Handout

Daniel's class came to our house the other day.  I wanted to show them our composter, the push mower, the clothesline (which allowed us to talk about where electricity comes from, peak oil, energy conservation), how I make my own laundry detergent, etc.  We also made ice cream and I made fresh bread to share.  The kids also got various samplers from the garden - spinach, lettuce and rhubarb as well as some old sunflower seeds from an old sunflower head.  They had no idea what a sunflower looked like when it was old and dried - one thought maybe it was an armadillo.

And we read a great book called "One Small Place in a Tree".  Actually, I found a great website with all sorts of environmental books for children:  http://www.childsake.com/

The kids were great.  They asked good questions, behaved very well, and gave me a group hug after we were all done.

They also asked for a handout with websites and the recipes for the ice cream and the laundry detergent.  So I thought I'd share it with you:

Solid (no bottle) shampoo bars:
http://www.lush.ca/shop.english (Canadian)
http://www.basin.com/ (American)

The Environmental Toothbrush:
http://environmentaltoothbrush.com.au/
Glass Dharma (glass straws)
http://www.glassdharma.com

Planet Box stainless steel lunch boxes for kids
http://www.planetbox.com/
If you’re looking for advice on reducing your plastic consumption, please visit: 
http://www.myplasticfreelife.com/


Ice Cream Recipe (Philadelphia style)

2 cups whipping cream
1 cup milk
1/3 to ½ cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
dash salt

combine ingredients and freeze as per ice cream maker instructions – yes, unfortunately, you need an ice cream maker.

Laundry Soap Recipe

1 bar Sunlight soap – grated on the small side of your grater
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Combine all ingredients well.  Use about ¼ cup per load – pre-dissolve in hot water.  Use less of the soap if you find deposits on your clothes. 

Remember, the dryer is the appliance that draws the most electricity (and therefore costs the most).  In the summer, a clothesline is a great option … and your clothes will smell great.



*If any of you are interested, I put quite a bit of environmental stuff on my blog at:

Well, you're here, so you know my blog address.

That was it.  I plan on adding to the handout and providing it at other events I am involved in.  Why not share the information.  If you'd like to borrow the list, feel free - but add my blog address back to the bottom, please.

Have a great day.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Titanic Connections

Image
100 years ago today, my Great-Grandmother, Nellie Steele, must have been grieving the fact that she had missed the most exciting trip of her life.  Her fiance, my Great-Grandfather, Jack McCurrach, had travelled to Canada 1 1/2 years earlier and was awaiting her arrival so they could marry.  But her sister was very ill and expecting a baby, and as it turned out she died about a month after the baby was born.  My Great-Grandmother stayed behind to support her sister and then take care of the baby girl until she could be adopted out.  The original plan was to take the Titanic to Canada.  Families on both sides of the Atlantic remember the story.  The disappointment that she felt in being delayed in her trip and missing the most celebrated sailing of any ship in history must have been devestating.  And the relief felt when she found out about the sinking of the ship must have knocked the wind out of her.  Talk about feeling somehow blessed - she must have been thanking God.  She end
Read more

Flea Beetles! ... and leaf miners.

Image
When I went out to the garden this morning, I found little holes in several tomato plant leaves.  "Argh", I thought.  "Flea Beetles!"  I hadn't heard about flea beetles until last year when our friend, Justin, lost all his tomato plants to the darned little things.  His plants were seedlings at the time, and apparently that is when they are most vulnerable.  He told me that you could trap the beetles with sticky yellow traps - and that was the extent of what I knew.  Flea beetles are about the size of a flea, and have long back legs and jump (just like a flea).  I hate fleas.  And I suspect that I'm going to learn to hate flea beetles, too.  So I went online quickly this morning before going to work.  Yes, flea beetles are fairly common and attack tomatoes, potatoes, and some of the cruciferous plants.  I'll let you know if they get into my leafy veggies - apparently they like them, too.  Sticky traps might help, so might Rotenone powder - which I am
Read more

Recipes from the summer of '35

Image
With the economy going the way it is, I thought looking back at some Depression Era recipes might help people save some money and maybe think about eating in a different way. It may also cause a laugh or two - which we can all use. So here are some examples from The Daily Province in Vancouver, British Columbia, printed 25 July. The weekly menu was suggested here: Just looking at the menu shows us how different things are now. This was meant for a housekeeper (whether a domestic goddess or hired staff). Here is one of the main dish recipes (Monday Supper) that we all might have the ingredients for: Scalloped Tuna Fish and Potatoes. 
Read more