There’s cash in your trash! Recycling in the 21st Century

Posted on by Verde Mom
Picture of a Caterpillar 826C landfill compact...

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Do you realize there is some serious cash in your trash?  Before you go digging into last night’s leftovers and this morning’s coffee grinds, take a closer look at the much bigger picture.

Futurists say that we’ll be employing Landfill Divers soon…divers that go into landfills and sift through years of trash, to find and retrieve recyclables.  Why?  Because recyclable materials are not garbage, they don’t belong in a landfill.  Because the laws will dictate that we recycle just about everything.  And, because there will be a viable market for all types of materials.

Does this give us license to add to the landfills?  No, but it does give us a snapshot of just how valuable our trash can be, now and in the future.

Renee Goodnight, Community Outreach Coordinator for Kannapolis, explained it well when she said, “Throwing recyclable materials into the landfill is like digging a whole and putting money in it!  Recyclable materials are valuable resources and we must start thinking about recyclables differently from our common garbage”.

Locator Map of Cabarrus County, North Carolina...

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Starting next month, 2 neighboring small towns, Kannapolis, NC and Concord, NC are both moving into the 21st century of recycling with new, improved curbside pick up programs.  Both cities will start accepting commingled materials, so there is no sorting involved.  They accept all recyclable items, meaning everything that there is a market for is picked up and reused by somebody, for some purpose.  You can mix your glass, plastic #1-#7’s, paper and even empty aerosol cans together.

The cities estimate that 50% of our currently generated waste will now be recycled!  That is a large step in the right direction, especially considering that one of these towns had NO curbside recycling program in place at all.  People here and all over the globe are going from never recycling to this advanced curbside program, ours comes complete with 96-gallon rolling cartons.  I’m sure you know people who never recycle…because of the inconvenience of sorting and bagging and taking them to their local facility, and who can blame them?  It’s a task not many are willing to add to their busy “TO DO” list.  With the 21st Century recycling programs, automated trucks and manufactured sorting, half of our daily waste will be diverted from the landfill – hallelujah!  That is serious progress in one large step and should give us all hope for the future of our garbage.

There are many other programs across the world, and the industry is evolving rapidly.  Here is another article from The Brink Tank on “Cash in your Trash” that speaks to the same issue, a goldmine of garbage…and an investment in our future!

THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Do you have to pay to recycle?

Many folks ask, “Why don’t they PAY US to take our recyclables?”  It’s a fair question, and the answer is found within the confines of franchise agreements, contract negotiations and landfill access.  Some recovery facilities pay for the materials, while others pay nothing.  Sonoco will be paying Concord and Kannapolis for their materials, helping to fund the programs.  Up to now, however, our recycling facility in Mecklenburg County would take your recyclables but did not provide any compensation for them.

Check out their website, Sonoco Recycling is a world leader in recycling, collecting 3.5 million tons of paper, plastic, metal and other materials annually. Their history started in the 1920′s and they currently operate more than 40 recycling facilities.

In Kannapolis, where there are no landfills, residents will pay $3.20 per month for the convenience of curbside services.  The City of Kannapolis pays tipping fees on top of the state taxes to dump all solid waste.  Therefore, the more you recycle in your new bin, the less landfill waste is generated and the more money the city saves at the dump.

One of Dryden, Ontario's Landfill's. This one ...

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All of our recycling efforts go right to the bottom line, so try to fully participate in your local program, regardless of how far it’s come.   It is estimated by the City of Kannapolis that if only 20% of it’s residents participate, it will result in $130,000 less landfill dumping fees.  Kannapolis has a population of less than 50,000 so imagine the possibilites…and do the math.  It’s easy to see that recycling by all of us really does add up to serious cash flow!

We should all be inspired to recycle, as often as we can and as much as we can!  Not only does recycling help our local government budgets, but it also creates jobs for our local, state and regional, even national market.  Now that we’ve arrived full force into the 21st Century, let’s take advantage of the technology at hand.  You can be proud to watch the cash from your trash add up all year.

Could brain development be inhibited by our shampoos?

Posted on by Verde Mom

Part Three of a Series:

Dermatology products

Image via Wikipedia

Exposing greenwashing and

chemical toxicity in our

trusted products

DEA, TEA and MEA

Why should soft, thick hair come with the price tag of “Carcinogen” attached?

Should we be concerned with brain development disruption for unborn fetuses?

Why are our drug stores full of products that have concerning ingredients?

I don’t have a chemical degree, so it’s hard to read and understand labels in commercial products.  There are some that are most disturbing based on the research out there.  I’d like to err on the side of ‘prove it safe’ rather than take my chances…but the FDA disagreed with that approach when they made our personal care products a self-regulated industry.

Remember the old saying, “Coffee, Tea or Me”?  Try to avoid the ingredients “DEA, TEA or MEA”!

Read what Science Daily wrote about DEA as one of the concerning ingredients here.

While the long term effects of our minimal exposure to toxic ingredients in our everyday products is unknown, we do know some disturbing facts:

Fact #1:  Europe has banned many toxic ingredients from personal care products, but they are still available in hundreds of products in the U.S.  One of these toxins is DEA, or Diethanolamine.  DEA is used as a wetting or thickening agent in commercial shampoos, shaving creams, bubble bath, soaps, hairsprays and sunscreens.

Fact #2: More than 100,000 tons of DEA are sold each year in the U.S., so it’s a very commonly used ingredient, unless you seek out genuine organic, toxic-free products like those found at Chartreuse.

Fact #3: The National Toxicology Program reported an increased chance of liver and kidney tumors in mice when DEA was put on their skin.  There is evidence that it blocks the production of the nutrient choline, which is essential for brain development, especially for our unborn children.

Fact #4:  DEA can also show up as a contaminant in products containing related chemicals, such as cocamide DEA.

Try to avoid these ingredients, if you believe, like I do, that the mice who were tested are evidence enough for me to steer clear of these toxins:

  • Cocamide DEA
  • Cocamide MEA
  • DEA-Cetyl Phosphate
  • DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate
  • DEA Lauryl Sulfacte
  • Lauramide DEA
  • Linoleamide MEA
  • Myristamide DEA
  • Oleamide DEA
  • Stearamide MEA
  • TEA-Lauryl Sulfate
  • Any product containing TEA or Triethanolamine

“Germ fighters” present serious health concerns (exposing Triclosan)

Posted on by Verde Mom

Part Two of a Series, exposing greenwashing and

chemical toxicity in our trusted products

Triclosan

Decorative Soaps

Compliments of Wikipedia

Since 1995, the anti-bacterial soap industry has boomed into a $16 BILLION dollar a year industry.  We all bought into the  belief that we needed it to keep germs at bay.  What has happened is just the opposite, it has stripped the good bacteria right along with the bad…leaving us more susceptible to bacteria than ever, not to mention with extremely dry skin as a result of using it daily!

Triclosan is under review by the FDA and is associated with some very concerning health issues.  It has been suggested by the American Medical Association that we avoid Triclosan at home, as it may be contributing to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. An advisory committee to the FDA found that household use of antibacterial products provides no benefits over plain soap and water. There is also NO evidence that Triclosan provides an extra benefit to health in our products, beyond the use of it in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis.

Triclosan can be found in many products, not just antibacterial soaps.  Anything labeled antibacterial or “fights germs”, or “protects against mold”, even claims like “odor fighting” or “keeps food fresher, longer”…all lead to the fact that Triclosan is in the ingredient’s list.  You can find it in many places and products, such as:

  • soap and dishwashing liquid
  • anti-bacterial soaps and lotions
  • towels
  • mattresses
  • sponges
  • personal care products
  • shower curtains
  • toothbrushes
  • phones
  • kitchenware and plastic food containers
  • shoes
  • flooring and carpets
  • cutting boards
  • clothing and fabrics
  • toys

Antibacterial Soap on hand

The European Union has classified triclosan as toxic to aquatic organisms, as wastewater treatment does not remove all of the chemical and it ends up in water sources.  It’s use in cosmetics is restricted in Japan and Canada.

What are the health risks associated with Triclosan?

Triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity. Low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function. Regular use may exacerbate skin disorders like Eczema, contribute to Asthma, and increase skin sensitivity.  Triclosan is extremely drying to the skin, just look at any health care provider’s hands who uses it regularly, and you will be convinced.


Related articles

Probable Carcinogens found in products labeled organic

Posted on by Verde Mom

Part One of a Series, exposing greenwashing and chemical toxicity in our trusted products

1,4-Dioxane

You won’t find it on the label…but it appears in many of our everyday products.  It’s called 1,4-dioxane and is used as a solvent.  It’s one of the “Top Toxins” to avoid in our homes and on our bodies, yet it’s prevalent in many of our soaps, shampoos, skin care and other products.  It’s among the worst of the synthetic sinisters, so I decided to blow the whistle on it first.

The Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane a probable human carcinogen. (EPA, 2003).  Take a look at the list of carcinogens based on OSHA’s definition of Select Carcinogens in 2009.  Our friend 1,4 Dioxane is company with Asbestos, Arsenic, Coal Tar…and pages more, I only got through the C’s, the list is enormous.  They also give their definition of a Carcinogen at the bottom of the document.

Caution Select Carcinogen sign1,4 Dioxane is in many of our skin care products, and penetrates easily through the skin.  There is evidence that links it directly to systemic cancer in a skin painting study in 2000.  Even though the FDA admits it would be easy to strip this chemical out of our products, the process has to be ‘voluntarily’ adopted by the manufacturers in the industry.  I guess that’s not as easy as it seems, since no such adoption effort has been made.

Even some trusted “organic” or “natural” (labeled) products contain this demon, including these leading brands, which shocked me.  I was a victim to the “greenwashing” by these companies and their claims:

JASON Pure Natural & Organic
Giovanni Organic Cosmetics
Kiss My Face
Nature’s Gate Organics

Find out more at the organic consumer’s website.  This watchdog group has over 500,000 members.  You can also find out more about how to make a difference with pending legislation efforts at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetic’s website: www.safecosmetics.org

HOW DO I KNOW IF A PRODUCT INCLUDES THIS DEADLY DIOXANE?Soap-bubbles

1.4-Dioxane can appear as a contaminant in products containing SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate, an ingredient found in 90% of commercial soaps and detergent).  It’s also found in ingredients including the terms “PEG”, “-xynol,” “ceteareth,” “oleth” and most other ethoxylated “eth” ingredients.  Generally, if you can’t easily pronounce it, look it up before you trust it!  Besides being a probably carcinogen, look at the proven effects of 1,4 Dioxane when tested on animals.  This is directly from the EPA website:

Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans.  It may also irritate the skin.  Damage to the liver and kidneys has been observed in rats chronically (long-term) exposed in their drinking water. Tumors have been observed in orally exposed animals.  EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

Here is a good “myth vs. Fact” sheet on 1,4-dioxane:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneFacts080314.pdf

Related articles

Green Power is a wind-win situation!

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Have you seen a wind turbine yet?  While there aren’t very many in my state, I did see 2 on my Spring Break last month at the N.C. Outerbanks.

wind turbine in Outerbanks, NC

Wind turbine in Outerbanks, NC sunset

While they both paled in size comparison to the ones in Europe we saw last year, they still gave me a feeling of awe when I saw them.  Especially when I spotted the wind-powered brewery a mile from the beach!  Now there’s a concept my husband and I both can get excited about.  It’s a wind-win situation!

How about solar panels, they are popping up in many places, are they becoming common in your area? Perhaps you’ve seen them on industrial buildings, atop houses or farms…they often look like giant mirrors on the horizon.  Other times they are small and innocuous, found on top of electronic signs along the roads and highways and at cross walks and stoplights.

Wind and sun for power…”green power”…hmm, who would argue that these technologies aren’t the best answer since the beginning of the modern age?  They are FREE, unlimited, renewable and well, very effective and reliable.  Did I mention free?  And, unlimited?

According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, the Outerbanks of NC are the best source of wind along the East Coast, so we should start to see more signs of progression there.  Right now, 90% of our electricity in this state comes from fuels, like coal, that are not indigenous to this area.  There are 14 coal-powered power plants in N.C. and guess how many active coal mines we have?  You guessed it…none.

US_wind_power_map

Seems pretty wasteful and silly.  Why should we pay extra to use a product that is limited, dirty and expensive, only to use another limited, dirty resource (oil) to ship it clear across the country?

As a whole, our country burns more than a billion tons of coal every year – second in consumption only to China.  That equates to 20 pounds of coal per person, per day.  Our over-consumption of coal has led to some of the worst air quality in history.  The emissions burned from coal add to the pollution in our water as well as

our air.  We are compromising the quality of our 2 most basic needs.  Time to wake up and smell the toxins!Susquehanna_steam_electric_station

Adapting to the new technologies of wind, sun and other renewable resources for power generation is the right thing to do, in this country and worldwide.  It protects our environment and gives us sustainable options for the future.  It also provides jobs, and presents an economic opportunity for our country that we cannot afford to ignore.

Pesticides in produce need organic washing

Posted on by Verde Mom

We all know that pesticides are prevalent in most of our food sources, our cans of food, crops, poultry and cattle.  Produce is especially susceptible to the pesticides and chemicals sprayed, due to the nature of their delicate systems.

Chartreuse Produce Wash and Organic Produce

Chartreuse Produce Wash and Organic Produce

Eating and buying (locally grown) organic food and grass fed meat is the best way to go, smart choices on so many levels.  We can’t always find or afford these luxuries, but even with organic produce, how many insects have been on it?  How many people have handled it before it gets to your table?

An easy answer, the best resolution, is to use organic produce wash on organic produce.  Water alone will not remove the amount of pesticides found on the outside of the produce.  Regular soaps, filled with chemical preservatives, are nearly as toxic as the pesticides themselves, so avoid washing your food with those!

Fresh Produce

Baby steps…it’s really all that we can do, or we will get overwhelmed and depressed at what has happened to our society and our food sources.  Produce wash is easy to get, affordable, effective and is one step that we can all take without any inconvenience.  Non-toxic produce is just a squirt away!

Speaking of baby steps, take a look at the effect of these pesticides on unborn children.  We once believed that the womb was protecting to our unborn children, that harmful chemicals wouldn’t pass through to them. The evidence is mounting to the contrary, unfortunately, so spread the word to all your pregnant friends and family.

Here are 2 studies worth looking at:

EWG‘s study of “10 Americans” found 287 chemicals in fetus’ blood, chemicals that were banned, or should have been banned, years ago.  Watch the video here.

USA Today reported on April 21, 2011:  PESTICIDE EXPOSURE IN WOMB LINKED TO LOW IQ… Pregnant Women urged to wash produce, avoid home chemical use.  

Read more about the study about IQ testing in 7-year olds exposed as fetuses in the womb here.



Free but priceless Mother’s Day gift idea

Posted on by Verde Mom
Mother and son going to the Beach

Private Collection of Verde Mom (not for public use)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Verde Mom is celebrating all moms this week…for all that you/we do!  What don’t we do?!  Where would society be without the important roles we all play in our children’s lives?  Whether we work outside the home or not, we certainly all work inside the home very hard…and we are counselors, comforters, educators, nurses, cheerleaders, cooks, maids, taxis, and so much more each and every day!

To celebrate an amazing mom in your life, give them a priceless gift:  Laughter, fame and four stars!  Themselves, as a feature in a movie!  The title is “World’s Greatest Mom” and you can check it out at Moms Rising’s website.

Send this video to your favorite moms, so that they can see their own names in lights…and be recognized by movie critics (and by a cute, and remarkably articulate baby) for all of their dedication and hard work.

Here’s what some other Moms had to say about this movie, “The World’s Greatest Mom”.

“THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I love it!! I’m 5 months pregnant (my first baby J) and this video has made me even MORE anxious of seeing my baby soon!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!” –Natali Fani-Gonzalez

“This is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Thank you!! I will share with my daughters and friends. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!! ” –Debbie

P.S. If you’re not a mom, the good news is that you can share this award with a mom you love by passing the video on to her here.

Tips for an Eco-Friendly wedding

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Dried Lavender Wedding BouquetsEco-friendly weddings are all the rage this season!  Whether you are the event planner, a guest, or Bride-zilla herself, there are ways to lessen your impact on the planet while you toast your glass of bubbly.

Did you know the average wedding costs $22,000, yet the average household income of married couples is only $60,000?  That’s staggering.  Certainly not the way you want to start out your union, in deep debt! However, there are many ways to save green with a “green wedding”…and still provide a tastefully decorated, lavish event.

My friend, Tesha and her husband Andre’ had an amazing Green Wedding last year.  She shared her sustainable ideas with me, along with the resources she found after weeks of thoughtful research.  She didn’t compromise on beauty, either.  It was a gorgeous and special event, but it didn’t break their pocketbooks or the environment!Wedding Cake Stone Topper

First, the venue.  Tesha and Andre’ combined the wedding and reception in the same place, saving transportation costs and energy.  You can also consider hiring a van to transport from the wedding to the reception for the guests.  If you are a guest and these are not offered, you can carpool with another guest!  Events in the morning or evening are more energy-efficient than a mid-day event, and provide better lighting for pictures, too.

The invitations could be completely paperless, since we live in the age of electronic communication…many folks also start a blog to keep guests posted as the big day approaches.  Some events are now using e-vites instead of paper invitations.  Tesha used recycled paper with soy ink and taffeta bows, and asked guests to limit gifts.  If they insisted on gifts, she asked that they be wrapped in paper bags or burlap, or not wrapped at all!Eco Friendly Wedding Gift WrapJute bags and invitation

The dresses and suits – while you may not have luck finding second hand attire, you can still save money and be smart about your choices.  Cotton and Linen are natural fibers and much better for cooling off nervous nuptials.  Dresses or suits should be a current style that can be reused by the wedding party.  The wedding dress can also be more practical, for future use at a formal event.  Or, like me, you can loan your dress to a friend to wear it years later, a new way to ‘recycle’!

Next, the decorations and flowers…and this is where you can save tons of money.  Tesha had all her wedding party involved to help make it special, by do-it-yourself projects many of which came from Martha Stewart’s website. The table decorations were simple, yet elegant, using jute material as table clothes (bought at papermart.com), dried lavender (also used for the wedding party flowers, purchased at thelavenderpath.com, also available at localharvest.com) and pruned limbs and leaves in a crafty container as centerpieces.

Dried roses from Pottery Barn doubled as decoration and guest favors, who took them home to “reuse” them. Other favors were jute bags with handmade key rings and rock/magnets made in Kenya, as a tie into Tesha’s heritage.  The bride also made her bridesmaids luxurious handmade soap, made with lavender buds and glycerin, molded into beautiful shapes, presented in a jute bag.Eco Friendly Wedding Party Gifts

Atop the table, guests used corn-based plastic ware (ecoproducts.com), all of which are biodegradable.  The cake was preservative-free, made by a friend, with an all-natural, beautiful stone cake topper the couple will treasure for years.Preservative Free Wedding Cake

The memories from any event long outweigh the day itself.  You can rest assured for many years that your special day did not have a huge impact and expense when you plan the affair with the planet in mind, and of course, for better or worse…if you don’t, your guests could “blow the sustainable wooden whistle on you”!

Eco Friendly Wedding Party Favor

Celebrate Earth Day 2011

Posted on by Verde Mom
"The Blue Marble" is a famous photog...

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Today, April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day, an international holiday event.  This year marks the 31st year, as Earth Day was started in 1970.  Events are being held all over the world that promote awareness of the planet’s biggest needs, and to help show our appreciation for our natural environment and it’s resources.

Earth Day 2011 is themed A BILLION ACTS OF GREEN: Help save the planet, one act at a time, declare your act of green.  A billion sure seems like a lot…but it’s really about a billion people, doing their part with small steps.  We all have a stake in the earth, we all have the shared responsibility of caring for it.

The Earth Day Network invites you to declare an act of green on their Facebook page. To date, over 100 million simple Acts of Green have been declared: I will plant an herb garden, recycle all my electronics (responsibly), stop drinking and eating out of plastic, hang more laundry out to dry, shop weekly at the farmer’s market for fresh and local produce, etc. — the list of simple steps we can each take is abundant…easy…and affordable!

Get outside on Earth Day: All 394 U.S. National Parks have free admission now through Sunday April 24th. (NOTE: Many of our National Parks never charge an entrance fee but the 100+ that do will let you visit for free this week).

In our celebration of Earth Day this year, Melinda Anderson and I are attending the Greening Up The Mountains festival in Sylva, N.C., Saturday April 23rd, from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

We will be on hand to autograph our book, which is on SALE for only $5.00 on CD, look for us and learn how to Think Outside The Bin:  Discard your common household items…Help your neighbor, help your earth.

Vendors at the festival will include local artisans, community organizations, children’s activities, environmental education groups, Catch the Spirit of Appalachia’s youth talent contest and food vendors.

This year’s festival has three main focuses: environmental sustainability,importance of a strong local economy, and revival of native and heritage crafts and traditions. Stop by and see us in the Chartreuse Booth, C4.

Happy Earth Day…today and everyday!!

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Bugs Beware, Eucalyptus is here!

Posted on by Verde Mom

I’m one of those lucky people who Mosquitoes love.  They find me as soon as I arrive to the vicinity, even when nobody else is bothered.  This picture describes a day in the sun for me. mosquito researcher from worst-jobs.com This is me enjoying an outdoor moment…complete with Vitamin D, fresh air…and mosquitos galore!  But, not anymore…

The bugs in my yard have been warned:  there’s a new sheriff in town.  On the badge it says,  “Chartreuse Organic Bug Spray”.    It’s kicking mosquitoes’ butts and taking names.

Complete withLemon Eucalyptus and several natural essential oils like Aloe Vera and Rosemary Extract, it is truly packing a weapon… and keeping those pesky bugs in their place, instead of on my skin. The stinky kind I use to slather on while plugging my nose is really toxic.  With a few squirts of Organic Bug Spray, I watched the bugs literally circle my leg.  They never even landed.

Eucalyptus is a natural insect repellent.  It works amazingly against Mosquitoes, Ticks and Fleas, smells great, and is super-safe!  My sore-free legs are proof positive that it really does work.

Repelling insects, especially those pesky, nasty mosquitoes, is so much more important that it was years ago. As if a bug crawling on our skin weren’t bad enough, now there are diseases these bugs carry that could make us deathly ill, maybe even terminally ill, just from one ‘innocent’ bite. With all of the diseases carried by insects, such as West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Malaria, the scare is very real.  You might be tempted to reach for the strongest, most popular brand of repellent, but consider these facts before you reach for that bottle of toxic repellent:

mosquito repellent cartoon

Image compliments of transafric.com

v    DEET is the most widely used mosquito repellent, developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and patented by the U.S. Army in 1946.

v    DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, “Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream.”

v    DEET is a registered pesticide. Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per liter have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion.

v   DEET is also absorbed by your gut, how yummy does that sound (“Honey, what’s for dinner?  Pesticides, again?”)

v    Seriously, DEET has very alarming effects on the central nervous system.  Dr. Mohammed Abou-Donia of Duke University studied lab animals’ performance of neuro-behavioral tasks requiring muscle coordination. He found that lab animals exposed to the equivalent of average human doses of DEET performed far worse than untreated animals. Abou-Donia also found that combined exposure to DEET and permethrin, a mosquito spray ingredient, can lead to memory dysfunction, learning disabilities and motor deficits.

v    To make it worse, many commercial products combine DEET with ethyl and isopropyl alcohols (as well as Freon!), increasing the toxicity with the combination of chemicals (according to an emergency medicine bulletin).

v    Any product with DEET is required to carry instructions that they should not be used at all for children under 6 months.  Additional required warnings state that for children 6 months to 2 years, only concentrations of less than 10% DEET should be used, and only once a day. For children from 2 -12 years old, only concentrations under 10% should be used, and repellents should not be applied more than 3 times a day.  Sounds to me like we should avoid it all day, everyday with all of these restrictions!

Still not convinced?  

Here’s a few more reasons to use Organic Bug Spray instead of petroleum based, synthetic chemically-laden products on your largest organ (your skin):

v    Wildlife, especially birds and aquatic life, are harmed from the use of DEET…because of it’s production and our use of it as a society, it has been found to reside in 75% of U.S. water sources.

Here’s the Icing on the cake:

v    DEET as a repellent doesn’t work as well as natural bug spray!  In a 2008 U.S. WASHINGTON study (Reuters), it was found that DEET doesn’t block the insects’ sense of smell, it just stinks to them.  In the same study, they found that mosquitoes reacted stronger to the Terpenoids, which are the compounds in the aroma of Eucalyptus (and cloves, menthol and camphor).

Chartreuse Organic Bug Spray is available online for $9.95 (click here) and guaranteed to work as an insect repellent.  A complete 30-day money back guarantee applies on all our products (you are welcome to return your bug spray, for any reason, or for no reason…but you’ll be the first!) 

You should reapply Organic Bug Spray frequently, natural options are not quite as long lasting as DEET.  But they are also not pesticides :)

All of our ingredients are listed in our catalog, on our website, and right here:

Natural Essential Oil Blend (Lemon Eucalyptus and other natural essential oils)

Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut

Olive and Jojoba Essential Oils

Organic Aloe Vera 

Rosemary Extract

That’s all folks!!!That's All Folks with Porky Pig