Brrrrrrr! This morning we're having our first COLD day--sixty degrees! I know that would feel warm to some of you, but after months of eighty-degree-plus weather, it's chilly! Have to take out my flannel shirts now. Today I've got some tips for making Halloween healthier and more eco-friendly and some interesting questions and comments from the Green Living Q&A blog. Keep your questions and comments coming! I love reading them and I know others do too. Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #57 ~ 22 October 2006
* GOING GREEN FOR HALLOWEEN
Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
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GOING GREEN FOR HALLOWEEN Halloween is coming right up next week, so here are some tips for making the holiday a little healthier and better for the Earth. * Choose organic and naturally-sweetened treats. Bite-sized seems to be the trend nowadays. We had no problem finding bite-sized, individually-wrapped chocolates, lollipops, honey sticks, and other sweets calling to us at the checkout stand at our local natural food store. Artisan Sweets sells a Natural Trick-or-Treat Candy Bag containing 72 pieces of all-natural candy, including Endangered Species ethically traded milk chocolate bites, Yummy Earth organic fruit lollipops, and pure honey mint patties, all packed in a Halloween treat bag. * Give kids resuable "treat" bags. Forgo plastic disposable bags in favor of cotton canvas bags or pillowvases. Or purchase reusable baskets or buckets that can be reused year after year. Try your local thrift store for such items. Or get a bag or bucket and decorate it yourself to be the "official" trick-or-treat receptical. * Make a costume from old clothes. Forget about the disposable plastic costumes and create a costume from old clothes. If you don't have any at home, try family, friends, or a local thrift store. * Decorate with the natural harvest of autumn. Use falling leaves, gourds, dried corn, wheat stalks, and especially pumpkins for decorations rather than store-bought paper or plastic items. The traditional jack-o-lantern is the best Halloween decoration (remember to use a beeswax candle). * Make your own make-up. Make face paints, fake blood and more from food ingredients.
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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.
* Non-Toxic Mascara Recommendation? discusses ingredients in cake mascara and how you can make your own. * Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls has some great new suggestions and more info about walnut oil. * Types of Wood Flooring tells how to seal inexpensive laminate flooring to keep it from outgassing. * Nontoxic garden hose suggests "turtle-safe" rubber hose. * Sweeteners for Yeast Diet has some interesting results of a home science experiment showing that evaporated cane juice won't grow yeast!
* Removing Oil Spots on Clothing Residential Energy Audit
H PAK Safe thermos for food Does anyone know where I can get a good nontoxic large thermos for carrying hot soup to my office for lunch as an option to using a microwave? I have a stainless steel one at home, but it appears that it is stainless on the outside, but has a plastic interior. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks! ROBIN Water Softeners Natural Home Magazine recommended I pose my questions on water softeners to you.
KATHERINE CARL Clean and Shine Wood Floors How can I keep my wood floors (parquet) clean and shiny? DALIA Cleaning Mildew I've just moved to Houston and I am having problem with mildew in my bath tub area. There's no amount of vinegar that can get rid of it.
DALIA Heating Pads or Other Heat Sources for Relaxation and Pain Relief I experience muscle tension and pain in several areas of my body, and one of the treatments recommended to me is the apllication of heat.
ROBIN Solar Hot Water Heaters I would like to install a solar hot water heater but I don't have an attic. Have you heard of any solutions to this problem?
ADA Silestone countertops Is anyone worried about the antimicrobial product in silestone countertops? I've explored Papercrete, kieri (sp?) wood, concrete and am now looking at silestone. Anyone have any yeas or nays about it? Thanks, Kate KATE Non toxic rain gear I am a biologist so I spend a lot of time outside in all weather. I need good rain gear. I know only of rain gear made of synthetic polymers. Are there ones better than others? I try to buy from gear companies that take a more ethical and sustainable approach but the toxicity of my gear is also important to me. AS Buying new, vegan or organic? -how do we help ourselves and others. I am in the market for a new purse and a question has arisen concerning the most 'green' way to go.
JW Tooth Soap I've been reading about the detrimental effects of brushing with toothpaste. The glycerin inhibits the teeth from naturally re-enamelizing and flouride has many health dangers.
DEBRA M Substituting Natural Sweeteners Hi, Debra -
MEREDITH
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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