St.Bridget’s: An
This article is
from Liz Ashley:
I have found that Brita, the water filter people, will take back used filters for recycling, which is good news, and even better news is that it’s postage free! If anyone would like to save them, they can either send them back themselves, or I could run it as a Church project. I have the freepost address - just ask me. I suggest that you dry out the filters first, maybe in the airing cupboard, which takes about a week. Please note that only Brita filters will be accepted.
This article is
from Sally Cashen for all pet owners:
Not a very nice subject to read about before your Sunday lunch, but nevertheless, if you’re a pet owner you may find this interesting or helpful. I have come across a biodegradable Poop Bag for my pets’ unmentionable waste. You maybe aware that using regular plastic bags to remove dirt, whilst being responsible, is also unhelpful, as the bags take 100 years to biodegrade in landfill. The new bags are made of 100% compostable and biodegradable material, which is based on cornstarch, vegetable oil and compostable polyester. The bags are completely composted in 10 – 45 days in a controlled composting facility. If you have problems sourcing the bags I can supply you with them, they work out at about 90p, for a pack of 25. Otherwise you can get them from www.snoozzzeeedog.com
Some more tips
from Friends Of The Earth
Try
your hand at making Christmas decorations this year - it's a
good way to keep kids occupied too! Paper chains are very easy and make a nice
substitute for tinsel. Instead of baubles for decoration, wrap match boxes up
like tiny presents, and hang with ribbon or a thread. You can hang dried pine
cones or seed heads from the garden in the same way - stick a bit of glitter on
them to jazz them up. If you have a local source of holly or ivy, use some
sprigs to decorate your home - around picture frames or mirrors, as a centre
piece for the table etc. Just use your imagination,
and you'll find you can make decorations out of all sorts of materials you
already have at home!
It is estimated that over Christmas as much as 83 square
km of wrapping paper will end up in
Celebrating Christmas with a vegetarian in the family? Get some top tips at http://www.vegsoc.org/xmas2002/takingcare.html and recipe ideas at http://www.vegsoc.org/christmas/index.html If you need inspiration for a vegan Christmas, visit http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/special_occasions/christmas.php
Even more tips from Friends Of
The Earth!
A refreshing herbal bath to soothe the skin and relax aching muscles;
· Place dried thyme in an 8-inch square of cheesecloth. Add a little raw oats to soften the water. Tie with string and either hang from the tap as bath runs or let it float in the water.
For itchy dry skin add a cup of vinegar to the bath water.
· Did you know using just a few drops of essential oils in your bath is a cheap non-chemical alternative to bubble baths that is chemical free and won’t dry out your skin? As an added bonus, different oils have different properties to match your mood – lavender is calming and relaxing, lemon stimulating and invigorating.
Egg white is a really effective skin toner. You can use as is, or beat it to make it frothy. Either way, spread on your face, leave on for 10-20 minutes and rinse off. Tightens the skin and leaves it feeling smooth and satiny. It’s ideal for greasy skin. If your skin is dry, add a tsp of oil and/or honey.
· Mash and sieve an avocado and add a few drops of lemon juice to stop it discolouring. Add 1tsp liquid honey, mix together and apply to skin, leaving on as long as possible. It counteracts the drying effects of the sun, softens, moisturises and nourishes the skin.
·
Good old-fashioned bars of soap are making a come-back, and
there's plenty available that are free of animal products and artificial
ingredients. Unlike liquid soap in dispensers, they don't involve unnecessary
packaging. Help bars go further by keeping yours on a dish or drainer - or on a
cloth, which the soap will keep impregnated with suds, ready for use. To use up
slivers of soap, press down hard into a yoghurt pot, leave to dry and you'll
have a large block of soap. Or put them in an old stocking, and hang from the
shower head - use this to scrub your back.
·
Dreading the prospect
of scraping frost from your car windows this winter? Then let someone else
drive - catch the train or a bus to work. But if you really can't avoid the car,
you don't have to clear your windows with de-icer, which is laced with dodgy
chemicals. Remove frost by pouring a jug of cold - yes cold - water over the
windows (hot water can shatter the glass - plus strangely, hot water freezes
quicker than cold). Or cover your front and back windows at night with
cardboard or newspaper - cover the windows fully to stop moisture sticking the
paper to the window. Parking under a tree can also keep your car a little
warmer, and reduce the likelihood of frosty windows - but it will increase the
likelihood of bird droppings!
·
Feeling tired? Have a relaxing mug - or two - of camomile tea, then place the cold teabags on your eyes to revive tired or
puffy eyes.
·
Fly sprays often
contain toxic gases and chemicals that are not only bad for you but they also
kill bees and aquatic life when their residues enter water systems. Try natural
deterrents instead such as lemon, cloves, pine and
cedar oils.
If you have items to contribute to the green sheets please
contact Sally on 0151 625 2659.
The items included in the
green sheets are for your information only, but we hope that you find some of
them useful.