Aside from the smoke that can be breathed in if downwind, most of the harmful elements of fireworks are hidden at the molecular level.  As with most products that may cause environmental harm, we must look at what is it made from.  In this case, we must look at what makes up the fireworks and what makes them work.

Fireworks are basically a cardboard tube filled with specific powders and explosives.  Gun powder is ignited in the air, which causes the powders inside to explode into the pattern of colors that we see.  It is the compounds that produce those colors that mainly cause the environmental and health problems.

Strontium compounds create a red color in fireworks.  The elemental strontium occurs naturally in the environment and is not harmful in low concentrations.  But fireworks can add more strontium compounds to the air, water and soil.  This can increase its levels in the atmosphere and is more likely to combine with other compounds to form more toxic chemicals.  High levels of this element can cause bone development problems.

Copper compounds create the bluish colors in fireworks.  Copper is an important element for human health, but too much of it can cause problems.  Those exposed to too much copper can get “metal fever”, which has similar symptoms as the flu.  Long-term exposure can lead to liver and kidney damage.  Copper can be especially harmful to the environment.  The element does not break down easily and builds up in water and soils, which can be lethal for plants.  Soils with too much copper cannot be used for farmland.

Barium compounds, when burned, give rise to the greenish hues of fireworks.  Barium is one of the most toxic chemicals in firework.  It can pollute the air, soil and waterways.  When in the air, it can be inhaled and can cause breathing difficulties.  Some barium compounds are water soluble and can pollute water systems.  Aquatic organisms can ingest these toxins, causing bioaccumulation.  Studies have shown that high levels of barium can cause paralyses and even death.

Another harmful compound used in fireworks is perchlorates.  In order for the gunpowder to burn, it must have access to a compound that provides oxygen.  That is where perchlorates come in.  Perchlorates (usually potassium perchlorate or ammonium perchlorate) oxidize the gunpowder so it can burn.  But there is a major problem with perchlorates.  Studies have shown that perchlorates can hurt the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism.  This can be especially harmful to developing children and the unborn.  Though perchlorates probably aren’t absorbed that much at a fireworks show, many studies are showing that they can immediately affect the environment.  Some tests were done on nearby lakes right after a fireworks show.  Perchlorate levels were much higher than they were before, and persisted in the water for awhile.  This data confirms that perchlorates can affect the environment; could this then affect us?

Going to a firework event once a year will probably not cause any of these health effects.  But what about the people who live downwind of these displays?  Or the neighborhoods near Disney World, ballparks and sports stadiums that frequently show fireworks?  Have they experienced the negative effects of accumulated exposure?

So are there alternatives for the fireworks we currently use?  There will be, and manufacturers are working on more eco friendly fireworks that use recycled materials and other compounds that are do not harm humans or the environment.  As of now, these ‘green’ fireworks are not available to public and are currently too expensive.  But if demand increases, I’m sure pyrotechnicians will find a good and sustainable way to produce them.

So instead of fireworks for celebrating, how about a light show or the explosive paper party favors?  Better yet, take a trip up north and observe nature’s natural fireworks display; the aurora borealis.  However you celebrate, keep your planet in mind.

Next Topic:

Resources:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/02/eco-friendly-fireworks.html

http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/

www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/are-fireworks-bad-for-the-environment

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Nearly 60% of what we put on our face and body is absorbed into the skin, so shouldn’t we be concerned about what creams and makeup we use?

Anderson Cooper did a “Body Burden Test” for his documentary for CNN, Planet in Peril.  This test analyzed Cooper’s blood for traces of 250 industrial chemicals.  One chemical stood out in the analysis.  Anderson Cooper had unusually high levels of phthalates; a chemical found in a lot of the makeup he uses before going on television.  (Watch the video on YouTube: Chemicals in Body) Researchers speculate that high levels of phthalates can cause infertility problems in humans.  What other harmful toxins are in the cosmetics we use every day?

Parabens

Parabens of all types (methyl, ethyl, propyl…) are used to preserve makeup and creams by preventing microbe growth.  Many have allergic reactions and develop skin rashes from cosmetics that contain parabens.  On a more serious note, researchers think that some parabens can throw off hormones and can cause fertility problems and even breast cancer.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing agents are also used in many cosmetics such as eye makeup and nail polishes as a preservative.  It is dissolved in water, but can then be released after application.  Many people get skin irritations from formaldehyde, and if inhaled, it can be very harmful to mucous membranes in the nose. Many researchers also believe it is a neurotoxin and carcinogen.

Petroleum/Petroleum distillates

Petroleum is a byproduct of oil refining and has no nutrient value.   It is widely used in many lipsticks, perfumes, foundations and creams because it is very cheap.  It can dry out sensitive skin and is also a possible carcinogen.  The European Union has already banned the use of petroleum distillates in cosmetics because of the harmful effects.

Artificial colors

Artificial or synthetic colors are used to color the eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks and many other cosmetics.  Many of these colors are made from coal tar and most have been proven to be carcinogenic when applied to the skin.  Researchers highly suggest avoiding these at all costs.  (Look for FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and number, and AVOID)

Fragrances

Many lotions, creams and makeup contain a fragrance, which is often used to mask the real scent of the working ingredients.  This is nice, considering we want to smell good as well, but the ingredient “fragrance” is a broad term that can include up to 200 unknown chemicals.  Some of these ‘unknown’ chemicals can irritate skin, suppress the immune and endocrine systems, cause neurological problems or can cause certain types of cancer.

When we apply all these chemicals, not only do they affect us, but our environment.  We wash off these toxins, which then enter the water systems and cause more damage there.  What is a carcinogen to human can also cause cancer in other animals.  Scientists are concerned that phthalates coming from water pipes are changing the gender of fish.  Mercury build up can also affect marine life, which can then affect our seafood supply.  Of course the cosmetic manufacturers have a big carbon footprint, including the usage of a non renewable resource; oil.

What to look for when buying cosmetics:

Essential oils:

Instead of that mysterious ‘fragrance’ ingredient, choose a product that doesn’t include ‘fragrance’ in the ingredients.  A truly natural and safe fragrance is an essential oil, which will be listed separately if it is the only ingredient used for fragrance.

Paraben-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free

Even though a cosmetic says it is free from these toxins, do not take their claim at face-value.  Study the ingredients yourself and be educated about what you are looking for (and not looking for)

Simple is better!

The fewer ingredients there are, the simpler and safer the product is.

If in doubt, check the product hazard rating at EWG

Go to the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Skin Deep’ page and type in the product in question.  It will tell you the hazardous rating given to that product.  A rating of 0-2 means safe or low hazard, while ratings of a 7 or greater indicates a dangerous hazard level.  Go check out the rating given to your favorite cosmetic!  Did it pass?

Safe and natural brands of cosmetics

-Lavera

-Coastal Classic Creations

-Zosimos Botanicals

-Maia’s Mineral Galaxy

-Jane Iredale

-Miessence

-Rejuva Minerals

-Terra Firma

-Gourmet Body Treats

-RMS Beauty

-Earth’s Beauty

-Cosmic Tree Essentials

-100 Percent Pure

-Beauty with a Cause

-Gabriel

-Stella McCartney’s Care

-Josie Maran

Check out my cosmetic pages to search for great makeup with a low (0-2) EWG hazard rating!

Or search on Beauty.com for these brands:

search:

Next Topic: Eco friendly – fireworks?

Resources:

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/#

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm074162.htm

http://www.healthfoodemporium.com/index_dangerous-ingredients.php

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/27/HOGDTL8G1P22.DTL&ao=all

http://blog.nurturenatureproject.com/2009/03/09/top-8-safe-cosmetic-brands-in-the-us-2009/

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The amount of carbon and ‘smoke’ released into the air is miniscule, but it is the toxins that one should be worried about.  Cigarette smoke contains high levels of carbon monoxide, acrolein, acetone and nicotine.  The carcinogenic components of the smoke are cadmium, tar, arsenic, vinyl chloride and formaldehyde.  Polonium is also a dangerous ingredient that is radioactive.  Given the nearly 15 billion cigarettes that are smoked in a day worldwide, that is a lot of toxins released into the air.  Not only do these poisons hurt the smoker and the people around them, but also plants and animals as well.

Once the cigarette is smoked, some throw them away, but too many are tossed out the car window.  Not only are they unsightly in the streets and on beaches; there is a lot of them.  Cigarettes butts, though small, can make up 28-33% of all litter in the US.  Many think that cigarettes are biodegradable being that they are made from paper, and cannot harm the environment.  But this is far from the truth.  First of all the filters used in most cigarettes are made from plastic, which takes years and sometimes decades to degrade.  What about all those poisons mentioned above?  Yep, all of them leach into the environment.

When thrown on the ground, all those toxins in cigarettes leach into the soil and waterways, polluting our streams, rivers and soil.  Cadmium, arsenic, tar and cyanide are just some of the over 4,000 dangerous chemicals coming from cigarette butts that pollute our water and harm wildlife.  If thrown away, cigarettes often end up in landfills where these poisons leach into the ground.  If tossed onto the ground, many end up being washed into sewers and streams, where they wreak havoc.  A study done at San Diego State University tested the effects of just one cigarette in a litter of water filled with minnows.  Nearly half of the fish were dead within 4 days.  Because of the results of this study, researchers and scientists are urging that cigarettes be considered hazardous waste and be properly disposed of.

Most of the harm done by cigarettes is in their production.  Tobacco is a profitable crop to plant, and many farmers in third world countries are switching from a much needed food crop to tobacco plants.  It is estimated that 5% of deforestation in Africa is due to tobacco planting.  Once planted, a huge amount of pesticides and chemicals are needed to keep the tobacco plants healthy.  It is suggested that up to 16 applications of pesticides are used during the short growing season!  Of course, these poisons contaminate the ground and waterways, just like cigarettes do.

But it doesn’t stop there.  Once harvested, the leaves need to be cured and dried.  Worldwide, it is estimated that over 600 million trees are cut down annually for fuel for drying the tobacco leaves.  Tobacco is then sent to cigarette and cigar manufacturers, where more trees are utilized for the production of paper.  Nearly 6 kilometers of paper is produced each hour for wrapping the tobacco.  Bleach is used to whiten the paper, which is also harmful to the environment.  The cigarette and tobacco industry itself is responsible for releasing tons of toxins into the air, all for the making of a hazardous product.

If you don’t care enough about yourself to quit, consider how you are hurting the environment of the world that the rest of us live in.

Next Topic: Is makeup harmful for us and the environment?

Resources:

http://universe.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=71209

http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/smoking-environmental-and-social-impacts.html

http://www.helpwithsmoking.com/passive-smoking/contents-of-tobacco-smoke.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/us/29cigarettes.html

http://sdsu-dspace.calstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.10/599/Slaughter_Elli.pdf?sequence=1

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They look so pretty and natural, but the fresh cut flowers you get at your local florist could be blooming with environmental hazards and wasteful energy consumption.  Most cut flowers come from South America (about 70%), where there are few regulations on chemicals, growth hormones and pesticides used.  The flowers factories or “farms” need to produce big, healthy flowers fast, so they apply herbicides, pesticides and growth hormones to ensure a healthy, large flower in weeks.  Since regulations are lax in most of these third world countries, there are no laws pertaining to the dumping of all these chemicals, poisoning the local environment.   Excessive amounts of water are consumed, and long hours of artificial light are used to stimulate growth.

Not only that, but the flower farm laborers, mostly women, are exposed to toxic chemicals that cause respiratory and skin inflammation.  Premature births are also common in these workers.  They are not paid a fair wage, and are not given proper protection to shield against possible toxins.

A ton of energy is used to produce these flowers, but possibly more is used to transport them to the flower retailers.  Most are shipped via cargo planes in refrigerated compartments to keep them from wilting.  Flowers are kept in water buckets or each flower is placed in an individual plastic tube with water, which is of course thrown away when delivered.  The energy used to keep these flowers looking fresh and healthy when transported in enormous.

So the next time you are at a florist looking for the perfect bouquet, ask yourself; “Where did these flowers come from?” “How did they get here”?  You may want to opt for locally grown, seasonal flowers or faux flowers made from biodegradable materials (such as bamboo, organic cotton or even wood).  You could also buy her a potted plant that can be kept for a long time in the house, or replanted outside.

In season flowers in May:

-Rose                                                                    -Hyacinth

-Calla Lily                                                              -Lilac

-Delphinium                                                          -Orchid

-Gardenia                                                            -Pussy Willow

-Narcissus                                                           -Poppy

-Tulip                                                                     -Zinnia

But why stop at a small house plant?  Get her a tree!  If she loves trees and the rainforest, then purchase her a tropical tree to be planted in a deforested area of rainforest at Amazing Forest.  She can even visit it!  Check out the benefits of planting a rainforest tree at How to save the Amazon rainforest – buy a tree!

Of course, there are other great eco-friendly gifts you can give for Mother’s Day.  Sustainably made jewelry is a safe bet; what mom doesn’t like jewelry?  And jewelry made from recycled or natural materials will make both mother and Mother Nature happy.  Check out my eco friendly jewelry page and browse through necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings.

You can also pamper the women in your life by giving her lotions, body wash and other spa treatments that are made from natural and organic ingredients.  JustNaturalSkinCar.com has a great line of soaps, shampoos and creams that are not only natural, but work great!  Check them out!

Finally, there’s environmentally friendly make-up.  Make commercial make-ups contain a lot of toxins that some are allergic too, or can dry out the skin.  Why not have her put on something natural that will improve her look and her skin! Nature’s Basin has great line of mineral make-up, scrubs, lotions and a ton of other natural products. Go to Nature’s Basin: Natural Makeup, Skin care and more.

Next Topic: The effects of smoking on the environment

Resources:

http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=162&catId=3

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowers-and-seasons

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At a typical gold mine, extreme measures are used to find the valuable metal.  Mercury or cyanide is applied to the ore to make the gold dissolve into solution, but this chemical “leaching” can have detrimental effects on the surrounding environment.  In open pit mining, a large hole is dug to get to the gold ore.  Dynamite is also often used to find gold.  All of this displacement of earth effects the environment.  On average, 400 tons of rock is dug up – and only 4 ounces of gold is found in that rock.  Similar mining methods are used to find diamonds and other precious metals.

So how much energy is needed just to make a diamond ring?  How much environmental destruction will still have to happen to obtain more gold, silver and gemstones?

As stewards of the environment, we can choose to buy and wear eco friendly jewelry.  But what exactly makes a “green” piece of jewelry?

Ethically and Sustainably Mined

Most big industry mining businesses want only to obtain as much precious metals and stones and possible, leaving the local environment polluted and the local people angry.  Recent stories have made many aware of the ‘blood diamonds’ that are obtained by forcing slaves to mine for them.  But not all gemstones and metals are found this way.  Some companies focus on sustainable mining; mining that takes into account the health of the environment and the local people.  Dynamite and toxic chemicals are not used, and earth is displaced in a way that causes the least amount of disruption.  Slave labor is never used, and the mining operation benefits the local people.

Jewelry that uses recycled materials

Necklace pendant made from reused ceramic

More and more artisans are utilizing recycled glass bottles, plastics, wires and pretty much anything else you can think of.  Glass from colorful glass bottles can be turned into beads or melted down to produce a unique shape.  Plastics can be creatively combined to form a earring loop.  Even broken vintage pottery chards can be reshaped and polished to make a beautiful pendant.

Instead of purchasing brand new precious metal jewelry, check out the jewelry that has been made from recycled gold and silver.  Gold and silver

Leaf dipped in recycled silver

from old, unwanted jewelry, wiring or anything else made of the desired metal can be melted down and reformed into any shape.  Jewelry from recycled metals looks and is exactly the same as other jewelry, and if often less expensive.  Cash4Gold and Cash4Silver are businesses that collect old unwanted jewelry and silverware.

Buy Fair Trade Jewelry

Fair Trade jewelry is a great way to support artisans from around the world, and also know they are getting paid a fair ware for their work.  Fair trade items are usually made from local, sustainable and eco friendly materials.  To learn more about what makes something and Fair Trade item, read about Fair Trade Clothing.

Check out all sorts of eco friendly jewelry from necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings, at Apparel & Accessories Page – Jewelry.

Next Topic: Eco friendly Mother’s Day gifts

Resources:

http://www.overstock.com/guides/eco-friendly-jewelry-buying-guide

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Incandescent bulbs:

These are the ‘old’ kind of light bulbs that use a tungsten filament inside a glass bulb.  These bulbs use a  lot of energy (in wattage) compared to the compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lights that are replacing them.  They are breakable and they also produce a lot of heat as the electricity heats up the tungsten filament.  Up to 90% of the energy utilized is producing heat, not light, costing more in air conditioning costs in the summer.

Let’s say you use incandescent bulbs that use 60 watts of energy per hour.  If you home has 45 light bulbs and they are each left on for only 4 hours in the day (45 x 60 x 4), that’s 10,800 watt hours used each day, or 324 kWh hours used each month.  If you spend 0.10 cents for each kilowatt (1000 watts) hour you use, then that’s 32 dollars you pay each month for electricity – and that’s just the light bulbs!

So what are energy efficient light bulbs?  Lets first take a look at the CFL bulb.

CFL (Compact fluorescent lights) bulbs:

CFL light bulbs are those sturdy, twisty bulbs that also come in a variety of shapes and sizes suitable for their placement.  In CFL bulbs, light is created by a chemical reaction that makes phosphorous illuminate.  They do not heat up as much and are 75% more efficient than incandescent light bulbs.  You can get the same amount of light that a 100 watt incandescent can give, but for much less wattage, saving energy and money.  You can also get CFL light bulbs that have a warm glowing light like the incandescent bulbs do, instead of the bright bluish light that they are often associated with.  They are also more durable and do not break as easily as the thin glass bulbs.  They are a little more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but last up to ten times as long and require less energy, saving money in the long run.

Here is a chart showing the amount of wattage a CFL bulb needs compared to an incandescent of the same amount of light.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs should be used in areas where light is needed for a long time.  Their lifetime tends to decrease if turned on and off a lot, so avoid using them in closets or bathrooms where light is only needed for a short amount of time.  LED lights work best in these areas.

You can purchase a wide variety of CFL bulbs at Amazon.com – CFL Light Bulbs

LED (Light emitting diode) bulbs :

Originally used for lighting buttons and to provide direct light to a small area, LED technology has advanced to where LED lighting can be used to light an entire area.  They can also make them produce a warmer light, instead of the bright blue light.  In LED lights, light comes from electrons moving through a semiconductor material.  They do not heat up and are even more durable than CFL bulbs.  They can be used for directional lighting, such as recessed lighting, or for illuminating a room.  They are more efficient and last longer than CFL light bulbs.  They can be expensive, but costs are dropping as production get more efficient.  But with the energy savings, they pay for themselves.

Here is a comparison of wattages needed for each type of bulb that produces the same amount of light:

As you can see, LED lighting will provide the most energy savings in the home.  Lets look at the scenario again where we looked at the number of bulbs in a home (45), the time they were on (4 hours), and the wattages (60) for each bulb.  If you replaced each bulb with either a CFL or an LED light, it would result in a huge amount of savings on your electric bill!

You can purchase LED lights of all kinds at EarthTechProducts.com or at Amazon.com – LED light bulbs.

Next Topic: What is eco friendly jewelry?

Resources:

http://energystar.supportportal.com/ics/support/kbAnswer.asp?deptID=23018&task=knowledge&questionID=25171

http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm

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-Fresher foods – In the typical grocery store, most produce is harvested 4-7 days before it is finally placed on the shelves.  If you buy locally at farmers markets and other local co-ops, the produce is often picked that same day, giving you fresher, healthier and better tasting fruits and vegetables.

-Uses less energy –Food produced on large farms is often harvested by large farming equipment that requires fossil fuels and energy to run.  Food from small farms and local gardens are hand-picked, which requires only human energy.  The locally grown food also doesn’t travel far to get to a store.  It is often transported a few miles, sometimes it is simply walked over to a farmers market.  Other fresh foods from a mass merchandiser usually travel an average of 1500 miles before it lands in a grocery store.   Foods imported from other countries travel even further.  That’s a lot of fuel used by trucks, trains and planes.

-Saves our resources – If we buy food grown locally, we are saving the resources otherwise needed to transport food.  Excess fossil fuels, money and time are not needed to distribute it.

-No genetically modified foods –Massive farming operations typically use genetically modified seeds and animals to produce the maximum amount of food.  Crops are genetically altered to withstand pests, drought, diseases and to ripen at the same time.  Local farmers typically will not use genetically altered products because of the risks they may have to their customers. Scientists still aren’t sure about the effects that genetically modified foods can have on people.

-Supports local economy – If we buy locally grown food, we are supporting the local economy, instead of large scale farms miles away or in different countries.  Local markets typically do not have a middle man to increase the price, and the grower gets most of the income.  Foods from larger grocery stores go through distributers and wholesalers, and growers only get about 18 cents of every dollar spent.

-Reduces your ecological footprint – Buying foods from far away greatly increases our ecological footprint because of the energy needed to get the food to you.  Buying locally helps reduce our impact on the earth.

-Healthier for environment – Fertilizers and pesticides are heavily used on large scale farms.  These run off with rainwater and pollute our waterways and ground water.  The farming practices that small scale and local farmers use are very eco friendly.  They use organic fertilizers and natural pest deterrents, producing healthier crops and maintaining the health of the environment.

-Healthier for people – Locally grown meats and produce are healthier for people because they are fresher, filled with more nutrients, and are not genetically modified in any way.  No pesticides or insecticides are used on the produce, making it safer for human consumption.

So buy locally!  You can find local markets in your area at http://www.localharvest.org/

Next Topic: What are energy efficient light bulbs?

Resources:

http://www.localharvest.org/

http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/10-reasons-to-buy-food-locally/

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The soapberry comes from the Soapberry Tree (sapindus saponaria or Sapindus mukorossi).  Most of the soap nuts available on the market today come from the soapberry tree native to China and India, however there are also soapberry trees native to the southern United States and Hawaii.  The soap nut has been used for centuries by Native Americans, and is still utilized for many purposes in Asia today.

What makes the soap berry a great cleansing agent?

The shell of the soapberry fruit is very high in saponin, which acts as a surfactant that removes stains and grime from fabrics.  Commercial cleaners often contain synthetic surfactants that can be toxic and harmful to you and the environment, so a natural surfactant is a great alternative.

What can the soapberry be used for?

Not only is it a natural detergent, it can also be used for shampoo, dish soap, glass cleaner, or just as an all purpose cleaning agent.  The soap nut also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, so it is great for cleaning counter tops and floors.  Once the soap is extracted from the shell of the fruit, it is completely compostable.

Why use soapberries over commercial detergents?

-Soapberries are a natural and eco friendly alternative to synthetic and possibly toxic detergents and other cleaning agents

-Can use as a detergent and fabric softener at the same time

-Saves you a lot of money!

-Soapberries do not leave a residue on clothing like most detergents do, leaving clothing more soft and absorbent – great for laundering cloth diapers!

-Soapberries are great for dark clothing because they keep colors from fading

-Soapberries are completely organic and compostable – no more throwing away of bulky plastic bottles!

How to do your laundry with soapberries

You will need a few dried, deseeded soapberries.  If you buy your soap nuts, make sure you are getting deseeded ones; otherwise you will have to deseed them yourself.  You will also need a muslin or thin cotton bag that ties on top.  An old sock could also work for this.  Some retailers provide a bag with the soapberries.  (Eco Nuts does!)  Place 4-5 soap nuts (more if larger load, less if smaller load) in the bag, and tie shut so they do not escape into your laundry.  Make sure that the bag is not too full or to tight; the berries need to be able to move around freely.  Place the bag in the washing machine (front loading, top loading or HE type washers) and run as usual.  Soapberries work best in warm and hot water, but the saponin will also be extracted in cold water as well.  You don’t have to remove during the rinse cycle, but do remove the bag before putting clothes in the dryer.  You do not have to use fabric softener or dryer sheets because the soapberries also act as a natural softener.  Set bag aside, and let them dry out again for the next load.  You can reuse these berries for 4-7 more loads, until the berries are grey in color (this indicates that there is no more saponin in the shells).

You can buy soapberries at Eco Nuts – Large Sized Eco Nuts (360) Loads

How to make Soapberry liquid detergent

Place 12-15 soap nuts into six cups of water.  Bring this to a boil, then simmer for about an hour until all the saponin is extracted from the berries.  You will know when this has happened because the soap nuts will turn gray or light tan.  They will also lose their slippery feel.  If the berries still have saponin, you may want to squeeze them until all the soap is out.  Strain, and compost the soapberries.  This liquid will last about 3-4 days, a little longer if refrigerated.

You can also purchase your own soapberry liquid detergent at Eco Nuts – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent 10oz (60/120 Loads)

Tips for using soapberries

-Make sure your soapberries dry out between loads

-Soapberries work best in warm or hot water

-Compost your soap nuts when they turn grey

-Always store soap berries in an air-tight container – they are very absorbent and will get moist easily

-If the soap berries are not working as well as you had hoped, you may have hard water.  Read here about what to do)

Next Topic: Why buy local foods

Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5399904_use-clean-laundry-body-home.html

http://www.ecowalkthetalk.com/blog/?s=Soapberries&x=0&y=0

www.econutssoap.com

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First of all, what is vermicompost?

Vermicomposting is similar to regular composting, except that it uses worms to break down organic waste.  The worms digest the organic matter then expel “worm castings” or “worm manure”, which is rich in nutrients.  The nutrient level found in worm compost is often much higher in concentration than in garden compost.  It makes a great top dressing for gardens and potted plants, and can be mixed with potting soil.  It also makes a great seed starter, but it should be combined with other soils because it is too rich for the young seedlings.

Why vermicomposting instead of a regular compost pile?

Vermicomposting is great for apartments and those who live in the city with small yards.  Where there is no room for a large compost pile, composting with worms is the next best thing.  It doesn’t take up a lot of space.  A worm compost bin can be indoors or out.  It can easily be brought indoors during the winter, so you don’t have to go outside to get rid of your food waste.  Another advantage is that the soil doesn’t need to be turned regularly to provide oxygen; the worms do it for you!  And the resulting organic matter is even richer in nutrients than a regular compost pile.

The only disadvantage to vermiculture is that the worms can only work so fast.  You cannot put large amounts of food waste into the worm bin because they cannot eat it quickly enough.  It will start smelling and may attract flies and pests.  It is best to slowly add food scraps every few days.  If you have a lot of yard and food wastes, it would be best to begin a compost pile in the backyard.  (Read how to at How do you compost?).

 What kinds of worms are in a vermicompost?

You can purchase the brandling worm and red wigglers at Compost Mania.

Where should the worm compost bin be located?

Your worm compost can be indoors or out, but be sure that that temperature stays between 40-80ͦ F (Optimally between 55-77ͦ F).  You don’t want your worms to freeze or bake.  If it gets cold in the winter, you can bring your worms in the garage and place them by a hot water heater.  If your bin is outdoors, make sure it is not in direct sunlight or it will dry out quickly.  You also may want to put a lid on it to keep moisture in and animals and bugs out.

How do I set up the vermicompost bin?

You bin can be made out of wood or plastic, but wood is the best option because it can absorb some of the moisture.  If you use plastic, you may want to drill some drainage holes around the sides so the compost doesn’t get too soggy, and to aerate it.  Do not use metal, Styrofoam or any other container that has held chemicals or can leach toxins out into the compost.

The dimensions of the bin are also important.  Make sure that the bin is no deeper than 12 inches.  You don’t want food wastes to get packed down; this would result in anaerobic conditions and would kill the worms.  It would also begin to smell.  The width and length of the bin depends on how much food wastes you intend on putting in.  I’ve read that for each pound of waste there should be one square foot of surface area.

So, let’s begin the composting!  On the bottom of the container, place a layer of moistened  bedding material.   This can consist of dead leaves, shredded newspapers, scrap paper, saw dust or straw.  Anything that has a lot of cellulose and carbon (brown stuff) will work well as a bedding material.  It should not be soaked, but damp.  The worms will eat this as well as the food.  Fill your bin about ½-3/4 of the way full of this material.  Fluff it up a bit so the worms have air to breathe; this will also control any rotting smells.

Next, add the worms.  According to some studies, redworms can eat their weight in bedding and food wastes in 24 hours.  So it is estimated that it takes about two pounds of worms to digest one pound of food in one day.  So depending on how much you plan on composting, purchase the amount of worms you think you will need.  These worms will also breed and increase in number if conditions are right.

After you add the worms, they will quickly disappear into the bedding because they do not like light.  You can now add the food scraps.  Push back some of the bedding and bury the waste.  The worms prefer this and it will not smell or attract flies.  You can add similar organic wastes that you do for a compost pile; fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, yard clippings, corn stalks, tea bags, etc.  Don’t add dairy products or any meat.

Finally, you should cover the pile with a moist burlap or straw.  Worms like it dark, and this will facilitate their decomposing activities.

Harvest the compost and worms:

Once the bin is full, it is time separate the worms from the fresh compost and move them to another bin.  There are few ways to do this.  One fun way is to separate them all by hand but this can take a while; especially if you have two pounds of worms.

An easier way is to push the finished compost and worms to one side of the container, then add new bedding and food wastes to the other side.  The worms will gravitate to the other side where there is food, and you can remove the finished organic matter.

Another way is to build a sifter.  Make a wooden frame from 2 x 4s and place a 3/16 inch mesh inside.  Put some of the compost on top then sift the soil through, leaving the worms on top.

There are also some specialized types of vermicomposting  bins that make harvesting easy.  The continuous vertical flow design has bins or ‘trays’ stacked on top of each other.  Each tray has a chicken wire bottom so the worms can move from tray to tray.  The bottom tray is filled like the above description, but when it is full, it is not emptied.  Instead, another layer of bedding and food waste is added to the above tray.  So when the worms are finished feeding on the bottom bin, they migrate up through the chicken wire to feed on the new food.  When most of the worms are in the top tray, the bottom can be harvested.  For continuous vertical composting bins, check out worm composting bins at Compost Mania.

Another type of vermicompost bin is the continuous horizontal flow design.  This is similar to the  vertical flow trays, but the worms migrate horizontally instead of vertically.  Chicken wire separates a larger bin in half.  When one side is almost finished, fill the other side with bedding and food scraps.  Like before, the worms will migrate through the chicken wire to the other side, and you can harvest the finished compost.

I ran into this article at www.thedarkgreenerside.wordpress.com, and was impressed by what worm compost can do:

In the above picture, the plants to the left had no worm compost added, the plants in the middle had 11% worm composting added, and the plants to the right had 21% worm composted added.  You can see the results!

Next Topic: The soapberry as a natural detergent

Resources:

Dickerson, G. (2004), “Vermicomposting”.  Cooperative Extension Services, Collage of Agriculture and Home Economics. http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/h-164.pdf

Dunn, C. (2007), “Vermicomposting and Vermiculture: Worms, Bins and How To Get Started” http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/vermicomposting-and-vermiculture-worms-bins-and-how-to-get-started.html

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Laundry detergent:

-1 ounce liquid Castile soap

-1 cup washing soda

-1 cup baking soda

-1 cup white vinegar

Add each of the above ingredients in the given order into washer, then run as usual.

If you are washing darker colors, adding ¼ cup of salt to the wash will help restore faded colors.

(Do not add bleach to any vinegar solution as it produces toxic fumes)

Fabric Softener:

Recipe 1:

Mix together 4 cup of water, 2 cups of baking soda and 2 cups of white vinegar.  For each laundry load, use ¼ cup of this solution in the rinse cycle .

Recipe 2:

Add 20 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 gallon on white vinegar.  Shake this solution well before each use.  For larger loads, use about 1 cup in the rinse cycle.  For smaller loads, ½ cup.

Dryer Sheets:

For dryer sheets, you need to cut out several swatches of cotton cloth, about 4×4 inches.  Old clothing, sheets or rags work great for this.  For each of the recipes below, you will use these scraps of cloth as the ‘dryer sheet’, and can re-use them as often as you like.  Be sure to store them in an air-tight container so the scent does not disperse.

A dropper bottle for each recipe is also recommended.

Recipe 1:

Combine ½ part lavender essential oil and ½ part benzoic essential oil (also called absolute resin) into a dropper bottle.  Shake well and LABEL the bottle!  Place 4-5 drops of this oil onto a cotton scrap you cut out.  Then place in dryer like a normal dryer sheet.

You can  make several dryer sheets this way, then store in air-tight container for future use.

Recipe 2:

Place 12 drops of lavender essential oil and 15 drops of spearmint on a cloth.  Fold several times, then wrap the folded cloth with another clean cloth.  Place in dryer.

If you don’t have the time to make your own natural laundry soaps, check out some commercially made eco friendly detergents at What is in laundry detergent (and the natural kinds of laundry soaps).

For green cleaning around the house, check out my Environmentally friendly cleaners post.

Next Topic: How to vermicompost

Resources:

“The Green Clean Book” (2009-2012).

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