Green Living

Eco-friendly Chanukah Candles And Crafts

Chanukah is the festival of lights and usually involves many sources of light, including candles, menorahs or electric ornaments. Classic paraffin candles that are utilized in most menorahs and Chanukah light displays are typically made from petroleum byproducts. Thus, they are non-renewable and add to the hazards of the petroleum industry. Natural choices for your menorah or decorations like soy, palm oil, or beeswax that are made from a variety of renewable ingredients, are out there. These natural choices are healthier to have in the home, as paraffin yields the same soot as burning diesel fuel does when it burns. The air contaminants from paraffin fumes include toluene, benzene, naphthalene, and methyl ethyl keytone, which are the same substances that are found in paint and varnish removers. You can avoid all of this by using natural candle choices. The burning of any candle, whether natural or synthetic, yields a small fraction of carbon dioxide. Every menorah that burns produces an estimated 15 grams of carbon dioxide. Collectively, this adds up to a significant amount of candle-burning over one Chanukah season. Due to this fact, many people are opting for electric menorahs as an alternative to burning candles. When using electric menorahs, ...

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Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas For Babies And Kids

Nature Baby Organic Wool And Cotton Clothes Nature Baby is a family business in New Zealand that specializes in products that nurture both babies and nature. They started in 1998 with the goal of producing innovative products so their children may grow up in a more eco-friendly world. Some of their products include: organic cotton drawstring pants, lambskin booties, organic cotton long sleeve bodysuits, and organic knotted beanie hats. All of their products are high quality and very soft to the touch. EarthBall The EarthBall is 16 inches in diameter, inflatable, glows in the dark, and is made with child safe phthalate-free material. The ball was created using NASA satellite photos, and the cities of the world on it illuminate. The EarthBall is a great tool as a visual aid for teaching kids about light pollution, world population, and energy consumption. It comes with a Global Handbook that includes information and games. EcoZoo Natural Cotton Backpacks by EcoGear These backpacks are PVC and toxic free and come in the shape of a friendly zoo animal. These backpacks use natural cotton canvas and rope materials, non-toxic dyes, sustainable wood accents, recycled plastic components, and padded shoulder straps. Natural Paint Colors Glob It On Paints are made from organic ...

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New Green Products: Craft Items, Organic Dolls, Cookbooks and Baby Carriers

Inca Kids Handcrafted Items Inca Kids is a self-funded project through the Fair Trade Federation that works with skilled artisans in Peru to create natural and traditional Peruvian art. The project is committed to providing equal opportunities for men and women, as well as fair wages and a sustainable workplace. The goal is to support community-building initiatives that bring awareness of the fair trade movement. This awareness will help provide poverty relief and education. The prices for the high quality fair trade items are affordable and by purchasing them you are supporting Peruvian artisans. For Christmas time, Inca Kids sells hand-knitted ornaments for only $5 and colorful stockings for $12. Organic Dolls Dandelion organic toddler dolls are made with certified organic cotton fibers, which mean they are very soft as well as safe for children. The organic cotton used in the creation of the dolls does not yield any pollution. The organic doll is stuffed with corn fibers rather than petroleum-based poly-fill. It is also can be cleaned in the washing machine.  A portion of the proceeds from sales of this doll is donated to a childhood cancer organization. The doll is sold for $24.99. Cookie Cookbook Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-inYour-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich ...

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Cold And Flu Natural Remedies

When it comes to getting the flu, we tend to reach for over-the-counter drugs to combat the virus. There are homeopathic remedies and herbs out there that can be used as an alternative to over-the-counter drugs. The benefits of these remedies and herbs are plentiful, as they are natural and have few if any side effects. Consider making over your bathrooms medicine cabinet with new remedies to combat the flu virus. While there are still instances that you’ll want to use conventional medicines, having the option will promote the notion of a natural method of healing as well as provide you with ample way to treat the flu virus. Check out these items that may be worth incorporating into your medicine cabinet the next time the flu virus rolls around the schoolyard or work place: Oscillococcinum Oscillococciunum is good for relieving flu symptoms. It is a homeopathic flu remedy that contains a highly diluted concentration of the flu virus, which triggers the body’s immune system to fight off the virus. Studies have shown that oscillococcinum both reduces the severity of flu symptoms as well as shortens their duration. Recent research published by the British Homeopathic Journal discovered that nearly 63% of people, who took ...

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Eco-Friendly Decorating For Chanukah

When you are in a rush or the holiday creeps up early in the month, coming up with a way to be eco-friendly on the holiday can be tricky. Fortunately, it’s easier nowadays to find ways to be green on Chanukah. Energy-saving Look for products that will save energy over the course of the holidays like light timers and energy efficient lighting. Renewable Look for products that are made from renewable materials. Pay attention to avoid products that are made with synthetics such as polyester, PVC or plastic, all of which are made from non-renewable petroleum. Alternative options include jute, silk, natural rubber, hemp, bamboo, cotton and other alternative fibers. Recyclable Numerous Chanukah decorations are made up of very little recycled material and tend to be non-recyclable. These decorations often contain plastic, styrofoam, and metal. Look for decorations that avoid these materials. Reduced Toxicity Choose Certified Organic textiles and food items, as well as items produced with plant-derived ingredients. Biodegradable Be on the lookout for products that are made up of materials that break down easily. This includes natural products that can be put in your compost pile. This is most important for products that won’t be used more than once, such as disposable plates or silverware. Certified Green Be on the ...

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