Accidentally Green

Making Healthy Decisions That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment

I May Be Green, But I’m Not THAT Green: No Plastic Straws?

Earlier this year, I read about a movement to ban plastic straws. If you’re like me, you’re asking yourself “Why??” right about now. For environmentally-minded folks, plastic straws litter natural havens like the beach – and they harm the wildlife in these areas. Millions and millions of plastic drinking straws also end up in landfills every day. And the straws are made with plastic that leaches into drinks. (I have to admit, even though I try to limit how much plastic I use, I forget ... Read more

I May Be Green, But I’m Not THAT Green: No Deodorant?

Can you live without deodorant? Before you say “no,” keep in mind that deodorants weren’t invented for centuries. That meant people must have really smelled funky, or they found other ways to deal with body odor.   Today’s installment of “I may be green, but I’m not THAT green” involves a deodorant-free life. Instead of using a store-bought deodorant, some environmentally conscious individuals choose to use baking soda instead. It's a way to stop using so much plastic, and you limit your ... Read more

I May Be Green, But I’m Not THAT Green: No Soap?

A lot like Monday’s No Shampoo post, I’d like to let you know about the No Soap movement.Believe it or not, people in America are choosing to forgo soap. And they enjoy it. They claim a soapless life helps soften skin and comes without awful odors. Both GOOD and No More Dirty Looks issued soapless challenges at the beginning of the year – with the exception of using soap on your hands, face and private parts. Aside from better skin, the main reasons are saving money on soap and avoiding ... Read more

I May Be Green, But I’m Not THAT Green: No Shampoo?

I’m going to let you in on a fundamental secret. In fact, this secret is the key to the name Accidentally Green.I’m not green just to be green. While I believe everyone – Christian and non-Christian alike – should care for the environment in a responsible way, most of my concern comes from a health-driven standpoint. But I am in no way a huge hippie, granola-type cheerleader. Simply put, I don’t think my family or your family should be exposed to unnecessary chemicals and toxins. And because ... Read more

Salt and Vinegar Aren’t Just for Potato Chips … They’re Effective Weed Killers, Too

On Wednesday I discussed the potential dangers of chemical herbicides. Today I have a host of natural solutions that effectively kill weeds. Try all the techniques until you find one that fits your de-weeding needs: Vinegar Vinegar’s acidity comes from acetic acid, a natural plant killer. Acetic acid isn’t picky – once it’s sprayed on a plant it kills, so be careful to spray vinegar only on weeds. For an easy spray, spray undiluted vinegar (with a typical amount of five percent acidity) ... Read more

The Importance of Avoiding Herbicides

Most people can guess that herbicides are poisonous – they kill living things, after all. And the warnings on labels should be a dead giveaway. Exactly how poisonous are herbicides, though? They definitely kill weeds, but what do they do to humans?Herbicides and pesticides, like many other chemicals, build up in humans as a body burden. Humans (and animals) are exposed to the toxic chemicals through contaminated ground water, public water systems, and contaminated air caused by drifting ... Read more

Did You Know Basil Could Be Used For …

As part of July's 101 Amazing Uses for All-Natural Products, here are three amazing uses for basil. 89. Repelling mosquitoes? Place a handful of fresh basil leaves into a glass measuring cup. Pour four ounces of boiling water over the basil. Let the leaves steep for two to four hours. The water will have a pleasant basil smell. Squeeze the basil leaves to get out as much of the liquid as possible. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Add four ounces of vodka to the spray bottle. Shake gently ... Read more

Ugh … How to Get Rid of Slugs

As a gardener, I can’t think of many things more frustrating than checking on your vegetable or flower plants and discovering huge holes nibbled through the leaves. Slimey holes. Holes clearly made by slugs. Many prevention techniques include picking slugs off the plants by hand, then disposing of them. (Think salt. Or smooshing.) But who really has the time or desire to hand-pick slugs? Here are a variety of preventative techniques. Hopefully some may work for you this ... Read more

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Gnasty Gnats

There aren’t many things that are more annoying than gnats buzzing in your kitchen. Even as a neat freak, I’ve endured my share of summers where gnats just wouldn’t leave me alone. They especially pester me while I wash dishes. As much as I try to swat them, they zip away and never seem to die. It turns out that gnats are attracted to some common things: warm, moist places; carbon dioxide, and light.Once you have gnats, it’s tough to get rid of them. Here are a few tips for gnat-free ... Read more

Get Bees to Buzz Off

Bees are essential in this world. Without them, you can forget about pollination … and food. Even though they’re necessary, it’s never fun to deal with bee stings or infestations in your home. You can avoid using highly toxic sprays by using some preventative measures: Preventing bees First, like with all other insects, keep your home clean. With bees, though, it’s important to keep your yard and home’s exterior clean. Mow your lawn often. Remove piles of firewood, mulch, leaves, grass ... Read more

Help Fleas Flee … Naturally

As any pet owner knows, fleas can easily infest any cat or dog. Unfortunately, they’re not so easy to get rid of. Before you buy all the heavy-duty sprays and flea bombs you can find, try these natural remedies first: Vinegar Vinegar naturally repels fleas. You can make a vinegar shampoo for your pet by mixing one part vinegar and one part mild soap (add a couple drops of an essential oil if you’d like to mask the vinegar scent). Wash your pet regularly with the vinegar shampoo and rinse ... Read more

Say Goodbye to Unwelcome Ants

At one time or another, most homes are invaded by ants. Big ones, small ones – it doesn’t matter what size they are, the little buggers are annoying. And usually they’re pretty tough to get rid of.Never fear, here’s an arsenal of anti-ant strategies: Ant prevention It’s easiest to deal with ants if you can avoid attracting them to your home. Make sure you: Keep your house clean – especially your kitchen. Don’t leave food out. Wash your counters to make sure there are no crumbs or ... Read more

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