Tech Tuesday - Something To Think About

I would like to take some time to talk about Green technology. Not about a new Eco gadget or Green fuel source but the purpose of it all. What is the purpose of Eco-friendly living? Why bother? Is there really an ecological crisis? I'm going to give you the answers, but first I have a question for YOU!



Why are we, not as a nation but as a species, resisting environmentally responsible change? When one sits back and views the topic from all angles it becomes clear that something is very wrong with a world that can not move forward in this field. Let's look at the big picture for a moment. Advocates of going Green believe that the human race is having a serious effect on the planets climate as well as the delicate ecosystems all over the globe. Opponents of going Green believe that we are not. My over all point is that it does not matter which side is right because either way going Green is simply a smarter idea all around.



Lets say for a moment that the Advocates are wrong. If all industries are made Green and the Advocates of going Green are wrong, the world still gains the freedom of unlimited electricity and efficient systems meaning cheaper operation and cost of living for everyone. On the other hand, if they are right and we do not heed their warnings the human race will end up extinct. I can not see the logic in the argument. Green is a win win situation where not Green has a 50% chance of killing all of mankind. People complain about how high their power bill is and how expensive gasoline is but at the same time wont except a better and cheaper way to live.



At this point in the conversation a typical Opponent to going Green would say that the Green movement is just a bunch of hippy conspiracy theorists who think the oil companies are trying to take over the world. Now, I'm not going to say if they are or not, but if being Green would save billions of dollars and enable the worlds nations to become energy self-sufficient why has it not happened? Politics is the answer. No one wants a war and if we stop buying foreign oil a war is what we will have. My point on this matter is if we were willing to go to war with Iraq, after 9/11 even though the people claiming responsibility for the attacks were not from or in Iraq, why would we be unwilling to fight a war for the future of the entire human race? Also, as a nation with as powerful a military as we have, what nation could force us to buy anything? Perhaps no war would be fought at all. Either way, isn't the chance of war worth our independence? As a nation that claims to be "Free" why do we allow ourselves to be slaves to greed?



We live in strange times. There was a time once, long ago, when many nations of the world united to do battle with a power whom many believed was evil. That time was WWII. I have always said that WWII was one of the few times in history when our world had what could be considered a Super Villain. Hitler was so much like a super villain that Marvel comics based one off of him named the Red Skull. Today we have the same cartoonish super villainy, only its hidden. There are companies like Monsanto who have managed to legally patent living beings who have been on this planet since long before mankind was. They endeavor to legally own all food sources. Again, it could be argued that this line of thinking is simply conspiracy theory, but why else would an agricultural company start voraciously buying and patenting any and all crop-viable seed stock? To eliminate competition of course. They are a business after all, and businesses exist to make money. It just so happens that in this circumstance the competition is freedom to feed yourself and others without paying a licensing fee.




What about the housing market? Did you know that you don't have to pay tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a home. Indeed it is possible to build one for free if you are willing to work hard and do it yourself. But most places in the United States will not allow this. They do not allow certain building materials because they don't meet building codes. But cob for instance is a building material that has been used for hundreds of years or longer in some of the harshest climates in Europe. Some of those buildings still stand and are being lived in today. If a building material can build a home that will still be standing and livable in five hundred years I think it should be allowed, seeing as how no home built to code in the US today will last that long.




Now imagine a world where housing was free, electricity was free, water was free (because without an electrical cost it would be) and if you were a farmer even your food would be free. It sounds like a world where 90% of the worlds problems would be taken care of. It would (almost) eliminate the need for money and free us all from the slavery we force upon ourselves. Using free, sustainable resources like bamboo and cob alongside free sustainable power like solar, wind and hydro we could build this truly FREE country. But it will never happen while we allow the people who have all the money force us to need money to exist.



Fight back! Free yourself and free the world.

Labels: Tech Tuesday

Giveaway Winners!

I needed to take the time to draw winners for two giveaways...so without further delay, here are the winners!

Vintage Renewal


Good Stuff...Naturally





Labels: Giveaway

It's 3AM

Matchbox20



Labels: Random, video

snaulkter

Name: ErinLee
Shop Name: snaulkter
Shop Link: http://www.snaulkter.etsy.com
Location: NY
Ships To: worldwide

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?
I use mostly recycled materials and up-cycled fabrics- I've wonderful friends who clean their closets out and give me bags of goodies. Sometimes I hunt around in thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales for treasures. I do occasionally peruse the fabric remnant bin for new fabrics too. I also use plastic shopping bags in the fins of my seahorses so that they crinkle.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
Many different reasons.. I've always held on to certain clothes because of their pattern or texture, knowing that I would need them again one day. I love to use old sweaters, and turn them into something lovable again. I can't really afford to purchase new fabrics, and it does not make much sense to anyway.


What inspires you?
My amazing child, Willow, is my number one inspiration. I've always been artistic, but I lost my way until she came along. My dearly departed Grandmama, as she is in every single piece I create. After she passed, I inherited her old sewing machine, fabrics, hundreds of threads, etc. Nature inspires me, family, friends and people, running, animals, dreams, photographs.. I could go on forever..

Besides your business, what else do you do to live green?
I've always lived with a respectful and conservative attitude towards the world in which we inhabit. My family and I eat whole, natural (organic when possible) foods, I make my own house cleaners.. when my daughter was in diapers, we used cloth and cloth wipes, and I made my own baby wipe solution..

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?
since December of 2007.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
both

How did you get into your craft?
I got into making softies particularly because of my little girl. I've always wanted to make softies, since they provided much comfort and fun for me when I was a child.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?
Stay positive, and don't be afraid of shameless self promotion!!

Anything else you would like to add?
Buy handmade! :D



Labels: etsy seller

6 Great Things About Hyla

Today is my final post for Hyla. It has been so much fun getting to know her over the past few months. Over at Momdot they do Small Talk Six where you list 6 things about a certain subject so today I decided to do this as a tribute for Hyla. Thanks for letting me guest post on your blog when I was just a clueless beginner.

1. Hyla cares about the earth.

2. She has very interesting posts.

3. Hyla would help anyone in need.

4. She gets sassy about stuff and is not afraid to let you know. Hence her post about her computer this week:)

5. Hyla can manage a lot of stuff and stay sane.

6. Hyla is a sweetheart that Im so glad to have met.

Lets give Hyla a really great day and post your 6 in the comment box.

Labels: random, guest blogger

Recycle Glass Over and Over

Labels: Did You Know, Video

Natural Room Deodorizer

Instead of using chemical laden sprays and laboratory created synthetic oils to deodorize your home, make your own easy room deodorizer potpourri. Potpourri is NOT just for ladies of the latter century, but can be a contemporary addition to any room. It is really a matter of choosing the correct vessel in which to display your creation.To make your own potpourri, you need flowers and leaves, citrus peel if desired (cut like the ones above), essential oil, spices and herbs, and a fixative. The best time to collect your ingredients is in the early morning just after the dew has dried. Your flowers and herbs are at their peak in the morning.

Remove petals of flowers and any desired leaves from their stems and place on a screen to dry. A square of window screen is very good for drying, since the air can freely circulate to the petals and leaves. Drying takes about 14 days. The leaves and petals need to be shifted around a bit on the screen every few days to avoid mildew or uneven drying.

If you are drying more than you will use at one time, you should place excess dried material into airtight glass containers to preserve freshness and scent until they are to be used. Once dried, place the material you will use into open ceramic or glass containers and place on tables, shelves, or anyplace you wish to have scented.

When the potpourri becomes dry or loses its scent, add a tablespoon of French brandy or your choice of essential oil to reinvigorate the scent.

Here is a recipe for potpourri called Purple Haze, from Pioneer Thinking:
Purple Haze

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) (purple)
• 7-8 drops Lavender essential/fragrance oil
• 2 tablespoons dried Orris Root
• 1/2 cup pink Carnation flower heads (Dianthus caryophyllus)
• 1/2 cup (bright yellow) Lemon Marigold flower heads (Tagetes tenifolia)
• 1/4 cup (pale green) Lamb's Ears leaves (Stachys byzantina)

If you wish to use citrus peel, as I am currently preparing to do, there is a recipe from Pioneer Thinking called citrus delight.

Citrus Delight

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons dried orris root
• 5 tablespoons Bearberry leaves (Arctostaphylos uva ursi)
• 6-8 drops lemon essential/fragrance oil
• 1/2 cup dried Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium)
• 1/2 cup Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
• 1/4 cup dried Safflower flowers (Carthamus tinctorius L)
• 1/4 cup orange peels finely sliced & dried

Shun the chemicals, and try this natural green alternative.

I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you here on Green Earth Journey. It is time to turn it back over to Hyla now, so this will be my last regularly scheduled guest post. Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!

Labels: Make Your Own

Red, White, and Green?

Be Green this 4th of July with the following tips;

• Stay local for your fireworks.  Check out your local news website and find a fireworks display near you.
• Use reuseable dinnerware and flatware at your BBQs and picnics.
• Opt for fruit and veggies instead of an additional type of meat.
• Buy your food from a local grocery and the local farmers market instead of a chain store.
• Use fabric napkins or opt for napkins and paper towels made with post consumer recycled content.
• Don't foget your stainless steel water bottles
• Apply lavender essential oil to your wrist and neck to keep mosquitos away.
• Recycle

Other Tips:

• Have fun!
• Don't forget your sunscreen.

Labels: Helpful tips, holiday

Lavender Tea

Photo not linked

*Im bringing this up from the archive. Somehow my eldest son manage to catch the last cold of the school year and now I've got it. Runny and stuffy (don't ask me how it is possible, Im just the one suffering) nose, sore throat, cough, muccus, stuffy head. Bleh. So now Im off to make tea. Add lots of honey, it makes the tea taste great and has healing properties.

~Hyla

Oct. 23 '08

Feel like a cold is coming on?? Well I am going to share a secret with you! This has been working for my husband and I for the last 6 months or so. When we feel a cold coming on I make some lavender tea. It is not the greatest tasting, but I have to say, the next day we feel right as rain and that is better than being sick!

What you need:
a pot
water
1 teaspoon of lavender buds ( you can find these at your local health store or by searching online)
Cheesecloth
rubber band
mug

Trial Size lavender from Etsy seller itsmeowornever

Fill the pot with a quart of water or so. Add the teaspoon of lavender buds. Bring to a boil. Once it is boiling turn the heat down to a simmer. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
While you are waiting, take a piece of cheese cloth and set it over the top of your mug. Rubber band the sides so that it won't slide off when you are pouring the tea. You can do this for about 3 mugs.
Once the timer goes off, turn off the stove and carefully remove the pot of lavender tea. You might want to place the mug in the sink for this next part, pour the tea slowly over the cheesecloth covered mugs. Take caution not turn burn yourself.
Once you filled your mugs carefully remove the rubber bands and cheesecloth, you do not want these so snap up into your face.
Let the tea cool a little before drinking. You can add some honey to sweeten it if you like.



Labels: Make Your Own, Helpful tips, recipe

1930s Futuristic Fashion Predictions

Labels: Random, video

Reusable Dryer Sachets

A wonderful way to avoid chemicals and the need for disposing of dryer sheets when doing laundry is to use soap nuts for the washer, and to toss in a reusable sachet during the drying cycle. I use lavender sachets, and they work to give a fresh scent to the clothing as well as preventing static.Each sachet is good for about 10 uses before it loses most of its scent. A simple infusion of scent can reinvigorate the sachet for at least another 10 uses. Just place a few drops of lavender oil (or I like to also use Bergamot) to the bag, and use over and over.

There are marvelous selelrs on Etsy and Artfire from whom you can purchase reusable dryer sachets. Softandcozy has a set of three for 6.95 filled with lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and spearming. ReFabulous also has a wonderful assortment, and is having a 2 for $5.00 sale.

Wishing you scented

comfort...

Labels: Guest Blogger, Helpful tips

Life With My Kids - Willow Update

Willow is doing great! She is healthy, she has a very healthy set of lungs! Her brothers and sister ADORE her! I think she is losing her hair faster than most babies because she has so many people kissing it off the top of her pretty little head!

But she is the exception to the rule. Being a mom of 4, there are a couple of tricks I know of that will help a baby sleep for a good couple of hours.

• Baby massage
• Long warm bath
• tiny dose of tylenol (teething)
• teething gel (teething)

Guess what Willow does when you do any of the above...She is wide awake for a good 6 hours. Guess when we have tried the above....When we are trying to head to bed at 10:30-11:30 PM...

It's not easy getting her to burp. Most babies you can burp by trying one of the following;

• Hold them up on your shoulder and gently pat their back.
• Lay their tummy on your leg and gently pat their back.
• Sit them up on your lap with their chest against one hand and gently pat them on the back with the other.

Willow likes to be held up on the shoulder, you have to be bouncy slightly. Than, what you do is use one hand to pat her back and the other hand to pat her butt.

She loves to eat, so much so, she will eat and eat and eat and then she will blurp. And when she does she manages to get none on the burp cloth, instead it is on you and her and your shirt, possibly down your shirt, your pants, the blanket and the couch. And occasionally it is also in her ear or her nose.

If you were a friend of mine that had a baby who was gassy, and you tried to burp them and give them infant gas relief drops and you tried baby massage and your baby was still screaming up a storm. I would advise you to lay your baby on their back and slowly move their legs in a bicycling motion....Not Willow, when she has gas she locks her knee bones into place and the only thing you can move is her little butt side to side.

Some babies will take pacifiers and some babies won't. Both of our boys took pacifiers but our oldest daughter refused. Wilow doesn't like pacifiers but she doesn't not like pacifiers also. Sometimes she takes her pacifier like it is candy. Other times she will shake her head back and forth with her mouth open and refuse to close her mouth around it and still there are times when she takes the pacfier and as soon as you move your hand away she shoots it out across her stomach. And even still there are times, when she will manage to hook a finger around it, while peacefully sucking on it, and rip it out and chuck it across the floor and then get pissed!

An amazing thing happens when you hold Willow just right. She pees, and when she pees she gets her onsie, the blanket she is wrapped in, you and the couch....and none of it in her diaper.

There are times when one of us will be holding Willow and she will be asleep. The other one of us is engrossed in some project. Willow starts to fuss around, she let out a couple of squeaks and start rooting for her bottle. Now one of 3 things will happen.

I ask my hubby to tear his concentration away from whatever he is doing and grab me a bottle. He does. He returns to me with the bottle and Willow is so far deep into the realm of sleep, he doesn't believe she was waking in the first place.

Or, I ask hubby to tear his concentration from whatever he is doing, he walks over and looks down, she's back to sleep............or- is- she?.........he will walk away and become engrossed again. And as soon as he does, she's fussing for her bottle.

Or, I ask hubby to tear his concentration from whatever he is doing and he will tell me to hold on. This will continue for about 5 minutes and then he finally gets the bottle. When he brings it to me, Willow will have been screaming for her bottle and then she will stop when she has found her thumb. But ironically when she finds her thumb all of her fingers are curled down except for one.

There is never a dull moment when you have kids.

Labels: Life with my kids

Labels: Life With My Kids

5 Reasons To Use Reuseable Bags

• Reuseable bags are stronger than plastic or paper bags.  No more milk on the driveway.

• Less paper and plastic bags needed, the less production there is.  Less oil used and less trees cut down.

• Less garbage floating around and getting stuck in trees.

•  You can easily hide gifts from the intended recipient.

• Reuseable bags are prettier

Labels: Helpful tips

Buddha Quote

Art by Etsy seller turtlebird

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”~Buddha

Labels: Buddha

Eco Tip - Brew Up A Clean Floor

Tea is all you need to clean wooden floors and bring up the shine, particularly on older wooden flooring. Brew two teabags in hot water and cool to room temperature, then apply with a mop or cloth. The added bonus is that there is no need to rinse. Only use this on genuine hardwood flooring to bring out the natural grain and luster.

Tip from "1001 Little Ways to Save the Planet"

Labels: Helpful Tips

Currently Listening To

Currently listening to Cas Haley! Get his self titled album HERE!





Labels: Random, Video