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Posted in Uncategorized
Captain Compost was recently sent some personal hygiene and household cleaning products to review from EcoStore. When the box of goodies arrived on her door step, she eagerly opened it and started trying the products, to see if they really lived up to what they promised. CC loved the promise of “no nasty chemicals” and as she read through the ingredients of the products, she found that this was the case. Captain Compost finds this thought pleasing as she has been trying to replace old icky products with new, healthier and more eco~friendly options. Upon exploring the products on the website, she also noticed that the prices are very budget friendly, too. Could the products be great under these circumstances? The combination of reasonably priced, no nasty stuff and eco~friendly sounded too good to be true.
Here is what she tried so far:
Pure Oxygen Whitener: Captain Compost loves the way this whitens without leaving a chemical smell on her white blankets, sheets and undergarments. She doesn’t notice a scent at all, so her fabric softener gives her fresh linen that lovely clean smell instead.
Toilet Cleaner: Captain Compost has three boys to clean up after, so this toilet cleaner had a big job to do! It passed with flying colors. Her porcelin gleamed like it was brand new and the scent was not overpowering but very pleasant and … well, clean smelling. She loves it and will definitely be buying more.
Citrus Spray Cleaner Refill: The best thing about this refill is it comes in a bottle with less packaging and you can use it to refill a bottle you already have. This cuts down on what goes in Captain Compost’s recycling bin and it’s a more economical option as well. She loves the fresh citrus scent and it cleaned even the grimiest dirt off her kitchen counters.
Captain Compost also received some bath and body products to sample. So far she hasn’t used all of the different types of soap she received, but she can’t wait to try them!
She has tried the shampoo and conditioner, specifically the Rosemary Orange variety. With some really great scent options, it was difficult to choose which one would be best. CC loves the taste of Rosemary but to have her hair smell like it? Well, she was not disappointed. The scent is not overpowering at all and makes for a very pleasant showering experience. The shampoo had a great lather and leaves her hair feeling clean without being stripped of its’ natural oils. The conditioner is CC’s least favorite product, only because it rinses so cleanly out that it’s difficult to comb through her tangled hair when she’s finished. Captain Compost would love to try other scents to see how they are.
Overall, this eco~warrior highly recommends that you check out EcoStore USA to see what goodies might entice you. This is some retail therapy you can feel good about… by supporting a company that believes in being good to our earth while making products that are good for our bodies.
***Captain Compost and the Eco~women were not paid to do this review and are not employees of Eco Store USA. All opinions are exclusively Captain Compost’s ***
Posted in house stuff, living green on a budget, personal care
If Recycla doesn’t get some money back after reading this post and clicking on these links, I’m going to sponsor her next shopping expedition to IKEA. Seriously.
You can get money back by being green. A laundry list of state and federal programs have money to give you for using renewable energy and for using less energy. Actual cash or tax incentives to make our citizens buy Energy Star rated appliances, install wind turbines, or perform energy audits on their homes and businesses. Check them out:
DSIRE–Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. This site breaks down your incentives by state, then by a myriad of other categories–including homeowner incentives for renewables and efficiency.
Energy Star includes tax credits for home improvements like new windows, doors and roofs AND it includes inofrmation about how to purchase efficient appliances. Years ago when Enviro-Girl moved into her new house, she mailed in a cash rebate for buying Energy Star rated appliances. Check out the cool KIDS page–it’s one of the best child resources I’ve ever seen.
The US Department of Energy offers tax breaks for buying hybrid vehicles and installing renewable energy. Caution: t’s not the most user-friendly site.
Energy Tax incentives for cars, homes and businesses can be found at the Tax Incentives Assistance Project.
Cash-back and other financial incentives for renewable energy in homes or businesses can be found at Focus On Energy.
Now go! Click! Get green!
Posted in 3 Rs, electronics, house stuff, in the office, issues, living green on a budget, websites & blogs
Tagged energy incentive programs
In tight times, local and state officials rightfully analyze the most important items in services provided to taxpayers and inevitably recycling gets pulled to the carpet. Lots of people question the cost and benefits of recycling versus simply trashing our waste.
Recycling IS expensive–there’s the cost of separate pick up, sorting, hauling, and processing. Putting all trash into a landfill does cost a bit less on the surface. But let’s take a closer look.
It costs money to create, maintain and truck trash to a landfill. It costs the environment to use landfills and people don’t like to put houses or businesses near them. Landfills smell bad, attract vermin, and can contaminate soil and water if they’re not monitored. According to Michael Shapiro, former director of the US EPA Office of Solid waste, recycling costs $50-150 a ton and trash disposal costs $70-200 a ton. Wired’s report of recycling in Nova Scotia further supports the argument that recycling saves money when compared to landfills. In many places, including Wisconsin, tipping fees for landfills are kept artificially low, making recycling seem more expensive on the surface–but when all the expense of landfills is added up as fairly as recycling programs are, recycling comes out as a less expensive option.
The other cost to calculate for producers of goods such as plastic and paper is making stuff using recycled materials vs. virgin materials. This article in Live Science explains how recycling plastic is less expensive than creating more because of the fluctuating price of petroleum and the easy accessability of used plastic. Is it cheaper to plant and cut down and replant forest of trees for cardboard and paper? Or does it cost less to reprocess paper and cardboard? It takes 3-4 times more energy to produce material than it does to reuse material. This said, the best thing we can do as consumers is to demand the use of recycled material in packaging and manufacturing. The best thing we can do for our long and short term econocmic health is recycle. The best thing we can do for our environment is recycle.
Bottom line: Keep recycling programs viable–they cost less and benefit us more.
The lowly potato–a useful crop indeed and since it caught on in the 1700′s, it has become 30% of Americans’ overall vegetable consumption. It’s a great source of carbohydrates, potassium (if you eat the skin) and vegetable protein. If you’re going to start eating organic, this is one of five foods that can make the biggest impact on your diet according to the New York Times. Potatoes are picky crop, prone to disease and pests–potatoes have the highest pesticide contents of most fruits and vegetables, even after being washed. Additionally, by eating one of the 3 available types of potatoes found at any local grocery store, you are missing out on some terrific food experiences. There are hundreds of varieties of potatoes from russets to all blue to fingerling to cranberry red. Each variety has its own unique taste and texture. Buying organic, heirloom potatoes is well worth the extra effort and money–especially since organic potatoes don’t cost that much more to produce than conventional potatoes.
Unfortunately, you’ll miss most of the health benefits of potatoes by removing their skin–and if you’re going to eat conventional potatoes, you’ll want to peel them to remove any pesticides. Another reason to go organic–what’s the point of eating the least beneficial part of a food and throwing away the best part?
If you’re going to grow your own, it’s worth the effort since potatoes can be planted in the early spring and their harvest season begins in July with baby potatoes and goes on through the fall. They have to be harvested before the ground freezes, but stored properly (at room temperature in a dark place) they’ll last a few weeks.
Enviro-Girl loves her potatoes smashed with sour cream and garlic with a dollop of butter. But for more ambitious cooks, here are some other recipies:
In a large Dutch oven or stockpot over low heat, melt butter. Stir in flour; stir until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened. Add potatoes and onions. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until soup begins to bubble. Reduce heat; simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; stir until cheese is melted. Serve baked potato soup immediately.
This baked potato soup recipe serves 6 to 8.
Easy Shepherds Pie
Synthetic materials in your pet’s bed can give them the same unhealthy toxins you find in your own materials. The usual red cedar lining often causes respiratory or allergic reactions, especially in smaller sizes of cats and dogs. Maybe your kids have allergies so you are trying to watch what kinds of allergens you bring into your home. Or maybe you just want to reduce the carbon footprint your pets are leaving. What’s an eco-conscious pet owner to do?
You can try a pet bed with organic cotton or hemp outside, and either organically-grown buckwheat hulls inside or those made from recycled pop bottles!
Eco-Lassie did some research on organic beds and found that most of the sites which feature organic mattresses, linens and bedding all carried lines of pet beds that follow the same construction. For those of you with allergies, Lifekind (www.lifekind.com) offers low VOC-emission standards on their products and is certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.
An eco site that carries a multitude of lines is Pristine Planet (www.pristineplanet.com). Some of their lines carry beds from recycled and reclaimed materials, while others are made from organic products. Some of their lines are: Urban Leash & Treat, Bean Products, Global Dog Natural Pet Products.
Another multi-site is Kushtush Organics Eco Sleep Shop (kushtush.com), which carries everything organic from bedding to baby bumpers, household supplies and fabrics.
If you prefer not to multi-task but want to shoot straight to just organic pet beds, check out Dog-spoiling-made-easy (www.dog-spoiling-made-easy.com). They have beds made from hemp, from organic cotto, with stuffings of buckwheat hulls and SmartFill, 100% recycled fiber. Their Eco Nap bed contains 100% recycled plastic that would otherwise remain in landfills for a very long time. I use this type for Murray and Radar, from a company called Paus I found on eBay, as their prices were a lot friendlier than others I’d seen.
Other good sites to check out include: greatgreenpet.com; belladogga.com; and puplife.com.
One caveat: As with everything organic, you will pay a premium, and some of these lines can get quite pricey depending on the size of your pet. Radar happens to be over a hundred pounds of Italian Spinone, so I’m always looking for extra-large sizes for him. Once you’ve done your research and settled on the type and size of bed you prefer for your pet, surf eBay as I did to see if you can get the same product at a savings.
Whatever you decide, here’s to bringing a bit of eco-friendliness to your pets!
Thanks to Google Images~
Valentine’s Day is next week and maybe, just maybe, you have some – ahem — plans for you and your True Love. Plans that don’t involve wearing a heavy sweater and jeans, if you know what we mean.
*wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
If you’re looking for something SPECIAL to wear on Valentine’s Day, here’s a list of places where you can find Eco Lingerie:
Have fun!
Photo courtesy of Viva Terra.
Posted in clothes
So you want to buy your True Love flowers for Valentine’s Day? Aren’t you sweet! How about being even sweeter and buying organic flowers?
Why?
The majority of cut flowers are grown in Latin America and equatorial Africa in an industry in which the employees (mostly women) work for low wages and without benefits. When the holidays roll around and flowers are in demand, the workers are required to labor overtime.
The flowers themselves are grown in greenhouses or under broad tents –- not to keep weather or insects out, but to keep pesticides in. Growers in other countries frequently use pesticides banned in the U.S. Heavy application of pesticides in confined areas has significant impacts on both the environment and workers. The chemicals get on workers’ clothes, in their skin and lungs, and are carried out of the greenhouses to their homes. Pesticides also contaminate the soil and seep into water supplies. Studies in Costa Rica have indicated that 50% of floriculture workers show symptoms of pesticide poisoning, and rates of miscarriage and birth defects are higher in areas surrounding flower farms.
Certified organic flowers are grown without the use of dangerous pesticides –- making a safer environment for floriculture workers, their families, and their homes. Fair Trade flowers are grown by workers who are paid a more reasonable salary than otherwise.
Where can you get organic and Fair Trade flowers?
Check with your local florist to see what they carry. Also, try your local organic grocery store. Whole Foods, for example, carries eco-friendly flowers.
If you are sending flowers to your True Love from afar, try one of these online florists:
Tell the Eco Women: What’s your favorite flower to receive for Valentine’s Day or another time?
Posted in eco holidays, gardening
With Valentine’s Day approaching, you’re probably thinking about what to get your True Love (or yourself.)
(Hey, the Eco Women have been known to buy their own dang gifts.)
Today, Recycla is here to talk about CHOCOLATE.
Chocolate is a big part of Valentine’s Day and for good reason. This product of the cocoa bean has been revered for centuries for its aphrodisiac qualities. Mmmm hmmmm. And isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is all about?
So don’t just go to Target and buy your True Love a heart-shaped box of generic candy — get something special.
But what’s good enough for your True Love?
Does your hometown have a local gourmet chocolate shop? Shop local! Recycla is lucky enough to have an amazing gourmet chocolate place in her town. They use the freshest ingredients and make their truffles by hand, one at a time
If you don’t have a gourmet chocolate shop in your town, search for organic and Fair Trade options.
Why?
Some of Recycla’s favorites:
Lake Champlain Chocolates — Recycla is on the record as being a huge fan of LCC. They use quality ingredients to create heavenly chocolates.
Vosges Chocolate — Recycla has only ever had the bacon bar, which she thinks is one of the best things EVER, but she has heard that all of Vosges chocolates are EXCELLENT.Talk to the Eco Women — what is YOUR favorite eco chocolate?
The Eco Women are not employed by the chocolate companies listed here (but boy do they wish they were!), nor were they paid to do this review.
Posted in eco holidays, food
