Eco-Lassie loves to find new uses for household items, and when she was cleaning out a closet recently, she came across a can of hair spray. Now the last time Eco Lassie used hair spray was for her a wedding in 2005–when an updo needed to be tamed. But here was a perfectly good, almost full can of hair spray. Surely there had to be more uses for it.
Posted in house stuff, Uncategorized
Tagged gum, hair spray, pantyhose, shoe shine, stains
Today is Good Friday, or Black Friday, as it’s known in some countries, a holy day in the Christian world commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Eco Lassie loves the diversity of the traditions of differing cultures, and thought it would be interesting to see how this day is observed across the world.
Posted in Uncategorized
Sometimes Eco Lassie only has to look inside her pantry or cabinets to find home remedies that really work. All of these she’s going to mention have scientific proof behind them that they work — trust her, she’s a nurse!
Eco Lassie sees you’ve been scratching your head to find something neat for those last few people on your list. She’s searched for these unusual gifts for you:
Posted in eco holidays, food, gardening
One of Eco Lassie’s favorite parts of holiday decorating is putting those stockings across the mantel and then filling them up! It’s a good kind of challenge to find those smaller eco-friendly gifts to tuck into toes or stick out of the tops.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, as anyone who has looked at the covers of the magazines on line at the grocery will tell you. There must be a dozen new ways to prepare string bean casserole, not to mention that center of attention: the turkey. Can’t you smell that delicious roasting bird?
Posted in eco pets
EcoLassie knows that most offices are pretty savvy these days in terms of recycling paper and other products they use on a daily basis. Many also encourage the practice of not printing out emails or other documents that can be read on your screen.
But there are always nifty ways to turn that eco-style up a notch. Here are a few you may not have thought of to put into practice in your workplace:
If your office has a vending machine, make sure it uses recyclable products. But a far better option is to ditch those machines altogether and allow workers to make their own beverages. You will be surprised at how much you cut down on recyclables by ringing in your own mug, too. And toss in a few volunteers from your cabinet lurking at the back that no one uses at home anymore for visitors. Even Starbucks gives a cup discount for customers who bring in their own mug!
Start a carpool at your office for co-workers who live within range of reach other. Better yet, ask your employer to provide a bicycle rack outside so those who live within cycling distance can take advantage of saving money, gas, and emissions while they get their daily exercise.
Try soy-based inks if you use a commercial printer. Besides being better for the environment, soy-based inks support US crop growers The good news is they produce shaper colors, too, without the same level of emitted toxins from petroleum inks. These also allow for better recycling as their ink is removed easier.
Finally, turn off the machines you can when you leave for the night. Activate the sleep mode for things like printers and copiers. Some fax machines have a sleep mode, too. Use power strips for ease in turning machines and things like your desk cell phone charger off when you go home. Just hit the “off” button on the power strip and you’re set.
It’s easy to conserve, recycle and save when you take stock of your environment.
Posted in electronics, fast facts, green around the world, in the office
Just in time for the new school year, here’s an overview of some of the best eco backpacks for the students in your house. They are available at quoted prices from www.ebags.com for easier shopping and comparison.
Peace Frogs has been around for 25 years so, spreading their state of mind: Positively Peaceful Thinking. To that end, a percentage of their sales goes toward funding research into causes of the declining amphibian population around the world. They consider themselves not activists but definitely environmentalists. Their Day Trippin’ Backpack is constructed of recycled PET and comes in five designs, including a gray/white plaid and a neat purple frog design. With its large book space and smaller outside zippered compartment, this looks like a winner for $24.
Mountainsmith offers its Wazee 20 Recycled Backpack with a laptop compartment, which many older students require. Also recycled PET fabric, this one has a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects. The dark grey body, great for hiding dirt, has a front ‘vest’ accent in green or sangria red. $32. 
You can get a smaller and more colorful one in the Clear Creek model with a slightly larger capacity for $40, and the biggest Red Rock is $55. Just how many books does your child carry? Reviewers said these packs were comfortable and roomy for a great price in recycled, material with compartments that are easily accessible, all good features.
For smaller tykes, Instinctive Bags carried its Trunk Pack in an adorable panda pattern in several colors for just $20. Made of recycled Polyester with a non-toxic backing, this bag has a lifetime guarantee and for a medium-sized bag, will hold a change of clothes along with that sippy cup. 
Their larger Inhabitant Pack has the same features for $48 and is available in a variety of colors.
Ecogear has global warming on their minds. Their bags are produced in a manner that tremendously reduces the amount of toxins put into the atmosphere while helping to reduce the amount of waste in our landfills. Made with planet-friendly organic cotton, PVC-free materials, and toxic-free dyes. Their larger Snow Leopard has a large capacity in three colors for $64. There are outer zippers and stretch pockets for smaller items.
Their smaller Ocean backpack comes in a gal-pleasing hot pink for $24, and their Panda Eco-Pack looks more like a purse, in three hot color choices, for $20. There’s a boy-friendly bright blue, a lime green, and this girlie pink.
Finally we come to Lands’ End and their Eco-friendly Lunch Pack and Backpack, big hits last year, made from 100% recycled fabric. Disappointingly, these are NOT available this year. The Customer Service representative I spoke with had no idea why they’d been pulled from their lineup. We both wondered why such a great idea had been taken off their product line. She was kind enough to ask her supervisor who had no reason, either. So if you have one, hold onto it. It may become a collector’s item.
No one from this site has received any consideration for reviewing these products.
Posted in eco kids, living green on a budget, school
Eco Lassie has been following the garden exploits of the rest of you with great interest. We’ve done a bang up garden this year, with sixteen raised beds, a first, that is giving us a huge bounty. That led to remembering the time we had keeping our pets out of ours in previous years.
There’s no question we love our pets and also no question that even the cutest of cats and dogs can trample, dig, crush, tear and leave their little presents in our nice rows of fresh veggies and flowers. What to do that doesn’t mean using the very kind of commercial repellent we’ve been trying to avoid?
Try soaking cotton balls in citrus (or mint or menthol) essential oils and place around the garden perimeter. Many pets are repelled by these scents. You may have to change the balls weekly or after a heavy rain until your pet figures out the garden is a no-go area.
Use rose prunings, if you have them, around the base of larger established plants. Paws, especially those sensitive cat pads, will not relish these thorny clippings and quickly find a new pathway.
The visual image of a barrier works wonders for cats and dogs. Try using floating row covers, which some of you may already by using to prevent insects and birds from feasting on those tasty shoots of budding plants and flowers. Planet Natural has the most reasonable I could find, and there are many other sites that sell the garden material on rolls. You can water and fertilize right through this light, breathable barrier without removing it.
Of course, there ARE some benefits to having our pets near our gardens. Cats will reduce the amount of mice, voles and moles if they are in your area; dogs scent and barking will keep deer and groundhogs at bay, or at the very least, in your neighbor’s yard!
Happy Gardening~
Eco Lassie has two dogs who, despite daily river swims, enjoy forays into a muddy marsh. Have you ever had the delightful aroma of marsh mud permeate your home? This is when they get a bath, from a gentle hosing down, to a full-onslaught lathering up in the outdoor shower.
What really is the best way to naturally bathe your pets on those occasions when they just absolutely need one?
The biggest concern in what kind of soap to use for your pets. There is a world of difference between human shampoos, regular pet shampoos and natural pet shampoos.
Human shampoos are too acidic for pets. Human skin pH (the measure of acidity versus alkalinity) ranges 5.2 to 6.2. But dogs skin pH is in the range of 5.5 to 7.5. A pH of 7 is your best choice, and if your pet shampoo label doesn’t specify pH, look for the phrase “pH balanced.” These will rinse well and not build up, and will also not strip the coat and skin of its natural oils.
Now on to the differences between regular pet shampoos and natural ones. While regular ones are often inexpensive, they are chemically based and often too harsh for your pet, producing difficult-to-rinse high lather. Pet shampoos don’t need a lush lather to work. Their strong fragrance can also upset your pet’s sense of smell.
To choose the best natural pet shampoo, read the ingredients list. You are looking for organic herbs, antioxidants, and moisturizers that will be in such things as aloe, coconut, sage, eucalyptus, wheat protein, amino acids and vitamin E. Jojoba oil provides deep cleaning, while comfrey extract acts as a conditioner to give your pet’s coat a silky feel. Cedar wood repels insects and is a great natural deodorant and coat conditioner. Other naturals that give your pet’s coat a great scent and keep insects away are lavender, citurs and chamomile. Aloe vera and oatmeal relieve the dry, itchy skin that many breeds with white coats are susceptible to, while other natural skin moisturizers are honey and tree tree oil.
Cat owners should read labels, too. Cats are more sensitive to some of the herbs and essential oils in pet shampoos, so be sure to read the label to see if it’s safe for your kitty, or choose one specifically designed for cats.
The How-to’s of bathing your pet don’t vary with the shampoo. I do my Spinone in our outdoor shower because of his size, but most dogs can be bathed in your tub, a special pet tub, or depending on their size, your kitchen sink.
Brush your pet first to dislodge dead hair, and if bathing in a sink or tub, line the bottom with a bath towel or rubber mat to prevent slipping. Some groomers recommend using cotton balls in the animal’s ears to prevent water seepage. Wet your pet thoroughly with warm water and apply a small amount of shampoo to the top of his cute head, then along his body and sides. Gently massage the shampoo and don’t worry if there is not a huge buildup of lather. Begin to rinse at the head and down the body until the water runs clear. Don’t forget his tail!
Towel dry your dog, while still in the bath if you can. Either allow to air dry, or use a pet hair dryer–human dryers get too hot. After complete drying, brush your pet and detangle any mats.
The upshot: You’ll notice your pet smells sweeter, flakes will be gone, and your pet’s coat will be silkier and fuller. The cucumbers are optional!
Posted in Uncategorized
