Green Living Tips - Reusing and Repurposing

You can often reuse items which will cut down on items that go into our landfills but sometimes it is not possible to reuse the items for their original intent. That is when you have to repurpose them. Here are some ideas for repurposing:

1. Wash plastic storage bags with hot soapy water and use them again. This is one of the biggest areas of waste which could easily be repurposed. of course, do not reuse bags that have contained raw meat.

2. Reuse paper that has been used on only one side. Turn the paper over and print on the back side for rough drafts or use as memo pads or for grocery lists, etc.

3. Use empty glass jars as containers in the garage, workshop, or in your workplace.

4. Use gift bags again and cut down gift cards to use as gift tags.

5. Turn small plastic containers into garden traps by placing them in garden and filling then with beer. This is an excellent way to lure harmful pests like slugs.

6. Cut old worn clothing into dust rags for dusting, cleaning or washing.

7. Use newspapers, magazines or junk mail as liners in your cat litter box instead of purchasing liners from the store.

There are hundreds of other ways to repurpose. Do you have any ideas? Leave your comments and share them with others.

Can Buying an Energy Star Washer Really Save You Enough Money to Pay for the Dryer

Can Buying an Energy Star Washer Really Save You Enough

Money to Pay for the Dryer?

By now, you have seen the commercial where the guy

is unsure if he wants to buy the Energy Star washing

machine and asks why it would make sense to buy it.

The salesman tells him that the savings will actually pay

for the dryer. We wondered if this claim is true and

set out to do some research. Here is what we found.

Energy Star is a program that was started by the

Environmental Protection Agency to compare

appliances that are energy savers. Their website says

the following about the very question we researched.

Here is the answer:

The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry each year. It’s a good thing families can cut their related energy costs by more than a third — and the water costs by more than half — just by purchasing a clothes washer with the ENERGY STAR label.

What will your ENERGY STAR savings look like?

Over the life of your new ENERGY STAR qualified washer, you’ll save enough money in operating costs to pay for the matching dryer. With your water savings, you could fill three backyard swimming pools.

Non-Hydroelectric Renewable Energy

This report is from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and is a great description of renewable energy sources of power. Since non-hydro renewable energy is currently responsible for less than two percent of the electricity generation in the United States this is a good report to read if you are interested in non-hydroelectric renewable energy sources.

Electricity from Non-Hydroelectric Renewable Energy Sources

Non-hydroelectric renewable energy refers to electricity supplied from the following renewable sources of power: solar, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, and wind. Although installation of these renewable energy resources is growing, non-hydro renewable energy is currently responsible for less than two percent of the electricity generation in the United States.

Air emissions associated with generating electricity from solar, geothermal, and wind technologies are negligible because no fuels are combusted in these processes. The average air emissions rates in the United States from non-hydro renewable energy generation are 1.22lbs/MWh of sulfur dioxide and 0.06 lbs/MWh of nitrogen oxides.¹

The sources discussed below are considered to be renewable because they are continuously being replenished. They are also considered to be sustainable because nature will replenish these sources into the future and faster than they can be used.

• Solar
• Geothermal
• Biomass
• Landfill gas
• Wind

Solar

About This Technology

Solar energy is a renewable resource because it is continuously supplied to the earth by the sun. There are two common ways to convert solar energy into electricity: photovoltaic and solar-thermal technologies. Photovoltaic systems consist of wafers made of silicon or other conductive materials. When sunlight hits the wafers, a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in the release of electricity. Solar-thermal technologies concentrate the sun's rays with mirrors or other reflective devices to heat a liquid to create steam, which is then used to turn a generator and create electricity.

Reserves

Solar resources are available everywhere in the United States, although some areas receive less sunlight than others, depending on the climate and seasons. The greatest solar resources are located in the Southwestern states, where sufficient solar energy falls on an area of 100 miles by 100 miles to provide all of the nation's electricity requirements.²

Environmental Impacts

Air Emissions

Emissions associated with generating electricity from solar technologies are negligible because no fuels are combusted.

Water Resource Use

Photovoltaic systems do not require the use of any water to create electricity. Solar-thermal technologies may tap local water resources if the liquid that is being heated to create steam is water. In this case, the water can be re-used after it has been condensed from steam back into water.

Water Discharges

Solar technologies do not discharge any water while creating electricity.

Solid Waste Generation

Solar-thermal technologies do not produce any substantial amount of solid waste while creating electricity. The production of photovoltaic wafers creates very small amounts of hazardous materials that must be handled properly to avert risk to the environment or to people.

Land Resource Use

Photovoltaic systems require a negligible amount of land area because they are typically placed on existing structures. In contrast, solar-thermal technologies may require a significant amount of land, depending upon the specific solar-thermal technology used. Solar energy installations do not usually damage the land they occupy, but they prevent it from being used for other purposes. In addition, photovoltaic systems can negatively affect wildlife habitat because of the amount of land area the technology requires.

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Geothermal

About This Technology

Geothermal energy is continuously created beneath the Earth's surface from the extreme heat contained in liquid rock (called magma) within the Earth's core. When this heat naturally creates hot water or steam, it can be piped to the surface and then used to turn a steam turbine to generate electricity. Geothermal energy can also be obtained by piping water underground to extract heat from hot, dry rocks. Heat is then returned to the surface to turn a steam turbine and generate electricity.

Reserves

Although geothermal energy exists everywhere in the United States, it is not easy to extract unless it is close to the surface. Some areas of the United States with the greatest potential for generating electricity from geothermal energy include portions of Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Arizona, and Hawaii. In 2003, geothermal capacity was 2,300 MW. Currently identified resources could provide more than 20,000 MW of power in the United States, and undiscovered resources might provide five times that amount.³

Environmental Impacts

Air Emissions

Emissions associated with generating electricity from geothermal technologies are negligible because no fuels are combusted.

Water Resource Use

Geothermal power plants usually re-inject the hot water that they remove from the ground back into wells. However, a small amount of water used by geothermal plants in the process of creating electricity may evaporate and therefore not be returned to the ground. Also, for those geothermal plants that rely on hot, dry rocks for energy, water from local resources is needed to extract the energy from the dry rocks.

Water Discharges

Geothermal power plants can possibly cause groundwater contamination when drilling wells and extracting hot water or steam. However, this type of contamination can be prevented with proper management techniques. In addition, geothermal power plants often re-inject used water back into the ground (through separate wells) instead of discharging the used water into surface waters. This prevents underground minerals or pollutants from being introduced into surface waters.

Solid Waste Generation

Geothermal technologies do not produce a substantial amount of solid waste while creating electricity.
Land Resource Use

Geothermal power plants typically require the use of less land than fossil fuel power plants. However, if water is not re-injected into the ground after use to maintain pressure underground, it may cause sinking of land at the surface.

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Biomass

About This Technology

The term "biomass" can describe many different fuel types from such sources as trees; construction, wood, and agricultural wastes; fuel crops; sewage sludge; and manure. Agricultural wastes include materials such as corn husks, rice hulls, peanut shells, grass clippings, and leaves. Trees and fuel crops (i.e., crops specifically grown for electricity production) can be replaced on a short time scale.

Agricultural wastes, sewage sludge, and manure are organic wastes that will continue to be produced by society. For these reasons, biomass is considered a renewable resource.

Biomass obtains its energy from the sun while plants are growing. Plants convert solar energy into chemical energy during the process of photosynthesis. This energy is released as heat energy when the plant material is burned. Biomass power plants burn biomass fuel in boilers. The heat released from this process is used to heat water into steam to turn a steam turbine to create electricity.

Biomass is sometimes burned in combination with coal in boilers at power plants. This process, called co-firing, is typically used to reduce air emissions and other environmental impacts from burning coal. Co-firing biomass with coal may require a coal boiler to be modified somewhat so it can combust coal. When co-fired with coal, only a small amount of biomass is typically added (no more than 15 percent of the total amount of fuel going into the boiler) to maintain the boiler's efficiency.⁴

Reserves

Of the estimated U.S. biomass resource of 590 million net tons, only 14 million dry tons, or enough to supply about 3,000 MW of capacity, is currently available.⁵

Environmental Impacts

Air Emissions

Biomass power plants emit nitrogen oxides and a small amount of sulfur dioxide. The amounts emitted depend on the type of biomass that is burned and the type of generator used. Although the burning of biomass also produces carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, it is considered to be part of the natural carbon cycle of the earth. The plants take up carbon dioxide from the air while they are growing and then return it to the air when they are burned, thereby causing no net increase.

Biomass contains much less sulfur and nitrogen than coal;⁶ therefore, when biomass is co-fired with coal, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions are lower than when coal is burned alone.⁷ When the role of renewable biomass in the carbon cycle is considered, the carbon dioxide emissions that result from co-firing biomass with coal are lower than those from burning coal alone.⁸

Water Resource Use

Biomass power plants require the use of water, because the boilers burning the biomass need water for steam production and for cooling. If this water is used over and over again, the amount of water needed is reduced. Whenever any type of power plant removes water from a lake or river, fish and other aquatic life can be killed, which then affects those animals and people that depend on these aquatic resources.

Water Discharges

As is the case with fossil fuel power plants, biomass power plants have pollutant build-up in the water used in the boiler and cooling system. The water used for cooling is much warmer when it is returned to the lake or river than when it was removed. Pollutants in the water and the higher temperature of the water can harm fish and plants in the lake or river where the power plant water is discharged. This discharge usually requires a permit and is monitored. For more information about these regulations, visit EPA's Office of Water Web site. In general, crops grown for biomass fuel require fewer pesticides and fertilizers than crops grown for food, which means that less pesticide and fertilizer runoff will reach local streams and ponds than if food crops are grown.

Solid Waste Generation

The burning of biomass in boilers creates a solid waste called ash that must be disposed of properly. However, the ash from biomass normally contains extremely low levels of hazardous elements.

Land Resource Use

Generating electricity from biomass can affect land resources in different ways. Biomass power plants, much like fossil fuel power plants, require large areas of land for equipment and fuel storage. If these biomass plants burn a waste source such as construction wood waste or agricultural waste, they can provide a benefit by freeing areas of land that might otherwise have been used for landfills or waste piles. Biomass grown for fuel purposes requires large areas of land and, over time, can deplete the soil of nutrients. Fuel crops must be managed so that they stabilize the soil, reduce erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and serve recreational purposes.

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Landfill gas

About This Technology

Landfill gas is created when microorganisms cause organic waste, such as food wastes and paper, to decompose in landfills. Landfill gas is composed of about fifty percent methane. Carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) make up the remainder. Landfill gas escapes into the air unless it is collected and burned. In landfill gas energy projects, landfill gas is burned in boilers, reciprocating engines, and combustion turbines to produce electricity. The landfill size and age, quantity of organic waste, and the local climate help determine how much gas a landfill can produce. EPA requires large landfills to collect and burn landfill gas with flares to destroy the VOCs.

Reserves

While some landfills simply burn landfill gas with a flare, more than 380 projects at 365 U.S. landfills are collecting and using landfill gas to produce energy.⁹ Thirty additional projects are currently under construction. EPA estimates that more than 600 additional landfills could support landfill gas energy projects cost-effectively.¹⁰ Landfill gas continues to be produced for twenty years or more after a landfill is closed. Therefore, as long as landfills continue to be built, landfill gas will continue to be a resource for producing electricity.

Environmental Impacts

Air Emissions

Burning landfill gas produces nitrogen oxides emissions as well as trace amounts of toxic materials. The amount of these emissions can vary widely, depending on the waste from which the landfill gas was created. The carbon dioxide released from burning landfill gas is considered to be a part of the natural carbon cycle of the earth. Producing electricity from landfill gas avoids the need to use non-renewable resources to produce the same amount of electricity. In addition, burning landfill gas prevents the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

Water Resource Use

Engines or combustion turbines that burn landfill gas to produce energy typically require negligible amounts of water.

Water Discharges

Engines and combustion turbines burning landfill gas have very little or no water discharges. The collection of landfill gas involves drilling wells into landfills, which does not affect local bodies of water.

Solid Waste Generation

Landfill gas technologies do not produce any substantial amount of solid waste while creating electricity.

Land Resource Use

Burning landfill gas to produce electricity has little impact on land resources. While the equipment used to burn the landfill gas and generate electricity does require space, it can be located on land already occupied by the existing landfill, thus avoiding any additional use of land.

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Wind

About This Technology

Wind is created because the sun heats the Earth unevenly, due to the seasons and cloud cover. This uneven heating, in addition to the Earth's rotation, causes warmer air to move toward cooler air. This movement of air is wind.

Wind turbines use two or three long blades to collect the energy in the wind and convert it to electricity. The blades spin when the wind blows over them. The energy of motion contained in the wind is then converted into electricity as the spinning turbine blades turn a generator. To create enough electricity for a town or city, several wind turbine towers need to be placed together in groups or rows to create a "wind farm."

Reserves

The availability of wind power varies across the United States. Areas with the best wind availability include portions of the following states: North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, and Oregon. In general, wind is consistent and strong enough in the Great Plains states and mountain passes in the various mountain ranges throughout the United States to generate electricity using wind turbines. The Rocky Mountain and Great Plains states have sufficient wind resources to meet 10 to 25 percent of the electric power requirements of these states.¹¹

Environmental Impacts

Air Emissions

Emissions associated with generating electricity from wind technology are negligible because no fuels are combusted.

Water Resource Use

Wind turbines in areas with little rainfall may require the use of a small amount of water. If rainfall is not sufficient to keep the turbine blades clean, water is used to clean dirt and insects off the blades so that turbine performance is not reduced.

Water Discharges

Wind turbines do not discharge any water while creating electricity.

Solid Waste Generation

Wind technologies do not produce any substantial amount of solid waste while creating electricity.

Land Resource Use

Wind turbines generally require the use of land, although they may also be sited offshore. Land around wind turbines can be used for other purposes, such as the grazing of cattle or farming.

When wind turbines are removed from land, there are no solid wastes or fuel residues left behind. However, large wind farms pose aesthetic concerns and wind turbines that are improperly installed or landscaped may create soil erosion problems. Wind farms can also have noise impacts, depending on the number of wind turbines on the farm. New blade designs are being used to reduce the amount of noise. Bird and bat mortality has been an issue at some wind farms. Improvements to wind turbine technologies and turbine siting have helped mitigate bird mortality. Research on impacts to bats is now underway.¹²

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1. U.S. EPA, Compilation of Air Pollutant Factors (AP-42).
2. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, Geothermal Energy Program, CSP Technologies Overview.
3. U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, The Status and Future of Geothermal Electric Power, 2000 (PDF) (9 pp., 472K, About PDF).
4. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse, Biomass Cofiring: A Renewable Alternative for Utilities. June 2000. DOE/GO-102000-1055.
5. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Biomass for Electricity Generation.
6. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse, Biomass Cofiring: A Renewable Alternative for Utilities. June 2000. DOE/GO-102000-1055.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. U.S. EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program.
10. Ibid.
11. National Wind Technology Center, D.L. Elliott and M.N. Schwartz. Wind Energy Potential in the United States. September 1993.
12. American Wind Energy Association

Bottled Water Basics - Important Information You Need to Know if You Drink Bottled Water

Bottled water must be tested and meet regulatory standards before it can be sold in the U.S. Bottled water, like tap water, can come from a ground water source, such as a well or spring, or a surface water source, such as a river or stream. Most bottled water comes from a ground water source. Groundwater is typically less vulnerable to contamination than water from surface sources. However, ground water can still contain naturally high amounts of certain contaminants, including radioactive elements, arsenic,and nitrates, or be vulnerable to contamination from human activities, such as industrial waste, faulty septic systems, and underground gas or chemical tanks. Some bottled water comes from surface water sources. This water typically comes from a public water system and receives additional treatment, such as filtration and disinfection, before it is bottled. Bottlers must list on the label the type of bottled water (such as spring water,mineral water,or drinking water). If the water comes from a public water system and has not been treated to meet FDA’s definition of “purified” or “sterile”water, the label must state that the source is from a community water system.

If you are concerned about a particular contaminant in your drinking water, consider the following questions: Is the source water likely to contain the contaminant? Has the water been treated to remove the contaminant? Water that originates from a protected ground water source is less likely to contain certain contaminants (such as disease-causing microbes), but not all ground water is protected, and no water is guaranteed to be completely free of contaminants.

The best way to know if the water you are drinking is free from the contaminant(s) you are concerned about is to contact the bottler and ask for the latest testing results and whether the water has been treated to remove the contaminant. Many public water systems add fluoride to their water; most bottlers do not. If bottled water is fluoridated, it must indicate so on the label, though bottled water and tap water can contain naturally occurring fluoride. Check with your public water system or bottler to find out if the water you drink contains fluoride.

Neither EPA nor FDA certify bottled water. However, consumers may notice a logo or seal from two other organizations on the label. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is a trade organization for water bottlers. IBWA members must meet the organization’s “model code”and are subject to annual inspections by an independent third party. Bottlers belonging to
IBWA frequently indicate membership on their labels. NSF International - Bottled water certified by NSF undergoes additional testing by unannounced annual plant inspections. NSF certifications mean that the bottler complies with all applicable FDA requirements, including good manufacturing practices. Underwriters Laboratories,Inc.(UL) is an independent accredited testing and certification organization that tests bottled water to FDA, state, and IBWA model code requirements.

This information is a highlight of bottled water basics provided by the EPA.

The Cost of Building Green Schools

The Cost of Building Green Schools

A Report From the EPA of the USA

Average national school construction cost is $150/ft. The “green premium” is the initial extra cost to build a green building compared to a conventional building. Typically this cost premium is a result of more expensive (and sustainably-sourced) materials, more efficient mechanical systems, and better design, modeling and integration, and other high performance features. Many school architects use a state or school district’s pre-determined budget as their metric for appropriate school cost. Some green schools are built on the same budget as conventional schools. The report data are drawn from 30 green schools built in 10 states during the period 2001 to 2006. The data on costs as well as savings compared to a conventional design were generally supplied by the schools’ architects. Some of the costs analyzed in the report are based on actual building performance, while some new school costs are estimates based on architectural modeling and engineering estimates. We generally relied on the costs reported by architects based on their actual and modeled green and conventional versions of the same building.

Four of the green schools (in Georgia, Massachusetts and Oregon) cost no more than conventional design, while several schools cost substantially more. Six schools cost at least 3% more thanconventional design while one – the Punahou School in Hawaii– costs 6.3% more. Typically green schools cost 1% to 2% more, with an average cost premium of 1.7%, or about $3/ft. Increased cost of green design is typically partially offset by savings elsewhere, for example in reduced cost of HVAC systems or in reduced code compliance costs. Similarly, increased water retention through the use of a green roof or greywater system can avoid the capital cost of a water retention system normally required to comply with water codes. The model green school developed by the architectural firm OWP/P for the Chicago market includes a green roof that allows the building to avoid a water retention system, providing savings sufficient to reduce the school cost premium to 1%. A recent evaluation of the impact of LEED adoption, developed for the Portland Energy Office, found that regional life cycle savings from adopting 15 individual green building technologies was over 8 times as large as the direct first cost of these measures.

Achieving full cost savings requires early integrated design.

The EPA's Video on a Green Techniques for Stormwater Runoff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.

The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source.

The techniques are innovative stormwater management practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, and are very effective at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff and capturing harmful pollutants. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban heat islands and reduces a community’s overall carbon footprint.

The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns
You will find the link to the video over on the right side of the page under the picture that is titled: Reduce Runoff at this link: http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid

Green Alternatives to Common Pest Control Chemicals

Green Alternatives to Common Pest Control Chemicals

The information here is one of the best compilations of alternatives for pest control and it is from Lubbock, Texas' KCBD.com GreenerLubbock site. This is a must copy if you are interested in controlling pests in a green way.

ALTERNATIVES USED FOR PEST CONTROL

Flea Sprays (Indoors):

• Use products containing pyrethrins or diatomaceous earth.

Fly Repellant:

• Mint plants set in window sills help to repel flies.
• Seal all possible entrances.

Insect Bites/Stings:
Bees:

• The pain can be soothed by a thick paste of baking soda and water.
• Half an onion applied to a bee (or wasp) sting helps to stop the pain.

Chiggers:

• To ease the pain and itching of chigger bites, rub with a moist aspirin tablet.
• To treat insect bites, rub on apple cider vinegar to relieve the itching. A paste made of baking soda also helps.
• To prevent insect bites, avoid wearing perfume, bright colors, flowery print clothes or bright jewelry.

Insecticides, Ant and Roach Killers, Weed Killers:

• Strong hosing washes insects from plants.
• Pull weeds instead of using herbicides.
• Cover garden with plastic in fall to prevent weed germination.
• If using, use up pesticides, rinse out containers, and use rinse water in pesticides mix solution.
• Sprinkle cracks and baseboards of house with boric acid powder (Boric acid is acutely toxic to children and pets if ingested.)
• Sprinkle equal parts of confectioner's sugar and Borax in dry areas where ants and cockroaches are found. Put only in places where pets and children can't reach.
• Use diatomaceous earth to control fleas in the yard; use liberally.
• To kill unwanted grass growing between sidewalk cracks, pour full-strength vinegar or salt on it.

Ants (in the house):

• Pour a line of cream of tarter, red chili powder, paprika or dried peppermint at point of entry.
• Caulk cracks where ants enter.
• Sprinkle salt along baseboards, corners, entrances, etc.
• Plug up point of entry with white glue.
• Combine 90% op apple mint jelly and 10% boric acid, place small amounts at points of entry.
• For heavy infestations, mix 1 tbsp. of sugar, and 1 tbsp. of Borax with 2 tbsp. of water to make a thick syrup. Soak cotton balls in mixture and place cotton balls on low lids or something flat so that ants can get to it. Place them in the middle of the ant infestations.Ants will eat it and take it back to the nest. Slowly but surely, the numbers will diminish. Have patience. Keep well out of reach of children and pets.
• Mix 2 tbsp. boric acid, 2 tbsp sugar and 1 cup water.Soak paper towels, place on dishes, and set out for ants. Keep away from pets and children.

Cockroaches:

• Place bay leaves around cracks in room.
• Set out a dish of equal parts baking soda/powdered sugar; or oatmeal flour/plaster of paris; or chopped bay leaves/cucumber shins.
• Put some grease or Vaseline on the inside of a jar that contains a banana. Set a tongue depressor near the jar to serve as a ramp.The cockroaches will be trapped in the jar.
• Heloise's Famous Recipe:

1⁄4 cup shortening or bacon drippings
1/8 cup sugar
8 oz. Powdered boric acid
1⁄2 cup flour
1⁄2 small onion, chopped (optional)
Enough water to form a soft dough.

Mix the shortening and sugar together until they form a creamy mixture. Mix together the boric acid, flour, and onion, then add to the shortening-and-sugar mixture. Blend well, and then add water to form a soft dough. Shape the mixture into small balls, or just label the bags clearly so that everyone in the house knows it's a roach lunch, and put it in out of the way places. When the dough gets hard, replace it.

Fleas:

• As a first step, vacuum. Place a couple of mothballs into the vacuum cleaner bag. Remove the vacuum bag and seal the "catch" in a tightly closed bag. Dispose of it.
• Feed pets brewer's yeast, vitamin B or garlic tablets.(The yeast apparently gives off an odor that fleas don't like.A general suggestion for amounts of brewer's yeast is a daily dose of 25 milligrams per 10 pounds of the animal's body weight.Note that Brewer's yeast given in large does or with dry food can cause the animal considerable intestinal discomfort.)
• Make a flea trap by placing a light-colored shallow pan of soapy water on the floor next to a 25- watt lamp with the bulb about one or two feet above the water. Leave the lamp on overnight with no other lights on in the room. Fleas are attracted to light, will jump toward the heat, and fall into the pan of soapy water and die.
• Use fennel, rosemary, red cedar shavings, sassafras, eucalyptus or pennyroyal leaves as flea repellent under and around the pet's bed.
• Clean pet's sleeping area frequently and sprinkle with a few drops of oil of lavender.
• Spread a thin mixture of 1⁄4 oz. vial of oil of lavender, and 4 cups of rock salt around perimeters of rugs, under chairs, mattresses and wherever fleas may be found. Check that pets are not licking the mixture.
• Wash pets in soap and water, dry thoroughly, and apply an herbal rinse of 1⁄2 cup fresh or dried rosemary to 1 quart of boiling water which has been steeped for 20 minutes, and allowed to cool. Spray or sponge on pet and allow to air dry.

Flies:

• Prevent their development in organic wastes by keeping kitchen garbage in tightly closed containers. In warm weather, the average garbage p ail can produce 1000 + flies/week.
• Sprinkle dry soap into garbage cans after they have been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.
• Use fly swatters, flypaper strips, or fly traps (for example, Fli-Lur). You can also make your own flypaper with honey and yellow paper.
• Place screened enclosures over plants in the cabbage family to protect against the fly whose young is the cabbage maggot.
• Plant pansies near your kitchen door or where flies tend to cluster.
• Other fly repellents include oil of cloves and mint sprigs.
• Set a sponge in a saucer and soak it with oil of lavender to repel flies.
• Shape a piece of paper into a cone and insert it into the neck of a baited jar. Flies can get in but not out. Jars specifically designed for this purpose are also available for purchase in some stores.
• A pot of basil set on a windowsill or table will help reduce the number of flies in a room. Keep it well watered from the bottom so that it will throw out plenty of scent.
• Dried, ground leaves left in small bowls or hung in muslin bags are also effective.

Mosquitoes:

• Soak bites in salt water or apply a paste of salt mixed into lard, or cold cream.

Moths:

• Chicago-area weavers and spinners use 1⁄2 lb. Rosemary, 1⁄2 lb. Mint, 1⁄4 lb. Thyme, 1⁄4 lb. Ginseng (optional), and 2 tbsp. cloves. Mix and put in cheesecloth bags for use similar to a sachet.
• Destroy all forms of the moths by washing garments; kill moth eggs by running articles through a warm clothes dryer.
• Hang or place sachets on any of the following with stored clothes; dried lemon peels, dried lavender, bay leaves, whole cloves, cedar ships, dried rosemary and mint, or whole peppercorns.
• Mix together a handful of each dried rosemary, sage, and mint. Add a little dried lemon peel and a pinch of cinnamon. Place in small muslin bags.
• Wash pantry shelves periodically to deter "flour" moths (particularly those cabinets storing flour, noodles, rice and grains). Sprinkle with bay leaves, rosemary or cloves.
• Keep all flours, etc. in sealed containers such as recycled glass jars.Use up contents and clean jars before refilling them.
• To trap moths, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar & place in a yellow container. Clean regularly.

Silverfish:

• Traps can be made with a mixture of 1 part molasses to 2 parts vinegar. Place near cracks and holes where the pests live. They can be repelled by treating baseboards, table legs, and cracks in cupboards with a mixture of Borax and sugar or honey.

Pet Care Products:

• Give pets brewer's yeast or Vitamin B as a preventative.
• Use herbal baths.
• To control fleas on dogs and cats: bathe animals every 2 to 4 weeks with pet shampoos containing insect repellent herbs such as rosemary, ruse, eucalyptus, and citronella.
• For fleas: place eucalyptus seeds and leaves around the area where your pet sleeps.
• Brush your pet often (outside) with a flea comb.

Rat Killers:

• Use traps baited with peanut butter and oatmeal.

Natural Controls for Pests:

• Many insects despise the smell and taste of pepper.
• Tape paper staples to a cylinder and placed around the base of the affected plant will deter many pests.
• Wood ashes can deter borers that attach to trees - add enough water to form a paste and apply to the bottom of the tree.

Ants (outside the home):

• Plant onions near beans to repel ants.
• On lawns, use hormonal controls now available.
• Band sticky, adhesive materials (some brand names are "Stickum" and Tanglefoot) around base of plants and trees to deter ants, which can carry and colonize aphids. Ants like the sweet secretions of aphids and protect them from natural enemies.
• Border gardens with bone meal.
• Put cucumber peels on an ant route and they will go away.

Fire Ants:

• Put grits on mounds.

Aphids:

• Some soap sprays are effective insecticides. It must be sprayed directly on the insect in order to penetrate its body. Mix 1 tsp. of liquid soap (not detergent) in a gallon of water. Try different soaps, some may be more effective than others. Use on aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, earwigs and some scales.
• Crush colonies on plant tips, or prune them off.
• Introduce ladybugs or lacewings, natural enemies of aphids.
• Plant garlic, chives, petunias, and nasturtiums to repel aphids; but be aware that some plants (garlic, for instance) may inhibit the growth of certain vegetable plants.

Beetles, Bugs and Caterpillars:

• Pick large insects off plants; drop in a can of soapy water.
• Use a biological control containing bacillus thuriengensis (bt).
• Use "stickum" made from 1 1⁄2 cups of rosin (from athletic store).
• 1 cup linseed oil, 1 tbsp. melted paraffin, painted around tree trunks.
• For Japanese beetles: open a can of fruit cocktail and put it in the sun - but out of the rain - to ferment for about a week. Put the can on a stack of bricks inside a yellow colored pail or dishpan. Place the pail or pan about 25 feet away from the plants to be protected and fill it with water to a level that's just below the fruit cocktail can. The beetles will feast on the fruit and then drown in the water. If rain dilutes their "beetle buffet", you'll have to replace it because beetles like it potent.

Cabbage Worms:

• Plant rosemary, thyme or hyssop.
• Cover plants with cheesecloth to keep adult butterflies from laying eggs.
• Sprinkle rye flour over and around plants when covered with dew.
• Use a biological control containing bacillus thuriengensis (bt).

Cats:

• To keep cats form spraying plants: scatter lemon, grapefruit and orange peels near plants that need protection.

Cucumber Beetles:

• Plant tansy to repel beetles.

Cutworms, Cabbage Loopers, Tent Caterpillars, Gypsy Moths:

• Use a biological control containing bacillus thuriengensis (bt)
• Smash egg masses of gypsy moths.
• Sink bottomless paper cups around seedlings to block cutworms.

Deer:

• In a blender, combine 1 cup water, five garlic cloves, and six large hot peppers. Blend thoroughly, then strain and pour the mixture into a spray bottle that holds two cups of water. Apply liberally whenever needed.

Dogs:

• To keep puppies away from houseplants: rub the leaves and stalks with a cotton ball saturated in hot pepper sauce.

Flea Beetles:

• Plant catnip in border to repel them.

Harlequin Bugs:

• Plant radishes, turnips, or mustard greens around cabbage to attract them.

Japanese Beetle:

• Plant repellent herbs (garlic, rue, tansy) near roses and raspberries.
• Plant soybeans, zinnias, or white rose near other crops to attract them.

Maggots:

• Radishes lure them away from sprouting corn and cabbage.

Mealy Bugs, Thrips, Lice, Red Spider Mites:

• Spray plants with soapy water, rinse off dead bugs.
• Swab mealies with rubbing alcohol.
• Order green lacewing adults and larvae; "defatted" ladybug adults and larvae from garden store.
• Mix four tablespoons of dishwashing liquid or 1⁄2 cake of dissolved yellow soap in one gallon of water. Spray plants weekly until mites are gone and then monthly to keep them from returning.

Mexican Bean Beetles:

• Plant potatoes nearby to lure them away; rosemary/summer savoy repels them.

Millipedes, Wireworms:

• Punch holes in sides/bottom of tall can, bury upright in garden border, and fill with carrot/potato peelings, empty weekly.

Mosquitoes:

• Eliminate all sources of standing water, or pour a film of salad oil on all water surfaces.
• Rub citronella oil on exposed skin area, or burn citronella candles.
• Do not eliminate such natural predators as dragon flies or the praying mantis.
• Other natural repellents are pennyroyal, mint rubbed on the skin, or tansy planted near a door. Basil plants also repel mosquitoes.

Nematodes:

• Marigolds give off chemicals which repel nematodes.

Onion Flies:

• Plant onion "sets", not seeds.

Pickleworms:

• Plant bush squash near cantaloupes and cucumbers. Worms gather on squash for easy killing.

Slugs, Snails:

• Sink shallow pans of beer or vinegar at soil level.
• Lay cabbage leaves or boards between rows: snails will hide underneath during day. Collect and destroy.
• Remove litter and trim grass around garden, the places where they hide and feed.

Sowbugs, Earwigs:

• Remove their hiding places - piles of plant material, boards, bricks, large rocks.

Tomato Worms:

• Plant asparagus or borage near tomatoes to repel them.
• Dill attracts tomato worms.

Whiteflies (on Houseplants):

• Hang yellow strips of cardboard coated with "stickum".