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November 3rd, 2011 | 
Author: To bring an environmental focus to your landscape, start from the ground up, first addressing what goes into the soil, surrounding plants, and into the air. One of the most important things you can do to green the outside of your home is make the switch to using natural and organic fertilizers and pesticides. This is especially important if you are growing plants for food or have children or pets that spend time in your yard.
A healthy lawn will benefit from fertilizing or mulching once or twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall. Organic fertilizers build the health of your plants naturally, and could make them more resistant to pests.
When plants are healthy and growing in good soil with strong sunlight, there is less need for pesticides. When you must use a pesticide, choosing a homemade or organic one will give you a safer place to walk through the grass, and peace of mind knowing that the run-off from rains will not contain the dangerous chemicals from your lawn and plants.
Caring for your lawn in an environmentally friendly way has a lot to do with what you don’t do to your grass. When we choose to water and mow lawns in conjunction with nature, it is less work for us humans and helps our yard develop it’s own natural beauty. Watering your lawn infrequently and deeply when it is beginning to show signs of drought will help the grass develop strong roots and better compete with the weeds, which tend to have more shallow roots. Wait until the grass is beginning to curl or turn yellow, and then provide a good half-inch of water. Wait an hour for the water to soak in, and then repeat.
Mow the lawn with the blades on the highest setting; then taller grass can shade out competing weeds and grow healthier. Leave the lawn clippings spread evenly over the grass to add nutrients and further shade out weeds the natural way.
Once you have turned your lawn into an eco-friendly haven, next turn to other aspects of the landscape, including plants, animal habitat and water features. Filling your outdoor space with native plants not only provides a more natural feel to the space, but also makes it easier on the gardener. Native plants are typically more drought tolerant and will grow better in your area, requiring less maintenance. Take into account the amount of sunlight and ease of watering when you choose areas for planting.
Just as plants provide habitat for backyard critters, areas of brush, small woodpiles or thick bushes also make a great home for the animals that are attracted to our eco-yards. Adding water features such as a fountain, small pond or birdbath will attract and keep a wider array of wildlife. Birdhouses and bird feeders are an addition that creates a more inclusive environment for a variety of birds and other animals.
Once your outdoor space has been transformed into an eco-friendly haven for plants and animals, complete the process by further making the space pleasing and inviting to people. Green or environmental companies offer an array of outdoor living products. You may find patio furniture made from sustainably harvested teak or recycled materials, or a hammock constructed of recycled items. Look for a wind chime made from more environmentally friendly aluminum that is built to last, or add solar lighting to complete the landscape.
Co-op America maintains the Green Pages, a nationwide list of extensively screened environmental and socially responsible stores, which makes the task of searching for green companies much easier. Whatever additions you make to complete your eco-friendly backyard, you will be helping the environment through these committed companies, all while doing your part to green your own little piece of earth.
By: Rachel Betzen
Earth Day was first realized by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to find a way to increase environmental awareness and to promote urgently needed federal legislation to deal with an alarming ecological crisis.
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when a chorus of demonstrators around the nation (some 20 million strong) voiced their concerns about the environment, specifically about the pollution of air and water, and a significant amount of federal legislation was passed to protect the environment.
• The Environmental Protection Agency was created on December 2, 1970, in response to the nationwide concern over environmental pollution. The newly formed agency was responsible for consolidating a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities under a single regulatory agency to protect health and safeguard the natural environment, including air, water, and land
• The Clean Air Act of 1970 is a comprehensive federal law, which required the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect against common pollutants, including ozone (smog), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and particulate soot.
The Act was subsequently amended in 1977 and 1990 to set new goals for achieving NAAQS. In particular, the phasing out of lead gas by the mid-1980′s, was hailed by many as one of the most important health initiatives of the 20th century. Additional amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990 included the controlling of acid rain and the elimination of leaded gas in automobiles by the end of 1995.
How YOU can get involved:
The Earth Day Network has a number of strategies for concerned citizens to get involved in raising environmental awareness in your community, including how to take action and ways to push for change with the U.S. Congress and the White House through the signing of petitions, or pledging to become more environmentally active, such as “10 Easy things you can do at home to protect endangered species.” Check for local events below!
This is also an age marked by an increased awareness about environmental issues. There is a conscious effort everywhere to go green, stop environmental pollution and save the planet we live in. This new heightened awareness has necessitated the need to take a fresh look into industries and commercial organizations, which have long been blamed, to varying extents, for polluting the environment and depleting the earth’s natural resources. We have also started to think how such harmful effects can be diminished and keep the planet green.
Like most production operations, printing houses also produce harmful wastes. Printing houses produce what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies have shown that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks. As a result, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices.
However, this is only half of what “eco-friendly printing services” are really all about. The issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. Eco-friendly printing is all about a successful merging of the two.
It is surprising to learn that the paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers in the amount of energy used. Producing paper and the electricity used for factory operations, as well as the actual printing process, demand lots of fossil fuels. Printers, thus, put a major strain on the planet, draining her natural resources in alarming magnitude.
Certified eco-friendly printing services keep track of the total energy usage and implement strategies for offsetting the environmental impact of their businesses. Their goal is to be “sustainable printers”, meaning they will be carefully planning operations to minimize electricity use, put a lighter drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is virtually synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible. That’s what “green printing” is all about.
By choosing eco-friendly printing services for all our printing needs, we can show that we really care about our environment and act as responsible citizens of the planet. It’s always comforting to know that we’re doing our part to protect and conserve the environment. It’s also reassuring to know that our printing requirements will not endanger the earth by adding toxins and harmful pollutants, or by depleting natural resources. Everybody should insist on printing green. After all, we all owe it to the planet that we can call home in this vast universe. Sending all our printing jobs to certified green printers offering eco-friendly printing services can go a long way in helping conserve the environment and ensure a greener tomorrow for our children.
By: Simon Churchgate
How Soapnuts clean your laundry? The process by which Soapnuts clean your clothes is naturally quite simple. The soapnut shells contains a natural saponin that works as a surfactant, making your water “wetter” and allowing it to penetrate the fibers of yours clothing, working away the dirt, keeping it in suspension in the water until it’s drained away, taking the dirt with it.
Soapnuts are ideal as natural and Eco-friendly detergent in the washing machine just put up 3 to 6 Soapnut shells (4 to 8 half shells), according your loads, into un-bleached cotton bag (provided free with each pack of “Sindhiya Washnuts” ) or in a sock. Tied tight and pop the bag in the washing machine with your clothes, these are suitable at any temperature, pre-wash or rinse cycles and on delicate fabrics. Shells can be used for more than one wash (up to 4 or more washes, according to your loads) on same day, discard any remains when they go dark brown and soggy.
What’s left is a load of clean clothes and nothing else! That’s the way laundry should be. Much like clean water, clean laundry should not contain toxic chemical residues. In fact, it’s more important to consider what laundry products do NOT contain then to look at what they do contain.
Wash the clothes:
The soapnut shells contains saponins (a natural detergent), when come into contact with water they make mild suds, soapnut shells are natural, organic, environmentally friendly a natural alternative of all kind of detergent, soaps, cleaners and shampoo. Soapnuts are ideal as a chemical free natural detergent in washing machines and laundries. Just put 4 to 8 soapnut shells in unbleached cotton bag/pouch, sock, handkerchief or similar, tie it up tightly and throw it in your washing machine with your clothes as soon as soapnut shells make contact with water (e.g. in your washing machine)the saponins dissolves and has the same effect as most normal detergent. You will not need to add any other detergent or fabric softener! The smell of the clothes washed with Soapnuts is absolutely natural – if you prefer scented laundry, simply sprinkle a few drops of ethereal oil on the bag of Soapnuts: Nice choices could be lavender, rose, orange, lemongrass or other your favorite – the variety of fragrances is nearly infinite. Soapnuts wash effectively between 30 and 60 degrees and same bag of same Soapnuts will be use 3 to 4 times for wash continues on same day. You will be wondered and amazed to see Soapnuts really works and they had cleaned your clothes as well as normal detergent.
Use as a bathing liquid soap or shampoo for allergic or sensitive skins: Soapnuts are 100% natural and gentle, these are so best for those who have sensitive skin or suffering from neurodermatitis and allergy in particular will benefit from the use of Soapnuts, as clothes which were cleaned with Soapnuts do not irritate the skin. Also allergic persons and people with sensitive skin may use Soapnuts for bathing instead normal soaps or medicated soaps which are contains with chemicals. For this purpose put 100 grams of soapnut shells in a pot with at least 1.5 litters of water cover the pot and put on stove for boil for at least 30 to 40 minutes. The boiling process extracts the saponins from the soapnut shells and combines with the water. Let allow then to cool till safe to handle than strain into appropriate container. Now your liquid soap is ready for use you can use it for bathing and as well as shampoo or all purpose for cleanings, pet’s washing soap or shampoo and many kinds of cleanings.
Use as a shampoo:
A Soap suds made of Soapnuts is a shampoo, which reliably and enduringly fights dandruff. A soapnut shampoo not only washes your hair but also cares for it. Especially allergic persons and people with a sensitive scalp should use soapnut suds to wash their hair: Because it is 100% natural and does not contain any kind of chemical additives, it will not irritate the scalp! Soapnut shampoo also best for lice and other kind of hair diseases. Women of south Asian countries are used this type of natural shampoo since stone ages. This kind of Soapnuts shampoo will make your hair strong, long, silky and healthy. Soapnuts shampoo does not damage your hair or skin although you use it regularly or rarely.
Uses of medicinal purposes:
Soap nuts especially are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis and migraines. Studies show that saponin from Soapnuts inhibits tumor cell growth. Soapnuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleaners. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis and for removing freckles. Soapnuts have gentle insecticide properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp. Soapnuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic system and gray water. Soapnuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil.
Use as a liquid soap to wash your pets:
Wash your dog, cat, horse, monkey, bunny and other of your pets or working animals with a Sindhiya soapnut liquid suds – and thus without any chemicals.
Use as floor cleaners: A liquid soap made by Sindhiya soapnuts you may use also as your Floor cleaner, you may use it for bath, toilet cleanings also because it has power to fight against germs naturally!
All-purpose cleaning agent:
Better use such a decoction instead of usual chemical cleaning agents for your kitchen and bath room.
Jewellery cleaning: press half a lemon in some soapnuts decoction, soak in it a toothbrush and rub your jewellery. In South Asian countries, peple used Soapnuts to clean their Jewelleries, Precious stones and Gold and Precious ornoments since centuries.
Pesticides:
Moisten or water your house and garden plants with the already mentioned decoction and take advantage of the saponine agent to fight against harmful organisms such as aphids, without damaging your plant or poisoning your garden.
Mosquitoes repellent:
Wash or coat exposed parts of your body with the mentioned decoction, mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of saponine and will move away. Try it is to adopt it ! Your beloved kids may sleep with coat of Soapnut liquid, you may relax and don’t afraid about mosquitoes.
Throw a few soap nut shells in with your automatic dishwasher and watch how clean they get!!
Soapnuts are successfully used in dish-washers. They do not, however, have a scrubbing agent to them.
Bugs do not survive at 65°C washing temperature. Moreover, Saponine has a repressive effect on fungal and bacteria growth. Put 3 to 4 soapnuts in the little cotton bag, put this bag inside the dishwasher and launch it.
Using SoapNuts, you can make your own ultra-pure multipurpose cleaner.
Place some nut shells in the bag/sock (4 to 6 for soft water / 6 to 8 for hard water). Pull the string tight and tie it off. Then place the bag on top of your washing in the machine, with your clothes– that is it!
Each “set” of shells should be good for up to 4 wash cycles. (Dependent upon wash temperature and quality of shells.) Change the shells after 3 to 5 washes and use the old (used) shells to make liquid (see below). Indeed, for other purpose of cleaning.
You should be able to see in the below pics that fresh shells have a shiny inner surface. As if they were made from solid sat
in varnish! Or tasty toffee – so keep children away from them. This progressively changes to a matt beige as the saponin is released and the outer surface gets darker. Note that this is only really obvious when the shells have dried. You will find that they work better if multiply washes are done the same day. For that reason I keep the used nuts in the bag, in a small bottle, part filled with water.
Here is picture of shells, you may see the result after 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th wash by same load of shells …
New Shells 1 Wash 2 Washes 3 Washes 4 Wash
How to perform a SoapNuts
Soapnuts decoction: Bring 6-10 shells of Soapnuts to boil in 1 liter water during 10 minutes, leave it to cool down and screen the obtained liquid. The decoction is now ready for use ! To obtain a higher saponine-concentrate decoction of Soapnuts, use more SoapNut shells in the same water volume.
This concoction can also be made to do your laundry. Here’s how:
Boil 100 g of Soap Nuts in 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. The liquid you have is now a concentrated, chemical free detergent. The leftover shells can be placed in your compost. Use 3 Tbsp or 45 ml of this detergent with each load of laundry. This allows you to do approximately 60 loads of laundry.
Preservation of a Soapnuts decoction:
Soapnuts decoction must be kept in a cool place to assure a conservation of about ten days if citric acid or lemon juice or essential oil is added.
Soapnuts shells already used in a washing machine or a dishwasher, can be recycled by making a decoction.
SoapNuts More than just laundry soap…
The natural saponins found in SoapNuts are universal cleaning agents. Sure, they work great in the laundry, but did you know they are also traditionally used to clean skin and hair? In fact, the soap nut saponins work on everything from pets and children to washing fruits and vegetables. In ancient India, jewelers even used the soap to shine their precious metals and stones, giving them a beautiful natural luster.
With all the cleaning uses for SoapNuts, can you bath with them?
Remember! that you can create a liquid concoction to wash your hands, floors, counters, etc. but we have found that you can also bath with them.. Simple place a half a cup of your concoction in your hot bath water and enjoy yourself. Wash or soak and when you come out your body will have that clean feel to it not to mention a soft feel.
You can also use the Soapnuts by themselves. Throw in 4-5 Soapnuts and into the hot bath. Swish them around for a few minutes to get the saponins flowing and then step into the tub.
Hand Wash:
Even when the shells seem exhausted they still contain some saponin and you can use them to make a FREE hand wash.
Put your old shells, with any new little “broken off” pieces that are too small to put in the bag / sock, in a blender. Add a half pint (ish) of water and blend for a few seconds. The idea is to break all the shells into tiny bits so that they release as much “soap” as possible.
Simmer for a few minutes.
Cut the pipe of an old dispenser bottle so it reaches about half way down.
Allow the blend to settle and pour in to your dispenser, to below the pipe.
Give it a shake and pump away.
You will get a palm full of soapnut foam!
Excellent for general cleaning.
You can also add a drop of lemon juice as preservative and a nice smell.
Worried about watering your garden in a hot, dry summer? Soapnuts are totally organic and, as stated earlier, a mild insecticide. It is safe, even beneficial to put on your garden. Your washing machine uses about 50 litres (12 gallons!) of water per wash. Collect that waste and your watering problems are over. Unless you are an aphid!
By the way, all children’s clothes should be washed in these soap nuts to avoid exposing infants and children to the toxic chemicals found in commercial laundry products. And while you’re at it, why not save yourself from that exposure, too, by washing your own clothes with nature’s laundry soap?
What SoapNuts do NOT contain, include:
Foaming chemicals that, consumers into thinking their clothes are cleaner because there are “suds” in the wash. TRUTH: Suds have nothing to do with cleaning. They are chemical additives used to create the illusion of cleaning action.
Fragrance chemicals that make laundry “smell” clean. Most commercial laundry products use toxic, synthetic fragrance chemicals that are, in fact, well known to promote cancer and liver disorders. Laundry products are not really regulated by any single government agency, and there is currently no law banning the use of known cancer-causing chemicals in laundry products (much like with cosmetics).
Filler ingredients. Nearly all commercial laundry products are made with at least 50% filler ingredients to “bulk them up” and make them appear to deliver more value for the price. Consumers are mostly just buying the illusion of detergent, made mostly with filler.
You won’t find filler or toxic chemicals in SoapNuts. Just pure, natural saponins grown by a tree and engineered by nature. In our opinion, that’s where more of our products should ultimately come from. Wouldn’t it be great if shampoo also grew on trees?
Actually, it does!
An amazing Traditional use in Myanmar (Burma):
On the last day of Myanma year, in Myanmar, all of people use SoapNuts to wash their houses to remove all of dirt of last year from their houses, shopes and offices. They also wash and clean their hair with SoapNuts on the last day of Myanma year. They believe that if they wash and clean their hair, houses, offices and shopes by Soapnuts, no dirt of last year will come to in their lives during coming new year!!!
Sindhiya Enterprise Bangladesh is th leading producers of Eco friendly products in Bangladesh. They collect best and selected quality of Himalayan soapnuts export same worldwide.
By: Sarmad Mansoor
These people are trying to make small but significant changes in the way they look at their everyday lives, and the items they purchase, with a view to not only cost and quality, but also how the manufacture, and use of these products impact the world at large.
Modern eco-friendly furniture is a small but significant part of this new environmentally conscious attitude towards the items that we buy for our homes. Many people these days want to be able to make an informed decision with regard to how an item was produced in relation to this environmental impact.
Modern eco friendly furniture will not in itself save the planet, but with the threat of global warming it is important to try wherever possible, to make environmentally friendly decisions with regard to any home decor buys.
Eco friendly outdoor furniture is made from renewable and nontoxic materials and is made with processors that do not cause environmental damage.
For example, many pieces of modern eco friendly furniture are made from wood; well you wouldn’t think that was very environmentally friendly, cutting down trees.
But as opposed to regular wood furniture found in your local store, modern eco friendly furniture is made from timber produced by certified wood harvesting sites.
These sites are closely monitored to ensure the trees are grown specifically for harvesting and after the mature trees are cut down they are replaced at the same time by planting saplings.
In addition, developments in manufacturing methods mean that a significant proportion of ‘wooden’ eco friendly outdoor furniture is not actually made from wood; it is produced from bamboo, which grows at a fast rate and is easily replenished.
By making a conscious decision to buy this ‘eco friendly’ outdoor furniture, you can help to prevent deforestation, because no virgin forest is involved in its manufacture.
Unlike many overpriced environmentally friendly products, this eco-friendly outdoor furniture has a comparable price to regular outdoor furniture.
There is an excellent choice of styles available from the traditional to the ultramodern, there is a wide choice of quality furniture available, and if there is not a store near your home it is easy to order online.
By: IC
Posted in Environment | 
Tags: Environmental Damage, Sustainable Hardwoods, ways to go green | 
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