The Shoppe Newsletter No. 57
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In this Issue:
- The Earth is ‘Out-of-Balance’
- What can we do about it
- How to Buy Less Consumer Products
- What are the Alternatives?
- Workshop Downloads: Applying alternatives to your day-to-day activities
- Making Use of Excess Garden Produce
- Making Dyes and Colours from Natural Sources
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| | Welcome Back!
I've had a bit of a break: tended my garden, preserved some produce, spent lots of quality time with my family of pets, and even created a few new ideas for The Shoppe. But it had to end sometime - so here's the first 2015 issue of The Self-Sufficiency Shoppe Newsletter. I hope it brings you some thoughtful reading.
For people new to The Shoppe you'll find lots of useful information on my website: www.theshoppe.com.au
Workshop bookings (South Aust.) for 2015 have started coming in - for information go to: Workshops & Upcoming Events
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| | The Earth is Out-of-Balance
The Earth – like the human body - is a living organism. It needs a healthy ecological balance to survive into the future. When it becomes out of balance it will do what is necessary to restore itself back to good health and functioning – just like the human body. |
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As this recent newspaper article suggests research shows that due to primarily human action (i.e. green-house gas levels, ocean acidification, deforestation and biodiversity deterioration) the earth has become ‘out-of-balance’.
The crucial issue here is the consequences of this state of affairs for humanity. The earth is a far greater force than a mere human. It will do what I must to restore balance irrelevant of the wants and desires of humanity. How does it restore balance? Earth activity – such as earth-quakes, extreme weather patterns, temperature changes, climate changes – are all examples of Earth’s readjustment back to normal balance and functioning. It’s common knowledge in the scientific community that such events are increasing in frequency. As the planet becomes more ‘out-of-balance’ the more it will do to restore balance – it’s a very simple analogy the applies to all living things.
What we do not know is ‘where, when and how’ – but the agenda is now set for the future
What can we do about It?
Our current human lifestyle is the main contributing factor to the problem. We live a lifestyle far, far beyond the Earth’s means. And more concerning most humans live in denial about the problem. As technology advances and more people of Earth aspire to the same ‘higher’ lifestyle demand on the planet’s resources will continue, the problem will worsen and the consequences deepen.
While as mere humans we may feel powerless to change the behaviour and attitude of big companies and manufacturers in their profit-making ventures – the fact is by purchasing and taking part in consumerism we too are to blame. However we do have choice – we can rely less on consumerism, profit and progress and mass-production by changing our lifestyle. We do not need to go back to the ‘dark ages’ – but can make a few simple changes that lessen our personal demand on consumerism. If we buy less products or change the nature of the products we buy we make a huge positive contribution to moving the motions of what is happening on our fair planet into a different direction.
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| | How to Buy Less Consumer Products
By simply replacing a few of your usual consumer products with simple household alternatives you will make a huge contribution to the betterment of the planet and your lifestyle.
I've put together a 'Sustainable Alternatives Chart' which lists simple environmentally friendly alternatives to some common commercial consumer products. It also has some useful recipes. Click here to download the chart
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| | What are the Alternatives?
Vinegar, Bicarb Soda, Eucalyptus Oil, Salt, Oatmeal, Lemons are examples of household items that have many practical alternative ways they can be used. Click here for a list and their uses: 'Common Household Alternatives'
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| | | Environmentally-friendly Basics e-Book Set
Six e-books covering the most common household alternatives – Bicarb Soda, Vinegar, Lemon, Eucalyptus Oil, Soap, Oatmeal. All have a multitude of safe, environmentally friendly uses around the home. Very cost effective!
Contains: e-Books No. 9 - Uses for Bi-carb Soda, No. 10 - Humble Lemon, No. 33 - Versatile Vinegar, No. 51 - Uses for Eucalyptus Oil, No. 50 – Recycling Soap, No. 58 - Old-time Oatmeal. (Also available for purchase individually).
Price: $42.00 CLICK HERE for more information & download link |
| | | Eco-friendly Workshop Downloads
How to apply alternatives specifically to your day-to-day living in the areas of:
Green Cleaning, Skin, Body & Hair Care, Detergent Alternatives
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♦ Green Cleaning Workshop Download
Discover how to do all your cleaning with just four basic household items – bicarb soda, vinegar, soap and eucalyptus oil. Never walk down the cleaning lane of the supermarket again. Price: $25
♦ Natural Skin Care Workshop Download
Complete facial skin care regime (cleanser, astringent, moisturiser) using just 5 affordable, safe and environmentally friendly ingredients. No more expensive toxic skin care products! Price: $25
♦ Natural Hair and Body Products Workshop Download
Chemicals we apply to our body daily and leave on ALL day are the most dangerous. Here's chemical free, easy to make alternatives (using natural ingredients from kitchen and garden) for hair shampoos, conditioners, personal deodorants, foot care products and mouth and teeth cleaners! Price: $25
♦ Soap-Making and Detergent Alternatives Workshop Download
Make soap easily at home to your specifications. Safe & environmentally friendly. Transforming a simple bar of soap into a range of alternative soap-based products (detergent alternatives). Price: $25
CLICK HERE for more information & download links
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Special Offer: Get the complete package!
Purchase all four downloads for $85
CLICK HERE for more information & download link
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| | Making Use of Excess Garden Produce
It’s that time of the year again – backyard fruit trees are ripening to the fullest – many people have fruit to spare. If you do not have access to fresh produce you’ll find boxes of cheap very ripe fruit at green grocers, farmer’s market, etc. There’s nothing like yummy homemade produce to tantalise the taste-buds.
You’ll find lots of recipes for utilizing garden produce in e-booklet No. 74 - Ways With Fruit and for specific garden produce there’s a series of e-books called ‘Ways With’.
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| | e-book No. 74 – Ways With Fruit
Also includes info and recipes for making syrups, cordials, other types of jams, conserves, pickling, glacé, mango chutneys, conserves, curds, butters, fruit cheese, freezing, candying, crystallizing, pickling. Interesting recipes include: rose petal jam, orange marmalade, fig and plum jams, lemon cordial, pickled zucchini. Price: $12.00 CLICK HERE more info & download link
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| | Ways With' e-Books
Utilizing what’s in your garden to the absolute fullest! 10 e-Booklets packed full of growing tips, uses (culinary, medicinal and practical), recipes and storage/preservation techniques:
Ways With MINT, Ways With PARSLEY,
Ways With TOMATOES, Ways with LAVENDER, Ways with ROSES, Ways with ZUCCHINI, Ways With ROSEMARY, Ways With THYME, Ways With NASTURTIUMS,
Ways With SAGE
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Price $12.00 each (as separate downloads) or CLICK HERE for more information
about each e-book. (approx.. 30 pages per e-book)FULL SET (all 10 titles) - Price $96.00 CLICK HERE for information |
| | Making Dyes & Colours from natural sources:
I’m often looking to stain or dye fabric or food and prefer not to use chemically based options. More so since one of my cats went a wandering some years ago and came home with ‘blue feet’ – obviously one of the factories in my area was using a dye of some sort – and my lovely cat must have walked over or through it. Anyway I was unable to wash all of it off – so the remainder was licked off! It worried me greatly the toxicity of the dye and the effect on my poor old cat. Anyway since then I’ve been very thoughtful about synthetic chemical dyes and colours and use, instead, natural options. Here’s an interesting way to make natural blue colouring.
Blue colouring from red cabbage: Boil 1/4 red cabbage (chopped) in 400ml water for 20 minutes. Strain. Gradually add bicarb soda (1/2 teaspoon at a time) to the cabbage water to achieve desired blue colour.
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| | No. 75 - Natural Dyes & Colours:
Colouring and dyeing suggestions for fabrics and food. Covers method for dyeing, collecting plant material (types of plants), extracting the dye, preparing the fabric, dyeing with tea, coffee, fruits & vegetables & natural food colouring sources. Price $12.00
CLICK HERE for more information and download link
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| | Thank you for reading my newsletter.
I hope it inspires you to make a small change to your daily lifestyle.
Pam Marshall -The Self-Sufficiency Shoppe
email: theshoppe@tpg.com.au
web: www.theshoppe.com.au
For back issues of The Self-Sufficiency Shoppe newsletters:
Click Here
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| © 2015 Pam Marshall - The Self-Sufficiency Shoppe
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