Dear Debra, It continues to please and amaze me that so many new products are coming available with exceptional health and environmental qualities. In this issue, I'll introduce you to clothing made from fast-growing bamboo fibers that is as soft as cashmere and salt that is as pure as an ancient primordial sea. And would you believe a water-based deck finish may from soy? Read on and enjoy! Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT ~ 4 October 2005
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AT HOME WITH DEBRA: How I am Preparing for Natural Phenomena (Parts 2 and 3) I've added two articles to At Home With Debra this week in my series on preparing for your local natural phenomena. These are the last two. In the next issue I'll tell you how I care for my cat--a lot more fun!
Part Two of this series is about taking a home inventory.
Without a complete home inventory, insurance companies won't
pay to replace your valuables. So it worth it to have one.
Part Three tells how to prepare for shelter-in-place or
evacuation, with some tips on how to do it in a more healthy
and eco-friendly way. You'll learn about flashlights without
batteries, healthy foods that require no preparation or
refrigeration, how to recharge your cell phone when the power
is out, and more.
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New Natural Fabric Made From Bamboo I had a difficult time envisioning what fabric made from bamboo might be like, after all, bamboo is hard stuff, used to make flooring and chopping blocks. But it is wonderful! It's very very soft--very much like cashmere, but it breathes like cotton. I have some samples and I just can't say enough good things about it! For more information and a picture that is worth a thousand words, see About Bamboo Fabric, then visit Bamboosa for baby clothes and basic clothing for men and women.
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DEBRA'S LIST: new website links Here are just a few of the website links I added to Debra's List in the last two weeks. Himalayan Living Salt is hand-mined, hand-selected, hand-crushed, hand-washed, and sun dried. Taken from a primordial sea that was buried when the Himalayas were formed, 250 million years ago. LotusOrganics carries clothing for women, men, and babies made from organic and all-natural fibers. "Refined, stylish, uplifting...and supportive of our earth and the welfare of the peoples that produce them." They welcome customers with multiple chemical sensitivities. Oh My Gauze! sells loose and comfortable cool cotton clothing for women. Soy Clean carries soy-based, biodegradable cleaning products for homes, schools, and municipalities. Look here for hard-to-find alternatives to toxic products such as graffiti remover, paint stripper, and more. Lehman's has a huge collection of "authentic, historical products for those seeking a simpler life." This is a great site to browse for ideas on how to make things yourself and do things in the old-fashioned way.
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DEBRA'S BOOKSTORE: What I'm Reading
How To Grow Fresh Air: In addition to their beauty, houseplants can remove poisonous pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene, which are often released by furniture, carpets, and building materials. This easy-to-follow guide--written by the NASA scientist who did the research--tells how to grow 50 popular plants and rates each one for their ability to remove pollutants. Full-color pictures help you choose the best plants for your home Order How To Grow Fresh Air through Debra's Bookstore...
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SWEET SAVVY: New Recipes Here are the new recipes made with natural sweeteners that I've recently added to the Sweet Savvy recipe database:
Try my treats made without refined white sugar--they are delicious!
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Q & A: More on Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls In a previous issue, I answered a question about Water-based Deck Finish. Then a magazine reporter told me about a deck finish made from soy. Read about water-based soy deck finish...
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Q & A: Natural Black-out Curtains Dear Debra ~ We need black-out curtains for our baby's room, but I can't find all natural material. All have some polyester, or vinyl, in them.
T. A.
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Q & A: Natural Bristle Toothbrushes I am in Australia and find a need for toothbrushes for my 2 year old son, also for my sister. My son has allergies to not only plastics but soft silicones ie: teats, flanges, bottles that have been sealed with silicone. All foods have to be made from scratch. I would love your help in finding a wooden toothbrush with natural bristles, not nylon (some companies seem to think this is a natural product). Any help you can give me would be much appreciated.
J. A.
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Q & A: Safe Window Film Dear Debra ~ I want to put window film on my windows to reduce heat and glare, lower my energy bills, and block UV rays, but I think it's made from plastic. Wouldn't that outgas and contribute to indoor air pollution?
T. A.
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If you have a question of general interest, I am happy to answer free it in this newsletter and post it on my website for others to benefit from. If you have a question you would like to submit, please send me an email to debra@dld123.com with your question. It may take two to four weeks or longer for your question to appear in the newsletter. Usually I send an immediate quick answer to email questions, but then give a more detailed answer in the newsletter. All of the questions and answers, include those in the current issue, can be accessed through the Q&A index page at http://dld123.com/q&a/index.php. I also am available to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.
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The new, revised, edition of
Home Safe Home
is now available
in bookstores nationwide.
Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book)
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Debra's List
~
100s of links
to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise
products
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