Fireplace Journey from Gas to Wood

A Matter of Trust

This oil spill will have such a huge impact on our world, I don't think many people realize how devastating it could be. I feel really helpless with this whole situation but then I remember I'm not. Here's what you can do to help out:

1. Use less plastic, plastic is an oil product so if you demand less plastic you also demand less oil. (driving less isn't the only way to withhold money from BP.)

2. Eat local and preferably organic: many 'fertilizers' for lawns and crops are also made from oil and the closer your food is less it drove to get to you.

3. Smile more, Earth needs a hug.

4. Save your hair, yep.... save your hair. Do you get your hair cut at a salon? Ask them to get with the program of sending hair to Matter of Trust.  Since I don't get my hair cut at a salon, I do it myself, I will be saving all my hair. Also Matter of Trust or MOT takes pet hair too! What do they do with it? They make 'booms' of hair, essentially long tubes of hair that collect oil (picture). These booms are laid out in the oil spills and your hair, your dogs hair, or even wool soak it up. All the information and how to's can be found on there website at the link above. Please help, it's such a little thing.

photo from here.

Soap Making and Emergency Kit

In keeping with one of my goals for this coming year I checked out soap making books from the library. I know it's pretty easy but one must be careful and move slowly. I have a list of some supplies to scope out from our local thrift store. Things like a few mixing bowls and a stainless steel pot or two. I'd like to use all glass since some bad plastics bind to fat cells and that is essentially what soap is. Fat and Lye. I don't want my soap to be fat, lye and plastic.... mmmm moisturizing. I think I am going to follow down-to-earth's soap making tutorial.  It seems easy enough with out a lot of fussy extras, a good beginner soap.

I've also checked out some books about emergency preparedness and what it's going to take. I have a rather extensive first aid kit list. Which although daunting shouldn't take me too long to put together.  After our first aid kit is done I'd like to work on water storage. I am not sure what to use to store water, so I have to do some more research.

Emergency supplies

So the Haiti earthquake has got me thinking about emergencies. How would my house hold up in a 7+ earthquake? What would I need if we did have a disaster? I don't want to go all survivalist, but I'm thinking I need to get some precautionary stuff down.

At the very least a first aid kit for humans and animals. Maybe drinking water for a few days. I have all the food because of my canning. I can eat cold beans and dried fruit thank you if it comes down to it. Just some stuff to think about. I am going work on putting together an emergency corner of the basement full of gear. Better to have and not need....