Sad Goodbyes

All good things come to an end. With the end of semester on our doorstep, I am (sadly) saying goodbye to the Uni and the Prancing Pony - though you might still see me around the community garden. I'll certainly be taking the awesome eco-ness with me, wherever I end up.

As I'm moving out, there will be an empty room at the Pony - so if you, or anyone you know, is keen to move in with awesome eco-minded people, in a cosy and exceptionally well insulated flat, then do get in touch.

I also am obliged to find a new home for my cat (above). Lola is the perfect eco-flatmate. She is not only very cute, but comes with her own insulating fluff. Her diet of cat food is very low in packaging. She does not require any batteries or toxic chemicals to run, and can provide hours of company and friendship. She is also perfectly sized to warm your lap on a cold winter's day. If you could offer her a home, please leave a message.

- Natalie

Summer's Bounty

There's something special about cracking open a jar of summer's pears and having delicious fruit with your breakfast. Last summer, I lived just over the road from Middleton Park. It's the remainder of an old orchard and still has four or five pear trees bearing hundreds of fruit. They're small, but if you beat the birds you can get a good haul. We also did a mission to some trees at a Cashmere park, which have masses of big pears. All in all, we canned about 40 big jars of pears. Then Laura and Dave did another seven or eight of black boy peaches. Somewhat to my surprise, none of them smashed in the February quake, and we're just starting to munch our way through them now.

You probably know how to do preserves. Its easy as. We lost one jar this year (it had a crack in it and didn't seal). So I'll leave you with a pretty picture and some advice: when there's fruit everywhere, take it and bottle it. But, while its still shakey, leave the jars on the bottom shelf of the pantry.

- Nat

Breaking Bread

I went gluten free in 2007, in an effort to put a stop to the migraines I'd suffered for years. Since then, it seems to have become highly fashionable to declare yourself 'Gluten Free', and it's one of those topics on which everyone has an opinion. Some people think that gluten intolerance is just a health hype, a new diet promoting expensive food that tastes like cardboard. Others think that it's all made up and that there's no such thing as gluten intolerance, and people should just harden up. A few see gluten as the root of all evil, and advocate gluten free diets as the first port of call for any health problem.

I couldn't tell you which is right. For me, my quality of life and health have been greatly improved by cutting gluten out. Regardless of the whys and wherefores, my belief is that anything that makes me feel sick is something to avoid. However, I think there's more to it than that.  You see, not being able to eat gluten has made me acutely conscious of what I choose to use to fuel my body. I can't just live off white bread and butter (seriously, I used to do this). I had to learn to read ingredients lists, and think about where my food came from and how it and been processed before it got to the table.

I also learned that in the eyes of many food companies, 'gluten free' is synonymous with 'cardboard'. Most commercial GF products are reasonably tasteless, and scarily expensive to boot.  Instead, we started making our own GF bread alongside Laura and Dave's regular, glutinated bread. A bit of experimentation and we had chocolate cookies, cakes and puddings too - all Natalie-friendly.

So when my friends laugh and say that they're sorry for the restrictions in my diet, I have to laugh. Stopping eating gluten has made mealtimes a little more challenging, but infinitely tastier. I have a stack of containers, filled regularly at Bin Inn, with various gluten free flours. I don't rely on supermarket-bought loaves, and (most importantly) I eat more real food, and less artificial flavours and colours.

Here's the recipe I use for GF bread - I picked it up at Outward Bound last year.

1 1/2 cups rice flour

1/2 cup corn flour

1/2 cup potato flour

1/4 cup other GF flour (eg sorghum, soy)

2 tsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 cup oil

1/2 tsp xantham gum

Mix with warm water until it looks like pancake mix. You should be able to use a whisk to mix it.

Pour into greased oven container (loaf tin/pyrex bowl/etc)

Leave in warm place 40 mins… or until you get around to retrieving it.

Bake until done. Try 150o for 45 minutes but I never really know how long mine will take.

Extract from tin; eat. Very good with butter and/or toasted.

- Nat

A Cup Half Full

Menstruation might not be considered the best topic of conversation at the dinner-table (from Laura: we do discuss it at our dinner table though, Dave doesn't mind). It is, however, a hugely important subject from an ecological point of view. Think about how many people there are in the world. Now think that half of them are women. Now think about how many ‘sanitary products’ one woman needs per month. That’s a lot of waste that we don’t like to consider.

Fortunately, there’s an opportunity to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Menstrual cups are silicone or rubber cups that can be used instead of tampons. They hold upwards of 15 mL of liquid and have a lifespan of 10 years. Both us girls at the Prancing Pony are full-time converts to the cup.

Natalie

I bought a diva cup from (the now earthquaked) Piko in the middle of last year. From memory it was around $50, but definitely has paid its way since then. It took a few goes to get the hang of getting it in/out but, like most things, practice makes perfect.

One of the best things about using a cup (as opposed to more conventional products) is that you never have to carry round a box of tampons, and you never have to dispose of the used ones. Not only is this much nicer for the environment (just imagine a mountain of used sanitary products sitting in a landfill – eww!) but it’s a lot better for your wallet too. Paying a lot of money for something you use for a few hours and throw out never seemed logical to me.

They’re also amazing for camping, tramping and other outdoors adventures. When space is at a premium in your backpack, it’s ideal not to have to carry loads of pads/tampons in (and then carry the used ones out).

I also use home-made pads/pantyliners. These are really easy to make, and give you a bit more protection when you feel you need it. I sourced some old nappy flannel from my mum (I think they were from when I was a baby!), but any kind of soft material works well. You can also use polar fleece, for extra absorbency, and a waterproof material to keep things contained.

There are heaps of designs on the net – some super easy, some more complicated. If you’re at all interested, my advice would be to make a few different types and see what you like. Develop your own patterns and don’t be afraid to experiment – after all, it’s your body. And, just for fun, find some funky bright coloured fabrics that make you smile.

Pads are super easy to wash. I usually leave a bucket in the sink with cold water and a bit of soap, and throw the used pads in every day. Then at the end of the week, its easy to drain the water (or throw it on the garden) and chuck the pads into a cold wash. Be warned though – hot water will set the stains (but you shouldn’t be using a hot wash anyway).

Interested? Information a-plenty at http://menstrual-cups.livejournal.com/. Click and surf – there seems to be no end to this particular forum. And there’s a retailer in Chch too – check out  http://www.environmenstruals.co.nz.

Laura

I ordered my diva cup online, and silly me, was too shy to ask anyone about it, so I thought I should probably have a spare and forked out the extra dough for a second one. Don't. I now have a superfluous piece of medical-grade silicone sitting in my undie drawer that I don't need and can't give away to anyone because it's been used...Warning, you cannot use menstrual cups with an IUD. The suction you create pulling out the cup can also pull out the IUD (ouch!).

I assume that if you're feeling squeamish you've stopped reading by now, so you will get no further content warning.

It does take a bit of getting used to, and I must admit that while I like it, I'm not as excited by it as some people who shall remain Sharon (I promise, it's a pseudonym, really!). I find it uncomfortable to wear when I'm sore, but it's great for the rest of the days. The best part though, is you won't get any yeast infections because some genius decided to put chlorine in your tampon which killed your good bacteria and allowed yeast to colonise the area. It does take a bit of practice to get it in the right spot, so make sure you have a pantyliner.

Speaking of pantyliners, they are really simple to make. Like Natalie said, get some flannel. Your Mom might have some, or your Grannie, or you might find some flannel sheets at an op-shop, if all else fails go buy some at a fabric store. Even non-organic cotton is better than throwing away all those pads every month.
1. Fold your piece of fabric in half, then cut out as many 16 cm diameter circles as you can. Each circle should be two layers of fabric thick.
2. Put your sewing machine on a zigzag stitch and sew around the edge of the circle to stop the fabric from fraying. If sewing by hand use a blanket stitch, but I recommend a machine for better fray-stopping power.
3. Snaps are easiest for the next step, but a button and a bit of string will work too.

a. If using snaps, punch half the snap into the front of the circle near the edge of the fabric, and the other half into the back of the circle at the edge directly opposite the first snap half. If you lay the circle down it should look kinda like this ( . ). Use your immagination to connect the parentheses into a circle; the period is a snap. The other snap is on the opposite face, about here: ( ' ). When you close the snaps together you should get a tube shape (not a tear drop), try it, you'll see what I mean.
b. If (like me) you're too lazy to go out and get snaps, then find some soft string and a button for each circle. Sew a button on each circle in the same place as you would a snap (see above). Fold the end of your string in half  so it makes a loop like a U with the upright parts touching. Put the loop on the opposide side and face from the button (same place as the second snap above),  with the loop bit towards the edge of the fabric. Sew the string to the fabric. If using a machine, sew across both strands a few times near the fabric edge, but leaving a big enough loop to get the button through. Then sew an hourglass shape over the straight (not looped) ends by sewing back across the string at a 45 degree angle, straight across a couple times, then back to where you started with another 45 degree line of stitching. Trim the ends of string and you're done.

I could go on and on about how much more comfortable cloth liners are (I'll NEVER go back!), but someone else has already written it all here http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/make_your_own_pad.php

So there you go - Hopefully the Prancing Pony-esses have convinced you to give cups a try, or even just consider the alternatives. 

Act like a hippie (but don't smell like one)

I really like knowing what I'm putting on my body. Cancer scares me, and most of the products we so blithely use every day contain possible (sometimes even probable) carcinogens. I won't go into detail, but check out the excellent video at storyofstuff.org/cosmetics. Suffice it to say, I want out of this chemical consumerism, but what's a girl to do? My boyfriend is content to wash his entire body (hair included! Eeek!) with a bar of Eco Store soap, but I'm a little higher maintenance. I like having soft, clean hair (not straw), clear skin and a distinct lack of body odour. The natural products are expensive, but I figure I can make my own for a fraction of the price. Not only are home made products easier on the wallet, but the money you do spend supports green(er) industries, not the synthetic, polluting, unnecessary and possibly cancer-causing cosmetics industry. Making things yourself inevitably means less processing, and less energy spent shipping water all over the place. So off I go to the all-powerful Google, and start looking up recipes. It takes just a few minutes to whip up each recipe, and I find they are just as effective as the store-bought chemical variety. Here they are below with my notes and modifications.

For your hair

Shampoo

What: a small handful of baking soda (really!).

Why it works: The basic baking soda mixes with the oils in your hair to make a crude but gentle and effective soap.

How: The googlenet says to mix it with water, but it works just as well dry. This couldn't be easier; spread it over your wet roots and scrub away. It will take a little longer to work in than shampoo, but stick with it. It will feel slippery – that's the soap being created. I use 2-3 tablespoons for my longer-than-shoulder-length hair; adjust your amount accordingly. I find after a few weeks/months of just baking soda my hair gets a little heavy. If this happens, add a few drops of shampoo to the handful of baking soda for super-duper clean hair.

Conditioner

What: Beer hair rinse (scummy pub smell not included)

Why it works: The hair rinse works as a mild cleanser and conditioner. The rosemary and mint stimulate the hair follicles to help it grow (and smell nice). The vinegar moisturises, dissolves any leftover baking soda, and helps kill the bacteria that cause dandruff. The sage acts as a preservative, and the beer makes your hair light and shiny.

How: Steep a tea of whatever herbs you have available. I use peppermint, rosemary and sage.

When the tea is cool, strain it and mix:

3 parts tea

1 part apple cider vinegar

3 parts flat beer (best is the yeasty stuff from home-brew that is normally thrown out while bottling. Email us or the brewing club to get a hold of some)

Pour the beer mixture into a drink bottle with a squirt top and keep any leftovers in your fridge. To save shower time and water squirt the beer mixture on your hair before rinsing out the baking soda.

Leave-in conditioner

What: Olive oil

Why it works: it coats the strands, reflects light, and moisturises

How: rub a small drop of olive oil (no larger than the nail on your pinky finger) into your hands, then run your hands over the ends of your hair. Brush through.

Split-end preventer/shine serum

What: a hair brush with lots of bristles (natural or synthetic, as long as they're stiff)

Why it works: your natural oils work wonders to protect and shine your hair, but only if they're distributed throughout. Brushing also helps clean dust out of your hair.

How: 100 strokes per night. It doesn't actually take as long as you'd think, and I find it relaxing. Do 50 strokes with your head hanging upside down, and 50 upright, making sure you get at all the roots. Works especially well after the leave-in conditioner above.

For your skin

Toner

What: Ummm, well, toner. Natalie uses equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, but I find it stings, so I mix it up a little more.

Why it works: The acidity in apple cider vinegar helps kill acne-causing bacteria, moisturises, and restores the slight acidic balance of your skin after washing or showering. The chamomile is soothing, the mint and sage are refreshing, and the sage is a preservative. The aloe vera is antibacterial and moisturising.

How: Brew a tea with some sweet-smelling and soothing herbs. I use chamomile, peppermint, rosemary and a little sage.

Mix:

1 part apple cider vinegar,

3 parts tea

juice from an aloe vera plant (optional)

Bottle.

To use, invert the bottle a few times over a thin cloth (not disposable cotton balls!), and wipe your face. If you find this recipe too mild, use two parts tea to one part vinegar.

Moisturiser

What: beeswax skin and lip balm

Why it works: The olive oil moisturises, the pine or tea tree oil kills acne bacteria, and the beeswax moisturises and protects.

How: In a double boiler (or metal bowl in a pot of water), melt 1 part beeswax and 3 parts olive oil. Add a few drops of essential oil (I use pine), stir and pour into a muffin tin or other mold to cool. Quickly pour the boiling water into the pot that had the wax, and scrub briskly to clean before the wax sets. The cakes *should* pop easily out of the muffin tin in a few hours when they're set. Rub over dry skin like you would a bar of soap.

Deodorant

What: nothing fancy, just deodorant

Why it works: The idea with deodorant is to make something antibacterial and long-lasting enough that you won't stink when you sweat. The natural versions don't stop you from sweating so they don't block your body from getting rid of toxins in your underarm lymph nodes via sweat. They also don't contain aluminums which have been linked many times to Alzheimers (far scarier than cancer in my too-knowledgable opinion).

How: This one didn't go so well. It made an ok deodorant, but the baking soda we have in NZ is coarser than the North American variety where the recipe was written (great if you want to wash your hair, scratchy if you want to rub it under your arms). The original recipe is here http://www.electroherbalism.com/Naturopathy/Recipes_and_Formulas/Stick_Deodorant_recipe.htm. Below is my suggestion based on my alterations and their results.

2 tbsp beeswax

3 tbsp olive oil (possibly more, we kept having to add extra because it when it cooled it was too hard to spread)

2 tsp zinc oxide powder (available online. I didn't use any in my recipe, and have to reapply during the day to avoid smells)

1 tbsp corn flour or arrowroot/tapioca flour

15-20 drops each of lavender oil, rosemary oil and pine oil

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler (or a metal bowl in a pot of boiling water), then add the rest of the ingredients in the order given. Go easy on the essential oils at first, and build up slowly so you don't over-scent it. To test the texture dip the back of a cool spoon into the mixture and let it fully cool and harden. You want a solid that is easy to spread. If it seems to soft add a (little!) more beeswax, if it is too hard, add another tbsp of olive oil. Pour the hot mixture into a clean deodorant container and let set. As with the balm above, quickly wash the pot out with the boiling water before the wax sets.

For a stronger option you might replace some of the olive oil with vodka, but I don't know how well water-based vodka will mix with the wax and oil. My store-bought natural (super-effective) deodorant contains vodka, beeswax and cocoa butter though, so it should mix ok. If you try it, let me know how it goes!

- Laura