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I was in New York for four days this week, to attend a retreat to begin work on creating national guidelines for green remodeling of existing homes, sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). These guidelines will enable more homes to go green while recycling the houses that are already built. I'm very excited about this, as the project will gather a lot of information about green building and interiors from various sources and experts and will be a tool everyone can use, from homeowner to retailer to contractor to architects and interior designers.

Next week I'll have links in the newsletter to green building websites I learned about at the retreat.

There are a number of questions today that need reader comments, so please take a minute to check them out. And be sure to remember your mother on Mother's Day with a green gift.

Debra :-)


HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #82 ~ 1 May 2007

* ORGANIC FLOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY
* GREEN LIVING Q&A BLOG: new Q&As / new comments on previous Q&As
* CLASSIFIED ADS

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 Issue (tables of contents)
Search the Back Issues
Other newsletters by Debra

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ORGANIC FLOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Just a reminder that Mother's Day is a week from this Sunday--May 13th--and organically grown flowers are the perfect gift to honor both mothers and Mother Earth.

Links to organic flowers on Debra's List...
ABOUT: Why It's Important to Buy Organic Flowers...
ABOUT: Caring for Cut Flowers Without Chemicals

More Green Gifts for Moms...

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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.

I also am available Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm eastern time to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.



NEW COMMENTS ON PAST QUESTIONS:

* Where to find essential oils & how to make recipes with them has suggestions for where to buy the best oils, how to choose them, and books and websites with formulas.

* tried and true help for eczema? lots more suggestions from readers

* Is Modal® a natural fiber?
* Dishwasher Detergent
* Mold Problems With Front-Loading Clothes Washers
* How Do I Choose a Nontoxic Car?
* Looking for help with a few recipes for natural products you make at home
* Stinky NEW Wool Rug - what gives?
* How long for refinished wood floors to outgas?
* Wholesale clubs
* seeking information on non-voc mattress covers
* Non-toxic weed killer
* Green Fund Raising
* Laundry softener


Prevent outgassing of a foam back wedge

I must have a back wedge for my bed that will allow me to sit up straight for eating and recline a bit as well. I can only find them in foam. I need a 12" one.

I hate using foam but I need something sturdy, that will not loose its firmness, to support my awful upper back.

Ordinarily I'd assume that a barrier cloth cover would be the best type cover. I am pretty broke from years of living on disability, which leads to two, no, three questions.

1. can anyone recommend what they think is the best foam 12" wedge, while keeping in mind price also.

2. do you believe that barrier cloth as a zippered cover is my best bet re protecting myself from outgassing and keeping the wedge free of dustmites, etc., or is there something else I haven't heard of?

3. From googling I haven't found ready made ones (like a place that sells the foam wedge with a barrier clother cover, or just ready made such covers for a l2 inche wedge. Do you know of any? If not, who is the most reasonable when it comes to custom making them. I have found dear Janice's terribly pricey, especially for a custom job and she is also pricey I think for her ready mades.]

I need this asap for I'm quite ill. My preference would be to get a craftmatic type bed with a safe mattrass (organic wool and cotton I guess) so that I could change angles for my back at the push of a button and it would also give me the needed lift for my knees (I have an old wedge for that with a reg cotton cover). But this option, while best for my health, is way, way out of range.

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS


Cleaning All-Clad Stainless Steel Pans

I have been using SOS pads and Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning my pans. I want to use the safe and ecological way to clean my pans. Have I opened the door to the leaching of metals into my food by using SOS pads ? Is it bad to use Bar Keepers Friend because of residue on the pans and/or down the drain and into the environment ?

Thank you for your time and this great site. I appreciate you very much!

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS


food grade stabilizers

Can anyone tell me the names of some food grade non toxic stabilizers. I want to use them in my all natural cleaning products.

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS


Safe Materials for Garden Boxes?

Hello! We're planning to start an organic garden using raised boxes (the "Square Foot Gardening" method), and we're unsure what the best material would be.

There seems to be some question about the safety of cedar around food, and most wood available untreated, such as pine, would be susceptible to unhealthy mold growth. Recycled plastic "lumber" claims to be nontoxic, but is it really safe for a box that will be in contact with the moist soil that food plants are growing in, or will it leach into the soil?

And would something like an AFM sealant be both a barrier between the soil and the box material (preventing leaching of the plastic into the soil, or mold-promoting moisture entry into the wood), and safe for contact with food-garden soil itself? Thanks for any information you can provide.

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS


Shower Filter for Tankless Water Heater

Hi Debra - I hope you can help me. Our ancient water heater was on its last legs, and rather than waiting for it to die we researched and bought a tankless model. Way less enery usage, no water storage, etc - it is a more environmentally sensitive product. Plus we never run out of hot water :-).

HOWEVER (and I don't know how I missed this, or was never told it), I can't use my old shower filter head any more. The heat generation mechanism of the tank depends directly upon water flow, so any flow restriction is a problem. In order to make my old shower head work, the tank needs to be turned down to a lukewarm-at-best 104 degrees, an unacceptable solution.

Do you know of any point-of-use shower filters that work with tankless heaters? I'm back to taking chlorine-filled showers, and that's soooooo not good. Thanks so much for any help or advice you can give me.

Read the answer... NEEDS READER COMMENTS


What is Butyl Lactate?

Hi. I use a "natural" herbicide called Matran EC. The main active ingredient is clove oil, while the inerts are wintergreen oil,
butyl lactate, and lecithin. I like this product, but I do have a question.

While I think 3 out 4 known natural substances is good, the butyl lactate is an ingredient that I know nothing about, and have been unable to find anything regarding it on the internet: where it comes from, how it is made, and whether it would be considered truly natural or not.

Read the answer...


Laundry softener

Dear Debra... I am starting to use my own natural cleaners in my home and keep seeing that vinegar is a good laundry softner instead of the store brands. However, I have a HE washer and am not sure if it safe to use in that type of washer. Do you know or anyone else know if this ok to use or if there is any other option I have? I just keep seeing about laundry soap, of which I am trying the 7th Generation Brand, which seems to work just fine. Thank you.

Read the answer...



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CLASSIFIED ADS

ECO GIFTS FOR MOTHER'S DAY. Great selection of healthy gifts for mom including organic fruit, cookies, tea, wine, spa and garden sets at www.EcoExpress.com.

LOTSA BAMBOO. Entire line of Bambu organically grown bamboo products--cutting boards, dinnerware, bowls, utensils, baskets, knives, trays, and more. www.greenfeet.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

DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING NATURAL SUN PROTECTION. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd tells how you can enjoy the health benefits of sunshine in balance with natural methods of protection when necessary. Order now.

DEBRA'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING A NATURAL BED. Instant download e-book by Debra Lynn Dadd covers the types of natural mattresses that are available, all about the materials, natural bedding, the history of natural beds. Order now.

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Home Safe Home 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.

* More information

* 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics

* How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book)

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Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
Free Newsletters ~ website update, natural sweetener recipes, words of wisdom
Debra's Bookstore ~ recommended reading on health and the environment
MCS Recovery ~ resources for recovery from multiple chemical sensitivities
Sweet Savvy ~ how to choose and use natural sweetners (lots of recipes)
Talk With Debra ~ call for a personal consultation

Map of Debra's Websites



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