Off The Beaten Path

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T00:36:00.001-08:00

Can't wait to see what this year brings me. Hopefully more peace. :)

Quick Useful Tips for White Vinegar

2009-10-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Vinegar: Quick cleaning tips to have a healthier, cleaner, chemical-free home.

1. Glassware
1/2 cup of distilled vinegar added to a gallon of rinse water will remove soap film from glassware and make it shine.

2. Toilet Bowl
Clean and deodorize your toilet bowl by pouring undiluted white distilled vinegar into it. Let it stand for 5 minutes then flush. Stubborn stains may require scrubbing.

3. Bathtub
Wipe down bathtub with vinegar and soda to remove film buildup. Rinse clean with water.

4. Ants
Ant invasions can be deterred by washing countertops, cabinets and floors with distilled vinegar.

5. Grease
Filmy dirt and greasy residue can be removed from the stove and refrigerator by wiping with vinegar.

6. Grass or Weeds
Kill unwanted grass on sidewalks and driveways by pouring on vinegar (apple-cider vinegar works well too).

7. Chrome
To polish chrome and stainless steel, moisten a cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean.

8. Shower curtain
Rub a cloth dampened with vinegar to remove soapy, steamed-in film and mildew from your plastic shower curtain. Rinse clean.

9. Coffee Maker
To remove coffee residue from your coffee maker, fill the reservoir with vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. When cycle is finished, run two cycles of water to rinse.

10. Irons
Remove burn stains from your electric iron by mixing one part salt with one part vinegar in a heated small pan. Use this mix to polish the iron as you would silver.

Canning Beans

2009-09-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

Canned my first set of beans from the garden a few days ago. I used a family recipe and OMG! They tasted so good. Can't wait for next year.

Tall Tomatoes

2009-07-23T21:08:00.001-07:00

Seriously! My tomatoes are TALL...

I'm 5'8" and they are getting close to being as tall as I am.

Garden Rising

2009-06-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

My garden is looking better and better with each new sunny day and dowsing rain. I've already harvested three spinach plants, and one radish! This is my first real garden and it's what I call my "trial-and-error garden." I've noticed some of my rows are not really rows, but rather a pile of vegetable plants growing (due to my cats digging). My cats are rather adventurous, so keeping them out has been a HUGE challenge.

This is the start of my garden, its about 15'x 5'. I'm growing corn, spinach, cabbage, carrots, onions, beets, radishes, lavender, basil, lemon thyme, tomatoes, dill, bush beans, dahlias, and green peppers.

I also planted a strawberry patch. There is nothing better than picking and eating a dirty warm strawberry, trust me!

My cat Indiana Jones, he likes to sit in the strawberry patch because its cool. Plus it matches his eye color.

Here are some extra photos I took of the flowers in around my house. I mostly like them because they hide the "ugly" parts of my house!

The new compost bin. It works so much better than a cardboard box. Plus it has handles, so it's easier to move. Love's it!

Bamboo Charcoal Sport Shirts

2009-06-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

Bamboo Blend Sport Shirts are made from bamboo charcoal and help naturally regulate body heat, wick moisture, resist UV rays and inhibit odor. To find out more click here.

Come Tweet with Me!

2009-05-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

I'm on twitter! Join twitter and keep in touch with my green ideas and lifestyle. Please share the latest and greatest tips you may have!

P.S. I like to hear about cool places to travel too!

8 Treehouses Fit for a Treehugger!

2009-05-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

I just found this really cool article (with images) related to Treehouses that are so cool!
Check them out h ere!

Farmers Market

2009-04-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

Kootenai County, located in Northern Idaho, will be starting the annual Farmers Market starting Saturday, May 9th and Wednesday, May 13th.

Featuring the freshest produce, eggs, fruit, fish, meat and plants that Kootenai County produces. Always local and always sold by the producer, at two locations:

Saturday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pmm
SE Corner of Hwy. 95 and Prairie Ave in Hayden.

Wednesday, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Fifth Street between Front and Lakeside downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Live Music, espresso, and master gardeners every week!

For more info:
Call 208.772.2290

Ready for Spring!

2009-04-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

I live in North Idaho, which means living in unpredictable weather. You can bet that on any given day there will be sun, snow, then rain...rinse and repeat. Very frustrating as a new gardener. I really want pure sunshine for 1 week. That would be so nice.

Today I did my first burst of community service at the Harding Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It was in celebration of "Earth Day," the events included learning about bee's, owls, eco-systems, water, and being eco-friendly.

The Coeur d'Alene tribal women (ages 20-30) even showed up and performed a drum ceremony complete with singing for a tree planting (in memory of a woman that passed away). It was a very cool moment I must say, very hypnotic.

I was a little disappointed in one thing...I was working at the "front desk" directing people and selling items (like shirts), and the Harding Center decided to sell water bottles for $1.00 each, due to lack of water fountains. Now honestly, this goes against pretty much anything doing with "save the earth!"

I Feel Like Making Dirt...

2009-04-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Good news! I've totally blown off keeping up on my compost chronicles. Urgh!

But in doing so, its opened up a whole new experience for me.

Instead of using that old popcorn bin, I am now using some old Dell computer boxes from work as compost bins. I have officially made about 11 gallons of organic, stinky, dirt! I just use a dirty bowl or plate in the kitchen to collect my scraps (for a lovely kitchen compost canister click here), and then when it's full, I throw the mess into one of the bins, stir it up, add some water, and wha-laa, DIRT!

Of course it takes longer than that, but there is this wonderful sense of power that comes from making dirt; opening the bins is the most exciting thing to do as a gardener. Its like Christmas morning all over! Its the best when the smells are so overpowering you have to look away. Or when you see a new layer of mold growing...it just makes me want to say "look how cute it's toes are!" I've never been into chemistry, but that's exactly what this is. Adding worms, water, chopping up your scraps so they break down faster, and getting just the right amount of sun and warmth for perfect bacteria-infested soil is a blast!

I've taken some time to mix my new soil in with my old garden soil...and the difference is H-U-G-E. The new soil is so black and rich, I've never see anything like it!

I recently went to the hardware store and purchased some steer manure. I've been adding some steer manure to liven up my flower beds and garden (and compost); my husband doesn't care for the new moat of smell surrounding the house. But as a newly seasoned gardener, it means "Yes! Its working."

He thinks I'm nuts...

What's the most environmentally friendly television?

2009-01-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

For those of you who may be buying a TV in the near future; read this to find out what options are the best for our environment!

I'm thinking of getting a big, new flat-screen TV so that my friends and I can watch the Steelers pummel the Cardinals in this Sunday's Super Bowl. But then I read that the EU wants to ban big plasma televisions because they drain so much energy. How do I choose a TV that won't kill the planet?

read for more...

Hint: If you're getting a massive TV—55 inches or larger—a rear-projection unit is the way to go.

The Compost Chronicles

2009-01-21T19:11:00.001-08:00

Cooking Time: Week Three
Smell Level Outside of Canister on a scale of 1 to 5: Zero!
Smell Level Inside of Canister on a scale of 1 to 5: Three
Break-down: nice white/grey mold covering food, egg shells not breaking down, fruit skins seem to break down the fastest. Condensation built up on inside of bag.

I've decided to do a little experiment to find out just how long it takes to make compost indoors. Every week I'll be adding another post with my garbage tribulations, smells, looks, and overall break-down of materials. If you get some tips from this, then my kitchen waste will have served two purposes!

Materials used thus far:

1 Old Popcorn Canister...aka...an old christmas present that would have been thrown out
Common Kitchen Waste (no meat, dairy products, or items that wont break down - like plastic)
2 Used Plastic Produce Bags
Little dab of dish detergent
Water

Step 1:
Find a container with a lid that is semi-large to start your composting. Such as a canister, coffee can, or milk jug. Line it with some paper, or plastic bags if you feel that it may leak. I lined mine with two of those plastic bags that you an get from the produce section in a grocery store (reuse!) I don't particularly want my house smelling like garbage either. You can also sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom to further reduce smell.

Here is my canister:

Step 2:
The scraps that are going into the canister are cut pieces of fruit and vegetables, paper, egg shells, etc. I keep a small bowl on the counter top at all times, once it gets full I empty the contents into the canister.

Step 3:
Empty contents into bag/container, and once every week, shake it up to evenly disperse mold, bacteria, and air. Most importantly is to let the waste have some air every now and then. Fresh oxygen will encourage bacteria to break things down faster.
Here is my bag which is filled only half way, I always blow some air in and then seal it shut by spinning the top of the bag into a tight twist (I do leave a large air bubble inside).

Some tips:

Add a tablespoon of dish detergent to your compost scraps...it breaks things down faster.
Cutting up your scraps into smaller pieces will help speed up the process.
Add 1/4 cup of water to every 1 gallon of scraps...I found this creates a good moisture level.

These are my scraps...3 weeks along. (I'm somewhat lazy and probably should have chopped up pieces to be smaller).

If you have any tips for me please feel free to post a comment. I'd love your input and advice!

Stand by Me

2009-01-15T21:17:00.001-08:00

It warms my heart to see people being united. Music tends to be the best way---it gets your body moving, your mind relaxed, and most of all, can bring a smile.
Check out this video, its really interesting how different cultures can come together.
Playing Together: The Song Heard Around the World | Stand by Me

Product I Love!

2009-01-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know about this great new product called Wrap-n-Mat.
You can check out my blurb at www.rachealsmarket.com, or read below.

Instead of packing sandwiches in plastic bags, wrap, or foil, any of which just end up in a landfill, try the new Wrap-N-Mat, a re-usable plastic-lined fabric that closes with a Velcro tab and seals your lunch just as well as plastic wrap. Bonus: Once opened, the 12-inch square doubles as a place mat. In our tests, it washed up easily and thoroughly, not a whiff of egg salad lingered. It is available in red and white gingham.

Features:
* Eco-Friendly
* Perfect for work, school lunches, picnics, or anytime you're on the go!
* Wrap-n-mat can be used over and over.
* Convenient and easy to use!
* Inner lining is PEVA, whish is food safe, and keeps food fresh.

Over 20 million plastic bags are discarded every day. Wraps replace the use of plastic sandwich bags that take 10 to 20 years to decompose. A typical packed lunch uses three plastic sandwich bags a day; it all adds up to a ton of trash. No more messy ziplocks or 'unsealed' mistakes. I hand wash and drip dry in the dish rack.

To purchase from Amazon.com, click here!
Tell all your friends,
Racheal

Filling voids with expensive car...

2009-01-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Today I read about this great new car that Mini is coming out with. I've always loved the Mini Cooper since I watched that movie 'The Italian Job.' Who wouldn't?!

I've been shopping around for a new car for about 2 years, and to tell you the truth, its rather hard to commit to a "green" car when they dont go fast enough, and they cost a ton. I've been putting off buying a car because I'm waiting for the technology to get better and better, so eventually, the "new green car" will be affordable, fast enough, and last me a life-time. I want my great great great grandkids to be able to drive it!

Anyway, you can read more about the Mini E here , rather than me explaining it.

For now, I'm just going to stick with my super old Subaru, Loyale. She's a beast! But I get great gas mileage, low maintenance costs (plus its paid off), and my insurance is really cheap. Every time I save up money to buy a new car, I change my mind because I feel that I can continue to "reuse" my car...rather than have it end up in a car landfill. I mean really, it works great, so when it comes down to it, "why replace it?" Usually my answer is because I just want to feel better about having a nice looking new car. Sometimes I think that people forget that putting your ego/self-esteem before "what's really at stake," end up feeling worse in the long run because new expensive items can't fill that void.

I see it in my family the most, and its very hard not to criticize, but none the less, I think that being around them has taught me to be more conservative.

So, check out that new Mini E if you're looking for a new---rather expensive, long-lasting car.

Garbage and other Updates

2008-12-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

I just read this great article about a man who saved all of his family's trash, and by doing so, was able to reduce how much trash he throws away. I know, it sounds weird, but I think the purpose was to see how much we choose to "not deal with" and what really ends up in a landfill. He reduced purchasing products with plastics and other materials that don't break down. He also recycled and/or composted all the rest. Its pretty amazing how much he saved in money, resources, and waste. Check it out here: "A Rubbish Life"

In other news, I've pretty much finished the website. I started donating to companies like Kiva.org and Plant a Tree USA. When you go to Kiva you pick a entrepreneur in a 3rd world country to donate $25 (or more) too. Two years ago I donated to a man in the Congo that needed $700 to buy shelter and more goats for his family business...which was selling animals to local families for survival. He has repaid 71% of the loan---interest free! The best part is, the money comes back to you, so you can decide to redonate, or cash out.
I started selling product for Novica. A website created by National Geographic that supports Fair Trade and 3rd world economy. Its pretty great! I'm not a big jewelry person, but I think some of the pieces are really elegant. If you dont know what Fair Trade is and why its so important to support...check it out here!

Live healthy!
Racheal

Website coming along!

2008-12-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

Wow! This has been a very tiring week. I've been working on my website during any spare time (which amounts to about none) just so that I could having something to link too.

Its very rough around the edges, has verbiage that needs to be fixed, links that should go places but dont, and overall, needs a lot more work done. I'm up for it though. I really get a lot of satisfaction from creating this.

Yesterday I received my first order of NaturOli Soap Nuts, which come from a tree that grows nuts that are SOAP, how cool is that? The nuts have no smell, are really weird looking, but overall, are very small and extremely eco-friendly, organic, and well worth the cost. They only cost about $0.14 a load. Anyway, if you're interested, you can check them out here at my store:
http://rachealsmarket.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3544357

or here on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/NaturOli-Nuts-Soap-Hand-Sorted-Detergent/dp/B001DUBYKQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=A339X1NBVIMANL&s=generic&qid=1228967989&sr=1-2

My hopes are that the store will eventually have more product in it! Finding "green" items is a lot harder than I thought.

Ecofriendly Store

2008-12-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

So I finally found a free ecommerce store, its not the greatest, but beggars cant be choosers!
I love free stuff, and this really was the best solution I could find.
Check it out and let me know what you think!
http://www.rachealsmarket.ecrater.com/

Thinking of what to do...

2008-11-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty focused on getting this eco-friendly business going strong, it takes a lot more time than I considered. Day and night, you have to be devoted to it. Like a toddler who is sick. Its pretty thrilling though, watching it become something more than what you pictured. I honestly can say I_Love_it! Wish me luck! Next week, my goal is to figure out what Tree company I want to go with, finding new vendors that carry products, and working on getting my actual website up!