Wednesdays are for a Hodgepodge of Goodies -- Day 3 of the blogiversary celebration

Yesterday was all about cleaning up. Today, my sponsors offer a unique array of products with different purposes. Starting with glass straws, which GlassDharma sent to me in exchange for a review. I was thrilled. You see, I have a real problem with the whole issue of plastic straws, because they are not recyclable. While it may not seem like much to toss one plastic straw in the trash, if you're honest, you use a whole lot more than just one plastic straw in a year's time. So do the rest of the people in your family. If you could eliminate your family's contribution to the growing problem of plastics in the landfill by no longer using plastic straws, would you? In order to do this, you have two choices: 1) Ask for "No straw" with your drink orders and drink directly out of the cup, or 2) Ask for "No straw" with your drink orders and use your own personal glass straw. I do both.

I received four GlassDharma straws to review and there isn't a single one I don't love using. And let me tell you, beverages simply taste better when sipped through glass. You already know you need to beware of plastic -- every day it seems we learn more reasons why it is a threat to our own health and the health of our families. So glass straws address two concerns I know those of you in the GG community have -- health and environment.

Glass straws are an excellent choice to promote reusable vs. disposable mentality. In a perfect world, single use plastics will cease to exist. A straw is just one step that creates a spiraling thought process toward other re-usables. 

GlassDharma products are guaranteed to surpass your expectations in quality and durability. Cleaning is easy, too. You simply use one of two different sized brushes (available on their website) with a bit of dishwashing detergent and hot water or you can simply put them in the dishwasher. While a straw can chip or crack if dropped, this is unusual. If it does crack, it is important not to continue using it. Simply follow the instructions for returning the straw on the guarantee page of the website. How's that for a product you can feel secure about buying?

I took my assortment of straws to the beach when my family went on vacation last week and my daughter, Jess, took some nice shots.

12mm Smoothie

9.5mm Decorative Dots Ice Tea

9.5mm Beautiful Bend

7mm Decorative Dots sipper (perfect for my granddaughter, Laura)

Check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to GlassDharma. 

 Since I just shared a picture of my adorable granddaughter, I might as well move right along into the photography part of today's giveaway. Valued at $175 (plus a $25 credit toward prints), the big {happy} wall fall mini session includes 

• a 20-minute photo shoot  
• professional retouching of 2-4 images
• online proofing gallery to share with friends
• low resolution, branded images for sharing online

Jen Meyercheck specializes in creating memories of a place and a time that can never be recreated, by capturing images that document real life. Here are just a couple of shots of two of Jen's favorite subjects.

Here's the catch -- in order to win this fantastic prize package, you must live (or be willing to travel) within 20 miles of zip code 15214.

As an added bonus to the local members of the GG community, Jen is offering a 20% sitting fee discount on a full session, plus a $25 online store discount to the first 5 GG readers to book and place a deposit on a session (to be completed before November 10, 2012). Book your holiday photo session now and before long you'll be looking at your own big {happy} wall. Maybe you'll even be lucky and win the Rafflecopter drawing below!

Art/Photo Display Kit by Petite Paintbrush

Another thing that makes the walls happy in the homes where there are little ones, is art... child-designed art. Petite Paintbrush is offering a custom-designed art/photo display kit so you can show off your kiddo's works of art or adorable photographs.

Of course, there's a Rafflecopter for this charming prize, too!

While we're on the subject of kids, I'm really happy to be able to offer Neale Godfrey's wonderful book, ECO-Effect to three lucky winners. I reviewed this book just a few months ago in a post called The greening of money. I think this is a book every family with children should read with their school-aged kids. Find out more by reading my review, and then enter to win one of three books.

Finally, we move from kids to pup dogs. Natural Products Network graciously donated a Harry Barker collar, leash and bowl. Harry Barker is committed to creating environmentally-friendly products for pets, including their leashes and collars made from 100% recycled plastic. 

Fun fact: every Harry Barker leash is made from 20 recycled plastic bottles. 

Their bowls are made from either bamboo fiber and rice husk or restaurant quality, high-fired porcelain which is lead and cadmium free, dishwasher and microwave safe and FDA approved.

You will find lots of environmentally-friendly products for your pets on the Natural Products Network website. 

Isn't Day 3 loads of fun? So many ways to go green! So visit websites, enter the Rafflecopters and share with your friends and family. Tomorrow, we'll be moving on to Baby and Mama Care.

And another reminder -- fill out the Rafflecopters accurately, including your FB, Twitter and Pinterest names and answering questions when asked. If you take the credit for posting comments or sharing the giveaway, please take the time to actually do so. All invalid entries will be removed. a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. The opinions stated in the reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win prizes. Entrants may also win more than one prize. Entries will be verified.

Tuesdays are for Cleaning Up -- Day 2 of the blogiversary celebration

One of the things I love about being Green Grandma is having the opportunity to try a wide variety of eco-friendly products. One such product I recently had the privilege to review was Clean+Green® by SeaYu®, a natural pet stain and odor remover that is safe for people, pets, and the planet! It doesn't get any better than that!  

Clean+Green® encapsulates and eliminates stain and odor on contact -- even skunk odor! -- by naturally biodegrading the stain or odor source. The all-natural formula delivers instant results in a safe, non-toxic, green solution. Ingredients include cane sugar derivatives, a proprietary blend of botanical extracts, hydrated cellulose, purified water, and a natural aerosol propellant (nitrogen).

I recently rearranged my bedroom a bit. When I moved a certain piece of furniture, I discovered that one of my previous kitties must have had a fond affection for peeing on the corner where it sat. Uh oh. My rug showed the telltale signs... and someone else was about to stay in my room when I left town for vacation. What to do, what to do?!

Ahh, I had a handy-dandy can of Clean+Green® to review. Here was my perfect opportunity. I read the instructions out loud to my husband. 

"There is no way you can spray that on the rug and it's going to get clean without scrubbing," he said. 

"But that's what the can says," I countered.

And then I tried it, lightly spraying the years-old stain. I gasped as I watched the stain lift away and disappear... leaving me with clean carpet where there once was cat urine stains. Insane. Really.

My husband didn't believe it.

"You had to do something else," he stated emphatically. 

But I hadn't. I simply sprayed. Admittedly, it took two applications to completely eliminate the stain, but that was nothing compared to what I used to go through. Plus, there was absolutely no odor. None. For a former pass-out-when-you-inhale-it Spot Shot fan, I am delighted beyond belief. This stuff really works, without the dangerous chemicals I'd grown accustomed to throughout the years! Clean+Green® is my only go-to solution from here out for cleaning any kind of pet stains on my carpets, hardwood floors, and upholstery, whether it's urine, feces, vomit or hairballs, although it better not be the former two with Vincent or Theo Van Gogh, two of the cleanest pets we've ever had. But they do do their share of scarfed-down-and-not-yet-digested regurgitation from time to time!

My only regret with the experiment with the carpet in my bedroom is that I didn't take before and after pictures. You'll just have to trust me on this one. Or grab a can for yourself and give it a try.  Check out their website for more information. And be sure to enter to win a can of your choice in the Rafflecopter below.

Moving on to the other great prizes in today's portion of giveaways in the Green Grandma 3rd Blogiversary Celebration --

I've posted reviews of the remaining 4 products in today's giveaway, and I encourage you to check out each review, starting with Are You Nuts?!  If you've never tried using soap nuts, this is your chance to win some. And they don't get any better than Eco Nuts®. Seriously. I love my Eco Nuts®. Doing my laundry never felt as eco-friendly as when I started using soap nuts to wash and distilled white vinegar to rinse. My towels have never been fluffier and more absorbent. And a really cool thing I discovered is that my underwear and bras regained their elasticity and shape. Very cool. Eco Nuts® are simply berries that grow in the Himalayas that naturally produce soap. You just toss 4 or 5 berries into each wash cycle (in a provided cloth bag) and let them do their magic. Skeptical? Enter to win some in the Rafflecopter below and see for yourself!

 Of course, there are times I still use detergent to get out tougher stains. And my husband, a bit more skeptical than I tend to be, still wants detergent to wash his dirty, sweaty clothes. That's why we both love Lulu's in the Fluff, made right here in Pittsburgh! And if you're looking for the perfect cloth diaper detergent, this is it! I not only love the way Lulu's works, but I also really appreciate that you can buy it by the pound (for just $5.95) by taking your own container over to Happy Baby Company in Robinson Township. My daughter, Bethany, did a thorough review for me back in April. Check out A touch of fluffy glamour to see what a die-hard Rockin' Green fan thought of this new cloth diaper detergent, then enter below for your chance to win not only a bag of Lulu's in the Fluff, but a $20 gift certificate to the store as well. Shop in store or online.
 

As if today's giveaways aren't good enough, there are two more. We all deal with the issue of how to make sure our fruits and vegetables are clean and safe to eat, especially in the winter months when we can't head out to our gardens to pick our own tomatoes or zucchini or shop at our local farmers' markets. That's why I love my Eat Cleaner Fruit and Vegetable Wash. Here's a part of my review of Eat Cleaner in Something scarier than lions and tigers and bears... e.Coli!

"The Fruit & Vegetable Wash is lab-proven to remove agricultural residue and wax that water can’t, and is made from safe and eco-friendly ingredients, which means it's chlorine and alcohol-free. It's also made in the States with FDA Approved, all-natural ingredients. Plus, it inhibits browning and helps food last up to 200 times longer! Another bonus, is it's easy to use -- just place your produce in a bowl, hit it with a generous spray of the cleaner, let it 'soak' for a couple of minutes and then fill the bowl with clean water, agitate the produce a bit and then thoroughly rinse. Your food will be clean, safe-to-eat, and have no soapy or chemical taste to spoil its own natural goodness." 

I hope you'll check out the rest of the review and take the time to enter to win a starter kit (as seen on QVC), which includes: 

• Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Spray. You'll wonder why you ever just rinsed with water alone. 
• Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Refill. Fill it back up again and enjoy a 3 month supply of wash. 
• Eat Cleaner 10-Ct. Individual Wipes in reusable pouch. Perfect for travel, farmer's markets, in your purse and glove compartment. 
• Eat Cleaner 40-Ct. Biodegradable Wipes Canister. Clean everything that comes into contact with your food with the only food grade wipe on the market!

 This is a great way to start your affair with Eat Cleaner... and believe me, once you start there is no going back!

And finally, what good is a cleaning up giveaway without something to wipe up dirty faces or gently care for runny noses? That's why I was so happy that the wonderful folks at HankyBook offered to join in the celebration by donating a 3-pack of HankyBooks to one lucky winner. And, of course, I posted a review awhile back. Do you want to know more about what makes HankyBooks so special? Then read A snotrag by any other name. If you are like me, and trying to eliminate as much paper waste as possible in your home, HankyBooks are a must-have. I hate tissue waste... and paper towel waste... and disposable diaper waste... and... oops, I digressed a bit. Back to tissue waste -- I'm a huge believer in hankies and HankyBooks are a practical, soft, innovative product. They are "the evolution of the handkerchief." Enter to win a set below. 

That's it for today. Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a chance to win prizes from 5 more generous sponsors. And don't forget to share these great giveaways with your family and friends. There's plenty to go around!



Just a quick reminder -- fill out the Rafflecopters accurately, including your FB, Twitter and Pinterest names and answering questions when asked. If you take the credit for posting comments or sharing the giveaway, please take the time to actually do so. All invalid entries will be removed.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. The opinions stated in the reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win prizes. Entrants may also win more than one prize. Entries will be verified.

Let the celebration begin!

Green Grandma with her Siberian Forest Cat, Theo Van Gogh

Three years ago today, I launched this blog and Green Grandma was born. So today is sort of an anniversary and birthday all rolled into one. I must admit, GG takes up a lot more time than I ever anticipated... a whole lot more. But the rewards have been countless, as I see lives changed and hear stories about how GG has helped people in a variety of ways.

Like this story from Courtney (my favorite, by far):

Recently I got a book titled “Vinegar Fridays” written by a woman named Hana Haatainen Caye, who also has a blog entitled “Green Grandma” (Check it out). Anyways, thanks to this book, I have replaced almost every harmful chemical in my house with vinegar and water mixtures. Including, shampoo! So, today, I was hanging out having my morning coffee and banana, when I hear my 9 Month old rustling in something. For those of us who have or have had 9 month olds, they get into EVERYTHING.  I walk over, just to take a peek, and she is sucking on the nozzle of a spray bottle from under our sink. Now, 2 months ago, that would have been a very harmful chemical based cleaner with bleach as the primary ingredient. But, thanks to this book, all it was, was Vinegar and water! Thank you to VInegar Fridays and awesome people like Green Grandma for sharing the wealth! Do yourself a favor and check out her blog. Also, check out Vinegar Fridays, it helps you save money, the environment, and obviously, my 9 Month old’s life!!

Can it get any better than that?!

Of course, no one's life has changed more than mine due to GG. After all, I started off simply talking about cloth diapers. I wanted to inform others about the toxins in disposable diapers and the dangers they present to your little one's health. That was important to me. As time went by, I started learning more and more about toxins and their threat to us as a society. As I learned, I shared. And I started ridding my own home of toxins I didn't even realize were dangerous. Sometimes, I shake my head in disbelief that I could have been so stupid. After all, I have a severe chemical sensitivity, yet I was still using fabric softener two years ago and spraying Febreeze around as recently as a year ago. Gasp! What was wrong with me?! Unfortunately, I'm sure there are things I'm still using that I won't be a year from now! Every week, I learn something new. I learn. I grow. I change the way I do things.

A year ago, I'd never heard of Monsanto. I didn't know what a GMO was. I hadn't tried coconut oil or coconut sugar. I hadn't discovered the wonders of Wildwood Soapworks or Clean and Green Odor and Stain Remover. Now, not only am I totally sold on the products of both companies, but I'm also thrilled to welcome them as sponsors of my blogiversary celebration event!

That's one of the best parts of having this blog... meeting wonderful people in this community, including the owners of businesses who believe in what Green Grandma stands for and are choosing to stand beside me to make this an awesome event! People like Mama Melinda from the incomparable Earth Mama Angel Baby, Adam and Lilli from Happy Baby Company, Al and Trina from Leaf and Bud Naturals, Jen from big {happy} wall, Jill from Green Baby Clothing Company, and so many more.

Throughout this coming week, I will be posting separate Rafflecopters for each of the following prizes. Each day from Tuesday through Friday will be themed and you have until midnight EST on August 31st to enter to win. Winners will be contacted via email on September 1st and will have 48 hours to respond. If I do not receive a response in that time, I will select a different winner. And, yes, you can will more than one prize. It's all up to the Rafflecopter to make the selections. However, I will verify the entries.

Here are the prizes up for grabs:

Tuesdays are for Cleaning up!

• Medium box (100 loads) of Eco Nuts (value $12)
• Bag of Lulu's in the Fluff and a $20 Gift Certificate to Happy Baby Company (value $33.95)
• Starter kit from Eat Cleaner (value $20)
• Can of Clean+Green® by SeaYu® Odor & Stain Remover (value $9.99)
• 3 pk of HankyBooks (value $17.95)

Wednesdays are for A Hodgepodge of Goodies!

• Fall Mini Photo Session with big {happy} wall (Pittsburgh), including 2-4 images and $25 credit toward prints (value $200)
• Custom-Designed Art/Photo Display Kit from Petite Paintbrush (value $10)
• ECO-Effect book by Neale Godfrey (3 books for 3 winners) (value $16.99 each)
• $25 Gift Certificate for glass straws from Glass Dharma (value $25)
• Healthy Puppy Pack from Natural Products Network (value $60)

Thursdays are for Baby and Mama Care!

• Nipple Cream and Diaper Rash & Thrush Cream from Motherlove (value $19.90)
• 2 pk. Posh Pads Washable Bamboo Nursing Pads and 2 pk 7" Mini Washable It's A Girl Thing PERIOD Panty Liners (value $24.90)
• Tots Bots Easyfit Diaper from Thanks Mama (value $23.95)
• Handmade Plush Crocheted Giraffe from The Crunchy Farm Baby Shop (value $18.00)
• Baltic Amber Teething Necklace from Green Baby Clothing Company (value $17.00)

Fridays are for Personal Care!

• Relax Package from Wildwood Soapworks, including Lavender Soap, Lavender Twist-up Solid Lotion, Golden Slumbers Sleep Balm and Lavender Lime Lip Balm (value $27.80)
• 2 Tubes of Multi Healing Balm and a Snack Pack Cooler (value $25.90+)
• $30 Gift Certificate from Leaf & Bud Naturals (value $30)
• Deodorant for Men & Women by Earthly Remedies by Erin (value $9.50)
• Mama's Herbal First Aid Bundle (value $49.95)

As you can see, it's going to be an awesome week for the Green Grandma community as we embark on our fourth year of sharing our thoughts, ideas, facts and opinions with the community. I hope I can touch your life somehow in the upcoming year.

Stop back tomorrow for a chance to win something in the Cleaning Up package!And thanks for being a part of the best blog community on the web!

Keeping it green and healthy,

Hana

For Bill, on our 21st anniversary

     

     

     Twenty-one years have passed by

     easily

     as we’ve struggled

     and fought

     and laughed our way through them.

     Transitions --

     there have been many --

     have challenged us

     tipping our equilibrium

     a little to the left

     and then the right.

     Complacency

     never lasting long enough to equal boredom

     and anxiety

     not long enough to equal despair.

     It’s been good.

     It’s been bad.

     It pretty much looks like every other marriage out there.

     The difference is…

     this one’s mine

     and it’s his

     and it’s ours.

 

     And that, my friends,

     is what makes today worth noting.

     For richer or poorer

     in sickness and in health

     to love and to cherish

     to love and to cherish.

-- Hana Haatainen Caye  ©2012

 

Vinegar Friday -- it's about those pesky ants

Photo by Teodoro S. Gruhl

Okay, I've had it. My family and I are wrapping up our week-long vacation in Sandbridge, Virginia where we stayed in a beautiful 7-bedroom house on the beach. It's been lovely. I really have no complaints about Mi Casa Su Casa. Except for the ants. Hundreds of them. In the kitchen. On the counter. In the sink. In the dishwasher.

"Dump 2 cups of vinegar in it, close it up and run it through a quick rinse. That will kill them," I told my daughter. These little buggers bite awfully hard for how small they are and I'm really sick of it.

Yesterday morning, they were everywhere once again. So I grabbed the jug of distilled white vinegar and I doused a wash cloth with it and started to wipe. I was appalled at the amount of little brown creatures on the underside of the washcloth. I turned it over and watched them die. Then I doused a second washcloth and repeated the process. Next, I poured undiluted DWV into the sinks and wiped the surrounding counters. That pretty much took care of the problem.

Ants. I'm just not a fan. Vinegar. Well, that's a different story!

Keeping it green and ant-free with vinegar,

Hana

Thursday's Truths and Tidbits -- Johnson and Johnson caves into pressure!

The EWG is calling it a VICTORY! Back in November, corporate giant Johnson and Johnson succumbed to the pressure put on them by concerned people like you and me and agreed to take 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde out of their baby products. This should have been a no-brainer from the start, but apparently the chemists at J&J didn't see a problem with poisoning our children.

The news just got better, however. J&J has agreed to phase out 1,4 dioxane, formaldehyde, and other carcinogens and toxins from their adult products as well. These are chemicals that have been linked to birth defects, diabetes, hormone disruption and breast cancer. And the toxins are found in the J&J company product lines by Aveeno, Neutrogena, ROC, Clean & Clear, Purpose and Johnson's Baby Shampoo.

It will be awhile before the products are safe, however, so don't rush out and buy them quite yet. Of course, you're always safe with Earth Mama Angel Baby's line, so at least you know of one alternative!

While the news is good, there is still more we can do. Such as start putting pressure on some of the other companies that continue to assault us with their toxins. So I encourage you to go to this link where you will be able to send a form email to the good folks at Proctor & Gamble, L'Oreal USA, Inc., The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., Avon and Unilever. Let them know how you feel about their products being full of carcinogens and other junk, and remind that of how Johnson & Johnson is turning the tide and caring about the health and well-being of their customers.

Thanks for doing your part!

Sharing some truths and tidbits with you,

Hana

A Review it Wednesday redux -- Singing the praises of Eco Nuts

Reposting of a review from last year for one of my favorite products ever. Stop back next week for a chance to win a medium-sized box of Eco Nuts (good for 100 loads!).

"Are you nuts?" was pretty much the response I got from my husband when he first heard about soap nuts. "You're going to wash clothes with these?" he asked as he held a few of them in his hands. "Do you want to explain to me how exactly they are going to get the clothing clean?"

Well, I didn't really have an explanation. And, quite honestly, I had my doubts. I mean they were, after all, just a bunch of nut shells.

So, with a bit of trepidation, I put 5 of them in the little cloth drawstring bag that accompanied them, and I tossed them into the water with a load of towels. I skipped my usual vinegar rinse, since the instructions said not to use fabric softener and vinegar is my fabric softener. And, of course, I did not add any detergent.

After the cycle ran, I was eager to check the results. The first thing that hit me as I pulled a towel from the washer was the amazing scent! Like my husband said, the towels smelled like they'd just come in from the clothesline. Amazingly clean smelling!

I tossed the towels in the dryer with my wool dryer balls, as it was not a hanging-on-the-line kind of a day, and let me tell you -- they came out looking and smelling clean. Plus, as an added bonus, they were super soft and fluffy as well. I must say that static was an issue as the curtains I'd added to the wash clung to the towels like a co-dependent girlfriend or boyfriend. But to be truthful, I haven't found anything that works on static so far.

Next, I did a load of throw rugs. Same pleasant results. Then it was time for my delicates, which I never put in the dryer. Even after drying on the line in the basement, they still had the same fresh, springlike scent. Amazing. I think I'm in love.

But what exactly am I in love with? Eco Nuts, Organic Laundry Soap in the form of dried fruit shells from the Sapindus mukorossi tree in Nepal, India and Indonesia. Sounds strange, I know, but you have to try these to believe it. Residents of India and China have been using these for centuries and finally, Europeans and Americans are finally catching on to the wonders of these magical little soap nuts!

Here's what the flyer in the package of sample Eco Nuts says about them:

"Eco Nuts contain saponin, a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of the water to penetrate the fibers of your clothing, lifting stains from the fabric and leaving dirt suspended in the water to be rinsed away."

It sounds like a wild sci-fi experiment to me!

The flyer continues:

"Eco Nuts are gentle on both clothes and skin, making them ideal for those with sensitive skin, eczema, allergies and psoriasis. Because they are so mild and leave no residuals, they are perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers. The antimicrobial properties of Eco Nuts also make them great for septic and grey water systems."

Did you read that ... perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers? How many commercial detergents can truly boast that claim?

And here's the thing, these mighty soap nuts work well in any temperature water, which means all the cold water washing I do is just fine. And they can be used in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines.

Eco Nuts even work well as a multipurpose soap. You simply put 5 of the soap nuts in the little fabric bag you use for your wash loads and soak it in a cup of hot water for about five minutes. Add this mix to a bucket of water and you're good to go! From outdoor equipment to delicate jewelry to even Fido and Fluffy! Soap nuts are multi-purpose little cleaning machines!

There's something else to love about Eco Nuts -- the company uses absolutely NO PLASTIC! They only use aluminum bottles, recycled cardboard and paper scoops.

But my daughter is allergic to peanuts! Can I still use soap nuts?

Absolutely! Why? Because soap nuts aren't actually nuts at all. They are a berry fruit similar to the lychee. All Eco Nuts products are cruelty-free, paraben-free and vegan.

Why should you buy Eco Nuts over other soap nut brands? And it's not just because they sent me this sample to try for free! This is why:

Eco Nuts™ are wild-harvested, meaning they are gathered from wild trees grown without any kind of chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. The saponin actually tastes bad to insects so no pesticides are needed, and the trees naturally love poor uncultivated soil. They are organically grown by mother earth and certified USDA Organic by EcoCert at the source.

I'm hard-pressed to think that I would go back to liquid or powder detergent ever again. In just a few loads of laundry, I became an Eco Nuts convert. Give them a try. I'm pretty much betting you'll be joining me in the Eco Nuts fan club!

 

Click here for a list of retailers in the U.S., Japan, U.K. and Canada currently carrying Eco Nuts. Canadian friends can contact Jill at Green Baby Clothing Company and tell her Green Grandma sent you! Of course, she ships to the U.S. as well, so my friends in the States can place their orders with her as well.

If you truly want to reduce your environmental impact, Eco Nuts is just one more product that will help you do just that.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Click here for more information about the amazing world of soap nuts!

It's not easy being green... unless you're incarcerated

Here's a different take on Going Green. Guest blogger, Jane Smith, is a freelance writer with a special interest in personal, criminal and professional records, heads to prison... well, at least her research takes her there... and she lets us know which correctional facilities are worthy of being named in the Top 3 in Washington state when it comes to sustainability. Why is this important to know? Well, I thought it might help you decide in which state you want to commit your next crime (Washington's looking good). Or, maybe it's just nice to know that sustainability is being practiced even behind bars. Hey, the prisoners may not understand that murder is a crime, but at least they know the importance of recycling.

Photo by Zaid Hamid for Wikipedia

Even Prisons Go-Green

3 Top Sustainable Correctional Facilities 
in Washington State

Every year, hundreds of eco-conscious residents and employers pay thousands of dollars to ensure that their homes and office buildings are eco-friendly and meet LEED certification standards. While these individuals have the resources to live a greener lifestyle, some individuals with not-so-pristine background checks don't have the same opportunities (or freedom) to make the same green initiatives. We're talking about prisoners. They don't have access to the same sustainable resources or materials that non-prisoners do. However, thanks to new green construction ordinances popping up around the country, some of our tax dollars are now helping correctional facilities make initiatives to become "green" and save money.  In fact, Washington has already mandated a law that states all new correctional institutions must be environmentally friendly. That said, continue reading to learn about a few green prisons in the Washington state area.

Monroe Correctional Complex

The Monroe Correctional Complex is the state's largest correctional facility. While technically green initiatives started in 1997 via a recycling program, the building didn't receive LEED certification until 2010—officially earning the title as the first green prison building in the area. Currently the facility has a plethora of programs that inmates can participate in, such as tending a vegetable and herb garden, working in the green house, repurposing old mattresses, and tending to the grounds with push mowers. There's also a compost program which helps the facility save roughly $43,000 on waste bills each year. If that wasn't enough, the facility also uses an advanced rainwater collection system which helps flush toilet water, as well as energy efficient lighting. 

Coyote Ridge Prison

Since the prison completed its extension in 2008, the LEED certified penitentiary has received much praise for its green efforts. And it shouldn't come as a surprise either: not only does the correctional facility use 5.5 million less gallons of water than "traditional" prisons, which ultimately saves more than $400,000 a year, but the prison also functions mostly on solar power and uses state-of-the art "skinny windows" which keeps cells cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The facility also has energy-efficient boilers, ventilation systems, and the prison's laundry system doesn't rely heavily on local aquifers.

Cedar Creek Corrections Center

Lastly, while Coyote Ridge focuses more on the green initiatives of the actual structure/building,  Cedar Creek (similar to Monroe) is focused more on creating green programs that not only can help save the environment, but also keep their inmates active. After all, implementing programs like recycling, composting, an organic garden, bee-farming and spotted frog research gives inmates a "job" which helps cut costs since prisons don’t have to hire outside staff.   

Hopefully, sometime in the future, all prisons will get on board and transform into sustainable environments as well.

A freelance blogger and writer with a special interest in personal, criminal and professional records, Jane Smith knows the value of a thorough criminal background check.  In her free time, she loves writing about green initiatives and sustainability. She welcomes your feedback at janesmith161@gmail.com. 

Vacation!

There is something so very unrelaxing about driving to the beach. My goodness, there's a lot of traffic. That's how we spent our Sunday. Well, at least 11 hours of it. Yuck. But, I'm fairly confident that we'll make up for it by spending a week in Sandbridge, VA. And before anyone jumps all over me for putting it out there that we're out of town, please note that we have a house/cat sitter and everything's safe and secure. But thank you for your concern.

We are having a 4 generational vacation... the first one ever. So I'll be popping in from time to time, but I also might choose to skip a post here and there, so please forgive me. I'd rather be playing in the sand or pool with the grandbabies, or sitting at the table playing Pinocle with my mom than sitting inside researching toxins and the likes. I'm sure you understand.

So, enjoy your week. And check in tomorrow when my guest blogger talks about prisons going green. It's an interesting post.

Sharing the beginning of my Sabbath week with you,

Hana

A gift from the sea

My grandbabies at the beach... Summer 2011

 

                       The sea does not reward 

                       those who are too anxious, 

                       too greedy,

                       or too impatient.

                       One should lie empty,

                       open,

                       choiceless as a beach --

                       waiting for 

                       a gift from the sea.

                                           -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Vinegar Fridays -- Protecting our little ones from toxins

 TGIVF!


We're surrounded by chemicals. As a matter of fact, the U.S. currently has over 80,000 chemicals registered for commercial use. That's a whole heck of a lot more than were around back when I was a child in the '50s and '60s. Approximately 700 new chemicals are introduced in the States every year, and most of them have not been studied for their possible effects of child development. Doesn't that frighten you? It terrifies me. These are chemicals in common household products like

• toys
• furniture
• shampoo
• food
• electronics
• cleaners
• laundry products
• lawn care products 
• and so many more!

My concern for the welfare of your children is one of the reasons I started this feature on my blog, which eventually led to the book, Vinegar Fridays.

Common household distilled white vinegar can be used to replace nearly every cleaner in your home, and apple cider vinegar can be used for a variety of beauty and health-related things. Vinegar is just that amazing. 

Of course, Green Grandma isn't the only one concerned! Healthy Child Healthy World is celebrating its 20th anniversary and plays a leadership role in one of the most important public health and environmental movements of the 21st century. HCHW is focused on empowering parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. 

Following the death of five-year-old Colette Chuda in 1992, HCHW formed to help prevent other children like Colette from dying from cancers linked to environmental factors. HCHW is a national, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Please visit their website for more information about the work they are doing to keep your children safe from toxins.

This month, through October, Healthy Child Healthy World is teaming up with Nordic Naturals® to convey an important message to families worldwide that it is essential that we protect our children from harmful contaminants by creating healthy environments where they can grow, thrive and flourish. After all, isn't that what we all want for our kids?

Nordic Naturals® is donating a portion of proceeds from selected Nordic Naturals® children's products to HCHW during its Back-to-School promotion. To help raise awareness about this vital issue, Nordic Naturals® is donating $1 for every bottle sold of the following products:

• Nordic Berries™ -- chewy, sweet-and-sour multivitamins provide 100% of the daily value of the most essential nutrients
• Nordic Omega-3 Gummies™ -- easy-to-chew omega-3 tangerine treats for ages 2+
• Children's DHA™ -- chewable, strawberry-flavored omega-3s support brain and visual function for ages 3+
• Baby's DHA™ -- omega-3s for babies 5-35 lbs. with a measured dropper for easy addition to formula or food

Nordic Naturals® is based in Watsonville, CA and is committed to delivering the world's safest, most effective omega oils to help provide the essentials of an extraordinary life. With over 150 products being distributed to more than 35 countries, the company's formulations are all in line with leading standards for safety, efficacy and sustainability. For more information on the company and their products, visit their website.

You can also follow what's going on with these two care-about-your-kids' companies by following them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nordicnaturals and www.facebook.com/HealthyChild) and Twitter (@NordicNaturals and @Healthy_Child.

And, of course, you can follow Green Grandma and Vinegar Fridays on FB and Twitter as well. @TheGreenGrandma @VinegarFridays.


Keeping it green and healthy with vinegar and Nordic Naturals®,

Hana