Norma's Journal

Chicken Soup and Stock

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:46:00 +0000

I was inspired to make chicken soup because the root vegetables at the Farmer’s Market were so fresh and gorgeous. I make my chicken soup from scratch—that is, with homemade chicken stock. You can buy chicken stock—even organic free range—but it is not comparable to homemade. Homemade chicken stock is much richer and will make anything you use with it taste better.

Some cooks make chicken stock by adding the chicken and cooking it to death and then throwing away the tasteless chicken. There is no reason to do this! Instead, cook chicken until it's done--about an hour if cut into pieces--then throw the bones back into the pot so they can flavor the stock.

Chicken Stock

1 chicken, cut into 8 pieces (do not use organs; neck is fine)

1 onion, quartered, skin on

2 stacks celery, roughly chopped

2 carrots, roughly chopped

1 parsnip, roughly chopped

1 turnip, roughly chopped

Handful parsley

Salt and pepper

Put chicken pieces into a large pot, add remaining ingredients and fill with water. When water comes to a boil, lower hit to a medium simmer and skim off any scum that forms on the top. Boil for about an hour. Remove meat and reserve. When meat is cool, discard skin and remove meat from bones. Throw bones (and any of the vegetables) back into the pot and simmer for at least another hour. Occasionally check water level. You can simmer for hours, if desired. Remove bones and vegetables (a Chinese slotted spoon is perfect.) Store stock in containers. Fat will rise to top and can be removed when refrigerated.

Chicken Soup

Stock

Chicken cut or torn into bite-sized pieces

Root vegetables—carrot, celery, parsnips, turnips, celery root, jicama, etc cut into bite-sized pieces

Brown or white rice or pasta

Broccoli, Kale, spinach, peas, seaweed (optional)

Lemon zest (optional)

Heat stock and add root veggies and white rice and cook 20 minutes. If using brown, add 25 minutes earlier. If using pasta, cook separately and add at end. Add other vegetables and chicken for last 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Plate soup and add lemon zest to bowl.

Dinner: Swordfish Tacos

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:12:00 +0000

I made swordfish tacos last week for dinner is celebration of the summer-like weather. Tacos are great year round, however, I like to grill the swordfish outside and the dish is light and perfect for warm temperatures. (When it's cold, I saute fish and do this dish inside.)

I love this recipe...feel free to use all or some of the vegetables in the slaw--it's meant to be flexible. The chipolte sauce is delicious and works really well in this dish.

Swordfish Tacos(or any firm fish)

Fish: 4-6 ounces per person

Grill any firm fish until done, let cool a bit, then crumble into small pieces

Tortillas

2 flour per person, grill lightly on grill or gas stove or heat in oven

Slaw

Red cabbage, thinly sliced or shredded

Red onion, thinly sliced or shredded

Tomatoes, cut into small chunks

Cucumber, sliced thin

Lettuce, thinly sliced or shredded

Avocado, cut into small chunks

Mix together and toss with some sauce, below

Recipe for the Chipolte Pepper Sauce (4-6 servings)

1 cup sour cream / Greek yogurt

1/2 cup mayo

1dried diced chipotle pepper soaked for 30 minutes (seeds removed) or powder

1 small garlic clove chopped

Zest of one lime and juice

2 Tablespoons of salsa

Salt

Mix all ingredients

To assemble: Put fish, slaw and extra sauce on each tortilla.

Cold Noodles and Sesame and Asian Style Slaw

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:14:00 +0000

The first time I had Cold Noodles and Sesame was in a Chinese restaurant in New York City in the early eighties. I was in college at the time and my boyfriend took me to the restaurant…it was my first experience eating anything spicy and I loved them immediately—even though it took me ages to eat the first few times, as my taste buds had to adjust to the spiciness.

I learned how to make them and ate them constantly when I was poor and living in Provincetown. Over the years, I have tweaked the recipe; they are now quite different from the original I like—better, in my opinion. Taste the sauce and adjust to your liking.

Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce

Serves 4-5

1 pound Chinese-style dried noodle or spaghetti/fettuccine

5 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 tablespoons ginger, minced

3 tablespoon black or white sesame seeds

1 bunch scallions, chopped

1 cucumber, cut into long thin shreds

Sauce:

2 tablespoon San-J® All Purpose Szechuan Hot and Spicy Sauce

1 cup crunchy or smooth natural peanut butter

3 tablespoons soy or tamari sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Hot pepper flakes to taste

Water

While heating water to cook pasta; sauté ginger, sesame seeds and garlic. Adjust heat to low and add ingredients for sauce, stirring well. Add small amounts of water until you like the consistency—should be thin enough to coat the pasta easily. Taste the sauce, as you may want to add more of one or more ingredients. If it is too hot and spicy, add more peanut butter. Cook pasta, drain and toss in the sauce. Embellish with cucumber. Serve room temperature or warm.

Asian Style Slaw

3 parts olive oil

1 part white rice vinegar

1 part soy sauce

1 part toasted sesame oil

crushed garlic

Pepper

Cabbage, sliced very thinly

Red onion, sliced very thinly

Cucumbers, peeled and cut into matchsticks

Combine dressing and toss with vegetables. Serve noodles on top of salad.

Grilled Pork Chops and Green Flageolets

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:19:00 +0000

I was in an Asian market a few days ago and spied dried Green Flageolets—a kidney bean from France—they looked cool, so I bought them. Ditto on black quinoa (I love the color black in foods because of the contrast they provide with other food). I also scored Chinese Yardlong beans—they are really long and come tied in a bunch. I like them because they are less starchy than green beans and have a really great taste. As far as I know, only Asian markets carry them. I was going to use the quinoa for dinner, but wanted to use the baby Yukon potatoes I had before they got soft.

My husband grilled two pork chops (grass fed and free range) that we ate two nights in a row. The second night, I put the leftover meat on top of the flageolets, added a bit of water and steamed both.

The meat is so good that I like it best simply grilled outside.

Note that I recommend a cast iron pan for beans and potatoes. I love using cast iron because you can cook on high temperatures and brown food. The potatoes and beans, when cooked on a cast iron pan, get brown and crispy and delicious.

The flageolets were really good! (That said, if I didn’t have them, I’d substitute kidney beans.) The first night, I mixed up the ingredients and served it cold, but decided the garlic tasted too strong raw. It was much better when heated the next day. The recipe, below, is the improved version.

Note that I don’t have amounts on all the recipes…just use your judgment. I love rosemary and use a ton of fresh from my garden for the potatoes. (Dried is also very good.) The rosemary gets all brown and delicious when cooked with some butter.

Grilled pork chops

Warm green flageolets salad

Sautéed Chinese Yardlong beans

Sautéed baby Yukon potatoes

Grilled pork chops

Salt and pepper both sides, grill until slightly pink inside. Let sit a few minutes before serving.

Warm Green Flageolets Salad

1 1/2 cups or 1 can cooked flageolets or kidney beans

3 stalks celery, chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, chopped

4 scallions, chopped

3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ cup parsley, chopped

Juice from ½ lemon

Salt and pepper

On low heat, sauté garlic in oil until soft, then add all remaining ingredients but lemon. Heat through, turn off heat and add lemon. Serve warm or room temperature.

Sautéed Chinese Yardlong beans

Chinese Yardlong Green Beans, haricot verte or regular green beans, chopped into bite-sized pieces

Garlic, minced

Peanut oil

Lemon

Heat a cast iron pan or wok on high and add peanut oil until hot. Stir-fry beans until they begin to brown, then add garlic. Turn off the heat and add lemon juice.

Sautéed baby Yukon potatoes

Boil whole baby potatoes 12 minutes and drain. Sauté, preferably in a cast iron pan, in butter, rosemary, paprika, salt and pepper till browned.

How to Feng Shui Your Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:27:00 +0000

There are numerous schools of Feng Shui, and what it entails. Generally speaking, not much is said about Feng Shui in the kitchen, and that’s too bad, because it is a very important room. When Feng Shui is discussed, it centers around the stove, and it is generally concerned with the direction or placement of the stove.
My advice is to consider the placement of the stove solely in relation to what works from a design and practical point of view.

The remainder of his article focuses on Feng Shui from and how it will make your kitchen flow well with good energy. The following will give your kitchen “Feng Shui.”

* Great layout. When appliances are positioned well, there is adequate counter space to work, and kitchen tools and dining ware are thoughtfully stored, you will have a great space in which to work.
* Appliances are in good working condition. Energy Star rated is even better, as these appliances are more energy efficient.
* There is appropriate lighting for cooking, eating, and any other activities that take place in kitchen.
* The kitchen sparkles with cleanliness. Bonus points for using non-toxic cleaning supplies! See my handy guide to non-toxic products. Keep refrigerator clean and have a container of baking soda inside to absorb odors.
* There is no clutter. Go through your drawers and cabinets and remove anything you don’t use. Donate, sell or recycle whatever you can.
* Organize your kitchen for maximum efficiency. Give everything a designated space. Extra points for facing cans, bottles and other food items faced forward and lined up, like in a grocery store.
* Replace non-stick pans, which are carcinogenic when heated, with cast iron, enamel and stainless pots and pans.
* Use great quality knives. Dull or inexpensive knives make cooking a chore. Good knives—I recommend Wusthof—will last a lifetime.
* Store and cook wholesome, natural, organic foods. Avoid food with preservatives and artificial colors.

Norma Lehmeier Hartie is the award winning author of Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet. She is currently working on a book to help homeowners sell their property.

Choosing Colors in the Home for Harmony, Health and Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:16:00 +0000

I love the subject of color and have studied it extensively. Interestingly, when I first studied and practiced interior design, I found myself calling colors "warm" or "cool" as you speak of them--depending on their undertones. I did this for years.

Then I began to study Feng Shui. I won't get into detail, but suffice to say that traditional Feng Shui is an interior designer's nightmare...you are supposed to use certain colors (that are significant in traditional Chinese culture) in every room. Ugh.

I understood that people react strongly to colors, but I wasn't sure why. In preparation of writing Harmonious Environment:Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet, I began to study color from the dispassionate scientific point of view. For example, in the 20th century, The Luscher Colour Test revealed that colors stimulate different parts of the autonomic nervous system, affecting metabolic rate and glandular secretions. In the 1950’s, studies showed that yellow and red light raised blood pressure while blue light lowered it. Blue light is now commonly used to treat neonatal jaundice and to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Different colors, pulse rate and respiratory rate; color affects muscular tension, brain activity and the emotions.

Each color has its own vibration; color can be used to bring harmony and balance into your life. The invisible vibrations of color can be used to either relax or stimulate. The color spectrum is made up of seven colors, with thousands of tones, shades and tints in between. The longest wavelengths, or yang colors—red, orange and yellow—are considered the warm, expansive and outgoing colors. The shorter wavelengths, or yin colors—blue, indigo and violet—are cool, soothing and introverted. Green is considered neutral.

Picture the pure color spectrum--red, orange and yellow are considered warm; green neutral and blue, indigo and violets, cool. Black is warm, white cool. Add to that each color can become a shade (add black), tint (add white) or tone (black + white=gray=neutral.)

Now it's all math. Pure green is neutral because it's made up of equal parts blue + yellow. Add more blue and you have a cool green; add more yellow, warm.

Knowing that, pink cannot be cool--neither can red or orange. Add white to a warm color and it lessens it's heat; black to a cool color and it warms it.

Here is another example: brown is composed of red, yellow and black and is considered warm, because the intensity of black overwhelms the red and yellow. However, add some white (tint) and the color becomes beige or tan and effectively moves to the center of the spectrum, or the neutral zone. (You have undoubtedly heard of colors like beige and tan being referred to as “neutral” colors. This is why.)But add a pinky undertone to beige and you effectively make it warm again.

When planning the predominate color theme in a room, remember that warm or yang colors—red, orange and yellow—are best used in rooms that are meant for social and physical activity, as these colors stimulate the more physical aspects of life; eating, socializing and exercise. Conversely, cool yin colors—blue, indigo and violet—are ideal in spaces meant for rest or meditation, as these colors invoke feelings of calmness, creativity and inner transformation. Green, which represents balance, health and harmony, is ideal in all rooms.

Color is one aspect of how our homes affect us—there are many things that do. (I’ll save for another time…) How things like color, energy, clutter and so on affect us is the psychology of home (an actual category used in libraries). Understanding these processes—how color works, for example—helps us to create harmony, balance and health in the home.

Fiddlehead Fern Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:50:00 +0000

I love this time of year because, among other things, fiddelhead ferns are available! They have an earthy flavor, somewhat like a cross between asparagus and artichokes. You may be able to get them from your local farmer, and Whole Foods carries them.

Do not eat them raw. Rinse thoroughly, and remove the brown scales with your fingers. Cut off the brown tips and excess stems.

Simple Fiddlehead Recipes

Fiddleheads
Salt
Butter
Steam 10 minutes or boil 5 minutes fiddleheads. Melt butter in a saute pan and lower heat, stir several minutes, allowing butter to brown. Toss fiddleheads into pan and add salt.

Fiddleheads
Oilive Oil
Salt
Heat oven to 425. Dry fiddleheads thoroughly and place on a tray, one layer deep. Toss fiddleheads with salt. Rub olive oil on ferns. bake about 30 minutes, tossing twice, until fiddleheads begin to brown.

You can add ingredients like lemon and garlic, but I keep this treat nice and plain.

Your Home Can Help or Hinder your Landing a Job

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Is your home cluttered and dirty? Is your home unwelcoming? If you answered yes to either of these questions and you are looking for a job, your home could be hurting your chances at success. Clean, remove clutter, and organize your home. Next, use the magic of Feng Shui and simple manifestation techniques to help you land the job of your dreams!

A home that is dirty, filled with clutter and unorganized is not a happy place to live in. The energy is stagnant and negative. Consequently, the people living in this environment will suffer. Clutter will literally bog you down and you will feel stagnant, unable to move on in your life. It will make you inefficient, because you are constantly searching for things. Stress, because searching for things causes anxiety. Lack of productivity and energy, as negative energy of clutter depresses.

This environment is hardly conducive to aiding you in a job search. If you are living in these conditions, begin by cleaning your home thoroughly.

Next, get rid of the clutter. Clutter is anything that isn’t used or liked. Sometimes, we hold onto stuff for sentimental reasons. Clutter can also be just too many objects on a given surface. If you collect stuff and don’t wish to get rid of those objects, another option is to rotate them. For instance, if you have six objects on a side table all vying for attention, store three away for half the year. Now, the three objects will look nice and you won’t have that cluttered look.

If you have things around that aren’t being used or enjoyed, that stuff is not giving off good energy and will make you feel stagnant in your life.

If the prospect of organizing is akin to a trip to the dentist, start with a small space. If cheap psychological tricks—like rewarding yourself for a job done—work, employ them. Conversely, do not try to organize a space so large that the project could take weeks—forcing you to look at depressing piles of things waiting to be organized or removed. Take that large space and divide it into easily managed projects.

The payoff for a clean, organized home or workplace free of unwanted clutter is immense. The energy in your home or workspace will change—stale and negative energy will be replaced with positive, powerful, life-enriching energy. The space will feel lighter. And that good energy will make you feel more energetic and happier. When you know where to find your belongings, you will find yourself with more time—to be more productive or to actually relax. Finally, a clean home—one that is as free as possible from dirt, mold and allergens—is a healthier space.

Once your home is organized and clean, you are ready for the fun and exciting part of your journey—using Feng Shui and manifestation to help you get your job. The following is a basic introduction to Feng Shui.

Bagua Map

It is beyond the scope of this posting to give more than a rudimentary explanation of Feng Shui, but I hope this will interest you to study this remarkable practice further. Feng Shui is based all about energy, or chi and the placement of objects to increase good energy.

There are two levels of Feng Shui; the visible and the invisible. Moving, removing or adding objects is visible, but changes also occur on the invisible level. When I go to my chiropractor because my back hurts and he realigns it, I instantly feel great. One reason is because the pain is released, but the other reason is that energy is now flowing properly throughout my whole body, so it adds to my sense of well-being. When an object is in the correct place, it too exudes positive energy, which radiates and fills the space. When a room is in proper alignment, you cannot help but to feel good in it.

Another aspect of the invisible level of Feng Shui is to first visualize a particular outcome that you would like as a result of making a change. For example, you will learn how to add objects to a room to strengthen or bring love into your life. When adding these objects, you need to focus your thoughts on the object and visualize having a strong and happy marriage or finding your soul mate.

To help you find a job, you will concentrate on the Career, Wealth and Helpful People categories. Picture the Bagua placed over your entire home or a single room. The door to the home or room must be in one of the three quadrants—career, knowledge or helpful people.

· Water flowing represents cash flow:

o Put a water fountain in entry room of your home..

o Put a water fountain in the wealth corner of the home or in the wealth corner of a room, like the entry or bedroom.

o Photograph or art depicting water

· Flowers

o Put fresh flowers anywhere in home for bright energy and to uplift spirits

· Fresh plants and bird feeders outside represent growth—as in career

When you add any of these objects, visualize yourself accepting the job of your dreams. Look at these objects on a daily basis and keep those positive thoughts in mind.

11 Tips: Transform Your Home Into a Safe Haven

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:50:00 +0000

In these times of economic upheaval, it’s tough to keep stress levels down. Most of us know some ways to keep stress in control; eat right, get plenty of sleep, exercise, meditate. But, did you know that making your home a safe haven can also be extremely beneficial? And, that clutter is the last thing we need in troubled times, as it makes us feel unsafe and anxious.

As an eco-friendly interior designer and Feng Shui expert, I have had the honor of helping many clients transform their lives by changing their homes. Living in a home filled with positive energy, with beauty, a home that is clean, organized and clutter-free makes the occupants feel safe. In safety comes freedom; freedom to be creative, to be motivated and energetic.

Best of all, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune to create your sanctuary. I recommend the following steps to create your safe haven:

* Eliminate harmful products and replace them with eco-friendly ones. This step will improve your health and the health of the planet.

* Clean your home well and get rid of clutter! This is huge and you can even make money by selling your stuff! A clean home is a healthier home and just feels good. Clutter, as mentioned previously, causes stress, confusion, depression and lethargy. Get rid of anything you don’t love, need or have used for over a year.

* Clear your home of negative energy with smudging or dowsing. See a previous post of mine on smudging.

* Get rid of processed food and eat wholesome and organic.

* Allow energy, or chi, to flow unobstructed throughout your home. Don’t crowd furniture.

* Use color to your benefit. The cool colors, like blue and purple, are great in the bedroom because they lower blood pressure and help us relax. Social rooms, like the kitchen and living room, benefit from the warm, expansive colors like yellow, red, and orange.

* Place objects in the Bagua to attract whatever you want—love, money, fame.

* Balance each room with all four elements—earth, air, fire, and water.

* Houseplants add great energy and suck up indoor air pollution.

* Treat yourself to flowers every week—simply my favorite way to make my home feel like a sanctuary.

* Learn to decorate with confidence! Don’t worry about what’s in style—decorate to please your unique style.

One last suggestion--have fun while doing this! Transforming your home into a sanctuary is really enjoyable—something we all need a bit of now.

New Distant or Remote Design Services

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:49:00 +0000

In addition to doing design consultations in the New York metropolitan area, I am now doing remote, or distant, consultations. This started because a woman from Cincinnati contacted me and asked me if I did remote work. With today's modern technology, doing distant design work is totally feasible. I charge by the hour and you can hire me for as little or much help as you need.

For more information on my services, go to my website.Some of my services:

Clearing clutter

Organizing

Feng Shui

Interior Design/redesign

Staging to sell home

Curb appeal

Green design/home improvements

To Your Beautiful Home!

Norma Lehmeier Hartie

Remove Bedroom Clutter

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:59:00 +0000

It is important to keep your bedroom clean and free of clutter.

* If dirty clothes must be in the room, keep them in a covered hamper in a closet.

* There should be nothing but air under your bed! Energy must be able to circulate around the bed—and you—freely. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. The stuff under your bed emits its own energy, so whatever is under your bed will affect you. For example, if you store old bills beneath your bed, you are sleeping on past finances. You might feel overwhelmed with excessive money issues, or obsessed with the past. Clear the underbelly of the bed and enjoy the benefits of vital life-force energy surrounding you.

* Closets should be neat and organized. Discard what you have not worn in two or more years. Repair or discard torn clothing and shoes. Try arranging like clothes together; casual shirts, work shirts, casual pants, etc. and discover how easy it is to find everything!

* Organize dressers, discarding unused or torn items and neatly folding what remains.

* Store only personal items in the bedroom, if possible. If you must store paperwork, keep it neat and hidden in a closet or drawers.

* Sort and organize jewelry. Sell or donate what you do not like.

Excerpt from Harmonious Environment.

Clean Green Products

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:53:00 +0000

There are many non-toxic, natural cleaning products that are on the market or you can make your own. Check your natural food store or see "Resources" for online or mail-order shopping. With a few basic ingredients, you can clean almost everything in your home. The following cleaners are safe and work as well—or better—than the commercial counterparts:

All-Purpose Cleaners

Fill a spray bottle with half water and half distilled white vinegar; add a spoonful of biodegradable soap. This works on windows and mirrors, too.

Baking soda and distilled white vinegar: Combine when ready to use—mixing creates a science-project like foam. I love this mix and keep finding new things to clean with these two miracle ingredients. I never measure—use this mixture a few times and you will figure out how much to use for what project. Buy distilled white vinegar by the gallon and pour some into an easy to handle bottle and keep a large box of baking soda on hand.
This mix cleans all kinds of things, including:
- Stubborn stains (let sit, then rinse)
- Stainless steel
- Water fountains
- Silver
- Brass
- Stained glass
Purchase concentrated citrus cleaner from a natural food store. Mix with water in a spray bottle.

Antibacterial Spray

1 cup water

20-25 drops pure essence of lavender oil

Pour water into a spray bottle, add lavender oil and shake. Spray onto surfaces—no need to wipe. This spray is good for use on "high-touch" areas like doorknobs and phones when someone in the family is sick.

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners

Sprinkle several pounds of cornstarch or baking soda on a nine by twelve carpet or liberally on upholstery, let sit for an hour and vacuum. For freshly soiled spots, use soda water or make a paste with baking soda and vinegar or soda water and scrub dirty area. A water-only steam machine is also an effective method for removing stains and dirt from carpets and upholstery.

For a deep clean, rent a carpet steam machine and use 2 cups white vinegar and 2 ½ gallons of water to clean carpet. When finished, raise thermostat to make room really warm and use a fan to accelerate drying time.

Drain Cleaner

For clogged drains, a plunger, when used correctly, really works! The secret is to use water, as the weight of the water forces the clog to break through. To unclog pipe, cover drain opening, turn on the water and allow some water to collect. Continue to allow water to run, remove cover and begin to plunge.

If that does not work, pour ½ cup baking soda, then ½ cup vinegar into drain, wait five minutes and follow with boiling water.

Pet Products

Bathe pets with a natural shampoo from your natural food store or online store. If you get your puppy used to baths, bathing can be a non-event. In addition to shedding hair, an unwashed dog will embed dirt and odors into furniture, carpeting and rugs. Regular shampooing—monthly or more—can make a big difference in keeping your home clean.

If fleas are a problem, there are natural collars available at natural food stores. Instead of flea powder, wash the animal's bedding regularly.

Plastic feeding dishes leach chemicals into your pet's water and food. Replace plastic dishes with stainless steel or lead-free ceramic bowls.

Pots and Pans

Dish soap is fine for standard cleaning. For tough jobs, sprinkle baking soda and add distilled vinegar and let sit for awhile. This works miracles, even on stainless steel! On seasoned cast iron pots, water and mild soap is generally adequate. Always dry thoroughly with towel to prevent rust, and then apply a thin layer of cooking oil. For tough jobs, kosher salt works well.

Silver

Mix baking soda and white vinegar, rub on silver, rinse and dry. White toothpaste also works for smaller jobs like jewelry.

Brass

For heavily tarnished brass, put some baking soda on a rag, add vinegar and rub. Rinse and wipe dry. Lightly tarnished pieces can be cleaned with vinegar or other natural acids like milk, tomatoes, Tabasco or lemon juice. Rinse and wipe dry.

Window/Glass Cleaner

Combine 1 ½ cups white vinegar, ½ cup water and 8 drops citrus essential oil in a spray bottle and shake well. Add a small amount of alcohol for tough jobs. Spray on windows and wipe dry with a cloth or towel.

When cleaning numerous windows, pour 6 parts warm water to 2 parts white vinegar and 1 part alcohol into a bucket. Wash windows with mixture and dry with a professional squeegee. A squeegee saves both time and paper towels, but don't waste your time with inferior squeegees—they will drive you crazy, as they leave lines on the windows. I recently purchased one from The Clean Team (see "Resources") with additional replacement blades, and it works great!

Clean mirrors with a mixture of equal parts of alcohol and water.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Pour 2 cups of white vinegar in toilet bowl and let stand overnight. If a watermark still remains, rub stain with a wet pumice stone. Pumice stone will not scratch porcelain.

Furniture Polish

Mix ½ teaspoon light olive oil, ¼ cup white vinegar and water to fill a one quart container. Apply mixture and wipe with a clean rag. Or, mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 pint of vegetable oil. Apply a small amount with a cotton cloth (old undershirts work really well) and wipe wood furniture.

Dust

You do not need to use any product to dust other than a microfiber cloth and a sheepskin duster with an extension pole. Microfiber cloths and dusting mitts are fabulous! They are positively charged and pick up the negative charge in dust. I even run them under my heater vents and they pick up globs of dust that stay put until I shake the cloth off outside. They can be used wet or dry and are available at houseware stores like Linens 'n Things.

Mold Remover

While chlorine bleach is effective at killing mold, bleach fumes are extremely harmful. A mixture of borax and water is a much less toxic approach. In the shower, spray or apply with a rag borax and water, and do not rinse—the borax residue will fight mold growth. Or, mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 cup water and apply with a rag or spray bottle. Finally, white vinegar, poured directly on mold, is eighty percent effective in killing mold.

Wax

If possible, freeze item that has wax drippings and peel off. If not, remove what you can. Then place newspaper below and above wax and iron on low setting. The wax will transfer to newspaper. Keep moving paper until all the wax is removed and then launder.

There are a number of natural cleaning products that you can purchase at natural food stores or online. In your grocery store, Bon Ami is all natural and works especially well on stainless steel and borax is a natural laundry booster and multi-purpose household cleaner.

Excerpt from Harmonious Environment

Grilled Tuna Steak with Peaches and Tomato and Corn

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Perfect summer dinner! Peaches are in season and pair nicely with tuna. The peach mixture also works well on either pork or chicken.

Corn on the cob and a tomato salad perfectly accompany the peaches and tuna and you get a colorful, healthful and delicious meal!

6-8 ounce Tuna steak per person

1 peach per person, large dice

Pat butter

Cilantro, chopped

Lemon juice

Pinch sugar

Melt butter add peaches and sugar and stir. Turn off heat and add cilantro and lemon juice. Grill steak 3 minutes a side or more if you want it well done. Put peach mixture on top of tuna. Serve with tomatoes and red onion in balsamic vinaigrette and fresh corn.

Earth-Based Spirituality

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:41:00 +0000

Earth-based spirituality is based on reverence for the earth and all of its inhabitants and has been practiced from antiquity to the present. Its roots lie in the shamanic wisdom of the ancient Caucasian peoples of Britain, northern Europe and Scandinavia; the Taoist teachings of the East and with the Native Americans of North America.

To honor all livings things is the basis of Earth-based spirituality. The Native Americans treated all beings on earth as their equal and all were considered part of the whole, or the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit is within all plants, minerals and animals and the earth itself. It is the life-force energy or chi; it is the "Breath of the Invisible."

Earth-based spirituality recognizes that nothing is ever destroyed; that it only changes form. Matter is a physical and intelligent manifestation of energy, and energy is contained in all matter, but matter does not exist in all energy. The Earth and its inhabitants are all beings of energy and are all interconnected and interrelated.

We are integrated parts of a whole being. We affect the whole by our thoughts, words and actions—just as we are affected by other human beings, and by the animal, vegetable or mineral kingdoms, and by the higher frequency metaphysical energy patterns.

Earth-based spirituality is about following your own intuition—not some "authority" or that nebulous "they." It is your intuition that is all-knowing, powerful and true. When you follow your intuition, you are following your heart. When you follow your heart, you are being guided by your higher self which is connected to all that is.

Learning to trust your intuition is important for all aspects of your life, and there are many books which discuss the aspects of this level of consciousness. When it comes to decorating your home, what sounds simple can be quite difficult until you learn to distinguish between your intuition and what you think you ought to be doing. When in doubt, meditate on the question at hand and see what comes up. Or, ask yourself if your reaction/desire is based on fear or love. Intuition is never about fear. Fear manifests itself only in the mind/body.

For example, suppose you are wandering around a craft fair and see a beautiful vase. You instantly visualize the vase in your living room and feel happy gazing at this vessel. However, moments later you worry: "what if it looks out of place?" "What if the vase is actually hideous and your husband and friends hate it?" Now, you look at the vase again and feel confused and think, "do I really like it?"

Yes, you really like it. Those nasty voices in your head are pure fear. When you see something and immediately love it (or think it's awful) that is your gut feeling, or intuition.

Think about it, we are literally bombarded with things when we shop. Craft fairs are a great example because there is so much to see and judge. A quick glance at a craftsperson's wares will usually be enough to draw you in for a closer inspection or keep you moving along due to a lack of interest. So, when you see an object that you think is beautiful among hundreds or thousands of other crafts, take note!

In another example, you are shopping with a friend, the "knower-of-all-things-trendy." She spots this awesome new kitchen gadget that "you must have." This gadget promises to slice/dice/whatever, and your first reaction upon looking at it is that you already have perfectly good knives to do the same job.

Your friend looks a bit askance when you admit that you aren't sure that you need this new tool. This worries you—perhaps you do need this gadget. It might make kitchen chores easier. You might be the only one without one, struggling away while others blithely do their chores.

Now, stop. Look at the gadget and trust your intuition to guide you. If you are still unsure, ask your friend for a demonstration, but pay attention. I find that my first response is generally right on—if I react with delight over some new thing, it might just be what I need. However, if my reaction is an eye-roll (another useless piece of junk), I move on.

Your intuition knows what is authentic; it is not influenced by what is the newest and shiniest.

Guidelines for Eco-friendly and Healthful Purchasing Choices

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Do:

Replace products that are made from petrochemicals with products that are made with natural, non-hazardous and preferably renewable products. For example, use bamboo flooring that is finished with natural wax and Tung or Linseed Oil, and purchase natural paints, lime plasters and cork floors.
Purchase raw materials near production site to save on transportation expense and fuel waste.
Purchase materials that were processed using renewable energy.
Extend product life by reuse and recycling of components.
Recycle waste to become ingredients in other products. Called "biomimicry", it is the manufacturing process that takes one product and turns it into something else. For example, carpets that are made from recycled plastic bottles, paints that are made from vegetable extracts, tiles that are made from ceramic waste and rubber flooring that is made from recycled tires.
Support companies that employ safe and clean methods to produce product or who use recycled products.
Support companies that sell healthy, organic, sustainable products.
Support companies that engage in fair-trade and good wages for employees and a safe and fair work environment.*

* Not related to green living, but relates to conscious living.

Don't

Purchase from companies that pollute.
Purchase from companies that sell toxic or otherwise unsafe products.
Purchase from companies that do not support child-labor laws.*
Purchase from companies that practice unsafe or discriminatory working conditions or pay wages that do not constitute fair or livable conditions.*
Purchase from companies that use endangered wood or other unsustainable materials.

The following products cause pollution and should be avoided when possible:

Most commercial cleaning products and other household chemicals.
Garden pesticides.
Carpets glued with solvents, treated with fungicides and containing residual pesticides.
Fabrics treated with chlorine, benzene and/or formaldehyde.
Most plywood and particleboard, which contain formaldehyde, urea, and other dangerous glues.
Many paints and stains, which contain fungicides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and other chemicals.
Vinyl flooring, furniture, and plastics that contain VOC's such as bromides and chlorine.
Dry cleaning.
Underground oil tanks.
Electricity (While it's not feasible for most of us to eliminate electricity, there are ways—illustrated later in Harmonious Environment—to reduce your exposure to it.)

Excerpt from Harmonious Environment

Eliminate Harmful Goods and Replace them with Eco-Friendly Ones!

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:51:00 +0000

Virtually every object used in building your home and the objects within it—from the insulation in your house, your sofa, food storage containers, floor cleaners and even fabric softener—impacts both your health and the health of the planet. Unfortunately, in spite of the "all natural" or "safe" labels that are included on some of these products, many of them are unhealthy. This chapter will help you to identify what poses a risk and will introduce safe alternatives for you to consider.

The good news is that concurrent with growing consumer awareness of the dangers in ordinary household objects is an increase in the availability of environmentally-friendly and human-healthy choices as manufacturers acknowledge and try to meet this burgeoning market.

Nowhere has the impact of the average consumer been greater than in the food industry fueling the rise in the availability of organic food. Organic retail sales have grown an astonishing twenty percent per year since 1990—compared with an increase of between two and four percent of total food sales in United States.

As desire for organic food grows, so does the demand for healthful products of all kinds. Even though the major manufacturers are aware that there is a demand for healthful products, the vast majority of them are still not offering them. Although many businesses appear to be providing environmentally-friendly and healthful products; beware of the company that advertises its product with terms that are unregulated—such as "natural". "Natural," when used to describe shampoo, is usually a complete misnomer—the shampoo is still filled with synthetic chemicals and might contain only minute amounts of truly natural ingredients, such as jojoba or honey.

In addition, the government has historically allowed unsafe products to be sold as safe in this country. The use of lead is a great example. In 1909, eight European countries banned the use of white lead for interior painting. It took half a century for the United States to catch up—lead was not banned in paint and gasoline in this country until the 1970's and 1980's respectively.

Today, there are still thousands of toxic products being sold. To exacerbate the problem, manufacturers continue to pollute our air, water and land. There is no way to avoid all contamination while living on earth, but this chapter provides practical information and tips to help protect you from excessive exposure to the variety of pollutants that most of us are subjected to.

In addition to providing tips on how and what to purchase to live in an environment free from toxins that are made from cheap, unsustainable methods, this chapter explains how to eliminate nearly all pollutants from your home. You may be shocked with the discovery that many seemingly harmless household products contain dangerous chemicals. However, most of these products can be easily removed and replaced and some will lose their toxicity over time, so you needn't panic and think everything in your house must be replaced. For example, freshly installed wall-to-wall carpeting emits toxic gases into the environment; however, carpeting stops outgassing six months to a year following installation. Another example would be if you have painted your walls with paint containing volatile organic compounds (VOC's)—the damage is already done, the paint stops outgassing and you may as well wait until the next time to use an eco-friendly paint.

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:56:00 +0000

Publishers Weekly Update on Subsidies

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:27:00 +0000

I've given some thought to my response to PW's article on Author Solutions ("Change Maker: Kevin Weiss" 12/ 21/09,) and its misuse of the word "self-publishing" to describe the subsidy press.

Publisher's Weekly is a trade magazine aimed at publishers and bookstores. It is not in business to serve small independent publishers, self-publishers or authors.

That said, the book publishing industry is hurting. (As are all publishers. Last year, Publisher's Weekly laid off employees including their editor-in-chief, Sara Nelson.)

Enter the subsidy publishers...they are kicking butt. Now Harlequin joined forces with Author Solutions and many of the traditional publishers are following.

Since the subsidies have already hijacked the self-publishing term, PW is going to run with it. It sounds better than "subsidy" or "vanity" and what do they care? They are reporting on the sector that is making money and that can potentially save traditional publishers.

Think about it--instead of publishers risking their money on authors, they charge them to provide services and a product. If the book actually sells, even better!

Who wants to guess when we hit 1 million books published in a year?

Applying Harmonious Adjustments™

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Decide what changes you wish to make in your life and in designing your home or workspace and write them down.

When a room does not “feel right,” but you cannot figure out what is wrong, take an inventory of the contents of that space. Note what is yin and yang, what the colors and elements are in the room and record them. Include the color and materials that comprise the walls, ceiling and floors. Does the room feel light or dark? Is it small or large? Once your inventory is completed, you will probably notice a predominance of either yin or yang, warm or cool colors, or a predominance of one or two elements. Moreover, a pattern of overwhelming yin with cool colors and Earth and Water elements, or overwhelming yang with warm colors and Fire and Air elements may emerge. Once you see a pattern, it will be easy to decide what should be removed or rearranged.

Another common problem is drastic change in the décor from one room to the next, with the result being an uneasy feeling going from one room to the next. Rooms with very different themes, colors, patterns and the like can be very disorienting as one walks from room to room. The energy becomes scattered and does not flow smoothly. This is not to suggest that you should decorate your house with a single theme or color. Just be cognizant of how a room interacts with the one adjacent to it and use colors, themes and patterns that will allow each room to flow into the next.

Assess your environment for objects that are unconsciously perceived as unintended symbols. For example, a photograph of a desert in the Wealth Gua, would symbolize dried–up cash flow. A single figurine in the Love Gua symbolizes solo living. A disorganized pile of paperwork in the Knowledge Gua symbolizes (and can cause) confusion.

While windows and doors add nourishing light and can provide great views, an abundance of them can result in the chi moving too quickly to properly nourish the home. Use screens, crystals hanging in windows, plants, furniture, curtains and artwork to slow down the fast-moving energy.

Place furniture to allow chi to flow unimpeded. If you have to sidestep or contort your body in any way to avoid a piece of furniture, it is blocking the proper flow of energy, move it. If a small room is overloaded with furniture and objects, the chi is going to stagnate in that room. Conversely, if a large room has minimal furniture and large windows, chi is going to enter the room and go right out through the windows, as there is nothing to stop its exit.

Your intuition will guide you when assessing how chi is flowing through your spaces. When furniture and objects are placed correctly, the space will look and feel right. Likewise, the proportion of belongings versus the size of the room should be apparent—again, when it feels and looks right, it most likely is. When in doubt, use dowsing rods to determine the pathway of energy, as described in Chapter Five.

The use of rounded or soft edges encourages energy to flow through each room in a meandering fashion. Sharp edges “shoot” chi, while rounded edges allow chi to continue to flow at a gentler pace. Corners can be softened with plants, chimes, mobiles and artwork.

In addition to the aesthetic appeal of one-of-a-kind works, objects that are handmade contain the energy of the craftspeople or artists in addition to the energy of the pieces themselves. Compare that to a mass-produced item made on an assembly line: the energy of the piece simply cannot measure up to the handmade object. As you become more comfortable with feeling the energy in objects, the difference between handmade and mass-produced will become obvious. Try closing your eyes and holding in one hand a mass-produced item and in the other, a handcrafted one. Feel the difference for yourself.

Even better than displaying the work of others is displaying art or handcrafted goods that have been made by you or your family. Your energy—or a family member’s—has gone into creating something that you love. The displayed piece both exudes your personal energy is are a powerful reminder of the positive aspects of you. The piece will literally vibrate with your life-force energy.

When you are ready to make changes in your life, add appropriate elements to the Guas in your space.

As adjustments are being made, visualize and feel the changes you would like to see coming to life.

Harmonious Adjustments™ is based on the belief that if it feels and looks good, it is good.

Finally, enjoy the process, relax and have fun. When decorating and applying Harmonious Adjustments™, use your inner wisdom and intuition and then sit back and enjoy the feelings of peace and harmony in your life.

Publisher's Weekly Should Get Publishing Terms Straight

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:34:00 +0000

Is it too difficult to ask that a magazine about publishing get the terms of its business straight? The article on Kevin Weiss, “Change Makers” in the December 21, 2009 issue of Publishers Weekly is teeming with semantic misnomers. These errors surround the usage of the word “self-publishing.”

Self-publishing, by definition, means that the author publishes their own work. It means that the author forms a publishing company and owns the ISBN. The author/publisher chooses what services they want—editors, cover designers, copyeditors, etc. Finally, they chose a printer—either POD or offset.

Throughout this article, Lynn Andriani incorrectly uses the word “self-publish.” For example, Andriani writes: “It’s been an eventful few weeks for Weiss, thanks to the controversy that erupted last month from writers over Harlequin’s partnering with Author Solutions to launch a line of self-published books.” Let me make this clear: Author Solutions is a PUBLISHING company. They are, specifically, a subsidy or vanity press and hijacked the word “self-publishing” because vanity and subsidy have bad connotations. Subsidy presses own the ISBN and are the publisher; therefore, the author is not self-published.

According to Andriani: “This year, nearly 250,000 people inquired with [Author Solutions] about self-publishing their books…” The article then says “Author House, iUniverse…have published more than 120,000 books.” If the books are “self-published”, why does the article state that the publishing companies published the books?

These so-called “self-publishing publishers” prey on the naïve wannabe author. Writer’s Digest magazine is filled with advertisements from the subsidy presses; they promise the aspiring author to “self-publish” their book for them. Readers of that magazine would never know that real self-publishing exists!

Subsidy publishers are making money, while traditional publishers are hurting. This is why all the traditional publishing houses—like Harlequin—are clamoring to join the bandwagon. It’s a beautiful thing for the subsidies—instead of having to pay royalties and advances to the author, the subsidies collect money from the author! Every subsidy works differently, but they collect fees for all kinds of things, including jacket design, editing, and promotion. So, before a book is sold, the publisher has made money! If the books actually do sell (and the vast majority sell less than 100 copies) then the publisher makes even more money!

This is a win-win for the subsidy publisher.

Lamb Bolognese and Roasted Kale

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Lamb Bolognese
1 lb lamb, ground
1 can crushed tomatoes

1 T oregano

1/2 t cayenne pepper

Splash red wine

1/2 head garlic, chopped

1/2 pound porcini or other mushrooms, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

salt and pepper

Serve with pasta and roasted kale, below.

Sauté garlic under medium heat until just brown. Add mushrooms and cook. Remove garlic and mushrooms and set aside. Brown meat, add remaining ingredients, including mushrooms and simmer for about half an hour.

Roasted Kale

Preheat oven to 425

I head kale

salt

2 T virgin olive oil

Wash and dry kale very well. Remove stems and roughly chop. Place on a shallow pan, add salt and olive oil, coating evenly. Place in oven. Start turning after 10 minutes. Cook until light brown and crisp.

Learn how to Easily Arrange Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:54:00 +0000

The energy from flowers is so bright and strong that they can be put anywhere in the home and they will enhance your life. The Chinese believe that flowers represent good luck. I feel that the beauty and energy that emanates from flowers into our bodies does, indeed, create good luck. Flowers make you feel better, happier and more alive. Put them anywhere in your home and office. Simply enjoy them or use them to help you get what you want.

Whenever adding an object to create change in your life, remember to clearly think about what change you want to have occur when placing flowers. Visualize that goal and how you will feel when you see your intention come to fruition. The benefit in using flowers to instigate change is that every time you replace the old flowers with new, you will be reminded to visualize the change you desire. The combination of repeated visualization and the powerful energy of flowers will help make your dream become reality.

However, you do not need to wish for change to add a floral arrangement. Flowers can just be and beautify any area of your home or workspace—and your life.

Designing with Flowers
I collect flower vases so that I have a variety of options for my floral arrangements. Also, different containers look better in particular areas of my home. There are plenty of eco-friendly choices you can make when selecting a flower container:

· Antique or second-hand containers

· Earthenware containers

· Glass containers, especially recycled

· Containers made out of stone

· Recycled metal containers

Any container that holds water can hold flowers—be creative and look around your home for possibilities. You can cover empty cans from your cupboard with fabric, for example. Or, put a bunch of flowers in a watering can. If they are watertight, clay pots can hold flowers.

When you entertain, it is nice to have flowers on the table—but not if they obstruct your guests’ views of one another. Low containers are perfect for the dining room table. To keep flowers upright, it might be necessary to use what florists use, floral foam. Oasis® brand is most common; just make sure the package indicates that the foam is for wet floral arrangements. Floral foam is available in craft stores.

The key to using floral foam is to allow it to absorb water at its own rate, in a sink or a container filled with water. If you forcefully submerge it, the inside of the foam will not get wet. The foam is ready to use when it has sunk to the bottom of the water-filled container. Floral foam is easily cut with a knife; cut whatever size you require, wet it, and place in a container.

You will want to cover the floral foam completely. In addition to flowers, you will need green filler—either from the florist or cut some from a bush or tree in your yard. You can cover the foam first and then place the flowers, or arrange flowers and then fill in spaces with greens.

The container in which you put your flowers is almost as important as the arrangement itself. Factors to keep in mind:

Proportion: Size and amount of flowers in relation to container

The flowers should fill the container selected so that they are neither crammed into the vessel nor too sparse. The size of the flowers should be proportional to the vase. Cut the stems to achieve the look you desire.

How the colors of the flowers work with the vessel

Colorful flowers with a very busy vase end up competing with each other. I prefer vases to be a single color, allowing the flowers to really stand out. My collection of vases includes an assortment of pleasing shapes and a variety of sizes to compliment all kinds of arrangements. But, the color of the vase still has an impact: a light green vessel with pastel flowers looks very different from a deep blue vase with hot colors, for example.

Cut stems to fit long-stemmed flowers into a small container

Do not be afraid to drastically cut the length of the stem. Take gerbers, for example; their stems are often several feet long, their heads are approximately three inches wide and they come in a wide variety of colors. The look of the arrangement will totally change depending on the length you decide to keep them. At full length, they are dramatic in a tall, slender vase. Cut the stem to a half foot and they look beautiful in a rounded vessel. Take one to three gerbers and place them into a still smaller container. Finally, cut all but a half inch of the stem and let them float singly or in groups in a dish. Fabulous!

How the arrangement looks in the intended space

If you are making an arrangement for a specific area, select the right size container and flowers, based on that space. A tiny arrangement will look out of proportion in the center of a huge foyer with vaulted ceilings. Conversely, placing tall gladiolas under a dining room chandelier would look crowded.
Excerpt from Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet.

Compost Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Turn your kitchen scraps into “black gold” and make your own compost. Compost is the super-rich, crumbly soil that is made when dead plants and leaves are broken down by worms and microorganisms and it is super-rich fertilizer for your plants and trees. To make compost, save organic waste—vegetable and fruit parts, coffee grounds, tea, eggshells, brown paper products, grass and plant clippings. Do not add animal leftovers, dairy products, oils or waste.

Set up a three-sided stall or purchase a recycled plastic tumbling composter. (An added benefit to a tumbling composter is that it allows you to collect liquid fertilizer as well as the solid compost. Liquid fertilizer is great for indoor and outdoor plants.) Composting requires four elements to work: oxygen, water, carbon and nitrogen. Carbon is created from brown or dry materials such as brown paper bags, newspapers and leaves. Nitrogen is created from green or wet materials like fruit and vegetables, weeds and plants.

If you set up a stall for your compost, alternate layers of browns and greens, add some water, and cover with a tarp. With a tumbler, everything goes in and you roll it around. Add water as needed. Microbes will eat the mixture and the temperature heats up as material is broken down. When the pile cools to ninety or one hundred degrees, it is done and you have rich compost!

Excerpt from Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet.

Toxic Chemicals in Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Virtually every object used in building your home and the objects within it—the insulation in your house, your sofa, food storage containers, floor cleaners and even fabric softener—impacts both your health and the health of the planet. Unfortunately, in spite of the “all natural” or “safe” labels that are included on some of these products, many of them are unhealthy.

The good news is that concurrent with growing consumer awareness of the dangers in ordinary household objects is an increase in the availability of environmentally-friendly and human-healthy choices as manufacturers acknowledge and try to meet this burgeoning market.

Nowhere has the impact of the average consumer been greater than in the food industry, fueling the rise in the availability of organic food. Organic retail sales have grown an astonishing twenty percent per year since 1990—compared with an increase of between two and four percent of total food sales in United States.

As desire for organic food grows, so does the demand for healthful products of all kinds. Even though the major manufacturers are aware that there is a demand for healthful products, the vast majority of them are still not offering them. Although many businesses appear to be providing environmentally-friendly and healthful products; beware of the company that advertises its product with terms that are unregulated—such as “natural.” “Natural,” when used to describe shampoo, is usually a complete misnomer—the shampoo may be filled with synthetic chemicals and might contain only minute amounts of truly natural ingredients, such as jojoba or honey.

In addition, the government has historically allowed unsafe products to be sold as safe in this country. The use of lead is a great example. In 1909, eight European countries banned the use of white lead for interior painting. It took half a century for the United States to catch up—lead was not banned in paint and gasoline in this country until the 1970’s and 1980’s respectively.

Today, there are still thousands of toxic products being sold. To exacerbate the problem, manufacturers continue to pollute our air, water and land. There is no way to avoid all contamination while living on earth, but this chapter provides practical information and tips to help protect you from excessive exposure to the variety of pollutants that most of us are subjected to.

In addition to providing tips on how and what to purchase to live in an environment free from toxins that are made from cheap, unsustainable methods, this chapter explains how to eliminate nearly all pollutants from your home. You may be shocked to discover that many seemingly harmless household products contain dangerous chemicals. However, most of these products can be easily removed and replaced and some will lose their toxicity over time, so you needn’t panic and think everything in your house must be replaced. For example, freshly installed wall-to-wall carpeting emits toxic gases into the environment; however, carpeting stops outgassing six months to a year following installation. Another example is painting your walls with paint containing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s): the damage is already done, the paint stops outgassing and you may as well wait until the next time to use an eco-friendly paint.

Indoor pollution greatly increased after the end of World War II, with mass-produced housing. These new houses were made with new, lightweight materials, materials that were produced by the petrochemical industry. These products, made from petrochemicals, release chemicals into the air—through a process known as outgassing. Outgassing is the slow release from the material of chemical residues used in the manufacturing process into the atmosphere. They include VOC’s and many other petrochemical derivatives. Materials made from petrochemicals include plywood, particleboard, carpeting, vinyl flooring, adhesives, paints, fabrics and much more.

Excerpt from Chapter 1, Harmonious Environment, Copyright 2007.

Safely Clean Mold, Mildew and Scum

noreply@blogger.com (Norma Lehmeier Hartie) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:58:00 +0000

No matter how diligent you are, you probably get mold, mildew and scum in your shower. Most commercial cleaners made to clean showers are very strong and unhealthy to breathe. Bleach is especially dangerous to your health.

Here is a wonderful alternative that has virtually no smell and is completely non-toxic.

You will need:

Hydrogen peroxide

castille soap

Baking soda

Bowl

Microfiber cloth or a rag

Mix a few drops of soap, about an ounce of peroxide and a handful of soda into a bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth into mix and apply to mold and scum. Work small sections at time, replenishing mixture when necessary. Don't make a lot at once, as the fizz created when combining ingredients acts to remove mold and scum.
Scrub with brush if necessary and rinse.

For a free guide to other non-toxic cleaning products, go to: http://www.harmoniousenvironment.com/From%20Toxic%20to%20Safe%20and%20Healthy.htm.

For many more tips, read the award winning book,