Repel Bugs the Natural Way

Summer means sunshine, which also means we all want to be outside.  Unfortunately, that’s exactly what mosquitoes and other biting insects are hoping for.  Most commercial bug repellents contain DEET, a chemical that can cause skin irritation and, in extreme cases, seizures and neurological problems.  While the EPA reports that correct usage of DEET-based repellents rarely cause these kinds of problems, the environmental community has encouraged the use of natural oils as a chemical-free alternative.

There are several oils that act as natural bug repellents.  Citronella, lemon eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, and clove, in oil form, are all considered to have repellent qualities to biting insects.  The oils can be mixed with water to create a spray, or added to an oil diffuser for area coverage.  Citronella and rosemary can also be used as a repellent on your pets.  The only downside to these natural alternatives is their staying power – if you’re working up a sweat or playing in the water, you’ll need to re-apply the repellent often.  But when the alternative is a chemical concoction that might be harmful to your health, it might be worth the effort.

Gardening with Native Plants

The U.S. EPA states that using native plants in your garden significantly reduces the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water, and lawn maintenance.  Native plants have evolved to survive in the specific conditions of a geographic area, and essentially are able to take care of themselves.

Here are some noteworthy plants and flowers native to our area:

Switch Grass

Indian Grass

Coreopsis

Aster

Coneflower

Goldenrod

Western Sunflower

Butterfly Weed

Foxglove

Black-Eyed Susan

Virginia Wild Rye Grass

Wild Columbine

Trillium

Wild Geranium

Little Bluestem Grass

Big Bluestem Grass



For more landscaping tips, including a complete list of native plants and grasses, visit

www.epa.gov/greenacres.

Who Says A Gutter Can't Be Beautiful?

Rain gardens are an easy, natural answer to the question of stormwater management.  Mimicking natural systems, rain gardens are designed to collect the rainwater that runs off buildings, parking areas, and lawns, filter that water, and control its flow into the surrounding waterways.  They reduce the risk of flash floods, stabilize the volume and temperature of the water flow, and neutralize many of the pollutants that may have washed off the surrounding flat areas.

Rain gardens are easy to create too.  First, they need to be created in a depression to force rainwater to flow into the garden.  Plants such as rushes, ferns, and wildflowers can be planted in the depression, or a natural wetland habitat with tall grasses and cattails can be created if the water flow is heavy.  Ideally, the garden should be filled native plants, and can be located near your gutter drain or alongside your driveway or patio.

For tips on creating your own rain garden, go to www.native-raingarden.com. or click here.  cwc_raingardenbrochure

April Showers Bring... Pollution

A common source of pollution is stormwater runoff.   When the spring rains come pouring down, impervious surfaces such as parking lots, streets, and driveways prevent the water from soaking directly into the ground, and storm drains re-direct the water into not only sewer systems, but also lakes, streams, and underground aquifers instead of into the soil, which absorbs and filters the water before it leaches into the natural water systems.  And it’s not just rainwater being sent to our local watershed.   Pollutants including pesticides, oil, fertilizers, and other chemicals, not to mention trash and debris, get washed into the environment as well.

But what does this mean, and why should we care?

• Chemical fertilizers can increase the growth of algae in rivers, streams, and wetlands, which sucks the oxygen right out of the water.  Fish and other plants can’t survive in these situations.
• Excess soil and sediments cloud the water, preventing the growth of aquatic plants and destroying habitat.
• Trash of all kinds can choke, injure, and poison wildlife such as ducks, fish, beaver and turtles.
• Hazardous waste such as pesticides, solvents, soaps, automotive fluids, and other chemicals poison all manner of aquatic life.

It’s not just wildlife that’s affected either.  All of these pollutants can also affect residential water supplies, both municipal and private wells.  Fish that have been contaminated with pathogens, heavy metals, or chemicals can transfer those same pollutants to the people who eat them.  Our own pets can be affected in the same ways as the wildlife as well.

So what can we do to prevent runoff pollution?  The U.S. EPA recommends the following actions:

• Recycle or properly dispose of household products that contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Don't pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.
• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. When use is necessary, use these chemicals in the recommended amounts. Use organic mulch or safer pest control methods whenever possible.
• If you have a septic system, inspect your system every 3 years and pump your tank as necessary to prevent biological pathogen pollution.  Also, don't dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets.
• Use a commercial car wash that treats or recycles its wastewater, or wash your car on your yard so the water infiltrates into the ground.  Repair leaks and dispose of used auto fluids and batteries at designated drop-off or recycling locations.
• When walking your pet, remember to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local water bodies.
• Sweep up litter and debris from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, especially around storm drains.

You can also design your landscaping to assist with stormwater management:

• Permeable pavement systems, or even just gravel driveways, allow rain and snowmelt to soak through, decreasing stormwater runoff.
• You can collect rainwater from rooftops in mosquito-proof rain barrels. The water can be used later on lawn or garden areas.
• Specially designed areas planted with native plants, called rain gardens, can provide natural places for rainwater to collect and soak into the ground. Rain from rooftop areas or paved areas can be diverted into these areas rather than into storm drains.

For more information, visit EPA or Great Lakes.org

Natural Remedies

Next time you have an ache or pain, forget about a costly trip to the drugstore and try some of your grandmother’s home remedies instead. It’ll save money and be gentler on your body and the environment.

• Indigestion and Heartburn - The belching, bloat and heartburn caused by indigestion come about because you don’t have enough stomach acid to do the job right. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar will help break down the excess food that is causing you trouble and bring your stomach back to balance.

• Sore Throat - You can relieve the pain by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day and then drinking a soothing honey-lemon tea.

• Sore Muscles & Bruises - The humble arnica flower makes an incredible cream that no medicine cabinet should be without. Use it immediately to speed up the healing of bruises, sprains, sore muscles and other general aches.

• Minor Bleeding - You’d think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.

• Earache - if you feel like your infection is mild and at the beginning stages, put a few drops of garlic oil or white vinegar into your ear canal and lay down on the opposite side to let those drops do their work.

• Burns - Rinse first with cold water, but then immediately apply aloe vera gel to the burn. For those of us who don’t have aloe in the house, slice a potato and rub its cool, soothing juices all over the burn. And honey, with its antibacterial properties, is also good topical ointment.

• Allergies - Before you head for the strong stuff, try green tea, which contains compounds with antihistamine properties. You’ll need to drink 2-3 cups a day to get the full effect.

• Headache - Try rubbing peppermint or lavender oil on your temples and the base of your neck; sniffing these oils may also help. Rub a fresh cut lemon or lime on your forehead, and feverfew is also a good herbal remedy for headaches.

• Dandruff - Many people swear by rubbing aloe vera gel onto the scalp (leave it on for 20 minutes than rinse it out). This will certainly help with dry, itchy scalp. Another remedy is a rinse with apple cider vinegar. Try these remedies a few times before deciding if they work for you.

• Nausea - The classic cure for nausea or carsickness is ginger tea or candied ginger. You can chew on the stuff raw, if you like, but it’s so spicy and strong it might just make you feel worse. Sniffing real peppermint or lavender oil can also help.

• Toothache - In order to reduce swelling and pain while you wait for your dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your tooth and gums, and bite down on a smashed piece of garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties).

For more home remedies, check out www.home-remedies-for-you.com or www.grannymed.com.

How Green is Your Kitchen?

Both the planet and your health can benefit from having an eco-friendly kitchen area.  Experts from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the EPA, and others offer these simple ways to green up:

1. Set your dishwasher to air dry. Better yet, install a dish-drawer, which is more efficient for smaller loads.

2. Save your leftovers. This not only keeps you from wasting food, but also saves the energy it would take to prepare a new meal.



3. Reduce your trash. When you’re truly finished with a meal, compost the scraps.  Visit howtocompost.org for tips.  Composting not only keeps waste out of landfills, but can also lessen the amount of pollutants created there.

4. Retire your oven. Instead use smaller, more energy efficient appliances whenever possible.

5. Work in the sun. Daylight is the best light, and it’s also free. Do your prep work by a window if you can.

6. Get a good fit. Heat is wasted when you cook on a burner that’s larger than your pan.

7. Cook on ‘off.’  You can turn off the oven or stovetop up to five minutes before the timer dings.  There will be plenty of heat built up to complete the job.

Don't Blow Your Nose with Old Growth Forests!

Manufacturers of household tissue products have been blasted in the news recently.  Turns out that the soft tissues and strong napkins that so many people prefer are made with virgin paper pulp, often from old-growth forests.  In response, Greenpeace has published a paper buying guide to help consumers find recycled paper products, and also avoid potentially hazardous bleaching processes.  Among the top recommended brands are Green Forest and Seventh Generation, both of which can be found at many local grocery chains.  Also listed are the Trader Joe’s, Natural Value, and 365 brands.  Switching to a recycled or unbleached tissue doesn’t always mean sacrificing comfort either, with textures similar to regular brands.  According to Greenpeace, Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family bought recycled toilet paper, just once.  Isn’t it worth it to try a new product?

Find the paper guide at www.greenpeace.org.