Green Family Blog

Green Family Update

2009-05-15T18:56:24Z

Once again, here I am to update after some time of not keeping up here and I do hope to start keeping up....spring is here although it still feels chilly most of the time...the weather is the complete opposite here as it was in the valley of the sun. The berries are blooming, the garden is starting to grow and I look forward to completely waking up from winter hibernation the season being in full swing! pictures and posts soon to come! green blessings, Sarah

Effects of Plastic Consumption

2009-04-12T21:05:34Z

This is a Leatherback turtle, I hope to one day do some diving and get an up close glimpse of sea turtles. There is a connection between what you see in this image and what you do when you are shopping. By choosing and alternative to plastic you can be helping keep plastic out of a Leatherback sea turtle.... From Discovery News: Leatherback turtles are critically endangered and highly charismatic creatures. They are big, weighing 1,000 pounds or more, with shells that can measure more than 6 feet across. These peaceful creatures have had the same basic body plan for 150 million years. Leatherbacks are also popular for what they eat: namely, large quantities of jellyfish. The problem is that plastic bags look a lot like jellyfish, and plastic often ends up in the oceans, piling up in areas where currents -- and turtles -- converge. That led James to wonder how much often the turtles were swallowing plastic in their hunt for yummy jellyfish. Our actions have consequences that many of us may never think about or realize. We can all make a huge difference by making planet friendly choices and there has been no easier time to do that than now.

Eating Local during Winter time...

2009-01-22T15:43:11Z

Check out Umbra's video on the subject:

green family update...

2009-01-09T15:41:42Z

It has been awhile since I've posted and like most people, we have been busy with the holidays. This year I sewed most of my holiday gifts and did that in the most earth friendly way possible. Now that the holidays have wound down we are left with the winter months...our first winter here in Oregon, we have had a lot of rain so far! There is a lot of green going on out there, check out, Treehugger.com for all kinds of interesting green news. Also, check out our learning section for weekly articles and tips Happy New Year!

What's the Deal with Store Brand Organics?

2008-12-08T17:42:23Z

Have you ever wondered if the store brand "Private Labels" are as good as any other organically produced product? Grists, Umbra answers this question here

Antibacterial Products ~ Friend or Foe?

2008-10-27T22:54:23Z

Check out this article: http://www.watoxics.org/homes-and-gardens/factsheets/antimicrobials/ and Read the latest Ask Umbra to read Fun Soap Facts: http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/10/27/?source=ask

Green Washing Watch....

2008-10-07T22:26:36Z

Is Vinyl Siding Really Green? Check Out Treehuggers Article- Greenwash Watch: 12 Ways Vinyl Siding is Green

Which Plastics Are Safe?

2008-10-02T16:42:40Z

It can be confusing to sort out, check out my favorite and entertaining guides to easily help you figure this out! Umbras "Plas-tick!" Video Plastic Primer Part One and Plastic Primer Part Two My Top 10 Fabulous Green Alternatives To Plastic! 1. Stainless Bottles 2. Stainless Containers 3. Cloth Bags 4. Bamboo Utensils 5. Non Plastic Shower Curtains 6. Bamboo Cloths 7. Euro Cloths Instead of Paper Towels! 8. Glass Baby Bottles 9. Bring Your Own Mug! 10. A great Use for Corn!

Mushrooms!

2008-09-23T20:28:50Z

Yesterday we went for a mushroom hunt...we were looking for chanterelle's and we found them! We picked as many as we had time to pick and had a delicious dinner of mostly chanterelles w/couscous, even our 6 year old daughter loved it, our dog ate them too!

harvest time...

2008-09-19T21:52:50Z

We are having a wonderful time harvesting all the bounty we have available to us. Blackberries are a favorite of mine, I am learning to make (with local honey) and can jam, lots of fun and so delicious! We also have lots of tomato's which are so delicious to cook with, here is a picture of yesterdays harvest! Blackberries, Salal Berries, Tomatoes and Chard check out our great Stainless Steel Containers for food storage at home and on the go, Stainless is something I use a lot of in my kitchen!

homegrown

2008-09-17T05:05:20Z

we have been busy around here! the end of the growing season is approaching and we've had an abundance of zucchini which has slowed down...there are all the blackberries we could pick out there too...on Sunday I filled a big bowl with them and made a blackberry crisp which was so easy and delish! I didn't measure and combined oats, flour, brown sugar, melted butter and coconut oil added that on top of the berries and baked it until the top started to brown. I might make an apple one tomorrow, we have lots of those too. I also made zucchini bread and blackberry apple muffins. I will miss all this in winter!

green your entertainment center...

2008-09-17T04:57:20Z

some good info about t.v related topics from a green perspective... http://www.grist.org/advice/how/2008/09/16/?source=daily

Organic Food: Is it Worth the Extra Money?

2008-09-05T00:15:42Z

That is this weeks article on our home page, this is a great question, read it here! Also, We are on Youtube now, chek out our page!

tea...

2008-09-02T01:03:46Z

one of life's simple pleasures I greatly enjoy! one recent morning I went out to our yard to pick chamomile from a little patch I found as well as some mint that had popped up in our garden...both of these plants had been grown by other people and here they are now, for us to enjoy. This tea was more delicious because of what I put into it...walking outside on a lovely morning, hearing the birds sing while picking tea, it was a very peaceful feeling....

Mildew Away Spray Recipe...

2008-08-29T21:45:41Z

I've had this shower curtain for years in the desert and mildew never even crossed my mind! Now that we live near the coast it is a different story...you can see some mildew in this pic, just to the right of the spray bottle. I've been making my own all purpose cleaner spray for years (recipe below). I have been using my all purpose spray for my shower curtain and it has seemed to help. Today I made the stronger mildew recipe because my curtain has a bit of mildew on it now and I want to use something stronger to help stop it, especially since the weather is cooling off. I made half a batch and put it in this aluminum spray bottle I have been reusing..it already had some essential oils in it like geranium so, when I added 1 cup of water w/the 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil to this bottle, it did not smell like Tea Tree Oil at all...so if you don't like the smell, you can add other essential oils to cover it up. You can also use something like water and vinegar or grapefruit seed extract instead. A bottle of tea tree oil can last you a long time, it is your all purpose germ fighter, great to have around! My All Purpose Cleaner~ Fill Spray Bottle (mine came from Good Will) 2/3 Full w/ Water Add a Squirt of Earth Friendly Dish Soap Add a Splash of Vinegar And essential oils you like, like, Sweet Orange, Tea Tree, Lavender, Geranium..... Here is a stronger spray especially for mildew on Natural Fiber Shower Curtains, very helpful in moist climates: Mildew Away Spray~ 2 Cups Water 2 Teaspoons Tea Tree Oil & Your Favorite Essential Oils Combine ingredients in a bottle (hopefully you have one around you can re~use) and shake up well. Spray on Shower Curtain or any area where mildew grows. Leave spray on surface and repeat as needed. This Spray will not go bad. The tea tree may smell strong to you, if so, add other essential oils or try using half for the recipe. I found this recipe on ehow.com