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What is BPA and why should we be concerned?
In a nutshell, BPA is a potentially harmful ingredient that is in plastic. What is fuzzy is just what kind of plastic does it include? Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production-volume chemical commonly used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. Low-level concentrations of BPA in animals and possibly in humans may cause endocrine disruption. Whether ingestion of food or beverages from polycarbonate containers increases BPA concentrations in humans has not been studied. (source: http://www.ehponline.org) This conversation on Facebook started with my comment and link to another article detailing a bit of an update on the state of outlawing BPA in baby bottles. (here) My friend, Andrea Paulinelli of Eco…
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Green Pest Control, sometimes all you need to do is ask!
Admittedly,we’ve had our contract pest control company for many years. As the truck pulled up last week for the guy to perform treatment, I posed the question. Do you have a green alternative treatment? You could have blown me over when he said, As a matter of fact we do. Would you be interested? Here’s our brochure. (psst… it’s Keystone Pest Control.) THAT my friends is the customer service we strive for at Dr. Flower’s Essentials! If you have a question on something you’d like to see in our product line, find us! twitter facebook e-mail Happy Washing! ~Regina
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Plant Identification: Poison Ivy
It occurred to me this week that not everyone is aware of how to identify this itchy plant. Those of us that are allergic have it burned in our brain! Do you know what it looks like? Here’s a few shots as fresher for plant identification: And here is the Elderberry bush that I dare not walk to as poison ivy currently surrounds it… Remedies could include vinegar sparingly painted on the sunny leaves of the plant. Why so sparingly? Vinegar will kill most of the plants around it, most microorganisms and leave a brown spot of nothing in it’s wake. Goats I hear will eat poison ivy. I’ve entertained…
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What I've said on Twitter 2009-06-07:
Time to get out the neem oil! “spot” the bug, beware! http://bit.ly/grjdt # Were you watching CNN a little less than an hour ago? Tear jerker military dad/daughter meeting! # Baking goodies that bring about important tips! – Are you baking Aluminum sulfate free? http://bit.ly/aAL0J # @SimplyHomestead right back atcha gal on awesome indies title. I’d add @ladolcediva to that list too! in reply to SimplyHomestead # @BestRoofer I could go find that out…or you could recommend a kind of both! in reply to BestRoofer # @indiebusiness Go DM! Such an inspiration! in reply to indiebusiness # @wind4me all that’s missing is a unicycle! HA! in reply to wind4me #…
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Time to get out the neem oil! "spot" the bug, beware!
I took some shots of the garden over the past week. If you follow me on twitter, then you know that I celebrated my first little squash. (here) Here’s another growing: And here is a seemingly cute little bug that will DEVOUR said squash lovelies! ACCKK! What do I do? (btw, here’s a list of plants he likes for lunch: melons, squash, pumpkin, corn, beets, cucurbits (cucumbers), tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and even some fruit trees. His stripped cousin likes flowers too!) Before reaching for the pesticide bad bad bug spray, try a little neem oil. It’s safer, organic and does the job! Here are a few more facts about neem…
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Baking goodies that bring about important tips!
If you’ve poke around this blog, you’ll be very aware of it’s “back to basics”, “made from scratch” type theme. Today, I happened upon a neat sweet bread recipe that I think I might try my hand at with the help of one summer time first grader that needs an activity to do! As I peer at the recipe, I see that it calls for buttermilk. I don’t know about you, but it’s quite rare that I have buttermilk in the house inspite of the comments that I’ve heard and read that its supposed to be very good for you. It’s not here, and I’m not going to the store…
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A little Melt and Pour Soap Activity
With some of the tools that we acquired at the Georgia Spring Fling Soap And Candle Gathering, we have been doing a little bit of experimenting with Melt and Pour soap. We scented these with peach fragrance. 😉 Little one’s favorite part was painting the gold on top. See what you think! Orders this first week of June MIGHT include a random sample soap! Happy Washing! ~Regina
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What I've said on Twitter 2009-05-31:
@SimplyHomestead @sssoap Not selling there yet 😉 just scoping in reply to SimplyHomestead # @teaandpetals I’d make this -> http://twitpic.com/5aqyx in reply to teaandpetals # @sssoap lunch! Yes! Soon! # http://twitpic.com/69bcl – At the Athens farmer’s mkt # @brambleberry http://twitpic.com/67s07 – looks about like my kitchen when I make sushi you eat! # http://twitpic.com/67fbh – Summer is official! # Well, I broke the lawn mower…guess it’s time to go to the pool! # @soapylove ordered your ezine last week too…seamlessly easy to purchase and download! in reply to soapylove # @indiebusiness agreed – regular folk on a twitter TV show would be more interesting in reply to indiebusiness # @GeorgiaOrganics…
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Confessions of a garden geek!
As an avid organic gardener, I love to shop for compost pails! Yep, I come by that garden geek title quite honestly! Compost pails come in several sizes and really many colors also. Copper, stainless steel, plastic in any color of the rainbow, ceramics, and sometimes a combination of these. Why you can even get eco-friendly with a bamboo model! MEOW! even Purple! Google will let you search images by color now! Here’s a snapshot of the compost pail search at Amazon.com: And another at Gardener’s Supply: And yet another by Lee Valley: You can get compost bags make of cornstarch that breakdown with the compost or carbon filters so…
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History and Tradition, Cafe Du Monde
Many will tell you that you have not been to New Orleans if you haven’t had a Cafe Au Lait and beignet at Cafe Du Monde. Cafe Du Monde products can be found in many cities far and wide for those that just can’t get enough of the decadent good stuff. Last month, I had an extraordinary visit at this special coffee shop icon. With a stroke of luck, I had a friend from Baton Rouge show up just in time to wisk me off from the airport to the French Quarter. The timing couldn’t have been better! Elizabeth Hill of Handmade at Homestead is also a fellow soapmaker that…
