The year the Easter Bunny brought my kids only organic yogurt-covered raisins didn't go over so well, but at least my daughters are gung-ho for dying Easter eggs with homemade, plant-based dyes. We rummage and smoosh and boil, and they are amazed and delighted by the colors we can come up with. They have fun, and I am relieved to be free of synthetic food dyes.

Certified food dyes approved by the FDA include colors synthesized from petroleum derivatives and even coal tar. While other food dyes based on natural ingredients come from things you may not care to ingest: Have you heard about carminic acid? It is a commonly used red food coloring, which comes from the dried, crushed bodies of pregnant female scale insects called cochineal. Yum.

]]> The year the Easter Bunny brought my kids only organic yogurt-covered raisins didn’t go over so well, but at least my daughters are gung-ho for dying Easter eggs with homemade, plant-based dyes. We rummage and smoosh and boil, and they are amazed and delighted by the colors we can come up with. They have fun, and I am relieved to be free of synthetic food dyes.

Certified food dyes approved by the FDA include colors synthesized from petroleum derivatives and even coal tar. While other food dyes based on natural ingredients come from things you may not care to ingest: Have you heard about carminic acid? It is a commonly used red food coloring, which comes from the dried, crushed bodies of pregnant female scale insects called cochineal. Yum.

By using plant-based dyes for coloring Easter eggs, not only do you know exactly what you’re getting (hold the insects, thanks) but the colors are far lovelier than their synthetic counterparts. They are muted yet vibrant, and knowing their source is gratifying on a deeper aesthetic level. Children seem to find that mashing food is also much more fun that simply dropping a tablet in a cup. As well, it is a great lesson in exploration—kids get to experiment with which plant materials work in which way, and can get creative with items in the refrigerator or pantry.

Some of these materials work best when they are boiled with the eggs (they will be noted below), and some work well made ahead and used by dipping or soaking the eggs. If you are using juice, just use it straight. Bulky materials will be boiled with the eggs or boiled and allowed to cool for dipping. The longer you let the eggs soak, the more intense the color will be (for the boiled versions, you can remove them from the heat and allow to cool in the dye bath).

You can use your favorite egg-dying tricks here as well: Like crayons for a batik effect or rubber bands for a tie-dye effect. If you like a glossy egg, you can rub the dyed eggs with vegetable oil when they are dry.

Red
Red onion skins, use a lot (boil with eggs)
Pomegranate juice

Orange
Yellow onion skins (boil with eggs)

Yellow
Lemon or orange peel (boil with eggs)
Carrot tops (boil with eggs)
Celery seed (boil with eggs)
Ground cumin (boil with eggs)
Ground turmeric (boil with eggs)

Yellow Brown
Dill seeds (boil with eggs)

Brown
Strong coffee
Instant coffee
Black walnut shells (boil with eggs)

Yellow Green
Bright green apple peels (boil with eggs)

Green
Spinach leaves (boil with eggs)

Blue
Canned blueberries and their juice
Red cabbage leaves (boil with eggs)
Purple grape juice

Violet Blue
Violet blossoms
Red onion skins, less amount than you need to make red (boil with eggs)

Lavender
Diluted purple grape juice
Violet blossoms plus squeeze of lemon (boil with eggs)

Pink
Beets, fresh or canned
Cranberries or cranberry juice
Raspberries
Red grape juice
]]> http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-natural-easter-egg-dyes.html/feed http://www.care2.com/greenliving/rose-petal-beads.html http://www.care2.com/greenliving/rose-petal-beads.html#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:28:11 +0000 Annie B. Bond

There is something so beautifully wholesome and rich about this project, taking rose petals and concentrating their loveliness into hand-worked beads. The end result is a fragrant, compact set of beads that you can string and use for adornment, prayer or meditation. Rose petal beads would make a dazzlingly romantic Valentine's Day present, as well as a fantastic way to reuse the petals from roses you receive (it's so sad to see them in the trash).]]> There is something so beautifully wholesome and rich about this project, taking rose petals and concentrating their loveliness into hand-worked beads. The end result is a fragrant, compact set of beads that you can string and use for adornment, prayer or meditation. Rose petal beads would make a dazzlingly romantic Valentine’s Day present, as well as a fantastic way to reuse the petals from roses you receive (it’s so sad to see them in the trash).

Strings of beads have been used for prayer and meditation for ages, they help to center and focus. Scented objects such as rosaries have also been used in many religions. On feast days, early Christian priests wore garlands of rosebuds or beads made from rose petals, ground and blended with fixatives into an aromatic paste, then rolled into balls and pierced with a needle. It is a lovely idea to make an object to hold during meditation practice, and most people find that it helps to focus.

Here is a method inspired by a 19th-century recipe for rose petal beads that will yield lovely, scented beads that are surprisingly hard and durable. You will need nothing more than rose petals (red and fragrant are recommended), water, a saucepan and a needle or hanger, plus string for stringing.

Gather the roses and chop the petals as finely as you can. Put them in a saucepan and barely cover with water. (If you have a cast iron skillet, the iron will impart a lovely deep hue to the beads.) Heat for an hour but do not let it boil. Repeat this for three or four days and if necessary, add more water. It is important to never let the water boil but to warm it up each day over a moderate heat.

When the petals have reached the consistency of clay, you are ready to start the beads. Place the mixture in a colander or sieve and press out as much water as possible. Make the beads by working the pulp with the fingers into balls. When they dry they will shrink by about half, so you can start big. When thoroughly well worked and fairly dry, press on to a bodkin (a long needle, or you can use thick wire or a metal hanger) to make holes in the center of each beads. Until they are perfectly dry the beads have to be moved on the bodkin from time to time or they will be difficult to remove without breaking them. When dry, remove and string them.

It's ironic that such a relaxing, restoring and expressive activity—making art and crafts—can also be so toxic. Although legislation controlling many of the dangerous ingredients in hobby materials has recently been passed, exposure to certain art materials remains a health risk. Check this list of where toxic dangers lurk in art and craft supplies, and tips for safer use.]]> It’s ironic that such a relaxing, restoring and expressive activity—making art and crafts—can also be so toxic. Although legislation controlling many of the dangerous ingredients in hobby materials has recently been passed, exposure to certain art materials remains a health risk. Check this list of where toxic dangers lurk in art and craft supplies, and tips for safer use.

Toxic chemicals in the home can be eliminated simply by making thoughtful choices in the supermarket after educating oneself about what the hazards are of common consumer products.

In the studio or hobby room, dangerous chemicals and metals include:

• Lead in ceramic glazes, stained-glass materials, and many pigments.
• Cadmium in silver solders, pigments, ceramic glazes, and fluxes.
• Chromium in paint pigment and ceramic colors.
• Manganese dioxide in ceramic colors and some brown oil and acrylic paint pigments.
• Cobalt in some blue oil and acrylic paint pigments.
• Formaldehyde as a preservative in many acrylic paints and photographic products.
• Aromatic hydrocarbons in paint and varnish removers, aerosol sprays, permanent markers, etc.
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons (as solvents) in ink, varnish and paint removers, rubber cement, aerosol sprays.
• Petroleum distillates (as solvents) in paint and rubber cement thinners, spray adhesives, silk-screen inks.
• Glycol ethers and acetates in photography products, lacquer thinners, paints, and aerosol sprays.

Tips for safer painting

• In painting and print making, ready-mixed water-based paints or inks can be used.
• If you must be exposed to paint dust, use a toxic dust respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
• Ventilate the space thoroughly whenever using any kind of solvents, whether in painting or in lithography, intaglio, or photoetching.
• Solvents should be avoided while pregnant.
• Enamels are usually lead-based, and can contain other toxic metals such as cadmium and nickel. Use lead-free enamels whenever possible, and make sure kilns are vented outside.

Tips for safer pottery

• Outside vented kilns are important, as is careful choice of materials—most potters know to avoid glazes and lead frits, but many don’t know that flint, feldspars, fluorspar, and some compounds containing barium, lithium, manganese, or nickel can also be toxic.
• Children should avoid the pottery studio, as they are more highly susceptible to the toxics used in pottery than adults.

Tips for safer photography
Photography presents a number of toxic hazards which are difficult to avoid.

• Minimize exposure to photo chemicals by using gloves, mixing chemicals in a mixing box with holes in the sides for gloved hands, and providing adequate ventilation.
• The Health and Welfare Office in Canada suggests at least 10 room air changes per hour in the darkroom.
• Children under 12 should avoid the darkroom.

To check the toxicity of specific products, The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) has a searchable database of non-toxic art and creative materials for children and artists.

The round shape of most wreaths represents the circle of life. Wreaths made of tree boughs or leaves represent the cycle of nature and the life-giving nature of forests. Make a winter wreath with tree boughs, especially with boughs of the evergreen, which is highly revered as a symbol of eternal life.]]> The round shape of most wreaths represents the circle of life. Wreaths made of tree boughs or leaves represent the cycle of nature and the life-giving nature of forests. Make a winter wreath with tree boughs, especially with boughs of the evergreen, which is highly revered as a symbol of eternal life.

The evergreen tree has been integral to the spiritual life of many societies and can be dated back to at least 4000 years B.C. While a tree itself is an embodiment of nature—roots, seeds, symbol of fertility and life—the evergreen is highly revered because it doesn’t lose its leaves, and thus it has become a symbol of eternal life. For this reason the evergreen is also often commonly used as an Advent wreath.

Evergreen wreaths have been hung since the earliest times and are symbolic of the survival of life against the odds—the lack of light and the cold of deep winter. The green-colored boughs represent hope and new life.

Holly leaves, with their shiny leaves and berries, are popular substitutes for evergreen wreaths.

Making your own wreaths is a really fun project, and kids enjoy it too. Try these easy directions and you will be as hooked on the project as my daughter and I are: We try to make a new door wreath for every season!

Supplies
Evergreen Wreaths
Heavy-gauge wire wreath armature
Everygreen boughs
Green or brown florist’s wire
Decorative ribbon

Determine the size of the bough bunches you’ll need (big wreaths look balanced with longer bunches, about 12 inches long; small wreaths may look best with shorter bunches, about 6 inches long).

Assemble about 8 to 15 branches in bunches; wire the bunches together at the cut ends with florist’s wire. Wire each bunch to the wreath’s armature, holding the cut ends to the armature and covering the cut ends of the previous bunch, so you have a continuous presentation of boughs. (A good way to gauge where to start adding the next bunch is to wire it about 1 inch past the ends of the previous cut ends.) Keep going until you have covered all of the stems and the armature. Trim and neaten the wreath, then add a ribbon as desired.

When the holidays are over, remove the branches and compost them, mulch with them, or strip off the needles and make door draft snakes!

Many years ago I received a squat little jar of fig jam that an Italian friend had made from figs grown in her backyard. It was the best hostess gift I've ever received. It was sweet and surprising and gave that cold New York winter a nice long hit of Italian sunshine. And with those homegrown organic figs and the recycled jar, it was so nicely green. Of course the majority of us don't have a perfect garden in Italy bursting with fresh figs—but we can still steer away from humdrum hostess gifts and opt for something thoughtful, sweet and green.]]> Many years ago I received a squat little jar of fig jam that an Italian friend had made from figs grown in her backyard. It was the best hostess gift I’ve ever received. It was sweet and surprising and gave that cold New York winter a nice long hit of Italian sunshine. And with those homegrown organic figs and the recycled jar, it was so nicely green. Of course the majority of us don’t have a perfect garden in Italy bursting with fresh figs—but we can still steer away from humdrum hostess gifts and opt for something thoughtful, sweet and green.

Aloe Vera Plant
Instead of cut flowers, give an aloe vera plant. I happen to love the look of this sexy succulent in a matching green ceramic pot—but any container will do. Aloe is great for burns, but it is also fantastic to use as a moisturizer, a hair gel, and is a wonderful all-around healer for woes of the skin.

Preserved Lemons
These take three weeks to cure, but are so fabulous and simple to prepare. And if you start a few batches now you can be assured that you will brighten the day of any adventurous hostess by next month. Preserved lemons are a staple of Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine, but add a vibrant, salty zing to just about any type of dish you can think of. They are amazing with poultry, whole grain salads, steamed vegetables, fish, olives, in relishes … you name it. You’ll need clean jars; organic, unwaxed, scrubbed lemons; and additive-free kosher salt. Cut the lemons over a bowl or cutting board that will hold the juice—and cut each lemon in quarters but leave the quarters attached at the end so that the lemon remains in one piece. Pour a few tablespoons of salt in the bottom of jar, pack lemon quarters with salt and press them into the jar, layering them and topping it all off with salt. Pour extra juice in the jar and cover tightly. Leave them at room temperature for three days; the lemons should be submerged in juice by then, if not, add more juice. Let pickle for three weeks. These do not require refrigeration, but many people store them in the fridge anyway. They will keep for up to one year.

Beeswax Candles
Unlike paraffin candles (which are made of petroleum), beeswax candles actually purify the air. They burn long, clean and bright, and give off their own natural honey fragrance.
Make sure to buy 100 percent pure beeswax candles; and choose yellow beeswax over white beeswax, which is often chemically bleached.

Healthy Sweet Spice Blend
Instead of the tired refined sugar and cinnamon mix for buttered toast, give this wholesome alternative. Mix Sucanat (non-refined cane sugar) with nutmeg and warming spices such as cinnamon and cardamom—which according to Ayurvedic medicine can help boost energy and improve circulation. This looks both elegant and homey packed up in a recycled jar with a sweet homemade label, and does wonders for buttered toast, plain yogurt or a glass of cozy warm milk.

Vanilla Infused Maple Sugar
Maple sugar is a terrific replacement for refined sugar, and its heady deep flavor is divinely enhanced by vanilla. Use half a vanilla bean per one cup of maple sugar. Scrape the bean and bury it in the sugar in a recycled jar, and seal tightly. Let it sit for at least one week. Vanilla maple sugar can be used in place of regular sugar in coffee, on plain yogurt, in baking—wherever sugar is used.

Ginger Syrup
This is so versatile and lovely. It keeps in the refrigerator for up to six months, and can be used on ice cream, fresh fruit, French toast, waffles, or with sparkling water to make an all-natural ginger ale. Not only is ginger delicious, but it is a true healing food that has been used for millennia to treat everything from stomach distress to arthritis and heart conditions. Combine 1 1/2 cups water and 1 cup honey in a small pot and bring to a simmer. Slice 6 ounces of ginger root into thin pieces (no need to peel) and add to mixture. Simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes. When the syrup has reduced to about 3/4 cup, remove from heat and strain. Discard the ginger, let cool, and refrigerate in a clean, recycled jar or bottle.

The Old Standbys … Done Green
In a pinch you might end up with little other choice than chocolate, wine or flowers. And heck, you’ll still have a happy hostess! But if you can, show your green side and try to find an organic wine, some fair trade chocolate or flowers grown without pesticide.

Other Ideas
For other hostess gift ideas including recipes and personal care goodies, see Perfectly Natural Hostess Gifts.

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I attended a beautiful holiday party in NYC given by INFORM, a nonprofit group that examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health. The ambiance of the party was exquisite: I know the look of light green, greenwashing, medium green, lipservice-green, even not-at-all green, and this party really touched my heart because it was fully green. Here is what they did green, with what products, and more about them:

I have admired INFORM for years because they understand that environmental health and the environment are one and the same, and their research is excellent. To learn more about them visit their website, Informinc.org.

Putting into practice the solutions from the results of their research, they carefully planned their green holiday party down to the last cloth cocktail napkin. In fact, the mission of their party was to showcase the importance of green purchasing–choosing recyclable and long-lived products that contain the fewest toxic ingredients and the least amount of packaging–in order to create a more sustainable society.

Product Details for Giving a Green Party
Beeswax candles (scent-free) - a must if you want to be green
Potted trees–wonderful natural air cleaners
Cloth cocktail napkins
Invitations on recycled paper
Organic beer, wine, drinks
Organic hors d’oeuvres

Guiding this year’s event was Master of Ceremonies Jayni Chase, long time friend of INFORM and a seasoned champion of environmental causes in her own right, especially in schools.

In the instance of this party, prizes were given away and even they were chosen for their
sustainability. These included an organic cotton sheet set and fireside throw, a solar-powered electronics charger, Seventh Generation green cleaning products, a Xerox Phaser 8500 printer with solid ink printing that generates 95% less waste than a typical color laser product. We also raffled a dinner for two at the highly regarded Blue Hill restaurant in New York City, serving organic food from regional farms, as well as a weekend for two at The Omega Institute’s Hudson Valley Retreat Center.

Product Resources

Butte Creek Brewing Company
Contact: Jacquie Winter
Jacquiew@organicale.com
www.organicale.com
(distributed by American Beer Company, Tel: 718-875-0226)

Fetzer Winery Hopland
Terra Wine (organic)
Contact: James Caudill
Jim_Caudill@B-F.com
Tel: 415.444.7410

Frey Vineyards
Organic Wine
Tel: 707.485.5177
www.freywine.com

Otter Creek Brewing Company
Organic brews
Contact: Max Oswald
max@ottercreekbrewing.com

The Cleaver Company (a NYC catering and event planning business dedicated to creating and producing high quality events while striving to improve the food supply.)
Contact: Mary Cleaver, President
Tel: 212.741.9174
www.cleaverco.com
]]> http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-scene-parties-with-eco-flair.html/feed http://www.care2.com/greenliving/perfectly-natural-hostess-gifts.html http://www.care2.com/greenliving/perfectly-natural-hostess-gifts.html#comments Sat, 04 Mar 2006 00:59:51 +0000 Annie B. Bond Here are our favorite offerings to bring along to a party or visit. We include lots of inexpensive make-it-yourself recipes for everything from luscious body butter to your own holiday potpourri, as well as some great items to buy that you may not have thought of.

Food Gifts:

Savory Almonds

Annie’s Famous Chocolate Truffles

A box of incredible artisanal dark chocolates (order online at Oliver Kita for a heavenly chocolate experience)

Olive oil infused with fresh rosemary in a pretty bottle

Hot mulled cider mix with 2 mugs

A bottle of organic wine

Other Goodies

Homemade beeswax candle in a pretty container

Potpourri: see these three potpourri formulas

Four Christmas Incense Formulas

Narcissus bulbs in a pot or a plant in a pretty container tied with raffia

Spa Basket: loofah, handmade soap, formulas from channels: homemade lip balm, Beautiful Body Butter, beeswax tealight

Homemade Bath Salts in a glass apothecary jar

Homemade smudge in an abalone shell or pretty ashtray (See Use Smudging to Clear Your Home)