My Natural Place Blog

‘Conventional’ cotton, once considered the natural fiber of choice, is no longer safe for our children. It retains harmful toxic residues, often causing rashes and eczema on sensitive skin. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is healthy for everyone! Clothing made with organically grown cotton does not retain toxic residues; it is a pure, natural, and breathable fiber.

Before the 1950s, cotton-growing mainly involved sustainable techniques, but now cotton is one of the most environmentally damaging crops grown in the world, resulting in wide-scale water pollution, chronic illness in farm workers, and calamitous effects on wildlife. Conventionally grown cotton occupies only three percent of the world’s farmland, but uses 25 percent of the world’s chemical insecticides, including Parathion, which is at least 30 times more toxic than DDT!

Worldwide, 25 to 75 million agricultural workers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning. As insects develop pesticide resistance over time, farmers desperate to keep up yields often resort to genetically modified cottonseed and heavier and heavier cocktails of pesticide poisons. Ironically, less than ten percent of those chemicals actually accomplish their task—the rest are absorbed into the plants, the soil, the air, the water and eventually, our bodies.

Petroleum based hydrocarbons (chemical fertilizers) are intensively applied to cotton crops to artificially speed up and otherwise “enhance” the plant’s growth cycle and productivity. The runoff of these compounds pollutes our watersheds and food chains.

The solution to this problem is to go organic. Organically grown cotton does not use petroleum-based fertilizers. Organic farmers rely on crop rotation, not chemicals, to maintain and replenish soil fertility. In order to meet international organic standards and obtain organic certification, a field must be pesticide-free for at least three years, and organic cotton farmers cannot use genetically modified cottonseed. Another added benefit – Organic cotton has softer, longer fibers than conventional cotton, so the resulting fabric is softer, thicker, and more durable!

Just a little common sense can go a long way when trying to add sustainability into your lifestyle. It drives me up the wall! Watching someone spill a drink and then grab a couple of paper towels to sop it up from the floor or table. So imagine if every time someone spilled something, you would go outside, find the nearest tree and hack a limb off. No matter what the rest of us that “get it” use, recycled products, hemp cloths or agave based sponges, we will never be able to catch up to the waste already happening. There is no need for this. It’s just a very wasteful habit created by industry adverts and laziness and it’s time for us all to get over it. Paper towels are useful, but in the running of a kitchen you need them for very little and can do without them totally. They cost you money that can be better spent as well.

Greenpeace has noted in the past that Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family in America purchased just one roll of recycled toilet paper (ONE in their lifetime). Imagine, how many trees we kill with virgin paper towels; paper towels, which are considerably easier to quit than toilet paper in my opinion.

Skip the debate about which is greener–hand dryers or paper towels–and go with an even greener option: BYO cloth. Get some dish towels and inexpensive 100% organic cloths. If you have some old bath towels these are fantastic to keep around for bigger disasters. You’ll likely rip them in half or thirds to make them more manageable. When something spills reach for an already dirty dish towel or one of the big disaster towels instead of that role of dead tree. When it’s soaked, wring it out over the sink and go again. If the stuff you are mopping is staining, then dry and save it for an appropriate laundry load. Your disposable paper usage can be cut to nothing in an instant.

After a little while you will get the hang of it and realize that it is pretty simple. You’ll have your new towels, your salty veterans and the lowly floor cleaning towel that you don’t like the guests to see. If you don’t have a washroom, keep a bucket under the sink to drape the towels over allowing them to dry and you’ll never find them mildewed or stinking.

Let’s say the average American works 240 days a year and washes their hands at least three times a day while at the office. That adds up to 720 paper towels a year and this doesn’t even include the number of paper towels and paper napkins being used in restaurants, retail stores, stadiums, libraries etc. Mind boggling.

Switching to reusable cloth towels at work, school or on the go not only diverts waste from landfills, but also protects natural resources, reduces pollution, and reduces energy consumption.

Just a little common sense is all it takes to start saving, not only for you but for all of us.

Teaching your child good hygiene takes only one thing…common sense. From toddlers to adolescence, kids are constantly touching and sharing toys and desks.  Start them in the right direction by teaching healthy habits early and often.  Here are a few tips and suggestions:

1.) Keep the idea of pursuing cleanliness fun.  Children love Disney characters and superheros, so buy soaps and toothpaste that they will have fun with and can relate to.

2.) Hand washing is the easiest and best way to avoid spreading germs and causing illnesses.  Teach them what those are and how germs make you feel bad.  Toddlers may just understand that they can cause boo boos, while teenagers will understand about getting the flu.  Also, be sure your kids are not doing the “splash and dash”, but are using soap and lathering for at least 15 seconds.  Great opportunity to teach them about natural ingredients in soaps and shampoos so they can make smart choices later on.

3.) Sing songs, make up games, anything to peek their interest and keep them involved.

4.) Make teeth brushing a routine, same time, same activity.  This will lead into long-term habits.  And, don’t be afraid of teaching children to floss…they are not too young.  Click below for video on proper brushing.

5.) Teach through example.  All children watch their parents on how to behave, from using manners to proper hygiene.  Be sure to explain what and why you are doing something so they understand and don’t assume that it is just another chore for them or that you are just telling them what to do (as all parents know, that starts early and does not leave!).

Remember, it may seem small or common sense, but the routines and habits they form now will bring them info adulthood.  We don’t want to raise stinky kids, do we?!

Everyone knows it’s easier to learn new things when you are young. At My Natural Place we feel that teaching kids healthy habits is a must. Here are a few easy ways to get your child on the path to a healthy future.

One of the first places you should think about making eco-friendly is your home. It is the “front line” of your life and should be treated as such. Here is a quick guide to 5 simple things you can do to “green” your home.

1.) Pest Control: Why green pest control? When we spray for bugs, we release toxins into our environment that damage our health and the purity of our waters. Plus, the strongest bugs survive, and when they breed, we’ve got a smarter “enemy” with which to contend. Moreover, pesticides destroy natural predators and helpful microorganisms, creating a cycle of pesticide addiction. Alternatives? Many companies offer non toxic in-home pest control, and there are also a variety of do it yourself options. Environmentally friendly roach control, and pest repellents derived from oranges are just a couple examples.

2.) Cleaning Products: Many of us were raised with cleaning products that contain innumerable amounts of toxins. Growing up, questions regarding the toxicity and the hazards of chemicals within the environment were altogether overlooked. Today, however, evidence shows that what we put in our home – and what we use to clean our home – is just as important as what we put inside our body. In fact, the products that we use within our homes enter into our bodies via the air we breathe, through our skin, and through the water we drink. Now there are many options when it comes to environmentally friendly cleaning products and non toxic home cleaners. Green Cleaning Starter Kits are the perfect way to jump start your way into the non toxic home cleaner arena. These kits include a natural glass and surface cleaner, mild abrasive cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, green cleaner concentrate and natural laundry detergent pack

3.) Air Quality: Air Quality: There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others, including most table-top models, are much less so. Air cleaners are generally not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.

4.) Water Quality: Everyone knows about the importance of water filtration systems in your home, but another way to green your home is to look at what you use outside. Normally rainwater runs off your roof and through your gutters only to end up in the street or storm drains. What if you could capture this water to help nurture your plants and keep your yard from flooding? Well you can, rain barrels are an affordable way to collect this resource and use it for outdoor applications. A lower water bill is green in another way….consider it found cash.

5.) Food Choices: As many of you, I was skeptical about organic foods, they are more expensive, hard to find, and are not available in the foods I like. Well times have changed my friend, with the explosion of organic and natural foods, prices are competitive and much easier to find in your local grocer or even better, your local farmers market.  They are competitive in what you actually get (read the labels and compare) and you can help your local economy. With this popularity comes options, almost anything is available in an organic or natural form.

How many times have you picked up the newspaper or turned on the TV only to read or see an article on grossly under paid labor? Well, World Fair Trade Day is not only here to provide more information on the subject but to fight for change.

The word “fair” can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fair Trade is about more than just paying a fair wage. It means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; that prices paid to producers reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; that national health, safety, and wage laws are enforced; and that products are environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources.  CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW FOR VIDEO:

What is a fair wage?
Producers receive a fair wage when they are paid fairly for their products. This means that workers are paid at least that country’s minimum wage. Since the minimum wage is often not enough for basic survival, whenever feasible, workers are paid a living wage, which enables them to cover basic needs, including food, shelter, education and health care for their families. Paying fair wages does not necessarily mean that products cost the consumer more. Fair Trade Organizations bypass exploitative middle-people and work directly with producers.

On this years Fair Trade Day I would like to focus on one US based company that holds true to it’s feelings on the subject.  EnviroTextiles manufactures a line of agave products and fabrics sourced in Mexico. The line includes agave scrubbers, wash cloths and exfoliators as well as several beautiful fabrics. In their efforts to support fair trade, workers are paid fairly, they create jobs in impoverished areas and provide funds for community programs such as in school lunches and nutritional education. This line is available at www.MyNaturalPlace.com. By supporting these products you are also supporting 115 families and several community projects that would not be available without you.

So, the next time you decide to purchase anything, please take the time to think about what and who that purchase benefits. With these fabrics and agave products, you  are taking yet another step to becoming more natural.  You are also having an effect on the lives of others, and remember…”Manual labor has a social aspect, is integral to the success of many diverse cultures and can reduce the carbon footprint of a product”.

OK, you have taken one of the most common steps to becoming a more natural, organic family…changing the way you eat. Looking at labels, shopping locally (farmers markets or at the farms themselves) and cooking with fewer unhealthy additives. Given not all farmers markets or farms are organic; you are shopping locally and supporting the people in your community, which is a huge kudos to you in this economy.

But wait…you are spending the time to put the right stuff on your plate, but what are you using to clean them after the yummy goodness is gone?? Most conventional dish soaps are made with petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Some contain toxic chemicals and synthetic fragrances — and they are not biodegradable. They are also offered in pretty colors that entice young children to drink them.  Environmentally friendly dish-soaps are plant-based, non-toxic, and are often free of parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances. And imagine this, if every household in the US just switched to one 25 oz. bottle of natural dish soap it  would save enough oil and to heat and cool 7400 homes for a year.

Now that you see the power (literally) of making this small and healthy change, now you may ask how? Many environmentally friendly dish soaps are available.  And the best part…they work the same and usually better than the chemical alternatives.  

To accompany your dish soap, try using an agave made scrubby.  This is from the same agave plant as tequila is made from.  This sustainable, biodegradable and renewable scrubby can easily replace your normal harsh fiber and chemical based kitchen sponges.  The agave scrubby also holds natural anti-bacterial properties unlike large store bought brands. 

Happy Cleaning!

“. . . on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was held, one of the most
remarkable happenings in the history of democracy. . . ”
-American Heritage Magazine, October 1993

What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? I always thought this was a fairly new idea, late 80’s or 90’s maybe. I had no clue that the Earth Day concept dates back to the 60’s. It was also intriguing to learn that this concept was not the brain child of an environmental group or someone with a financial agenda. Actually the idea for Earth Day evolved over seven years starting in 1962 by the late Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson . Nelson was bothered by the fact of that the political community considered the state of our environment basically a “non issue”. So, in 1962, in order to get the environment back in the political “limelight”, his idea was to persuade President Kennedy to go on a national conservation tour. The 5 day 11 state conservation tour was kicked off in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issues onto the national political agenda; however, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.

Senator Nelson continued to speak on environmental issues to a variety of audiences across the country. Six years would pass before the idea that became Earth Day occurred to Nelson while on a conservation speaking tour out West in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations, called “teach-ins”, had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly an idea occurred- why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what is happening to our environment.

At a conference in Seattle it was announced that in the spring of 1970 a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment would happen and everyone was invited to participate. The buzz of the event was electric from coast to coast, 5 months before Earth Day the New York Times ran a lengthy article promoting the event.

Watch Video from 1970 Report on Earth Day: 

Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. Nelson had neither the time nor the resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day, it organized itself!

Earth Day is a great start, but if we really want to start making a difference it will take each of us to make an Earth Life. Small changes to your lifestyle can create huge results, natural household cleaners, organic clothing, bedding, and agave based sponges and scrubbies add to a renewable restorable world for all of us. Respect your mother (Earth) and do whatever you can to keep her around for generations to come.

OK, so you learned about why organic equals safer and healthier alternatives for your home and family.  Now, we have another gem from the earth that you may never have heard of…agave.  When you think of agave, does your mind go right where mine does?   Tequila? Or, maybe nectar if you are familiar with natural sweetening agents.  But after these cactus plants are drained of their nectar, they leave behind a very useful and very natural by-product…the course fibers from the leaf.  Before going into why this organic, natural fiber may reinvent the way you clean yourself, your family and your home, let’s review some facts.

The word agave is from the Mexican origin meaning earth (good start when choosing natural products, huh?) and is rapidly renewable.  It is naturally grown on community farms without the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides.  The agave plant also has a life cycle of 9 years.  But before you get to the fibers, there are plenty of other things this amazing plant has to offer.  The flowers are eatable, the nectar is used in the above mentioned tequila process and the nectar can be drank as a juice.  The pulp is used as a natural animal feed.  And finally, the fiber is used to create natural wash cloths, skin exfoliators and dish scrubbers. 

The fiber is manually extracted and washed with clear water and sun dried.  No chemicals are used, therefore, it creates a minimal carbon footprint and reduces human energy consumption.  Not only are these products extremely efficient when it comes to their given duties, they are biodegradable in 3 to 5 years.  Also, standard washcloths and sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria due to decomposing partials trapped inside.  Agave fibers contain natural anti-microbial properties; so when cared for properly, they will not house bacteria. 

All in all, when choosing a very simple, green and natural way to make a change in your life, agave is your go to desert friend!