Now that Spring is here and the tulips have bloomed it is the time to start thinking about gardening. Have you considered starting a garden? It is a daunting task to consider, but really a garden is rather enjoyable project.

I only started gardening last year.  I decided to dive right in and found a community garden plot in our neighborhood. Our community that we live in is known to have high lead levels due to the number of houses that are over 100 years old and the lead paint that was used on the exterior of the houses has leached heavily into the soil.  So the community garden was a great option for us because it had all new soil and we did not have to worry about lead or other contaminants.  A community garden may not be an option for you, but if you have even a small amount of space, a container garden may be just the right thing, just make sure you get enough sun (South facing areas are the best).

So why do I care about gardening and think it is worth the effort to go get some pots and seeds or plants:

1. It costs less than buying veggies or herbs at the store
2. Whatever you grow will taste better because you put the effort into growing it
3. You will end up eating more veggies
4. It feels great when you can say, “I grew that!”

So if you are going to garden in the yard or in pots or on your window ledge, it really is easy for everyone. For your first year, don’t be surprised if some things don’t grow, pick plants that are hardy and will grow.

• Zucchini
• Lettuce
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Tomatoes

Start small, choose a few things to grow.  After a month, if they are still alive and you think you can handle the time to water a few more plants, then get more!

When it comes caring for a garden, it really does not take much time.  Everyday it takes a  few minutes to water the plants. If it rains, then you get the day off.

Every week or so it is good to check the plants that are growing and see if there are any pests eating your plant. Pests are where organic gardening comes in. You can use harmful pesticides in your garden, but then you will end up eating the pesticides that have coated your beautiful veggies. Instead of using pesticides there are plenty of safe, effective, pest management solutions available. When you do find a pest on your plant, make sure it is truly a pest. There are plenty of bugs that help with the growth and elimination of harmful bugs on plants. So if you think your plants are being eaten by a pest, look it up online. There are plenty of resources available online to help solve your garden problems, without using a toxic expensive pesticide.

Enjoy your veggies and herbs!

Toxic chemicals are all around us, in our homes, cars, work, and even supermarket. It is our job to limit the amount of toxic chemicals that enters our body. Exposure is the term for how toxic chemicals can enter our bodies. Exposure to toxic chemicals can occur through three ways, ingestion, inhalation, and absorption.

Chemicals are ingested through eating items that have chemicals on them. One common way toxic chemicals are ingested is through not adequately washing fruits and vegetables before eating. Inhalation occurs through breathing in chemicals. Chemicals can become suspended in the air and easily breathed in, the smaller the chemicals the deeper in the lung the chemical can go and the more harm they can cause. We breathe in toxic chemicals all day with the use of aerosol or spray cans. Absorption can occur when toxic chemicals come in contact with our skin. Our skin is a great barrier, but chemicals are still able to penetrate through skin or easily enter through cuts on our skin.

Cleaning is not something most of us enjoy, but it is part of life. Cleaning can expose us to very toxic chemicals found in common cleaning supplies sold in stores. When we clean we are exposed to chemicals through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption. Ingestion can occur by spraying toxic chemicals near food that is out on the counter. Inhalation through breathing after Windex has been sprayed. Absorption can occur when we are wiping anything down with toxic chemicals and they touch our skin.

To reduce the toxic chemicals we are exposed to and create healthy homes, here are some non-toxic recipes to use to clean our homes.

These recipes are effective, smell good, cost less than commercial products, and don’t pollute the indoor air. I have tried all of the recipes and was amazed at how well they worked and how clean our apartment smelled. There was no toxic smell or over powering smell of cleaning agents. These recipes are best when made fresh each time in small batches. Do not mix these recipes with other chemicals.

The following recipes use the various combinations of six basic ingredients: baking soda, vinegar, salt, liquid castile soap, club soda, and water. More than likely you will already have most of them in your cupboards and if not they can easily be bought at the grocery store. Enjoy!

Drain Cleaner:
½ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar
Boiling water

Pour the baking soda down the drain first, then vinegar. Let it fizz a few minutes than pour a tea kettle full of boiling water down the drain. Do NOT use after using commercial drain cleaner. If this does not release the clog try using a plunger or mechanical snake.

Oven Cleaner:
¼ cup baking soda
2 tablespoon salt
hot water

Remove charred spills with a non-metallic bristle brush. Mix baking soda, salt, and enough hot water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand a few minutes or over night. Scrub off with non-metallic scouring pad and water. Keep paste off oven wires and heating elements. Do not use on self-cleaning ovens.

All-Purpose Cleaner:
1 2/3 cup baking soda
½ cup liquid castile soap (Can be found in supermarkets or drug stores)
½ cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
16 oz bottle

Mix baking soda and liquid soap with fork in bowl. Add water. Add vinegar last. Pour into squeeze bottle: if it is too thick, add more water. Shake well. Squirt in tub, sink, toilet, counter, etc. Scrub and rinse.

Scouring Powder:
Baking soda
Liquid castile soap

Baking soda can be used in place of your scouring powder. First, wet area you want to clean. Then sprinkle baking soda on and rube with a wet rag. Add a little soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well. For toilets, sprinkling baking soda into bowl, add a few drops of castile soap, then scrub.

Mirror and Window Cleaner:
Club soda
Spray bottle

Put club soda into spray bottle. Spray on surface. Rub with lint-free cloth (such as a cloth diaper) or squeegee.

Adapted from: Thurston County Hazardous Waste Program