Art | Resources
Sprout Creek Farm
Farm-fresh cheeses made from the milk of grass-fed cows. The model farm “exists for the sake of helping us all connect with one another, and for us that means with animals and plants as well as with people. Our animals are friendly and gentle, and most importantly, known. We respect them and are grateful for all they are able to produce for us. So we try to provide a good life for them. Our cow, sheep, and goat herds are small, and we have enough grass for them to eat. They come in from the pasture to be milked or checked twice each day and spend the rest of their day roaming about in the fresh air in search of their own grassy version of mesclun!” Be sure to click on “The Farm” button to learn about the health benefits of grass-fed animal products. Proceeds from cheese sales support their educational programs.
SoySafe
All natural, biodegradable paint stripper made from renewable American-grown soy removes oil-based, water-based and even lead-based paint from any surface.
Organic wool/cotton mattress with latex?
Question from econchic
Hi,
I’ve found an organic wool, cotton, latex, and spring mattress in Austin for a great price from a local manufacturer. I am worried about getting a mattress with natural latex because of allergies. My husband and I do not have an allergy, but we understand they can develop over time. More importantly, we are having baby and certainly don’t want to promote allergies in our children.
My issues is that, while the local manufacturer can make a custom mattress for us without latex, we can’t try it ahead of time and we know it will be firmer. We can’t be there while it’s being made because we don’t live close enough. However, for a price it can be changed down the road if we need it to be. Another option would be to add a wool topper if it’s too firm.
Anyone have any comments about the latex allergy issue and/or firmness issue?
Debra’s Answer
Exposure to latex over time can result in allergies to latex in people who didn’t previously have allergies. That is a known fact. So my best precautionary recommendation is to not use latex.
If this mattress is otherwise a good choice for you, a wool topper could handle any problem with firmness. If one isn’t enough, two will probably do it.
Alkaline Water
Question from HEG
Have you ever heard of Kangan water (http://www.fohcwater.com/), and any thoughts on it?
Debra’s Answer
Yes, I’ve heard of Kangan Water. I’ve been drinking alkaline water myself for about five years and I LOVE it. It’s not made by a Kangan machine, I have a medical-grade alkalizer and all of the water I drink at home is alkaline.
Some years ago, I read a book called Reverse Aging by Sang Whang that convinced me that alkaline water was better for my health. Most people’s bodies today are very acid, due to the foods we eat and our exposure to toxic chemicals. Many people eat alkaline foods and minimize acid foods to try to correct this balance. Whang shows how drinking alkaline is much more effective at adjusting body pH. Illness is more prevalent in acidic bodies.
Alkaline water also detoxes your body, so you have to start drinking it in small amounts to not have symptoms at first. But I will tell you that in my body it didn’t work very well as a detox method for chemicals. I’ve been drinking 3-4 quarts a day for about five years, and I am still doing other detox methods.
But I can tell a difference. Alkaline water is “alive,” it is electrically charged, more like water in nature. When I am away from home and don’t have my alkaline water, I can feel the difference in my body. It is worth it to me to manually pour the water through the alkalizer and store it in my refrigerator (the alkaline state diminishes quickly without refrigeration).
What I don’t know is if there is any reason to use a Kangan machine or not. It’s probably not as strong as my medical grade alkalizer. I can’t really recommend Kangan because I haven’t researched various alkaline water machines. But I do recommend alkaline water.
Odoreze
Question from Vicki in Oregon
Has anyone ever tried Odoreze™ Laundry Deodorizing Additive…if so, does it really work?
http://noodor.com/p/laundry-odor-smell-deodorizer-sweat-odors-washer.html
Someone gave my expectant daughter some beautiful hand me downs and they smell of laundry products so bad that she had to remove them from her house.
Debra’s Answer
Looks like an interesting product. They don’t have an ingredient list on their site that I could find. But they will refund your money if you don’t like it. If you try it, let us know.
Poly B Water Pipes
Question from Debra Lynn Dadd
A reader sent me this question this week:
We are looking at buying a new home and one we are interested in has Poly B pipes. Anything I read online is concerns of the pipes not lasting. However, my concern is more with the fact that my water is flowing through unsafe plastic. Do you know anything about it? Thanks so much, Jennifer
Debra’s Answer
Polu B is polybutylene plastic.
Here is the MSDS: www.plasticsmadesimple.com/DataSheets/PBT_MSDS.pdf
I don’t see any health effects mentioned here, however, 25% of it is polycarbonate which contains BPA (endocrine distruptor).
BUT water is rushing through these pipes, so there is no time for leaching.
An extra precaution would be to not drink the water that has been sitting in the pipes overnight.
SoySafe
All natural, biodegradable wood sealer and waterproofer made from renewable American-grown soy. For all wood decks, docks, playground equipment, benches, tables or outdoor furniture. Contains no VOC's.
Soulshine Beeswax Candles
100% beeswax candles and a lot more! All natural-color honeycomb, pillars, tapers, votives, tealights, and novelty shapes (including holiday). Plus tips on how to remove beeswax from clothing and candleholders, recipes for using beeswax, the history of beeswax, and a list of links on the dangers of candles. "Soulshine beeswax candles are created in a peaceful valley of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia. The candles are created in a workshop located adjacent to a tranquil trout stream where every candle is hand-poured or hand-dipped to ensure the highest level of quality."
Sonic Bloom
I first put this in a book I wrote in 1990. What inspired me then and now is that the whole technology is based on the fact that the early morning singing of birds trigger plants to open their stomata–infinitesimal mouth-like pores that allow oxygen and water to pass out of the leaf while carbon dioxide and other gases move in to be transformed by photosynthesis into sugars. The music of nature, it seems, is vital to healthy plants. Sonic Bloom is an organic spray that is applied to the leaves of plants along with the specific sound frequency that induces stomata to open. The results are amazing.
Making Cosmetics
A leading supplier of cosmetic ingredients and containers for making your own personal care products and decorative cosmetics. They sell both chemical and natural ingredients and have a whole section of free recipes, so you can “have it your way” and make your own formulations.
