A clogged drain lands at the top of most house-related annoyances. While slow drains signal impending clogs, many ignore them or the hint of foulness sometimes wafting up. By the time the drain is clogged there is a substantial amount of soap scum, hair, body tissue, grease and other organic materials sealing the drain off from the sewer. Don’t let it get that bad.

Here are four simple ways to prevent clogged drains naturally.

Drain strainers

Prevent Clogs with Drain Strainers

Drain strainers are available in several sizes for kitchen and  bath as well as tubs. They help keep hair from clogging bathroom drains and food fibers and particles from clogging kitchen sinks. They are a cheap solution eliminating some of the bigger clogging agents in both the kitchen and bath. Clean out the strainers on a regular basis to keep bacteria from building up.

{drain strainer via Editor B on Flickr}

boiling water helps prevent clogged drains

Boiling Water Helps Prevent Clogs

A weekly dousing of boiling water down the drain helps loosen debris and liquefy oils, soap scum and other thick build up. Boil a small sauce pan of water or a tea kettle’s worth and pour down the drain. Use on panful for each drain and don’t forget the tub. Pour in a slow, steady stream to avoid splashes and potential burns.

{boiling water via ilmungo on Flickr}

Lemon slice

Lemon Slices Help Clean Garbage Disposals

You may have heard throwing lemons down the garbage disposal freshens the sink but did your know they also clean the blades and pipes? Sliced lemons contain both lemon oil and juice, both of which help clean the drain while disinfecting. When water is not rinsed down the drain while running the disposal, particles stick to the blades and sides of the drain. Over time this leads to backed up pipes and a malfunctioning disposal unit. Take lemon slices and squeeze the juice down the drain than toss the slices down and run the disposal with running water. You’ll loosen food build up and freshen the kitchen with lovely lemon scent.

{lemon slice via eddie.welker on Flickr}

Grease is a culprit for most drain clogs

Place Oil in Containers

One thing vegan newbies may notice is less build up in the kitchen sink. Oils are one of the biggest culprits for sink clogs, especially animal fats. These sticky, thick oils attract other particles and matter causing drain clogs quickly. If you must use these oils, pour remaining grease in a can or other vessel for disposal instead of pouring down the drain. Even when poured with hot water, small amounts of grease are left behind. With greasy meals, remove as much of the oily material as possible from plates before rinsing and washing dishes.

If your end up with a clogged drain regardless of preventive measures, hey it happens, you can still clear the line naturally and without toxic chemicals.

{grease photo via jslander on Flickr}

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With rising oil prices, global warming, rising obesity, and lack of exercise among Americans, it would seem harmlessly riding bikes to school would be celebrated, perhaps even promoted as a new normal. On the second-to-last day of school, seniors rode their bikes to school under police escort, rendering complaints of illegal road traffic moot. It was supposed to be a fun twist on the typical things students do for senior prank day. Even the Mayor joined them, handing out free donuts. Unfortunately, the principal of Kenowa Hills High School in Walker, Michigan, thought differently.

In a page from the book of absurdity, 64 students from Kenowa Hills High School were suspended for riding bikes to school.

Since When Does Biking Equal Suspension?

Principal Katie Pennington was upset  she had not received warning for the event. She reprimanded 64 students with suspension banning them from the traditional senior walk, an event celebrating and commemorating their time in high school. Pennington said, “I am glad they made it here safely. It was a safety risk.” She claimed the bikers had caused a major traffic problem and disrupted school. Police escorts reported no traffic problems.

Missed Opportunity for Biking Support

With the collaborative support of both the police department and city mayor, it seems this incident presents the absurdity of  suspension as a penalty for biking to school. While the event could have slowed down traffic a bit, it was also a great opportunity to showcase the personal health and environmental benefits of riding a bike. And, as Treehugger notes, it could have inaugurated great tradition, and not sour an end to one’s high school career.

Join in Supporting Kenowa Hills High School Students

The entire incident has caused an uproar within the Walker community, also spurring controversy online. I join others in the online green and cycling communities asking Principal Katie Pennington to repeal her decision and apologize to the students in honor of their very tame, community and health-friendly event. Would she prefer seniors hang their bras all over campus, as we did for our senior prank? Or perhaps even worse – exploding fireworks or toilet papering (T-Ping) campus? In any case, there are much worse senior pranks that could have occurred. Biking is probably one of the best ideas to have surfaced.

Would you like to contact Principal Pennington and offer support for the 64 suspended students? Visit the Kenowa Hills High School website for contact information.

[Image used with permission from mlive]

***UPDATE***

Both the Superintendent and Principal have since apologized.

What do you think? Did the principal overreact? What do you think of these eco-minded students? 

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Summer’s around the corner bringing family vacations and much-needed getaways. If you’re flying, are you choosing an environmentally friendly airline? Eco vacations are  becoming more common and while air travel does contribute to pollution, there are ways to decrease your carbon footprint by choosing a green airline. Southwest Airlines recently received the Eco-Pioneer of the Year Aviation Award for its green practices which it pursued long before other companies thought about Earth-friendly business practices.

Here’s why you should definitely consider Southwest Airlines for your travel plans.

{plane photo via Phil Ostroff on Flickr}

Southwest’s Air Transport World Eco-Aviation Award is a Lesson for Us All (via Clean Technica)

  This is going to be a quickie, but I hope it drives home a very important point that we could all benefit from. Southwest Airlines just won an Eco-Aviation Award from Air Transport World (ATW) Magazine today. Southwest was named “the Eco-Pioneer of the Year for the airline’s focus on efficiency…

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You’re probably aware that there are a lot of new electric cars coming out. Thanks to California zero-emissions regulations, which have been adopted by several states in the northeast as well as the northwest, many car manufacturers have incentive to create new zero-emission electric cars. Good right? Well . . . If you listen to this interview, which is the first of our 2-part series with our favorite green car dude, John Voelcker, editor of GreenCarReports.com, you begin to separate the real from the marketing hype.

Here’s Part 1: What is a Compliance Car?

In Part 2, John names names . . . Watch Part 2 HERE!

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Memorial day is just around the corner springing us head long into the fun-filled summer vacation. Along with gorgeous sunny days and lazy afternoons come a few ailments that can quickly extinguish all the fun. Whether lounging poolside or surfing at high tide, summer is the season for a few good-time halting issues.

Here are a few natural treatments for some common summer ailments keeping your summer healthy and fun.

Floating jellyfish

Jellyfish Stings: a Coastal Summer Ailment

A jellyfish sting can dampen the fun quickly so always keep vinegar in your beach bag. A squirt bottle of vinegar is the quickest way to deal with jellyfish stings as it neutralizes the toxin. Never use freshwater on a jellyfish sting since it causes the nematocysts to continue releasing toxins. After an initial dousing, add a paste of baking soda and salt water and use a credit card or gift card to scrape away leftover tentacles still adhered to the skin. Rinse the paste away with more salt water or vinegar. Most stings are uncomfortable, but non-life threatening. However, if there is shortness of breath, extreme pain or advanced tissue damage you should seek medical attention. Young children and the elderly should also seek medical help. Jellyfish in the South Pacific through and around Australia can be highly toxic and can cause life-threatening conditions. In those areas, stings are emergency situations and should be examined by medical professionals as soon as possible.

{jellyfish photo via Paul Bratcher Photography on Flickr}

Poison oak

Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Sumac

Dress appropriately for hiking in the woods and you just might avoid an irritating rash. However, sometimes it’s difficult to avoid the clinging oil which causes itchy, oozing rashes. Bathe with soap and water upon return from treks through areas with these irritating plants. Cautiously move used clothing to the laundry as the oil is difficult to detect and easily spreads to other surfaces. We discussed Poison Oak before and some of the easiest treatments include lavender and tea tree essential oils. These should already have a place in your natural first aid kit. These are soothing treatments elevating some of the itching and inflammation. Oatmeal baths offer fast and easy relief, especially for children.

{poison oak photo via kqedquest on Flickr}

Aloe vera

Sunburn Got You Down?

Sunburns aren’t only irritating, they can pose long-term concerns. Sunburns in childhood are one of the factors for skin cancer in later life. There are many natural sunscreens on the market so there’s really no excuse not to wear this preventative lotion. Still, sunburns happen, even with sunscreen. So if you are beet red and finding it extremely difficult to get comfortable reach for aloe. Aloe vera is a good plant to keep on hand, it’s easy to care for and replenishes itself quickly. As soon as possible, slice off some aloe and stick it in the fridge. When you remove the gel it will be ultra soothing and cooling. If you don’t have fresh aloe than place purchased aloe gel in the fridge. You can also add lavender to your aloe gel which helps with pain and will also speed healing.

{aloe photo via tjmwatson on Flickr}

Mosquito sucking blood

Mosquito Bites Driving You Mad?

If you kept mosquitoes at bay than you won’t have to worry much about bites. But those little suckers snuck in a few sips than you’re left with an itchy, swollen bump. Again, reach for the lavender essential oil. This helps relieve the itch and can bring down the inflammation. Witch hazel is another treatment easing swelling and decreasing the itch. Adding a little lavender to coconut oil and massaging into the bump will help ease irritation and help keep infections at bay. This is a good choice for children who can easily scratch open wounds leaving them susceptible to further infection.

{mosquito photo via eyeweed on Flickr}

Drinking water for hydration

Heat Exhaustion

We offered 5 eco-friendly ways to keep cool but sometimes the heat does a number on you. This problem can lead to life-threatening conditions especially in hotter climates. When you feel over heated find shade and try to come indoors. Apply cool, not cold, cloths to your wrists, the back of your neck and forehead. Lay with your legs elevated which helps blood circulation. Drink to replenish moisture lost through sweating. Choose water, juice or sports drinks. You can even make your own sports drink. Seek medical help if you are a loved one are showing any of these signs of heat stroke: rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, high body temperature, erratic behavior and/or lack of sweat.

{drinking photo via baking_in_pearls on Flickr}

What summer ailments have you cringing? Tell us about your treatment tips in the comments.

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Eco-vacations are all the rage with trips to the rain forest or stays on organic farms increasing in popularity. Sometimes the only get away is a road trip to a nearby state or town. The most eco-friendly vacation is one spent at home, but not everyone can enjoy a “staycation” and most can’t afford those extravagant ”greencations”.  So if you need to hit the road and enjoy some down town this summer, there are some tricks to help make your road trip more eco-sound.

When you must drive, here are some ways to drive efficiently.

Packed car

Drive Efficiently by Driving the Speed Limit

The posted speed limits aren’t just a suggestion, they’re the law. Furthermore, driving the speed limit is good for the earth. Driving above 70 miles per hour uses up to 25% more fuel.  Lead foot got you down? Use the cruise control if your vehicle has this option or make it a point to check your speed more often. Saving bank at the pump more than makes this simple task worth while. Of course not paying a speeding tickets also sweetens the deal.

{car photo via bradleygee on Flickr}

Think About Aerodynamics

You can increase CO2 emissions up to 20% by adding more items to the outside of your car and by leaving the windows open at higher speeds.  This aerodynamic drag is caused because air is no longer flowing fluently around the car. If you’re bringing bikes, you might want to consider rentals where you’re vacationing. Biking is becoming popular enough that many vacation hot spots offer inexpensive rentals.

Drop the Weight for More Efficiency

Think about the “family truckster” in the movie Vacation, that’s exactly what you should avoid. If you have belongings piled in the trunk and on top of the car than you definitely need to pare it down. You might start with each person’s gear. Make sure you bring the basics and the least amount of clothing. Most hotels have washers and rental until should as well. Toiletries are staples at hotels or you can buy bath essentials when you get to town. When possible, use multi-purpose toiletries. Try a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner and maybe try it as a body wash as well. Think cautiously about what goes in the vehicle. Do you really need it? Will it be used enough to call for its weight on the drive?

Keep on Moving

Stop and go traffic is pure death for eco-driving. Highway driving offers the least harmful effects on CO2 footprints so try to drive during off peak hours. If you’re cruising into Los Angeles at 5:00, be ready for disturbing amounts of stopping.If you can time your trip right though, you might be able to slide in before or after the traffic poses a problem. Also, don’t tailgate. Not only is this practice unsafe, it causes more braking. If you stay far enough behind you might be able to cruise a while longer before having to brake.

Airing up tires

Air Up Those Tires

Fuel Economy reports improvements in gas mileage of up to 3.3% with properly inflated tires. Also, start with tires in good condition. This not only increases safety, it helps promotes better gas mileage and lower CO2 emissions. It extends the life of the tire giving a little more relief to Mother Earth before she accepts another used tire.

{tire photo via Rosa Say on Flickr}

{Source: Fuel Economy}

So Are you headed out on a  road trip this summer? What are your tips for easing up on carbon emissions and gas mileage? 

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If you walked into an energy-generating gym, you might not notice at first. You’d see your regular sweaty, toned bodies on sleek workout machines, but there’s a special icing on the cake here — these machines are hooked up to batteries that generate electricity. Essentially, kinetic energy from your workout is converted into DC, then converted into AC, the form of electricity used by most homes and appliances today. So your workout could potentially power the building, or even sell it back to the grid.

You can exercise to create renewable energy, what a novel concept.

The Concept Behind Exercising for Energy

The concept is not new since a gym in Hong Kong has created renewable energy since 2007, but the trend is growing. An increasing number of college campuses are installing gyms that generate energy, giving students a visceral, real-life example of just how renewable energy can be created. While the actual power output is still fairly low, the gyms serve a very valuable educational service, creating awareness, and inspiring creativity about how energy can be harnessed from the most unlikely places.

Who’s Using this System?

Florida-based ReRev uses converters on elliptical machines. A 30-minute workout on an elliptical will generate around 50 Watts of power, which is enough to power a CFL bulb for 2.5 hrs. So far, ReRev has installed converters at over 180 machines around the country in universities and local gyms.

Now, there are even outdoor gyms generating electricity. The Great Outdoor Gym Company uses your human energy to power light installations for evening gym use. According to CoExist, an outdoor gym in northeast England generates enough power to light the gym at night. They hope in the near future that it will be possible to charge cell phones and music players, and even send some energy back to the grid.

People say it feels good sweating and working out for a larger goal — one of creating clean energy. I certainly would love to work out there!

{workout photo via The Great Outdoor Gym Company}

What do you think? Would you want an energy-generating gym in your town?

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The popularity of documentaries like Food, Inc. and Forks Over Knives have helped bring food safety to the forefront. For many viewers, the films forced them to research how to decrease their exposure to illnesses and long-term diseases. While diets consisting of meat are the most common in the U.S., outbreaks of illnesses, however small, are causing a pause in thought about what is truly healthy and safe.

Let’s take another look at Mad Cow Disease, E-Coli and other health hazards associated with beef and what changes can be made for increasing health, wellness and safety.

Cow in the pasture

What is Mad Cow Disease?

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. It can cause variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) a fatal brain disease affecting humans. Mad Cow Disease spreads as a prion, not a virus, so disinfectants and antibiotics cannot kill it, although some antibiotics interfere with prion formation. These prions are not alive, they are actually proteins. The incubation period for BSE is problematic as it takes months to years before showing signs and once cattle exhibit symptoms they are terminal, dying within a few months. Sustainable Table offers a helpful fact sheet about the disease including how to keep your family safe.

{cow photo via freefotouk on Flickr}

E. coli

Escherichia coli, popularly known as E. coli, are a collection of bacteria. Not all E. coli make you sick, in fact, E. coli is common. There are strains, however, capable of causing serious symptoms including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory distress and pneumonia. The illness causing E. coli produce toxins and are known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). While these illnesses can affect anyone, the young and elderly are most susceptible. Eating infected and under cooked meat is just one method of exposure to E.coli, other ways include ingestion of feces from unwashed hands, drinking infected raw milk and even drinking water from infected lakes.

Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine  reported, ” a daily increase of three ounces of red meat was associated with a 12 percent greater risk of dying over all, including a 16 percent greater risk of cardiovascular death and a 10 percent greater risk of cancer death.” The popular documentary, Forks Over Knives drives this information as the main reason for moving from an omnivore’s diet to that of whole and raw foods. A diet free of meat and dairy products can greatly decrease your chances of getting cancer and heart disease. The question remains, is that hamburger worth a handful of medications or worse, your life?

Vegan "beef" and vegetable dish

Making Healthy Changes

Perhaps you’re not yet ready to go meat and dairy free. It’s understandable, habits are hard to break. Going meat-free at least one night a week is a great way to start. From there you may increase the days you go meat-free. Jumping head first into a vegan lifestyle is quite a task, but moving slowly from carnivore to vegetarian to vegan is quite common. Still, there are those who simply go cold turkey and give up meat all together. Maybe they have a cabinet full of medications or maybe they’ve recently received a scary diagnosis. Whatever the reason, whole food and raw diets are becoming more common and continue to grow in popularity. For help in making changes Meatless Mondays is a great place for recipes and information on easing out of a carnivore’s diet. Of course you should also visit our post on beef replacement ideas.

{vegan meal photo via steve loya on Flickr}

{Source: Center for Disease Control}

Are you a meat-eater, vegetarian or vegan? If you eat meat, do these illnesses make you think about decrease your meat intake? 

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As some of you may know, I’m back to my vegan roots and have been kicking the cheese habit – again (15 days, but who’s counting?). Whether you are a vegan, vegan wannabe, vegetarian or are an omnivore and love delicious food, you might appreciate the power of the mighty cashew and it’s amazing versatility.

Did you know these yummy kidney-shaped nuts are actually the seeds of the cashew apple that grow on the cashew tree? The tree is indigenous to coastal Brazil, but of course made its way to Asia and Africa where they are now also cultivated – thanks to some 16th-century Portuguese explorers. While we don’t eat the cashew apple, it is considered a delicacy in Brazil and in some Caribbean island countries.

Cashews are potent little beasts, sometimes referred to as “nature’s vitamin pill.”  They are lower in fat than most nuts, but of the monounsaturated fat, it contains oleic acid, which is the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil. Cashews are touted to be very heart-healthy, high in antioxidants, good for weight loss, and can help reduce risk of diabetes. Wow. These things are also supposed to help reduce risk of gallstones and according to OrganicCashewNuts.com, the “chemicals in cashew nuts kill gram positive bacteria, a pervasive mouth affliction that causes tooth decay, acne, tuberculosis and leprosy.” Wow x 2! There’s even more information about the health benefits this website about healthy foods.

Now, I’ve been in love with cashews before ever seeing all this interesting information. One reason is that when I was doing a raw food, vegan type thing back in the 80s, I learned how to make cashew yogurt from my friend Steve Meyerowitz (aka Sproutman). I forgot that we used to make nut cheeses too. So, last week I made a fairly decent nut cheese that was close to what we used to make. The thing I remember from back then, was that you could get pretty creative with flavorings.

So, I decided to focus on cashews last week in the Green Divas Test Kitchen.

Here are four cashew recipes that are tried and GD approved!

Cashew Yogurt – Healthy Creamy Vegan Goodness

This stuff is divine. Can be used in place of yogurt, cream or sour cream with great results in many recipes. My daughter eats it plain and LOVES it. There are a variety of recipes, but this is how I was taught by Sproutman, and it worked, so I’ve stuck with it all these years.

Ingredients
1/4 c. organic millet
2 c. filtered water
1 c. raw organic unsalted cashews (pieces are fine)

Soak the millet in the water (preferably in a glass container w/ a loose lid or cloth covering) for about 8 hours (or until kind of foamy at the top) – should be done in the most humid-place possible (if it isn’t a hot humid day out, I put mine near the washer & dryer). This makes rejuvelac, a grain-based healthy liquid loaded with all kinds of beneficial bacteria and enzymes. Rejuvelac can be made from a variety of grains, but I found I liked millet. To test your rejuvelac, according to Anne Wigmores Hippocrates Health Drink recipe, ‘rejuvelac should have a pleasant yeasty smell with a lemon-like flavor’.

Once you’ve achieved rejuvelac, place the cashews in a good blender and fill water to just cover the cashews. blend to a nice smooth, even consistency. Sometimes you have to add either rejuvelac or cashews to get it right. Put early stage cashew yogurt in another glass container with a loose covering – again, humid placement is good. Let stand for at least another 8 hours. It should be a little bubbly when it is done. Put it in the refrigerator – NOTE: I reserve a little for a couple of tablespoons to use as starter for the next batch.

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Mother’s Day is a few days away, unless you’re in Mexico than you really blew it. If you waited until now for mom’s gift, don’t despair, we got you covered. We also think Mother’s Day is a perfect holiday for honoring Mother Earth and that special woman in your life.

Here are some last-minute Mother’s Day gifts for Eco-moms or lovely women looking to go green.

Clever Mother's Day cupcakes

Last Minute Gifts

Regurgitate Valentine’s gift ideas. Hey, we did a great job offering superb last-minute sweetheart gifts and most are perfect for mom so go check out the list.

Shop Indie for sustainable jewelry and wearable gifts. If you have a local Farmer’s Market, many take place on Saturdays, take a look at the amazing handmade products for sale by local artisans. Local Harvest offers a helpful tool for finding local markets.

Take a cue from Food Inc. and by from local ranchers. The Meat Shop in Phoenix, Arizona has a special Mother’s day package that includes breakfast meats from local farmers, a $10 gift card and a floral reusable tote for $35. This is a great way to help mom start shopping local. Not in Phoenix? No worries, most cities have a local butcher selling local, grass-fed meat. Again, Local Harvest will help find them.

Buy Used Books. But don’t head online to Amazon or some other big wig store, visit your local indie bookstore selling used books. Instead of buying a just one or two you’ll be able to buy a stack. Many of these shops also carry work from local artisans as well.

Wrap it Eco-Friendly. Once you find the perfect gift you’ll want to make it look amazing. Visit our tips on green wrapping ideas.

Feed Your Mama. Guess what? All those tasty gift ideas we talked about for Christmas are also perfect for Mother’s Day. Instead of Christmas tree cookies make flowers or something representing your special mom.

Give Her Memory-Making gifts. Speak to mom’s heart and buy non-materialistic gifts that matter and bring delightful memories for years to come.

{Cupcake photo via clevercupcakes on Flickr}

What are you buying that special woman in your life? Have any other green ideas to share? Leave them in the comments.

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