BPA and Pacifiers

Bisphenol A, or BPA, was first synthesized in 1900, but it was not until the 1950s that scientists learned it could be "polymerized" into plastic. It is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. Polycarbonate plastic is used to make pacifier shields, which has many people concerned. There are health concerns associated with BPA, particularly with regard to the developing bodies of babies.


Concerns

BPA leaches out of polycarbonate plastics when the plastic is heated or damaged. Washing pacifiers in the dishwasher or sterilizing them with hot water could cause BPA to leach out. Damage can certainly occur in a pacifier; small children are rough on such items, and chewing can, according to a leading manufacturer of pacifiers, cause the BPA to leach out. It can then potentially be absorbed by ingestion or through the skin and/or mucus membranes.


Health Considerations

BPA is implicated in hormonal problems in the human body. BPA acts as an estrogen in the body, with the potential to cause hormonal imbalances, including decreased sperm production and early onset of puberty. Excess estrogen or estrogen dominance in the body is implicated in breast cancer. But what does this mean for babies and children?

1. Aggressive behavior in toddlers has been linked to BPA exposure in a University of North Carolina study.

2. Cancer is a concern with BPA. The chemical causes precancerous conditions in laboratory animals.

3. Early onset of puberty may seem far away when you look at your baby, but it is prenatal and neonatal exposure that is implicated in later hormonal problems. BPA affects the health and integrity of reproductive organs as well.

4. Heart disease and diabetes, in a British study, were implicated in BPA exposure. Those participants in the study who had these diseases were found to have higher concentrations (by as many as three times) more BPA in their systems as those who did not have these diseases.

5. Autism may be linked to BPA exposure as well, even if a baby is exposed while still in the womb.

6. The immune system may be adversely affected by BPA.


Alternatives

There are BPA-free pacifiers available. Silicone is a popular material for pacifiers, as is latex. Silicone is less likely to incite an allergic response, however. The following manufacturers make BPA-free versions of their pacifiers:

1. Gerber
2. Playtex
3. BornFree
4. Evenflo

These products should be labeled BPA-free. If you have any doubt, contact the manufacturer and find out what kinds of pacifiers they make that are free of BPA.

Cob Building – An Explanation

Perhaps, when you first heard the terms "cob structure" and "cob building," you thought it had something to do with constructing buildings from corn cobs. Actually, cob building is a form of earth and straw construction that is quite ancient.

Cob building is a variation on the mud brick idea. Indigenous earth is mixed by hand (or more traditionally, by using the feet) into a mud, then long straw is added. The proportion of straw to mud is greater than that used for baked bricks. The gloppy mixture is then piled and sculpted into dwellings.

Handfuls of the cob mixture can be tossed from worker to worker, elminating the need for machinery such as cranes. It is a very durable kind of construction; centuries-old cob houses are still standing in parts of the British Isles.

Because earth is available everywhere, some variation of cob housing has occured in many parts of the world throughout history. A variation of this is a kind of cob structure where the mud used is quite thin, and just enough of this thin mud is used to stick long straw strands together. This mostly-straw mixture is tamped into a mold or frame, and when it hardens, the frame is removed. Such "light straw/clay" buildings are more insulating that traditional cob, but not as structurally sound. Walls that are mostly straw, even with mud mixed in, cannot bear much weight.

Traditional cob buildings are not suitable for areas of the world where there are temperature extremes. For temperate climates, however, cob structures can provide strong, dry, durable dwellings that lend themselves to creative shapes. Therein lies cob's charm: artistic builders can create sculptural buildings in creative, organic shapes. There are few limitations to the design of a cob structure.

Cob dwellings are labor-intensive, and they take quite a bit of time to build. The walls need to "cure," a process that can take up to a year. And not everyone likes a curvy, sculptural home.

Cob houses are eco-friendly. Their mud and straw construction does not use any non-renewable resources, nor does the building process require any fossil fuels (no machinery is necessary). It is also extremely economical; cob houses can be built for less than $1000. One famous proponent of cob housing built his cob home for around $500.

A great deal of professional skill is not required. The internet, libraries and bookstores carry all kinds of how-to information on cob buildings. It is definitely a building technique that is making a comeback.

Antiques – A Great Way to Extend the Life of Furniture

Today, people are quite conscious of waste, and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle is a concern for many. Furniture, which is not only bulky but often made with synthetic materials, is a concern for the eco-conscious when it comes time to get rid of it.

Investing in antiques means re-using rather than consuming, and creative re-use of your worn-out furniture can also breathe new life into old items. Whether you are redecorating or just getting started furnishing your home, antiques are an excellent, educational way to extend the life of furniture.

Acquiring Antiques

Contrary to the opinions of some, antiques do not have to be expensive. In some Amish communities, antiques can be found for very little (simple chairs can be had for less than $10, and small shelves for less than $20). At yard sales and flea markets, even better deals can be had.

If you keep your eyes and ears open, you may be able to obtain antique furniture for free - people have been known to put antique furniture out on the curb for trash pick-up. With some creativity, obtaining antiques can be far cheaper than buying new furniture.

Caring for Your Antiques

Antique wooden furniture is subject to drying, and sunlight can fade and discolor wood or upholstered antiques. To minimize and prevent drying, use a good quality furniture oil on antique wood. You can make your own using olive oil or sweet almond oil and lemon essential oil. In fact, olive and almond oils can be used straight from the bottle to enrich and protect your furniture. Use oil soap to clean wooden antiques.

Draw the shades and curtains to protect furniture from sunlight during the day, or invest in ultraviolet tinting for your windows. Such tinting comes in sheets and is simply pressed against the inside of windows. You can also cover antiques with attractive slip covers. Use doilies, throw blankets, lace, tablecloths, and so forth to protect your antiques in a creative, attractive way.

Refinishing and Restoration

Some people are able to see the potential in even the most shoddy-looking piece of antique furniture. Collecting trash and turning it to treasure can be one of the most rewarding ways to furnish your home. Such refinished pieces combine the re-use of furniture with individual expression.

You can take a piece to a professional for refinishing and restoration, or attempt it yourself. There are tutorials on television and the internet, and copious books have been written on the subject.

Creative Re-Use

A step further than refinishing and restoring, creative re-use of antiques means using a piece of furniture or parts of it to make something else. An old kitchen hutch can be made into an entertainment center, for example, and old kitchen cabinets can be stacked and made into shelving. If you have bits of furniture lying about or a damaged piece that is beyond salvaging, break out the wood stain and paint, and let your imagination flow.

the jasmine corner's: Renewable Energy World

http://renewableenergyworld.info/

Renewable Energy World

We all want to do our part to protect the environment, but without a large paycheck, that can be seem difficult, if not impossible. But doing your part doesn’t have to be hard. Small steps add up to a big difference, you just have to know which ones to take.

Use less of water
Saving water is all about small steps, here are a few that will help save big.

1. Shut off the water while you brush your teeth
2. Take showers that are a minute or two shorter
3. Only flush the toilet when you need to
4. Only run full loads of laundry and dishes
5. Buy from sustainable producers. These are farmers, ranchers, and other producers that use techniques that pollute less and use less water. You can do some research online or ask at your local organic market to find these products.

Use less energy

If you don’t have the money to buy a hybrid car or convert your house to solar power, you can make a big difference with small changes.

1. Buy energy efficient appliances. They may be more expensive, but make up for the increased cost in lower energy bills.
2. Unplug chargers when you’re not using them. Cell phone and other chargers use up powers even if there’s nothing attached to them.
3. Put devices with remotes, like T.V.s, VCRs, and stereos, on a power strip and turn it off when you’re not using them. These devices use a lot of power to run the remote receiver even when the device is off.
4. Walk or ride your bike for short trips.
5. Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products across the country. Buying local not only supports your local economy, it helps them use less energy.

You can read other detail information in http://renewableenergyworld.info/

Organic Chemical Free Gardening

Every year, thousand of chemicals are poured into the environment and millions of gallons of water are needlessly wasted. How? By growing plants. Sure, most of this is done by large agricultural producers, but some of it is still done in personal gardens. And that means that you can make a difference by changing your gardening practices. There are many agricultural producers who have done it, and you can use the same tricks to help your own garden, and the planet.

Pick appropriate plants. Not all plants are appropriate for the area you live in. While you might be able to control the temperature, humidity, and rain conditions inside your house, you can’t do it out in the garden. If you pick appropriate plants for your area, you may be able to avoid using fertilizers and saving on water too. Research, what plants are native to your surrounding areas and try planting them in your own garden. Wildflowers, are just that, they can pretty much be left alone and will thrive in most areas.

Pick natural repelling plants. You don’t need to rely on poisons to keep away garden ruining pests. Many plants produce chemicals that repel these animals naturally. By putting them in or around you garden, you can keep your garden safe with little effort and no chemicals. Plus, you can pick parts of these plants and use them to make products to keep them away from you too.

If you don’t want to plant natural repellents in your garden, you can use them to spray your plants without harming them or adding artificial chemicals to your garden. Many herbs like hot pepper, vanilla, and lavender can help repel insects from your garden.

Pull weeds. We’re all looking for a quick and easy way to safely get rid of weeds without chemicals, but the good old fashioned way is still very effective. It you take time every day to pull the weeds you can find, you’ll only take a few minutes so it doesn’t seem like a lot of work. You can even get the kids involved, just be sure to do it properly so you don’t spread the seeds around. There are even some common weeds that are edible, just make sure there are no pesticides that could have gotten on them.

Crop rotation. Farmers all over the world use crop rotation to naturally fertilize plants. The concept is to change what crop you’re putting in a certain field each year. Plants use different nutrients and put other nutrients back into the soil. If you rotate crops that replace the nutrients the other plants use, you will have to fertilize the soil less.

You can use this same concept in your garden by planting different plants every year, or just rotating where you put specific plants in the garden.

So, you’ve made all these changes and are using a low-water, chemical free garden? Well, you still haven’t done the most important thing: pass it on! One garden can make a dent, but more can make a bigger difference. Tell your friends, teach your kids, you can even visit their school and teach your kids friends! Every little bit helps make a better world.

Natural homemade beauty recipes

Nature is the newest trend in skin and hair care. For years, we’ve been putting toxic chemicals into our bodies that build up and make us feel tired and sick, regardless of whether we eat them or if they seep though our pores. And people are finally catching on that natural is better.

Most stores now have a line of “natural” beauty products. Unfortunately, they often come with a big price tag attached too. Often times many of these products are not actually “natural” so it does pay to do your homework to ensure you are getting what you pay for.

Fortunately actually making beauty products yourself isn’t too difficult. So if you want beauty products that you know are natural and are also inexpensive, just make them yourself. Here are 5 quick and easy recipes you can make at yourself.

Face Mask
Eating good food helps give you the right nutrients you need to look good. You can get more of these vitamins and minerals by putting the good stuff right on the skin.

Combining a mashed carrot, mashed avocado, and a beaten egg with a half cup a few tablespoons of honey creates a great face mask that provides vitamins, and improves the tone and texture of your skin. Just stir well, apply, let sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash off with cool water.

After you’re washed and nourished your skin, you can use grated cucumber or diluted lemon juice as a toner to help tighten your skin and close up your pores to close your pores and keep your skin looking great.

Hair Conditioner
Many people pay a lot of money for a conditioner that actually makes your hair look and feel good. Here’s a great natural recipe to save you money and help your hair.

Just mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of castor oil and apply to hair. Let sit for about ten minutes and rinse out. You can use this every so often as a conditioning treatment for healthy shiny hair. If you like being experimental, you can try mixing other kitchen items, herbs, and natural items with eggs for healthy, shiny hair.

Hand and Foot Cream
A quick face mask will help make you look great in not a lot of time, but hands and feet require extra care.

Use ½ cup of olive oil mixed with natural sea salt and massage into your hands and feet. Leave a few minutes to soak and then rinse off with warm water.

When it comes to natural beauty products, these recipes are just the start. You can find hundreds of different combinations in natural beauty books, magazines, and on the internet. Or you can go to your kitchen cabinet and make your own special creations.

Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Bath

Clay baths help facilitate the removal of pollutants, heavy metals and chemicals (e.g. mercury and lead) from the body, which can be a big factor in neurological and behaviour issues in children.

The Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Bath is made from Bentonite Clay, which disperses easily in water. It can be flushed down the drain and is not clumpy or messy. Bentonite Clay is hypoallergenic. It has a very high negative ionic surface charge which draws out and absorbs the positively charged chemicals, toxins and heavy metals through the skin.

Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Bath is a pure natural product and safe to use for children. After using clay baths for a period of time, parents of autistic children have noticed immense improvement in their behavior, speech and interaction, such as eye contact.

The Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Bath is an easy to use detoxifier to help improve your childrenÆsÆ health.

For more information on this product, go to www.evenbetternow.com.

Please note that it is always advisable to speak to your doctor or paediatrician before using any supplements or medication.

Hanging Solar Food Dehydrator

The Hanging Solar Food Dehydrator is a great way to use up overripe fruit and vegetables. It can also be used as a sprouter.

Drying food, from fruit to vegetables, is easy, especially in the Hanging Solar Food Dehydrator. Dried food tastes delicious, is very nutritious and allows you to use up surplus food, even if it is overripe, thus minimising wastage.

The Hanging Solar Food Dehydrator is made from stainless steel and comes with dishwasher-safe polypropylene trays. It can be hung in any warm corner of your home, such as your kitchen.

The surrounding mesh keeps the bugs out and allows the fruit or sprouts to dry and sprout naturally. The dehydrator is eco-friendly as no electricity is used to create delicious snacks, such as fruit leathers, dried banana slices and other delicacies.

The dehydrator has 3cubic feet of drying space. It weighs approximately 6lbs and folds to 3”H x 16”sq.

Clean House Clean Planet

Clean House Clean Planet is an essential book on how to clean your house frugally whilst being environmentally friendly. The author, Karen Logan, talks about commercial cleaners and the dangers they pose to the environment and our health.

Green cleaning is a straight-forward book in which the author passes on many homemade cleaning recipes. The recipes are easy to make, inexpensive and bring a sparkle and beautiful scent to your home. The author discusses the recipe’s effectiveness and cost in comparison to commercial cleaners.

Learn how to clean the oven with eco-friendly products; unclog the sink, use baking soda for a sparkling result or clean your bathroom with vinegar and water. Read up on how to make your own laundry detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, metal polishers and how and why to use essential oils.

Clean House, Clean Planet is a book that every eco-conscious person should own. It makes a fun read, offers easy to make cleaning recipes and gets a sparkling result.

Bean Pots – A Healthy Way to Cook Beans

A bean pot is a variation on the crock pot or slow cooker, but it is not electric. It is usually a ceramic pot intended for slow cooking, and is particularly suited for bean cookery. Bean pots are really nothing new. In fact, colonial women would bring crockery pots of beans to the local baker's to be baked slowly in his oven. You can cook beans by this old-fashioned, money-saving method using a modern bean pot.

How Does It Work?

Using a bean pot is very simple. For beans for dinner on Friday night, begin on Thursday evening by putting dried beans into your pot and covering them with water, at least 2 inches above the beans. In the morning, pour off this soaking water, cover the beans with fresh water (again about 2 inches above the beans), and add any flavorings you like (onion, garlic, herbs, ham hock, etc.). Don't add salt or anything acidic - these ingredients will prevent the beans from becoming tender. Cover the bean pot and place it in a cold oven, turn the oven to 300 degrees, and leave the beans all day. The design of the pot prevents burning, but you may need to add more water. Check on the beans periodically to be sure they are not drying out.

Another option is to bring the soaked, flavored beans to a boil on the stovetop, then pour the hot mixture into the bean pot, cover, and place in a preheated oven.

You can cook canned beans in your bean pot, too - more on that below.

What Are the Advantages of Using a Bean Pot?

1. Beans are very healthy, full of fiber and nutrients such as protein, folate, and magnesium. Having a bean pot will encourage and enable you to prepare more of this healthful food.

2. Dried beans are much cheaper than canned beans.

3. Dried beans are generally healthier than canned beans. Canned beans often contain large amounts of sodium, and consumers are concerned about chemicals in canned foods, particularly BPA. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that can disrupt hormonal balance, and is often used in the lining of food cans. BPA has even been implicated in contributing to obesity. As noted above, you can cook canned beans in your bean pot, and if you prefer to do this, consider BPA-free canned beans such as those made by Eden Foods. There are also low-sodium canned beans available.

4. Slow-cooking beans at a low temperature makes them more digestible, breaking down the starches and sugars thoroughly.

Bean pots are an old idea that is quite applicable to today. Beans are inexpensive, readily available, and versatile. A bean pot can help you to take advantage of this little nutritional treasure.

Why Seaweed Is Good for You

While they are not, technically, a vegetable, seaweeds are often called sea vegetables. They are an integral part of Japanese cooking. Cultures around the world, in fact, partake of various forms of sea vegetables. Practitioners of macrobiotics rely on seaweed as a staple food. There are quite a few different types of these sea-dwelling, edible plants, all of which have great nutritional value. Here are some of the more common seaweeds, and the nutrients present in them.

* Arame - This dark sea vegetable has a large leaf which is shredded before drying and packaging. It contains calcium, iron, vitamin A, niacin (vitamin B12), and significant iodine.

* Kombu - Also high in iodine, kombu comes in strips and is often cooked with beans to increase their digestibility. It also contains calcium (though not as much as arame), iron, vitamins A and C, and niacin.

* Hijiki - This strong-flavored seaweed has the highest amount of calcium of all the common seaweeds. It does not contain any vitamin C, but it does have varying proportions of the same nutrients noted above.

* Wakame - This is popular in traditional Japanese miso soup. It is a kind of kelp, and is quite high in calcium and niacin.

* Nori - You might recognize this seaweed if you eat sushi. Toasted sheets of pressed nori are wrapped around sweet sushi rice and various fillings. This sea vegetable has the highest protein, vitamin A and niacin content of any seaweed.

* Dulse - Popular dried and eaten as a salty snack, this purplish seaweed is sometimes ground to a powder and used as a condiment. It is lower in calcium and iron than other seaweeds, and contains no vitamin A or niacin. It is, however, high in vitamin C, protein, and iodine. Dulse also has a healthy ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

* Agar-agar - Tasteless and odorless, agar-agar is distinctive among the sea vegetables. It is used as a gelatin when making jello-like desserts. It is also used in ice cream and other dairy products to give them a cohesive, thick consistency. It has the lowest nutritional content of the sea vegetables listed here, except with regard to calcium. It has more of that mineral than nori.

The consumption of sea vegetables has, according to macrobiotic cook and author Wendy Esko, been proven to help reverse cardiovascular diseases, shrink tumors, and even eliminate the ill effects of radiation exposure.

Brown seaweeds such as arame contain a carbohydrate called fucoidan, which studies have shown has, among other properties, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory action. And sea vegetables do contain soluble fiber, so the good effect on cardiovascular health is understandable.

Seaweeds can take some getting used to, but starting with small amounts of the milder varieties - such as arame and kombu - can help make the transition easier.

Organic Goji Juice

Goji Berries are well known as a health-promoting superfood. They contain B-complex vitamins, amino acids, trace minerals, protein, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, carotenoids and more.

The Goji Juice is extracted from Tibetan Lycium Barbarum, goji berries in the valleys below the Himalayans. Each bottle of juice contains between 4.5 and 6lbs of berries which are then mixed with apple & pear fruit juice. The processed juice is 100% organic, certified kosher, certified vegetarian, pesticide and chemical free.

The juice is manufactured in an FDA inspected & certified organic lab and quality tested before and after bottling.

Goji Juice promotes your health by providing you with a wealth of vitamins and minerals.

For more information on Organic Goji Juice, go to www.thetotalhealthshop.com.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Shiitake mushrooms are known for their health promoting properties and have been used as medicine by the Chinese and Japanese for thousands of years. Shiitake mushrooms are said to reduce cholesterol and boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure, and are also powerful antioxidants.

In addition to the medical benefits, they are also a lovely culinary experience. The mushrooms have a meaty taste and satisfy vegetarians but also meat eaters who want to cut down on their meat consumption.

The kit is made in USA and contains a unique blend of sterilized, enriched sawdust with a specific species of Chinese shiitake. Mushrooms thrive in humidity and require temperatures between 50°F and 80°F to grow. They should be ready in about a month and then can be harvested every two weeks for up to 4 months.

Shiitake mushrooms are a fantastic source of Vitamin B, selenium, fiber, potassium, iron, protein and Vitamin C. They are low in fat and sodium and add delicious flavors to your daily recipes.

To learn more about the Shiitake Mushroom Kit, go to

Getting Started with Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from life threatening illnesses to the common cold. While many people used to modern medicine may find it suspicious, it is still one of the most used types of medical treatment worldwide and is steadily gaining popularity in the western world.

Homeopathic medicine is based on three basic principles. The biggest principle of homeopathy is that like treats like. Instead of treating based on the disease doctors think you have, treatment is done based on the symptoms you know you have. The second principle is that there is only one treatment, not two or even ten like a traditional doctor might give you. The third principle is that everything is given in extremely small doses.

To treat yourself homeopathically, you must figure out all the symptoms. Once you know your symptoms, you find a substance that causes the exact same set of symptoms and take a small amount of it. Because you are only taking a very small amount, the substance not only doesn’t harm you, it’s said to cure you, generally long term or even permanently.

When most people hear about homeopathy, their initial reaction is “no way!” Treating symptoms with something that causes your symptoms seems totally counterintuitive, but it’s a concept that’s used in modern medicine as well as more ancient cures. Shots commonly used to treat allergies contain a small amount of whatever you’re allergic to. Many vaccines contain a small amount of the disease they’re designed to protect against.

While homeopathic medicine is not only considered effective, it has many benefits over modern medicine. Like many other natural medical treatments, most homeopathic remedies are totally natural. While this doesn’t necessarily make them safe, these remedies tend to cause fewer side effects, have little drug interactions, and are generally better for your overall health.

Homeopathic medications are also considered better for your body because they work with it. Many modern medicines work to suppress symptoms like fever or coughing. These symptoms are the body’s natural ways to get rid of disease. Instead of suppressing symptoms, homeopathic medicine works to cure the problem itself while addressing the specific symptoms.

When the right treatment is found, homeopathy is considered very effective. The big problem is that just like there are thousands of prescriptions and over the counter drugs, there are also thousands of homeopathic remedies as well. And if you don’t pick exactly the right one, it won’t work.

While you can buy homeopathic remedies over the counter, just like herbal and other alternative medicines, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe to treat yourself. If you’re serious about this treatment you should speak to a doctor who has experience in alternative medicine or even see a specialist in the area.

How to Recycle Your Garden Waste

When garden waste is composted, it decomposes aerobically - that is, using oxygen. Unlike landfills, which decompose waste anaerobically (without oxygen), garden composting produces few greenhouse gases. And when you recycle your garden waste, you are providing yourself with useful, organic compost, thus eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Here are some ideas for how you can recycle your garden waste.

* Grass clippings can be left on your lawn after mowing. They will act as mulch, helping to hold in moisture. As the grass clippings rot, they will enrich the soil of your lawn. Rotting grass clippings contain nitrogen, which is an important fertilizer for your yard and garden.

You can also rake up your grass clippings and pile them up where they will rot. You can add bits of this rotting matter to your compost, or even sow seeds into the grass clipping pile. Squash and pumpkins are possibilities for plants that will grow this way, as long as the clipping pile receives enough sunlight.

* Prunings and trimmings from brush, trees, garden plants, etc. can be added to your compost pile. If they are large or woody pieces, you will need to chop them up a bit before adding them to the pile. If you have a flower garden, compost the pinched-off blooms and cut stems. If you have a vegetable garden, compost peelings, rinds, and leaf and stem prunings.

* Fallen leaves can be piled onto your compost, or composted alone to make something called leaf mold. This is a kind of compost that is high in nutrients. You can use it for mulch or fertilizer, depending on how you decompose it. Just chopping or shredding leaves produces mulch that you can use immediately, and it will enrich the soil as it breaks down.

To make leaf mold, you must let the leaves rot much longer, from 6 months to 1 year. If you do not chop the leaves first, making leaf mold may take 2 years. Simply compost the leaves in a pile, bin, or other container that allows for ample air circulation and turning.

* Biodegradable bags can be used for yard and garden waste if you have trimmings from weeds or other materials you do not want to recycle. Some communities will gather garden waste and return it as mulch or fertilizer.

* Creative uses for branches and twigs include home-made herb-drying racks, natural fences, or crafts. Use natural twine to lash the branches together and reinforce with nails if necessary.