Thursday 22 March 2007

JOBS TO DO IN LATE SPRING

Photo: Rhododendron 'Christmas Rose'



Remove the wilting seed heads from Rhododendrons and Azaleas, so that the plants energy can go to foliage growth and next years flowers, rather than seeds. Work lime in the soil around your Hydrangeas to produce pink flowers or Aluminium Sulphate for blue.

Early flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythias, Weigela, and Spiraea should be pruned back when they have finished blooming. Cut back a third of the oldest canes to ground level, then cut back one third of the remaining branches by one third of their height.

Lilacs should be pruned lightly after they finish blooming, removing sucker growths and dead blooms. Feed lilacs in May with a good all purpose fertilizer after they have finished blooming. If your soil has an acidic pH, work a little lime into the soil as well.

Break off wilting tulip or daffodil heads but continue to feed and care for the plants until the foliage has died back naturally. Old plantings of daffodils may be divided and moved when they have finished blooming, but treat them as growing plants and use care to protect the foliage and roots.






Water them thoroughly after transplanting. It is best not to dig or move other spring flowering bulbs until their foliage has ripened and died back.

Check your houseplants for greenfly. I have had to throw one or two out because of a serious infestation.

At the end of the month we can start to think about sowing seeds of vegetables out of doors. This is if the soil is warm enough. French and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, kale, leeks, lettuce, spring onions, parsnips, spinach and turnips can all be planted out. I am putting down some black fleece on the top of my soil to get the temperature up a degree or two over the next couple of weeks. If you do put seeds out then it might be an idea to stagger the sowings so that they crop over a longer period.






Horticultural.

MAKING A GRASS HEAD


Driving around the peninsula I cannot help but notice the fabulous displays of spring bedding. Even at this early stage of the year the council have managed to put on a magnificent show, which cheers us all up when we go past them. Putting on displays such as this as a long process. The preparation starts in the latter part of the previous summer. The colour scheme is designed and plants that have the same flowering period have to be chosen. The seeds or plugs need to be ordered and while most of us are hibernating in the winter the young plants are cared for under protective cover. It is only when the weather warms up a bit that we see the benefit of a winters work.

GRASS HEAD
We recently made a grass head out of a pair of tights. This is something to do with the children on a day when they utter the words “I’m bored”. It is very easy but it helps if you have the stuff to do it with to hand. Here are the ingredients.


A section of a pair of tights, about 1 foot will do (excuse the pun!) make that 30cm
Wood shavings, you only need a few hands full.
PVA glitter glue for the mouth.
3 small rubber bands.
Grass seed, again only a small amount.
Two googly eyes. You can get these from any craft shop or pinch them off an old teddy!

MAKING THE GRASS HEAD
Tie a knot in one end of the section of tights. Turn this inside out so that the knot is hidden. Put in a handful of grass seed, then fill the remainder of the tights with the fine wood shavings. Tie a tight knot in the other end.

Grab a bit of the tights at the front, pull out and put the rubber band on tightly. This will form the nose. Follow the same procedure at each side to form the ears.
Add the smile and the eyebrows with PVA glitter glue. Stick on the eyes with PVA glue as well.

When the glue is dry put the head in water to get wet and put on a saucer in a sunny place. Water when it looks as though it is drying out and in a week or two your head will sprout a fine head of green hair.




Horticultural.




REPAK


(Click on the title for a link to Repak)

We had a fun day on our estate last week .We ordered three different types of bouncy castles one for bouncing, one for sliding down and one that had big boxing gloves so everyone could vent their frustrations and beat each other up. The afternoon went very well and included competitive races to help burn off some of the sugar that was taken. The event was only dampened slightly even though the heavens opened the second that air was pumped into the bouncy play equipment and didn’t ease up at all until the things were switched off three hours later. The kids on the estate didn’t seem to notice though and everyone seemed to have the best of times. Next year we will have more of an idea when it comes to the organising of the event. The weather on the other hand, well what can you do?



RETURNING WASTE TO THE SUPPLIERS
I have had some people approach me over the last few days wanting to know what the law is when it comes to taking packaging back to shops for recycling. A year or two ago some customers at a large supermarket protested and brought back all the unnecessary packaging and piled it up outside their doorway. This started a chain reaction that has lead to large shops pressuring suppliers to reduce waste. This is working too but still has a long way to go before we get back to walking back from the shops with our string bag full of packaging free shopping. I contacted Repak the recycling company recently to see where we stood in the eyes of the law when it comes to returning our waste to the shops where we bought the products.

HOW DO THE REGULATIONS AFFECT SUPPLIERS
If a company has a turnover greater than €1 million and places 25 tonnes or more of packaging onto the Irish Market per year, it is considered to be a “Major Producer” and is therefore responsible for the packaging it places onto the Irish Market. To comply with the regulation these shops and companies have two options:

A: Join Repak (the collective compliance scheme): If a shop or manufacturer chooses to become a member of Repak, they will pay an annual membership fee based on the type and quantity of packaging they put onto the Irish market in the previous calendar year. In return for this fee Repak will discharge them of their obligations to take back packaging and to register with your Local Authority. Repak use fees collected from members to fund recycling initiative around Ireland including subsidising Waste Contractors and Local Authorities for all packaging material they collect for recycling.

B. Self Compliance: Major producers may also choose to self comply with the regulations by registering with their Local Authority and by accepting back packaging waste from their customers and the public. Self-compliers must display notices at each public entrance to their premises (minimum size 30cm x 40cm) stating that they will accept back and recycle an amount up to 100% of packaging supplied to their customers. The company would then be responsible for the correct recycling procedure for the waste. There is small print to say that a company can say enough is enough when they have received 50% of the amount of waste they distribute. Another point to note is that companies who supply products and packaging to other counties in the country should be held responsible for the safe recycling of their packaging in that area. This policy isn’t widely used though as initiating it is difficult.

SIMPLE TERMS
If a shop has a turnover of around €20,000 per week and has an output of about half a tonne of rubbish and packaging a week and they don’t have proof that they are a member of Repak, they are legally obliged to take back packaging. This amount isn’t a lot and a majority of small shops and supermarkets will fall into this category. Repak had this to say to the suppliers of waste. “If you are a Member of Repak, you are not obliged to accept back packaging waste from your customers. Otherwise as a “Major Producer” you are obliged to accept back and recycle packaging waste from your customers and others regardless of whether you sold that packaging or not, as long as it is similar in type to the packaging sold by your company”


It will be a brave person who walks into their local supermarket with all of their recyclable packaging. But they will be well within the law if that company doesn’t display the Repak sticker on the door. After saying that, it isn’t to be recommended, as the shops really need to have recycling bins on their premises to minimise the risk to others.

If you would like more information on Repak you can go to
www.repak.ie or phone them on Dublin 01 467 0190

Environmental.

SAVING ENERGY IN THE WORKPLACE


There are new measures to get rid of standby buttons on electrical items as well as fading out the old lightbulbs. Here we look at a few basics about saving energy in the workplace.

The thought of introducing energy saving ideas can be a bit overpwering and taking a leap into the unknown might be a bit daunting at first but the benefits will soon be seen all round.


Switch off lights in empty rooms. Turn off lights in empty rooms and corridors - especially at the end of the day. This can save up to 15% of your lighting bill. There are at least 3000 different types of light bulbs on the market. Make sure you fit low energy ones.

Use just the light you need Lights too bright in corridors? Remove or switch off alternate fittings.

Occupancy Sensor Switches.
These provide energy savings by automatically turning on lights when someone enters a room or space. After a period of inactivity, they turn lights off automatically in the area. They are especially good for spaces like individual offices, washrooms; photocopy rooms, coffee or lunchrooms, storage areas and conference rooms that remain unoccupied for longer than 15 minutes.

Use daylight It's free - so keep windows and skylights clean and clear.

Clean light fittings annually Dirt reduces lighting efficiency, encouraging people to switch more lights on.

Too hot? Set the thermostat at 19°C - costs rise by 8% for every 1°C increase.

Don't heat unused space Storerooms, corridors and areas where there's heavy physical work can be set to lower temperatures. Reduce heating during holidays and weekends.

Keep radiators clear Don't block radiators with furniture - it reduces efficiency and output.

Thermostats Check that thermostats are sited out of draughts and away from either cold or hot spots.

Keep windows closed in cold weather If staff are too warm, turn the heating down instead.

'If you can't measure it, you can't manage it'. Check regularly on your consumption of electricity and oil, and check that your bills relate to what you actually use, rather than an estimate.

Consult your colleagues Ask your colleagues where they think energy is being wasted, and for their ideas about saving energy. You may be surprised at the good ideas!

COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ITEMS

Turn off your computer. By turning off computers, the lifetime of the machine can be extended.

But if you can't turn it off ...make sure the power management or energy-saving features are turned on. Set your system to turn off your monitor after 5 to 10 minutes, and to put your computer into 'sleep' mode after 15 to 20 minutes.

Don't forget the monitor. Monitors consume a large portion of the energy used by computers. Trends toward bigger displays, more colour, and higher resolution have increased the amount of energy required to operate monitors. Animated screen savers do not save energy. Turn it off! Scanners, speakers and printers should be off, unless in use. Printers, especially laser printers, consume quite a bit of energy, even in standby mode.

Photocopiers and printers. Turn these off completely overnight and on weekends. Printers are typically left on for extended periods of time but are active only for a small percentage of that time. This means conventional printers waste a significant amount of energy. Laser printers consume the most energy. Select a printer with power management capabilities. Printers with automatic "power down" features can reduce electricity use by over 65 percent.

Hot, stale coffee. Turn off coffee pots and similar appliances when they are not in use.

Photocopy or print on both sides of the page
. Cut your paper expenses in half - use both sides of the page.. Create a 'reusable' tray on your copier/printer where old one-sided documents can be reused for rough copies or internal communications. Use recycled paper.

And last but not least, start saving energy before you get to work. Car share, walk, get the bus or bike to your destination!

Environmental.

TAR AND FRUIT STAINS

Here at Clean and Green we have been delving yet again into the wonderful world of natural cleaning products for inside the house. It’s amazing just how much the large cleaning companies bombard us with advertising for their products. Switch the telly on at any time, night or day and you can guarantee their will be an advert for washing powder, squirty bottles to make your settee smell of spring, creams that claim to take the effort out of cleaning your cooker and things that can kill all known germs, (as well as friendly bacteria that cleans the septic tanks). I’ll stick my neck out here and claim that you could save yourself at least 10 euro a week by sticking to natural cleaning products (most of which would be used by the manufacturers on advertising costs) as well as doing your bit for the environment.

This week we are looking at a few very stubborn stains. One of the worst we find is curry. Curry often has cumin in it and this is can be used as a fabric dye. The deep yellow colour is beautiful, (but not if is a stain on your new white T-shirt). I had some details on how to remove this stain but unfortunately my notes were put into the washing machine by mistake and ended up as paper pulp (so if any-one knows how to get bits of dried in soggy paper off clothes…….).

Anyway. Here are some that we do have answers for.


Oil. A friend recently came back from holiday in Europe and found that they had tar on their beach clothes. This is known as tar oil or beach tar, which we thankfully don’t get around Inishowen. To get rid of this substance would require the same method of removal as any other heavy tar though. The secret is to clean oil stains with more oil. For heavy motor oil use oil of eucalyptus, which is lighter oil. This product is expensive though, so because we are tying to save the pennies this week we will recommend dripping. Any dripping will do, but we thought that chicken dripping would be just that little bit lighter. Tamp the dripping onto the stain and leave for a few hours. The lighter oil will break down the heavy oil. Draw the oil and dripping out with soapy water. Should there be any stain still remaining dust the area with talcum powder and leav
e overnight. This can then be brushed off.

Fruit stains. These can be a real problem but we think we have a few good ideas. For dark stains use white vinegar, dab on and leave to soak before you put the item in the washer. Hot milk poured onto the stain could be an effective solution too. It’ sounds good enough to eat!
Try using 1 ½ teaspoons full of borax (if you can get it) to ½ pint of water and soak the garment for an hour or two. If you can’t get Borax, you might like to give the Ecover bleach a try. This is 100% percarbonate, which is composed of salt, limestone and oxygenated water. Ecover claim that it is the most ecological bleach after the sun. The wholefood shops stock small boxes.

Dried fruit. Here’s an idea for you which sounds good but we would advise extreme caution if you were to attempt it. Stretch out the garment with the dried up stain and secure it over a container such as a bucket. On to this stain drop boiling water from a great height (not too high or the water would be cold!) so standing on a chair would probably be the limit. Again, be careful.

Check out the Green Book for more ideas on natural cleaning...


Banana stains. Here’s one you will be very familiar with, especially if you have toddlers. If the banana gets onto clothes don’t use soaps of any kind to get the banana out, this will set the stain. Wash the item in the hottest wash the fabric can withstand. This should remove any trace of the fruit. If the stain has dried, try soaking it for an hour or two in the Ecover laundry bleach, if the fabric allows it, before putting it into the washer.

Household.

DISAPPEARING BEACH


Photo's: Lisfannon beach after the dumping.


Dear Ian.

Last weeks vandalism on the Swan Park Bridge in Buncrana was a sad meaningless attack on a beautiful structure. I will make a guess that the incident was totally unprovoked and absolutely no thought went into the destruction at all. I would think that a stone was loose on the wall, so it was pushed into the river because it made a cool splashing noise when it hit the water. The other stones that followed would have been sent into the water to repeat the sensation. Vandalism of this type has been in our culture for many years and some might blame the actions on drug use (adrenalin in this case I think), boredom or ignorance. So what excuse has Buncrana Council got for destroying a large area of the coastline on the outskirts of the town?

I walk my dog on Lisfannon beach and over the last week or so the diggers have moved thousands of tonnes of boulders onto the beach. This is to make a storage pit for the silt that is to be dredged out of the Swilly, which will allow the new ferry access to the pier. We lost a good section of the beach when the golf course expanded, now we are loosing a load more. The council say that a set of steps will be put in place so walkers can leave the beach, walk over the golf course and down some more steps to get onto the sand again. That’s really taken into account people with disabilities I don’t think! The coastline will change and what will happen when this pit is full of silt? The silt won’t stop coming to shore because the pit is full, you only have to look at the marina in Faughan to see that. Will the council build another one of these pits, taking up more of the beach? The ferry will hopefully attract tourists to come to the town, they will be greeted by thousands of tonnes of stone covering what once was a lovely stretch of sand, now that’s what I call premeditated vandalism!

Regards, N.S. Buncrana

Ian replies:
I went to Lisfannon to see the work for myself. The silt, as you say won’t stop coming when these pits are full. I don’t know much about how silt moves in an estuary but I would have thought that it would be as effective to put the silt collected back into the Swilly as opposed to dumping it on the beach. This work will be an ongoing process now that it has started. I have no doubt that the ferry will be a positive move to improve the infrastructure of the town and will attract tourists to the area. Let’s just hope they still want to come when the developers have finished!

LET’S HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS

When a story such as the Swan Park saga hits the headlines it plays into the hands of the offenders. There is no fun in trashing something that is never seen. The more prominent the spot to attack, the better. If it makes the paper then the offenders have succeeded in getting a reaction. The news is full of stories such as this, fuelling a constant wave of mindless damage across the developed world. I wonder what would happen if these incidents weren’t given any publicity. The stories in the papers could be about all of the positive things that young people do for their community. Let’s try to concentrate on all the optimistic stories around Inishowen and stop fuelling negativity. Vandalism won’t go away easily, but at least the offenders won’t get the satisfaction of getting their handiwork printed in the paper!

UPDATE


The EPA were called out to the site and work stopped after it was found that tonnes of household waste was tipped into the hole, too late though I might add. Items such as fridges asbestos and batteries were found. The Municipal golf course do have a few more hoes though!



Environmental.

DANGER IN THE WATER


Ian
I have just finished my holiday in Donegal and I must say that I enjoyed nearly every minute of it. Unfortunately a few days on a blue flag beach were ruined because of the misuse of Jet Skis on the coastal areas. Some of the machines that people were driving are very powerful and the operators sometimes seem to have no apparent care for the safety of swimmers. The group I witnessed spent the best part of an afternoon performing stunts very close to swimmers in the water. The wind was blowing onto the beach so we got all of the exhaust fumes and the noise was what you would expect sitting next to a main road and listening to vehicles passing you by. Jet skis require common sense and training to be competent in the water. The offenders here seemed to lack both of these requirements and were not only a danger to themselves, they were a danger to the public, the environment and marine life. The Jet Ski riders seem to get an adrenalin rush from the audience on the beach; this must be the case as there is at least twenty miles of coastline to choose from as well as the beach where we were. What are the rules and regulations for using powered craft on these Blue Flag beaches? We felt powerless to complain to anyone. Yours K.C. by e-mail

Reply

BLUE FLAG
Blue flag beaches would be in jeopardy if An Taisce did a spot check on the beaches where people were using powered craft less than 200 meter away from any swimmers. In the Safety and Services section of the Blue Flag leaflet it states, “Recreational activities in the beach area must not endanger any beach user or damage natural sensitive areas”. Both of these points were violated. The Blue Flag status is not given easily and a lot of factors go into the award such as no signs of pollution, toilets being made available, swimming information, no vehicular access and lifeguards present. Another point in the charter is for an environmental plan for the development and use of the coastal area. Two areas in Donegal seem to be able to tackle the problem directly. Greencastle and Burtonport both have harbour masters and have by-laws stating that power crafts are restricted around the piers.

MARINE SAFETY ACT 2005
Central Government has released an updated paper called The Marine Safety act 2005. One point it covers is the proposed strengthening of the law against the improper operation of fast powered watercraft in Irish waters. It is hoped that this will significantly enhance public safety and amenity and protect natural and other heritage areas. It is also hoped that tourism and leisure businesses will also benefit from the stopping of nuisance by such craft. All of the information on the restrictions of motorised craft is written down in the paper. There are fines for improper use, failure to wear protective clothing, allowing minors to operate the machines, public order offences, noise, and marine pollution. The laws are there but enforcing them is proving to be difficult. Different councils have different by-laws but in general the restrictions and safety of powered craft is the same for both Blue flag beaches and non Blue Flag beaches as the Marine Safety Act 2005 doesn’t appear to differentiate between the two.

CRITERION 17
The Guidelines that the Blue Flag campaign introduced in their Criterion 17 state:

There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents.

Conflicting and incompatible needs of different users must be managed, e.g. zoning for swimmers, surfers, wind surfers and motorised craft

Swimmers should be protected from all sea craft

Consideration should also be given to potential noise nuisances from some activities (motorised activities, stereos and kites are some examples).

Zoning should be enforced by clear signage at information points

Similarly, conflicts between recreational uses and nature conservation must be considered and managed.

In conclusion, it may be necessary to restrict, disperse or otherwise manage certain activities, both for the purpose of ensuring the enjoyment and safety of other beach users and for the purpose of nature protection.

This protection must be done for the visitors’ safety and for their body and soul recreation, to avoid that the beach becomes a noisy game ground.


All Blue Flag beaches need signage to let people know that the motorised vehicles are restricted both on and off the water. There also needs to be by-laws introduced by the council to give the Gardai and the rescue services the authority to issue warnings and fines, which will make bathing in summer on the beaches a more enjoyable experience. At present the poor lifeguards on the beach seem to be the only people on the ground that are trying to prevent an accident waiting to happen. I have contacted Blue Flag and there will be some consultation with local councils about the issue.

Environmental.

CONSUMER POWER

Photo: One day all of this could run on Biogas

(Click on title for a link to camphill community)


Waste and waste management issues are in the headlines again, with blame being thrown from pillar to post. Ireland is slowly sinking under a sea of consumer waste and the problem seems to be intensifying. If County Donegal is seen to be an area that produces tonnes and tonnes of waste, a member of the Dail might think it will be a good thing if a waste incinerator was to be put in the county. Some people are in favour of these machines I know, but if we had one here it would not only be to deal with our own rubbish but we would also take in waste from other counties via a big increase in heavy lorries.

When the incinerator got into full swing we would receive rubbish from all over Europe to keep the thing burning and churning out waste gasses, which would fall onto the countryside. What is needed is awareness from manufacturers about the excess packaging that is being palmed off onto the long-suffering consumer. The best way to make a company reduce the layers of waste packaging on their goods is to hit them where it hurts. Like some other European countries there could be a hefty tax on packaging. The more rubbish the company puts around their products, the more tax they pay.

This money could be used directly by the cash strapped councils to improve the recycling facilities that are already in place. We would soon see a reduction of unnecessary packaging. If we didn’t see a reduction of waste from the manufacturers then we could stop buying that product (even though some of the packaging looks very appealing) until they conformed. That way they couldn’t pass on the tax onto us, the consumers. The power is in our hands, …. I don’t know what we can do about the fridges, telly’s and old nappies dumped in the hedgerows though, I’ll have to give that issue a bit more thought!

BIOGAS
Household waste isn’t the only thing that can be recycled. In a rural area such as Inishowen we have one product that could make us nearly self sufficient on renewable energy, well two actually when you take wind into consideration! The other source of energy is from farmyard slurry. Camphill Community, based in Co. Kilkenny are pioneers in using his form of fuel. Their 20-acre farm is a residential therapeutic centre for up to 90 children and adults with learning difficulties. The centre built an anaerobic digester plant on the farm, which produces all their energy requirements by producing methane.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Bio fuel plant takes in cattle slurry from three neighbouring farms and food industry wastes from the local creamery and brewery for processing in the anaerobic digester. In the big tank, bacterial action causes gas to be released from the slurry. The extracted gas is then burned in a CHP (Combined Heat and Power unit) to create heat for central heating and electricity to be sold to the national grid. The digested slurry is put through a separator and the liquid portion, which is odour free and has enhanced fertilizer value, will be returned to the farmer for spreading on the land. The solids are composted and eventually sold as very nutritious, organic compost. This process is a Win Win Win situation.

· The process protects the environment by processing industrial waste into valuable organic fertiliser.
· Creates renewable energy from waste.
· Creates employment for people with disabilities in rural enterprise.


Irish government is supporting the initiative and so is the EU. Now that the Camphill community flagship is up and running it is hoped that other organisations and individuals will follow suit.

HOT AIR
Research shows that Ireland has the greatest potential per capita for farm biogas than any other country in Europe. We have some catching up to do though. Whilst we have the one plant, Germany has already 800 plants in operation. If I was a businessperson, I know where I would invest my money. Biogas tanks will be all over the country in the next few years.

Environmental.

ACAI BERRIES

Ian
I was in a shop recently and saw a drink that contained acai berries. What are they and have they got health giving properties? Thanks DL Malin


Reply
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of years but was not introduced to the western world untill the 1990's. The berry is said to possess tremendous health properties (it is the superfood of the month!) and was first used by the tribes of the Amazon jungle as a cure for various ailments. The berry has natural antioxidant properties, as well as being a natural cholesterol controller. When eaten it helps reduce the bad cholesterol in our blood and increases the good cholesterol. The tribes of the Amazon knew of these properties and found out that it helped build the immune system, fight infection, protect the heart, and control prostate enlargement (nature's viagra!). It was a great energy food for the tribes-people.

The acaí berry comes from a palm that has a long thin trunk up to 25m high with a group of branches at the top from which hangs ribbon-like leaves. Acaí berries hang from these branches in clusters that look like groups of bluebottles. Traditionally the acai berries would be picked by hand and people would shimmy up the tree and cut the branches from the top of the palm tree rich in acai berries. Now that the acai berry has been discovered as a highly sought after crop by the population of Brazil, it is mass-produced. It only has a 24-hour life span in which the properties of the juice are still active. The acai berries must be loaded into baskets and onto boats soon after picking. Each acai palm tree produces round about 20 kg of fruit per year and the wine produced by this fruit has become the most important product in terms of finance after wood forest products for Brazil. Belem in Brazil now employs over 30,000 people on a daily basis to keep up with its enormous demand.

Researchers soon got hold of this magic acai berry and realised that it would be of great importance in the well-being and health of the western world, our diets are often over filled with fat and fast food, acai is naturally full with energy, it has a vibrant taste of berries with a hint of chocolate, is rich in proteins, fibre, vitamin E, minerals and essential Omega oils to reduce our bad cholesterol caused by our western diets. The berries fatty acid ratio resembles that of olive oil this is thought to be a contributing factor to low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations. Known as the miracle fruit, acai berries also helps in preventing cancer due to it's antioxidant properties that are five times more potent than gingko biloba, a commonly used herbal therapy product. The juice has been introduced into other products like bars and health snacks to be sold at gyms and health spars. Its history is important as by studying the effects that the berry has had on the local population of the Amazon we have discovered that its traditional use as an energy booster for hunting and good libido has lead to acai berry juice to being a very commercially viable, sustainable product that hopefully will employ people living in the rainforest areas without destroying their environment.

Environmental.



ORGANIC CLOTHING

Photo: Although fleece isn't organic it is still a versitile fabric made from fecycled products.



Now that the weather is getting colder, we may be shopping for our winter woolies. If you read the labels to see what the material is that you are buying you might be in for a surprise. The synthetic fibres that are on the market are very varied a lot of them hail from the petrochemical companies such as nylon and polyester. Polyester or PET is the same polymer that is used for many soft drink bottles and it is becoming increasingly common to recycle them after use by re-melting the PET and extruding it as fibre. This saves valuable petroleum raw materials, reduces energy consumption, and eliminates solid waste sent to landfills. There are products on the market that claim to bring us nanotechnology. These intelligent items of clothing are supposed to change with the conditions, much like the pores in your skin do. At present one of their main use is in protecting soldiers in chemical and biological warfare.

Cotton is the people’s choice and there are moves to produce more and, more organic strains. This is just as well as cotton is almost exclusively grown using the most intensive methods and accounts for a staggering one third of world pesticide use. More than this, chemicals have to be used to scour off the fibres waxy outer layer to allow dye retention, raw cotton is bleached white with chemicals like chlorine, and cotton crops can be genetically engineered to resist the bollworm pest. Conventionally produced it's a nasty product! The Soil Association has developed new standards for organic clothing. Under the new Soil Association guidelines, clothes that display their symbol will have met a number of rigorous standards. A small proportion of the world's cotton crop is 'organic', meaning it is free of chemicals and pesticides, or 'green' which generally means that no chemical finishes have been used. Unbleached cotton may have been grown with pesticides so this label means little else.



Fleece
Fleece is very popular at the moment. These garments are generally made from plastic bottles. About 25 bottles will go into making your jacket.


Hemp
A once vital crop that has fallen out of favour with the final nail in the coffin being driven in by the anti-drug lobby. Now making a comeback due to its remarkable nature, outgrowing weeds so no pesticides are needed, and being highly resistant to pests, its high yields make it the crop to watch in the future. A point of interest is that crops grown for fibre contain virtually none of the active substances that have made marijuana so popular.


Linen
Having been pushed into the background by synthetic fibres Linen is now starting to reclaim a tradition going back to Roman times. The fibre flax plant grows more quickly than cotton and needs fewer chemicals weed control. It produces a strong, dirt resistant fabric that is exceptionally cool in summer


Bamboo
Bamboo clothing is the new kid on the block. It was first developed around 2001 and is produced by pulping bamboo like wood.


It's the fastest growing plant in the world, because of it's ability to absorb water, which is retained permanently in fabric form, making it a natural moisture wicking fabric. Viscose is a polymer made from wood pulp but it is much easier to create. It's also antibacterial, which also helps its colonising growth pattern and this is also retained permanently in fabric form, so it stays fresher and more hygienic. Bamboo has a massive yield per acre when grown wild and doesn't need any pesticides or fertilizers. Bamboo is also pretty much the softest fabric imaginable, as soft as silk. It is highly breathable, and bamboo keeps you cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold than normal fabrics because of its unique capillary structure. A natural successor to all the oil based performance fabrics, it's also good for casual wear. It is normally mixed with 30% cotton to help keep its proper structure. Bamboo clothing is also anti static, which means it doesn't stick to you on a hot day. Its microstructure shows completely smooth fibres, not the usual jagged edges. With the softness, the moisture wicking ability and its natural coolness in the heat, bamboo clothing is very comfortable in the heat. It's also just about the warmest winter thermal, so pretty handy!


Environmental.

TOP TIP

Photo: Primula.
To keep polyanthus, primulas and pansies looking good for the rest of the season, dead head them regularly to keep the new flowers coming. Dare I also suggest if they are going into containers, check there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.





Horticultural.

ROCKERY

Photo: The beaches around Inishowen have a fine display of natural coastal alpine plants.

The first house I lived in away from the security of my parents was a small terraced house (typically northern English – think Coronation Street). The front door was straight out onto the pavement and finding a parking space was a constant battle, (I got into trouble with my neighbours many a time as my car was longer than the front of my house.) The rear garden was about the size of an average kitchen and I decided a small rockery would be in keeping with the size of the plot. I needed to add sharp sand to the soil to loosen it up a bit, and then I could start placing some choice rocks into place. I was working for a quarry at the time and had no bother ordering 1 tonne of sand and 1 tonne of rocks. The loader at the quarry as well as the driver both thought they were doing me a great favour by loading the 10 tonne lorry to capacity (5 tonnes of sand and 5 tonnes of rocks). The driver then proceeded to dump the load outside the front of my house (and of course, the neighbours) causing parking spaces as well as tempers to be lost. I used 1 tonne of each as I’d planned, then placed some recently acquired bollards around the remaining pile. I advertised the lot free to collect in the local paper, but no takers. For two years until I finally moved house, the heap was used as a meeting place for local kids with BMX bikes and the local dogs made good use of it too!

Planning a Rockery

Alpines look effective in containers or even hanging baskets, I even have a succulent sedum that has been happily growing on a brick for years. If you’re feeling more adventurous though and plan to build a rockery in the garden then there are a few points to note:A rock garden should be planted in the open where it will get a lot of sun, preferably sloping towards the direction that the sun shines at midday. Build the rockery away from overshadowing buildings or trees that will rob the soil. The falling leaves and moisture dripping on the plants may damage or kill off the plants. After saying that, shrubs and small trees can form a good backdrop for a rock garden. The rock to be used is as important as the plants, use one type of stone. Local stone will be more natural and will fit in well with the surroundings; it may be cheaper to deliver too. Try to plan the rockery to one side of your garden not in the middle, it will look better. Rocks should retain soil and keep the plant roots cool, so bury them firmly, with at least one third of their bulk in the ground, and pack the soil tightly around them. Ensure the strata (lines) of each rock goes in the same direction and tilt the rocks backwards slightly to allow water to run back to the plants. Try to arrange the rocks in a natural looking way, I find a trip to the shoreline or the hills a great place for getting inspiration. Like most garden work there will be some trial and error until the finished masterpiece is achieved.


Horticultural.

LIVINGSTONE DASIES


One of the easiest summer plants to grow yourself from seed is the livingstone daisy. They are untidy plants at the best of times but are very tolerant of all weathers except frost. The plant originally comes from Africa around the South African Cape. The plant is a succulent and is normally grown as an annual. The flowers are shades of pink, salmon, orange, magenta, pink, yellow and red. The former name for the plant was Mesembryanthemum-, which was from the Greek words mesembria, meaning midday and anthemon, meaning flower. If you are familiar with the plant you will know that the flowers close up in the afternoon so the name was appropriate. The name was changed recently to “Dorothy’s flower” in honour of a German expert on succulents the full name ids now Dorotheanus bellidiformis, the latter name meaning “daisy shaped”. If you get the seed then plant them in a sunny spot or the flowers will never open!

Horticultural.

WILLOW


The motoring world is getting all excited at the moment. This is because a technical boffin has found that planting the humble willow is proving to be one of the best methods to suppress traffic noise. The saplings are planted close together and woven as they grow to form a thick hedge. Why they didn’t just ask a gardener in the first place beats me, still we might see some interesting council planting from the highway department on busy main roads in the near future. Willow is also great for making structures for your climbing plants to grow up. I do find that they tend to root a bit too easily and eventually the whole garden can be covered in the fast growing wood.

This year I have again gone for hazel sticks in the vegetable plot for pea and bean supports. The cut twigs do not tend to sprout leaves so readily. I have put the structures in place before the seeds go in, that way they wont disturb the seedlings when they come up. Staking plants can become a bit of an obsession in the garden. It has its advantages in the veggie patch because it stops the slugs eating your crop and prevents them from going mouldy. If you decide not to stake your borders you could save yourself a lot of bother. When one or two plants topple over, you stake them; then a couple more look a bit wobbly so they get the same treatment. Before you know it the whole garden is awash with sticks. To save you the bother try letting the plants topple over for a change.

They can look very attractive and more natural. To make the gardening even easier this year you will have an excuse not to feed these plants too. The less they are fed the less they will grow and the more unlikely they are to fall over. If you dislike the thought of flopped over plants then give up growing the worst offenders, such as delphiniums. Your life will be such a lot less stressful!

Horticultural.

GOING NUTS




Hello Ian
We really like eating nuts in our house. We would like the challenge of growing some for ourselves. Are there any varieties that we can grow in our medium sized garden? Regards, S.C. Moville.

Reply
Nut trees will be a great addition to any medium or large sized garden. These trees and bushes are often ignored despite their low maintenance and high returns. The only thing you will need for most of the varieties is a bit of patience. The hazel, cob and filbert nuts are all similar, forming large bushes. A mixture of several varieties will do best, as this will help the pollination. These are best kept as informal hedges or windbreaks,(maybe the council could plant them in between the willow on the main roads!). Most of these will prosper even on poor, stony soil.

Almonds require richer conditions and could suffer from peach leaf curl, so they could need spraying with a fungicide; it’s a bit late now as February is the best time to do this. Sweet chestnuts grow too big for most gardens and only crop after long summers, which could limit us here in Inishowen a bit. Walnuts are also huge trees and take years to crop so you could plant one for the next generation!

Horticultural.

CONIFER CUTTINGS

Q. I understand that I can take conifer cuttings during the next few weeks. Please advise me as to how I should do this?

A. Conifer cuttings root easily if taken at this time of the year. Select growth, which is of the current season and of the same habit and colour as that of the parent plant. Often horizontal growths of an upright conifer or upright shoots of a prostrate conifer are reversions to type and produce distorted plants. So these should be avoided.


Take a piece of undamaged growth and remove it with a heel or piece of the old wood. Do this by tearing it away. Trim the heel and remove any foliage, which is likely to touch the compost. Dip the cut ends into a hormone rooting powder if you like and then insert the cuttings into an equal parts by volume mixture of peat and sharp sand. Place in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame. If the rooting medium is not allowed to dry out, the cuttings will be rooted by the spring.

JAPANESE MAPLES


Q. I want to grow some of the lovely autumn coloured Japanese maples. What conditions do they like?

A. Japanese maples enjoy a moist soil, which is acid to neutral. They do not grow very well under alkaline conditions. They also require plenty of moisture. To ensure good quality foliage and a long lasting display of autumn colour provide as much protection from the wind as possible especially with our sea air, which can damage the leaves. Always purchase plants that have been grown in containers.

Horticultural.

STORING DAHLIAS

Q. How do I store dahlias through the winter?

A. Dahlias grow from swollen rootstocks called tubers and it is these that carry the plants through the winter. Wait until after the frost has blackened the foliage and stems of the leaves. This effectively seals up the tissues and restricts the opportunities for fungal diseases to enter. The first few frosts are unlikely to cause any damage to the tubers.
Lift the tubers carefully and remove the dead foliage. Allow them to dry off and then rub off any clinging soil. Do not wash the tubers or else they will rot. Invert them to allow any surplus moisture to drain out of their hollow stems and then place them in boxes of peat or composted bark and keep in a cool dry place until the spring.

ALPINE HOUSE

Q. What exactly is an Alpine House. I have heard people talk of them but I don’t really know what they are for.

A. An alpine house is an unheated and well-ventilated greenhouse, which protects over-wintering alpine plants that are grown in containers from excessive dampness. Most alpine houses have plenty of ventilation both in the side windows and the roof. These remain open except on very wet, foggy or exceptionally cold days throughout the year During the summer months most alpine house plants benefit from a spell in the open air. An alpine house enables the gardener to grow many plants successfully, which would otherwise perish in our damp winters.

Horticultural.

HARDY CYCLAMEN


Q. I want to establish some hardy cyclamen in my garden. How do I go about it?

A. Hardy cyclamen grow from tubers or "corms" and are available in garden centres now. They are often very dry and shrivelled and it can be difficult to stir them into growth. Soaking in water for a couple of days sometimes helps to break their dormancy, but a percentage usually perish, so don’t be too hard on yourself if they do. Plant cyclamen in well prepared soil just beneath the surface so that if they do start to grow, when it has rained a few times the surface of the tuber is just visible at the surface.


The best way to establish hardy cyclamen is "in green". That is when they are in leaf and actively growing. Sometimes plants are sold growing in pots and these establish very quickly when planted out.

Horticultural.

PLANTING A NEW LAWN


I’ve been hearing the sound of distant lawn mowers this week and it’s got me thinking me about the state of my own lawn. Not that I am planning to plant a new lawn! No, I’ll rake it to get the moss out, throw some seed down and rake again so the seed might go into the ground as opposed to the tummies of the local birds!
Planting a new lawn is a bit more work and as there are many mixes of seed available, choosing one will depend on what the lawn will be used for and the soil and site -Is it sunny, shady, clay or sandy? Is it for children to play or to look well from the kitchen window? Generally if a luxury lawn is wanted – one that looks green and lush, can be cut short and neat and doesn’t get much wear–choose a mix that contains two grasses: Chewing Fescue (8 parts) and Browntop Bents (2 parts).
A more hardwearing grass mix is Utility grade, which contains Rye grass and meadow grass. This will also grow better in shady areas. Thorough soil preparation is important for a new lawn. Weeds need to be cleared and stones taken out, maybe drainage needs to be improved first. The soil then has to be raked level, trodden down, then raked again until a fine level seedbed is produced. This process is very labour intensive, but is worth the effort to achieve an attractive lawn.
I personally like to see flowers in a lawn, daisies, buttercups and other meadow flowers. Perhaps, for me one of the attractions is it only has to be cut twice a year! It is also attractive to butterflies and bees, and to smaller children who like exploring. It is not so easy to play ball games unless your kids favourite game is find the ball! On the other hand, my dad’s preferences were quite the opposite. Every week you could see him on his hands and knees with a penknife in his hand, pulling out any weed that dared to self set in his perfectly manicured lawn. As a keen golfer, he used the back garden to practice his putting technique.

Horticultural.

CHECKLIST FOR A NOVICE GARDENER


Photo: Just relax.

Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable so relax and enjoy yourself!



Start small. Containers or a small corner to prepare and plant is a good beginning.



Gardening is an organic process. Don’t be scared to move plants around. Just dig them up, put in a new position and water in.



A positive attitude when planting seeds is more important than how deep and how far apart. Just expect them to grow and follow what the seed packet says.



If you do make mistakes, don’t worry about them-learn from them.



When visiting friends look around their garden, see what plants and designs appeal to you. You’ll probably end up having a good aul’ chat about what they’ve done and you might even get a slip (A plant cutting to put in the ground, not a fall where you end up on the ground)!



Remember, when you are outside gardening you are getting plenty of fresh air and exercise and you don’t see what a mess the house is in!



And remember gardening IS supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable so relax and enjoy yourselves!

Horticultural.

PARTY TIME IN THE GARDEN


MAKING THE GARDEN LOOK GOOD FOR A PARTY.

Some people will go to incredible lengths to host a successful party. It is crucial for the inside of the building to be well laid out to accommodate the guests and of course food and drink need to be plentiful. It doesn’t end there though because more and more people are realising that their outdoor space is equally important to make the party go with a bang. Barbeque areas are fine but they can be a bit restrictive and smoky. Here are some of the interesting, strange and sometimes very expensive things that some of us do in preparation for the big day.

A couple wanted to hold a Tuscan-style pasta party at their home, but found that their lawn had been ravaged by a prolonged drought. Their solution was to sprinkle €2,000 of fragrant potpourri on the three-quarter-acre lawn, leaving just enough space for walkways to the candlelit bistro tables. Their initial idea was to go for the plastic flowers but thought that this was a better idea. Everything ended up on the compost heap afterwards

DEALING WITH DRY LAWNS

A drought-riddled lawn, not in Inishowen, I might add, was brightened up in a flash by one person’s ingenuity. A couple in the midlands sprayed their lawn with green vegetable dye. They were desperate to distract attention from wilting shrubs so they attached Christmas lights to the branches.
A little theatrical illusion helped to fix one small back garden. I know someone who uses a tent with fake windows that are actually photographs of rose gardens. The scenes are silk-screened onto the tent. The effect is made all the more mystical when the fog machine is brought out.
Colin Cowie, who specialises in organising elaborate extravaganzas for the rich and famous, says his clients are so fussy they don't want even a small patch of dead grass marring the view. He once re-sodded an entire 100-acre estate for a party at a cost of €60,000. He stresses that although green dye might be OK, spraying actual green paint may damage the plants.

FAKE FLOWERS

Other party planners haul in fake silk flowers and topiaries to enliven withered lawns. The cost is about €200 for a simple border around the garden and obviously a lot more for the whole area
In some areas around the country, especially in the cities some people actually want to host a party with a brown lawn in hot dry spells. One woman in London refuses to disguise her fried lawn, because in her area, not watering is considered the height of environmentally correct chic. "It's the ultimate status symbol," she says. "A brown lawn is a badge of honour."

THE ULTIMATE TALKING POINT

If all of this trouble isn’t enough for you and you want something totally different, why not include some messages on the lawn. If you watch sport on the telly, you will no doubt be aware of the advertising that is appearing on the grass. There are two different methods. The first is to dye the grass with your desired logo or message. The outline can be drawn on first and then it can be coloured in. The second, more expensive is to get the image or message and cut it out of the lawn, leaving the area bare. Then you need Astro turf, that is the plastic grass that fetches off all of your skin on the knees if you are unlucky enough to fall over on it. You can now get this in many glorious colours. Fit the Astro turf into the lawn for a permanent display. There could be a lot of money made out of this venture; especially for advertising I am amazed that someone around Inishowen hasn’t come up with the idea yet. I think that at a party it could be as popular as bouncy castles!
Horticultural.

USE YOUR PEG


And to finish off here is one tip that you might think crosses the boundary into a weird world. Someone I talked to said that they never go anywhere on holiday without taking a clothes peg with them…. Stay with me!… The reason for this is to fasten food bags together, hold maps in place when they are folded back, keep curtains shut and to keep important documents together…. Might not be such a bad idea after all!

Household.

NO MORE SMELLY SHOES


Smelly training shoes can be a nightmare. Putting them into the washing machine is a favourite method of getting rid of the pong but it can be a bit harsh on the material. Another method would be to hang them outside to air out. Charcoal odour eaters can work well but they don’t last long and can be quite expensive. Try putting baking powder (bicarbonate of soda) into the shoes. This will absorb the smell and leave you with fresh feeling feet. (I did this with a pair of trainers and the result was very messy because I put too much powder in. Use sparingly for best results!


Household.

TOP TIPS


Before I start I must stress that if you do test out any of the Top Tips, PLEASE don’t be too upset if things don’t work out exactly as they say they will. A lot of these tips come from the strangest of people!

Cut up old fabric conditioner bottles to use as paint pots for the kids to use.

Turn a suit inside out and hang it outside oh the washing line on a breezy, sunny day. This will freshen it up and do away with the need to take it to the dry cleaners.

Although most of the swimmers will be hibernating for the winter, next time you go for a dip take talcum powder to the beach to dust yourself down when you come out of the water. This will stop the sand from sticking to you when you come out of the sea! The powder even helps you get into your wetsuit.

Nutcrackers make very good bottle openers.



Household.



FLY IN THE OINTMENT


Photo: Call in the experts if there is a fly in the soup.
Ian
I read with horror the comments made about animal derivatives in seemingly vegetarian products such as the humble chip. Being a vegetarian myself I too have a story to tell of a distinct lack of knowledge when it comes to the needs of non-meat eaters. Twice when I have been to restaurants I have unknowingly been given meat even though I ordered vegetarian dishes. The first instance was when a restaurant served me their “Vegetable soup” I asked prior to ordering if it was vegetarian and the staff said yes. After tasting the dish I felt that something wasn’t right, as it seemed really meat like. I asked to see the chef who told me that the soup was vegetarian because it had vegetables in it and no solid meat. After I found a piece of meat in my mouth I managed to get the chef to admit that the stock was made from chicken. A second experience was at a different place where I ordered a salad (checking as I usually do that it was vegetarian). I was greeted with a salad that was generously sprinkled with little pink shrimps. When I complained I was told that the staff thought that seafood is vegetarian! I suppose chicken is too…..

I now only try to eat in vegetarian restaurants because of meat contamination in the meals and am very specific in asking for ingredients in dishes. A majority of conventional eateries not only seem to be very complacent and untrained to cater for the non meat eaters in society but also are under the impression that we will only eat bland, overcooked stews that are full of red and green peppers and pasta. Vegetarians have taste buds like everyone else and do like their food to be tasty and nutritious. Yours CB Derry

Reply
Most eating places are now catering a lot better for vegetarians. The range of food seems to be improving as more and more people are asking for alternatives to the meat and two veg dishes. With people such as yourself pointing out the shortcomings in restaurants it will only improve the choice even more. Do not give up, get back out there and let your voice be heard!

Environmental.

GET UP OFF YOU R'S


We enjoyed writing our top ten list about cars last week. So much so that we thought we would keep the theme going and do a top ten list of ‘Tips for the Home’ or as we were calling it last week “Get up off your R’s”. We seem to be struggling here at home to keep up with things like efficient insulation in new houses, waste disposal, saving energy and recycling etc. One of the problems could be the fact that there is so much information around about environmental issues that people can get a bit confused about the correct things to do. It could force some people to just switch off and ignore the advice of the council or environmental groups. Anyway, even if you are a complete novice in the world of recycling or a budding expert, here is our list of the top ten, to make life that little bit simpler.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR THE HOME

Recycle. Recycling saves money and natural resources. Take everything you can down to the recycling centres. New materials must be mined, drilled, processed and manufactured, causing pollution.


Refill. By reusing plastic products such as containers and utensils, we conserve landfill space and reduce the need for new products being manufactured.


Revise. Revise your daily activities to become less wasteful. Turn down the thermostat on the boiler, use less water when washing the car or yourself, and switch off lights that aren’t being used. Simply switching the television off instead of leaving it on standby will save valuable energy too.


Reduce the amount of pollution in the home. As we at Clean and Green have been suggesting over the last few weeks. If you can use environmentally safe products when cleaning the house the world will also be cleaner outside the house. The same goes for the garden as well.


Resist plastic items such as plastic straws, lighters, cups, nappies, razors and pens. All disposables generate toxins and are not generally recycled; they just fill up the landfill sites.


Refuse to buy items that are not biodegradable, not recyclable, on re-useable or contain dangerous substances. This action will tell manufacturers that we are not prepared to put up with their cost cutting, excess packaging and marketing techniques.


React by writing to manufacturers and retailers. Urge them to supply recyclable products without unnecessary packaging. As a consumer and a voter you have the power to implement change!
Replace items in your home with more efficient ones from the normal light bulb with the energy saving ones to the car that burns a lot of oil.


Remind family, friends, employers and others of their responsibility to the environment. Inform anyone you see littering or otherwise harming the environment, intentionally or not about pollution issues (don’t get thumped doing it though!)


Research these issues by getting involved in environmental groups in your area. They can provide you with information, alternative products and ideas if you need to take action with a project. No doubt you can get a free dustbin liner to clear some litter off the beaches in the holidays too!

When it comes to recycling and shopping with our environmentally heads on, we can only do so much. We live in a wasteful world (and a beautiful one too). If it just means each of us doing a little bit extra such as fixing a dripping tap, picking up a bit of litter from the street or taking the bottles to the bottle bank, it will make a difference and set a good example to others. Start today…May the R’s be with you!


Environmental.

HAIR CARE

We got a bit carried away at the Clean and Green testing centre this week. In our attempts to create the ultimate mix of ingredients for the perfect clothes wash, we inadvertently used far too much vinegar in the final rinse. The outcome is that we all smell a bit like a fish supper. We won’t let this setback chip away at our confidence though. We will batter on regardless (groan)!

This week we’re testing a few hair care ideas.

Conditioner for greasy hair: This tried and tested method has been around since Edwardian times. Simply put a dash of cider vinegar in the final rinse.

Verdict: This works really well and isn’t smelly either. The vinegar counteracts the alkaline properties of the shampoo and keeps the right acid-alkaline balance of the hair.

Conditioner for normal hair: The herb Rosemary has been used on hair for centuries. Add 3 or 4 sprigs into a jug and pour boiling water over them. Leave for about an hour. The strained liquid can then be used as a final rinse.

Verdict: Again this method is as good, if not better than shop bought hair conditioners. The hair is also left smelling of the delightful herb.


Shine and Body for all hair types: Here’s a great way to give your hair natural bounce. Beat an egg and add a little water or cider vinegar. Rub this into your newly washed hair and leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.


Verdict: You can benefit by our experience with this one. The method was faultless other than the fact that in our test we washed the hair in hot water. The result was rather messy as the mixture decided to turn into scrambled egg. It took some getting rid of I can tell you!

Smooth hands:
Are your hands all rough due to the household cleaning, gardening, and fixing the car or other demanding jobs? Try this simple method. Pour vegetable oil into the palm of the hand then add the same amount of granulated sugar. Rub the hands together hard for a couple of minutes. Rinse the hands and you should be left with silky smooth skin.


Verdict: On really rough hands this method will take a few applications. Don’t do as I did and rub into cuts, it’s very sore. Pumice stone is an alternative, they last a lifetime too.

Reader’s tips:


Hiccups:
To get rid of hiccups take a spoonful of vinegar, it’s not very pleasant, but it does the trick!

Dirty hands: If your hands are really dirty and soap won’t clean them, just rub in Vaseline for 5 minutes. After that the dirt should just wash off with soap and hot water.




Household.

VEGGIE DOGS

Ian.
I am a vegetarian. Would it be all right if I gave my dog the same diet? FD. Derry

Reply
Some people have successfully given their dog a vegetarian diet and the animals seem to live a happy life. Chances are they probably subsidise their intake by lifting old chicken bones from barbeques left on the beach or picking up food scraps left on the street that were dropped the night before. The animal would need lots of protein in a mixed diet. I asked a local expert in the field and his reply was this. “A dog is a carnivore and needs animal protein and anybody not prepared to feed an animal what it needs should not have a dog and maybe consider buying a rabbit” Why don’t you compromise and give your dog some tasty treats occasionally.


Tasty treats for your dog

Vegetarian meal.

2 tbls oil, 1 cooked egg, 2 cups cooked vegetables blended unless very soft, 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, 1 cup milk, bread ends and leftover cereals and beans.

2. Yummie biscuits
Mix together:
2 cups flour (white, whole wheat or both in combination)
1/3-cup oil
1/3-cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 egg
1/3 cup powdered milk
Water to form a stiff dough

Press the mixture into biscuits and cook in the oven until brown. They are so tasty you can give them to your friends when they come to visit too!

3. Cooked Bone
Go to the butchers –ask for a bone –boil it up for your hound. He’ll love you for it!

Household.

SICK BUILDING SYNDROME


Hello Ian.
Last week you mentioned Radon in the home. Is this the same as Sick Building Syndrome? TH Muff.

Reply.
The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which people inside a building experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be just in a particular room or area, or may be widespread throughout the building. Sick building syndrome can affect both old and new houses and offices.

People in the affected buildings complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to smells. The cause of the problem cannot be pinpointed but the strange thing is that most people subjected to the effects report relief soon after leaving the building

What causes the problem?
Inadequate ventilation can be a main cause as contaminants from furniture, paint, carpets etc. can build up to dangerous levels.

Chemical contaminants from indoor sources: Most indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building. For example, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, copy machines, pesticides, and cleaning agents such as the ones kept under the sink may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. Combustion products such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, as well as respirable particles, can come from unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces and gas stoves.

Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources: The outdoor air that enters a building can be a source of indoor air pollution. For example, pollutants from motor vehicle exhausts; plumbing vents, and building exhausts.

Biological contaminants: Bacteria, molds, pollen, and viruses are types of biological contaminants. These contaminants may breed in stagnant water that has accumulated in air vents and drains, or where water has collected on ceiling tiles, carpeting, or insulation. Sometimes insects or bird droppings can be a source of biological contaminants. Physical symptoms related to biological contamination include cough, chest tightness, fever, chills, muscle aches, and allergic responses such as mucous membrane irritation and upper respiratory congestion

These elements may act in combination, and may supplement other complaints such as inadequate temperature, humidity, or lighting. Even after a building investigation, however, the specific causes of the complaints may remain unknown. If you are worried about your building try talking to the local Environmental Health Officer.

Environmental.

COUGHS



Photo: Avoid dairy products when you have a cold


Ian
Most members of my family have coughs at the moment. Have you any ideas how to ease their hacking? Thanks. I.B By e-maiL.

Reply
I have a few suggestions; I haven’t tried all of them so be cautious. If you are in any doubt about the illness, or if it is a persistent cough then pop in to see your doctor. There are loads of ideas that I haven’t mentioned such as homeopathic and herbal remedies.

Tips
• Breathe the steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion. A few drops of the oil of eucalyptus will help this process.

•Stop smoking. Passive smoke or other irritants, such as chemicals, can be a cause. Household cleaners, new carpeting, paneling and mattresses are some of the many possible sources of chemical irritants.

•Drink at least eight glasses of water. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough.

•Try eating hot chili peppers, horseradish or other spicy foods. They will help loosen mucus.

•Cough drops or hard sweets will help stop the tickle if you have a dry cough and will moisten the throat.

•Avoid foods that increase the production of mucus, such as dairy products, meat and fried foods.

•Hot packs placed on your throat and chest are very soothing.

There is one idea that could prove to be very popular. New research has discovered an ingredient present in flavonoid rich, dark chocolate could help stop persistent coughs.

Theobromine, a derivative found in cocoa, is nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs when compared with codeine, currently considered the best over the counter cough medicine. So if you want to try this method to ease the irritation, just remember……..everything in moderation!

Household.

RECOVER YOUR HEAT


Imagine you are a passenger on a spaceship that lands on a new planet. There are about thirty people on board including yourself. Now imagine what profession you would think would be useful for you to have on that planet to get the civilization moving. It’s a new world so what skills would best suit the situation? A builder perhaps, a ballet dancer, plumber or shopkeeper? I played this game when I was at school in a geography lesson and the profession I thought that would be most beneficial to a new society was an architect. I figured that a new world would need houses and these would need designing. The object of the exercise though was to highlight the fact that what would be needed in the brave new world was people who had basic skills like knowing how to chop down a tree, make a bowl out of a coconut shell and concoct a roof out of banana leaves as well as being able to work in a team. I felt a bit daft at the time but so did everyone else because most people had chosen professional jobs such as accountants, estate agents and lorry drivers. Thinking about it now though I don’t think my idea was all that silly. All right, I would still have to muck in and put the dung on the walls and build a chimney, but I think the idea of a good solid, dry living area is very important. Even in the present climate of house design there are still serious issues such as cold draughts in the house. No architect would intentionally include poorly fitted windows, gaps where pipes come into the house or gaping holes under doorways in their designs. But sometimes the practicalities of translating the design into reality can lead to drafts when the house has been completed. If you have an open fire you will always be aware that there is a cold draught coming in the house as the hot air goes up the chimney. The same problem occurs with poorly fitted windows and leaky floors. These issues can be eradicated with careful planning and thankfully there are new measures afoot that look seriously into the affects of draughts in the home.There is a new system out at the moment, which goes against most people’s ideas of ventilation in the home. Heat recovery ventilation systems as they are known, are growing in popularity and it is claimed the system manages to retrieve 90% of the heat generated in the house to use again. The idea gets away from the idea that you have to open a window or door in winter to let the fresh air in as it wastes valuable heat in the process. The heat exchangers work with a well-sealed house with all of the windows, walls, roof and doors being airtight and very well insulated. After this is achieved there is a device called a heat exchanger fitted to the house. The exchanger takes out the warm stale air and as it passes the cooler fresh air in the exchanger it warms the incoming air to the same temperature. The system keeps the house at a constant temperature and also regulated humidity to combat any damp. There are houses in Co Mayo and Co Claire that have been successfully using the idea and it is claimed that when fitted can save up to 75% of your annual heating costs

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