Naturalpath

When I announced a giveaway for BabyGanics I had many commenters ask that I share some of my own personal cleaning recipes and methods. Well, I would be happy to do so. I actually LOVE cleaning. That sounds kind of strange but I really do enjoy it and I can’t use harsh cleaners and chemicals because I will break out in hives. Give me a bottle of Windex and I will be puffy, itchy, and gasping for air in a few minutes. It is NOT pretty.

So here is a run down of what I generally use to clean:

Furniture Polish - 1 cup olive oil, 1/2 lemon juice. Mix in a spray bottle and shake before every use. Spray on rag and then rub furniture.

Window Cleaner - Put 1/4 cup vinegar in a spray bottle along with several lemon peels and then fill to the top with water. Spray all surfaces and use a lint free rag to wipe off. Crumpled newspaper works well to wipe up after too.

Medil Reports features news that

I bet you’ve read dozens of articles telling you to switch to low energy light bulbs and to insulate your cavity walls if you want to save energy and be green. I know I have. And that’s all very well if you own your own home and have the money available to buy those CFL light bulbs. But what if you don’t? Are you doomed to live a life of excess and waste just because you can’t afford to go green? I think not. There are plenty of things that you can do that will curb your carbon emissions and save yourself some money to boot.

1. Food

Grow your own. This isn’t a short term solution to going green, but it’s a good way to cut your food bill and your food miles in one foul swoop. There’s no need to even go out and buy seeds. Save seeds from the fruit that you eat and look out for seeds and seedling being given away on Freecycle. If you don’t have a garden, you can grow herbs and salad leaves on your windowsill. The cut and come again varieties of salad and stir-fry leaves are especially economical. Or get really inventive with a vertical garden on a balcony or outside wall. (see photograph of vertical garden by Nicolas Boullosa) Work with what you have.

If you’re in the habit of eating ready-meals, you’re most likely paying over the odds per meal. If you cook from scratch in large batches and freeze meal-size portions you will be saving money, eating healthier food and reducing the amount of packaging that you throw away.

I have this adoration for homes made from shipping containers, it seems so responsible and a wonderful way to recycle.

Paul and Scott Stankey, of hive Modular, built their rustic container cabin over the course of 9 years at a total cost of $15,000. On one side of the cabin a a container is made into a sleeping unit while the other is a kitchen and storage room. The Stankey's would eventually like to turn the design into a prefab cabin available for purchase.

Initially, they purchased two, twenty foot, used containers for $800 each. They placed them on foundation piers and the rest is history.

They will be adding some solar to power up their abode and a rainwater collection system.