Solar Power See Solar Green Energy

Green Planet Tees, offers this eco friendly shirt for $17.99

Switching to Solar Power

Solar energy provides a renewable source of energy and was first "discovered" or "invented" by Frank Shuman in 1897.  Today, many advancements make it not only affordable to have solar energy powering your home, or business.  Once debuted at a costly initial investment alternative to monopolized energy companies,  it is now easy and affordable to make the switch to solar.

Old Solar Panels make this table interesting at Heritage Wood Company.

Living "off the grid" is making solar panels more popular than ever, so is easy financing plans where it is affordable that you can convert or add solar power to your life at a fraction of the cost.  A big problem is misunderstanding or being overwhelmed with where to start, and most people just don't know what company to select.

According to See.Solar , people switch to solar power every three minutes. Solar City has made it possible to figure out plans in your state and area to help you make the switch easy! What a great way to live green. Watch this video to see what you need to do for solar power.

Video: http://www.see.solar/news/2015/08/06/video-switch-to-solar/

Rainbow Satellite w Solar Panels :  Kelly Newcomer, artist

Eco Friendly Vegan Dog and Cat Products

Delta talks about her products, note the pet bed (below) made from recycled soda bottles!

Living life by going greener, wanting to be "eco friendly" doesn't have to just be for the humans in your household. What about your furry friends?  Eco Dogs And Cats, a pet website run by Delta Farrington, who has been a true vegan for over 27 years decided to launch her own business offering products she would use.  None of the products are made in China. She was featured on this Youtube video (above) talking a about the various items she offers that are eco friendly for dogs and cats. 

This pet bed uses recycled soda bottles for the (inside) stuffing.  The outside is organic cotton. See it here.

Vegan cat and dog food kibbles available here.

One thing a pet owner can rest assured knowing is none of the products come from China.   The Ami pet food, which is a kibble vegan dog or cat food free of GMO's or slaughterhouse biproducts is made in Italy and for the first time available in the USA ! You'll find dog toys are made from Hemp and unlike mass produced unsafe products you'll know what your friends are chewing on.   

Organically grown cat nip is free of toxic chemicals, sprays, so your furry feline is safe from unpleasant chemical effects. Packaged in these pretty tins.

Delta says, I practice what I preach. My cat Simba has been a vegan since we adopted her and my dog Hannah for 10 years. Our household, including our three animal companions, eat natural and organic, humane and cruelty free, vegan foods."

Go there now--> EcoDogsandCats.com

Editors note: Although the article is our own and we've chosen our favorite items from Eco Dogs and Cats, this is a sponsored post. 

Green Bug Killer Insecticide Natural Epazote

When killing bugs, are you killing the good ones and the bad ones?  Pic: FatDragonfly 

Kill Bugs Naturally

In our previous post we talked about green alternatives to household cleaning agents. Right in line with living green and finding eco friendly solutions to chemicals in our lives; today we've decided to talk about bug killer and harmful insecticides.

Spring is here and soon the flies and bugs will be rampid.  There are many problems with store bought insecticides and too many to list--from the albeit known facts they contain harmful poisons to your family, your pets and your body. Have you ever considered that by using them, they are not only killing the bad bugs, but the good ones too?

To maintain a friendly eco system some "good bugs" are needed. Spraying tons of store bought chemicals on your lawn, garden, plants, or in your house is messing with the greater good. Not only are you wiping out the bad insects but possibly harming the good ones.  The good news is now you don't have to be in a catch 22 anymore.

The Epazote herb helps kill bad bugs , but you can grow your own, Pic: Fair Dinkum Seeds.

Fair Dinkum Seeds has exposed the secrets of the Dried Epazote Herb.  They say, "It's a dried herb that has a natural chemical component that is toxic.  This toxic chemical kills insects and is much safer than standard insecticides. "

The catch here is that it is not harmful to some bugs if used properly. Thereby, you can leave the bees buzzing while killing off the pests that aren't needed.

Now you may know already that many herbs and plants work naturally to deter pests or insects, and Epazote works as good as Confidor, but if used per Fair Dukum Seed's instructions, it does not harm bees at all!   This is one issue with using other insecticides --- it kills the good bugs and bad.

Grow Your Own vs Buying Epazote Plant Already Grown

What's better than buying a plant and making your own insecticide?  Perhaps starting from scratch. Plant your own seeds, watch them grow and then make into the finished product.

Fair Dunkum says, " I also sell the seeds here and am hoping folks start to dump the conventional poisons and start to use natural alternatives instead. They are just as effective, and there is a subtle explanation about only killing insects in necessary. Most insects are good, so generally it is best to leave them alone, but if you really must, then this is a lesser evil than the rest."

Find out more here: Fair Dinkum Seeds Epazote Page.
How to Make Your Own here:

Thank you to Fair Dinkum Seeds for sponsoring this post and educating us on the wonders of alternative solutions.

Clean Green with Natural Cleaners

Vintage Window on Etsy: Find it at VintageWindowPanes

Clean Green : Natural Cleaners 

Living a greener lifestyle often means trying to find viable solutions and alternatives to harsh chemicals and cleaning agents. There is a greater need for consumers to uncover just what has been placed in their regular household cleaning products - in fact even I  was originally shocked to find out that in regular old window cleaner can exist many harsh chemicals and detergents.

After doing a little research, many blogs and websites now give advice and recipes on making DIY friendly cleaning agents or explain where to purchase eco friendly and sustainable products and I will share some of my favorites with you below.

Go Eco When Hiring Maid Service or Commercial Cleaning

Taking it a step further,  I am pleased to see how this need has impacted the commercial cleaning industry.  if you have the luxury of hiring an Eco cleaning service to clean your commercial offices or clean your home ; you should find one that knows the importance of eco friendly cleaning and dangers of using harsh chemicals.



For instance, the company Natural Cleaners says that by using natural cleaning agents and microfiber rags, they provide the customers with the cleanest and healthiest indoor environment. They also use HEPA vacuums which will capture 99.9% of all dust, dirt, and dander.  By using natural chemicals, they say, you already have a defense against germs and ailments.  This proves to be true: read below!

Reclaimed wood makes this mirror, find it at CountrybytheBumpkins

Window, Mirror, & Surface Cleaner : Quick and Natural Recipe

Let's take regular old Windex or surface cleaner. I for one was shocked to read how much hidden harmful chemicals may be hiding in that spray bottle.  If you or someone you know buys those dollar store spray cleaner in an effort to save money, tell them to stop. Making your own Windex can be as little as .35-.50 per bottle and much safer!

Have you ever done your windows and seen them streaky? No doubt detergents used in window washing fluids are built up on your windows. Not to mention, it contains ammonia and other items that are no good for you to be breathing.  Many places online will show you how to make your own Windex, and essentially they are instructing you to use Ammonia. Look for the eco friendly recipes like the one below!  Doing your own windows at home with green cleaner is easy!

I use equal parts vinegar to water for my cleaner .  Example:

2 cups water 

to 

2 cups vinegar

This is the strongest mix yet is pretty pungent yet to me, I have pets and a husband with a low immune system. It's important for me to make sure I'm killing the max amount of germs. You you could actually use less vinegar and it will still work.   The smallest ratio I've seen (via Wellness Mama)  is :

2 cups water 

to 

2 tablespoons vinegar 

Vinegar is: 

• Non Toxic
• Biodegradable
• Kills germs 

A lot of people ask why vinegar could kill germs? According to it's composition it contains a small portion of acid that has been proof positive at killing household pathogens. It's the acid in the vinegar that's killing the germs.

Vintage Laundry Board from CynthiasAttic on Etsy

Natural Laundry Detergent & Softener

Back in the day of your great , great , grandparents circa 1800's soap shavings used to be added to heated water to clean clothes. The lye in the soap such as the later popular Octagon soap would be used to whiten clothes. Unfortunately lye is still present in many items today...

Quick Green Laundry Softener 

First let's talk softener, that's a bit easier.  I use 1/2 cup WHITE distilled vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda in cycle.  It's quick, and easy and both work well.

Making Your Own Detergent

Many people suggest using Borax, and here is the official Borax list of ingredients.  You should read this article first  by Crunchy Betty to see if that's the way you wish to go. I can't tell you yeah or nay. My father is a die-hard Borax user and he's got high allergies, so he swears by it.

Some quick and easy recipes using equal parts Castille Soap and equal parts Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (different than baking soda) have proved favorable and other reviews have been epic fails.  Many say to use Fels Naptha soap but other blogs say this contains harmful ingredients.

The truth is making your own detergent sometimes is a long process, but it can be worth it not only financially but for the safety of avoiding the harsh chemicals and additives. There are plenty of recipes online. I found this recipe by Cleaning out the Clutter seems to work which includes use of:

-Baking Soda
-Borax
-Epsom Salt
-Castile soap or Tea Tree Oil Soap

To read the actual recipe or find more go here. 

Note: This is a sponsored post wherein we may receive some form of compensation, either financially or in product for mentioning a company, product, service or blog. 

Low Calorie Tips for Holiday and Everyday

Vintage Calorie Linen on Etsy at SewKnotMe

Diets , Calories, Over-Eating, and Holidays

Are you one of those folks who say "Oh no, a big dinner at Uncle Steve's" and worry about overeating on the holiday, instead of enjoying the family get togethers and celebrating the holidays?  You aren't alone. Most of us worry just the same.

Here's a few slenderizing tips to help you:

• Don't go on an empty stomach. Starving yourself all day isn't going to curb your craving or make you eat any less. In fact you are doing worse for your body. You are telling your body to store those fat calories instead of burn them!
• Eat small portions and eat often. It's a proven fact that if you nibble throughout the day, this help burn calories and boost metabolism. 
•  If you want dessert, eat it, but cut the portion in half or thirds. Sometimes is really is mind over matter. Having that little nibble rather than none may fill you up more so than if you weren't having it at all. 
• Drink lots of water, skip the sodas and sugary beverages. Sodium in the low-calorie sodas may fuel your appetite and thirst, whereas water will fill you up a bit quicker and help flush your system. Too much salt can mess with your blood pressure and fluid retention...who needs that?

Look at this Recycled Blender by IndustrialRewind on Etsy. Can't make shakes but can see at night!

Shake This 

You may also want to change over to a low-calorie diet shake diet a few days before or after the "big meal".  Find the diet shakes that help you increase nutrients, and "good carbs".  Now don't go blending up tons of sugary sweets and ice cream and think you are doing something.  There is a very important balance between having enough carbs, having too many carbs, and not enough carbs. Finding the happy medium is key--to ensure your body is burning the stored (fat) carbs but still obtaining important nutrients.

VLCD Shakes : Here is a fine balance of low calorie and "good for you" shakes.

Leave it up to the professionals.  Many shakes that say "low calorie" are high in carbs and calories and that you don't want. Some low calorie shakes really taste like chalk, and you can't suffer through that. Do your product research first.  Products such as VLCD Shakes have gotten very good diet shake reviews . It's a very low calorie diet shake taken 3 times a day as a meal replacement but then you still eat one meal a day.

Beware of: 

• Diet plans that don't allow you to eat
• Shakes that are high in caloric content.
• Shakes loaded with sugar or carbs. 
• Shakes that suggest you do nothing, when exercise is always a plus!

Thanks

Tzandals Upcycled Sandals From Tires Tanzania

Many styles Tzandals are available. Local artisans make them in classic styles or more over the top!

Tires Upcycled Into Sandals?

Well here's something green and environmentally friendly. A group of  Eco conscious folks decided to do something to save the world and help out communities in Tanzania in the process. They found a way to get artisans involved in using old tires to make sandals.    "Tzandals - Tanzanian Tire Sandals"  were born out of discarded tires. Otherwise, tires are burnt releasing harmful chemicals into the environment, or clogging up already overcrowded landfills.  (Read about recycling tires on their About page)

Many styles are available, and are all well crafted!

Support Local Economy of Tanzania and Help the Environment While Doing So

These sandals, are called Tzandals, and have the appropriate slogan, "Tread a New Path."  Their website indicates that their idea came from an idea to help the environment and help the people of the country at the same time. It's a way of connected local entrepreneurs (making the Tzandals) with the world market....

No Worries when wearing Tzandals!

Walk a Mile or Several Thousand With No Worries
 
As featured on LivingGreen, green consumers can rest assured walking in these will be doing something good for the Earth. These are an Eco Friendly alternative for your feet, and in the process, help a country who needs it at the same time.  What's even better? They are priced affordable at $25-$30 range. They are well crafted and made to last. If a tire is supposed to last your car 50,000 miles, how long do you think it will last on your feet?
 
When you check out from their store, you can choose from a wide variety of styles, and even stipulate what cause (charity) you wish to support. If you are unsure, more information is outlined on their website.  There is also a Hakuna Matata (no worries) return policy.   



Connect with Tzandals:
On Facebook 
On their Website
Shop their Store

Living Green in Louisiana Dijon's Olde World Originals

Originally  I wrote this for Handmadeology, I wanted to show Dijon some more love on Etsy!
Woodworking Olde World Style 

Adorable coffee cart reminiscent of days gone by, 
made with reclaimed woods by Dijon's Olde World Originals.

For some of us, crafting is a pastime, hobby, or stress relief! For others, it's a part of who we are--and I'm focusing on a short series where these individuals will tell you, it's part of their heritage. They are upholding generations of tradition and the beauty shows in their work.

Take for instance, Dijon's Olde World Originals, coming to us from Baton Route, Louisiana.  Dee"Dijon" Jones comes from a long line of carpenters and welders, and believes in using "olde world" techniques when making his furniture.  You will find no mass production here.  His goods are made from reclaimed wood and timbers including but not limited to old doors, structure beams, architectural grates, garden gates, tin roofs, and balcony rails.  This ensures you are getting something with history and rest assured, no two will be alike.   

Gorgeous Cypress Dining Table

Dijon was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana and raised in Brusly. He's got a Cajun accent and began woodworking at an early age.  His grandfather was a carpenter, and his mother also. His father is a welder.  It's no wonder he inherited his family's traits. He explains, "I learned from all three of them. I started making furniture and other items for family and friends. Many of them suggested I should open my own company and I finally did just that. I love using Louisiana products, especially old cypress and vintage architectural pieces, to make new items for the home and garden."

This cart was used as a movie prop and can be found in their Etsy shop.

His wife Suzanne explained to me that the mighty Cypress trees are now more protected now and less timbered, but they still find reclaimed pieces from swap meets, reclaimed yards, and antique stores.  She says, "Dijon can custom make anything you want, to fit in any size space and keep the authentic look of "olde world styling." 

Part of his Cajun-Louisiana heritage are Dijon's mini piroque's.

Another indicator of his heritage is the fact he makes mini decorative "Pirogues", which were boat vessels native to the area used for fishing in the swamps.  Now Dijon's miniatures are a hit at crawfish parties or for serving beverages out of on a hot summer's day.  I could see this on my deck with flowers in it!

Find these in the Lagniappe section!

Kudos to Dijon for sticking to family traditions, using olde world processes, and reclaiming woods. In addition to the above you'll find objects for any purpose including lamps, home decor, tables, planters, garden decor, mirrors, clocks, and more.  You can connect with him more on Etsy , his website, or Facebook to check it out. 



Stay tuned for more from this series, including an artist from Germany using old enameling techniques, and an artist from Baltimore dating their wire wrapping skills back to Transylvania days. If you have a similar story or know of one like this, connect with me. 
RetroChalet.etsy.com
 

Benefits of Having a Green Home

By: Maria Valenzuela

Home | Home-and-Family

Little Green House by The Little Red Door on Etsy

Discussing all the rewards of living in a green home can be divided between the environment being eco-friendly and the benefits enjoyed by the owner especially when it comes to the financial aspect. A green home enables the homeowner to save from the monthly electric and water bill, as well as from repairs and maintenance. Moreover, compared to normal homes, green homes are far better which enables the value to go up. Thus, green homes are better for the environment and aside from that they are good for your family and your pocket because for one you can save money over energy consumption.

To the green home owner

1. Green homes can keep heating and cooling costs lower because they have a different kind of installation and air sealing. The efficient windows, lighting fixtures, and house equipment of the eco-friendly home can lower your electric bills.

2. Green homes are built using durable and sustainable materials that require few repairs and less maintenance.

3. Green homes are very good investment. They have higher values compared to other homes and the rising demand these days means that the homeowner has

To the environment:

1. Green homes are built from toxin-free building materials which mean they have health benefits to the owner as well as to the preservation of the environment.

2. Green homes make use of alternative sources of energy. This means that these types of homes have less dependence on conventional energy sources.

3. Green homes less less natural resources because construction material are made from recycled materials.

If you think green Inver Grove Heights Home are expensive, think again. Green homes are not that expensive compared to traditional homes. What make green homes expensive are the remodeling and the installations involved.

Homeowners will ultimately see that their savings have accumulated as the energy saved is higher than the price of the property. The starting cost when building a green home can cost you some, but the savings can be seen and experienced throughout your stay in your home. Since the demand for eco-friendly homes are increasing, the cost of building one will definitely continue to decrease.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Planning to buy a green home? Contact your real estate agent and green builders on how to remodel Homes for Sale in Purcellville VA into green homes. Moreover, visit Tampa FL MLS Listings for more green property options.

Tags: green homes , sustainable homes , eco-friendly homes , healthy homes , green living , green buildings , green , lifestyle , homes , real estate , investing , business

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Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Benefits-Of-Having-A-Green-Home/2277911#ixzz1J9Xi6Vsh
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Book Review: "Eco Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle" by Susan Wasinger

Oh my goodness, I checked this book out from my local library and I can't put it down! I am amazed with the creativity and brilliant upcycling ideas expressed in this book! Can you imagine recycling the plastic binders that hold soda pop cans together and making a beautiful wood framed room divider with them? Or recycling a plastic milk jug and making a stunningly modern light? This book is full of fun, stylish, and gorgeous upcycled creations. I can't wait to make the papier-mâché bowls featured in this book.

Here is a lovely lamp shade featured in "Eco Craft" made from a plastic grocery bag!

...And here is a romantically rustic chandelier with elegant extravagance made from recycled baby food jars! Etsy Recycler's Guild members and other stylish recyclers will be drooling over the pages of this awesome book. I have only mentioned a few of the incredible creations featured in "Eco Craft" which has high quality photos and great instructions.

This book is called "Eco-Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle" by Susan Wasinger

This post was contributed by Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles

See all posts created by Jessica under the tag *Eco Friendly Freckles Column!
Visit her shop, or her blog