This is the first issue of the new weekly schedule of this newsletter. If you didn't read the last issue, I switched from every other week to weekly because there is so much activity on my new Green Living Q&A blog. Good thing--this week we have 24 new questions and new comments on 20 previous questions. And a number of them need some responses from your experience, so please feel free to post your comments. Today I also have an At Home With Debra for you about what I learned on my recent trip about how San Francisco is becoming a green city, new links on Debra's List, and a new book on organic pregnancy. Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #55 ~ 10 October 2006
* AT HOME WITH DEBRA: Green City San Francisco
Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
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AT HOME WITH DEBRA: Green City San Francisco When I visited San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised and pleased to see that the City of San Francisco has a whole Department of the Environment, dedicated to help the city, it's businesses, and it's citizens live in a more eco-friendly way. What a great idea! Learn How to Make a City Green...
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DEBRA'S LIST: New links to great green products Here are just some of the links I added to Debra's List this week. Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition working to transform the health care industry "so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment." They are working on such issues as reducing toxic chemical exposure in hospitals, improving hospital food, and more. Lots of information on dangers of mercury, PVC & DEHP, medical waste, flame retardants, pesticdes, and other chemicals as they relate to use in the field of medicine and health care. Philo Apple Farm is a great apple farm, where my husband and I used to stop when we would drive from San Francisco to Mendocino, California. They grow about 100 varieties of apples, and we would stop to try the different kinds that had just been picked. Their apple products--including apple cider syrup, apple cider vinegar, and apple balsamic vinegar--are the result of wanting to make use of all their certified biodyanmically-grown fruit that is not table quality. Cowgirl Creamery makes ward-winning artisinal cheeses from local organic milk and cream, which they sell along with artisinal cheeses from all over the world. If you want to get to know more cheeses, check out their comprehensive "Cheese Library" with pictures of each variety and descriptions which include wine pairings, which you can search by milk type, country, raw or pasturized, and even cheesemaker! McEvoy Ranch makes my favorite extra virgain oil--fruity and light, made in the Tuscan style from six varieties of certified organic olives. And--"In an effort to see that nothing goes to waste"--when they need to replace a tree, they send the largest salvageable branches to a local wood artisan, who hand-carves bowls and other useful kitchen items. The Dirty Moose makes simple skin care products that are unscented AND all-natural. Try their goat's milk and coconut oil bar soap which doubles as shaving soap and shampoo, organically grown aloe vera lotion, olive oil lotion, and more. Consumer Reports Greener Choices website evaluates many environmental claims, explains issues, and makes recommendations for choosing products. You'll find articles like a comparison of alternative fuels for cars, or dry cleaning alternatives, each focused around assessing your needs, making the right choice, getting the most value, why it matters, what government and industry are doing, and how to read the labels.
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DEBRA'S BOOKSTORE: The Complete Organic Pregnancy This all-encompassing book on toxic expsosures is written from the viewpoint of two mothers-to-be, and focuses particularly on their concerns for their developing babies. It addresses the concerns pregnant women have about various everyday toxic exposures with the voices of many moms, telling how they made decisions regarding what to avoid and what to use. This book has the authenticity of being written by authors who have been through the experience. And even if you are not pregnant, this book has lots of good info on organic living. Read more about and purchase The Complete Organic Pregnancy...
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GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG Here are the questions and new comments posted through this morning. Remember, you are welcome to share your own comments and experience in response to any of these questions, and post questions of your own. To read and comment on more questions posted previously go to Green Living Q&A blog.
* Mold Problems With Front-Loading Clothes Washers Favorite natural baby things? A friend of mine is having her second baby after thirteen years and sent out an email to her friends asking what their favorite natural baby items were that they had purchased or been given as a gift..."things that helped you and your family save time or create easy for mom and baby...any helpful tips, hints or gadgets for what is really used the first 6 months and what is just a big waste of money..."
Particle/Press Board: Will it fully out gas and become safe? hi,
making my own wool insulation I'm wondering if you know how to make my own wool insulation? I have access to a lot of free wool and a small living structure to insulate. I know the basics of processing wool but don't know how to make the actual insulation batts.
cork flooring What can you tell me about cork flooring? Is it all safe? We are looking at getting prefinished cork. I'm not sure if this is covered in your book. I just purchased it a few days ago and will get it soon, but we need to make a decision quickly because I just tore all of our icky carpet out of the bedroom today! Thank you. Mercury Thermometers and Your Family's Health I want to pass along to you a pamphlet I just found called "Mercury Thermometers and Your Family's Health".
DEBRA LYNN DADD, FLORIDA, USA How safe is Clorox Bleach? I've used Clorox Bleach steadily for years. It's the only thing that seems to 'clean'. The products sold in stores ( i.e. Clorox Softscrub, etc.) used to mask the bleach smell that have bleach in them, don't do the job as well as just bleach alone. I usually blend a few drops of bleach on a rag with Polmolive dish soap to do my kitchen counters then rinse afterwards. The smell IS strong but goes away after a few minutes.
Offgassing of New Furniture Dear Debra,
Getting the Smell Out of a New Refrigerator How can you get the smell out of a new refrigerator? I have never had a new fridge before so was not aware it would smell so bad!
Good Air Filters? Anybody know about air purifiers for the home. Any special brand that is good? Thanks, Cathy Plastic Water Bottles & Safe Drinking Water I have just heard that drinking from plastic water bottles purchased at the grocery are dangerous. I quit drinking tap water over 7 years ago and this concerns me because water is all I do drink. Please advise the safest way to drink water that you know. I thought I was being healthy and now I am really anxious about this and wonder if anything is safe. Natural Treatment for Nail Fungus
Natural Play Dough I am working on a project for a museum and wish to use home made play dough. I need to know if this mixture is insect proof; someone told me the high level of salt would repell insects. The recipe I have for the play dough is: 4 cups flour, 2 cups water and 2 cups salt. If the salt does not repell insects should I use a varnish or lacquer on the finished project? Safety of Rubbing Alcohol for Pest Control Dear Debra,
Tempur-Pedic Do you have any information on Tempurpedic products? All I have been able to find is positive info and their website says their mattresses are not outgassing and repel dust mites. My chiropractor recommends that we purchase a mattress from them, but I am not sure. I am going to purchase your bedding information, but I found nothing on Tempurpedic when I did a search. Thank you. anti allergen pet shampoo I am looking for an anti allergen+pet shampoo for dogs that is odorless and would be tolerable for a person with MCS. I looked under your list but didnt see one. Thank sSVW, WASHINGTON, USA Content of Metals Here is a very interesting page that contains information on the content of various metals...DEBRA LYNN DADD, FLORIDA, USA Chloramine Reducing Shower Filter I have chloramines in my water. I have been researching vitamin c shower filters. Would a vitamin c shower filter still react with the chlorine in the chloramines to create hydrochloric acid, or would the ammonia have an effect on the reaction? Or would it have a totally different reaction? I have heard that byproducts of vitamin c with chlorine would be dehydroascorbic acid, ammonia and chloride. I have also heard elsewhere that hydrochloric is produced when it comes into contact with vitamin c.
Anodized Cookware in the Dishwasher I just found out you're not supposed to put anodized cookware in the dishwasher. We don't do it it often but occasionally if my husband is cleaning up (rarely happens) the pans will go in the dishwasher. I can't see any evidence of damage to the surface of these pans but want to know if they are possibly unsafe to use. I hope you can answer my question. Dishwasher Detergent and Cleaning Stains on Plastic Debra
Nontoxic Leather Care I have a car with fine leather seats. I want to properly maintain the seats using nontoxic methods.
Workplace Fragrance-Free Policies I'm looking for model language for workplaces to implement fragrance-free policies for their employees. I work at a large government institution (5,000 employees) where the HR managers are open to substantive information on which to base a policy that will be clearly defined and implemented fairly.
New Flannel Sheets Smell Like Gasoline After Washing I recently purchased new flannel sheets for my children's beds. My son has been sleeping (I washed it first) on it for the past two weeks and his asthma has been terrible. I was thinking it was from the outside air. However, I took their sheets off this morning and washed them again. When I took them out of the washer I noticed a very strong chemical smell, almost like gasoline. Is this possible? Would I be better off purchasing old second hand cotton sheets for my children to sleep on?
Space Heater Recommendations? Dear Debra,
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CLASSIFIED ADS SUSTAINABILY-HARVESTED WILD SALMON and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska. Flash frozen, smoked, sausage and burgers, cans and pouches, salmon caviar. www.vitalchoice.com GIVE YOUR BODY THE NATURAL SALT IT NEEDS. Revive your energy with natural living salt. Contains 84 minerals essential to human life. Hand-mined to retain original primordial vibration pattern. Delicious taste makes food "come alive". A life-giving, natural, whole food. Email info@himalayanlivingsalt.com for free sample. www.himalayanlivingsalt.com SOAPSTONE COOKWARE IS NATURALLY NONSTICK. Natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations. Food tastes better cooked in soapstone. www.greenfeet.com CALL FOR A HEALTHY BED CONSULTATION. 100% wool-filled and wool-encased mattress of heirloom quality, placed on a slatted wood frame for optimal airflow. Our wool fill comes from the EcoDomestic Wool Project and Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California, home of our production company. Available in U.S. and Canada. www.shepherdsdream.com SOLUTIONS FOR FLUORIDE HAZARD! Custom made water filters. Removes fluoride, arsenic, chlorine and chloramines without taking out the good minerals that make water wholesome. Whole house systems, under the counter systems, and 100% chlorine-free pool and spa system. Medical grade alkaline water unit. Natural Plus Plus LLC 727-447-2344 www.gobeyondorganic.com DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING NATURAL SUN PROTECTION. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd tells how you can enjoy the health benefits of sunshine in balance with natural methods of protection when necessary. Order now. DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING A NATURAL BED. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd covers the types of natural mattresses that are available, all about the materials, natural bedding, the history of natural beds. Order now.
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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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email:
debra@dld123.com
web:
http://dld123.com
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I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and
personally with a