Vinegar Orange Peel Cleaner: Green Cleaner

Green Cleaner!

I noticed several Orange Peel Cleaner displays on Pinterest, and wanted to try it myself. I had pickle jars saved for future sprouting projects but decided to use them for my orange cleaner project.

• I collected various orange peels for my pickle jars.
• Added white distilled vinegar and capped my jars.
• Labeled the completion dates 10-14 days out.
• Strained and contained!
• Voila! You have your cleaner! 

Orange pickling...I say!

Label the dates

Final Product...it doesn't hurt to dilute this with water!

Review:

I attempted to clean my stove top with the undiluted version of my orange peel cleaner.  The first thing I noticed was the smell. Yes, I forgot to dilute this cleaner.  I added more sweet orange essential oil, which barely masked the smell.   I tried it again on my counter tops.  Overall, it's another vinegar cleaner with a slightly better smell and more slippery texture.

Results:  

It works.  Please dilute this cleaner with a 2:1 ratio of cleaner to water.  I'll use it until it's gone, and try it again!

Van Jones speaks to Google Talks on "Rebuild The Dream"

Van Jones speaks to Google Talks on his background, new book "Rebuild The Dream" and his experience working on advancing environmental issues, green jobs, and the grass roots movements.

Jones reviews the historical events that led to the forefront exposure of environmental issues.  And no, it didn't start with the "Hope" campaign!  

His speech differentiates the actions of past presidents, environmental activists, and the public's expectation of the U.S. President.  The missing piece is the the public's action.

The perfect equation: Political Leadership / U.S. President + Social Activists + A active movement from the public.

Perma-Fusion: Sun Room and the Rocket Mass Heater

I'm enjoying my studies in Permaculture along with my newly found love for Pinterest.  


While browsing information on Rock Mass Heaters and Stoves,  I wondered if  the functionality of the Rocket Mass can be merged with the serenity of a fancy sun room.  Rocket Mass heaters are cleaner and more energy efficient than wood burning stoves and heaters.


I don't know how functional this will be, but in my world, I want to merge the two pictures below.

A Rocket Mass Heater 

Source: plus.google.com via Joana on Pinterest

A sun room room I found on Pinterest.  I can do without the staircase.

Source: encoreuneminute.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Going Green: 2011 Reflections

How well did I do in my quest to go green last year?

I've added tactics I used last year, and plans for this year below.

GREEN	2011	2012
Household Items:	Replaced some  insect repellants with safer essential oil mixes Began purchasing natural household brands:  Method natural air fresheners  Vinegar for mold removal Collected digital and old subscriptions to gardening, natural home health, and organic magazines	Purchase more natural , cleansing and household brands: 7th Generation and Method Detergents Use vinegar, lemon juice, salt and baking soda for household mixes  Look for natural products coupon and savings online or through natural magazines
Green Jobs or Workforce:	Green Office: Oxygen-giving plants Mugs over styrofoam cups Encouraged steel canisters Used  fair trade coffee  Moved towards paperless office Recycled paper, plastic, ink and occasional  tissue,	Consider getting certifications in green building or landscape design (LEED, Permaculture PDC) Add green marketing to my skills and possibly seek out work or add tactics to my projects Possibly volunteer for a green building project (Habitat For Humanity) or an organic food co-op, CSA, non-profit or urban farm.
Energy-efficient products:	Subscribed to Renewable Energy Electricity Plan Added CFL bulbs Rarely used dishwasher use Connected printer, tv, and other heavy burning electrical items to power pack to turn off	Transition from CFL bulbs to natural lighting or LED lights Use less microwave, and cook on stove Caulk everything!
Food:	Monitor pesticide-heavy vegetables and fruits; chose organic fruits/veggies when possible Learned about freezer cooking	Start vegetable and herb garden. Just garden everywhere! Prepare to go Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian Join a local CSA, Co-op or non-profit to supplement organic vegetables Join Seedsavers or become a part of seed library Learn to cook well Learn and start freezer cooking, preserving, and fermenting with food.
Cosmetics:	Removed all cosmetics; changed hair products to natural products  Made my own skin and hair products to monitor ingredient allergies	Slowly incorporate "natural cosmetics" into my regimen; monitor reactions to various products Create my own lotions, deodorant, and cosmetics Stay away from Triclosan, Phthalates, Parabens, Petroleum By-products, harsh Fragrances, dyes in cosmetics (FD & C) with coal tar, hydroquinone, mercury, lead, 1,4 dioxane (peg, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol)
Water:	Added aerators to sink and shower Purchased spring and distilled waters	Consider filters to tap water and shower  Look into water harvesting
Recycle:	Recycle Printer Ink	Look for ways to reuse paper Use cardboard for gardening layers Consider if it makes sense to separate plastics, paper, and recycle at a distant center Compost
Indoor Air Quality:	Opened windows	Use air-cleaning and oxygen-giving plants for home
Transportation (fuel efficiency)		Work from home or close to home If public transportation is feasible, do it.
Fair Trade:		Consider fair trade coffee for home/guests.
Studies:	Urban Farming General Sustainability Gardening	Consider taking a permaculture course or preparing to get LEED accredited Read 48 books on gardening, permaculture, renewable energy, self-sufficiency  Start first garden  Watch 20 environmental documentaries (e.g. Gasland, Geoff Lawton Soils, Dirt,

Fruit Tree "Resolutions" for 2012

Happy New Years Growing!

I am proud to present the first fruit trees I will purchase this winter!

These fruit trees with begin in large containers! 

Pomegranate (Eversweet)

Tangerines (Kishu Mandarin)

Figs (LSU Gold)

For the new year, I will start a garden that will contain fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. 

I will also add indoor air cleaning plants along with a mini seedling green house.

My gardening purchase list is getting long so I plan to convince relatives to forgo holiday gifts, and support my needs for containers, planters, organic compost, seeds, potted plants, and even a fruit tree! 


Since I want to stay organic, I will look for companion plants to grow along with my purchases.   Wish me the best!  I am determined to make my family Gardening Santas!


And this is just the beginning...Container & vertical gardening now.....raised beds and bio-intensive later...hydroponics or aquaponics, maybe....permaculture for generations. 

Consumerism & Enviroment Review: The Story Of Stuff (UPDATE)

THE STORY OF BROKE




THE STORY OF STUFF

I became familiar with The Story Of Stuff movies through my quest to find a solution to my cosmetic and beauty product woes.  I've added the new movie The Story of Broke with a quick overview from 2007 of consumption patterns and systems that affects our lifestyle, economics, and environment.  

Food Deserts: The Cornerstore Curse

A Snapshot of a Food Desert In Inner City Houston

I'm overjoyed about Michelle Obama's nationwide mission to end "food deserts" in urban communities.   Food deserts are communities that lack accessible low-cost nutritious foods.  You'll find a variety of corner stores (liquor stores) that specializes in alcoholic beverages and junk food: such as  expired foods, canned goods, salted corn and potato chips, hard candies such as jolly ranchers and a Mexican salt/chili candies such as pica.


In addition to inner city corner stores, larger grocery chains or independent stores hardly fill the gap for healthy fresh food.   I don't believe an inundation of them is the only solution.  


Fresh food availability should also include, your home garden,  farmer's markets, co-ops, CSA's and community centers with programs aimed at getting the youth and elderly to buy local, grow their own food, and cook new cuisines.  I believe a form of home economics,  and sustainable agriculture should return back to schools and community centers.


Once the art of cooking is mastered with healthy, efficient, and, sustainable meals, (such as freezing, canning, storing, and growing), I believe the desire for quality food will exceed the need for fast food.  That's how a slow food movement can grow, through better tasting, healthier, quick foods.