DIY: Non Toxic Wood Oil

When you have as many chemical sensitivities as I do sometimes not even the less toxic stains, paints, or varnishes will do. Many of them still contain harmful VOC's unless otherwise stated on the bottle with a seal of approval. The great thing about no VOC is it won't be outgassing half the year like most products but just when it's first applied & drying. I wanted even better then that though, I wanted to create a wood oil that never outgassed a single hazardous chemical! So when I had a raw wood table that needed some protection I cooked up my very own secret formula that has now lasted 2 years with no change.

Here is what you will need:

*Soy Oil

*Sunflower or Olive Oil

*Kosher Salt

*Vinegar (I use ume vinegar, but I think apple cider would work good too)

Doesn't it sound too simple? I came up with this theory/formula knowing about treated wood being mainly salt and oil being a time tested preservative for centuries.
Take all the ingredients and put them in a pot big enough to hold the amount you need (depending on whether you are doing wood floors or a chair...). You will use more soy oil then the others at approximately 50 -70% more in your recipe. Then add a ton kosher salt... meaning if you poured 1.5 Liters of oil in your pot, then you will want to ad at least 1.5 cups of salt. Then add a cup of the vinegar and bring to a boil. You want this to boil for at least 20 minutes or longer (the longer the better it seems), and then add a little more salt when you see that the first batch has dissolved in the oil.
The easiest way to apply the wood oil is with a sponge which will be able to be squeezed out and creates less waste. The cool thing is it won't harm your skin, your brain, or your lungs & it won't be outgassing any smell except one you might want to eat! If you would like to add a scent to your wood oil try throwing in a branch of lavender or rosemary.

I really believe there is a way to make what we need in a less toxic, chemical free way - we just need some imagination & to stop buying into the marketing BS of big corporations.

Organic Smut Looking For Models & Writers

In today's failing economy we aren't the only ones who are hurting, charities are too.

The less there is for us the less that is given for help! In order to raise awareness and a hefty goal of funds for eco minded charities the website Organic Smut is making a call for imaginative models and writers who don't mind baring all for a good cause. This is not only brilliant but is also a widely untapped market when it comes to charity driven vice. Here is the blurb from the O.S. Facebook Group Page :

"Organic Smut is looking for volunteer models of all race, size, gender & sexual orientation. Diversity is what makes this world beautiful, and the goal of O.S. is the raise money for environmental causes to preserve the natural beauty of the earth. Models will upload soft core materials to their account (photos and videos will be allowed) that are artistic, creative, indie, & celebrates being human. A REAL human, not a super model.Each model will have their own profile similar to having a facebook account, which will give you complete control over which media you upload or would like to remove. Pictures do not have to be completely nude (yet must be sensual enough to belong on the website) and you can be very creative with your profile. Your real name will never be shown or used, you get to choose your very own eco porn star name (first and last) ahead of time. Once it is chosen you will not be able to change it.If you would love to help clean up the planet & model at O.S. , or have questions about modeling send an email to organicsmut@yahoo.com !"

"Organic Smut will be featuring an eco erotica section with short stories. We are looking for a fun and imaginative crew who would like to write some "one handed reads"! Stories with an eco twist are especially welcome, but all types of fantasies will be included - unless they include chopping down trees, killing whales or spraying pesticides on naked bodies ;)

Keep in mind this website is meant to be creative, sexy, artistic & intellectual - but dirty words are quite acceptable. If you would love to join us & volunteer as a writer to help out with a great cause, send an e-mail to organicsmut@yahoo.com. Put "writer" in the subject line."

Join the Facebook Group for free and keep updated on when the Organic Smut website will launch & read about their list of environmental charities!

Eco Porn: Get Your Rocks Off and Donate To Charity

If only all major vice related industries would donate to the environmental cause we would be breathing some clean air, enjoying more trees, and shopping at only solarized stores! If you are already a member of FFF because you wanted to save the delicate biodiversity of the planet and be voyeuristic all at once - then you are in luck... a new eco charity driven site called Organic Smut is going to rock your organic socks off! As membership grows at O.S. so will the percentage donated to all ecologically based organizations carefully chosen for their outstanding record to create change.

Now if only beer companies, casinos, & strip clubs would start donating - the world would be cleaned up lickity split. ;)

"Eco Porn.
Organic Smut is driven by an eco passion to satisfy both our intellectual and primal needs, incorporating our giving nature with sexual nurture. When you join Organic Smut you are giving a donation to our list of environmental charities & organizations which will help save our planet!
Want to be an ECO PORN STAR or Eco Erotica Writer?
Want to join the crew at Organic Smut and donate your body to ecology? Awesome! Let us know about your ambitious crush on the environment and send us an e-mail!"

COMING SOON!!!!

Economy Collapse: How To Have Fun For Free

If you haven't noticed yet that the US economy has completely fallen in on itself then possibly you have been lucky enough to be existing in a cave free of rent payments & living off the land. Or you may be filthy rich and unaffected. Either way we all love to get our fun on for free and save money for important things like keeping the electricity turned on and feeding ourselves. Here's some simple ideas that don't cost you a dime...

1. Lay in the grass. This is something that not only is relaxing, can lead to giggles and a good face tan, but there's always a patch of grass somewhere to enjoy and can be a time to really bond with someone you love.

2. Upcycle craft projects. Most people have a good amount of stuff in their house they no longer like or use (from back when the economy was stabilized) - whether it be some stretched out sweater, knick knacks, or empty bottles... there is something brilliant you can transform these things into. Check out Crafting A Green World's plethora of upcycle craft projects you can do at home. Not only will it be free, but also creativity is good for the soul.

3. Plan an 'Economy Sucks' party. This is not going to be planned by the normal standards of hosting a party, with this type of party it will be known from the start that you won't be putting out a dollar to have it at your abode. The focus is to get together with friends, and not to put on a show. Simply use non disposable plates or glasses you have and ask for guests to only bring something to drink or eat they already have on hand, no one is allowed to spend money for it. The theme is about having fun with friends and not about eating finger sandwiches- so let go of the party rules you've had before.

4. Walk or ride a bike. Exercise is good, but people watching is better. There are things in your neighborhood, town or park you just can't see when wizzing by in a car- but when taking a nice stroll you will find nuances of creativity that didn't exist for you before.

5. Trade used books for more used books. FREE books are awesome, and most used book stores will give you a good credit for some of your used books, so you can go pick yourself up something else to read! Other free reading includes going to your local library (on foot or bike) to check out books or reading an e-book online.

6. Free Local Music. Somewhere in your town someone would like to entertain you for free. Check your local paper for listings of free music, performances, festivals, workshops and events like Green Drinks. If you walk or ride your bike and bring your own snack from home you don't need to spend money in order to have a good time and socialize.

7. Support groups. If the whole collapsed economy thing has got you down beyond being capable of having fun, you can do like the dude in Fight Club and join some free local support groups -from AA to sexaholics anonymous, there is probably something that can help you feel like you are not alone.

Have any FREE ideas of your own?

Check Your City's Air Quality

It's good to be educated about the quality of life you are living, especially the air you are breathing. Even though you might forget you are breathing all day long 24/7, your body does not forget and the pollution you may be breathing could cause serious health problems over time. AIR NOW is a great website that has a city by city guide to help those of us with lung related disorders such as asthma, MCS or lung cancer to navigate when it is best to go outside and enjoy some fresh air. Even if your city is in the clear (green=good) I found it really interesting to scroll down the list and see who was having air quality issues, it may surprise you to see who has yellow & orange warnings today!
Check out AIR NOW here.

PS- Thanks to Lou Cheese for sharing the Air Now website over on his blog Living W/ Chemical Sensitivities.

Change Of Season & President

Change is the one thing you can always depend on. It's the #1 thing you can trust most to always happen in nature, in life, in your body and your mind. Apparently it even happens in American politics, which is the kind of thing I have hardly seen in my lifetime and am proud to be here to witness it finally. Yay for the change of seasons and Yay for a new president!

These changing leaf pics were taken yesterday in the wooded area near my house - the 2 year long drought has effected some of the color, but the resilience of the trees shines through with beauty.

DIY: Organic Coat From Local Organic Scrap Fabric

It's too bad my ideas are so much better then my actual sewing skills... because this one could have been even more funky fun then it even turned out! Here is how I made myself a 100% organic cotton winter coat completely from locally woven organic scraps:
I had a ton of pieces to work with, the main organic tapestry fabric that I wanted on the outside and several more pieces to patch together which were organic cotton fleece material. The fleece was for lining the inside of the coat to make it warm enough- and I did this by sewing all the scraps together and then laying out on top the pattern I had cut/pieced together for the coat, to match them up.

It is far more patchy looking in reality then in these pictures- the bottom black lining is made up of several pieces. I cut arm holes and sewed the shoulders together - then attached some basic tubes for sleeves. I did make the sleeves wider at the armpit and gradually thinner towards the wrist, in hopes to make it kind of sexy. But the whole thing is just too Punky Brewster for that ;)

I used two upcycled buttons to make a basic closure at the top right hand side, which I made little loops from the left side of the coat to hook onto the buttons.

And pictured here below is the finished product - fully lined, hoody, button closure, totally organic, and funky as hell. Did I mention warm!? Mmmm.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!!!!!

Bug Gathering

These guys are beautiful, but I have no idea what was actually going on here. They were everywhere in giant piles, crawling around the grass, sitting on rocks and gathering on the storage shed. This reminds me of the Love Bug season in New Orleans when the skies would fill with swarms so thick they were like little black clouds. It also has a faint scent of that awesome scene in Indiana Jones when he stuck his arm into the wall of bugs! Yay!

Does anyone know what kind of bug this is?

Praying Mantis Egg Sack

This Praying Mantis egg sack is attached to some wispy vines on my porch- isn't it elegant? It is really similar to a tiny bee's nest...but doesn't everything in nature look like some other beautiful thing in nature!
This second picture is a view from the top, showing how it is delicately attached to the vine with it's dried gluey goo sack. This will withstand rain, big wind, snow and all the elements, peacefully swinging on it's vine.

DIY: How I Made My Halloween Costume

All the materials for my Halloween Costume were organic, locally sourced, thrifted and things I already had on hand.
Whether you are making a Halloween costume or a holiday dress, the possibilities are endless & pretty easy... try copying a "pattern" to trace by using something that fits you well that you have in your closet. Make sure to allow a quarter inch extra around all sides for making your seam, and that the fabric's stretch is similar.
I started with a very simple pattern, then added leg warmers & arm warmers by sewing simple tubes.
The bow was from scrap organic fabric, that is also locally woven here in Asheville NC. I only sewed it in two places- one line along each side seam to hold it in place. I added some long sleeves since the weather on Halloween was supposed to be pretty chilly :)
For the paw claw gloves I simply traced a very wide line around all my fingers stretched apart - then made the tips pointy and sewed inside the lines. I LOVE my paw claws!
The finished product below included a wolf hat purchased as a gift for me from a local toy store a while ago, all organic outfit, organic leggings from a local shop, fair wage thigh high socks, fair trade & local lace-y bra, and thrifted 80's pumps!
I was dressed up as HUNGRY LIKE A WOLF, by Duran Duran!
Hope you all had a happy, fun and transformative halloween...

What did you dress up as? Did you upcycle, recycle or reuse?