How To Make Yarn From Plastic Bags

Here’s a brilliant solution for reusing plastic bags and making yourself a great shopping carry bag made of recycled materials.

This article shows how to make yarn from plastic bags. You can then crochet or knit yourself a bag to carry your shopping, thus reducing the number of plastic bags you consume. It’s a brilliant solution. Thanks to Birds Before The Storm!

Update: Here’s a photo of the finished bag made from bags.

The Importance of Gardening In The Global Warming Era

You have heard about global warming. You have heard the debates about buying local and buying organic and you have probably tried not to give it too much thought. The truth is that every solution that is provided to you seems to be flawed one way or another: organic is expensive, local is expensive and sometimes neither is very fresh when a new shipment of apples just arrived from Chile. So what is a concerned citizen of the world to do when faced with such a dilemma? Plant your own garden of course! It may seem to be a bit of an overreaction to the threat of global warming, but the fact is that it is the simplest and most direct way to make an impact. Read more..

The Organic Difference, Part 5

Local and seasonal

Although not actually written into the legal standards that govern organic food, the majority of organic growers support local food initiatives, which encourage consumers to buy their food locally and seasonally. The organic community supports local food initiatives such as farmers markets, where farmers sell their own produce usually in monthly gatherings held in local towns and cities; box schemes, whereby mostly organic fruit and vegetables that have just been harvested are delivered to your door for a fixed fee; and small independent stores such as healthfood stores or organic fruit and vegetable stores. Read more..

Fences, Walls and Hedges – Tips

As with all planting in your garden, keep it local – there are locally distinctive hedgerow types so find out which ones predominate in your area before deciding which to grow.

Consider which hedges attract the most wildlife – oak, blackthorn (sloe) and hawthorn, for example – and help further by planting wildflowers and grasses at the foot of the hedge. Read more..

The Organic Difference, Part 4

Biodiversity

Encouraging natural biodiversity is an inherent aim of organic farming, not only in the greater environment in which the farm exists, but also in terms of the kind of crops and livestock that are being farmed. Organic farmers often grow unusual varieties of fruits and vegetables that are fast disappearing from our countryside, and they are also more likely to rear traditional breeds of livestock, since these will be best suited to the local conditions. Read more..

Pet shampoo ingredient linked to autism

Not just used in dog shampoos but a lot of products where it’s touted as a “safe, non-toxic, natural” insecticide. It is natural, it comes from Chrysanthemums… but then the highly poisonous Fly Agaric mushroom is natural too. It just shows that we can’t let ourselves be fooled into thinking that natural = safe.

Pet shampoo ingredient linked to autism

The cause of autism spectrum disorder is one big mystery. Lots of people have ideas as to what might cause it, but nothing is certain. That makes treating the disorder more difficult, and preventing it impossible. Many scientists agree that ASD is likely caused by a complex combination of genetics and environmental exposures.New research demonstrates that one possible environmental factor is insecticides. In one study, mothers of children with ASD were twice as likely to have used pet shampoos containing pyrethrins, a class of insecticides commonly included in mainstream pet grooming products to kill fleas and ticks. Another study suggests that exposure during pregnancy to orgranophosphate insecticides, which have a plethora of common household and agricultural uses, may double the risk of ASD and other developmental disorders.

Enviroblog: Pet shampoo ingredient linked to autism

How the World is Solving the Hole in the Ozone Layer Problem

In the early 1970′s, a pair of scientists working at the University of California, Irvine, theorized that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) could be responsible for depleting large numbers of ozone molecules in our atmosphere. The implication of this theory was that the destruction of the protective ozone layer would allow the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays to penetrate in such concentration as to cause tremendous damage to life on earth. Read more..

Greener Candles: Scented Soy Pillar Candles vs Paraffin Candles

I just came across this bit of information that those of you into candles might be interested in. So many toxins in common things that have been around for ages. You can’t assume anything is safe just because it’s been around for a long time. I was really into candle making as a kid, and I’ve been wanting to get back into it, but paraffin is expensive and hard to come by in New Zealand where I live. I’ve been noticing a lot of beautifully made candles in health food shops – made from Palm Oil, so this article about a paraffin alternative caught my eye. I recommend reading the whole article, it’s quite interesting.

“Studies comparing the smoke and fumes produced by burning scented soy pillar candles versus candles made with paraffin wax show that scented soy pillar candles emit little or no soot while paraffin candles produce a considerable amount. Paraffin candles have also been shown to give off harmful fumes like acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. These toxins are almost non-existent in the natural scented soy pillar candles, making them the healthier alternative.”

Scented Soy Pillar Candles

World Ocean Day – June 8

World Ocean Day is June 8th. It’s not yet officially recognized by the United Nations, so please consider signing the petition through the link below. Read more..

30 baking soda tips

Baking soda – 30 handy tips

My original article on baking soda being an earth friendly household chemical replacement was mainly about what the substance is and how it’s made. I also briefly touched on a few useful tips in how the substance can be used, but in this article, I’ve jotted down a stack of baking soda tips – some of these I’ve tried myself, others I’m yet to give a whirl. Read more..

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