Worm composting - They're Here!!

At long, long last, the worm compost bin has become a reality. After finally getting our bin together, complete with drilled air holes (thanks, hubby!) we attempted to get red wiggler worms from our local bait shops. They informed us that they are also trying to get their hands one some. Funnily enough, when I mentioned that we wanted them for composting, one bait shop guy responded, "I know, I know." Ha! Guess we're not that odd around here after all. Anyhow, I went online and ordered 500 red wigglers from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm in Spring Grove, PA. I realized that once I had placed the order, I really had to get things together for this thing!! I put our bin out and collected all of our appropriate table scraps in it (fruit and veggie left-overs, but no citrus, etc.) Then we waited....

They arrived today. Here's what the package looked like:

The first step in preparing a worm composting bin is to find a bin with a lid. The size will depend on you. Ours is a former bird seed box cum rock holder. It's clear, which I love, has a lid that opens 1/2 way, and has a carrying handle. Perfect!

The first thing we did was to hand-shred a bunch of newspaper. There's no accounting for taste, but the worms allegedly love it! 

We filled the bin about 3/4 full.

My daughter went out to the back yard and collected a handful or two of both soil and sand, and a few leaves.

Add the soil mix and mix it into the newspaper.

The worms! 500 red wigglers heading for their new home.

Nature girl!!

We watered down the newspaper/soil mix. It really lowered the stuff way down. Once we placed the worms on top, we shredded some more newspaper and gently placed it on top. We then made a space in one corner of the box, and added our collected kitchen scraps. They are getting a lovely mix of cantelope melon rinds, celery, and other good stuff. I have read that we can add coffee grounds, which we have plenty of in this house. I also read that we should have usable rich soil in about 3-4 months. 

I promised to bring this bin to DD's school, and now I want to keep it! But I get it back at the end of June when school ends. I think I'll keep it for a few days, anyhow. =)

Clyde. The first worm to be named. (grin)

2010 - April Plan- RESULTS

Purge Plan: Kitchen Purge #2 - Glass purge

During the month of April, I purged NOTHING from our glass stash. On May 5th, I have pulled a bunch of spice bottles (glass and plastic) out of the cabinet, combined some, and simply got rid of some that we've had for a bunch of years.

Green Plan: (From Easy Green Living by Renee Loux)

>Get a low-flow toilet, or make your existing toilet low flow:

Already had.

>Don't be a drip - fix leaky faucets and toilets:

Hm. I have one to fix. I'll call today.

Holistic Moms Green Plan: Breast feed. Whelp, I don't need a month to work on this. I have been nursing for 5 1/2 years, and we're still going strong. =)

I haven't done well in the area of PURGE in April. Perhaps I can renew my efforts for May. Hmmmm...

2010 - March Plan - Results

March Plan Results!


Purge Plan - March: Linens (anything cloth!)


3 baby blankets given to a friend for her kitty, who is preggo. =)
A few random things chucked...
Hubby has given me a few of his shirts to use as fabric to make other things

One bag of clothing to be donated to a local community center. It took the month ending for me to get moving with this. 


Green Plan: 


*Use unbleached coffee filters for a dioxin-free cup o' joe


I have used a plastic reusable coffee filter for years. My plan is to sew some reusable filters out of unbleached muslin to eliminate the plastic. But here it is April, and I haven't even bought the material yet. Sighs...it's a process.


*Install a water filter


We have one on the fridge that broke a long while back. We have a pitcher water filter, but the water was tasting bad with the last filter, so we've been drinking tap water..... I put another pitcher filter in, and that's what we're using for now.


Holistic Moms Network Resolution #3: Get a New Bag  

"Want to help save sea turtles and reduce dependence on oil at the same time?  Then commit yourself to using nothing but reusable bags - not just at the supermarket, but at the mall, the convience store, the farmer's market, and everywhere you go and shop!"

I've been using cloth bags for a long time, but I often, almost always in fact, forget to bring them. HMN suggests having cloth bags everywhere...in your car, your purse, etc. I think this is a good idea and will work in that direction.

I did actually put more bags in my car, but I'm not sure it has helped my brain to remember to bring them in the store more often, but I continue to try, and I often will refuse plastic bags even if I've forgotten my cloth bags, so ....

Overall this month was not as productive, purge-wise, as I had expected and hoped, but life just gets in the way sometimes. As always, I can continue to purge linens in April even though my main focus will be else where. I am getting rid of things, and ultimately, that is the goal. So, progress, progress, progress!

Purge Issues!

As many of you already know, I have a plan for this year, to greatly reduce the amount of stuff in my home. It got to the point where I was constantly moving stuff from one surface to another, and it was a constant source of frustration for everyone. Anyhow, I'm in month 2 - kitchen stuff.

For some reason, this month has been much more challenging purge-wise. I think about it every day, and I'm motivated, but it's been much harder to put it into action. Here's one reason why....

This spoon, which came with a rice cooker we no longer own, was chosen to be passed on to some other loving rice spoon type. It has been living happily in our silverware drawer for time uncountable. This morning I took it out. Instantly, little people found it, and reincorporated it into our lives. This has happened with every item I have pulled out and put in the purge-line. Ergh! My son was in tears yesterday because I wouldn't let him drink from a cup we've had in our cabinet since before he was born! Suddenly it became interesting. So not only do I need to remotivate myself every day to climb up into the cabinets, but I need to stash the purge items out of sight of my children. Geez! Challenges come from places we could never predict! =)

2010 - February Plan

February Plan and (eventually) Results:

Purge plan for February:

Kitchen purge #1 Get rid of all cooking items that aren't currently being used (pots/pans/small appliances).

Rusty tins, cleansers we haven't used in years, assorted other stuff - BYE-BYE.


Plastic soda can holder, knives, ceramic bowls, heading to DD's school after the winter break. Whoo-hoo!


Rusty nut cracker in the garbage. Coffee travel mug up for donation along with some plastic food storage containers that we don't use. A neighbor just claimed these two items plus a glass that we don't use.

Random things found in the kitchen cabinets...

More random unused stuff. 

All of our coated pots and pans and lids are being donated to DD's school. We are replacing this bunch of purge stuff with a new set: 6 pots and pans and 4 lids. Total reduction: 13 pieces out, 10 in = 3 gonegonegone. =) And we're upgrading...no more coated pots and pans. We're now going with a safer stainless steel set. 














Green plan for Feb:

3. Choose natural personal care products and cosmetics


We use Burt's Bees hand salve and lip stuff. I am hoping to find an alternative to Aquaphor that my skin will accept. I use natural shampoos for myself and the kids most of the time. Our soap bars are transitioning from Dove Sensitive skin to Dr. Bronner's castile soap bars. I am hoping to find a way to keep my skin outbreaks under control without using steroid creams. I currently use a very small amount of steroid cream nightly. I haven't used cosmetics of any kind for years.


I bought California Baby's Calendula Cream yesterday - an attempt to replace Aquaphor for our hands. For me, it failed after one use. I could feel my hands drying out after using it. That happens with every lotion whose first ingredient is water. Hopefully I can use it for something, because 2oz of the stuff cost over $12.00. Sheesh. Oh, and the packaging is very disappointing, too. Plastic bottle and cap, with a plastic "disc" over the top when you open it, sealed by more plastic around the top of the jar. The jar is recyclable (#5) but the rest is trash that won't decompose. Yuk.


I have purchased a bunch of essential oils, and am gradually finding ways of using them, blended, in our home. I have been using oils for diaper rash (if successful this would eliminate Desitin and similar ointments from our house.) I am hoping the oil blends can replace a number of personal care products in our home. I've been using Sweet Almond Oil (organic) on the kids after the bath instead of Aquaphor much of the time, with good results. DS has some eczema rashy spots, which I am paying special attention to, but they seems to be pretty manageable. They're not going away, but they're not too bad either....

4. Go for recycled, naturally bleached toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues


Progess:


I do not use paper towels, and we nearly always out of tissues. My kids use cloth wipes for their noses. I don't like them much when I'm sick, but I try to compromise. 

I purchased toilet paper this month that was made from recycled paper. It's more expensive, and we'll likely go through it more quickly than the 1000-sheet roles, but I will try to be more conservative...Actually it seems to have a lot of sheets like the others we've gotten. It seems to be lasting as long...Duh, there it is right on the package. 1000 sheets. Yeeks. :P

Holistic Moms Network Green Plan:

This month's resolution is an effort to simplify and to focus on what matters: eat whole foods.  Eat foods in their whole, natural state.  Look for foods that are the same as they come out of the ground or in their most natural, simple form.  Organic - great!  Local - fabulous!  But whole is our primary resolution.

Progress: 

I have already signed up for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for this year's growing season. We have joined the same farm in the past. It is organic, and wonderful. Each week we pick up a share of the farm's produce, which varies from week to week, depending on what is ready to harvest at that time. The food tastes amazing (picked fresh as opposed to picked early and shipped), it's organic which I love, and it encourages us to eat veggies we may not otherwise try. I love it.

I am trying to be more cognizant of serving raw fruits and veggies as well as cooked with most meals. This is a tough area for me. But the kids LOVE fruit and veggies too, so I just have to HAVE them.

Exercise:


Walk in the 'hood: 5
Wii fitness workouts - 15 minutes most nights
Swimming with the kids: 3

From Jan plan: I gave away a bunch of kids' books to friends. The remaining books will be donated or tossed (some are in poor shape.) 


4 books given to Children's Museum (brought 1 home)

I've decided to move the cookbooks, and since I was going through them anyway, I decided it was a great time to PURGE. A bunch more stuff thrown out, recycled and donated!

Plastic Purge Phase 1

Part of my January Plan is to "ditch the plastic," meaning replace all plastic water bottles with alternatives. I also want to greatly reduce the amount of plastic we have in our home in general. So here is phase 1. This is a purge of our plastic water bottles, sippy cups, and regular plastic drinking cups. (wow!)

Reusable zip-top bags?

Last night I was teasing my mother-in-law. She is not green. Not at all. She told me, as she has before, that she uses zip-top plastic bags for everything. She said, in fact, that she "uses them like water." I use them to. (I say, ducking the bullets) It's a major thing I need to change. Anyhow, so I was teasing her. I said I would need to create a reusable zip-top bag for her. I mused out loud, in a joking tone, about how I would do it. I've been pondering it ever since! Of course the green thing to do would simply be to find alternatives that are safe, reusable, and so forth. But you can lead a horse to water.... It would be a lot harder, I discuss with myself, to refuse to try something if it is basically the same product only safe and reusable. HM! Maybe waterproof diaper bags that people use for holding soiled cloth diapers when out and about. I dunno. This has become a challenge I may just take on. I happen to have some PUL (water-proof) fabric in my stash. Is that safe for food? I'll need to research that. The best way to influence people is to teach by example, so maybe I'll see what I can create for myself, and if they work, I can slyly introduce them to MIL and others. =)

I might try this tutorial , if PUL is safe for food. I would be using PUL instead of the plastic this calls for. I have PUL in my stash, for one thing...

Just a quick online search on PUL safety for food storage has me believing that it has not been approved. Darn.

Paper napkins

Sometimes I go to fast food restaurants. I know, I know. But I do. Sometimes. And every time, I receive a stack of napkins. It doesn't seem to matter how much food I order. I receive an obviously quickly grabbed stack of paper napkins-way more than I need. It's such an obvious waste of paper. What's worse is I have seen, and on more than one occasion, a person grab a handful of napkins to wipe his or her mouth! Or use what he/she needs, but toss the entire bunch away. Agh! I collect them. (My own, not others!) I have them in the glove compartment of my car, my husband's car, and in the house. I use them when we're driving and the kids are snacking. I use them for those in my life who have trouble adjusting to cloth, even while visiting my home. I use them when we run out of cloth napkins. (We've been without a functioning washing machine for a while now.) I remember a former co-worker of mine once talking to me and others about an article she read. It discussed how people use far more paper toweling to dry hands than is needed. She went on and on about it, about how she is being more conscientious about it as a result. At lunch time this same woman grabbed napkin after napkin after napkin to wipe her mouth and hands! (No, I didn't point this out to her, but chuckled and rolled my eyes internally) People are people after all! But geez. And it's not just fast food places of course. It's everywhere. I guess the answer is to appeal to the restaurants themselves, or in some way have a dispenser so people can take what they need (prob not very helpful, but maybe) or something. It just seems like such an easy way to reduce waste. Thoughts?

2010 - January Plan - Results!

Results for January:

PURGE PLAN RESULTS:

Reading Material Purge:

Magazines purged: 39

I am liking the idea that I have been able to pass some of these magazines on to others to enjoy before they are recycled. I sorta wish people were more into sharing periodical subscriptions...

Newspaper purge: At least one each day

Book purge: 1 book sold on Amazon.com. 12 more listed. In the meantime they will live in the garage! 17 books thrown away (many were old text books.) 4 donated to the library. 2 offered back to MIL, who leant them to us years ago! 1 offered to HMN folks - to be donated to library in 1 week...(1/12-19) 12 to be donated to library or DD's school - will sit in the car meanwhile. Gone from car - donated. One bag of kid's books given to a friend, two more to be given/donated. One in the car, one on its way to the car.

Easy Green Living book-RESULTS:

Clean Kindly:

+Rejected soap nuts liquid for the dishwasher. Replaced it with 7th Generation power which has been great.

+Soap nuts liquid for kitchen clean-up is good. Really like to use castile soap for general household cleaning.

+Bought myself a bar of castile soap scented with Eucolyptus oil. Very nice! Suds a lot (which is not important to me, just a comment) and smells very nice! Aromatherapy while you shower. Unusual for me as I buy unscented stuff due to my skin issues, but this is all-natural, I'll see how my skins deals. So far so good!

+At my daughter's insistence we bought some "all natural" hand soap yesterday. Grapefruit and pomegranate scent. I have been sneezing ever since. I have run into this before with orange scented natural cleaners and have removed them from my life. Must be all citrus scented stuff. Weird. DD loves to pick hand soaps, and doesn't like to be limited to my castile soap concoctions, even when I put it in the foaming hand soap dispenser.... perhaps if I try using scented oils in it?...... She might enjoy making it with me...

Be Wise With Laundry:

+Soap nuts liquid in the laundry has been excellent. I started using Biokleen oxygen bleach this month, with good results.

Holistic Moms Network Green Resolutions: RESULTS:

#1 Ditch the plastic. Replace plastic water bottles with alternatives that are reusable, recyclable, safe

I have already gotten two stainless steel water bottles (Christmas present, thank you dear hubby!) I ordered two stainless steel water bottles for the children. I have thrown away a bin filled with all of our plastic bottles, sippy cups and plastic cups. (See photo in Plastic Purge Phase 1) .....The kids' bottles have arrived, and they started using them right away. They are the perfect size, and they have sport-bottle tops that are safe. My plan is to wash and fill them with fresh water every morning. So far it's worked great. The kids are drinking more water, which is good.

Exercise - RESULTS:

snow shoe/sledding adventure, kid-style: 1
neighborhood walk: 2
yoga: about 9 times
Joined the Y mid-Jan. swim with the kids: 4
hike w/family: 1
Wii sports: A few minutes most days beginning mid-Jan.

Beautify House-RESULTS:

Adding once again. Beautify house. I am officially really embarrassed to have people see our house. And now that DD is having play dates all over the place, I need to get my act together. Progress so far? NONE. Perhaps this will kick in in Feb.

I am very pleased with myself for having done all of this. I hope I can keep the momentum up for Feb! The results are good motivators.

Too much plastic! Interesting links.

Here are a couple of links I've just found, for those interested in reducing the plastic in our lives!

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com

http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com

Composting

Yesterday I finally saved some kitchen scraps for composting. It's one of those ideas that's been rattling around my head for ages. My daughter has a garden in the back yard. What an awesome opportunity to learn, and teach, about composting, recycling, reusing, organic, and on and on! Fun! So while making dinner in the morning (crock pot) I saved potato peels and so forth in a cup. I saved it for my daughter, but funnily (did I make that word up?) it was hubby who took the stuff out. (cool-grin) Anyhow, I've got some reading to do, but I'm excited about it. So off to collect the coffee grounds from today! =)

Anyone already compost? If you've got any advice or ideas, please share them. I know very little about composting other than the obvious.... for example, do people compost all winter? Or just in the warmer seasons?

Laundry Detergent recipe

One of my most tried and true green efforts recently has been with the home-made laundry detergent, so I thought I'd share the recipe. First, a quick pros and cons list:

Pros: 

All-natural

Biodegradable

Safe

Gentle

Effective

Reuse containers

Cons:

Hardens and needs to be broken up

Occasionally lumps of detergent remain in wash after load is done

Recipe makes small amount of detergent

Recipe:

1/4 cup castile soap (I like peppermint)

1 cup baking soda

1 cup washing soda

1 cup white vinegar

Mix the castile soap with the powders. Add vinegar (it will foam up, then settle down, just mix). Stir til completely combined. 

At this point I leave it, and it hardens. If you keep mixing through the hardening process you can break it up right away. It becomes a lumpy powder. I have yet to perfect the process so it all gets crunched up to a thin powder, but honestly, I don't have time at the moment, and it works well anyhow. 1/2 cup in a regular size load does the trick. Makes about 5 loads worth...something like that.

I've been using this detergent for weeks now, with great results.

If you try it, let me know what you think.

A failure and a victory

Well, today I completely fell off the green Christmas card band wagon. I started to make one online, and I'm just not clever enough to make it look cool. And hubby has offered to address all of the envelopes (yeah!!) So, I have chosen a photo card online. Yeah, I feel a bit guilty, but I'm going a little easy on myself. It's December, which is a busy and stressful month, and as an attachment parent to two, I simply don't have time to figure the online thing out in time. Lame? Yeah, maybe, but my path to a more green and more holistic way of life is a PROCESS. So...

I am feeling really good about my meal plan and recent grocery shop. Lots of fruits, veggies, beans, grains and the like. Very little junk (salami and cheese.) I have plans to make lentil-bulgur salad! Sound like cardboard? Nah. It's got lots of yummy stuff in it that will make it palatable. I'll let you know how it is. There are other recipes, too. 

But the kids' program has ended (tv is another topic for another day....) so .... good night, all!

Giving an experience

Ideal Bite (IdealBite.com) suggested giving an experience for Christmas instead of a thing. They suggested giving someone a gift certificate for a massage. Movie tickets was my favorite. And stuff like that. I like it. =)

Cards

Ok I've decided. I'm sending my holiday greetings online. It wasn't just a green thing. It's December 2nd, and I'm starting to sweat the hassle that is getting good photos, ordering cards, ADDRESSING them all, and getting them out. I'm too tired! I'm not even sewing these days, something I love to do. I'm just too tired from the things I must do to deal with too many extras. SO...time to create an online card. And find email addresses.........I can do this.....Less hassle, less paper, less expensive......

Holiday Green - Christmas Cards

My daughter and I were talking this morning as we enjoyed a nice morning outside in the yard. I told her I was thinking about ways to be more green this Christmas and asked her if she had any thoughts on what we could do. Her reply: "Paper" Yeah. Wow. Christmas cards, gift wrap, ribbons... I started to brainstorm ways to reduce my personal use of these things. Thing is...I love giving and receiving Christmas cards. There are people I am seldom in contact with, but can rely on Christmas cards every year to get caught up with the. So how do I continue with this tradition while wasting less and reusing more? Well, I could go hard core, and make a card online that I email to everyone. Hm. That would certainly do it. No paper, no mess, no stamps or return address labels...easy to send - no envelopes to address. I could. But I dunno. Somehow it loses something. So. Post cards?? Cards that fold and become their own envelope? I'm liking that idea. How to do that? I would probably have to use heavy paper, so does that defeat the purpose? I want to share photos. That's pretty wasteful too. But I want to be able to do these things. Hmmm..... Post cards, maybe that's the compromise. Create my own with my pictures, and print our greeting. No envelope, less expensive... Recycled/recyclable paper? Maybe next year I'll send them online. Maybe.