tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-322107402024-03-19T15:25:50.347+11:00glitterrs goes greenerattempting to make my life more environmentally friendly, one small step at a timeglitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-8347908595072634632014-07-31T13:31:00.000+10:302014-07-31T13:31:35.703+10:30diapers part 3We have finally made the leap to all cloth all the time! (well, except for when a babysitter just can't handle it) The gdiaper system proved too bulky to add the extra inserts needed for overnight, but we found some modern cloth nappies that work very well and are comfortable. We are using Magic-alls by <a href="http://www.babybeehinds.com.au/">Baby BeeHinds</a> with bamboo inserts by <a href="http://www.peapods.com.au/">pea pods</a>. The inserts get tri-folded and we use two for overnight, meaning 6 layers of absorbency. The Magic-all does a great job of fitting comfortably for a long wear and wicks away the moisture quite well for a dry baby in the morning. There have been two very mild diaper rashes since using this system, but they were very quick to heal with a couple applications of cream. They occurred the same time as teething problems so could easily be attributed to that instead of the diapers, but I'm not sure. Washing for these diapers is just as easy as for the gdiapers, perhaps even easier because bubs doesn't poo overnight!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq01o5_n-4R9zggmTrFbd01goGN6R7YbAvgJMBzcMoioe_6Q8ByGJRkReHB1lZDSCtRoJSNKOW_6sk1fqRhIaWB-r74ioo3MGQnzem_83Uu-kePK3ymoOuJVSFZYdtrt5WeLb-g/s1600/IMG_8603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq01o5_n-4R9zggmTrFbd01goGN6R7YbAvgJMBzcMoioe_6Q8ByGJRkReHB1lZDSCtRoJSNKOW_6sk1fqRhIaWB-r74ioo3MGQnzem_83Uu-kePK3ymoOuJVSFZYdtrt5WeLb-g/s1600/IMG_8603.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Folded insert, Magic-all</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insert goes into pocket</td></tr>
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glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-41763680805432102912014-05-20T13:39:00.002+10:302014-05-20T13:39:36.724+10:30Newport Substation Farmers' MarketOver the last year we have been experimenting with how we buy our fruits and vegetables. We have been trying to find the perfect meld of my priorities of seasonal, local and preferably organic produce with my husband's priority of being able to do the purchasing and choosing. On top of this we both want good quality. We were happy when we were receiving <a href="http://glitterrs.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/buying-local.html">Aussie Farmers Direct</a> boxes, but while they were able to convert us to eaters of silver beet and kale, the cauliflower, brussel sprouts, mint, and wombok just did not get used despite multiple attempts.<div>
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My husband spent a lot of time visiting markets and stores and discovered it can be difficult to find out where your food is coming from. Then we tried the <a href="http://www.thesubstation.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252:the-susbtation-farmers-market&catid=8:markets&Itemid=19">Newport Substation Sunday Farmers' Market</a>. Other Farmers' Markets we have been to often feature heaps of artisan cheese and wine and other lovely but non-staple items. <a href="http://www.mfm.com.au/markets/substation-newport">Newport's market</a>, however, is where we can do our fortnightly family produce shopping. We've been able to develop a bit of a relationship with the people who supply our food, and they often have fun things to tell us about their week on the farm or photos of what's just about ready to pick.</div>
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As for the fruits and vegetables, we were blown away by the quality and flavour. Honestly it is difficult to get produce anywhere else after tasting what the market has to offer. Even items like onions and capsicums are so much more flavourful. Previously our fortnightly fruit and veg was costing us about $40, but now we spend closer to $50 for the same amount. We have no qualms spending a bit more for the amazing quality we're getting.</div>
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So if you're in the area, try it out. They have plenty of other stalls besides just fruit and vegetables, and often street food and a coffee cart. It's a nice spot for the family to spend an hour on a Sunday. </div>
glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-59481759076126635412014-04-04T21:28:00.000+11:002014-05-20T13:15:55.173+10:30Zoos Victoria Guide to a Palm Oil free EasterThis will be a very short post, and mainly geared to the Australian consumers. This guide: <a href="http://www.zoo.org.au/palmoil/easter">http://www.zoo.org.au/palmoil/easter</a>, kindly collated by Zoos Victoria, will let you know whether unsustainable palm oil is in your favourite Easter treats. Use their chart to make the better choice for Orang-utans this year and support manufacturers and stores who either use certified sustainable palm oil or no palm oil at all.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-28265523591012480632014-04-01T13:20:00.000+11:002014-04-01T13:20:02.950+11:00Moo Goo ProductsIt has been a very gradual change in our household to find more organic or natural personal care products. It's hard to want to change from what you know and risk irritating your skin. Or find out that your new deodorant doesn't work!! However, I find that once I notice my shampoo has palm oil in it, I have a hard time ignoring that fact. Fortunately we've found that switching to more natural products has been very good for the sensitive skin in this family. This post will focus on the Australian company <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/">Moo Goo</a>, since we've been very happy with their products. They're natural, local, and don't cost too much. Here's a little run-down:<br />
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1. <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/msm-soothing-cream.html">MSM soothing cream</a>= we had to try this to combat the keratosis pilaris in our family. After 30 years I finally found a product that gave my skin the gentle moisture it needed, thereby reducing the redness and bumps on my face and arms. A little miracle. In fact, the pores on my nose are smaller now as well. A natural product that goes a long way because you don't need much of it, and the effects are more than I could even dream of.<br />
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2. <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/baby-range/scalp-cream.html/">Scalp Cream</a>= my kids have inherited my susceptibility to seborrheic dermatitis, which means they have "cradle cap" for 5 years, while I have what look like dry zits around my nose and mouth. Scalp cream to the rescue. I tried all kinds of home remedies for my son and none of them worked, but my daughter will benefit from the scalp cream. And my little break outs are controlled within a couple days. I've even caught my hubby using it!<br />
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3. <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/baby-range/natural-mini-moo-bubbly-wash.html/">Natural Mini Moo Bubbly Wash</a>= here's a good example of feeling OK that a product you used is going down the drain. Everything in this wash is natural, it does the job, and I don't have to worry that it contains carcinogens like Johnson and Johnson's! I'm even finding that since beginning to use this to wash my kids' bodies and hair, their skin and scalps are less irritated after a bath.<br />
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4. <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/baby-range/nappy-balm-au.html/">Nappy Balm</a>= another good example of a tube of cream that will last for ages because it can be used sparingly. My bub's rashes have gone in 24 hours.<br />
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5. <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/deodorant.html/">Deodorant</a>= perhaps the biggest change! I was finding that the deodorant that worked best for me was an aerosol, and from a packaging/production standpoint those are not the best choice. I could have just found a different form of deodorant, but I made the big leap to go natural. In doing so, I am foregoing the antiperspirant aspect, since aluminium clogs and swells your sweat glands and Moo Goo doesn't want that. The "natural" way to go is to see sweat as a normal body response, and to fight body odour instead. It was a little bit scary to give this a go, but I'm quite happy with the results. Some aluminium-free deodorants are just cover ups and don't go the extra mile to fight the odour-causing bacteria. Fortunately I'm very happy to report that this deodorant works. Actually it kind of took two days for my body to get used to it. Perhaps my sweat glands needed to get used to something gentle? I just had to apply it twice a day for the first couple days, then everything was normal.<br />
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I might sound like I'm gushing, but I'm just so happy that in going to a "greener" product, I've also found things that work incredibly well for our skin issues. I have a few retailers near me, but Moo Goo has <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/shipping/">online stores that ship worldwide</a>. I recommend looking at <a href="http://moogoo.com.au/">their website</a> because it is packed with information.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-54439163913364430802014-02-12T11:42:00.000+11:002014-02-12T11:42:05.298+11:00Rufus & Coco Wee Kitty Clumping Corn LitterWe have just had a catbox revolution at our place and the <a href="http://www.rufusandcoco.com.au/cat-products/litter-accessories/wee-kitty-clumping-corn-flushable-cat-litter">Rufus & Coco Wee Kitty Clumping Litter</a> now reigns supreme. I am so impressed with this product! There are many biodegradable, recycled or compostable cat litter options out there (thank goodness), but this is the only one I have encountered which actually clumps. Using clumping litter has been a lifestyle choice for our household, though I knew that as I "greened" my life, the clay litter was going to have to go. The Wee Kitty litter not only passed the test on actually clumping, but I can flush or mulch the waste. It is so absorbent that you don't have to use heaps of the stuff and there is NO ammonia smell. I also don't have to deal with dust and it doesn't track outside the litterbox! On price breakdown it appeared more costly, but because it lasts longer it is more affordable. I got mine at Woolies, but it's online in a few places, too. I have had cats for decades and this is truly the best litter I have ever used.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-14933001188367032012014-01-15T19:27:00.000+11:002014-01-15T19:27:02.664+11:00Sseko DesignsFrom one shoe blog to another… For Christmas I was given Sseko sandals. These sandals are made by women in Uganda working to fund their college educations. More ethical shopping! In addition to helping marginalised women and promoting education, the sandals are fun and unique. They are sold as bases and sets of straps, and the website has many videos showing you different ways to tie on your sandals. You can make them casual or dressy, and they even have a wedding range. I've got three sets of straps (two chiffon and one classic) and the rectangle sandal accessory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1l8ADhlr6TeAJvvr4GQTa3WwdVdpGA3ZNQxZlwIuyaL7pw7yi9ySeFDKd_IKxJ5FkuhGd4RiOzleRlYbVwhQ5v_YVKRgASgO7Aj9UBdakAZ9UK7v8K4gfBLPM5hqVDhA5auAJg/s1600/IMG_8268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1l8ADhlr6TeAJvvr4GQTa3WwdVdpGA3ZNQxZlwIuyaL7pw7yi9ySeFDKd_IKxJ5FkuhGd4RiOzleRlYbVwhQ5v_YVKRgASgO7Aj9UBdakAZ9UK7v8K4gfBLPM5hqVDhA5auAJg/s1600/IMG_8268.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The classic way to tie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With sandal accessory</td></tr>
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So check out <a href="http://ssekodesigns.com/">Sseko designs</a>--they have handbags and scarves as well. They ship internationally from the US for a rather low rate.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-54623480650501125702013-12-02T12:57:00.001+11:002013-12-02T12:58:52.570+11:00TOMS shoes One for OneI just bought my first pair of shoes from <a href="http://toms.com/">TOMS</a> and I can tell they won't be my last. As soon as I put them on they felt unlike any other pair of shoes I've had before and I liked them quite a lot. But what drew me to TOMS was their "One for One" program. For every pair of shoes you buy, they give a pair to a child who doesn't have shoes. As a veterinarian the first thing that came to my mind was preventing hookworm by wearing shoes! But a pair of shoes can have other health impacts, boost self-esteem and shoes are often required to attend school. It's a huge win-win situation. When you find that you need some new kicks, I highly recommend TOMS. They ship internationally for quite a low fee, just a tiny bit above what I've spent on regular domestic shipping in the past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqympE_RrQUNik9p_CbnQ7zYhSjaaeTr_e6YlNSsoQCHe46CBMG4EyPwBSn8IS6YiEmE0vRyezoRBAhNvG5Q5skgIS-lCsIkT4uncJwZqDC0kwhhyphenhyphenJi4AeHSxTypjODcrZFZXSxQ/s1600/IMG_8177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqympE_RrQUNik9p_CbnQ7zYhSjaaeTr_e6YlNSsoQCHe46CBMG4EyPwBSn8IS6YiEmE0vRyezoRBAhNvG5Q5skgIS-lCsIkT4uncJwZqDC0kwhhyphenhyphenJi4AeHSxTypjODcrZFZXSxQ/s320/IMG_8177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To find out more about TOMS, check out their <a href="http://www.toms.com/get-involved/l">"Get Involved" page</a>, or watch the short <a href="http://youtu.be/BIArTdAHwBc">documentary on YouTube</a>.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-66740683066615478082013-11-06T15:15:00.000+11:002013-11-06T15:16:45.215+11:00shop ethical! appI noticed the <a href="http://www.ethical.org.au/">Shop Ethical!</a> guide for sale at my church one week and thought I would check it out. However, I chose to get the phone app because it was likely that I would forget to bring the guide with me when out shopping. It doesn't cost much and puts a wealth of collated information at your fingertips. Basically this is informed consumerism at its best. The guide presents information about a company and you see how it lines up with your values. Perhaps you want to make sure that workers get a fair wage or maybe you're more focused on the environment--this app will let you know how companies/retailers are performing and you can make your decisions accordingly. I have found it quite useful when I'm choosing between two products. A quick look at the guide and I often find out things I would have never known about certain companies, and it really helps my decision making.<br />
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It seems to be that their clothing edition is only online for now. I'm looking forward to seeing that in app version. I honestly cannot look at a low price on clothing these days and not think about who is getting ripped off in the supply chain, or picture the scenes from the fire in the clothing factory in Bangladesh. This guide is perfect for exposing all the things that aren't on the label.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-25028833376209481072013-10-16T13:33:00.001+11:002013-10-29T10:52:16.387+11:00diapers part 2With child number 2 we made the move to cloth diapers. Using the gdiaper system we already had, we simply purchased <a href="http://www.cottonwoodbaby.com/gDiaper_Inserts.html">cloth inserts from CottonWood Baby</a>. I ordered these from the USA and my parents brought them to us when they visited after the birth. I'm sure we could have made our own, but I didn't know the first thing about which type of material to use. These inserts have a microfleece side touching the skin with organic hemp/cotton layers underneath for absorption. We have had no diaper rashes at all, few leaks onto the outer cover, and they are quite absorbent. The leaks were all due to using those old liners that I had handwashed. This is how I learned that not following the exact washing instructions causes the elastic to break down prematurely, therefore not providing an effective edge barrier at all.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note all the cracks along the elastic</td></tr>
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Replacement was a little bit difficult, but achievable. Perhaps the most complicated component of using this system is the fact that gdiaper products are not available in Australia. Of course this means huge shipping costs from the US, if you can find a supplier that is willing to ship to Australia. Fortunately, the <a href="http://www.eenee.com/">Australian eenee system</a> is completely interchangeable. I bought a few new covers from them and they have lasted very well. The gdiaper brand liners and much more cheap than the ones from eenee, so it was more cost-effective to have those sent from the USA. I had to have them sent to a friend who could mail them to me, but they weigh next to nothing so shipping was very cheap.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">System with cloth insert, eenee diaper covers</td></tr>
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I admit that we have not used this system overnight. We tried once, by putting two inserts in, and it was successful. However the diaper was so bulky that bubs didn't seem comfortable. Instead we have used <a href="http://www.naty.com/">Naty (Nature Babycare)</a> biodegradable disposables and not had any issue with them. They are not 100% biodegradable, but they are definitely a step in the right direction. I'm hoping to invest in some all-in-one cloth diapers specifically for overnight.<br />
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But I know what you really want to hear about--the laundry and cleaning up! After looking at the options, I picked a dry pail system. We have a bucket in our laundry room and everything just gets thrown in there until washing time. I wash every other day. When we had breast milk-only poo (read=sloppy, unformed), I didn't bother trying to get the poo off the insert. Once bubs hit 6 months and started having formed poo, I started flushing it down the toilet before throwing the insert in the bucket. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the poo isn't a nice little nugget. Usually just folding the insert a bit molds it into something easier to get into the toilet. Think play dough... Yuck? Yes. But honestly it's not that bad. If there's little hope I'll get it into the toilet easily, I don't bother. I've found out that it's amazing what a washing machine can do. First I do either a short wash cycle, or just the rinse cycle, depending on how soiled the inserts are. Then I run the full wash on hot, using about half as much soap as you would normally need for clothes washing. I let everything air dry: if outside then it's done in a few hours, if inside in winter then the covers dry overnight but the inserts take closer to 24 hours.<br />
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It's never too late to switch to a cloth system, and I would recommend it. It's definitely nowhere near as scary or smelly as I had expected it to be!glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-65373872474871298282013-09-11T10:26:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:52:39.833+11:00diapers part 1I'm going to tell you about my adventures with trying to make eco-conscious decisions in diapering my children. It's not going to be pretty because we are basically going to be talking about poop. I will cover everything else, but I think the unknown of "what happens when they poop" is what can hold a lot of people back from using non-disposables.<br />
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When I was living in the USA and pregnant with child number 1, preparing for the impending arrival included choosing a diapering system. Before doing any research, I had a couple preconceived ideas about diapers:<br />
1. Cloth= I could remember from my childhood the cloth diaper service that my parents used for my brother. I only have memories of a very stinky diaper pail and pointy diaper pins. I don't really remember the service coming to collect the diapers, only that the pail was huge and smelly.<br />
2. Disposables= The first thing that came to mind was an image of the diapers stacking all the way to the moon and back, never to degrade. I think that picture was one of the first things they showed us in the late 80's at school when we started learning about reuse, reduce and recycle.<br />
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To help me decide, I actually set about calculating the costs. Unfortunately we lived in an apartment complex with coin laundry, so that increased my costs quite a lot. Cloth diapers were not going to save me any money, but they would be an investment in our environment. However, I didn't go the cloth route because I discovered <a href="http://www.gdiapers.com/">gdiapers</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYClX34iFKj_Cd3kgSPawdNTFYdgDcoP34wyR2_b5TYTKQMxlnxXaOdmfrRHdMh-nrwlDy9xVOPCzPzc3dY8jywnl5gL4Rt9-pvLuN1ZGgcVYiuymjbaCul64g028hu8qBl81Cjw/s1600/IMG_8106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYClX34iFKj_Cd3kgSPawdNTFYdgDcoP34wyR2_b5TYTKQMxlnxXaOdmfrRHdMh-nrwlDy9xVOPCzPzc3dY8jywnl5gL4Rt9-pvLuN1ZGgcVYiuymjbaCul64g028hu8qBl81Cjw/s400/IMG_8106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterproof liner snaps in to cloth diaper cover, flushable insert will go into liner.<br />
This is my oldest diaper cover (2 kids and 5 years) so note the curled velcro and pilling. </td></tr>
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gdiapers use cloth covers over waterproof liners that hold a flushable insert. Flushable diapers! I thought it must be too good to be true, but I was impressed that the inserts really did flush. I found gdiapers just as absorbable as disposables, and didn't require much washing. The diaper covers rarely got soiled. The liners didn't get soiled too often and they dry incredibly quickly. I chose to handwash the liners in a bucket in the tub, then hang them over the shower rod. Apparently handwashing can cause the elastic to wear down more quickly, but I didn't notice much issue with the elastics until I used cloth inserts (so different inserts and quite a long time later).<br />
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Flushing the inserts never was too much of a problem for me. You are meant to tear the insert so the pulp in the middle can fall into the toilet, then give it all a swish with a special stick they give you, and flush. I found that I wasn't too keen on dealing with the inserts that had been pooped on, but you have the option not to flush. The inserts biodegrade, so you can always just throw them away!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTV_Bdk4iSo-vA1qkJkYkMU30jYzT7FEXWS6RnErIgQ3SAPgeL68wLxWin31ufsClaLnGRIFPSyta6UuW95gKp5qFK-3oSBbKWZK-MAzKwNCPd78crfWCPlcMro4qnAd2azyl6Q/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTV_Bdk4iSo-vA1qkJkYkMU30jYzT7FEXWS6RnErIgQ3SAPgeL68wLxWin31ufsClaLnGRIFPSyta6UuW95gKp5qFK-3oSBbKWZK-MAzKwNCPd78crfWCPlcMro4qnAd2azyl6Q/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gdiaper in action, pretty cute</td></tr>
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The hubby also did a good job with these, which for us is a sign of a convenient system. We were gifted the starter kit, then just got new cute covers when they were on sale. <a href="http://diapers.com/">diapers.com</a> seemed to have pretty good prices for shipping new inserts, but usually I picked them up at <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/">Whole Foods</a>. There are also forums online where people sell and trade their gdiaper equipment, some getting really crafty and embellishing the covers.<br />
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Unfortunately when our child was 7 or 8 months old he developed a rash which would only get better if he was out of the gdiapers. We tried to get him back in the gdiapers repeatedly after the rash would clear, but even after only 20 minutes in a dry diaper the bumps would start appearing. We were bummed to stop using them, but saved all our equipment for child 2. In part 2 of the diaper blog I'll cover how we were able to convert the gdiaper system into a cloth one.</div>
glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-61421988681927532552013-08-26T11:09:00.001+10:302013-10-29T10:53:09.307+11:00t-shirt quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All of my upcycling projects culminated in this pièce de résistance...the t-shirt quilt. It took me months to make, mainly because I had no clue what I was doing, but I'm quite proud of the finished product.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqMAjSeMDTz4g7F7JJuM1aGeUG2hWZd2WR7PhPgDLn-fW-a33dnCLLWlW1Gbnd0jh2Clmqik9VNmgnBKTa3U_jL7I0vWTQusQYVWg1U6_t8uQ5QkrQq-HtvQia2G6aDieMp2GZA/s1600/IMG_8080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqMAjSeMDTz4g7F7JJuM1aGeUG2hWZd2WR7PhPgDLn-fW-a33dnCLLWlW1Gbnd0jh2Clmqik9VNmgnBKTa3U_jL7I0vWTQusQYVWg1U6_t8uQ5QkrQq-HtvQia2G6aDieMp2GZA/s320/IMG_8080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I say I didn't know what I was doing, I mean I had never quilted before or even really watched anyone make a quilt. I kept thinking that at some point my inexperience would cause me to make a fatal error, but surprisingly everything worked out well. The main flaws that exist are due to the fact that I was working with jersey which can be a bit annoying. <a href="http://www.ecokaren.com/2010/08/how-to-recycle-t-shirts-to-make-a-memory-quilt/">ecokaren blogged about her t-shirt quilt</a>, and her tip to apply interfacing to the t-shirt material was a lifesaver. Besides that I learned the quilting basics from a library book, and used <a href="http://prudentbaby.com/2011/11/by-craft/the-easiest-cheat-for-binding-a-quilt/">pretty prudent's quilt binding cheat</a> to finish the edges.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Binding cheat = fold over the backing</td></tr>
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In summary, I would encourage anyone to try this project. It's a great way to keep your special t-shirts! I was able to do all this with my sewing machine without purchasing a quilting foot. The interfacing made all the difference in the world, and having a bit of experience with sending jersey through the sewing machine before did help--it's good to understand your fabric.</div>
<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-29294622121833785642013-08-14T11:39:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:53:43.848+11:00pochette from a shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So this quick project was another pinterest find, linking to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxH4lPd9NIk">youtube tutorial</a> on how to make a t-shirt pochette (not an envelope-style purse, but a "little pocket"). My advice is to watch the video on mute...the music isn't too great. While this bag is simple enough that a few pictures could have relayed the instructions, it's sometimes nice just to watch someone crafting on youtube. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple flowers for embellishment</td></tr>
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I wanted to make more of a proper handbag handle and just had to experiment a bit with making one. They do sell handles at craft stores for those people who make their own purses, but they would have looked too serious at the top of this casual bag. After a couple trials I ended up with a a simple decorative stitch to bind some fake leather from the trims section and I'm pretty happy with the look.</div>
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<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-10356707999569440632013-07-24T20:37:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:54:20.615+11:00sustainable seafood guideDuring my masters course I had to do a report on the current state of a fishery, the laws and regulations associated with it, and how stocks were monitored. Let me tell you, reading about overfishing is depressing. There are many problems ranging from fishing techniques to the enforcement of regulations. Fish numbers are depleted while the laborious and time-consuming task of finding sustainable fishery solutions is underway.<br />
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Choosing sustainable seafood can be rather difficult. One approach is to look for the "certified sustainable seafood" label, endorsed by the <a href="http://www.msc.org/">Marine Stewardship Council</a>. Their website has data on sustainable fisheries around the world. My strategy? I downloaded <a href="http://www.sustainableseafood.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide-Australia.asp?active_page_id=695">Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide</a> from the <a href="http://www.marineconservation.org.au/">Australian Marine Conservation Society</a>. I can just search by the name of the fish and results pop up on whether this fish is a "say no", "think twice" or "better choice". Details of why they have arrived at that conclusion are listed. It's all about being a better-informed consumer! Another easy thing to do is to shop at <a href="http://www.aldi.com.au/">Aldi</a>, who have an <a href="https://www.aldi.com.au/en/shopping-at-aldi/aldi-initiatives/sustainably-caught-fish/">initiative to support sustainable fishing practices</a>.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-6846865914700560142013-07-10T14:39:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:57:12.511+11:00soft plasticsDid you know that most types of plastics, including plastic bags, are recyclable? The only problem is that not everything that's recyclable can get thrown into your recycle bin for weekly pick up. <a href="http://redgroup.net.au/">RED group</a> is "rethinking recycling" and the list of plastic products they recycle is impressive. There isn't a heap more effort that needs to be put in since they have <a href="http://www.coles.com.au/About-Coles/Environment.aspx">collection bins at Coles stores</a>. We have just put a box in the laundry room and collect things in there. It actually takes ages to accumulate enough for drop-off, so the biggest change is in our behaviour. I admit that it's pretty easy to remember to save the bread bags, but I often have to remind myself that frozen food and confectionary packaging can be recycled. Between eliminating food and plastic waste, our bin is much less full. I suspect if we look closer at what else we throw away we will probably find some other ways we can reduce our waste.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-12173992912453955412013-06-25T21:37:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:55:07.310+11:00recycled t-shirt bunnyFor Christmas I made my niece and my daughter, who were 9 months and 6 months respectively, soft bunny toys. As I had just started this blog, I didn't have the forethought to take a photo of the two cute bunnies when they were clean and unused, or perhaps even pose them with the girls to up the cuteness factor. Regardless, here is a photo of my daughter's bunny.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully you cannot see how dirty this toy is...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com.au/">Chez Beeper Bebe</a> has been so kind to <a href="http://chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com.au/2010/03/tutorial-and-pattern-recycled-mooshy.html">blog about this project</a> and you are able to print out a pattern and instructions. So generous! I didn't adapt this project much at all--it's already meant to be a way to recycle t-shirts. I simply opted not to add the pom-pom tail because I needed the bunny to be more baby-friendly. My daughter was a fan immediately and has spent a lot of time with those ears in her mouth. Perhaps this bunny will get her through teething??glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-18122822496263654412013-06-12T14:32:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:55:26.940+11:00pillow coversThis will be quite a short post because this is a pretty short project. Basically if you have large enough t-shirts it's pretty easy to use the jersey like fabric and make pillows or pillow covers. My inspiration was from the <a href="http://www.ducklingsinarow.com/2012/03/diy-pillows-made-from-daddys-shirts.html">ducklings in a row tutorial</a> on pillows made from men's button-down shirts. Simple measurements and a quick run through the sewing machine is all it took, then I closed the pillows in with a slip stitch. I wanted to do that properly so I followed <a href="http://keyka.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/how-to-slip-stitch-a-seam-closed.html">directions from michelle patterns</a> which were fabulous. It buries the knot well which came naturally to me because it's a similar technique to what we do in surgery!<br />
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glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-53779190265715310172013-05-22T14:49:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:55:45.228+11:00dolman from man's t-shirtI admit that before I saw this project I didn't even know what a dolman top was. Of course I had seen the style before, but I had no idea what its name was. I found this project at <a href="http://www.trashtocouture.com/2011/11/old-mens-t-shirt-sewn-into-womens.html">trash to couture</a> and instantly knew what shirt I'd be modifying: one of my humongous band t-shirts that I've never been able to part with but never wear because it would be like wearing a tent.<br />
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This was what I would call my first "real" sewing project. I made sure to watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8XvRFZBis8">the tutorial</a> before starting so I wouldn't screw anything up. Turns out this was really easy and I love the result, especially the new ruching at the bottom. I think the 80's vibe of the dolman style works really well with this cheesy Weezer shirt.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the craptastic selfie</td></tr>
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<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-29038023816743892202013-04-18T10:55:00.000+10:302013-10-29T10:56:02.804+11:00singlet from an old t-shirtLet's be real about this...maybe you had a t-shirt that you really loved but one day you forgot to wear deodorant and you destroyed it. No matter how many soaks in vinegar solution you do, that smell is in that fabric for life. Sound familiar? Hopefully not. But if you made this mistake, like I did, then this project is perfect for you. It's also a nice way to redo an oversized concert t-shirt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/">crafterhours</a> posted <a href="http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/2011/08/tee-to-tank-tutorial-by-jen-from.html">this tutorial</a> on tee to tank. Like the t-shirt necklaces, this is an incredibly easy sewing project. You have the option for more sewing to provide refined edges, but I opted out since I was just getting back into the hang of sewing. Plus I actually like the way cut jersey looks. My advice for completing this project is to use a safety pin as your "needle" to thread the drawstring through. Here's a look at the singlets I made:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkhooLLJD5ZlAe64r34xi29Uoc85vgfZaVvdpjryIIOL3TuxiQD2GoCQa6MAM8ExHElcGw-mQf7i1I6kIUnfqO7zt3QEMiWLJynkpEfvJXJlR2sz7VD_KctNso8JMeKe3nMHEMA/s1600/IMG_7896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkhooLLJD5ZlAe64r34xi29Uoc85vgfZaVvdpjryIIOL3TuxiQD2GoCQa6MAM8ExHElcGw-mQf7i1I6kIUnfqO7zt3QEMiWLJynkpEfvJXJlR2sz7VD_KctNso8JMeKe3nMHEMA/s320/IMG_7896.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two lines of stitching, that's it!</td></tr>
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<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-10515400970434792502013-04-09T15:24:00.001+10:302013-10-29T10:56:21.458+11:00t-shirt repurposing=necklacesThe next few posts will be a bit outside the box. I had a stack of old t-shirts that we were done with, but really weren't suitable for donation. I decided that instead of throwing them away I should try to repurpose the fabric. Pinterest was very helpful in pursuing projects, as were craft blogs. I'm not a sewer, and hadn't used a sewing machine in 10 years when I started these projects! So I started slow and my first go was with making t-shirt necklaces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7yXNGQ3kOO6xCAvoRJr0oLbl-OP4GMQIQuZ90H3KbZQ8G7_de-iA8DzeFjsnD9XdCuBKPFkslLpndPqvKGZgkliBv8iB-GuHA7Arcs2y3G9HKMBgEj4fy-g0ZrNQCuAQ5QH4iQ/s1600/IMG_7862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7yXNGQ3kOO6xCAvoRJr0oLbl-OP4GMQIQuZ90H3KbZQ8G7_de-iA8DzeFjsnD9XdCuBKPFkslLpndPqvKGZgkliBv8iB-GuHA7Arcs2y3G9HKMBgEj4fy-g0ZrNQCuAQ5QH4iQ/s320/IMG_7862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tutorial is <a href="http://melissaesplin.com/2010/03/t-shirt-refashion-jersey-necklace/">here</a>. The first necklace I made was hand-sewn, then the others were by machine. These are ridiculously easy to make. If your jersey is not as stretchy then the pieces don't curl around on themselves as well, but I like the different texture it gives the necklace. These necklaces are perfect if you have a baby: they are soft, won't break and are washable!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzCOKpEjPw9fgxffZfv-wsHlgGRliLKvcK3PUqEa2a2e4yRtZTRTALXwUM1A_rhx-6xB0PaasACCX77WQLIuZ0qJadAd7yBcrpieZGNcdFMuymVy8A8MW65IUtkzIbdUILqf6rw/s1600/IMG_7864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzCOKpEjPw9fgxffZfv-wsHlgGRliLKvcK3PUqEa2a2e4yRtZTRTALXwUM1A_rhx-6xB0PaasACCX77WQLIuZ0qJadAd7yBcrpieZGNcdFMuymVy8A8MW65IUtkzIbdUILqf6rw/s320/IMG_7864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-22337735465901572702013-03-19T20:30:00.000+11:002013-10-29T10:57:01.254+11:00bokashi--part 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ChyHktuiKlkfbCZbuk3-YQ6LdjiprwkY8K4IW2ojfKNM4bJ0cjCzTrSDOyd3951LlSQuORcbnigIq-_6NaX5lc6gF37rdX_vQXonUV6FjBcjDQvUWH_nEKwr41TPQTII7IO7Q/s1600/IMG_7552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ChyHktuiKlkfbCZbuk3-YQ6LdjiprwkY8K4IW2ojfKNM4bJ0cjCzTrSDOyd3951LlSQuORcbnigIq-_6NaX5lc6gF37rdX_vQXonUV6FjBcjDQvUWH_nEKwr41TPQTII7IO7Q/s320/IMG_7552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bokashi juice</td></tr>
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Here's where we get down to the nitty gritty. Above is some yummy yummy bokashi juice. Make sure you read the preceding sentence with a lot of sarcasm. This juice that comes out of the bottom of the bucket is loaded with beneficial bacteria and has a wide range of uses. It's meant to reduce algae build up in your drains. Diluted it acts like fertilizer. I did dilute it and use it to help out my chilies and capsicum plants which were struggling and now they are all doing quite well and laden with peppers. However, I think the juice smells like vomit. I suppose that depends on what goes into the bucket and we tend to put mainly fruits and vegetables in which produce more liquid. The bucket itself usually doesn't smell when I lift the lid and the bokashi has a sickly sweet smell to it. The juice, though, is rank. As long as I'm able to lift the bucket, I prefer to perch it over the edge of the sink and drain it straight in while I have the water running.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4pIqfpfrnNI6I_SITE3SdADCErvV7atIQvqdl42EWI8yUCzWnc6bOShatR2f2eu4Z1yCxR1LJlF5r2-kFklmelPq5d_oD0SCkVD-DwuuZbbw7CWhgCqSHCsv4EtFmmuWYHec9g/s1600/IMG_0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4pIqfpfrnNI6I_SITE3SdADCErvV7atIQvqdl42EWI8yUCzWnc6bOShatR2f2eu4Z1yCxR1LJlF5r2-kFklmelPq5d_oD0SCkVD-DwuuZbbw7CWhgCqSHCsv4EtFmmuWYHec9g/s320/IMG_0345.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to bury</td></tr>
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In order to complete the last steps of breakdown, the fermented food needs to be buried in the soil. When you go to bury the contents, you have to wait a week after the food at the top has been put in so it has a chance to ferment. You can see in the picture how the food is covered in white mold, which means to process is working. Green mold is another story, but fortunately that hasn't happened to us. I reckon it all begins to look slightly yellow like it's pickling. This is where I was crossing my fingers that everything worked like it should. I was worried that our rocky, dusty soil wasn't even quality enough to complete the breakdown process. Fortunately everything worked well. I checked the soil about three weeks later and was having problems finding any evidence of food. I started to think that maybe I had the wrong area of the garden, but I did come across an eggshell which hadn't broken down yet. It's like magic! My hope is that over time we will end up with quality soil throughout our garden. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0gwSmHYrGc4ih4zlocTclOmMcWoSQdeGExqlSH3t5UTJQK2JRTbK8z0OK3vGTHYn5NgK6_R0wLTJgdsuDbmin6G9Ca2jdIc3-r5I9o-xCseq-W4lYDvn2A3Ie7EpTNNLiwCNxA/s1600/IMG_0352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0gwSmHYrGc4ih4zlocTclOmMcWoSQdeGExqlSH3t5UTJQK2JRTbK8z0OK3vGTHYn5NgK6_R0wLTJgdsuDbmin6G9Ca2jdIc3-r5I9o-xCseq-W4lYDvn2A3Ie7EpTNNLiwCNxA/s320/IMG_0352.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just needs to be covered in soil</td></tr>
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<br />glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-73460098730627450662013-03-13T14:30:00.002+11:002013-10-29T10:57:32.957+11:00bokashi--part 1Growing up in a family that composts, I feel a sense of guilt every time I throw away food at home. Of course when you live in an apartment or a rental property, your options for compost are limited. I had assumed that I would not do any composting until I owned a house and could lay out my own garden plan. However a few months ago I looked at our waste and realized that a majority of it was food waste(!) so I decided to research my options.<br />
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The scheme that I found which would work best for my family's situation is the <a href="http://www.bokashi.com.au/">bokashi bucket</a>. This is not the stinky, hot composting you might be used to...it's a fermentation process. This small bucket collects all your food waste, requiring little upkeep, then the contents get buried in your garden once the bucket is full. It will take me a couple posts to relay all the info, but the super short conclusion is that I'm really happy with this system. It's basically composting for the lazy. The bucket can sit right there in the kitchen, collecting everything, and you barely have to do anything to keep it all running smoothly.<br />
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I was able to find a <a href="http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_compost-bin-indoor-18lt-indoor-composter-mci18_P3160004.aspx?search=bokashi&searchType=any&searchSubType=products">start up system</a> at Bunnings Warehouse. You need the bucket with its spigot at the bottom, a cup for draining the juice, and some active bokashi micro-organisms which come as either a spray or as granules. We got it set up in a few minutes and started collecting food scraps. This was my main selling point for this system--you can put ANY food in it. Meat, citrus, cooked food, bread, whatever! This is perfect for our family since we have two little ones that don't always finish their meals.<br />
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Upkeep consists of adding the micro-organisms after you add food, possibly squashing the contents down as the bucket fills, and draining the bokashi juice. The juice doesn't start accumulating until a week or so after you've started using the bucket, but then it builds up every day. When the bucket is full you bury the contents in the soil. Honestly when you go to dig that hole in the garden, it feels like a leap of faith. At that point the food doesn't look like it has done much to start on the breakdown process, but it all works! The next post will have some photos to show what I'm talking about.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-6876331438447215722013-02-27T16:43:00.001+11:002013-10-29T10:58:15.845+11:00natures organicsPerhaps most Australians are quite familiar with the <a href="http://www.naturesorganics.com.au/household-cleaning/earth-choice">earth choice</a> line, or anything from the parent company <a href="http://www.naturesorganics.com.au/">natures organics</a>, but I am new to them. When I moved to Australia from the US I didn't know anything about the cleaning product brands here. I went through trial and error trying to find things that worked well but didn't cost a lot of money. Something about the earth choice packaging didn't grab me, and honestly I wasn't sure if natural products could clean as well. Of course I should have thought back to my childhood of cleaning with vinegar, but apparently I like to shop with my eyes instead of my brain.<br />
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My first natures organics product I bought was actually kid's bubble bath. How could I say no when it was the cheapest product by far and wasn't going to fill the tub full of funny chemicals? Then I moved on to the earth choice laundry detergent. Let me tell you, when I saw how syrupy the stuff was, I was worried. But I'm very happy with it and have been able to use it for normal laundry, baby laundry, cloth nappies, anything. My latest addition is the earth choice dish soap, and it seems to do the job although possibly not the best product for greasy things. I will have to conduct an experiment in that regard, though, since I always wash the oily or greasy things last when the dishwater is rather spent.</div>
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Natures organics has a philosophy of trying to lower their impact on the environment and recognises that there are many things to balance in aiming to do so. That's pretty much how I feel about any environmentally conscious decision I make. I like that the company uses recycled packaging and bioplastic, has a palm oil policy, and is cruelty free. In general now that I have tried a few different products and have been pleased with them, I am more likely to seek out the natures organics range when I need to get soap, body wash, shampoo, etc. I think it might be time for me to seriously consider all the different products I rinse down the drain on a regular basis. Health and beauty products could be a whole other kettle of fish, though, so stay tuned.</div>
glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-38209449375834308752013-02-08T14:44:00.001+11:002013-10-29T10:58:47.089+11:00buying local<br />
The concept of buying local makes sense to me on a couple scales. Shorter distances for the food in transit means less emissons. Less shipping time should mean it's fresher, too, right? You also have the ability to support the local community and smaller farms instead of large companies.<br />
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I assumed in buying local that I was going to have to start investigating my labels like crazy, ask shop keepers about origins of items and frequent farmer's markets. In fact, we made one quick decision to utilise <a href="http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/">Aussie Farmers Direct</a> and it's been heaps easier. I don't have to question the origins of anything, they send you magazines where you can "meet" the farmers, and it's even easier for me since it's delivered to my door step. Cost is slightly higher for some of the items, but many are very competitively priced. The quality of everything has been overwhelming. We are able to get fruit and vegetables which taste better and are nicer, and last for ages. It turns out that one of my friends supplies the stone fruit for their fruit packs and I love that. He says that he can't emphasise enough how good it is that the boxes are hand-packed. That wasn't a selling point for me, but he knows the fruit business better than I do!<br />
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We get a fruit and vegetable pack delivered fortnightly. When I tell friends about this service, the fact that I don't choose what's in the box seems to deter quite a few of them. I admit that it took a bit of getting used to, but I barely even notice it now. It actually really helped us get out of the rut of buying the same vegetables all the time, got us to try new recipes and forced us to only eat produce that is in season.<br />
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This topic of buying local will be continued at some point...the rest is a work in progress as I try to sort out which shops are best to get other items. The "Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients" label irks me to no end...I would really be happy to see some eco-labelling environmental policy tools in action. Anyone else feel that way?</div>
glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-43064436947344880402013-01-29T21:25:00.001+11:002013-10-29T10:59:07.906+11:00toothbrushesI'm one of those never-throw-the-toothbrush-out kind of people. When I'm done with them, they all go to the cleaning cupboard to be tiny scrub brushes. One time in high school I even made one into a bracelet. However, I cannot even recall the last time I decided I was going to clean something so thoroughly that I used a toothbrush to do so! Seeing as I'm not so good on the reusing front, and in general I'd like to lower my use of plastics (especially ones that aren't readily/obviously recyclable), maybe an alternative toothbrush would suit me. My husband found these, actually: the <a href="http://environmentaltoothbrush.com.au/">environmental toothbrush</a>.<br />
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A dentist in Brisbane invented this toothbrush, which is made of bamboo. They're a bit basic, but last well and do the job just fine. Another bonus is the low cost. But I must say that as soon as I started using them I realised how many "comfort" design features regular toothbrushes have. Flexible neck, contoured head, etc...this brush does not have that. But I found out that although it was noticeable at first, in the long run I didn't care.glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32210740.post-27015124709650756142012-12-09T19:31:00.001+11:002013-10-29T10:59:36.248+11:00toilet paperWhere to start? Bums.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zoos.org.au/">Zoos Victoria </a>launched their recycled toilet paper campaign <a href="http://www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction/conservation-campaigns/wipe-for-wildlife-campaign">"Wipe for Wildlife"</a> and I was on board. Pretty simple change to make to purchase recycled TP instead of other brands, right? Actually it was slightly harder than expected. Or should I say rougher?<br />
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I've never been loyal to a TP brand or spent time making sure I bought double-ply or whatever. But I think you can agree with me that there are some brands out there that are much akin to tissue paper and it is not comfortable. So it honestly took me nearly a year to find the brand of recycled toilet paper that I like the most.<br />
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Three cheers for <a href="http://www.naturale.com.au/">Naturale</a> (the one with the Orange Thighed Treefrog on the package). It just works, isn't scratchy, and unlike many of its competitors, you wouldn't obviously notice that it was recycled. Plus the good thing about recycled TP is that it is cheaper. Bonus!<br />
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I have noticed that many of the other brands of TP are starting to carry forest-friendly labels regardless of being 100% recycled or not. I haven't looked into this and compared it to the benefits of using recycled--maybe you can tell me?glitterrshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052817339850454653noreply@blogger.com0