Alternative to plastic bags

I have a confession to make. Even though I wrote about reducing the number of plastic bags we use, I have struggled with what to do when it comes to my dog. It’s very convenient to throw a plastic bag in my pocket when we go for a walk so I have something handy to pick up his poop.

I realized there had to be a better way to do this and was determined to find a solution.

I heard that our city had supplied biodegradable bags in the off leash areas, I started looking around to see if I could find similar bags for sale commercially. I did.

Community Natural Foods in Calgary sells ECOSAFE biodegradable bags for doggie litter, kitchen garbage and trash bags (www.degradableplastics.com).

Regular plastic bags take decades to break down. When you consider the number of bags you throw away in a year and multiply that times the number of people in your community (and beyond), it is a huge problem for landfills. Biodegradable bags, on the other hand, totally degrade and turn into a food source for microorganisms.

I will be using up all the plastic bags I have (reuse and recycle) and will do my best to eliminate as many plastic bags as possible (reduce) by using either paper bags or reusable bags I keep in the trunk of my car.

The ‘No Bag’ Resolution

Garbage day in our household has us rushing around the house collecting garbage from various rooms in order to get it out on the street before the garbage truck comes by. Only this past week was different.

After our usual running around collecting, my husband called out from the garage that there just wasn’t enough garbage to put it out on the street. We typically have 1 large green garbage bag of garbage each week but this week we had the equivalent of 2 small kitchen bags which only took up about a third of a large green garbage bag.

We actually reduced the amount of garbage in our household to the point where we didn’t have enough to put out on the street. We, by the way, are 2 adults, 1 teenager and a dog.

Here’s how we did it:

Shopping friendly

• buying items that have minimal or no packaging
• using cloth bags at all stores (except where raw meat is concerned – I’m a bit nervous about that one)
• use whatever plastic bag we do collect for picking up dog waste

Recycling – everything and anything that can be recycled goes into cardboard boxes in our pantry and eventually to the Recycle Depot. That includes:

• all paper products including cardboard, newspaper, advertising, stationary and packaging
• all acceptable plastics and any lid
• metal cans, lids and aluminum pie plates
• all glass jars and bottles
• other stuff such as egg cartons and batteries

HINT: For a handy list of what is accepted contact your local Recycle Depot

3. Composting

• all vegetable, fruit and egg shell waste goes into a small closed bucket under our sink
• once a week that waste goes into our composter in the back yard (more on composting soon)

One of our New Year’s resolutions this year is to find ways to have more and more “no bag” garbage days in our household. I challenge everyone to find it in their hearts to do the same this year. What a gift to the environment that would be!

A Greener Christmas – Clean Up Environmentally

Once the gifts are opened and the turkey dinner finished, there are a few simple ways to help make Christmas more environmentally friendly and show “Goodwill to our Earth” after the festivities are over:

1. Recycle wrapping – Be sure to recycle all wrapping paper, cardboard and cards. Keep anything that can be reused for next year.
2. Recycle your tree – If you purchase a real Christmas tree this season, be sure to counter the effects of cutting down a tree by recycling it after the holidays. Consider buying a living tree and planting it in your garden in the spring.
3. Environmentally friendly resolution – This New Year, resolve to find ways to reduce your carbon foot print throughout the New Year.

A Greener Christmas – Gift Environmentally

Here are a few simple ways to help make Christmas more environmentally friendly and show “Goodwill to our Earth”

Gift Environmentally

1. Green Giving – Purchase environmentally friendly gifts that support the environment. Gifts that: (a) minimize or eliminate power (electricity and battery) use; (b) have minimal or no packaging; (c) last a long time (lego set will last longer than craft supplies that get thrown out); and (d) made out of naturally made products (wooden toys as opposed to plastic);
2. Wrapping Paper – Reduce the amount of paper used for wrapping gifts by wrapping gifts in a bag, a scarf, the Sunday comics, a holiday towel or reusing gift bags or boxes.
3. Charity Gifts – Support a local charity in someone else’s name and give that as a gift this holiday season.
4. Gift environmentally – There are many organizations, like the David Suzuki Foundation, that work hard on environmental issues on our behalf. Your financial support will ensure they keep going for the benefit of us all. Find out more by visiting www.davidsuzuki.org and clicking on “Donate Now!”

HP Inkjet Recycling Program

5. If you use HP print cartridges in your printer, don’t throw used ones in the garbage. HP has an environmental initiative that is free and convenient.

6. Check inside your HP inkjet print cartridge or LaserJet supply box for a postage-paid return and recycling envelope or label. They are provided free of charge in select HP boxes.

7. If your package doesn’t include the envelope or labels, you can go online and order the free postage-paid shipping materials, allowing you to easily send in your used inkjet cartridge or LaserJet supplies for recycling. To get started, go to http://h30248.www3.hp.com/recycle/supplies/ or type in “hp ink recycling” into Goggle search.

Chemical Free Dryer

8. I always find it alarming how much chemicals there are in the products we buy – chemicals that not only hurt us physically but hurt the environment as well.

9. I’ve been slowly replacing all my regular products with “chemical free” products and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how well they work. One example is fabric softeners and disposable dryer sheets (such as Bounce).

10. Did you know that most fabric softeners and disposable dryer sheets are made up of toxic chemicals, which gets transferred to your clothes? When I think about babies and children wearing these clothes and possibly putting them in their mouths, it is quite disturbing.

11. I’ve switched from disposable dryer sheets to a product called “Static Eliminator” which is reusable dryer sheets. They are 100% hypo-allergenic, environmentally friendly and work really well to reduce static and keep clothing soft. The best news is that they last for more than 500 loads, which means you save money too!

12. You can find our dryer sheets at any Home Hardware Store (called Natura Static Free Dryer Sheets) or at your local health food store. If they don’t have them in stock, they should be able to order them in. Alternatively, visit the manufacturer’s web site for this at www.staticeliminator.ca and other environmentally friendly products.

Reduce Idling

13. I was walking my dog the other day and passed someone sitting in a car. They were obviously waiting for someone because the car was still running. I didn’t think much about it until I came back from my walk 20 minutes later and the same person was in the car waiting… and the car was still running.

14. The next day I drove my son to the bank and turned off my car to wait while he did his banking. I was surprised to see how many other cars pulled up and left their cars running as they ran into the bank.

15. I can understand cars idling when the temperature is -40C otherwise they may not start again. But to do so when it’s nice outside just doesn’t make sense to me. Not when you realize the amount of exhaust if everyone is doing it.

16. Let’s do our part and turn off our cars when not driving. In that small way we will be doing our part for the environment and enjoying the clean air.

It’s all in the bag

17. While grocery shopping this past week, I was pleased to have the clerk ask me if I wanted paper or plastic bags. It certainly makes sense to use paper and then recycle the bag afterwards.

18. I was particularly pleased to see a message on the side of the bag stating, “This paper grocery bag is 100% recyclable, biodegradable and is composed of sawmill by-products that once were discarded, or burned.” They also plan on providing helpful environmental hints on their paper bags in the future.

19. What to do with all those left over plastic bags? Safeway bags can be recycled at their store. You can also use them to line kitchen or bathroom garbage pails or for picking up after pets.

20. An even better idea is to purchase (or make) reusable cloth bags to eliminate paper or plastic all together.

Drive Less

I asked a youth this week what he would do to reduce carbon emissions and his reply was, “Eliminate cars.” While that may be unpractical for most people right now, I like his way of thinking. We can certainly do our part by driving less.

When going out for groceries don’t just shop and go home. Plan to complete all your other errands at the same time (banking, post office, dry cleaning, etc.) to eliminate going out multiple times. Whenever possible, car pool or take public transit to reduce the number of cars on the road. Better yet, bike or walk and get in better shape while you are at it!

Start Recycling – Paper!

Do you recycle? If not, this is a great time to get started. If you already do recycle, find one more paper product from the list below that you can add to your usual routine. Make it easy to do by placing an empty box in a convenient place (perhaps close to your garbage can) and start placing these paper products in the box.

1. Newspaper – newspaper, non-glossy newsprint flyers, moving paper and packaging paper.
2. Cardboard/Boxboard - corrugated cardboard and boxboard (e.g., cereal, detergent, and cracker boxes). Be sure to flatten boxes.
3. White Office Paper – white paper, copier paper, computer paper, fax paper, lined loose leaf all with one coloured ink on white.
4. Coloured Paper – coloured paper, soup can labels, envelopes, construction paper, sugar, flour and brown paper bags, wrapping paper, glossy junk mail, magazines, Sears catalogues.
5. Phone books

Pesticide-Free

A hundred years from now, I wonder what people will think of our generation. Will they have a look of disbelief on their faces, shaking their heads saying, “Why would they use poison on their gardens and lands? Was beauty so much more valuable to them than their health and the health of their children?”

Did you know more than 6,000 cases of pesticide poisoning are reported in Canada each year (mostly children)?

Did you know approximately 1,000 commercial pesticides products are available in Canada that can not be sold in other countries because of health and environmental concerns?

Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides are poison. You can see this for yourself by checking the label. They are meant to kill weeds or insects. Unfortunately, these toxic chemicals work a little too well causing short and long-term health effects such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, birth defects and organ damage.

When we use insecticides and fertilizers, those chemicals eventually find their way into our bodies. Pesticides easily travel from our garden to grass, soil, groundwater, and eventually to our water supply.

Here are a number of ways to stop pesticide poisoning:

• Avoid purchasing pesticides. Use non-toxic alternatives instead of chemical pesticides. Doing so will send a message to manufacturers and the government that we want safer products available on our shelves.
• When grocery shopping, look for products labeled “100% organic” which means they don’t contain pesticides
• Wash and peel fruits and vegetables with a mild, natural detergent to remove pesticide residues
• Buy plants and flowers grown without dangerous pesticides whenever possible
• Vote for politicians who support tighter restrictions on pesticides in Canada

If you currently have pesticides in your house and want to continue to use them, here are a few ideas to minimize their toxic effect:

• Store them in locked cabinets that are inaccessible to children
• Keep pesticides in their original containers to prevent misidentification
• Avoid using pesticides when children (or pets) are nearby
• Find out from your local poison-control centre how to safely dispose of pesticides
• Keep the number for your regional poison information centre near the phone

Offset Emissions

Winter is here and many families will be leaving the city for warmer weather and a much needed break. One way to reduce emissions while vacationing is to offset.

A “carbon offset” is a way of reducing (offsetting) emissions by purchasing credits from another organization’s project that results in less carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. You can buy carbon offsets for just about anything to minimize your impact on the climate.

Here’s what David Suzuki’s web site recommends:

1. Reduce your emissions as much as possible yourself by turning down the thermostat and driving less
2. Choose which remaining emissions you wish to offset (e.g. flight)
3. Calculate your emissions by using an online carbon calculator
4. Purchase the necessary offsets
5. Review annually to find ways to reduce your emissions even more

Eat Local

I never really liked green beans. They always tasted waxy to me. Then I bought a bag of “just picked” green beans at a Farmer’s Market. What a difference fresh makes! Or perhaps it was the fact that they weren’t sprayed with all kinds of chemicals. Whatever the reason, I was sold on the “buy local” and “buy organic” when it comes to food for my family.

Now we have even more reasons to shop and eat local. The average food item travels 1,500 miles to get on our dinner plates. That means they have to be sprayed with preservatives to keep them fresh longer, they contain more packaging and the shipping itself adds more emissions into our air.

Look for a Farmer’s Marketing in your area and give them a try. Not only will your taste buds be in for a treat, you will be doing your part for the environment. And while shopping at our local grocery stores, take a moment to look where the food is coming from. If you have a choice between a local grown tomato or one shipped from across the country, do your part and choose the one closer to home.

Going Non-toxic

I’m determined to have a chemical free yard and garden – yet I would like it to look healthy and vibrant as well. I’m always keeping an eye open for ways to accomplish this goal.

So far, here is what we’ve done at our home:

We’ve been using Nutri-lawns ecology friendly lawn care for years. They use organic based fertilizers and no synthetic pesticides. Our lawn is sprinkled with a variety of products such as seaweed/kelp and corn extracts. It works great.

One area that I’ve always struggled with is what to do with weeds and when grass grows in flowers bed. Mulch made from natural materials (leaves, straw or bark) helps control unwanted plants. So does pulling them out, if they are small and not well established. For larger weeds or those with deep roots, I’ve poured boiling water over them. That works quite well although you have to keep at it to ensure the weed doesn’t grow back.

Does anyone else have any ideas? I would love to hear what other environmentally green-thumbs do for beautiful gardens and lawns.

About Simple Changes

Hello!

I have a belief that individuals and small businesses can lead the way in slowing climate change. While government and larger organizations are finding ways to tackle environmental policies, there is much we can do individually, one small step at a time.

For me, this started back in June 2006 when a friend invited me to see a Sundance Film Festival hit, “An Inconvenient Truth.” The film documents former Vice President Al Gore’s crusade to halt global warming’s progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and false impressions that surround it.

And expose he did… to the point where I had trouble breathing in the middle of the movie!

The film shows us the facts… very startling facts. Evidence from scientists all over the world shows that global warming is real, is already happening and is the result of human activities and NOT a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable. The world will be a very different place in less than 50 years.

In 50 years, my son will be 65 years old. He will have children and grandchildren by then. What will their world be like? What are we doing to them? We are supposed to be protecting our children!

We are bombarded by so many issues on a daily basis… from wars, to terrorism, to famine, to some movie star’s love life (it astounds me how much media attention that one gets!) that for me global warming was just another one of so many things trying to get my attention.

Although I knew this issue was a serious one (my family did our part by recycling and changing the type of light bulbs we use) what I didn’t understand before seeing this film was HOW serious, and how very urgent, this issue has become. How absolutely critical it is that I pay attention… how we all have to pay attention and do what we can right now! The facts speak so loudly. The reality is that global warming really is happening and is causing our entire planet to change.

We no longer have time to be complacent.

As a business owner, I’ve contributed to various non-profit organizations within the community over the last 10 years and will continue to do so. Starting in 2008, a percentage of all profits from my company, Prairie Sun Creations Inc., have been and will continue to be donated to an organization that assists in earth healing efforts… the David Suzuki Foundation.

In 2007 and 2008 I wrote a column called “Simple Changes” for our local paper, The Airdrie Echo. The concept of the column was to provide on-going simple environmental practices that each of us can easily do to assist global healing. The original articles are now available within this blog and will continue in this format.

My focus is to bring a positive impact for ourselves, our family, our friends, our clients and our fellow members of the larger community called Earth.

Many simple changes can make a BIG impact.

Together, we can make a difference.

Household, Gardening and other

fun tips for natural living

Tips without chemicals, health tips, gardening tips and more

From gardening to cleaning to natural remedies and just about everything in between, this is your resource for adapting natural family living practices into your life.

Controlling Pests Naturally Series

Simple Steps

In many walks, of society, many people expect nothing less than perfection. This has led to an over-reliance on insecticides and other chemicals such as sprayer stickers to prevent insect damage, as well as optimizing growth and production of plants with the use of commercial fertilizers.

As an organic grower, one needs to first realize that beauty and quality are different sorts of things than perfection. By using natural methods of pest control, you can produce plenty of beautiful crops or flowers, without relying on non-organic sprays, powders or other insecticides.

The first two lines of defense against pests are water pressure and handpicking harmful insects. A simple stroll through your garden each day will ensure that any problems are noticed and can be addressed immediately.

Pay attention to the color of leaves, stalks and flowers. Look for changes, inspect for bites or other damage. Many pests are visible only from the underside of the leaves. Nighttime is the best time to catch and remove sneaky pests (snails) from your plants. Be sure to take a flashlight!

Hand pick any visible pests from plants and remove yellowed or damaged leaves as soon as they appear. Be sure to dispose of the removed leaves outside your garden to prevent the spread of pests or disease.

A strong stream of water from your garden hose will help kill or remove many pests. Be careful not to damage the plants and direct the stream of water carefully, where pests tend to hide out- inside creases and crevices, the underside of leaves and around the flowers.

For your third line of defense, encourage beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, by planting dill, fennel, carrots and parsley. Allow these plants to bloom in order to attract ladybugs. The ladybugs will rid your garden of a variety of harmful pests. Some plants, such as carrots, don't bloom until the second year, so keep these plants in place and plant others you intend to harvest. One can purchase lady bugs and other helpful insects directly off the internet, as well as liquid garlic spray and French and African Marigold root in liquid form.

The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, check out Going Organic by clicking on link below:

Controlling Pests Naturally - Part 2

Whiteflies

“For whiteflies, which attack many plants, spreading disease, puree two cloves of garlic, mix with one pint water, strain and spray on your plants. Attracting ladybugs is also effective for whitefly problems.”

The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, Click Here.

Controlling Pests Naturally - Part 3

Grasshoppers & Ticks

“If grasshoppers are a problem in your garden, leave an area around your garden uncut and unmowed to give them an option to hide in and munch on other than your beloved plants. Conversely, if ticks are a problem for you, be sure to keep yards mowed and brush trimmed because ticks need these areas to reproduce.”

The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, Click Here.

Food Storage Series

As produce ripens and is brought from the garden or farmers market into your house, you’ll want to keep it fresh for as long as possible to preserve the nutritional values and taste of your harvests. Check out Odds n Sods over the next few weeks for tips on keeping assorted fruits and veggies their freshest.

Tomato Temptation

Fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes are another of summer’s gifts. To keep them as nutritionally beneficial and fabulous tasting as possible, be sure to store them correctly. If they aren’t completely ripe when you bring them into the house, let them sit on the counter until they are at the peak of perfection. (If you want to speed this ripening up, place them in a brown paper bag to trap in the ethylene gas they emit to ripen themselves – an apple added to the bag will speed the process up even further, as it, too, will emit the “ripening” gas.)

The cold environment of the fridge will bring the ripening process to a complete halt and the flavour of this fabulous little fruit won’t develop fully, so avoid keeping them there until you are totally satisfied with the ripeness. Once they are totally ripe, they can be stored in the fridge for several days. To speed up the counter ripening process, store them in a paper bag.

Freezing Berries

Extending summer’s bounty

Berries generally last only 2-3 days (at most) after they’ve been picked. To keep them fresh as long as possible, pick out any individual berries that are mouldy or overripe as soon as you notice they are off, and then eat the rest as soon as possible (which shouldn’t be too hard, as fresh berries are the delight of early summer for most families).

But with berries at excellent prices now at farmer’s mark ets and “pick your own” farms, consider freezing some for use later in the year. To freeze them, wash thoroughly, sort and discard any that have gone off, then spread the keepers on a cookie sheet in individual layers. Once they have frozen, transfer them to freezer bags or containers for more compact storage. The extra freezing-on-a-cookie-sheet step is well worth it, for you will be able to pull as many or as few as you need out of the freezer later for smoothies, baked goods, or even just “frozen fruit candy”.

Leafy Greens

Rinse those leafy greens (such as spinach, lettuce, chard, dandelion greens…) under cool water, then drain completely. Wrap them in a cotton cloth (a cotton tea towel works well), then place in a plastic bag (think reduce, reuse, recycle when using plastics) and store in the vegetable bin of your fridge. Both the flavour and the texture will stay fresh a while longer and will preserve the fabulous vitamins and minerals these fab foods provide.

So-long, Splinters!

A sweet approach

They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and the good news is that the same advice can be applied to removing splinters. If you or a little one you know can’t stand the idea of removing splinters with a needle (which isn’t particularly safe or hygienic anyway), try the sweet approach. Simply spread a good dab of honey over the imbedded splinter, cover with a bandage overnight and by morning it will have worked itself out – easy and pain-free.

Whole Oats For silky skin

For an all-natural, gentle skin cleanser and moisturizer all-in-one, try this quick and easy approach. Cut the foot off an old pair of nylons or threadbare sock (you’ll want 6-12 inches of material), and pour ½ cup of whole oats into the toe of it. Secure with a knot or elastic band, trim any extra material you have and take your new little bag into the shower. Use it to scrub your body and then rinse thoroughly. It will leave you silky and soft. Repeated use increases the results! Too easy to be true? Give it a try – you’ll be amazed.

Eye Soother - Salt for sore eyes

If your eyes puff up and itch and burn with the allergy season, try using this simple remedy to help soothe them. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of very warm water. Dip cotton balls or a soft cotton cloth into the mixture and apply to closed eyelids. Lay down and rest quietly with the soaked cotton on your eyes for 15-20 mins.

Wasp Away

Natural, easy deterrent

As spring turns to summer and the insects come out to play, there are always a few we wish would play on their own. Wasps are often one of those. To deter wasps from entering your yards and gardens, simply suspend a small, inflated paper bag so that it hangs down, looking similar to a wasps nest. Wasps are very territorial and pretty respectful of each others’ space, so when they see another nest, they stay clear. By fooling them with this simple and super-easy method, you won’t have to worry about them encroaching on your space.

Sun & Fun - Sunscreen Savvy

All bodies do need some sunshine to manufacture Vitamin D, but the sunshine of today is much harder on skin than the sunshine of 50 years ago, so you’ll want to spend much of the summer with a high-quality sunscreen protecting you and your family. But not all sunscreen is created equal. There are some ingredients that you will definitely want in your sunscreen, and other ingredients you should think twice about.

The good stuff: Titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These ingredients have been proven to block out both UVA & UVB rays. Those sunscreens without these ingredients filter some rays, but not all, and what is allowed to reach your skin could be more harmful in a fractured state than the whole spectrum.

The questionable stuff: Hormone- imitating chemicals such as 4-mbc (4-methyl-benzylidene camphor). This ingredient is causing some scientists concern because it has been shown to have negative effects on lab animals – causing cancer cells to multiply quickly and doubling the uterine growth in pre-pubescent animals (all with dosages allowed in sunscreens). Although researchers are recommending further investigation into the chemical and it’s effects on humans, some are urging caution be applied when using this chemical on children, as kids are more susceptible to the allowed dosages.

Even one really bad sunburn can irretrievably damage skin, so be sure to cover up and, if possible, avoid the hottest period of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest.

Dry Brushing - The skinny on skin brushing

Dry brushing is a great way to improve circulation, enhance the immune system, and revitalize the nervous system. It’s a great (and really cheap) treatment for cellulite and fluid-retention, lagging energy levels, and sore muscles. It will get rid of dead skin cells and allow your skin to breathe more efficiently, helping your body function more efficiently.

Start with a dry body brush or mitt made of natural fibres (such as loofah, jute or hemp) – these can be found in just about any natural grocery store or large drugstore. Start at the bottom (the soles of your feet) and work upwards with a gentle, circular massage always in the direction of the heart. Be sure to pay close attention to the rougher parts – the elbows and knees and feet – and always work towards the center of your body. Finish off with a shower or bath and enjoy the multitude of benefits your body will receive from incorporating this small self-care act into your daily routine.

Body brushes should be shaken out after each brushing session and washed with warm water and a gentle soap about once a week or so.

Soothing itchy bug bites

A quick, natural approach

Insect bites can be terribly irritating, especially for young skin. Lavender essential oil can be applied directly to any itchy or sore bites to help ease the discomfort. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that are safe to use undiluted directly on the skin.

Purchase lavender essential oil.

For more information on treating insect bites with a natural approach, read Susun Weed’s article “Ease Those Bug Bites with Easy Herbs”.

Keeping Your Cool, Naturally

Hot day grocery runs

When the weather turns to scorching, try carrying a cooler in your car when you go grocery shopping. Popping your need-to-keep-cool items into the cooler will leave you a little more time to get home, so running other errands or popping by the playground for a bit becomes feasible. If you have plans to take a long time getting home after getting groceries, toss a re-usable freezer pack into the cooler before you leave home to keep the items cooler longer.

Eucalyptus Leg Soak

This is a fabulous little trick to cool your body down quickly. Add 5-6 drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of cool water, then dip a large cotton cloth into the water and wring out. Wrap the wet cloth around your leg, sit back and relax for a few minutes. This is totally safe for use with children, and a great way to cool down on those hot, hot days just before bed.

The Cool Bath

Keeping cool is challenge for many during the month of August. Try taking a cool bath with 2 drops of peppermint oil added for a refreshing, invigorating soak. When you get out, massage in a peppermint body oil (add 2-4 drops peppermint essential oil in a Pure oil) to prolong that refreshed feeling.

The future of the earth is in our children's hands. Appeal to their primitive souls.

Kids and Camping

Camping appeals to our primitive souls.

We can survive and thrive in our natural environment with a minimum of gear and a working knowledge of natural lore and practical skills. We return from a camping trip empowered with a sense of self-sufficiency.

Children need to return from camping with that same sense of empowerment.

Here are some tips to help your children get the most from their camping experience:

• Go with them. Scouting groups and school field trips may present your children with camping opportunities, but the value of camping will be greatly enhanced if they see you participate.
• Involve them with the preparations. Work together on a checklist, choices of food and task schedule. Teach them the basics of packing a pack, but let them do the actual packing.
• Leave modern conveniences behind. This means toys, cell phones, CD players, gaming magazines and other distractions. Instead, give them field guides, knife, compass, magnifying glass, fishing gear and inexpensive outdoor gear.
• Give each child a journal. Set aside a time each day, perhaps before bed, for them to enter their personal reflections, sketches, anecdotes and ideas for the next day. A personal journal helps the child focus on the camping experience; it also becomes a treasured keepsake for years to come.
• Give them the serious jobs. Kids can learn quickly how to set up the tent, prepare the fire, secure the food. With some forethought, you can anticipate their problems and offer discreet guidance. Set them up for success.
• Let them make mistakes. If the tent collapses, defuse their embarrassment with a laugh and tell them it happens to everyone. Don't be a know-it-all. Let nature teach. Children will learn best using all five senses, not just by listening to you.
• Don't set overly ambitious goals. Lower your sights for awhile. For example, as a fisherman you may keep pushing for better spots and bigger fish, but to catch any fish is a noteworthy accomplishment for a youngster. And if you see that fish through the child's eye, no matter what size, it will be a monster. Take a photo of the catch.
• Cook their catch. No matter how small the fish, treat it with respect. Clean and cook the fish with care, use all the seasonings and garnishes. Accept their offer to share the "meal".
• Let them lead the hike. Read a topo map together, and study the compass. You should plan the course, but let the children take turns at lead. Remember the journey is more important than the destination - let them stop and explore anytime their curiosity chooses, turn back if the destination seems too far, celebrate what you experience rather than how far you got.
• Let the children create the entertainment. Campfire entertainment is one of the most memorable parts of the camping experience. Encourage them to participate with songs, skits or storytelling. Notice and applaud their efforts.
• Let them make their own shelter. Kids will naturally want to create a place of their own. If they're bold enough to want to spend the night in their A-frame or lean-to, give them a bug net and flashlight, and check on them periodically without them being aware.
• Acknowledge their fears. The camping experience, especially at night, usually includes strange noises just outside the tent. When your child wakes up to report a strange and scary sound, avoid the temptation to say "It's nothing, go back to sleep". Get the flashlight and explore the source of the sounds; there's often something interesting to discover, and you'll diffuse their fear of overnight camping.

Childrens' sense of empowerment will come from being grounded in nature. Security in their natural home enables them to reach out into the "modern world" with more confidence and a stronger sense of self.

Strengthen Your Immune System!
Herbal Allies to Help you Avoid Catching the Flu!

Winter is when we are most likely to catch a cold or the flu. With Susun Weed’s help, you can prepare yourself with herbs and home remedies to avoid infection and to build a strong immune system.

Ms. Weed prefers safe antibacterial herbs such as echinacea, usnea, or poke root, which not only kill infection, but also help us keep our immune systems strong. These herbs have an extensive history of countering resistant bacteria and strengthening the body's natural defenses. She also recommends medicinal mushrooms, garlic, and ginseng to help you during the winter season. And, she reminds us that our thoughts affect our health too!

Echinacea root is the all-American immune system strengthener. It triggers production of white blood cells, interferon, leukocytes, T-cells, and B-lymphocytes, as well as directly inhibiting the growth of most bacteria and viruses. Peter Holmes, author of Energetics of Western Herbs, cites it as being effective against anthrax. Echinacea tincture is my first choice for countering infection. (Capsules and pills of Echinacea, if used for lengthy periods, may be counter-productive.) A dose of the tincture is one drop for every pound of body weight. I take this several times a week as a preventative; several times daily when there is active infection.

Usnea, a common lichen, is especially rich in a powerful antibacterial bitter called usnic acid (also usinic acid). I use the tincture of Usnea barbata (a dose is 1-2 dropperfuls), but other lichens show similar immune-enhancing and tonifying properties. There are no side effects reported from use of even large amounts of usnea tincture.

Poke root tincture (Phytolacca americana ) kicks the immune system into gear incredibly fast. I’ve seen chronic infection of many years’ standing resolve after only one dose, and acute infection subside in a matter of hours. Poke’s effect seems to be focused on the lymphatic and glandular tissues of the throat and chest, making it the perfect counter to inhaled anthrax, which attacks the lymph nodes around the lungs. Poke is a specific against pneumonia and a protector of the lungs. It contains an antibacterial alkaloid and a special antiviral protein. It magnifies the effects of Echinacea and they work wonderfully well together.

Poke root is powerful medicine - in fact, a potential poison - and the dose is very small. One drop of poke tincture may be taken daily for no more than three months as a counter to possible infection. Alkaloids in poke root tincture can accumulate in the kidneys, making extended use risky. Caution: You can feel spacey and out of your body when taking poke, especially at higher doses. The first few times, take it after dinner and stay home so you can judge your reaction.

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus) is widely considered the single most effective immune tonic and adaptogen in the herbal realm. Safe and inexpensive, it helps the immune system respond quickly to infection and mitigates the effects of stress. Astragalus root is also an excellent ally for building powerful immunity. Both, or either, may be taken daily for extended periods with no ill effects. I throw several pieces of these roots in every pot of soup I cook.

Ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius or Panax ginseng) is another exceptional ally for the immune system, especially when there is physical or emotional stress. In any form (tincture, tea, extract) it nourishes production of interferon, phagocytes, antibodies, and killer T-cells. So long as you need ginseng, there’s no overdose; if you take it when you don’t need it however, it may produce an unpleasant, jittery, speedy sensation.

Garlic has been used to prevent infection for thousands of years; and it still works! No need to upset your stomach (and loved ones) by eating it raw; cooked garlic retains its antibacterial powers, so long as you eat enough of it. During plague times, healers in some areas wore a "bird's beak:" a stiff cone was made of paper or bark, stuffed with garlic and spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg), and tied on over the nose to help prevent contagion. That's a little cumbersome for modern times, but inhaling the aroma of a cup of spicy tea (there are many blends available, or make your own) could help you avoid catching contagious disease.

Medicinal mushrooms are not only immune system tonics, they possess antibacterial properties which make them ideal for preventing anthrax infection, according to expert Paul Stametes. A tincture or strong infusion of any shelf fungus with pores can be used, he says. If you prefer to buy your mushrooms, rather than hunt for them, look for reishii (Ganoderma lucidum) or shiitake (Lentinus edodes). Both are adaptogenic, revitalizing, regenerative, and able to directly suppress infection. Side effects, even from large doses, are rare.

But herbs and medicinal foods alone are not enough. What we think, and what we consume, are also important parts of building strong immunity. Candace Pert, visiting professor of neuroscience at Rutgers University , has proven that every cell of the body participates in the immune system through an integrated network of chemical, electrical, and hormonal signals. The immune system is a network, she says, which resonates with the vibrations that surround it. It is as affected by emotions as by bacteria, as impacted by thoughts as by drugs.

Long-standing low-level depression, smoldering anger that is never expressed, bitterness and vengeance projected into the future are all known to depress immune functioning. Prayer, affirmations, positive thinking - no matter what you call it, talking lovingly to yourself builds powerful immunity. One of the fiercest old women I know, healer Margo Geiger, taught me to not only think good thoughts but also to unthink immune system stressing phrases like: "This is killing me," or "I’m dying to . . ." ("Let’s live for it!" she’d say.)

Specialized cells which eliminate bacterial and viral infections are made as needed by the immune system. Richly supply your immune system with nutrients, and it easily counters infection, building healthy white blood cells to kill anthrax and other germs. Starve your immune system and it will falter, leaving your lymph nodes and other tissues open to infection and destruction.

My favorite foods for nourishing the immune system include beets, carrots, garlic, medicinal mushrooms, seaweeds, and dark leafy greens (including nettle infusion). For rapid results, try miso soup with seaweed and wild mushrooms. Try Immune A Go Go Soup from Susun Weed's book Breast Cancer? Breast Health!

Carotenes strengthen and activate all parts of the immune system, especially the thymus (the "master gland of immunity"). A half-cup of dandelion greens, two cups of nettle infusion, a small baked sweet potato, or two large cooked carrots or beets is a "dose;" but ten times that much can be consumed safely. Repeated doses provide a cumulative effect starting about a week after you begin.

Selenium is a trace mineral with special abilities for building a healthy immune system. Best sources are organic garlic, medicinal mushrooms, and astragalus. Zinc helps build energetic white blood cells (which eliminate bacterial infections). Best sources are Echinacea, nettles, and seaweed.

The B-vitamin complex, especially B6 (pyridoxine), is critical to immune system health. Best sources are potato skins, broccoli, prunes, and lentils.

Virtually all drugs depress the immune system. This includes caffeine and nicotine, alcohol, prescribed drugs, "recreational" drugs, and vitamin/mineral supplements. For a healthy immune system, eat nourishing food and forgo the pills.

Both light and dark are necessary for a strong immune system. For optimum immune system strength, sleep in a totally dark room at night, and spend at least 15 minutes a day outside without glasses or contacts. Full spectrum sunlight is needed to trigger the production of important immune system components.

Exercise is an excellent way to tonify the immune system. A number of clinical trials have shown regular exercise to be strongly linked to heightened immunity. The emphasis is on regular. It is better to walk one mile four times a week for a month than to jog 16 miles once a month.

In Summary: Strengthen you immune system with a good diet, adequate sleep, regular physical activity, emotional well-being, and a few of the recommended herbal allies of your choice. Always remember to use herbs and herbal preparations simply and safely. Avoid immune compromising substances such as coffee, tobacco and medications. With a strengthened immune system you will not only enjoy better health, but you will be less likely to be susceptible to infection and possible death from bacterial and/or viral invasions. Faith in your body's ability to protect itself will continue to bolster and reinforce the immune system as your mental well-being improves. Enjoy the upward spiral of health as you follow the path of the Wise Woman Way.

KNOW ABU OUR NATION...

India

We live in a time of great change and an increasing need for a celebration of diversity. Each month Earthy Family will explore a new culture in our World Travels section and will provide information for families to share the world together. It is our goal to create a greater understanding of the wonderful diversity in our world in a fun and family-centered manner. So take a peek and then invite your family to travel the world with you. Perhaps you want to have a "travel night" once a month where you immerse yourselves in a country and cook traditional foods, listen to traditional music, celebrate with a festival and talk about the issues facing the people of the chosen culture. Or perhaps you want to learn about the culture more slowly, helping each other learn a few new words, a few new facts and a few new recipes throughout the entire month. Adapt our ideas so it works for your family and have fun!

Join us as we travel to...

INDIA

Facts & figures

India is a relatively newly independent nation with great diversity within its borders. It is an extremely populous and quite large country. The following are some basic facts about India as a nation

Total area: 3,287,590 sq km (this makes India the 7th largest country in world)

Border countries:

Bangladesh
Bhutan
Burma
China
Nepal
Pakistan

Population: 1,045,845,226 (estimated as of July 2002) This makes India the 2nd most populous country in the world (only China has more).

Religion: There are several religious groups found in India and religion plays an important factor in many Indians’ daily lives. Most people in India are Hindu, but other groups include:

Muslims
Sikhs
Buddhists
Christians
Jains
Parsis
Jews

Language: Hindi is the national language, but there are 14 other official languages including: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit.

Hindustani is a variation of Hindi and Urdu and is used widely in Northern India but it is not considered an official language. English is commonly used for political and commercial communication, but is not an official language either.

States & Territories: There are 28 states and 7 union territories that make up the country of India: The states include: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

The union territories include:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Chandigarh
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Daman and Diu
Delhi
Lakshadweep
Pondicherry

Independence: August 15, 1947 (from Britain). India was ruled by Britain for almost 90 years.

Flag: Three equal horizontal bands of orange (or saffron), white and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band make up the Indian flag. The saffron band represents courage and sacrifice, the white band represents purity and truth and the green band is indicative of faith and fertility. The blue chakra represents the wheel of law used by the first emperor of India, Emperor Ashoka, whose Buddhist beliefs encouraged people of different religions to live together in peace. Some say that the saffron band represents Hinduism and Buddhism, the white represents Jainism and the green symbolizes Islam.

Industry & Agriculture:
The major industries of India include: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software and film-making (check your local movie store for the “Bollywood” films featuring romances set amid music and dance for a taste of Indian popular culture)

The major agricultural products include: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes

WEN THESE TINGS GOI 2 CHG?

Major Political Issues in India:

The major political issues that concern Indians, especially during election time are:

• Communities demanding more economical and social rights
• Communities wanting more autonomy for their cultures within the Indian states
• Communities demanding autonomous states within the Indian Union
• Communities demanding independence from India.

Education in India

At the time of independence only 12% of the Indian population was literate. According to the 1991 census there literacy rate was 52%, meaning that over half a billion people were literate. Literacy rate among the urban population is higher than among the villagers. It is also higher among the men than among the women. The literacy rate among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is lower than in the general population.

The government provides education at the primary level, but not all Indians get the opportunity to go to school. There are many sources for funding and depending on the funding level schools range from schools without buildings to schools with all of the hi-tech facilities.

According to researchers in the 1980s about one-third of Indians study or studied in schools that have English as the medium of instruction. This number continued to climb through the 1990’s and into the 2000’s. For many, English is in many senses their first language and it is easier for them to read, write and even communicate in English than any other language. This makes India the second largest English speaking country in the world after the USA.

Border Issues

Border disputes with Pakistan disrupt into violence and have been the root cause of wars since Independence from Britain was attained in 1947. When Independence was granted Pakistan became a separate country, but there have continually been disputes over which country claims ownership over the area called Jammu & Kashmir. This issue is still a source of friction between the neighbouring nations. Watch your newspaper for the current state of this issue.

Pollution

Pollution problems are a serious concern in India. With factory emissions and cars polluting the air, farming chemicals affecting the soil and water, and garbage from over a billion people who are increasingly using “disposable” products, the issue of pollution is growing bigger and bigger. New Delhi is considered one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Languages

One of the main political issues in Indian politics is connected to the language problem. After India’s independence the government decided the official language of India was to be Hindi. Hindi has at least 13 different dialects and is the most commonly spoken language in India.

Among the other language speakers of India, the decision to choose Hindi as the official language was seen as an attempt to erase their cultures. After different struggles – political, violent and passive – the central government decided to allow the state governments to pick their official languages and recognized constitutionally other languages of India. For now the Indian constitution recognizes 18 Indian languages. The Indian constitution also declares that English can be used for official purposes.

Women in India

With a firmly entrenched patriarchy in place, gains in the status of women have often been slow in coming and painful in achieving.

A major source of concern in India is the failure to create strong social sanctions against violent men. A recent survey by the International Institute for Population Studies showed that an astonishing 56% of Indian women believed wife beating to be justified in certain circumstances. The reasons varied from going out without the husband's permission to neglecting the house or children to cooking a bad meal. At least 20% of married women between the ages of 15 and 49 experience physical domestic violence in India, many on a continual basis. This number is likely unreported as families are rarely supportive of a women’s choice to leave an abusive situation and there are no laws in India that deal specifically with domestic violence. Aside from physical and sexual violence, emotional and economic violence are also prevalent.

Recently Women’s Courts have been set up to mediate and adjudicate on behalf of women. The formal courts are often inaccessible, costly and unwilling to hear cases of intimidated women living in poverty. Many of the Women’s Court officers are barely literate but they have learned about the law, its implications and limitations. Their dockets are crowded with cases of women seeking help and justice. They hear, mediate and adjudicate cases of divorce, fights between women and their mothers-in-law, complaints about drunkenness, domestic violence, rape, dowry extortion, maintenance for abandoned or divorced women, inheritance, and mis-treatment of widows and the elderly. The courts' successes depend upon the respect of the parties and the parties' willingness to accept its authority.

Poverty
Poverty in India is a very real and very complex issue. In 2000 it was estimated that 26% of India’s population was living below their national poverty line. While this is an improvement from the 1950’s figure of over 50% living in poverty, there are still well over 250 million people for whom poverty is a way of life in India.

Children in particular are detrimentally affected by poverty. For those affected by poverty, problems such as malnutrition, child labour and high mortality rates are very real issues faced daily. Although India contains fewer than 20% of the world child population, more than 40% of the world’s malnourished children are found there. Girls are more often negatively affected than boys as gender inequality is also a very real fact of life in India.

Child labour is a significant problem in India where it is estimated that between 75 and 90 million children under 14 are working. The jobs they perform are often difficult and low-paying, but their wages are needed to help provide food or shelter for their families. By being required to work at such young ages, these children are often prevented from receiving an education and getting out of the cycle of poverty.