Comments for Little Green Blog http://littlegreenblog.com The Green family's eco friendly journey towards ethical living, self sufficiency and a sustainable lifestyle. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:48:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on Thoughts on Buy Nothing New month by Fr. Peter http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/24/thoughts-on-buy-nothing-new-month/#comment-1133 Fr. Peter Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:04:47 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/24/thoughts-on-buy-nothing-new-month/#comment-1133 Rae, I do know we all have to think before we use our hard-earned money, but I do at times also wonder if we, as you say, beat ourselves up too much over things. As you point out “a hug in front of the fire, a book being read whilst sitting on our mother’s knee, being allowed to stay up late to tell stories or of sleeping on a sofa bed wrapped up in our mother’s embrace” are beyond price and your comment “Radiating love into the Universe will help heal it, I’m certain of it,” is likewise. Like you I try to be as self-sufficient as possible, but to be fully self sufficient I would need to live the life of a 14th century peasant and I do want to have a hospital, doctor or dentist available when the family need it. I look at some of these ideas that surface and while I do understand and respect the thoughts and principles that are behind them, wonder if at times we run the risk of living life as though it is a penance and that worries me. Having been a reader and admirer of you work for some time now, I don’t think you have any cause for concern regarding YOUR environmental impact, buy nothing month/week/day or whatever! Warm regards. Rae,

I do know we all have to think before we use our hard-earned money, but I do at times also wonder if we, as you say, beat ourselves up too much over things.

As you point out “a hug in front of the fire, a book being read whilst sitting on our mother’s knee, being allowed to stay up late to tell stories or of sleeping on a sofa bed wrapped up in our mother’s embrace” are beyond price and your comment “Radiating love into the Universe will help heal it, I’m certain of it,” is likewise.

Like you I try to be as self-sufficient as possible, but to be fully self sufficient I would need to live the life of a 14th century peasant and I do want to have a hospital, doctor or dentist available when the family need it. I look at some of these ideas that surface and while I do understand and respect the thoughts and principles that are behind them, wonder if at times we run the risk of living life as though it is a penance and that worries me.

Having been a reader and admirer of you work for some time now, I don’t think you have any cause for concern regarding YOUR environmental impact, buy nothing month/week/day or whatever!

Warm regards.

]]> Comment on Oh nuts; Oh balls! by Alison http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/09/02/eco-balls-soapnuts/#comment-1130 Alison Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:06:34 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/09/02/eco-balls-soapnuts/#comment-1130 I've been using ecover for a while now, but after a recent accident involving an oil can I discovered that it really doesn't remove oil - the oil just floated out of the overalls and made a slick on the surface of the bucket. Not wanting to throw away a perfectly good boiler suit I reached for the soap flakes I use for washing wool & sheep fleece - they worked brilliantly and I've now started to use them in the machine occasionally, alternating with an eco friendly own brand from the Co op. I've found that my clothes are starting to come cleaner again, they'd been getting gradually greyer over the months on Ecover. I'm not saying that Ecover isn't good - I was initially very pleased with it, but perhaps washing overalls used while restoring old machinery is not what the detergent designers had in mind?. I must say that I can't stand commercial detergents - I can smell them a mile off - I know when someone nearby has washed their clothes in them, which makes me believe that the stories of the perfumes mucking up the pheromones for butterflies etc make a lot of sense. Soap flakes made from fat & alkali and no additives seem like a good alternative to me. I’ve been using ecover for a while now, but after a recent accident involving an oil can I discovered that it really doesn’t remove oil - the oil just floated out of the overalls and made a slick on the surface of the bucket. Not wanting to throw away a perfectly good boiler suit I reached for the soap flakes I use for washing wool & sheep fleece - they worked brilliantly and I’ve now started to use them in the machine occasionally, alternating with an eco friendly own brand from the Co op. I’ve found that my clothes are starting to come cleaner again, they’d been getting gradually greyer over the months on Ecover.
I’m not saying that Ecover isn’t good - I was initially very pleased with it, but perhaps washing overalls used while restoring old machinery is not what the detergent designers had in mind?.
I must say that I can’t stand commercial detergents - I can smell them a mile off - I know when someone nearby has washed their clothes in them, which makes me believe that the stories of the perfumes mucking up the pheromones for butterflies etc make a lot of sense. Soap flakes made from fat & alkali and no additives seem like a good alternative to me.

]]> Comment on The Greens just got greener by Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/10/17/the-greens-just-got-greener/#comment-1127 Mrs Green Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:52:01 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/10/17/the-greens-just-got-greener/#comment-1127 Hi Russell, good to see you again - how is the training going? Or is that finished now? (I've lost track). Smile is going great and, as you said, it's so easy to transfer as they do all the hard work for you. Peter, I think you are well justified in your plastic bucket. There are some instances where plastic is the man for the job and I agree - the air miles you will save are more than going to make up for this. Plus the smile on your face after a glass of home made wine is going to make the Universe smile with you :) Enjoy! Hi Russell, good to see you again - how is the training going? Or is that finished now? (I’ve lost track). Smile is going great and, as you said, it’s so easy to transfer as they do all the hard work for you.

Peter, I think you are well justified in your plastic bucket. There are some instances where plastic is the man for the job and I agree - the air miles you will save are more than going to make up for this. Plus the smile on your face after a glass of home made wine is going to make the Universe smile with you :)
Enjoy!

]]> Comment on Home made recipe for treating head lice by Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/02/11/home-made-recipe-head-lice/#comment-1126 Mrs Green Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:49:44 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/02/11/home-made-recipe-head-lice/#comment-1126 Hi Sierra, I think you will find this recipe successful - do write back if you have any questions and best of luck. Be thorough and vigilant with combing and I'm sure everything will clear up :) Hi Sierra,
I think you will find this recipe successful - do write back if you have any questions and best of luck. Be thorough and vigilant with combing and I’m sure everything will clear up :)

]]> Comment on Buy nothing new challenge - days three and four by Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/06/buy-nothing-new-challenge-days-three-and-four/#comment-1125 Mrs Green Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:45:05 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/06/buy-nothing-new-challenge-days-three-and-four/#comment-1125 Hello Hugh, Thanks for your lovely comment. I'd given up posting about it because I didn't feel I was doing very well! But when I look at our culture I realise I've made some good changes - simply being conscious of our spending habits is a step in the right direction. Well apple chutney it is for me this week as well. Like you, I'll keep them for friends but it's a lovely to go through the process of making something with free food from the garden - that act in itself is so rewarding and is one that money can't buy ;) Hello Hugh,
Thanks for your lovely comment. I’d given up posting about it because I didn’t feel I was doing very well! But when I look at our culture I realise I’ve made some good changes - simply being conscious of our spending habits is a step in the right direction.
Well apple chutney it is for me this week as well. Like you, I’ll keep them for friends but it’s a lovely to go through the process of making something with free food from the garden - that act in itself is so rewarding and is one that money can’t buy ;)

]]> Comment on Buy Nothing Month; day five by Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/10/buy-nothing-month-day-five/#comment-1124 Mrs Green Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:36:57 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/11/10/buy-nothing-month-day-five/#comment-1124 Hi Lisa, Good to see you and thanks for the honey and lemon idea. You know, alot of over-the-counter remedies have these exact things in them (alongside a bunch of chemicals). It really is a time-honoured remedy, and, as you pointed out, it's cheap and most people have these things in the house. :) Hi Lisa,
Good to see you and thanks for the honey and lemon idea. You know, alot of over-the-counter remedies have these exact things in them (alongside a bunch of chemicals). It really is a time-honoured remedy, and, as you pointed out, it’s cheap and most people have these things in the house. :)

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