s because the ingredients that you buy are mixed with water and will usually last a long, long time! So just think about that the next time you reach to pick up a cleaner off the shelf that's expensive and is made up of mostly water!Instead, next time you want to clean, head to the store first and pick up some supplies to brew your own cleaners. Then, you’ll find that the best clean not only costs less, but it's a clean that comes naturally.
Supplies needed for making your own cleaners
Plain sudsy ammonia
White vinegar
Essential oil in your favorite scent: orange oil, lemon oil, or lavender
Borax
Ivory dish soap or soap flakes
Good quality spray bottles
Rubbing alcohol (large bottle)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or other soda found on the laundry aisle
Distilled water (optional). You don’t have to use distilled water, but if you have hard water, you can be depositing minerals on your surfaces every time you use a cleaner.
CLEANING RECIPES I find that I only use a few types of products to clean the house. These are dish soap, all-purpose spray cleaner, window cleaner, and scouring powder. Here are recipes for these products that are indespensable for household cleaning!
Lavender Dishwashing Soap: 2 Cups soap flakes1 gallon water25 drops of lavender essential oil (you can change this to lemon or orange or other scent)Place soap flakes and water into a pan. Heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until it boils and until soap dissolves. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Remove from heat and let liquid partially cool, add the essential oil and stir. Pour into a clean plastic squeeze bottle or re-used dish soap bottle.
All-Purpose Spray Cleaner :1 tablespoon Borax 1/2 cup liquid soap (can use the soap in the dishwashing soap recipe or Ivory or other type of dish soap)1/2 cup white vinegar 1 gallon hot distilled water 20 drops essential oil such as lavenderCombine all ingredients. Use as you would any other cleaning spray.
Glass Cleaner I: ½ cup sudsy ammonia2 cups rubbing alcohol1 gallon distilled waterMix together and pour into spray bottle.
Glass Cleaner II:2 cups sudsy ammonia½ cup vinegar1 gallon distilled waterMix together and pour into spray bottle.
Scouring Powder:1 cup baking soda¼ cup washing soda (such as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)Use like regular scouring powder.
Along the same lines as cleaning,I am trying to live more "Green" just like hundreds and thousands of people all over.So,I have several different sites under my favorites and this one I came across the other day and it has a list of more natural items you can use to clean with.I thought I would add it to my post today and hopefully spread the word.I haven't had an opportunity to check the site out completely,so I don't want to include a link yet.I will just add the list and........ Happy Cleaning everyone.
Cleaning That Comes Naturally
Guest Author - Kathryn Weber
The reward of cleaning is that fresh, sweet smell of a home that comes after a thorough cleaning. And while that clean smell is appealing to some people, it is a turn off to others because it makes their eyes water or their skin itch or throws them into a sneezing fit. Because of the harsh chemicals in most cleaning products, the desired effect of relaxation from your clean house can quickly turn into an auto-immune nightmare.Who should clean naturally? You may want to switch from chemical cleaners if you have children whose health you are concerned about, or you have someone in your home with an illness, or if you just want to use natural products in your home instead of harsh cleaners that have known carcinogens.There are a number of recipes for cleaning agents that will help get your house clean and without the worry, smell, or concern of strong chemical cleaning compounds.
Brew up a batch of your own homemade cleaners and you will find that your home is just as clean, doesn’t have that awful chemical smell, and saves you money, too. When you make own house cleaners, you will find that it costs less. That’s because the ingredients that you buy are mixed with water and will usually last a long, long time! So just think about that the next time you reach to pick up a cleaner off the shelf that's expensive and is made up of mostly water!Instead, next time you want to clean, head to the store first and pick up some supplies to brew your own cleaners. Then, you’ll find that the best clean not only costs less, but it's a clean that comes naturally.
Supplies needed for making your own cleaners
Plain sudsy ammonia
White vinegar
Essential oil in your favorite scent: orange oil, lemon oil, or lavender
Borax
Ivory dish soap or soap flakes
Good quality spray bottles
Rubbing alcohol (large bottle)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or other soda found on the laundry aisle
Distilled water (optional). You don’t have to use distilled water, but if you have hard water, you can be depositing minerals on your surfaces every time you use a cleaner.
CLEANING RECIPES I find that I only use a few types of products to clean the house. These are dish soap, all-purpose spray cleaner, window cleaner, and scouring powder. Here are recipes for these products that are indespensable for household cleaning!
Lavender Dishwashing Soap: 2 Cups soap flakes1 gallon water25 drops of lavender essential oil (you can change this to lemon or orange or other scent)Place soap flakes and water into a pan. Heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until it boils and until soap dissolves. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Remove from heat and let liquid partially cool, add the essential oil and stir. Pour into a clean plastic squeeze bottle or re-used dish soap bottle.
All-Purpose Spray Cleaner :1 tablespoon Borax 1/2 cup liquid soap (can use the soap in the dishwashing soap recipe or Ivory or other type of dish soap)1/2 cup white vinegar 1 gallon hot distilled water 20 drops essential oil such as lavenderCombine all ingredients. Use as you would any other cleaning spray.
Glass Cleaner I: ½ cup sudsy ammonia2 cups rubbing alcohol1 gallon distilled waterMix together and pour into spray bottle.
Glass Cleaner II:2 cups sudsy ammonia½ cup vinegar1 gallon distilled waterMix together and pour into spray bottle.
Scouring Powder:1 cup baking soda¼ cup washing soda (such as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)Use like regular scouring powder.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Still Learning......
Here it is,over a month after I first created this blog,and I am finally posting a second entry.It's not that I don't have anything to say,it's just that I have been to busy with work and creating new flower beds that I just haven't had much time.
Lots of new plants.So exciting but so much work.I have dug Iris's' from my mom's and extended a small flower bed.There's a couple of different miniatures too.I love the miniatures,so sweet and pretty. I received cannas also.I believe they are only red.I had hoped to get yellow and orange ones also.Dug lots of bulbs.Daffodils,hyacinths, and day lilies,but they are tubers not bulbs. Phlox,daisies,ferns and monkey grass.Dug a few Yellow Bells earlier this spring and they are doing really well.We have most of the monkey grass planted,which has taken us way longer then I had originally thought.We are building a retaining wall of sorts and are at a stopping point at the moment.I am trying to do it out of bricks,cinder blocks and stones.Basically whatever I can pick up for free or close to free.We have used the few cinder blocks we have and decided we would wait till we came across some more.Our neighbors have a small stack of brick and cinder blocks and another neighbor has about a dozen cinder blocks behind a shed.I am planning to ask them about donating them to our wall,but haven't got around to it yet.
Re-potted two ferns today and got a total of four hanging pots and five smaller pots.Pretty good for $8.00.The ferns were marked down at a big retailer.I don't want to give anyone free advertisement,so I will just refer to the store as that.Also re potted a huge pot of snake plants or some folks know this plant as mother-in-laws tongue.Either way,I learnt it takes two people to deal with this plant.I did it on my own,but will get help next time.It's a tall plant that doesn't have deep roots so its a hand full to plant.It is a great indoor air cleaner,so once I rearrange the bedroom a bit,I want to bring one in.
I haven't created anything along the lines of cards or LO's lately.I so miss my scrap space and am looking forward to getting back in there.Actually I am moving it to a larger room.I plan to paint the room Cricut green of course.O.K.....I know,maybe a lil' over the top,but I really do like that color.
I have so much junk in the room now,but hopefully we will have a successful yard sale this week and clean it out.I did get some great birthday paper and embellies that I am planning to do a two page LO with and put it up for sale.I am currently unemployed and will be cleaning out and creating in an attempt to generate income.I will be posting my creations here and also at my Etsy store that I will be setting up in the next week or so.So check back and see what treasures I have that you or someone you know just can't live without.
If you have read this far,THANK YOU.I have rambled on enough for one evening,but I will be back again tomorrow.
Have a great night and a beautiful day tomorrow.
Lots of new plants.So exciting but so much work.I have dug Iris's' from my mom's and extended a small flower bed.There's a couple of different miniatures too.I love the miniatures,so sweet and pretty. I received cannas also.I believe they are only red.I had hoped to get yellow and orange ones also.Dug lots of bulbs.Daffodils,hyacinths, and day lilies,but they are tubers not bulbs. Phlox,daisies,ferns and monkey grass.Dug a few Yellow Bells earlier this spring and they are doing really well.We have most of the monkey grass planted,which has taken us way longer then I had originally thought.We are building a retaining wall of sorts and are at a stopping point at the moment.I am trying to do it out of bricks,cinder blocks and stones.Basically whatever I can pick up for free or close to free.We have used the few cinder blocks we have and decided we would wait till we came across some more.Our neighbors have a small stack of brick and cinder blocks and another neighbor has about a dozen cinder blocks behind a shed.I am planning to ask them about donating them to our wall,but haven't got around to it yet.
Re-potted two ferns today and got a total of four hanging pots and five smaller pots.Pretty good for $8.00.The ferns were marked down at a big retailer.I don't want to give anyone free advertisement,so I will just refer to the store as that.Also re potted a huge pot of snake plants or some folks know this plant as mother-in-laws tongue.Either way,I learnt it takes two people to deal with this plant.I did it on my own,but will get help next time.It's a tall plant that doesn't have deep roots so its a hand full to plant.It is a great indoor air cleaner,so once I rearrange the bedroom a bit,I want to bring one in.
I haven't created anything along the lines of cards or LO's lately.I so miss my scrap space and am looking forward to getting back in there.Actually I am moving it to a larger room.I plan to paint the room Cricut green of course.O.K.....I know,maybe a lil' over the top,but I really do like that color.
I have so much junk in the room now,but hopefully we will have a successful yard sale this week and clean it out.I did get some great birthday paper and embellies that I am planning to do a two page LO with and put it up for sale.I am currently unemployed and will be cleaning out and creating in an attempt to generate income.I will be posting my creations here and also at my Etsy store that I will be setting up in the next week or so.So check back and see what treasures I have that you or someone you know just can't live without.
If you have read this far,THANK YOU.I have rambled on enough for one evening,but I will be back again tomorrow.
Have a great night and a beautiful day tomorrow.
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