I know not everyone can order things online, but I find more and more that I have been compelled to order soaps and other things online that I have done research on and I know are safe for my family, especially my toddler. If you do a little reading on the ingredients on the back of most of the things in your bathroom you use on your skin every day, it can be a little scary.
I order soap from this company Druide as they list all of their ingredients and their process for making soap.
This company is also Canadian and Certified Organic under Canadian Standards: http://www.greenbeaver.com/
A few organic brands of sunscreen may be available in stores like Country Way on Brock Street, but unfortunately most of these are probably only available online.
Here is a list of the 153 best sunscreens to buy in the United States under United States Standards:
153 Best Sunscreens : Safest for you and your kids
You can go to EWG's Cosmetic Database and search any of the sunscreens on this list and find out the pros and cons of each and where to buy them if you like what they have to offer:
EWG's Cosmetic Database
One product that is for children and has a rating of #1 (zero is the best rating you can get from EWG) is Aveeno's Sun Natural Protection Baby SPF 50 Stick, which is probably more widely available than most other products on this list. Its available online at Amazon.com
From this list, I like the stats and ratings on the following products because they comply with The Compact for Safe Cosmetics and their sunscreens have a rating of 1 or better:
http://www.badgerbalm.com/
http://www.californiababy.com/
http://www.supergoop.com/
http://elementalherbs.com/
http://luvalla.com/
http://mvorganics.com/
http://www.mexitan.com/
http://www.poofscloset.com/servlet/StoreFront
http://www.purpleprairie.com/
http://www.suntegrityskincare.com/Welcome.html
http://thinkbabybottles.3dcartstores.com/thinkbaby-Safe-Sunscreen_c_21.html
http://www.trukid.com/
http://www.organicevolution.ca/uv-natural/
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
Honouring the Water Indigenous Water Forum
This week the Green Plan students are at the 4-day water conference being held in Sault Ste. Marie. It is a great chance to learn about our most important resource that is quickly becoming endangered. You can view a live feed of it every day from 8:30 to around 5pm here: Nation Talk
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Why Everyone Should Grow Something
Everyone should grow some of their own vegetables because:
It's cheaper
It's healthier for you and your family because its pesticide free. Most of us today have lost someone before their time. Disease is no longer a rarity.
You don't have to leave your yard (or house- if you grow indoors) to get it.
You know exactly where it came from.
Your vegetables will be more nutrient rich because they didn't sit in a truck or store for weeks before you ate them.
They will taste better.
Gardening is proven to be therapeutic and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
It is educational for your kids.
You can share with family and friends.
It's not as complicated or time consuming as you think.
It's cheaper
It's healthier for you and your family because its pesticide free. Most of us today have lost someone before their time. Disease is no longer a rarity.
You don't have to leave your yard (or house- if you grow indoors) to get it.
You know exactly where it came from.
Your vegetables will be more nutrient rich because they didn't sit in a truck or store for weeks before you ate them.
They will taste better.
Gardening is proven to be therapeutic and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
It is educational for your kids.
You can share with family and friends.
It's not as complicated or time consuming as you think.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Composting:UPDATED: A useful way to recycle and reduce your waste output
"Composting" is nature's way of recycling organic materials that many people harness to reduce their output of waste and make their own nutrient rich soil for gardening, thus saving money and helping the environment.
Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi found outside on the ground feed on organic materials such as dead plants and process them through digestion into premium quality soil components. The best part is, they do it for free!
It is estimated that about 50% of what ends up in plastic bags at the landfill could have been composted! That's a lot of plastic bags!
How to Compost:
1.Pick a sunny spot in your yard.
2.Turn the soil there with a rake or shovel.
This I didn't do, and opted to add a bag of $1.99 soil instead.
3. Make or buy a compost bin. ( Wooden box, pallets wired together, old fencing, chicken wire and wooden posts, or plastic and metal bins found in stores).
We used 4 free pallets we got from my uncle's work (there are many places in town that just throw them away), some rope for 5 dollars, and a bag of soil to get the process started.
4. Place the bin on top of your turned soil in your sunny spot.
5. Place a layer of small branches in the bottom - this will allow for air movement and drainage
6. If you want, add a bag of bought soil to help the process along faster (not absolutely necessary)
We added grass clippings from after mowing my lawn:
7. For the best and speediest process, alternate between wet and dry layers of material, such as a layer of fruit cores and scraps on top of a layer of leaf litter or newspaper.
We added some old fruit from my house and a peeling from a freshly eaten banana.
What can and can't be composted?
Do compost:
It can take between 2 months and 2 years to break down materials, depending on temperature and what is added.
This post will be updated with images from my own first time composting efforts.
Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi found outside on the ground feed on organic materials such as dead plants and process them through digestion into premium quality soil components. The best part is, they do it for free!
It is estimated that about 50% of what ends up in plastic bags at the landfill could have been composted! That's a lot of plastic bags!
How to Compost:
1.Pick a sunny spot in your yard.
2.Turn the soil there with a rake or shovel.
This I didn't do, and opted to add a bag of $1.99 soil instead.
3. Make or buy a compost bin. ( Wooden box, pallets wired together, old fencing, chicken wire and wooden posts, or plastic and metal bins found in stores).
We used 4 free pallets we got from my uncle's work (there are many places in town that just throw them away), some rope for 5 dollars, and a bag of soil to get the process started.
4. Place the bin on top of your turned soil in your sunny spot.
5. Place a layer of small branches in the bottom - this will allow for air movement and drainage
6. If you want, add a bag of bought soil to help the process along faster (not absolutely necessary)
We added grass clippings from after mowing my lawn:
7. For the best and speediest process, alternate between wet and dry layers of material, such as a layer of fruit cores and scraps on top of a layer of leaf litter or newspaper.
We added some old fruit from my house and a peeling from a freshly eaten banana.
What can and can't be composted?
Do compost:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps (even rotten)
- Egg shells
- Fresh grass clippings
- Fresh weed clippings
- Dry leaves
- Straw/hay
- Sawdust
- Coffee grounds
(including filters) - Tea leaves (including bags)
- Napkins
- Paper
(recycling is recommended) - Pasta
- Bread
- Rice
- Peanut shells
- Fruit pits
- Natural fibres (cotton, linen, wool, untreated leather…
- Meat and Fish
- Oil (fat)
- Bones
- Dairy products
- Rhubarb leaves (some sources say it is ok because the oxalic acid, which is toxic to kidneys, is neutralized as it decomposes)
- Weeds that have gone to seed or with persistent root systems
- Treated grass
- Diseased plants or leaves
- Wood ashes (highly alkaline, will make soil useless for growing plants)
- BBQ briquettes
- Animal or human excrements(can contain pathogens)
- Vacuum dust (unless your home uses all natural cleaning products)
- Materials contaminated by pesticides or other dangerous products (ex. : treated wood)
- Large quantities of waterlogged material
It can take between 2 months and 2 years to break down materials, depending on temperature and what is added.
This post will be updated with images from my own first time composting efforts.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Green Plan Students Water Sampling
This year we are testing for E. coli at the most common swimming sites including Engine Point, Ojibway Park, Big Bend, Charles Point, and Bell's Point. So far the water is still quite cold and the E. coli levels are very very low!
Happy swimming!
Here is Daeson at Big Bend
Here is Cole and Deb at Big Bend
What is E. coli and why do we test for it?
E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in the digestive tract of warm blooded animals, including humans, and as such, serves as an indicator of possible bacteria pathogen contamination. It could indicate pollution from sewage and waste water, and the potential that other pathogens may also be present. Only some strains of E. coli are actually dangerous.
What can high levels of E. coli cause if ingested?:
Gastrointestinal infection symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, exhaustion.
Urinary tract infections
Sources of E. coli in swimming water:
Illegal waste dumping, septic systems that have overflowed, storms can cause waste water treatment plants to overflow into surrounding water systems, animal waste (such as watefowl) and agricultural runoff.
After a rainfall, E. coli levels will be elevated because of water runoff and the fact that E.coli is a natural bacteria. E. coli levels will only become dangerously high if there is an excess due to the above sources.
For example: So far our levels have been under 30 MPN, and in order to be able to cause illness, levels have to be above 200 MPN. In 3 years of water sampling, the highest number the Green Plan has found was 60, and this was after a heavy rainfall.
Happy swimming!
Here is Daeson at Big Bend
Here is Cole and Deb at Big Bend
What is E. coli and why do we test for it?
E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in the digestive tract of warm blooded animals, including humans, and as such, serves as an indicator of possible bacteria pathogen contamination. It could indicate pollution from sewage and waste water, and the potential that other pathogens may also be present. Only some strains of E. coli are actually dangerous.
What can high levels of E. coli cause if ingested?:
Gastrointestinal infection symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, exhaustion.
Urinary tract infections
Sources of E. coli in swimming water:
Illegal waste dumping, septic systems that have overflowed, storms can cause waste water treatment plants to overflow into surrounding water systems, animal waste (such as watefowl) and agricultural runoff.
After a rainfall, E. coli levels will be elevated because of water runoff and the fact that E.coli is a natural bacteria. E. coli levels will only become dangerously high if there is an excess due to the above sources.
For example: So far our levels have been under 30 MPN, and in order to be able to cause illness, levels have to be above 200 MPN. In 3 years of water sampling, the highest number the Green Plan has found was 60, and this was after a heavy rainfall.
Monday, 4 July 2011
What I Did on Aboriginal Day
On June 21, I had the extreme pleasure to go up to Pic Mobert reserve to see a man I have looked up to since I can remember.
My dad used to call to me when I was playing and say "Come and watch this with me, it's interesting." And it was The Nature of Things.
Since then I have wanted a job in the Natural Environment field, especially when it comes to protecting the environment, and thus, protecting people and animals. I thank my father, and David Suzuki for inspiring me. I recorded his entire speech.
I highly recommend you check it out, as it is a reminder of many things we Aboriginal people have known for thousands of years, and something David Suzuki is very thankful our people have taught him.
This post is dedicated to Christopher Belleau, who told me a great story about meeting David Suzuki that I will always cherish
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