Just got back from a weekend in Mt. Shasta, where I was trying out a fabulous new mattress at Shepherd's Dream. Living in San Francisco these past three months I've been mostly walking, and taking buses, cable cars, and cabs, so going to a gas station to fill up the tank of my rental car was a shock! Fifty dollars for ten gallons of gas! So today I'm giving you a "summer rerun" of an article with ten tips for saving gas that I wrote back in 2006 when I thought gas prices were high...now I wish we had those 2006 prices. Tomorrow night is my free live 80-minute webinar. 5:30 pm Pacific time. We'll be celebrating my birthday and the release of "The People's Guide to Health, Happiness and Longevity", a 12 CD set that contains interviews with experts on all different aspects of natural health--including me!--with lots of great tips you can use every day to improve the wellbeing of yourself and your family. Click here to register for my free webinar... And if you live in the San Francisco area, Thursday night I will be doing a lecture and booksigning at Green Fusion Design Center in San Anselmo. Come by and introduce yourself! Click here for lecture details and to RSVP... Debra :-) HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #139 ~ 17 June 2008 * INNOVATIVE NEW NATURAL BED If the links don't work on this newsletter, you can view it online at http://www.dld123.com/newsletter/newsletterupdateback.html Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues (tables of contents) Home Safe Home is simply the best book for learning about the hazardous health effects and safe alternatives for more than 100 common household products. Virtually every item in your home may contain toxic ingredients that can harm your health--from rashes to cancer. But you can protect yourself and your family from everyday toxics and harmful household products if you know how to identify toxics and what the safe alternatives are. Product entries tell what toxic chemicals are found in specific products and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. Contains a whole chapter that explains toxic exposures and how they affect you individually.
Read more about Home Safe Home and order... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INNOVATIVE NEW NATURAL BED Over the weekend I went up to Mt. Shasta to visit Shepherd's Dream and see their latest innovation in natural beds. Every once in a while Eliana Jantz rethinks how a mattress can be contructed, and this time it's the simplest bed possible. The new mattress design is a cozy pile of wool felts, made from pure Eco Wool batting, and that's all. These are not felt fabric, but felted wool batting, about two inches thick. A pile of four makes a comfortable sleeping surface; a pile of seven is dreamy. They are supportive, yet soft, and mold to your body. In addition, felts are lightweight (so you can pick them up easily and carry them around for airing and sunning) and they are washable. I ordered one to use as a mattress pad over my wool mattress. For years I have had a wool mattress pad that is strands of wool sewn to a wool backing. But after a quarter of a century, it's matted and worn. While I have a wool-filled topper, I prefer wool under my sheet instead of the cotton cover of the topper. I am in love with this material and am thinking of all kinds of ways to use it. Eliana has made felt pads for all her chairs, and had a felt on the bathroom floor for a rug. I want to make a winter coat. It's just a great renewable, chemical-free, biodegradable, durable, beautiful material with lots of possibilities. Click here to learn more about wool felts at Shepherd's Dream... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAY LESS FOR GAS With gas prices soaring, learn what you can to to reduce the amount of gas you use when driving. Tips include advice on efficient routes, fuel economy, maintenance that improves fuel efficiency, and more. Click here to read ten tips for saving gas... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG Here are the questions and new comments posted through this morning. Remember, you are welcome to share your own comments and experience in response to any of these questions, and post questions of your own. To read and comment on more questions posted previously go to Green Living Q&A blog.
* Controlling Mold on Shower Curtains
Tub surround Debra, my husband wants to remove the ceramic tiles that are falling apart around bathtub,the soap bar came loose, tiles have been there since seventies.I prefer to have a tub surround but most are plastic.I do not want more tiles inside around the bath tub,expensive too. Do you know of any thats not plastic? Thanks Deborah Tenn.ps. tub surround im looking for. PVC shower lining membrane AAAAH! I need help! I am renovating my 30 yr. old bathroom and replacing the tub with a stand up shower. The contractor coordinator explained the process step by step, and said they'd be using a thick rubber liner befor mudding the shower floor. The rubber is now in, and it stinks in here. I went in to investigate and discovered it's PVC! I phoned the coordinator and she explained that there are only two code approved options (I'm unsure if it's county, state or national codes)and those options are PVC membranes and fiberglass, which I heard is even worse. My local green building supply guy said he knows of no other membrane alternatives, but there is a coating to prevent offgassing, but it needs 24 hours to dry, and the mudding guy is coming first thing in the A.M.. He mentioned that the mudding and tiles should suppress the offgassing, but I'm still worried about the environmental impact and future tumors! Is there anything I can do in the next 15 hours? Pressure Treated Wood - Cleaning & Sealing Cautions? Are there any problems, or cautions, regarding power washing of pressure treated wood (to get rid of green mold and dirt) that does contain arsenic? Any recommendations on product to use? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on a product (paint, etc.) that could be used to seal the wood by an individual who has sensitivities to some chemicals? Are most curtains treated with formaldehyde? Hi, tarnished jewelry safe Dear Debra, recycled rubber Dear Debra, stainless steel cookware Hi! Just wanted to share a website with you and perhaps you might post an opinion on this cookware. It is surgical stainless steel with titanium and 7-ply - also known as "waterless" cookware. Apparently you can also stack the pans and cook your entire meal on one burner - which is interesting. Samsung silvercare washer I am looking for a new washer/dryer. I am going with a front loader. I was very interested in the Samsung Sivercare Steam washer. They say you can sanitize in cold water using their Silver ion/nano technology. I started to research this washer and found the EPA ruled it needed to be listed as a pesticide because of the antibactrial aspects of nano particles of silver in the waste water. Does this mean it also remains in the clothes and is it harmful? Sounds great, no bleach, less soap, clean clothes but are they just exchanging it for potentially harmful silver? Drying Herbs Is it okay to dry herbs (red clover) on a clean window screen? Will the metal of the screening adversely interact with the plant material? Would placing them on paper towels help? Space Bags I am interested in using space bags to store some winter items and clothes. Since becoming aware of all the chemical pollutants it occurred to me to look into what these bags are actually made of. It turns out they are made from bi-axial layers of polyethylene and nylon. From a past question I learned that nylon is one of the safer plastics but am not sure about the polyethylene or what the bi-axial layers actually do. Organic Sheets Hello Debra! Washing machines I am trying my best to use my dryer as little as possible. I hear lots of other folks talking about it as well. What about washing machines? What are the environmental consequences of using them? Does anyone know? Should we be aiming for a different method? I do my best to keep clothes clean as long as possible after the first wearing (difficult with three boys and a husband who works construction!) I don't tell people for thier reactions, but I dont' wash clothes unless they're obviously dirty or stinky. I don't mind hanging a shirt back up after a couple of wears. If it looks wrinkled, I just put it in the dryer on air or, in the summer, on the clothesline. Dental Floss There appears to be teflon coating on dental floss. Do you know if that is a health hazard? If so, are there any that are not coated with teflon? Paint outgassing Hi Debra, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CLASSIFIED ADS to place a classified ad in this newsletter...
REUSABLE BAGS. Eliminate disposable plastic bags and bottles from your life. Bags of all shapes and sizes are made from cotton, organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials. Shopping bags, tote bags, and everything you need to pack a lunch. Reusable produce bags really keep organic food fresh. Reusable aluminum drink bottles. www.ReusableBags.com
SOAPSTONE COOKWARE IS NATURALLY NONSTICK. Natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations. Food tastes better cooked in soapstone. www.greenfeet.com FIX WHOLE, ORGANIC FOODS FAST IN A VITAMIX. Whole food vegetable and fruit juices, creamy soups, frozen treats, whole grain breads, fresh nut butters and more are yours in minutes, made from your own organic ingredients. www.vitamix.com GIVE YOUR BODY THE NATURAL SALT IT NEEDS. Revive your energy with natural living salt. Contains 84 minerals essential to human life. Hand-mined to retain original primordial vibration pattern. Delicious taste makes food "come alive". A life-giving, natural, whole food. Email info@himalayanlivingsalt.com for free sample. www.himalayanlivingsalt.com SUSTAINABILY-HARVESTED WILD SALMON and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska. Flash frozen, smoked, sausage and burgers, cans and pouches, salmon caviar. www.vitalchoice.com CALL FOR A HEALTHY BED CONSULTATION. 100% wool-filled and wool-encased mattress of heirloom quality, placed on a slatted wood frame for optimal airflow. Our wool fill comes from the EcoDomestic Wool Project and Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California, home of our production company. Available in U.S. and Canada. www.shepherdsdream.com SOLUTIONS FOR FLUORIDE HAZARD! Custom made water filters. Removes fluoride, arsenic, chlorine and chloramines without taking out the good minerals that make water wholesome. Whole house systems, under the counter systems, and 100% chlorine-free pool and spa system. Medical grade alkaline water unit. Natural Plus Plus LLC 727-447-2344 www.gobeyondorganic.com
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|  The new, revised, edition of Home Safe Home is now available in bookstores nationwide. Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: debra@dld123.com web: http://dld123.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Transform Your Home from Hazardous to Healthy 
I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a