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BACK TO SCHOOL
I started putting these tips together after receiving a question from a reader about lead in vinyl lunch boxes. I already had researched Lead on Power Cords, so I knew that lead is commonly used to stablize polyvinyl chloride. It's likely that vinyl lunchboxes would have lead in the PVC too, even if they don't carry a warning label as power cords do. Another reason not to use a vinyl lunchbox. There are some some plain and decorated metal lunchboxes at lunchboxes.com or see the list of natural fiber Lunch Bags on Debra's List.
If you need book bags or backpacks, check out Bags on Debra's List. Choose one made from durable hemp or "Treetap", a textile made using sustainably harvested wild rubber that is vulcanized in the sun onto a cotton backing.
For recycled school supplies, see Office on Debra's List. You can buy most everything you need recycled--paper, pens, binders, and more. And for kids, get crayons made from soy wax.
And see how Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Home Enlightenment, created a Green Dorm Room for her daughter.
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MONEY-SAVING TIPS: More Free Stuff
After writing in the last issue about how to Get What You Need Without Money, several readers wrote to remind me about freecycle. Of course! It's been on Debra's List for months and I get their email every day.
Freecycle is a great free service that connects people with free things to give away with people who want free things. You can get almost anything. When you join a local freecycle group, you can check the daily email postings for items you are looking for, post a request for something you want, or offer something you have you no longer want. Everything is free for the taking. One reader wrote to say she had a great experience with freecycle, so give it a try.
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DEBRA'S BOOKSTORE: Organic Housekeeping
Even if you have other books on creating a nontoxic and organic home, you will still learn more from this book. This really is a book about housekeeping first and foremost, so it contains everything from organization, recycling and hiring help, as well as very detailed explanations on how to clean everything throughout the house. There are ten pages, for example, on dishwashing because she covers sponges and scrubbers, bacteria, dish liquids, dishwasher detergents, how to load a dishwasher, and how to wash dishes by hand to save water. All the practical details of healthy housekeeping are clearly tried-and-true from the author's own experience.
Read more about and purchase Organic Housekeeping...
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DEBRA'S LIST: New links
Here are just some of the links I added to Debra's List in the last two weeks.
Universal Mama offers a ever-changing eclectic collective of unique artisan-made products for mothers, babies, and kids, "handmade with lots of love and care". Items often include diapers clothing, wooden and recycled stuffed toys, hand painted yarns, stationery, educational games, knitted items, and all kinds of other products. New products are added weekly, and artisans are dedicated to making items natural and/or organic as much as possible.
NaturePedic specializes in natural fiber mattresses for babies.
Fabulously Green is a blog that "reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility." The operative word here is style, and definately "eco-modern".
Green House Framing makes premium, handcrafted, reclaimed wood picture frames. "All frames are built from scratch in our studio with only animal and earth friendly ingredients. All of our wood is reclaimed lumber, usually douglas fir...Most of our lumber is from old floor beams or rafters...Our frames are finished with natural oil and water based stains." Very sustainable business--they even built their studio from reclaimed wood.
Certified Humane Raised & Handled is an inspection, certification and labeling program for meat, poultry, egg and dairy products from animals raised to humane care standards. Site includes a page that allows you to search by state for stores that carry certified products.
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Q & A: Baking Soda in Litter Box
Wanted to know what you think about this. My nephew has 2 large cats using 1 covered box. He uses clumping litter, somewhat sparingly, but cleans the box daily.
When he goes away I take care of these cats. When I scoop the box there is a cloud from all the baking soda he uses. And, I don't believe he empties and washes the box very often. I am concerned, and I don't want to interfere, but I feel this is no good for the health of his cats. They are orange, one long hair, one shorter hair, brothers, and weigh around 18 lbs. He rough houses with them, and from what I can tell, they seem ok. One of them has started to have hairballs more often then before, and I believe that one also has gone outside of the box on occasion.
Your comments would be appreciated, thanks!
N. W.
Read the answer...
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Q & A: Safety of Rubbing Alcohol
I came across a recipe for a homemade shower cleaner using equal parts water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and a couple drops of liquid dish detergent. Is rubbing alcohol a non toxic ingredient to use for cleaning?
Thanks for your reply and I am looking forward to receiving your e-newsletter as I'm always looking for non toxic ways to take care of our home and ourselves. I make some cleaning and body care products myself. Any that I have to buy I get from the health store and I check those ingredient labels!!
Thanks also for what you do to help educate people and make the environment cleaner and greener.
D. M.
Read the answer...
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Q & A: EMFs from Satellite Dishes
With the increase of Satellite dishes attached to peoples homes (in lieu of cable TV), as well as the option of having "wireless computer" set up, doesn'tÊthisÊall create a magnetic field throught the home?
As I am moving into another house, I am being offered these changes, and am wondering how this impacts any potential health hazard from magnetic fields each of these things create?
As always, thanks so much for your assistance in helping us out here make healthy lifestyle decisions!
P. G.
Florida USA
