It's a toxic world-let's educate each other

FLwarrior

Oh, goodness...8 inches!  I think snow is very pretty, but I can't handle the cold.  I think it is a bit chilly here and we are only down in the 50's.  I am happy we should be back to 79 or 80 by the weekend! Yep, I am a cold whimp!  How long have you lived there?  How long is your outdoor garden growing season?  Do you have an indoor kitchen or windowsill garden in the cold months?

Merilee

I am a cold wimp too but I am just kind of stuck. I have tried to move 2 times and each time some disaster has stopped me. My plan is to be out of here in 3 years. I need to regroup and get my funds back together that I lost  with my marriage.

We have a may-sept for a garden, and yes I do have an inside garden as well, but just herbs and 81 house plants. My friend recently let me keep a plant cart with 3 lite shelves and I have been having a blast with that.

dancetrancer

I have to admit, I wasn't sure how well the container garden would do, but I was quite pleasantly surprised.  I used special containers that are called self-watering (they have a big water reservoir in the bottom).  I still had to water every day in the terrible heat we have here in late July/August, but it only took ~ 10 minutes every morning.  My tomatos and squash were so-so; peppers, cucumbers and all of the herbs did fantastic.  I didn't plant the lettuce/broccoli/brussel sprouts until late August - as they are cool weather crops - so I just pulled up my summer plants that were done and traded them out.  The lettuce has been one of our favorite things to plant - the variety we planted can't be purchased in the store b/c it is too fragile...it is awesome - melts in your mouth - and never sits in the fridge and goes bad!  

FLwarrior

dancetrancer, the self watering containers you have sound just like what I bought.  I am happy to hear you had success!  What type of lettuce do you have?  I have mesclun and spicy mesclun that will be ready soon.  I read that you should have a bowl of cold water to immediatly dunk the tender lettuce leaves into that it will keep them from wilting.  Have you tried that?

dancetrancer

FL warrior, I planted Black Seeded Simpson.  I love mesclun and most likely will try that next year.  I rinse the lettuce in cold water and then we eat it immediately...it never gets put in the fridge, LOL.  I love the fact that we only pick what we eat, so it never wilts like the store bought kind.   

SheriBell

I am planning a garden next spring - we do one every year - we have a huge backyard.  I felt sad this year that we did not do one.  I was diagnosed in March and everything just went to heck after that.  This year was like a bad dream.  I feel like i am just now waking up.   I just found out my PS wants to do some fat grafting on me in February - harvesting fat from my stomach - can't say that make me upset!! ha ha

Oh and my tip of the day - soy candles. Never burn paraffin candles as they are carcinagenic (sp?)  Soy candles are 100% soy and they are made from soybeans from american farmers.  They do not pollute the air and you do not get those nasty soot spots on the glass.  They burn clean and at a lower temp too.  Sometime I massage the soy wax into my cuticles! 

Carrol2

I love this thread. I am very new to the idea of trying to eliminate toxins from my environment. I am sort of the opposite of this really. I do all the things you guys have warned about on here. But I figure it's a good idea to slowly cut out things that are bad for me. I have non stick pans but they don't say teflon, are all non stick pans teflon? I love the idea of pyex storage I am going to look for that, and try to get new cutting boards. I see fructis makes a paraben free shampp anyone ever try it?

Merilee

Carrol, one step at a time is how we all do it

dancetrancer

Sheribelle - thanks for the tip on the soy candles - cool!  Oh and yay for you on the fat grafting enhancement!  That's my reconstruction choice (100% fat grafting).  The lipo is a nice side benefit...silver linings, eh?  Oh and also, DH's family is from KC, MO.  We were back for Thanksgiving...boy did it turn cold after Turkey Day! 

Carrol2 - yes, one step at a time indeed.  You could make yourself nuts trying to change it all at once.  I'm still in the beginning baby steps.  I found changing my water bottle to stainless steel and going all pyrex to be the easiest way for me to start.  I don't know the answer to your questions, but I'm looking at changing my pans, too. Gonna go with cast iron.   

SheriBell

Hi Carrol!!!  (Carrol lives by me and we know each other!)  Sorry - I should have told you about this thread - it is awesome!

Here is how I look at our toxic environment.   We all have been bombarded since birth with toxins so every little thing you do by eliminating toxins one by one is all good.  Even just changing water bottles can change your life!   

Sherryc

Sheri I am going to have to try the soy candles.  I admit I love candles but have not paid much attention to the black stuff that burns off but makes so much sence.  But like everything else one step at a time.  I have come a long way in changing my food and envirnoment.  It is amazing to see where I started and where I am now.

Carrol2

wow Sherri I am glad I quit working at Yankee Candle those are made with parafin. Thats is a lot to be exposed to. Well there is one toxic thing out of my life.

FLwarrior

Welcome Carrol. Merilee is right, it is one step at a time.  You can find a lot of good info on the safety ratings of cosmetics and personal care products at the cosmetic safety database the web-site is:   http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ 

I got rid of my traditional teflon pans and bought one good PFOA-free non-stick pan at the health food store.  I mainly use it for cooking eggs.  I just can not cook eggs in my stainless pans it really sticks and makes the biggest mess.  I hope the PFOA-free is a safer way to go...it is on my "research more" list of things to do.  How do you cook eggs if not using non-stick?

I have the glass pyrex in several sizes and I am very happy with it.

Sherryc

Carrol that is funny about Yankee Candle because most of my candles are from there.  Will be looking to replace them but they do smell so good.

SheriBell

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Yankee Candle and I am sure that in small amounts it is probably harmless but once you burn a soy candle you will see the difference - no black stuff.  Plus they smell good too are usually made in the good ol USA from farmers soy crops!   

Sherryc

I was at Lowes yesterday and they had soy christmas candles so I bought some.

Merilee

Alarming stats- 230,480 new cases of breast cancer in the US in 2011.

From the american cancer society.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/OverviewGuide/breast-cancer-overview-key-statistics

FLwarrior

At least they report that the number of deaths are decreasing and there are more than 2 1/2 million survivors!!!

Merilee

Yes that is the good news! But that is still alot of women getting sick with no answers as to what the heck  is causing it

FLwarrior

What non-toxic hair-gels, mousse or wax styling products have you found that are reasonably priced and work well? 

SheriBell

I have no history of any cancer in my family.  High blood pressure and stroke, "yes" but no cancer.  It has to be our toxic environments.  I am so glad I got the chemicals out of my house!

SheriBell

Sherry - what scent of candles did you get??

Carrol2

I grew up on Long Island NY. I have heard that they have the highest rate of breast cancer in the country. My mother lived there for 24 years and got breast cancer once in about 1970 and once in 2009 16 years after she moved to Florida. My sister who only lived there for five years and is 12 years older than me has had nothing. But my sister eats a very pure diet. Low fat, high fiber and protein, nothing processed, low sugar. My diet kind of the opposite. So this makes me think about what i now put into my body. Also what I was exposed to on Long Island since I lived there for 44 years.

SheriBell

Interesting regional data on breast cancer http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/state.htm

Carrol2

interesting Sherri I wonder how much of the incidence of death is due to lack of medical insurance in some areas where the economies are low.

Merilee

I gotta say it again and I am going to keep saying it. I have never been one to sit down and shut up. If guys balls were falling off at the rate of 250,000  a year, you can bet it would be addressed with more funding and research ASAP! The center for disease control should be all over this! Where the hell are  they?????! Food poisoning gets more attention for heaven sake , GRRRR.

SheriBell

Carrol - I am sure bad insurance/no insurance has a lot to do with it as well as education because if women are not being taught to self-exam...etc... 

Merilee - I agree 100% 

Merilee

EEK! First juice now rice, hold onto your hats ladies, because I think this is just the tip of what will be found. At least the proverbial door has been opened.

Sherryc

I saw that about the rice but they did not say if organic rice has the arsenic in it.  does anyone know?

FLwarrior

Where did you see that about rice?  I guess I missed that...