Green Girls of Karmafarm

What is Passive Solar?

2012-01-18T12:18:00.000-05:00

Passive Solar design is an aspect of building design in which the solar cycle is exploited in Winter to provide passive building heating for free. In essence the heat of the Sun is 'captured' in Winter to provide building heat - so known as designing for solar gain.
The Passive part of passive solar design comes from the fact nothing 'active' is done to achieve this, i.e. no machinery or complex technology is employed, just the way the building is constructed that does the work.
The big win for the home owner is that the cost of keeping the house comfortable is greatly reduced; no 'active' air cons etc are required. This also protects the owner from rising fuel costs in the future. Also a Passive Solar designed house often has a better air quality and general 'atmosphere' than a traditional house as more light enters the property.

Passive solar design, how it works...

There are five separate principals that when combined provide a complete passive solar building design, as follows:

1. Aperture (Collector)

A large glass (window) area through which sunlight enters the building. Typically, the aperture(s) should face within 30 degrees of true South (or North if in in the Southern hemisphere) and should not be shaded by other buildings or trees from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day during the heating season.

2. Absorber

The hard, darkened surface of the storage element. This surface; which could be that of a masonry wall, floor, or partition (phase change material), or that of a water container; sits in the direct path of sunlight. Sunlight hits the surface and is absorbed as heat.

3. Thermal mass

The materials that retain or store the heat produced by sunlight. The difference between the absorber and the thermal mass, although often the same wall or floor, is that the absorber is an exposed surface whereas thermal mass is the material below or behind that surface.

4. Distribution

The method by which solar heat circulates from the collection and storage points to different areas of the house. A strictly passive design will use the three natural heat transfer modes (conduction, convection, and radiation) exclusively. In some applications fans, ducts, and blowers may help with the distribution of heat through out the house.

5. Control

Roof overhangs can be used to shade the aperture area during Summer months. Other elements that control under and/or overheating include: electronic sensing devices, such as a differential thermostat that signals a fan to turn on; operable vents and dampers that allow or restrict heat flow; low-emissivity blinds; and awnings.

A practical example of using Passive Solar

A typical passive solar house design would often have a large glass surface area on the South (or North if Southern hemisphere) building side in relation to the other sides (note: this implies that the orientation of the building to the Sun needs to be correct for this to work, see the Related Articles below for an article on this subject). In those rooms with these large windows you will often find tiling up to to the window and extending back into the room by at least the height of the window. This tiling is often directly mounted onto a concrete sub floor (i.e. slab), so providing the thermal mass for distribution. You might also find an uncovered brick feature wall perpendicular to the window to catch sunlight heat at the end or beginning of the day (when the sun is low in the sky). Control is often just simply roof eves of sufficient depth to shade the window in summer (as the sun is higher in the sky).

Working out the required eave depth

The eave depth you need depends upon two things:

Your latitude, and the height of the window to the eave itself.

With this information and knowledge of the position of the Sun in the sky during Winter and Summer, you can work out the exact length of Eave required to get best benefit over the year. The maths are somewhat complex, so we have provided a passive solar eaves calculator to work this out for you.

The 3 types of passive solar system:

1. Direct Gain

The actual living space is a solar collector, heat absorber and distribution system. South (or North if Southern hemisphere) facing glass admits solar energy into the house where it strikes masonry floors and walls, which absorb and store the solar heat, which is radiated back out into the room at night. These thermal mass materials are typically dark in color to absorb as much heat as possible. The thermal mass also tempers the intensity of the heat during the day by absorbing energy. Water containers inside the living space can be used to store heat, but unlike masonry water requires carefully designed structural support, and thus it is more difficult to integrate into the design of the house. The direct gain system utilizes 60-75% of the sun’s energy striking the windows.

2. Indirect Gain

Thermal mass is located between the sun and the living space. The thermal mass absorbs the sunlight that strikes it and transfers it to the living space by conduction. The indirect gain system will utilize 30-45% of the sun’s energy striking the glass adjoining the thermal mass.

There are two types of indirect gain systems: thermal storage wall systems (Trombe Walls) and roof pond systems

Trombe Walls

Trombe walls are the most common indirect gain approach. The thermal mass, a 6-18 inch thick masonry wall, is located immediately behind South (or North) facing glass of single or double layer, which is mounted about 1 inch or less in front of the wall’s surface. Solar heat is absorbed by the wall’s dark-colored outside surface and stored in the wall’s mass, where it radiates into the living space. Solar heat migrates through the wall, reaching its rear surface in the late afternoon or early evening. When the indoor temperature falls below that of the wall’s surface, heat is radiated into the room.

Operable vents at the top and bottom of a thermal storage wall permit heat to convect between the wall and the glass into the living space. When the vents are closed at night, radiant heat from the wall heats the living space.

Important guidelines to remember:
* The space between the thermal mass wall and the glass should be a minimum of 4 inches;

* Vents used in a thermal mass wall must be closed at night;

* Thermal wall thickness should be about 10-14 inches for brick, 12-18 for concrete, 8-12” for adobe or other earth material and at least 6 inches for water.

Roof Pond Systems

This system can provide both heating and cooling. 6-12 inches of water are contained on a flat roof, usually stored in large plastic or fiberglass containers covered by glazing. During the cooling season, an insulated cover is removed at night to expose the water to cool night air. The water absorbs heat from below during the day, and radiates it out at night. During the heating season, the insulated cover is removed during the day. The water absorbs heat from the sun, and radiates it in to the building below. In cold climates an attic pond beneath pitched glazing is more effective than a flat roof pond.
Roof ponds require somewhat elaborate drainage systems, movable insulation to cover and uncover the water at appropriate times, and a structural system to support up to 65lbs/sq ft dead load.

3. Isolated Gain

The integral parts of an isolated solar heating system are separate from the main living area of a house. The most common isolated-gain passive solar home design is a sun space or sun room. The isolated gain system will utilize 15-30% of the sunlight striking the glazing toward heating the adjoining living areas. Solar energy is also retained in the sun room itself. Sun rooms may experience high heat gain and high heat loss through their abundance of glazing. The temperature variations caused by the heat losses and gains can be moderated by thermal mass and low-emissivity windows. Heat is distributed to the house by means of conduction through a shared mass wall in the rear of the sun room, or by using ceiling and floor level vents, windows, doors, or fans that permit the air between the sun room and living space to be exchanged by convection.

Passive collectors use a south (or North) facing air collector to naturally convect air into a storage area. Convective air collectors are located lower than the storage area so that the heated air generated in the collector naturally rises into the storage area and is replaced by return air from the lower cooler section of the storage area.

The sun room has advantages in that it can provide additional usable space to the house and plants can be grown in it effectively.

Some points on Thermal Mass and Passive Solar

The thermal mass you have in your building must be able to interact with its environment, what this means is if it is the floor, you cannot carpet it or put rugs all over it. If it is the wall you cannot cover it in gyprock!

Also make sure your thermal mass is actually made out of material with a high thermal density. Concrete or bricks are ideal. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), sandwiched insulation panels, or ICFs on the other hand have very low thermal density (hence why they insulate so well), so are very bad as the thermal mass. Also straw bales are not usable as thermal mass, in fact, we recommend that straw bales are not used within the internal construction of a property as they can breakdown and cause other problems and effect your resale value.

What this usually boils down to is that concrete floors are employed with tiles on them, and thermal mass internal walls are made from brick.

Note: Of course insulation has its place, you need to use it to help isolate the internal environment from the external environment and get maximum benefit from the thermal mass you put in the property (i.e. help it regulate the temperature by having to deal with less external effects).

What must also be understood is that we are looking for sufficient thermal mass in a building to be able to regulate the temperature and allow you to open windows to refresh the air. Opening windows is something you should do in a property on a regular basis anyways, otherwise humidity and 'bad air' can accumulate and you end up with a sick building with sick people in it. If a thermal mass property is designed right there should be no need for air heat exchangers and other fancy heat recovery systems to ensure you have fresh air - the natural daily solar cycle will be sufficient to help keep your property at a comfortable temperature for the majority of the time.

Article taken from the EcoWho website.
http://www.ecowho.com/articles/5/What_is_Passive_Solar?.html?p=1

December Newsletter 12/30/2011

2011-12-30T14:49:00.002-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mynewsletterbuilder.com%2Femail%2Fnewsletter%2F1411175989&h=3AQGcVy4FAQGvw9udhz0M4Yq5OUWXDrK2gcxybEIRRIlcoA

Made by heart and hands.

2011-11-22T18:52:00.000-05:00

I am a huge fan of Mountain Rose Herbs, and not just because all things great come out of Oregon but because they have a great website and blog.....of which I highly recommend you follow the latter. Today I see a new post for a recipe by Rosalee de la Foret of HerbMentor.com. She is a clinical herbalist and Structural Medicine Specialist who lives on the edge of the wilderness in the Northeastern Cascade Mountains of Washington State. She contributes regularly to HerbMentor.com where you can find more fantastic recipes and she also writes about her herbal wisdom's and adventures at the Methow Valley Herbs Blog.

After reading the entire recipe, I thought it sounded so easy and fun that I wanted to post it for others to use. With the holidays literally weeks away, this is another opportunity to make something homemade. Most people I know love getting hand-made gifts.

Case in point......just before writing this post I started making a Thanksgiving card for my Grandma. Yes, I said making a card. It is fun and the creativity involved in quite relaxing. I had some card stock, yesterdays newspaper, old candy corn and a glue stick - what more could I possibly need!! :))

Thanksgiving card for my G-ma

Why not give it a try...try making something with your heart and hands? Something you produce will make others smile with appreciation for the time and thought you put into thinking of them...and only them!

It takes minutes to buy a generic gift from the store, most of the time it's a rushed purchase, in a hectic store for an overpriced item. Take a moment for yourself to reflect on the reason for the season. Take time to breathe in the newness of the cool air and remember - time is like an hour glass glued to the table, so make the most of your today.

Since most of us already have what we need to be truly happy, let's not clutter up that happiness with crap. Take the time to make a gift that someone would like.....and give that gift from a place that really matters-

the heart.

Here is the easy recipe I mentioned earlier....the recipe for Homemade Lotion Bars.

Wishing you a Grateful day and organic life. Angie Ringler

http://mountainroseblog.com/herbal-lotion-bars/

Essential Oil. What makes it essential?

2011-11-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

I love essential oils and use them in everything from perfume to cleaning products. Today I wondered, "what makes Essential oils Essential?" Are they essential based on where they come from or essential...like... it is essential I use them? Either way I wanted to know more.

According to the definition, essential oils are called "essential" because they easily dissolve in alcohol to form essences. Great...now what is an Essences? In short, Essences are the plant extracts that have the same fundamental properties of a oil but in concentrated form.

Essential oils are found in many different products like food flavorings, perfumes, cleaners and disinfectants just to name a few. Essential oils are naturally occurring and easily convert to a gas. The scented oils are found in the leaves, pods, and other parts of plants.

Examples of essential oils include bergamot, eucalyptus, ginger, pine, spearmint, and wintergreen oils.
These oils are extracted by distillation (the process in which the components of a substance are separated, by boiling and subsequent condensation) or enfleurage (a process in which odorless fats or oils absorb the fragrance) and mechanical pressing. In a quick note: Citrus Oil is extracted through a completely different procedure called expression. The outer coloured peel is squeezed in large presses, and the oil is decanted to separate water and cell debris. The method is used for oil of sweet and bitter orange, lemon, lime, mandarin, tangerine, bergamot, and grapefruit. Much oil is produced as a by-product of the concentrated-citrus-juice industry.

The technique for the distillation of essential oils was first implemented by the Arabs when they distilled ethyl alcohol from fermented sugar. By the end of the 13th centruy, the isolation of essential oils by distillation had spread all over Europe and by the middle of the 18th century about 100 essential oils had been introduced. In the early 1900's, there was much knowledge about the of essential oils leading to a sharp increase in it's use in perfumes to food products.2

Nowadays, essential oils are commercially used in three primary ways: as odorants, flavours, and in pharmaceuticals. Most common we can find essential oils in perfumes, detergents, soaps, baked goods, pickles, soft drinks, in dental products and a wide, but diminishing, group of medicines. In many ancient cultures, fragrant plants and their resin were used directly on the skin.

The oil will bear the name of the plant from which it is derived; such as, rosemary oil or spermint oil. Such oils were called essential because they were thought to represent the very essence of odour and flavour. Most oils can now be created in a laboratory. 1 Out of the vast number of plant species, essential oils have been well characterized and identified from only a few thousand plants. The most odoriferous plants are found in the tropics, where solar energy is greatest.

Finding out how long oils have been used and how they have been studied and processed over the centuries was very interesting.....and it reaffirmed my belief that using essential oils can be good for me and those around me.

As technology and the "make it quick" era captured our attention, it also brought about the introduction of many products that used man-made chemicals, getting away from the natural ways. We all like hte ease of picking up a ready-to-use cleaner, spraying the dirt and wiping it off. What we don't stop to consider is what is in the spary bottle. Why so we like to spray blue water on oue windows? Why do we think the Lysol smell means clean?

The marketing industry has sold us a bill of goods that is no good....not good for us or Mother Earth. Let us make the effort to get back to nature; for cleaning, cooking and smelling good. Many of natures beautiful flowers make oils that will disinfect, clear your head and make your space smell great!

So back to my first question, why do they call it "essential" oil? After all this research, I truly believe that it is ESSENTIAL we use them!

Wish you a Grateful day and organic life....Angie Ringler.
1Source: Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia of Invention and Technology, p. 123
2"essential oil." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/193135/essential-oil.

I thought dehydration was a bad thing?

2011-11-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

I'll admit, there are many times in my life I've tried something beause someone I respected told me it was good for me. Here I am with another of those moments. It's called Dehydrating....more specifically, Dehydrating fruits and vegetables. First you might say, "what does it mean to dehydrate food?" Dehydrated food uses a dehydrator or oven to heat fresh food over low heat for a long time, until the food's moisture levels are between 3 and 5 percent.

Angie's dehydrator

Over the last two years, I have been fortunate enough to receive two free dehydrators. Stranger yet, both are the exact same model machines.

Over the last few months, numerous people have told me about the importance of dehydrating. Some do it for survivalist reasons, and yeah, if folks want to be prepared there is nothing wrong with that. Having food stocked may save your life in the smallest of natural distasters, and boy have we been having our fair share lately. Other people dehydrated for the nutritional value, something about maintaing the intergrity of the fresh food.

The common thread in what everyone tells me is that food was healthier when dehydrated under 118 degrees. Could that be true? Could food really be healthier dehydrated? I didn't know the answer but I was willing to try simply to avoid food spoilage. I hate to throw away food because I failed to eat it in time.

It seemed easy enough, espically because I had these two dehydrators just taking up space, collecting dust. My first attempt was sweet potatoes. They starting sprouting on my counter...not good. I sliced them thin, rubbed the pieces in olive oil and sprinkled on some salt. After filling each tray, I turned on the machine to the 115 degree mark and waited. OK...not waited like "waiting for the water to boil" waiting, but waited as in days later. Yes it took three days to dehydrate these little thin slices. And to my dissappointment, they were kinda tough. Tasty - but tough. What I have since learned is that my version of "thin" is not the same "thin" in the dehydrating world. Some might say "Thin to Win", and now I know that means having a good mandoline. For food, not music...of which I have neither.

So next I would try a veggie that needs no slicing. Kale. Easy, good, green...but alittle bitter, so I had to kick it up. Someone brought me Kale Chips before and they were good. I know why, they were smeared with cashew cream spiced with red peppers and hot sauce - DELICIOUS!. They were light, crispy and spicey. This, I knew, I could do. So I tried it and was very happy with the outcome, best of all; it only took two days! So they tasted good, but did that make them healthy? This question is drove me to write this blog post.

So to the Google I went. It was easy to find alot of good information. One site I liked was http://www.livestrong.com/. That is where I learned that "one of the biggest benefits of dehydrating food is the preservation of vitamins and minerals. Cooking food removes a large portion of its vitamins and minerals, but most fruits and vegetables are dehydrated without being cooked. As the food is dried out the vitamins and minerals remain intact, and you have a very healthy source of food that will last for years if stored properly."1 I learned that compared to other preservations methods, dehydration is one of the healthiest.

How can I talk about the good without bring up the bad? Undeniably, dehydrating food can change the taste and texture of fresh food. To my knowledge, most dehydrated food comes out crumbly and has a lose in structure. While you can dehydrate most fruits and vegetables, not all of them will come out edible. Some vegetables might end up being too tough or too leathery, while others will lose some of their natural flavors. This is why many dehydrated fruits are coated with sugar to provide some added flavoring.2 Similar to my own experience, texture is everything. I want to chew my food not just suck the flavor out.

Another small negative is that the Vitamin C is diminished by dehydrating, but most of the other vitamins are retained, and mineral content remains the same. Most of the beneficial phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables remain intact, as well. But the reduction of some nutrients can be negated by that fact that some phytochemicals, such as lycopene and polyphenols, are more concentrated after processing. Remember, dried foods are more nutrient- and calorie-dense by volume until you reconstitute them. Ten raisins have the same calories as 10 grapes, but 1 cup of grapes has about 60 calories, while 1 cup of dried raisins has over 400.3

After much research, I must agree that dehydrating food is a great option for me. I know it's not for everyone. I'm not sure if I would be considering any of this had two people not been gracious enough to give me these machines. I learned I can dehydrate with sunshine or even with my oven, but it is much too harde to regulate the temperature that way. I am excited to taste more creations and reduce my food spoilage. More importantly, I now realize this is the only time dehydration is good for me.

Excalibur Dehydrator - much better than Angie's and much more expensive!

Coal, what is it costing you?

2011-10-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

I often write about growing up in southern IL. It is a place that holds alot of special memories to me, but now it is threaten by greed. Greed, you ask? Peabody Energy is threatening to take the land of others to strip mine it, one of them happens to be my parents. So yes this is something I will take personally. My parents bought 20 acres in southern IL a few years back, no coal mine present at the time, and have since retired on that land. Peabody Energy is knocking on their door now. They have been mining less than a mile away, blasting ever chance they get and nearly knocking thier beautiful cabin right off the foundation

Coal Cleaning and Pollution

Many mined coals, especially from eastern and Midwestern coal fields, contain significant mineral matter in their raw mined state—up to about half by weight—and they are cleaned before sale. Preparation plants, capable of cleaning or processing several million tons of coal a year, generate large quantities of refuse that must be disposed of locally, safely, and in an environmentally sound manner. The materials rejected by a cleaning plant tend to be enriched in iron sulfides (FeS 2 : pyrite and marcasite) in particular; these oxidize easily into sulfates, causing the acidification of any water that percolates through and exits from refuse piles; acid water in turn tends to dissolve various other minerals, creating products that are potentially harmful to plants, animals, and humans. Cleaning plants always reject some coal, together with the incombustible material; spontaneous combustion can cause refuse piles to catch fire, which emit pollutants and are difficult to control.

Coal Utilization and Pollution

Coal, due to its origin from plants, is composed primarily of the "organic" elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S). Whenever coal is used, it eventually ends up being burned, either through direct combustion in boilers, for example, those in large electric utility power plants, or after conversion into intermediate products like coke . Of all the oxidation products of these elements, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has become a major concern because it is a powerful greenhouse gas that accumulates in the atmosphere and is considered the primary cause of global warming. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides (SO 2 , NO x ), when released into the atmosphere from power plants, become a human health hazard and lead to the formation of acid rain downwind. This has been an important social and political issue for several decades, and various laws have been enacted that force power companies to limit the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. All "new" (since 1970) electric power plants must remove most of the SO 2 from their flue gas, using various types of scrubbers . A cost-effective way to control SO 2 total emissions has been emissions trading, the federal government's decision to award a limited number of SO 2 "pollution allowances" to utilities that they are permitted to trade; this allows industry to decide at which plants it is most cost-effective to add scrubbers. The 1970 Clean Air Act (CAA) exempted existing power plants from this requirement, assuming that they would be shut down in the near future. To close this loophole, the 1977 CAA amendments established the "new source review" process (NSR), which requires a careful review of any changes performed in "old" (pre-1970) plants to determine whether they represent "routine maintenance, repair, and replacement" or a significant upgrading in which the plant would become subject to the same rules as new plants. Over the years these reviews became highly controversial because of the gray area between "routine maintenance" and "significant upgrading." In response, after a multiyear review process, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions of the regulations in late 2002, intending to overcome these widely recognized problems, provide greater flexibility for power companies to improve old plants, lead to increases in energy efficiency, and decrease pollution. However, environmental and political groups have challenged the proposed new regulations. One proposal to resolve the controversy would be to abolish the NSR process entirely and expand the pollution allowances trading system to old power plants. By capping the number of allowances over time, total pollution could be further lowered.

Besides these major elements, coal always contains a large number of other elements in minor and trace amounts. Some of these are highly toxic, for instance, mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and uranium (U). Because coal is burned in such large quantities, primarily to generate electricity (nearly a billion tons in the United States alone!), even trace amounts add up to large quantities being released into the atmosphere. The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act identify 189 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), eighteen of which are associated with coal. Of particular concern are those elements that form volatile compounds during coal burning and are carried into the atmosphere with the flue gas. The 1990 amendments require the EPA to study the health effects of HAPs and develop appropriate regulations for their control.

Even cleaned coal still contains incombustible minerals (about 5 to 15 percent by weight) that are converted into ash when coal is burned at very high temperatures. Some ash particles are small and light enough to be carried up tall chimneys into the atmosphere with the flue gas (fly ash). Most power plants are required to remove fly ash from flue gas, using bag houses or electric precipitators. Both methods are highly efficient. However, tiny particles ( PM-10 ) may still escape. Because of their potential harm to humans, they have been targeted for regulation in recent years. Coarsergrained ash remains at the bottom of boilers (bottom ash); it is removed and disposed of nearby. Fortunately, this material is rather inert and of limited environmental concern.

Moutaintop Removal

Mountaintop removal coal mining, often described as "strip mining on steroids," is an extremely destructive form of mining that is devastating Appalachia. In the past few decades, over 2,000 miles of streams and headwaters that provide drinking water for millions of Americans have been permanently buried and destroyed. An area the size of Delaware has been flattened. Local coal field communities routinely face devastating floods and adverse health effects. Natural habitats in some our country's oldest forests are laid to waste. Earthjustice has been in the courts and in Congress on behalf of other local and national environmental and community groups to stop this destructive practice and protect Appalachia for future generations.

How It's Done

Coal companies first raze an entire mountainside, ripping trees from the ground and clearing brush with huge tractors. This debris is then set ablaze as deep holes are dug for explosives. An explosive is poured into these holes and mountaintops are literally blown apart. Huge machines called draglines -- some the size of an entire city block, able to scoop up to 100 tons in a single load -- push rock and dirt into nearby streams and valleys, forever burying waterways. Coal companies use explosives to blast as much as 800 to 1,000 feet off the tops of mountains order to reach thin coal seams buried deep below.

To see pictures of Moutaintop Removal going on today and in the past please visit http://www.blogger.com/goog_945080424

Help put a stop to the destruction by visiting http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/679/588/629/ and signing your name to a petition today. Your signature will help end the destruction of the beautifu mountains, pollution of the water ways, and much more. You have a voice, be heard!!!

Read more: Coal - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, types, causes, impact, EPA, soil, toxic, human, power, health, Coal Mining and Pollution http://www.pollutionissues.com/Br-Co/Coal.html#ixzz1alhvyMio

Read more: Coal - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, types, causes, impact, EPA, soil, toxic, human, power, health, Coal Mining and Pollution http://www.pollutionissues.com/Br-Co/Coal.html#ixzz1alhGYtAK

Is your water bottle also a purse....or a lunchbox???

2011-10-04T16:40:00.001-04:00

Karmafarm’s Eco Boutique proudly carries LILY BLOOM Lunchboxes, Purses, and Wallets.
This line is MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES! Here are three great reasons why we carry Lily Bloom.....
• “Karma Bloom” fabric is made from recycled polyester (plastic bottles).

• “Karma Bloom” fabric is very strong. It can be washed...even scrubbed!

• Similar in look to canvas yet smoother to the touch.

The reason recycled polyester (often written rPET) is considered a green option in textiles today is twofold:

1. SAVES ENERGY: Uses less energy than needed to make the virgin polyester. Various studies all agree that it takes 33% - 53% less energy.

2. REDUCES LANDFILL WASTE: Repurposing plastics keeps it out of the landfills.

The Lily Bloom line of lunchboxes, purses and wallets have a past life as a plastic bottle.
Who knew that a liter of Root Beer or gallon of Poland Spring could wear so well?
A fashion-forward case for "reuse and recycle".

Come see the many styles and colors available @Karmafarm's Eco Boutique today!

Sun Oven provides solutions for anyone under the sun!.

2011-09-27T13:40:00.000-04:00

Sun Oven provides solutions for emergency disasters
Karmafarm's Eco Boutique is not the only one using Sun Oven Solar Cookers on a regular basis. 40% of their sales have been in Utah. Good food can be cooked anywhere - as long as you have some sunshine- your good to go!!!

5 Tips: Turning your trash into someone else's gold!

2011-09-23T16:04:00.000-04:00

How many times have you picked up an item in your home only to wonder when you last used it...better yet - will you ever use it again? In terms of being green, donating your used goods to someone who can use it helps reduce waste that goes to our landfills and shows that we are not a "single-use" society.
Be considerate when donating to others. More specifically, be sure anything you give away is in good condition, cleaned and won't cause harm or danger to others (ie: recalled items like cribs, tools, etc.).
Here are a few ideas on how to give away your used items:
1 - Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/). They accept appliances, furniture, tools, building supplies for use in homes and resale in their consignment stores. They also accept vehicle donations.
2 - The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) . Their local centers collect clothes and small household appliances.
3 - Hands Across the Water (www.surplusbooksforcharity.org). A non-profit organization that delivers an effective solution to two problems: the domestic problem of excess books going into landfills
and the global problem of not enough books in needy areas. They collect books that are no longer wanted
and send them to schools and libraries which desperately need them.
4 - Reuse-A-Shoe (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/). Old sneakers are reused for fabric, rubber and foam for three different athletic surfaces.
5 - Trade Goods Online (www.freecycle.org) The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,982 groups with 8,742,018 members around the world. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box above or by clicking on 'Browse Groups' above the search box. Have fun!
This is just the tip of the iceberg of how and where to recycle, reuse and re purpose items that we are no longer using in our lives. Is there a company you use or donate items too? Let us know so we can share it with others!
Angie Ringler

Sport Going Green in this weeks Newsletter plus an very inspiring video about recycling and bringing a little light to other.

2011-09-17T13:35:00.000-04:00

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1411025939

Eco Travel, Superfoods, Eco-Friendly Shoes

2011-09-07T11:43:00.000-04:00

Eco Travel, Superfoods, Eco-Friendly Shoes

Karmafarm featured in Aura Magazine

2011-09-05T13:48:00.000-04:00

Check out Karmafarm's profile in Aura Magazine this month. http://www.auramag.com/

Natural Pet Food: What You Need to Know

2011-08-26T15:59:00.000-04:00

Natural Pet Food: What You Need to Know

Food unfit for human consumption might be unfit for your pet too. Use these tips to buy organic and natural cat and dog foods instead.

Many conventional pet food brands consist of animal byproducts and low-grade meats that are unsuited for humans but considered good enough for pet chow. If you wouldn't go near it, why feed it to your beloved pet?

Since nutrition directly influences health and resistance to disease, ideally you want pet food that is comparable to the food you eat, or close to it. There’s not a lot of research out there on pet diets, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that natural or organic pet foods can improve skin and coat health, especially if the pet has allergies. Some claim that dogs fed natural food have better dental health and more manageable weights. Hey, you could potentially extend the life of your kitty or pooch, or at the very least, save on vet bills.

But aren’t organic brands more expensive? Many green pet foods do cost more per ounce, but no need to fret. They also tend to have higher concentrations of nutrients, so you may not have to feed your pet as large of a meal, said Doug Mazeffa, research director at Greenopia.com, which rates the "greenest" pet foods on the market.

Mazeffa suggests looking at ingredient labels at your local supermarket before making a decision. Avoid ethoxyquin, a food preservative and pesticide linked with a variety of health problems including liver issues and mutations. Luckily, with pressure from the public, many brands have replaced this ingredient with more natural preservatives, like vitamins C and E, but some brands may still fall short.

He also advises to steer clear of the ingredient “meat and bone meal" which is the lowest quality protein that is often made with a percentage of animals that are 4-D: Dead, Dying, Diseased or Disabled.

Greenopia.com rates pet food brands based on sustainable and humane production, packaging, food grade and ingredients, recycled materials, building logistics and their overall supply chain. Companies that produce pet foods that are minimally processed without added drugs or hormones, and that are preserved with natural substances, rank higher. They also consider the transparency of the company (how well they report their ingredients), and their environmental goals and practices.

Mazeffa suggests looking for food that is certified organic and meets USDA standards for being free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). On average, cat food tends to be healthier, and contains more fish, Mazeffa said.

Below are the top performers in Greenopia’s product ratings:

Best Organic and Natural Dog Foods

Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food ($78 for 10 pounds — 43 pounds of rehydrated food — at thehonestkitchen.com or $85 at amazon.com)

Karma Organic Dog Food ($24.50 for 4.4 pounds at amazon.com)

Best Organic and Natural Cat Foods

Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Cat Food ($41.50 for 4 pounds — 15 pounds of rehydrated food — at shop.thehonestkitchen.com or $40 at amazon.com)

Natural Planet Organics Cat Food ($18 for 6.6 pounds at Amazon.com)

Check out more Greenopia ratings to help you pick the right pet food off the shelf

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/organic-natural-cat-dog-food-0811#ixzz1WAO608QJ

Karmafarm Newsletter-Dark side of Renewable Energy

2011-08-26T15:38:00.000-04:00

Looking for the new Karmafarm Newsletter here it is.
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410711073

Green Home Remodeling, Fair Trade, anyone?

2011-08-01T12:24:00.000-04:00

Please visit http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410711087 to check out our newsletter. Feel free to sign up on our website http://www.karmafarmonline.com/ or visit us on facebook and sign up for our newsletter there. Enjoy!!

How could we resist??

2011-07-24T17:04:00.002-04:00

I have become more concerned over the last few years with what products I put on my skin. My passion to live with less chemicals first started with the thought, "How hard can it be to make window cleaner?" It seemed basic...it just seemed right. I heard that it really takes just two ingredients....vinegar and water. So why did the back of some labels list so many things...ingredients I never heard of. At least some companies listed the ingredients! That's how it began -making my own cleaning products to reduce my chemical exposure.

Unfortunately, I was raised like many other girls - to LOVE Bath & Body products. The super fragrant scents, the BOGO deals every week. How could we resist?? We - and our Mom's - had fallen victim to marketing. YES MARKETING.... it was well played - all the coupons, aromas wafting out of the stores in the mall, cute bottles. AGAIN...how could we resist??

Now that I had enlightened myself to less chemicals in cleaning, I began to think about other products in my house. I searched Google -like we all do when we need facts. That is where I found the Environmental Working Groups website http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/#pick_safer. They offered a list of ingredients I could check against my products at home and see how they rated, 0-1 being the most Safe and 10 being the most dangerous. Seemed easy enough. So I wrote down the first 10 bad ingredients in their list, went to my bathroom and what do you think I found?? Yep - you guessed it - my Bath & Body Works products are bad....real bad! Everything I had rated 7 and higher. Generally the higher the number, the better the score....but not when it comes to product safety at EWG. I will admit, I said I am worth more than a 7 rating...that is just way to dangerous to put on my body.

So there it began, my quest to keeping healthy products around- for both my house and my body. When it came to stocking our Karmafarm's Eco Boutique, it was a no-brainer. We would stock only products we knew the manufacturers and the ingredients. Each product has been tested by us first, then we run it through our list of standards. One test we like to run is how the product rates on the Cosmetics Database on http://www.ewg.org/.

One line of personal care products we are proud to carry is http://episencial.com/. The sunscreen they make is goes on white but rubs in clear....not neeed for those white stripes on your face! There are no Parabens, Hormoes, Phlates, SLS, Petroleum or Fragrances!! You can rest assured this is one of the most safe sunscreens. Not only safe for adults, but all Episencial products are made for all ages, 0-150. Even better, the packaging is phthalate and BpA free, the product is manufactured with solar power and it is all proudly made in the USA.

It can be easy to make reductions in your chemical consumption. It just takes awareness and a desire to do better for yourself and the Planet. Take a moment, grad your favorite body product and go to http://www.ewg.org/ and type in the name and see how it rates. You decide if the rating is something you are willing to accept. Maybe your previous purchase at Bath & Body Works will be your last "bad" purchase.
Angie Ringler

August 2011 Newsletter

2011-07-21T16:18:00.000-04:00

August Promotion for Karmafarm, Recycling, Eco Vacations, New Products :: Karmafarm Online MyNewsletterBuilder

HOW GREAT IT THIS STORY of ZERO PACKAGING....we had to share. Enjoy.....

2011-07-07T08:35:00.000-04:00

I just read this article at http://www.good.is/post/zero-packaging-grocery-store-to-open-in-austin-texas and needed to share it!
This is just the beginning....I hope :))

Austin, Texas is already home to Whole Foods, but that won't stop a group of entrepreneurs from founding a new grocery store right in the natural food behemoth's backyard. While the new store In.gredients will also specialize in local and organic ingredients, there's one major difference between this venture and its hometown competion: In.gredients promises to be the country's first ever "package-free, zero waste grocery store."
The idea is so simple, it's surprising that no one in the United States has implemented it yet. (The United Kingdom, on the other hand, got the bulk food-only Unpackaged in London last year). Just like many people bring tote bags to the grocery store, shoppers at In.gredients will be encouraged to bring their own containers to pack up items like grains, oils, and dairy. If a shopper doesn't have his own containers, the store will provide compostable ones. It's as if the specialty bulk food section rebelled and took over the rest of a traditional grocery store. In.gredients will replace unhealthy, overpackaged junk with local, organic, and natural foods, and moonlight as a community center with cooking classes, gardening workshops, and art shows on the side.
“Truth be told, what’s normal in the grocery business isn’t healthy for consumers or the environment," In.gredients co-founder Christian Lane said in a press release. Americans add 570 million pounds of food packaging to their landfills each day, while pre-packaged foods force consumers to buy more than they need, stuffing their bellies and their trash bins: 27 percent of food brought into U.S. kitchens ends up getting tossed out.
In.gredients's founders hope to open the grocery store's doors in East Austin this fall, provided that the funding goes through.

Please Share this story with others. Making reductions in our waste is possible and why not start with one of our largest consumptions ---FOOD.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Angie Ringler

New remodel expands Karmafarm's Eco-Boutique.

2011-07-05T15:36:00.002-04:00

Grand Opening was Earth Day April 22, 2011 and we are growing already! Karmafarm's Eco-Boutique space has moved from the east side of the WindHorse Wellness Center to the main entrance! KarmaFarm is sharing retail space with the Om Bookstore, providing customers a larger, more diverse shopping experience.
The additional space will allow for more Earth-friendly products to be brought into the store. Our customers can now shop in a more spacious environment, with a focus on green products like bamboo bedding, hemp clothing, fair trade gifts, worm composters, electric bikes, natural beauty products and more!

The ability to work with the Om Bookstore gives all our customers the best of both worlds. Om Bookstore has been in Lake County for over 10 years, specializing in crystals and stones. Kali Telana, the owner of the Om Bookstore has an eye for buying great tapestries, pendulums, incense and holders along with many other cultural items.

Please join us on July 9, 2011 for the ALL DAY EVENT of the GRAND REMODEL OPENING of Karmafarm's Eco-Boutique and Om Bookstore. Live music begins at 7pm with Tina Stefanos, Brian Burke and Tim Stanford. We will have store wide sales. Le Bistro de Vie will be open with drink specials on sustainabled wines, local beer. Anew menu will be unveiled with organic food, vegan desserts to name a few.

Electric Car Charging Stations

2011-06-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

Interested in the ChargePoint Stations for you neighborhood, please visit our friends at http://www.wattnext,net/ for details on how you can get one in your area today!!

Hollywood goes Green

2011-05-31T14:05:00.003-04:00

I love movies, especially funny ones. There is nothing like curling up on the couch with my favorite throw and a nice bowl of popcorn to watch a movie. A good movie is something that stays with you for life, there is a thought or a feeling that it will leave with you that makes you a better person. Some of my favorite movies to watch have Hollywood's biggest names, but there is something else hiding within the shadows of these movies. The "Green" movement. "What", you may be saying to yourself so I will explain. Alot of today's stars are extremely "Green" individuals and advocates for a better planet.

1. Leonardo DiCaprio

Once "king of the world," this star often flies commercially and drives himself around in a hybrid Toyota Prius. In 1998, he started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to promote environmental causes. More recently, he's been working on 11th Hour, an environmental documentary featuring interviews with global green leaders.

2. Robert Redford

The Sundance Kid has campaigned for Utah wilderness, promoted solar energy, convinced mayors to tackle climate change, and served 30 years on the board of the Natural Resources Defense Council. In April, he launched a weekly three-hour slot of eco-programming on his Sundance TV channel.

3. Cameron Diaz

This bombshell ain't trippin' (though that was the name of her eco-themed MTV show). The avid surfer drives a hybrid car, got trained to give Al Gore's climate presentation, and helped make the big announcement about Live Earth.

4. Cate Blanchett

Take notes on this scandal: Recently part of an ad campaign promoting Sydney's Earth Hour blackout, Cate Blanchett and her playwright hubby have converted their own home to solar power. As co-artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company, the duo also plans to green that venture and hopes to power an entire theater season off-grid.

5. George Clooney

This leading man not only earned an Oscar last year but also a prime spot on the cover of Vanity Fair's first green issue. In association with his award-winning role in Syriana, Clooney launched Oil Change, a campaign to say good night and good luck to America's dependence on oil. And to drive the point home, he's frequently seen out and about with his eco-friendly Tango electric car.

6. Ed Begley Jr.

We're Ed over heels for this electric-car-driving, solar-powered-home-owning star. He's got his own brand of eco-cleaners (Begley's Best), a reality show that puts a domestic spin on green issues (Living with Ed), and a morning routine that involves powering his toaster with a stationary bike.

7. Edward Norton

The eco-commitment of this Hollywood heavyweight is no illusion. Norton used his star power to help launch BP's Solar Neighbors Program, which gets solar panels onto low-income homes in L.A., and he hosted an award-winning, four-part National Geographic TV special about the unnerving effects of global environmental problems.

8. Daryl Hannah

Arrested last year for staging a 23-day tree-sit in a bid to save L.A.'s South Central Farm, an urban community garden, this steel magnolia is a longtime environmentalist who drives a biodiesel car and runs her green home on solar power. Hannah has also recently made a splash online with the eco-video blog dh love life.

9.Amitabh Bachchan

Concerned about his native India's vulnerability to climate change, this top Bollywood star helped launch a partnership between Global Cool and the International Indian Film Academy to use the power of cinema to build awareness of the issue.

10. Julia Louis-Dreyfus

She may be starring in The New Adventures of Old Christine, but being a devout environmentalist is nothing new for Louis-Dreyfus. Her solar-powered home is a showcase of green design and energy efficiency, and she's long been active with organizations like Heal the Bay, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Trust for Public Land.

11. Pierce Brosnan

The world is enough for this 007, who focuses his activism on the planet -- marine mammals and wetland protection in particular. Brosnan -- who was named "Best-Dressed Environmentalist" in 2004 and serves on the board of the Environmental Media Association -- has long fought for dolphin-safe tuna rules and protested the U.S. Navy's widespread use of sonar, which can harm whales and other cetaceans.

12. Rosario Dawson

Though she's soon to reprise her Sin City role, Dawson's environmental involvement leans more toward the virtuous. In 2005, she brought her star power to a U.N. summit on preserving the environment and ending poverty, and, more recently, she's dialed up her work with Global Cool's mobile texting campaign, which steers money to clean energy and energy-reduction projects

13. Will Ferrell

He got guffaws during his blaze of glory on TBS's "Earth to America!" eco-comedy special, but this funnyman's commitment to the environment is no laughing matter. He's an active supporter of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and, though it may sound stranger than fiction, he'll soon be driving his electric car into the driveway of an eco-friendly home.

14. Tom Hanks

An avid supporter and volunteer for The Nature Conservancy, this Forrest had the gumption to order the very first eBox electric car, delivered earlier this year. And Hanks often goes the extra green mile to make mention of his environmental leanings when he makes major TV appearances

15. Brad Pitt

Twice named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine, Pitt isn't just a pretty face. A major architecture buff, he's been hot on the trail of the emerging green-building movement, helping with efforts to rebuild New Orleans in an eco-friendly way, narrating a sustainable design TV series, and supporting Ed Norton's Solar Neighbors Program.

16. Julia Roberts

This pretty woman was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair's green issue last year -- and for good reason: She's a spokesperson for Earth BioFuels and frequently talks up green issues on Oprah and other TV shows. Plus, the Erin Brockovich star will soon be playing another green activist, wildlife conservationist Joan Root, who was shot and killed in 2006.

17. Matt Damon

The talented Mr. Damon has been a good shepherd for the earth, narrating the documentary Running the Sahara and participating in the related awareness campaign about the water crisis in Africa. Damon also narrated the Journey to Planet Earth series on PBS.

18. Alicia Silverstone

A longtime vegetarian -- and PETA's "Sexiest Female Vegetarian" in 2004 -- this blonde bombshell certainly isn't clueless about real environmental commitment. Silverstone is quick to talk the green talk in interviews, but she also walks the walk in her own green home, complete with solar panels and a table made from the flooring of an old bowling alley.

19. Matt Dillon

There's something about Matt Dillon: He recently teamed up with Global Green USA and Yahoo! to announce a "Greenest City in America" challenge as part of the web engine's new "Be a Better Planet" program, which urges Americans to take action against climate change

20. Charlize Theron

This South African beauty is no monster when it comes to green issues. She's traveled in eco-style to the Oscars and teamed up with a number of other celebs to fight the installation of LNG terminals off the coast of Malibu, Calif.

These stars were listed on the Grist, and I admire each and everyone of them for their efforts and help. There are so many more stars who are advocates on climate control, organic foods, solar energy, wind energy, etc....So if you are passionate about a certain foundation or federation look up and see if your favorite movier actor or actress is a spokesman. Also most of these stars are vegetarians or vegan and offer websites with recipes, and earth friendly tips. So "Let's go to the Movies", Action!!!!!!!!!

Written By
Tiffany Bare
Karmafarm LLC

Excerpts taken from "Grist.org"

What types of Sunscreen are Safe for Use?

2011-05-25T15:54:00.000-04:00

Is there a safe sunblock?? Skin needs protection from the sun and harsh environmental elements. Our skin is natural and so is sunshine, so there must an answer in Nature to protect us from the sun's rays. The answer - Zinc.
Natural zinc creates an effective barrier against the sun's rays. Zinc will start to work as soon as you put it on. No more waiting a half hour, or applying it before you get dressed. The best way is to get your fill of Vitamin D (about 15 - 20 minutes of direct sun each day) and then apply a Zinc based sunscreen like http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/314692/Episencial_Sunny_Sunscreen%2C_SPF_35/

Plus, zinc doesn't harm your skin the way so many chemical sunscreens do. In fact, zinc actively promotes skin health.1 Zinc also shields your skin in two ways. It forms a physical barrier against the sun's rays, and boosts your skin's antioxidant defenses at the same time.2

That's why I consider Zinc to be Nature's perfect sunblock. http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/314692/Episencial_Sunny_Sunscreen%2C_SPF_35/
But zinc is just the start.
Sometimes, Nature's secrets are simple. For example, younger-looking skin starts with moisture -- and plenty of it.

Well-hydrated skin is soft and smooth. It looks younger and healthier than dry skin. But hydrating your skin can be tricky.

1 Schwartz, J.R., et al, "Zinc and Skin Health: Overview of Physiology and Pharmacology," Dermatologic Surgery, July 2005; 31(s1); 837-847

2 Rostan, E.F., et al, "Evidence supporting zinc as an important antioxidant for skin," International Journal of Dermatology, Sept. 2002; 41(a); 606-611

Big Plastic Sues ChicoBag. Is there more to come??

2011-05-17T13:51:00.000-04:00

Nationwide, 21 communities have chosen to ban disposable plastic bags, those ubiquitous nuisances that get caught in trees, pollute rivers and streams, accumulate in giant "garbage patches" in our oceans, threaten wildlife when ingested, and even when "recycled" present a host of additional problems. Is it really "green" to ship plastic waste around the world to be recycled under toxic conditions by low-wage workers in other countries?

Whenever and wherever these bans have popped up – Oregon is considering a state-wide ban at present, while Evanston, IL is debating becoming the 22 nd city to ban them – the Big Plastic industry has been ready to wage misinformation campaigns, trying to persuade local citizens that plastic is somehow the better choice for bags.

Now Big Plastic has taken its campaign to a whole new level, actually SUING a member of Green America's Green Business Network™ for its marketing reusable bags as the preferable option. Check out Green America's editorial on this topic below or learn more at http://www.greenamerica.org/about/newsroom/editorials/stand-up-to-Big-Plastic-ChicoBag-lawsuit-reuseable-bags.cfm,
and please share this news widely, on your blog, via Facebook and Twitter, and via traditional media. Submit this editorial to your own local newspaper for inclusion. It's a message that needs be shared. Thanks!

Editorial by Andrew Korfhage --
What will our grandchildren think of the disposable plastic bag?
Will they see it as a relic of a bygone era?
It depends on the winner in a number of battles now playing out both in state and local governments, and between the bag manufacturers themselves. If Oregon succeeds in passing the nation's first statewide ban on plastic bags, it will be over the strenuous objections of the plastics industry, led by South Carolina-based bag manufacturer Hilex Poly. Opponents in the plastic industry have waged an all-out campaign to deny that plastic bags pose a threat to the environment, even raising fears about the safety of reusable bags, breathlessly pointing to studies that show that unwashed bags — like any unwashed fabric — can carry bacteria.

Plastic-bag manufacturers using similar tactics helped defeat a previous statewide bag-ban bill in California last year, and have taken on local initiatives all across the country. In each case — both in Oregon and in California — state legislators have sought not only to protect their local environments, but also to standardize retail practices across two states already dotted with city- and county-level bans.

Nationwide, 21 local communities have taken action to ban plastic bags, with Evanston, IL currently debating whether to become the 22nd. Other communities have chosen to tax the bags instead, with Montgomery County, Maryland, passing a five-cent plastic-bag tax on May 3.

Why all the fuss?
In Montgomery County, officials cited pollution to local streams and rivers that lead directly to the Chesapeake Bay, and from there, to the Atlantic Ocean, where scientists have identified a collection of plastic debris comparable to the better-known "Pacific garbage patch" that's widely described as being twice the size of Texas.

There are other good reasons to avoid plastic bags — from the petroleum products used in their manufacture to their effect on wildlife when ingested — which is why many shoppers choose to carry their own reusable bags, whether their local community taxes or bans them or not. But now, the forces behind the current misinformation campaign in Oregon and others aimed at bag bans at the community level are even attacking companies that offer green-minded shoppers a reusable bag option.

A lawsuit making its way through the U.S. Circuit Court in South Carolina targets California-based reusable-bag manufacturer ChicoBag. Led again by Hilex Poly (along with Superbag Operating Ltd. and Advance Polybag), the suit alleges that ChicoBag "deceptively communicates that ChicoBag's products are superior to plastic bags, such as those sold by Hilex, with regard to environmental impact" and seeks to end all advertising suggesting that reusable bags represent an "alleged environmental superiority." It's a move that smacks of desperation.

The plastic-bag facts used on ChicoBag's Web site to promote reusable bags over disposable plastics are clear and verifiable. They're collected from the Environmental Protection Agency, The Wall Street Journal, NOAA, the United Nations, and the Ocean Conservancy. "I welcome the opportunity to engage with these corporate giants in a fair and impartial courtroom," says Andy Keller, president of ChicoBag. "Plastic bag manufacturers…have spent millions of dollars trying to persuade voters and elected officials against single-use bag legislation…[A]nd now they are trying to sue a small entrepreneurial company into silence." So, if Hilex Poly has its way, our grandchildren will still be pulling plastic bags out of trees and streams long after we're gone, and our oceanic garbage patches will only continue to grow.

Don't let them win. Take your reusable bags every time you shop. Wash them like you wash the rest of your linens to keep them clean. And like Andy Keller and the leaders in Oregon, stand up to Big Plastic if they ever try to tell your town how to run its business.

8 Reasons to Try an Infrared Sauna

2011-05-11T15:50:00.000-04:00

We have all seen those folks at the gym, sweating and seeming to be on the verge of passing out in the sauna. Today, there is a "new" type of sauna that is all the rage and has many health benefits that traditional wet or dry saunas do not. Another added benefit is that it is economical to purchase a personal home Infrared Sauna for right around $200. This means you won't have to talk to that sweaty person next to you in the gym sauna!

If you’ve ever been in a traditional sauna, you know that the heat can be very humid and even claustrophobic at times. Not so in an infrared sauna. You’ll find the heat in an infrared sauna very comfortable. In fact, many people report that they use their infrared sauna to promote healthy sleep.

The infrared energy stimulates blood circulation and all blood vessels fill themselves with oxygen-rich blood that gets transported to your muscles and organs.

Far-infrared radiant (FIR) heat is a completely safe form of naturally occurring energy that heats objects by a process called direct light conversion. Radiant heat is also called infrared heat or infrared energy. Direct light conversion warms only the object and does not raise the temperature of the surrounding free air. This type of energy travels 2-3" deep into the body and is thought by some to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue.The sun is the primary source of radiant energy, but not all of this energy is beneficial. Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight damages the skin.

FIR heat provides many of the health benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation. Traditional steam saunas raise the temperature of the air to a very high level within the chamber to warm the body. Some people have difficulty breathing in this extremely warm air. FIR saunas work differently. Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, FIR saunas heat the body directly. The result is a lower power bill and deeper tissue penetration. In the FIR sauna, the body perspires and receives all of the healthy benefits but avoids the harmful and extremely hot air of a traditional steam sauna. FIR saunas are safe for all ages.

FIR has the ability to penetrate, refract, radiate and reflect. The human body can absorb FIR because of its deep penetrating ability. When FIR penetrates through skin to the subcutaneous tissues, it transforms from light energy into heat energy. The thermal effect within the deep layers of the tissues causes bloods vessels and capillaries to dilate, promoting a better blood circulation, and the heat so produced helps to get rid of body toxins and metabolic wastes through sweating.

Benefits from Infrared Saunas include:
1. Better Circulation and Increased Energy: The sauna emits FIR energy that is absorbed by human cells, causing a physical phenomenon called "resonance". Thus the cellular activities are instantly invigorated, resulting in a better blood circulation and an overall improved metabolism.

2. Weight Loss: FIR Sauna heat therapy can aid in weight loss by speeding up the metabolic process of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in substantial caloric loss in a sauna heat session (possible weight loss without having to lift a finger?!)

3. Cardiovascular Health: The FIR Sauna increases heart rate and blood circulation, crucial to maintaining one's health. The heart rate increases as more blood flow is diverted from the inner organs towards the extremities of the skin, without heightening blood pressure.

4. Speed Recovery from Injuries: For injuries, FIR generated heat stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, bringing oxygen to joints and extremities, speeding the healing of sprains and strains, thus relieving pain and reducing the time it takes the human body to recover from an injury.

5. Detoxification: The quicker metabolic rate causes extra toxic waste products to be purged from the body through the skin, during perspiration. The skin is often referred to as the 3rd kidney, because it is believed to be responsible for eliminating 30% of the body's waste.

6. Stress Reduction & Relaxation: FIR Sauna heat treatment before a massage also helps prepare a client by creating an overall relaxing effect. It loosens the muscle tissue so the therapist can do a more thorough and effective massage.

7. Skin Beautification: For that sought after healthy glow, FIR Sauna heat therapy allows increased blood circulation to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, thus promoting healthy tone and texture. A FIR Sauna heat bath also provides a mild cleansing of the skin.

8. Improved Immune System: By creating an "Artificial Fever", FIR heat has a positive effect on the immune system. Often misunderstood, fever is a natural healing response of the body. The function of the immune system is increased naturally during a fever, while virus and bacterial growth is slowed, weakening its hold. This helps the body ward off invading organisms. A FIR heat treatment in the early stages of a cold or flu has been known to stop the disease before the symptoms occur.

Angie Ringler adds: Many local facilities like the WindHorse Wellness Center in Eustis, Florida now feature Infrared Saunas for under $25.00 per 1/2 hour.

With all these wonderful health benefits…Go get your sweat on!

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Infrared saunas: Get your sweat on - Ft. Myers Natural Health
Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/natural-health-in-ft-myers/infrared-saunas-get-your-sweat-on#ixzz1M3ro0GLS

1st Annual Earth Day Celebration

2011-04-08T10:59:00.000-04:00

Come Celebrate with us