Guest Blogger :: GoodToGoEco

I read this tutorial on the EcoEtsy Blog a few weeks ago. I loved it. So I asked GoodToGoEco for permission to post it here and she gratefully accepted.

Here is what she wrote:

Eco Tutorial: Repurposed Containers.

by GoodToGoEco
Visit the GoodToGoEco web site

Have you started a collection of those large plastic containers that held fruit & snack mix? We get ours from the membership clubs that sell in large quantity. We end up collecting those jars, but we were never sure what to do with them.

So I took on the challenge: Repurposing! On first one, the taller jar, the label peeled off wonderfully! Then I cut the top off, just as it bent in, slicing a starting point with a serrated knife, then finished off using scissors. (You could mark it with masking tape first to make a cutting guideline.) This made a large enough opening, and the slight curve inward gives a small finished detail. Simply add 2 or 3 rolls of TP and it's done! Keeps them clean, yet easy to grab when needed!

Second challenge: the shorter large mouth jars. Those labels don't come off easily at all, and mine had 2 labels! So, I cut same size 'labels' from chalkboard contact paper, and covered the original labels. The contact paper is very easy to use; in fact the adhesive is almost the repositional kind; very forgiving if you don't get it perfect the first time. I put my jars on my craft shelf above washer/dryer, storing spools of thread, notions, ribbons, etc. If I wanted to, I could actually use chalk labeling what's inside! This would work great for kids' craft supplies as well!

If you would like to read more about GoodToGoEco check her blog.

Eco tips::: Homemade Remedies for Insects and Disease Control on Plants Part II

As I said in a previous post, I'm sharing a huge list of homemade remedies for your garden. Most of the ingredients you already have them available at home.

Homemade oil spray for insect control on plants:

Ingredients:
Mix 2 tbsp of cooking oil, and 2 tbsp of baby shampoo in a gallon of water.

This remedy controls insects like: aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, lacebugs, scale and mealybugs.

Note: DO NOT SPRAY IN SUN! Also, this may injure hairy or waxy-leaved plants like squash and other crucifers. DO NOT use oil on orchids. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from leaves. Test spray on a small area of the plant, wait 2 - 3 days and check for damage. It's always a good idea to water the plant the day before you spray. Spray every 5-7 days as needed.

If a fungus is also present then add to the above formula 2 tbsp of baking soda and shake well before and during application.

If the weather is humid or the treat of disease is high, spray every five to seven days. Spray both sides of the leaves thoroughly at the first sign of disease. Always test any spray on a small area of the plant. this solution can be used against blackspot and mildew on roses, powdery mildew on summer squash, early blight on tomatoes, and alternaria leaf blight on melons.

I hope you can put in good use this tip for your own garden.

Guest Blogger::: Piruli

This time is Piruli's turn...yep she kindly agreed to write an article for Bululu's blog.

Here is what she wrote:

::: 5 Ways to Shop Eco-Friendly With Etsy :::
by Piruli

From vintage to re-purposed goods there are many ways to bring eco-friendliness to your home and closet. Creating eco-friendly shopping habits helps to reduce waste by making shoppers not only conscious of how their desired items were created, but also help inspire creativity using many items we already have instead of throwing away. Vintage Dust Pan and brush from GarageInc • Antiques/Vintage: The best way to start is to reuse what you already have, but if you are like me, we can’t resist shopping for fun items and love to collect interesting things. The whole idea of antique shopping lends to being an eco-friendly practice, reusing items that will not contribute to a landfill. This goes for clothing as well. Vintage items have proven their durability and relevance. Etsy shoppers know, both are in abundance and are easily found by searching through the Vintage categories. Upcycled Paper Drunk Owl Hook Organizer by BululuStudio • Repurposed Goods/ Upcycling: It is a world of its own to see the various art forms crafted from using bits and pieces of everyday items we no longer use. From sculpture to interesting fashions upcycling invokes wild imagination to invent new purpose for items to prevent them from spending their remaining days in a landfill. • Natural & Organic: Shopping for items made of natural and organic materials helps our Earth since purchasing these items promotes using non-toxic replenishable materials (such as cotton or bamboo) and non-toxic methods for producing these materials (sans pesticides, etc) • Ethical Sources: Not only are human rights issues a large motivation for companies to look to obtain materials from ethical sources, there are also conditions where harvesting/mining materials can do considerable damage to the environment. Ethical sourcing includes companies that comply with high standards for human rights and are conscious of harmful environmental practices that can cause danger to human life. Tea Mug Cozy in Blue with Flower by KnitStorm • Recyclable materials: I concluded with this as a separate section to promote sellers whom use recycled paper and other materials. I commend sellers whom use recycled materials for creating and crafting, or even for packaging, which is often not the most economical choice, but indeed safe for the earth to cut down on chemicals and other various forms of waste used to produce the equivalent at the expense of, for example, cutting down trees to make new batches of paper products. For a list of Spanglish Team members following these eco-friendly guidelines check out the latest Spanglish Team blog shopping Eco Friendly In Spanglish Team! If you would like to read more about Piruli check her blog.

Animal testing on cosmetics labels

I have one brother and one younger sister, my sister forwarded me an email last week, she's vegetarian, she doesn't eat anything that has eyes (he he that's the way she explains it) and she loves to protect and defends animals.

Now I want to share this horrible cruel video with all of you. I think this is a very controversial topic and I invite you to discuss it here, if you want... For those who doesn't know about PETA is an acronym that refers to: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

It's an organization that advocates to protect the rights of animals and prevent cruelty on them. There's a bunch of celebrities that are activists of this organization. Peta is against circus with animals, they say is the cruelest show on Earth. You can Google it for more information.




Next time, when you buy cosmetics check the label if it says "tested on animals" DO NOT buy it. Well that's just my opinion at the end you're the one who decide...so think about it.