Raw cacao butter — this is the pure oil of the cacao bean, extracted using a cold-press technique — the temperature stays around 104 degrees Fahrenheit, instead of 300 degrees which is the norm. The oil is edible and possesses a rich, delicate chocolate aroma. You can add a piece of the cacao butter to… [Continue Reading]
Non-Toxic Caulk Substitutes
March 3, 2006 by 3 Comments
We’ve tracked down a more efficient caulking compound — one that does not contain toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as toluene and hexane. These are present in conventional caulk because they are cheap to produce. One company, AFMSafeCoat, produces a caulking compound that is a water-resistant, flexible sealant with excellent adhesion.
Hemp Sheets: Soft & Durable
March 2, 2006 by 1 Comment
Hemp sheets — they’re soft, durable, chemical-free and sustainable. But why choose hemp over organic cotton? Hemp is twice as strong and requires less processing. Even organic cotton requires caustic soda to remove the wax so it can be spun and woven. The waste water produced during this process then requires more chemicals to be… [Continue Reading]
Color Grown Cotton: Fox Fibre
March 1, 2006 by 1 Comment
Some cotton is naturally colored — it grows that way and does not need to be dyed. “Color grown” cotton has its roots in the ancient Americas. Weavers cultivated native white, tan, green, yellow, red, and brown colored cottons for thousands of years. However, the fiber qualities of the cotton was not suited to modern… [Continue Reading]
Maca: An Efficient Energizer & Aphrodisiac
February 28, 2006 by 3 Comments
Maca is becoming popular around the world as a tonic that enhances strength, fertility and energy. Maca (Lepidium meyennii) is grown in the Andes Mountains of Peru, it looks likes a large radish, and botanically it is indeed related to radishes and turnips. For approximately 2000 years maca has been an important traditional food in… [Continue Reading]
The World’s First Soy Carpet
February 28, 2006 by 2 Comments
The world’s first soy carpet has been produced by an Australian company, Customweave. Frank Ricco, the developer of a luxury line of rugs and carpets, describes the texture as a combination of cashmere, velvet and alpaca. Like most other products made with soy, the fiber comes from the “waste” left after processing soy beans. China… [Continue Reading]
A Paint Stripper Made From Corn
February 27, 2006 by Leave a Comment
Conventional paint strippers are usually very toxic substances that you’d be better off not bringing into your home. But one company, Green Products, has created a bio-based paint stripper and solvent called aMAIZEing.
Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide
February 27, 2006 by 2 Comments
This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we’ve seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author’s… [Continue Reading]
Efficient Moisturizer: Unrefined Shea Butter
February 24, 2006 by 1 Comment
Shea Butter is one of the most efficient skin moisturizers available. It is an organic product that protects against dry skin and sunburn. Shea butter is extracted from the nuts of the Shea Karite tree, found in the tropical regions of West Africa. It is a sustainable resource and it requires no pesticides to grow.
Very Efficient: Pocket Filter by Katadyn
February 23, 2006 by 8 Comments
This is a serious portable water filter from Katadyn. It’s efficient because it uses a ceramic filter, which will not let anything larger than 0.2 microns through. It also has a long life — it will filter up to 13,000 gallons before you need to replace the cartridge. The filter eliminates bacteria, viruses, cysts, protozoa,… [Continue Reading]
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