It used to be that buying “organic” or “green” products meant “expensive”. But no more. Many companies are finally creating products for the mass market that won’t bankrupt you. And to be even more economical, you can raid your pantry shelves to create your own products. Here are some great ideas to get you started!!
1) Shop local. It reduces the need for shipping, which reduces pollution. It supports your community. And in the case of fresh fruits and vegetables, it will save you money. To find a list of local shops, farms and services in your area, go to www.livingeconomies.org then click on “find a network”.
2) A child’s birthday party with no strange gifts, no mounds of unrecyclable wrapping paper AND helps a charitable cause?? It’s true!! Go to www.echoage.com . Parents send out evites, then guests make an online contribution of what they would normally spend on a gift. Half the money goes to a cause that the party’s hosts support, such as Second Harvest, and the other half goes to buying one special gift for the party child. The child still has a party and all the cake and ice cream he or she and friends can eat, AND have the special joy of sharing.
3)Don’t Dump..Recycle. www.frecycle.com can help get rid of your unwanted stuff. No money changes hands and your stuff won’t get added to a landfill. Also check out Really Really Free Market for lists of events all over the world where you can get new stuff or just get rid of your old stuff !!
4) Flower Food?? Grow your own blooms to cut, or buy locally at the Farmer’s Market. And to keep them looking great longer, you don’t need to buy Floralife or other commercial preparations. To one quart of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, the juice of one half lemon and just a few drops of bleach. The bleach has an added benefit….it prevents that nasty scum from forming on the sides of vases. For houseplants, keep the water you boiled your eggs in. The calcium in the shells leaches into the water and is a great booster for your plants. But if you don’t like boiled eggs, try putting 2 tablespoons of Epsum Salt into one gallon of water and feed plants once a month. Your plants will be bushier and flowering plants will bloom more often.
5) Pet Stains?? Spray Holy Cow all purpose cleaner on almost any surface to erase spots. This contains no strong chemicals and is “pet-safe” Go to www.holycowproducts.com
6) Pet Odors?? Place an Earth Care Odor Removal Bag near the offensive odors to absorb them, or sprinkle the non-toxic granules directly onto carpets, furniture …even on your pet to get rid of unpleasant odors. Available at Petco for about $10.00
7) Skin Saver. Olive Oil has been used as a moisturizer since ancient times and can still be used today to help a sunburn heal faster. Olive Oil also contains skin-nourishing fatty acids and antioxidants. You can find organic olive oil in a wide variety of moisturizers and body creams from LEPO, available at www.naturesownstore.com
8) Gentle Line Smoother. Rose Oil is an emollient and a potent source of antioxidant Vitamin C making it ideal as a wrinkle reducer. Topically applied, rose oil can also help people relax and lower their blood pressure. Find it in BOD Organic Moroccan Rose Oil, available at www.naturesownstore.com
9) Need an adhesive? Try UGlu, a double sided, non-toxic adhesive you cut to size to stick to almost anything. No messy spills, and the cap will never get stuck to the tube !! Go to www.ugluit.com for store locations
10) Feed your face. Raid your kitchen for some neat cleansers!! Mix a tablespoon of plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey for a cooling and soothing cleanser which is especially good for sensitive or irritted skin. An added benefit…the honey has antibacterial properties. For anti-aging effects, splash cooled brewed green tea onto face, then rinse. At bedtime, apply a thin layer of olive oil to face, then tissue it off. Olive oil hydrates skin and plumps it’s outer layers. For irritated or sunburned skin, soak a soft washcloth in cool buttermilk then rinse with cool water . Buttermilk calms and soothes the skin.
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