"Green" is the word we see in all the advertisements and media right now.
Over-used and confusing - this word puts most people in a frozen state of
undecided-ness. What do I do? What product do I use? What IS green anyway?
Happily, Ellen Sandbeck, self-professed worm-wrangler, has rescued us from the confusion. She knows "green"
inside and out and has written a great variety of books to help the everyday
person put the "green" in everyday living.
For healthy and green housecleaning which uses less chemicals and less
energy - saving you lots of money - please read Sandbeck's stupendous
Green Housekeeping (2008). It will become your new
Bible for housecleaning of any sort. Sandbeck's common sense advice is delivered
with ease as she advises on everything household related from how to get chewing
gum out of the carpet to trapping household pests to disposing of hazardous
household materials. Her money saving green solutions usually point to low-tech
being best - which is simply genius in this down economy.
In Green Barbarians; Live Bravely On Your Home
Planet (2010), Sandbeck takes the reader to the next level
of greenness and sustainability when taking care of our households. Over and
over throughout the book the message is quite clear; that sometimes
living simply a.k.a. "being a barbarian" is best. With great detail, Sandbeck
teaches the reader amazing and interesting facts about every day objects which
will shock you into awareness. She says on page 163, "Laboratory tests showed
that the 'new shower curtain smell' [from a vinyl shower curtain] contains up to
108 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including high concentrations
of toluene, cyclohexanone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), phenol, and
ethylbenzene." I never knew that - did you? How about I just forego the vinyl
shower curtain and use my old cloth one? Seems like common sense and her advice
just saved me a few bucks. See how this book can save you money?
Without a doubt, the most readably amusing book of the three is
Eat More Dirt; Diverting and Instructive Tips for Growing and
Tending an Organic Garden (2003). This is a fantastic
instructional guide on building and maintaining an organic (which means
no-chemical) garden with green, money-saving ideas leading the way. This book
shows that Sandbeck is immensely funny and creative. She gives every type of
home-remedy for garden maintenance, advises how to dance with tools, and
generally shows how to transform all garden irritants into garden pearls. What
an entertaining book - it is very difficult to make bug control entertaining
believe you me - and Sandbeck did it with ease. I loved it!
Save money, get green, live life healthier - - all perfect for my family. These books should be on your night stand for some great evening reading. You can see they already spent time on mine in the photo above.
*NOTE* - - - I was given these books by the publisher in
exchange for reviewing them. I have given a wholly honest review that has
nothing to do with the fact that the books were given to me. I truly enjoyed
these books and honestly use them as home reference guides and will not be
giving them away to anyone - because they are wonderful and I want to keep them
all to myself.
- http://www.thecasualgardener.com,
- The Green Blog - http://www.gardeningnude.com, or
- The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com
Filed under: Green Family, Save Money
Tags: book, book review, Compost, dirt, eco, eco-friendly, Ellen Sandbeck, green, green lifestyle, housekeeping, sustainability, sustainable
