If we all made this commitment

Spent the day working in Moms' yard. Went to Mennards to get more composing dirt. As I started to load it in my car a man stopped and loaded it for me (9 bags). Said his Aunt had died in one of the tornadoes this past week. He wasn't there to help her. He has made a commitment to helping people. What a great world this would be if we followed his example.

Sandwich Bags

Every think about all of those sandwich bags that we use daily? There must be millions if not billions or zillions of them in the landfills. Like so many people, I would wash out the plastic bags and reuse them over and over but eventually they had to go into the recycling or the trash. One thing I have discovered (or really rediscoved) is the wax paper bags. I remember as a kid my Mother packing my school lunch in them. I would bring them back home and she would take a dishcloth and wash them out, rinse and hang them to dry to be reused later. (Look for Sarah's post on how to make a bag dryer next week.) The wax bags are the perfect size to slide that all natural peanut butter and jelly sandwich into. Like pickles on it? I would recommend putting anything that has liquid to it in a small dish with a lid (plus you can carry extra to snack on - a low calorie treat) on it as the wax bags do not seal. These wax bags ae non-toxic when burned, are landfill safe and do not contaminate ground water. They will eventually decompose where the plastic ones will be here when no one else is. You may be thinking why not just recycle the plastic bags? Plastic is made with oil and the wax paper bags are not. This is one step (although tiny by if just one person does it but if we all pitching and do it we can help limit our dependance on oil.

Look for these bags in the isle that has the sandwich bags in them. I orginally started buying them from the Three Rivers Food Co op but have recently seen them in a major chain store. If you store does not carry them ask them to.

(how to) Stop using paper towels

My turn! My turn! Hi! Sarah Grace here, posting my first green hint on our new blog. (i wuv it, sally!) We will endevour to have great hints on here a few times a week, to help you ease into being greener with seemingly no effort.
The secret to stop using paper towels is...the telephone book! Instead of dropping the telephone book in the recycle bin, place it close to where the paper towels are now. (counter, drawer, close shelf) and when you automatically go to grab a towel, stop a nano second and think...phone book page instead? You will be amazed by how you can virtually use a page or two from this rather than a disposable towel. I use pages for draining fried foods, window cleaning, wiping messy stuff like grease from pans, lining/padding for mailing , polishing stainless steel, the uses are limitless. And free. And green! Ok, Start this right now, and by next week, we'll have a tute on how to easily and hygenically reuse plastic bags of all sorts.
Btw, an average family with 2 to 3 packed lunches going out 5 times a week saves about $130.00 per year by cutting this household expense of paper towels, paper napkins, and plastic lunch bags. Smile at the next bird you see, it's springtime!!!!

Sharpening your scissors

Have dull scissors? If you save to foil like I do to reuse try cutting thru several strips if it to give you scissors a good sharpening.

Todays chores

Got part if the garden in yesterday. Am off to work this morning. Will be making soy votives for a wedding later today. This soy has botanicals added to it giving them the firmness it needs. This wax is taking the place of the palm wax that come from over harvested palm trees and where the rainforest is being torn down and palm trees being planted in its place. We lose much medicine, animals loose homes and the atmosphere is affected. Turns out only 3% of those palm tree plantations were following responsible harvesting and planting guidelines. Jeep this in mind the next time you buy a "natural" container candle, votive or pillar candle. Also know that a blended soy candle can have both soy and parrafon or other type of oil wax in it. This is done at the manufacturer. Seems like green is popping up everywhere. What green changes have you seen?

Making your kitchen knives handles look new again

Had a sharp kitchen knife wooden handle look dull or even crack from use and drying out? Try either coating the wood with a thin layer of mineral oil or like I do - have a tall jar (like the ones the olives come in)but not to big and put mineral oil in it. Place the wooden handle end down into the jar and let it soak from 2 to overnight to really get the oil in deep. Wash off the extra oil or I take my dust cloth and wipe off the extra and use it on my furniture. Be sure to wash the knife before use. I just keep the oil in that jar and tightly screw on the lid. It's all ready for the next time. I do this at least 2 times a year and I have the same knives since 1985 that will still come out looking new. This is also great to do if you find a bargain knife at a garage sale that has that dull look to it.

Gardening prep

Gardening season is here! Seems like a long Spring here in NE Indiana but it is finally dry and warm enough to play in the dirt. Today I'm adding compose that has been "seasoning" for the past year. All kinds of great veggie scraps, grass clippings and leaves. This type if compose is great to add in the spring but if you are using manure from your own (or like me and get it from friends) chickens, cows, etc work it in during the fall. It can heat up to much in the Spring or Summer sun and burn the roots of your plants. Store bought in the bag can be added in the spring. Container gardening is great for city dwellers or those that can't bend over have bad knees. You will be amazed at what all you can grow. My own mother does tomatoes, onions, green peppers. Two tomato plants keeps her more than supplied. She dries, freezes, and gives me extra to add to what I can. By doing this you can have great produce during those winter months. You know where it came from and the manner it was grown in. You will be eating healthier and saving money. That's what I call a winning combo.

Tomorrow is planting time for me. How are you doing your garden?