Spring cleaning time! Here are a few ideas.

• Glass cleaner. For an alternative to ammonia mix ½ cup cornstarch with 1 gallon warm water. Rinse with a spritz of white vinegar mixed with water and wipe again. Good for cleaning vinyl blinds too
• Wallpaper. Rub off marks with a slice of plain white bread. The bread acts like an eraser. Also works on painted walls and wool carpet.
• Woodwork. Clean with cloth dipped in cold black tea. Squeeze one lemon into one quart water and use as a rinse
• Floors. Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water with a few drops of baby oil. (The oil adds shine.) Wipe floor dry as you wash.
• Bathroom. Tub and sink — baking soda. Chrome — rub fixtures with a half lemon dipped in salt. Toilet – pour one can of cola into toilet bowl and let sit one hour to remove most stains. (You gotta love that one!)

If you are a homeowner it’s time to start thinking about yard and garden. Consider this: cutting-edge science links pesticide exposure to health problems, honey-bee-colony collapse, ground-water contamination, and other environmental issues. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to go organic. And you don’t have to wing it; there’s plenty of help on the web site of CT Northeast Farming Association. There is an Organic Landscapers “Homeowners Booklet” and everything you need to know to go organic. Or, if you prefer to hire a landscaper, you can also find a list of organically-trained lawn-care professionals on the site. Here’s the link: http://www.organiclandcare.net/ .

And a post-script from the Feb. Green Tip: If you are concerned – as you should be – about GMOs in our food supply, here is a helpful application for your iphone, blackberry, etc.: ShopNoGMO.com. It’s a free AP and will help you in making healthy choices.

Home-Made Dish­washer Detergent

Here’s a plan: Mix up a home-made dish­washer detergent that really works, does not pollute our water, and saves you money too!  The final cost is only half as much as commercial dishwasher deter­gent. Instead of the usual rinse agent, fill the rinse-agent compartment with white vinegar for a whop­ping 6650% savings! (not a misprint.)

Recipe:

• 1 cup borax
  
• 1cup washing soda
  
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup citric acid

Use one rounded tablespoon per load.

One of our members made this detergent and swears the dishes come out sparkling clean.  He also says that the citric acid causes the mixture to clump up a bit.  To solve this problem, keep and add it separately or mix it all up and leave it out for a couple of days and stir/break it up a couple of times per day, then store.  There are step-by-step instructions at the following website:  http://www.diynatural.com/simple-effective­jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse­agent/  The Citric Acid is available in bulk at the Wil­limantic Food Coop on their spice shelves.  It is also available at local breweries or online (Citric Acid.)

Heard about GMOs? That’s the acronym for “genetically modified organisms.” You may have heard about fish genes in tomatoes? Well it’s worse than that. Many foods that you eat on a daily basis have been forcibly altered with genetic material from other species including pesticides, bacteria, proteins, hormones, etc. What’s worse, we are the guinea pigs in this vast untested experiment.

Folks, this is pretty scary stuff. To learn how and why you and everyone should stop eating GMOs, check out this website: www.ResponsibleTechnology.org.

Unless it is Organic or says NO GMOs, any food containing corn, soy, cotton seed or canola oil, is probably made with GMOs. Many other foods are waiting in the wings to be released. We should have The Right to Know! but for now the FDA and Monsanto refuse to label GMO foods.

It’s time  for a consumer revolt!

Rate Before You Buy!

If you have a computer and, better yet, a “smart”-style phone with internet access, we have the ultimate green tip for you. This site is remarkable: www.goodguide.com. It will give you ratings on over 100,000 items from personal care to food to household, apparel, cars….you name it! It has a mobile application which, once you set it up, all you have to do is scan the bar code of the item you’re looking at and you will get an instant rating. It rates different categories for any product: health, environment, and social justice. You can “filter” the categories according to your own preferences. For example, if your main concern is animal rights, you will always receive the rating on that particular category first. The website has a “how it works”

If you have a computer and, better yet, a “smart”-style phone with internet access, we have the ultimate green tip for you. This site is remarkable:  www.goodguide.com. It will give you ratings on over 100,000 items from personal care to food to household, apparel, cars….you name it!  It has a mobile application which, once you set it up, all you have to do is scan the bar code of the item you’re looking at and you will get an instant rating. It rates different categories for any product:  health, environment, and social justice.  You can “filter” the categories according to your own preferences.  For example, if your main concern is animal rights, you will always receive the rating on that particular category first.  The website has a “how it works”

Recycled Card Program

Don’t despair over all those greeting cards accumulating in your desk.  St. Jude’s Ranch has a great Recycled Card Program.  Operated by Kid’s Corp., a program for the children at St. Jude’s Ranch to learn entrepreneurship skills, the children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive “green” holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of “going green.”  You can purchase “new” cards as well as donate your old ones. The cards are sold in packets of 10 for $10. There are different addresses for donations and purchases, so go to the website for all the details:  http://www.stjudesranch.org/shop/recycled-card-program/

Singing the BPA Blues

Bisphenol A (BPA,) an industrial chemical used in making many plastics, has become so prevalent in our world that we must do certain things to protect ourselves.  Why?  BPA is an “estrogen mimicker.”  Scientists are learning more all the time, but suffice to say it can predispose us to certain kinds of cancer, as well as other health problems.   What can you do?  Do your best to reduce plastic use, particularly as relates to food and drink.  Always opt for glass containers when possible and use a stainless steel water bottle.  Most important, never microwave food or drink in plastic containers, even if it says “microwave safe.” Plastic containers labeled #7 contain BPA.  Even the linings of metal food containers and drink cans contain it!  When you use plastic of any kind don’t put it in the dishwasher.  For more ideas check out www.lifewithoutplastic.com.

Here’s a tip from the “Healthy Child Healthy World” website: “My non-toxic trick is treating stains with hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar before they have time to set in. I let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub with an old toothbrush if it’s stubborn. When it’s time to send through the washer, I only run in cold water since hot water sets stains.” And, of course, by using cold water this wise person is also saving energy.

We have talked about common items that don’t belong in the recycling bin.  One of these is plastic bottle caps.  You are supposed to remove the caps, rinse the bottle, trash the cap, and recycle the bottle.  Why, you may ask?  Because those little caps fall through the cracks and jam up the machinery at the recycling plant.  So what happens to those thousands of bottles that are carelessly tossed into the recycling bin with the caps still attached?  Well, the plant engineers have developed a method of  popping off the caps — the bottle is still recycled, but the caps are trashed. There is one company that has decided to address this problem:  Aveda.  They make beauty products.  (If you go to Aveda.com and read “about Aveda,” you will see that they are a leader in the beauty industry for environmental initiatives — wind power, certified organic ingredients, responsible packaging to name a few.)  In partnership with community schools Aveda has built a recycling program for plastic bottle caps. They currently incorporate caps into their hair-care line and will continue to incorporate recycled caps into future Aveda products.  The schools program has reached capacity, but you can leave caps at the Aveda store at West Farms mall. More details at http://aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp where you can also find a “Cap Collection Guide.”

Enjoy summer’s bounty!

Eat local veggies.

Eat local fruits.

Eat less animal protein.

Eat more vegetable protein.