Water | Resources
A Thousand & One Nets
A large selection of 100% cotton mosquito nets in many styles and colous, made in Australia and India. Sizes available for Crib, single, queen and king size beds, plus a made-to-order service. “The 100% cotton muslin netting provides an enhanced sleeping environment due to its natural fibres and is superior to nylon or polyester mosquito nets. The ability for the fabric to breathe allows for a safe and comfortable nights sleep. All ages can benefit from the features of a cotton mosquito net. Babies can enjoy the safe cocooned environment that a mosquito net creates…the coloured mosquito nets for single beds can be a expressive way to reinvent a child
Territorial Seed Company
Organic and open-pollinated vegetable and flower seeds, garlic bulbs, potato sets, and live seedlings. "Our purpose is to improve people's self-sufficiency and independence by enabling gardeners to produce an abundance of good tasting fresh-from-the-garden food twelve months a year…At Territorial we fund extensive vegetable, flower and herb trials [at their own organic farm]. Each year Territorial's research staff grows and evaluates thousands of varieties. This effort allows us to offer you the best-tasting, top performers from around the world. "
TerraPass
Renewable energy certificates that give you an opportunity to offset the carbon monoxide emissions produced from driving your car–a key cause of global warming and source of toxic air pollution. Your purchase of a certificate, appropriate to size of your car, reduces the environmental impact of your driving by funding clean energy projects that directly offset your car’s carbon emissions. Priced from $29.95 to $79.95 per year. Certificates are printed on recycled paper and come with a static cling decal for your car.
Terracycle Plant Food
An innovative liquid plant food that is not only made from some of the best compost there is (worm poop), but also comes packaged in recycled used plastic soda bottles. The company has established collection sites to recycle bottles all over America, and has already rescued and reused over 1 million bottles.
Terra Green Ceramics
Recycled glass tiles containing 58 percent recycled material. Solid color field tiles in many colors and sizes, and patterned border tiles.
Foam In Sofa
Question from ptomcik
Hello Debra,
Do you think that if I encased sofa cushions with the same material used to encase mattresses to make them dust mite proof it would prevent the flame retardants from escaping? One website has a cotton material with a pore size of 4.91 microns and a polyester covering with a pore size of 2.8 microns. I’m not sure I understand if it is the actual flame retardent chemical that is liberated from foam and then combines with dust or if it combines with dust in the foam and then is liberated.
Thank you,
PT, Pittsburgh
Debra’s Answer
This is a pretty technical question.
First, there are many different flame retardants used. You would need to find out which flame retardant is on your sofa.
And then you would need to know the particle size of that specific flame retardant (here’s a chart of particle/micron sizes of various common materials: Particle Sizing Chart.
Different flame retardants have different particle sizes. Two I was able to find quickly are Antimony Pentoxide (0.03 microns) and Antimony Trioxide (0.25-3.0 Micron). In searching for these, I found that flame retardants are formulated and sold in various particle sizes–the same flame retardant can be purchased in different particle sizes, so even if you knew the flame retardant, you probably couldn’t find out the particle size.
So let’s say that your sofa has Antimony Trioxide (0.25-3.0 Micron). Your cotton material with a pore size of 4.91 microns and a polyester covering with a pore size of 2.8 microns. That means that there is a “hole” that is 4.91 microns in size, or 2.8 microns. So anything smaller than that pore size would go through, like a 10-inch basketball could go through a 24-inch hoop.
A molecule of 0.25-3.0 Micron could go through the cotton pore of 4.91 no problem, so that wouldn’t be a barrier.
Hair Coloring, For Light-Colored, Anything Truly Safe??
Question from rebrue
Hello All!
Does anyone have a suggestion for how to truly add highlights (in my case, blonde) to one’s hair in a safe, non-toxic manner? I thought I had found the one, genuinely “organic” hair colorist in my area, but I could tell the other day that she had added some ammonia to the concoction. I am way too sensitive and compromised with my health to tolerate this. And yet I want and need to cover the little grays that are starting to sprout plus the blond highlights do seem to look good.
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Rebecca in sunny CA……
Debra’s Answer
I get my hair highlighted in a salon and there is no odor.
My hairdresser used All-Nutrient Organic Hair Color.
I’ve been very happy with the results.
Boric Acid in Crib Sized Futon
Question from RedondoSun
I bought a ‘natural’ crib sized futon and had it shipped for our baby daughter to sleep on. I wasn’t able to obtain a doctor’s note in order to purchase an all organic one, so I just went ahead and ordered the one with a layer of boric acid in it. Once we got it, I wasn’t so sure it was safe. I bought a mattress wrap for it, but it has been sitting in our closet. I opted to just use the spring mattress from our oldest daughter and kept the wrap on that. Sorry to draw this out, but my ultimate question is, Is there a way to ‘wear out’ the boric acid within the futon? Does it dissipate over time or would you recommend I just get rid of it? I have found so much great information on here and refer your site and newsletters to all my friends and family. Thank you for making this wonderful information available to us!
Debra’s Answer
I’m not aware that boric acid wears out over time. If you’re feeling uncertain about using it, just get rid of it.
Non-toxic hair dye
Question from Susan NYC
Hello Debra, I’m trying to figure out the best possible hair coloring to use–actually I need to cover gray:) I’m very sensitive to chemicals and have other allergies, as well as sensitive skin. I’m wondering what would be the mildest option for me. I have reddish-brown hair naturally. Thank you for all you do! Susan
Debra’s Answer
Readers, your suggestions?
I haven’t used any of the natural hair dyes, so can’t vouch for their mildness.
I get my hair hightlighted at an organic salon with All-Nutrient Organic Hair Color and I am very happy with the results.
Here are some other posts from this blog about hair color:
Pest Control
Question from Miemiemuis
I am looking for safe pest control and am considering a product from EcoSMART. Would you be so kind as to look at the MSDS and let me know what you think of the safety of the ingredients in this product:
Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
This product is made with rosemary essential oil as the active ingredient, plus mineral oil and something called “inert essential oils blend”. I’m not exactly sure what “inert essential oils blend” is and couldn’t find a definition anywhere (you should ask them what it is), but it looks like some blend of oils as a carrier oil for essential oils, not a blend of essential oils, because both mineral oil and inert essential oils blend say they compose 10-70 percent of the product. Now the rosemary oil is 10 percent. They don’t say what the other 10 percent is. So I’m missing data. You need to ask them these questions.
Concentrated essential oils, though natural, can have their own health effects. The MSDS says this product can cause skin irritation, eye/nasal irritation, dizziness, headache, or nausea.
This is not an entirely safe product, but it may be a less-toxic solution depending on what you are using it for.
