Beauty Out of Africa

How Does My Garden Grow?

Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Egg Plant

Rosemary, Basil & Thyme

Tolu rests after an afternoon of hardwork:)

Our Vegetable Garden Part 1

The rising cost of gas and food definitely added to my motivation to start a vegetable garden this Spring. Hubby and I have always done a few tomato plants every summer, but this year we decided to build a raised bed and really grow some serious veggies. The kids joined in on the fun this weekend. I am looking forward to a bumper crop of tomatoes, peppers, egg plants and lots of herbs this Summer

 

Put my 10 year old to work :)

He did a pretty good job too!

We're gonna have fun watching our food grow

Some Recommendations on How to avoid Exposure to BPA

The Washington Post Article listed the following ways to avoid exposure to BPA

• Look for BPA-free toys, baby bottles and containers.
• Reduce your use of canned food; eat fresh or frozen foods instead. Bisphenol A has been found in the lining of canned food tins.
• If you use hard polycarbonate plastics (Nalgene bottles, baby bottles, sippy cups), do not heat them or use them for warm or hot liquids. Heating plastics to high temperatures may promote the leaching of chemicals out of containers and into the food or liquid they hold. Freezing plastics poses no such risk.
• Instead of polycarbonate and PVC plastics, consider using alternatives such as polyethylene plastic -- also labeled as PETE or recycling code #1, #2 (HDPE) and #4 (LDPE). Polypropylene (recycling code #5, or PP) is also considered a safe choice. Recycling code #7 may mean the product contains BPA.
• Do not wash polycarbonate plastic containers in the dishwasher with harsh detergents.

Dangers about Chemicals in Plastics Confirmed Part 1

A few weeks ago I posted some information about Phthalates and baby products. Last week The Washington Post reported that a federal health agency acknowledged for the first time concerns that a chemical found in thousands of everyday products such as baby bottles and compact discs may cause cancer and other serious disorders.

The Post Revealed that last year, another expert panel using outside scientists minimized the health risks of BPA, but its findings were widely assailed after a congressional investigation found that a firm hired to perform scientific analysis was also working for the chemical industry, imagine that!

Used in the production of plastic since the 1950s, BPA may be linked in laboratory animals to breast cancer, prostate cancer, early puberty in females and behavioral changes. More research is being recommended to verify the chemicals health effects.

Part 2, how to minimize exposure to BPA

Mobile Phone Recycling

I was listening to my local NPR station this morning and heard this really interesting concept of cell phone recycling. Collective Good will offer you a more socially responsible and environmentally conscious way of disposing of your old cell phones.
If you are like me, you have drawers full of old cell phones and their cords. You don't feel right about dumping them in the trash, but you know no one in your circle of friends and family want your old phone. Even my 2 year old knows the difference between a cool phone and an old phone.

Collective Good can help you dispose of your old mobile phone while helping charities generate funds to further their missions, they also refurbish your phone and pass some of them on to developing nations in an effort to bridge the digital divide.

Collective Good maximizes the benefits of mobile phones  while minimizing their environmental impact and that sounds really good to me.