MARCH IN THE GARDEN

Photo: Salix Caprea 'Kilmarnock'

Roses.
Roses can be pruned back now. Cut out all the dead and diseased wood and shorten last year’s growth. The severity of the pruning depends on the type of rose you have. Light pruning keeps the shape of the bush and hard pruning and removing old growth stimulates the plant to produce new shoots. This is particularly effective on old specimens.

Heathers.
Trim winter flowering heathers after flowering using secateurs or shears to remove the dead heads. Prune to a tidy mound shape but try not to cut back into woody growth, as new shoots might not develop. Spread a mulch of composted bark around the plants to so they will be at their best next year.

Honeysuckle: can be pruned back now if yours has got out of hand. Prune all the shoots to about 1metre from the ground and cut out old or dead shoots. If you can see any green buds below the 1m mark then prune back to just above those. By summer the shoots will have doubled on size.


THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Plant out shallots and Jerusalem artichokes. It’s about the time of year to plant the seeds of peas, broad beans, early carrots, salad onions, beetroot, spinach, cabbage, radish, and turnip. Keep them in a cold frame or greenhouse and protect them from rodents. I lost all my first sowings in one evening when mice got into my cold frame a few years ago


Catkins
There are three species of tree that come out in a yellow haze of yellow catkins at this time of year, these are the hazel, alder and grey willow. The catkins are the trees method of reproducing. The catkins are pollen shakers and they open out on sunny days. Because there are very few insects around the trees rely on the wind to cross-pollinate the species, (which is probably why they are so successful in Ireland!) The dust like pollen is blown around until it finds female flowers of the same plant. A large amount is needed to make sure that this process is successful so if you start sneezing on a warm spring day, you know why!


TOP TIP
Submitted by R.C. via e-mail
Before you start working in the garden, push your nails into a bar of soap. Enough soap remains under the nails to prevent soil getting in saving you the time of hard scrubbing to get them clean.

Horticultural.

COMPOSTING

I have had some e-mails this week about compost bins. I agree when it is said that no home should be without one. It is surprising what can be composted. A friend of mine composts every scrap of food from the kitchen. Raw, cooked plant or animals, the lot goes in. He will also compost old cotton clothes He is very well seasoned in the art of composting so I wouldn’t recommend putting meat or dairy products into the bin just yet unless you are confident that you know what you are doing! There are factors that can put people off composting and below are two questions that are frequently asked by budding organic recyclers.

PLAGUED BY FLIES

Ian.
I went to put some old peelings into my compost bin the other day. When I lifted the lid off I was attacked by hundreds of little flies. I panicked and ran indoors to get out of their way and in doing so brought loads of them into the house. My kids have been flicking them with a tea towel to kill them. What are they?

A. The small flies that are occupying your window are fruit flies. They act a bit daft at the best of times and tend to drop into your tea or dinner when you least expect them to. You will find them happily sat on your fruit bowl and of course they will always land on your face when you are trying to have an afternoon nap. The flies come out of your compost bin because there is an abundance of food and it is a warm place to breed. The reason they are in such large numbers is because you have got the balance wrong with the ingredients in the bin. Mix the compost around and always add some dry matter such as paper, cardboard or straw. It is a fine balance getting good compost from a bin and can be more difficult than the experts make out. There’s one consolation though, because it’s too wet in the bin, you only have flies. It could be rats following you into the house!


RATS
Q. I have one of those compost bins from the council but I’m worried if I start using it that rats might move in and use it as their home. Are there any methods of keeping them out?

A. Up until a few days ago I would have recommended a basket that you dig into the ground. The basket is similar to a washing basket and would fasten onto the bin making it difficult for the rats to tunnel underneath to make a nest. Unfortunately I know someone who tried this last year and the rats have managed to chew through the plastic underneath the ground. The rat family are nesting in the warm as we speak! The best method with the council bins would be to invest in some chicken wire. This can be placed on the ground and the bin could be placed on top. Pull the wire up around the bin and secure with sods of grass. This should keep the pesky rodents out.


Horticultural

GARDEN CENTRE PLANTS

Photo: Check the plants from the garden centre are perfect before you part with your money.

We have planted most of our vegetables seeds in the garden now. I have a different method of working to the rest of the family when it comes to putting the seed in the ground. Firstly I like to sow the seed in straight rows, that way you can see where the weeds are growing, the family sow in the broadcast method which means getting a handful of seed and throwing them around! Secondly I also like to label the rows. This is something that I think is vital as you invariably forget where and what you have sown as soon as you come indoors and start to put the tea on. Keeping the label for the shrubs and perennials from the garden centres is also a good idea as you can refer to them for instructions on the plants care. As I am on the subject of garden centres I thought I would look at some tips to get the best out of them when you are choosing a plant.

CHOOSING A PLANT FROM THE GARDEN CENTRE.

Labels
Labels are important but often brief on the details of the plant. It does give you the name though so you can look up the care instructions in more detail. Avoid plants with labels that are old and faded, the plant probably is too.
Pests and disease
If the leaves of the plant are yellowing or there is limp growth then the plant might be diseased. Avoid these and also steer clear of plants with leaves that have been severely nibbled. The pots probably have vine weavel in them.
Value for money
Shop around; garden centres differ greatly in price for the same plants. I must stress that the quality of plants from most garden centres is really good. Occasionally one or two neglected ones slip through the net. I am not saying this is right but when a friend of mine sees a plant that is of poor quality and obviously too dishevelled to sell at full price, they take it off the shelves and remove the label. That’ll show ‘em! All centres should offer a guarantee for shrubs and perennials as long as you have looked after them as stated. They have to have faith in their product after all.
Water loss
Never buy a plant that has been denied water. The plants will be stressed and look sickly. They will take longer to establish, if at all!
Plant shape
Avoid plants that are growing irregularly with spindly growth, this indicates that they have been growing in cramped dark conditions.
Weedy pots
Pots full of weeds are also a sign of neglect. The weeds will starve the plant of vital nutrients and suffer as a consequence.
Check to roots
Tip the pot upside down tap the sides then gently remove the plant. Check to see that there are plenty of visible fibrous roots as well as some plump and juicy ones. There are two types of root problem that must be avoided. Do not pick plants that have thick and fibrous roots sticking out of the bottom of the pot into the soil on the display bed, or roots that are circling around the inside of the pot. Both are signs of a pot bound plant, which has been on display a while and probably been denied water at some stage. Pot bound plants will be difficult to establish.
Aftercare
When you have chosen a healthy specimen and brought it home, try to plant it as soon as possible. If you can’t do this at once then keep it well watered and in a sheltered position to prevent it from falling over and being damaged. When you do plant it, make sure it is well watered when you put it in the ground and keep an eye on it for a week or two.

PLANTS RESITANT TO RABBITS

Ian
Help! I keep planting shrubs in my garden but rabbits keep eating everything. Is there something that I can plant that these pests will leave well alone? Thanks N.A. Carn.

Reply
It often seems that rabbits can eat anything that they like. There are some shrubs that they tend to steer clear of because of factors such as thorns, spines, prickles or unappetising smells of tastes. There is no guarantee that they will leave these plants alone but they do show a degree of resistance.

Shrubs that rabbits won’t eat (hopefully)

Aucuba japonica.
Buddleia davidi.
Ceanothus.
Daphne mezereum
Eleagnus, Euonymus
Hydrangea.
Kalmia latifolia
Oleria
Ornamental and edible currants
Philadelphus
Skimmia
Snowberry
Tree paeony.
Viburnum opulus and V. tinus

ANTS IN TREES

Photo: Apple blossom in spring

Ian

I have an apple tree in the garden and throughout the summer there has been a trail of ants up and down the branches. Will this have a detrimental affect on the fruit?

A. The ants will be anything but detrimental to the fruit. They are looking for aphids on the tree. Ants are attracted to the honeydew from the aphids and if you look on the leaves you will probably see some of them curling. The ants are a great early warning sign for aphids and if you catch them early in the season, you will be free from infestation. If you do use an insecticide (preferably an organic one) then just spray the affected leaves instead of the whole tree. It’s a bit late when the fruit is ripening and I wouldn’t recommend any spraying later in the season but you can look out for this problem next summer.

Horticultural

WHAT IS SOIL?

Photo: Companion planting saves on the use of chemicals in the garden.

(Click on the title for a link to the Organic Centre in Rossinver.)

I carpeted my new shed this week, much to amusement of the family. I think the bright purple colour really brightens up the floor. I was going to put down lino but I felt that the wood underneath wouldn’t be able to breath and would go rotten. Now though the carpet is probably going to get wet and rot both the carpet and the wooden floor. Maybe I should have just left it bare……. Anyway if anyone comes to visit my new workspace they have to wipe their feet before they can come in. If only the roof was higher I could put in a nice chandelier…

SOIL

I was having one of those philosophical conversations with a child about gardening recently. I was asked a question that was so basic but stopped me in my tracks. I was asked what soil was. It made me realise just how complicated an answer could be to such a simple question. I did my best, so if any young member of your family asks the question, here is what I believe soil is. It might give them something to think about for a while!


What is soil?

Soil holds plants in place. It holds nutrition to feed the plant roots. In turn the plants also hold the soil in place, making a happy balance. Soil consists of a mixture of ingredients, which include: sand, silt, grit and bulky materials made up of rotted leaves, plants and animals. Good soil is a living balanced mixture of all of these ingredients. Look out for worms in the soil; this will indicate that the soil is healthy.


Good soil is all important in a garden, especially if you want to grow healthy plants and vegetables. When you look at an established border, all you see is topsoil. Topsoil is the part of the ground that holds the most nutrition for the plants. Dig down 30cm to 60cm (1ft to 2ft) in an established garden and things change. You’ll see a clear boundary between the topsoil and subsoil. Subsoil is denser, clay like substance that plants won’t grow in. In some new gardens, especially on estates built on heavy soils, that clay subsoil (from foundations) etc, has been spread over the natural topsoil and then covered with a few inches of indifferent topsoil. This can cause the soil to be too wet and lacking nutrition for the plants and grass. Whether the soil in your garden is new or old it will benefit from the addition of compost, both for food for the plants and to help drain water. Bulky organic matter from the compost bin could be dug or worked lightly into the soil. You could also get well-rotted manure from the horse stables or mushroom farm. Some traditional gardeners like to dig the compost well into the ground with something called the double digging method. This requires a big fork and a lot of backbreaking work. I like to take the more relaxed method of putting the material onto the surface of the soil, forking in lightly and letting the worms do the hard work of pulling the goodness into the ground. This is what is called mulching. You decide which seems the best for yourself. All of these materials will help loosen the soil to make planting easier.

NETTLES

Nettles are a very good indicator of healthy soil. The plant makes a very nutritious plant food and is full of vitamins. The plant can be a real pest in a formal garden, as it knows no boundaries. Not everyone thinks that the plant is a nuisance though. Blythe Valley UK residents who are members of the Cone group which work in harmony with wildlife are holding their seventh National Be Nice to Nettles Week this year. This hardy bunch of horticulturalists is inviting everyone to have a patch of nettles in their garden to attract wildlife. You might not agree with their ideas too much but in honour of such a hardy band of diehards. The plant has loads of positive factors though. It attracts loads of insects and makes a wonderful spring soup.

SEED CATALOGUE

The Organic Centre in Rossinver has released their new seed catalogue. You can pick up a free copy in the libraries. Failing that phone 071 9854338 or e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net for a copy. This edition is mainly vegetables but it does have a page on flowers that would be good for companion planting.



Horticultural.

CLIMBERS

I’ve been busy in the kitchen this week. The summer surpluses of tomatoes are starting to come and I am doing my best to keep up with the prolific growth of the fruit. I am boiling up the tomatoes and putting the pureed mixture into bottles. These are quickly filling up the shelves in the freezer compartment of the fridge. Tomatoes are probably going to be the only thing I will freeze this year. Last year I froze green beans and courgettes but they were still floating around in the freezer up to a few weeks ago. For some reason I just didn’t fancy eating them, so they’ve ended up on the compost.

I made some soup out of a large cucumber that was hiding under a pumpkin leaf in the poly tunnel. The thing had grown to immense proportions and I thought it would be worth experimenting with. The soup was all right, but I don’t think I could eat it very often, it reminded me too much of courgette which I’ve had enough of this year.

Onions are ready for lifting now. I did mine this week and as I planted them with garlic I thought they could come up as well. The garlic really should have been lifted a few weeks ago as the stems have died down now. To find the bulbs I had to dig down with a trowel to unearth them. Half I will use over the coming months and half will be divided up and planted back into the garden next month. I would be loathed to loose this particular type as it has been especially produced to give a good yield in wet, northern areas. Now it’s time to look at what I can plant in the areas that are now bare soil. I like to keep these areas planted up as it stops the weeds from taking hold. There are quite a few things that can still be planted such as parsley, spring cabbage, onions for an early crop, and of course spinach, which will be a great provider early next year. I might even go for a green manure such as mustard or tares. These will not only keep the weeds down but will bring up valuable nutrients to the surface for next years crops.

CLIMBERS

Most gardens have some sort of climbing plant. Choosing the right one for the site can often be a bit daunting. The first thing to think about when choosing a plant is to look at the way in which the plant actually climbs. There are three ways that plants climb. Some have aerial roots that cling to a structure, such as ivy or the climbing hydrangea. These are very efficient at attaching themselves onto walls. They therefore can be a bit of a nuisance if they are attatched to the pebbledash at the front of the house when it comes to painting. The second method is twining, such as clematis; these twist their leaf stems around a support to hold themselves up. If these are on a house wall then some form of support is needed. This can be very useful if the plant is grown on a trellis attached to the wall, as it can be unfastened and the plant laid on the floor if the wall needs a lick of paint. The third category is the climbers that scramble. Plants such as honeysuckle and rambling roses fall into this category. They have no means of support except to push their long branches through a host plant or tree or trellis. They can be used to great effect when grown in a mixed hedge. There are other plants that like the protection of a wall and can be trained against it. The pyracantha is a good example and with its long spikes it makes a good line of defense under windows. Then there’s a couple of ceanothus that are evergreen and grow well around here, they can be used effectively to cover unsightly bare patches on walls. There’s also cotoneaster, viburnum and escallonia to consider
Some climbers would be a bit out of place growing on the walls of the house. The Virginia creeper for example would grow so fast that it will cover your doors and windows in the time it takes you to do the weekly shop. It’s a brilliant plant for covering sheds and telegraph poles. This climber is deciduous though and most of the fastest growing plants do tend to loose their leaves in winter.

STYLE

The look of a house can be greatly improved by a climber. Take care to choose one that will thrive. Firstly check to see which direction your house is pointing, this will influence the choice of plant that can be used. Secondly decide on the scale of the support. If you have bold features on the house then thick trellis could be used with a large leaved plant such as a Virginia creeper. You might decide to go for some thing a bit more delicate and use wire supported by vine eyes. These are small ringlets that the wire passes through.. They do need a bit of D.I.Y knowledge and a big drill to fix them to the wall.

CARNATIONS

Before I forget again (I have been meaning to mention this for three weeks now). If you can get your hands on some white carnations and some food colouring then you can amaze your friends. Put the flower stem into water and pour in the food colour. Within a day or two the flower will change to the colour of the water. It’s a good experiment to show children about how plants take up water too.

Horticultural.

WATER ON TAP

(Click on title to go to OECD LINK)

Ireland is the only country in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) that doesn’t charge for domestic water. Although Northern Irish residents will be paying up to €500 euro per household year within three years. The situation could change here in the South. If it does then more and more people will be looking for an alternative to the mains supply. Not everyone has access to a fresh well; thankfully other alternatives are readily at hand. A large proportion of the drinking water that comes to our taps is used for the washing machine, showering, bathing and the dishwasher. This means that a lot of energy and chemicals are wasted on water that isn’t used for human consumption.


Here in Ireland we are not short of water, hardly a day goes by where there isn’t a shower or two. Because of this we are in a great position to collect the free supply that falls onto the house roof and store it in containers to be pumped into the house for use on the white goods. Do not be put off by the thought of a smelly old metal barrel at the bottom of a drainpipe with midge larvae bobbing up and down in the green slime. Technology has moved on and there are now state of the art water collectors that catch and store it in underground tanks.

There is a filtration system, which takes out the impurities, and one company even injects ozone into the liquid, so absolutely no chemicals are used, which is very reassuring. The ozone is dissolved in the water, which oxidises and destroys any contamination, leaving it safe to drink before converting back to natural oxygen. This idea is a step closer to houses being self-sufficient units and although the initial cost is quite steep, the benefits will last for years. The manufacturers say that the units are practically maintenance free and the tanks are expected to last the lifetime of the house.


TAP WATER IN BOTTLE

Ian

We bought some water in small bottles last week. I read the ingredients, like you do. The bottle said that it just contained water. This was not water from any particular mountain or underwater reservoir. It was just tap water. The company did not even see fit to filter it first before it was put into the bottle! Packaging is responsible for the public being duped into buying loads of rubbish. Look at cereals for kids. Take away the packaging that contains cartoons and bright coloured images and you are left with a white plastic bag that mainly contains air and sugar. The other bits are processed grains that have lost all of their goodness. You wouldn’t think twice about buying it, like you shouldn’t have to think twice about paying a ridiculous amount of money for something that runs freely from our taps. Regards G.N. by e-mail

Environmental

WHALE WATCH

PHOTO: visitors looked very closely for mammal movement in the Atlantic at last weeks whale watch.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the declaration of Irish waters, there was a whale watch around the country last week. We went up to Dunree to join in the fun of trying to spot whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Swilly. Although the mammals were shy and did not show for us, the crowd that gathered still has a fabulous time. Emmet Johnston, the wildlife ranger was outside on the hill overlooking the sea with telescopic lenses helping to answer visitors’ questions. Inside the wonderful exhibition centre at Dunree there was a comprehensive display of information and fun activities for us to learn more about our 24 cetacean visitors that grace the Irish coastline. There have been sightings all over the peninsula of porpoises and dolphins. The porpoises have been playing around Neds point and the dolphins can be spotted a bit farther up the coast. As long at the water stays warm and the small fish are swimming around, these friendly mammals should be staying around. I hope that the Jet Ski and powerboat users are aware of them and steer clear

Environmental

TOP TIPS

SALAD SOUP
Don’t throw away your leftover salad on these warm, sunny evenings. Put it in the liquidizer and add some tomato juice, a dash of Worcester sauce and Tabasco, blend and season to taste. It sound disgusting but if it is served chilled it makes a great drink.

SCRAMBLED EGGS
Add a spoonful of white breadcrumbs to eggs before scrambling to improve the flavour. It will make the eggs go further too.

CONTAINER WATER GARDEN

Is it just me that thinks it’s been a bit wet over the last couple of weeks? I have this wonderful self-watering system set up to water my plants but I haven’t really had the chance to use it yet. In a way this is a good thing, as the plants grow better with rainwater as opposed to tap water. The conditions are actually very favourable for growing at the moment as we are still getting the sunshine even if we aren’t tempted out into the garden because it is either wet or windy. If you are the member of the family who darts outside in between the showers to cut the grass you will probably know what I am talking about. The weather we are having at the moment has been making my little brain tick over, how do I make the best of the situation? As Billy Connelly said “there is no such thing as bad weather it’s just that you’re wearing the wrong clothes!”

CONTAINER WATER GARDENING

Planting up a simple display of plants that can tolerate their roots being saturated in water would be an ideal solution for people who forget to put drainage holes in their containers when they fill them up. We are a bit limited on the choice of water plants that are available around here, but with a little imagination we can find plants that can tolerate these wet conditions. I have loads of yellow irises and reeds in my back garden, but I think that is taking things to extremes! There are a few plants that are classed as marginal plants that will do the job nicely, such as some Hostas, primulas and cultivated Iris’s. Creeping jenny could also be used which is popular in hanging baskets. There are probably many more plants which will suit, so now would be a good time to pick the brains of the garden centre staff.

One of the simplest ways to create a water container is to use a window box. Bog plants (or marginal plants as they are also called) can be used to good effect. The plants you choose can be placed straight into soil in the container or put into soil wrapped up in an old piece of fine material such as a pair of old tights, this makes it an easy job to take out any plants that have gone past their best. The container can then be filled with gravel and of course water, remember though that the container will be very heavy so it will need to be secure on the windowsill. Most bog plants prefer to be placed in full sun so you can put the container on the next flight to the south of France for it to flourish!

An idea that I particularly like is to use half a barrel and sink all but a few inches (cm) into the ground, this looks particularly effective in areas around an alpine bed or a seating area. The barrel would probably need some pond liner inside it to stop it from rotting. When it is in place it can last for years, just one water lily can give a great show all summer and fish could also live in it all year as it would be deep enough and insulated in the ground enough to keep the water from totally freezing.

It might be a good idea to have a poke around in the dusty corners of the house or garage to find anything that would hold a marginal plant, an old metal watering can can be used to good effect, you might have to fill it half full of gravel first as it will be a bit deep for most shallow loving plants. When the old sink is thrown out, put it in the garden, put the plug in and away you go, an instant water garden!

Horticultural

AROMATIC LEAVES

Photo: Rosemary and thyme.

Photo: Magnolia stellata 'Royal star' has a sweet fragrance.

After leaving school I found myself employed by Nottingham County Council, as a parks gardener - although I found myself doubling up as a gravedigger sometimes. My main duties at the time were to mark out the cricket pitches, cut the grass on the putting green, rip my arms to bits cutting back seventy year old rose bushes and falling asleep in the bird house on foggy mornings (the charge hand never thought of looking for me in there). My favourite job of all though was looking after the bowling green. To me this was a sign that summer was really here. I would get great satisfaction mowing the stripes from corner to corner in a perfectly straight line. The secret is to focus your eye on the opposite corner of the green, then walk (with the mower) towards it, not taking your eyes off it for a second. But my most memorable time was when the grass needed watering in dry weather. The hosepipe was stretched out the length of the green, and a sprinkler was fitted to the end. This was no ordinary sprinkler, as it was fully automatic, running slowly along the hosepipe from one end of the green to the other. The whole procedure took some three hours after it was set up and switched on, which left me plenty of time for more important matters, such as stretching out on one of the park benches and daydreaming (I was seventeen remember). My favourite bench was just in front of a mixed flower border, fronted by bright red pelargoniums (geraniums) and to the rear of the border were heavily scented climbers of Lonicera (Honeysuckle or Woodbine) and Wisteria. It was a wonderful place to rest and while away an hour or three, if the charge hand didn’t come and disturb my peace that is!

Aromatic leaved shrubs

Scent is a wonderful asset to the garden. Many summer flowers contribute to an overall pot pourrii of smells. Some climbers such as Jasmine can give fragrance in the winter months too. The scent of some flowers can be a bit sweet and sickly, not to mention starting off sneezing fits if you suffer from hayfeaver. Therefore aromatic foliage plants can be used to good effect in the borders. These are the plants to position against paths and walkways, where you are likely to brush against them and release their rich aroma. Low growing herbs such as Thyme and Chamomile can be planted in cracks between paving stones, treading on them releases their smell and does the plants no harm. Alternatively, the shrubs can be close to the patio or in a raised bed, where they can be appreciated and handled at closer quarters. This is particularly enjoyable for people with poor eyesight or difficulty with mobility. Many of these shrubs are evergreen, so they can be enjoyed all year round, and others offer scented flowers as well as foliage. Lavenders can be dried and Rosemary and sweet Bay can be used in cooking. Some other easily grown shrubs with aromatic leaves are: Santolina, Helichrysum (curry plant), Hyssop, Myrtle, Sage and Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom)

Horticultural

GREENFLY

Last week I found myself putting a Busy Lizzy (Impatiens) houseplant in the microwave to see if it got rid of a nasty attack of greenfly. (I wouldn’t recommend this course of action as the greenfly seem to survive longer than the plants!) I came to the conclusion this action was telling me to get back into the garden and take advantage of the dry, sunny weather.

Horticultural

PERMACULTURE

(Click on the title for a link to permaculture.org)

Ian
I have seen the advertisement for a Permaculture weekend in Moville on March 25 & 26, Saturday & Sunday in the community college. Could you tell me a bit about it please as it sounds very interesting. Thanks P.G. Moville

A WAY OF LIFE

I like to think that permaculture is a way of life as the ideas touch on most aspects of everyday living. The idea started in the mid 70's when two Australian ecologists, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, started to develop ideas that they hoped could be used to create stable agricultural systems. This was in response to the rapidly growing use of destructive post-war industrial agricultural methods that were poisoning the land and water, reducing biodiversity, and removing billions of tonnes of soil from previously fertile landscapes. The design approach called 'permaculture' was the result, and was first made public with the publication of Permaculture One in 1978. The term is the merging of the words Permanent and Agriculture. Two philosophies of permaculture that are quoted are to “think before you act” and to “practice maximum contemplation, minimum action”, which sounds all right to me! Permaculture is not a set of rules; it is a process of design based around principles found in the natural world, of co-operation and mutually beneficial relationships, and translating these principles into actions.

OBSERVING YOUR SURROUNDINGS

This action can range from choosing what you eat, how you travel, the type of work you do, and where you live, to working with others to create a community food-growing project. It's about making decisions that relate to all your other decisions; so one area of your life is not working against another. For example, if you are planning a journey, consider other tasks that can be completed on the way to your destination (combining a trip to see friends with buying food on the way home, for example). It means thinking about your life or projects as a whole system - working out the most effective way to do things that involves the least effort and the least damage to others, and looking for ways to make relationships more beneficial.

It is important to observe your surroundings before making choices. Taking stock at the beginning of a project (whether it be building a house or planting a window box) of the available resources in terms of time, materials, skills, money, opportunities, land etc, and thinking about how these resources can relate to each other is a useful basis for designing a sustainable and effective system. To take the example of a garden - careful observation over the course of a few months can give information about the sunniest spots, the path of a neighbourhood fox, which areas are sheltered from the wind. Such information is not always immediately available, but can ultimately be very important. A key feature of the design process in permaculture is "zoning". This is about placing things appropriately in relation to each other, and works on the principle that things requiring frequent attention are placed closest to the home. It is about using time, energy and resources wisely, which can be as simple as planting your most used herbs nearest to your kitchen, or as complex as planning a community.

WORKING TOGETHER

Permaculture seeks to foster the skills, confidence and imagination to enable people to become self-reliant, and to seek creative solutions to problems on a global or local scale. While the individual has a part to play, in most places it is not realistic for an individual household to provide for all of their own needs in terms of food, clothing, work etc, and the emphasis is more on self-reliance and increased sufficiency within the community, rather than individual self-sufficiency. In practice, this does not mean each person growing enough food to feed themselves in their back garden; it means that as many as possible of the inputs for a community (food, skills etc) come from within that community - perhaps in the form of community food growing schemes, Local Exchange and Trading Systems (LETS) to exchange skills and produce etc.
Permaculture means different things to different people. One person may interpret it in a practical sense in terms of growing food, perhaps, while another will focus on a more spiritual side. This diversity is important; it helps to keep a sense of balance, and encourages people to share their resources and knowledge with others.

Working together is the key - it takes a lot of strain off the individual. It also is important to be well informed and if you can help others, spread your knowledge in return. Find out more by checking out www.permaculture.org.uk or if you fancy being more sociable check out permaculture workshops.

Environmental, Horticultural

FLEAS

Photo: Max the dog was known to have a few fleas sometimes.

Photo: Dogs and cats are not the only animals to get the itch.

I really enjoyed the snow a few weeks ago. There was on day that saw a covering of the soft and fluffy stuff that is so good for throwing, which makes a pleasant change from the ice balls that kids usually have to settle for. The youngsters on our estate were all out having fun and when the sledges came out I though it would be a great opportunity to go out and take some photos of the action. I went out and gave the permission for some lads to throw snow in my direction (all in the name of art of course) then I decided to get the sledge in the picture. I had to run a bit to keep up and in doing so I found myself flat on my back in the middle of the road. I was well insulated to take the impact thankfully, but that didn’t stop me getting snowballed as I lay on the ground! The worst bit was that my camera had taken the full force of the impact. I made a quick exit indoors with all of the bits and tried to superglue the camera back together. You wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it hasn’t worked. Still I think myself lucky that it was the camera and not me that needed fixing. It makes me realise that my legs are not as bendy as they once were!

BITES

Ian
I have bites all over my legs and they are very itchy. They must have come from fleas. We have a dog and think they might be from him. How can I get them out of the carpet? Thanks BP. Carn

Reply

Even though it is cold outside, fleas will hatch and thrive in the carpets because we have the heating on. This makes a perfect environment for breeding.

Here are a few facts about fleas:

Fleas are similar to cockroaches in that they adapt to their environment. They become stronger and more immune to these popular chemicals with each generation.

Most of the fleas are living in your pet's environment, rather than in its fur. (Every flea found on your pet may mean that there approximately 30 more living in your home.) Fleas usually gain entry to your home through your pet.

A single flea can lay as many as 60 eggs per day. The lifespan of a flea is about 90 days.
Controlling fleas does require some effort, but there are there safer and effective ways to control fleas than several well-known commercial flea control products.

GETTING RID OF THE PESTS

Bathe and comb your pet regularly.

Use mild soap, not insecticides. If fleas are found on the comb, dip the comb in a glass of soapy water.

Citrus is a natural flea deterrent. Pour a cup of boiling water over a sliced lemon. Include the lemon skin, scored to release more citrus oil. Let this mixture soak overnight, and sponge on your dog to kill fleas instantly.

Add brewer's yeast and garlic, or apple cider vinegar, to your pets' food. However, it is not advisable to use raw garlic as a food supplement for cats.

Cedar shampoo, cedar oil and cedar-filled sleeping mats are commercially available. Cedar repels many insects including fleas.

Fleas in the carpet. The carpet should be thoroughly vacuumed especially in low traffic areas, under furniture, etc. If you are desperate then some people put flea powder in the vacuum cleaner bag to kill any fleas that are vacuumed up. I don’t like the idea of this as the dust could be breathed
Trap fleas in your home using a wide, shallow pan half-filled with soapy water. Place it on the floor and shine a lamp over the water. Fleas will jump to the heat of the lamp and land in the water. The detergent breaks the surface tension, preventing the flea from bouncing out

ANTI DUMPING SCHEME

A new initiative was launched recently aimed at eliminating illegal dumping in the countryside. The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, said he would give €350,000 for a pilot project in Co Wicklow which, if successful, will be introduced nationwide. A coordinator will be appointed to streamline communication between the local authority and landowners, like the forestry service, Coillte in an effort to stop illegal dumping at beauty spots. Local community groups will be encouraged to report on any illegal or suspicious activity on a lo-call number. As well as education programmes, concealed CCTV cameras will also be used. The pilot project will run for three years. I would like to think that we here in Inishowen are already aware of our shortcomings with illegal dumping and are taking steps already to eliminate some of the problems before the initiative is introduced. (although I did have to steer around two mattresses that were dumped on the Buncrana road last week!)

Environmental.

ALPINE CARE

I’ve always been fond of alpine plants. I was getting a few of them ready for putting on my stall last week when I was reminded of a time when I was given my first alpines. I thought they looked like little trees and bushes so I set about making a miniature landscape out of them. I started with an old biscuit tin into which I put a couple of inches of soil. Next I found some nice spongy moss that looked like a perfect tiny lawn. A mirror became a pond and small stones became a rockery. The alpines became magical woodland. To finish off the perfect scene a ceramic house was carefully placed and various plastic farmyard animals grazed happily from behind a matchstick fence. The finished work was a beautiful idyllic picture of rural life. This was to be short-lived because out of no-where came a Lego spacecraft. Action man was on a mission to destroy Utopia armed with two balloon water bombs. Both hit their target with an earth shattering splash. The tin was full of water, the miniature world had gone, however as I was a seven-year-old boy and my tea was ready I didn’t much care!

ALPINE PLANTS

These miniature forms of plants-perennial, conifers, shrubs and bulbs offer a wonderful choice of flower, shape and leaves. Alpines are usually grown in a rockery but they can also look good in containers, raised beds, hanging baskets, and crevices in dry stonewalls as well as in between paving stones. Varieties such as Thyme can be planted en masse to give a colourful and scented carpet. They enjoy the full sun.

Choosing your plants

When choosing plants, most will be expected to be low growing. The ultimate spread will also vary and many can grow to cover several square metres. Choose the plants carefully or these can swamp the less invasive types.

Soil preparation
On heavy or wet soils add liberal amounts of sharp sand or grit. This will improve drainage and prevent the plants rotting during periods of heavy rain.

Weeds
Weeds are the alpine’s number one enemy and once they become established they are very hard to get rid of. Clear the ground completely of weeds such as ground elder, couch grass, bindweed, docks, dandelions etc.

Watering and Feeding

If it is very dry while the plants are establishing water around the edge of the plant. Alpines like a feed with a general fertilizer in mid spring and this should supply all they require for the year.

Moisture Retention

Applying a layer of rock chips, grit sand or fine gravel over the soil looks more natural and aids the retention of moisture.

Pruning

Pruning is important for strong healthy plants. Flowering alpines respond well to a ‘short top and sides’ after flowering.

Enjoy your alpines and watch out for any deranged action men!

Horticultural

CLEAN BEACHES

Photo:Michael singing on Clonmany beach Inishowen Co.Donegal.

Photo:Beach at Buncrana, Inishowen, Co Donegal.

TIPS FOR THE BEACH

We have some of the best beaches in the country. With a bit of thought we can ensure that they are kept that way for us all to enjoy.

Don’t litter.

Take home what you take to the beach. Always use the bins if they are provided. If there isn’t a bin or if the bin is full, don’t just put the rubbish to the side, the birds and dogs will make sure that the rubbish is scattered everywhere. If there isn’t a bin, or it’s full, take the rubbish home with you. There is an on the spot fine of é100 euro for anyone caught dropping litter in Inishowen.

Take a bucket.

Better than just taking your rubbish, take a bucket (or bag) with you to the beach and pick up any litter you see on your way back to the car. Set a good example to others.

Plastics and glass.

If you do take plastic containers of any kind, make sure you bring them home with you. Plastics are a danger to marine life and take forever to break down. Glass on the beach is very dangerous. Never leave bottles on the beach, they will break and be very dangerous around where children are playing and also for animals and marine life.

Quad bikes, buggies, motorbikes and cars.

If you are blighted by any of these on your day to the beach then you can phone the local Garda station and give them the details. You can do this with complete confidentiality.

Cigarette ends.

Don’t leave cigarette ends on the beach. They are non-biodegradable and are deadly to the fish and birds that eat them in mistake for food.

Cans and plastic rings.

Cans get very sharp when the sea wears them, making them a hazard for children and animals. The plastic rings that hold cans together can strangle birds, fish and other animals.

Fishing line.

Never leave fishing line on the beach. Birds, fish and other animals can get trapped in it and die. Monofilament fishing line takes 600 years to break down in the marine environment. Roll the line up and tie then take the line home with you and dispose of it safely.

Dogs.

If you walk your dog on a beach where other people are likely to be, take a bag to collect their mess. The council are thinking of banning dogs on the beaches between 11am and 6pm each day.


Peter Doherty from Carndonagh has started a clean up campaign to rid the beaches of rubbish around the peninsula. Peter stressed that although there was a certain amount of rubbish left on the beach by visitors, there is a lot of debris that comes in on the tide as well. If you would like to help at any time you can phone Peter on 074 9373373

Environmental.

CHECKOUT THE PAUL GOMERSALL WEBSITE

Photo: The train station in Byron Bay is now disused.

Photo: Sandcastles on Byron beach

Paul has a website listing a lot of his collabarations in the music industry. Here is the introduction:

( Click on title to get to the website)


I've been making records for over 20 years now, It's taken me around the world several times and allowed me to be involved with some of the worlds biggest names, George Michael, Phil Collins, Blur,Prefab Sprout,.... (see biography on the site). As well as working with the major labels I also love working with independant artists and can offer benefits maybe unavailable to them otherwise. Although living in Byron Bay, Australia, distance is really no object and 95% of the work I do these days is done over the net allowing you a very stress free experience. Choose when, where & what system you listen to the mixes on. Play them to friends for feedback, all in your own time. after which we collaborate and fine tune things until everyone is happy.If you are interested in getting your material mixed or produced by me please get in touch.....

Environmental

NATIVE COASTAL PLANTS

Photo: Clean and Green, Byron Bay style.

My brother Paul had an accident recently. He was walking into a post office and fell on a slippery floor. It happened so quickly that he fell straight onto his left knee shattering it as he hit the ground. It set him back as you would expect and I thought it a good idea to go and visit him whist he was recovering and adjusting the metal pins in his knee. Getting to him though I used up all of my carbon credits for about one hundred lifetimes I think! This is because he lives on the most easterly point of Australia in a place called Byron Bay so there were a lot of flying hours in planes to get to him. Byron Bay is a couple of hours drive from Brisbane, which in Australian terms means that it is practically next door. Living in Sydney up until about seven years ago, Paul then had a holiday in Byron. He never left. Byron is that sort of place.

BYRON BAY

Starting its life over one hundred years ago, Byron Bay was a whaling town. In the 1970’s it developed a reputation of being a destination for people who were needing to “tune in and drop out” of the hustle and bustle of western life. A steady procession of VW campervans later and the area became a microclimate for alternative living. Although there are traditional style houses that blend into the countryside there are also a good number of people opting to live a feral lifestyle in the bush (woodland). There is no electricity in the bush and the huts that are built usually only have three walls, the other is left open to the elements. This is luxury compared to some of the lesser structures that are just large tents. In the town and surrounding area a whole network of spiritual and holistic centres have set up which include crystal healing, reiki massage and eco products as well as plenty of surfing shops. Over the years the town has resisted the pressure to become a high rise holiday mecca like the Gold Coast just up the road. Locals have maintained that the area benfits by low rise properties that blend into the abundance of tropical rainforests that cover the hills. Byron also managed to fend off the big multinationals until very recently too. Small independent retailers thrived there but recently there has been a wave of large multi-nationals which is upsetting the balance of things a bit. Like in Inishowen, the house prices are on the increase and loads of estate agents have moved in.

I couldn’t sit around sunbathing all day though and an advert caught my eye in the local paper to help in some coastal planting of native Bankia and Whattle trees on the sand dunes. The group were called Green and Clean and although they got the words the wrong way around in their name, I thought I would spend the day constructively. It turns out that a vast stretch of the coastline is being swamped by the invasive Bitou weed, which was planted on the coast twenty years ago to stop erosion. In their wisdom, the council decided to use Bitou, which is a native South African plant to do the job. Strangely enough the coastal areas in South Africa are also suffering from an invasive weed that was given to them from Australia. Throughout the day I found out a lot about the area’s environmental issues and in a lot of respects it mirrors our situation here in Inishowen. They have the property developers trying to create high rise blots on the landscape, the coastline is eroding, franchises are moving in to standardise living, infrastructures such as roads and water are under funded and there is more asbestos about than you could ever hope to bury in an illegal landfill site.

PERSPECTIVE

I started to put our own environmental issues into perspective when I was talking to the Green and Clean group. Holidays are a perfect vehicle for putting your life into perspective after all. When I worked in a distribution company in the eighties, I went without a lunch break for seven years as there were always problems to sort out and I thought it was just up to me to put them right. Eventually I realised that I performed more effectively if I left the desk for an hour and funnily enough, most problems had resolved themselves, by the time I had returned. This is how it felt when I went away. Before I left Inishowen to go on my holidays I was getting stressed out by the dumping on Lisfannan beach and other environmental issues, but when I came back, I was pleased to hear that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been sorting out the mess on the beach and are also keeping an eye on the recycling bins that welcome visitors before they have chance to walk into the tourist information centre. All this and I didn’t have to do a thing! So in the New Year I would like to acknowledge all the people in Inishowen who tirelessly work behind the scenes on environmental improvements around the area. I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions but I feel that I am now in a better frame of mind to look at the positives that we have in Inishowen. My brother is on the mend. I am relaxed…. Long may it last!

Environmental.

ANCIENT HISTORY INISHOWEN

Photo: Standing stones, Culdaff,Inishowen.

Photo: Cross, Gleneely, Inishowen

Have you ever thought about your townland name? Ramonn Laoghog has and his enthusiasm spilled out at a talk about the subject in Buncrana library last week. As part of the Heritage week, Ramonn told us about how important placenames are when it comes to finding out about the past. We have one of the oldest European languages in Ireland and the Druids safeguarded information by not writing anything down. Because of this most placenames and townland names have come about through word of mouth and were passed down phonetically for centuries. This is why people (such as Ramonn) can find twenty meanings in one townland name. One issue that was of particular interest for me was how vulnerable both the names and the historical structures in townlands are. In one local area there can be as many as 800 sub names. These can be so small that a named area can literally be built on and disappear forever. Structures such as standing stones, wells and old burial grounds are seriously in danger too. Ramonn was right when he said that in any other place these ancient structures would be under cover or in museums, protected from the elements for future reference (although it is wonderful to see them in situ.). As it stands the only protected piece of history I know of is the cross in Carndonagh. The weather is slowly eroding the detail on most of these structures in the countryside, which is a real pity. There are a lot of monuments of interest in the townlands of Inishowen. These have been well documented by Mabel Colhoun, whose book on the archaeology of Inishowen, is available for reference in the local library Some are so insignificant that they could be mistaken for boulders left in a field or a hedgerow, but they have a significant importance to historians (as the council in Buncrana found out when they inadvertently dug up Father Hegarty’s stone). A lot of history is disappearing under the rush of development in the area and some are even ending up as garden ornaments. Access to the remaining structures can be fraught with danger too. We went to have a look at some standing stones near Culdaff last week. Although initially there was a stile and an access point, this soon degraded into a boundary fence and gate around the stones that was covered in barbed wire. Someone had been there before us and cut a piece of the wire so we still had access.

ACCESS TO MONUMENTS

Access is proving to be more difficult to these areas of interest. The tourist board are advertising Inishowen as a place to come and go walking. Granted there are specified routes for ramblers but it does seem to be getting more and more difficult to get access into the countryside. A visit to a local megalithic tomb involved fighting our way through gorse bushes, hopping over barbed wire fences and no doubt, plenty of trespassing. There might be plenty of access paths and walks and I know there are rambling and hill-walking groups in the peninsula, but as I am unsure of public access routes, I feel uncomfortable walking across farmer’s fields.
There are details coming out soon about a Countryside Recreation Strategy. This is a document drawn up by Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council). The plan has been three years in the making and includes the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Keep Ireland Open (KIO) an access lobby group, the Mountaineering Council of Ireland and Coillte, the forestry people. The main idea is to get farmers involved in setting up walking routes and sometimes being paid to maintain them. The IFA, with 85,000 members apparently have not signed up, as they seem to think there is nothing in it for them. A report in a Sunday newspaper claims that the Association want €5 per metre of walking route as compensation. Keeping the countryside open in a responsible manner and preserving the wealth of ancient structures that we have in Inishowen should be a priority. We are told that Ireland is experiencing an increased amount of overseas visitors coming over and enjoying the friendly welcome and the easy, controlled access to the countryside. This needs to become more of a reality as it will be an uphill struggle to keep increasing the numbers visitors amidst the accusations of “Rip off Ireland” being thrown around. Carbon emissions from the green-thinking walkers who do not want to fly to their holiday destination might have an effect on the numbers coming to Ireland for a walking holiday. People such as Ramonn are doing their best to pass on the townland information to the next generation just as the learned people did hundreds of years ago. And regardless of whether we get tourists here or not in the future, countryside walks, the protection and access to the ancient monuments should be a priority here in Inishowen.

Environmental

ASBESTOS IN INISHOWEN

Photo: asbestos pipes dumped on the beach at Lisfannon

(Click on the title for a link to asbestos regulations in Ireland)

There was a report in the Environmental Health News a while ago about eleven staff at Leinster House in Dublin being paid more than 1m-euro compensation in settlement of claims of exposure to asbestos. There are another 67 similar cases pending in a flood of compensation claims against the state by people alleging to have come into contact with asbestos. There are also 500 other cases pending across the country and the number is rising. The bill is expected to be about 50m euro but will probably go even higher. There was a programme to remove the product from 6000 state buildings that started four years ago and it is still in progress. A Dublin based personal injury lawyer claims that asbestos may be Ireland’s single biggest industrial killer and has expressed concern that landfill sites in Ireland are still unknowingly disposing of the waste.

WHAT WAS ASBESTOS USED FOR?

Asbestos was a widely used product up until 1978 when reports came out to alert the public of the dangers to their lungs. Small amounts of the fine particles were claimed to do no harm but it was the people who had long term contact that were at risk of contracting lung damage. The asbestos was used as fire insulation, soundproofing, heat insulation, lagging pipes, door gaskets on cookers, patching mixtures for cracks in walls and ceilings, the backing on lino floors and artificial coal in gas fires amongst other things.

WHO IS AT RISK?

If you live in a house that was built before 1978 then there could be asbestos in your house. Don’t worry though because as long as it is bonded with other materials like glue it is generally very safe. The problem of safety arises more for the unsuspecting tradesperson. Disturbing old boards and producing dust by drilling in the attic is very dangerous. The people most at risk are builders, plumbers, joiners, roofing contractors, computer installers and anyone else who does work in the house. Mechanics can also come into contact with asbestos through brake linings. Precautionary measures such as facemasks and proper safety clothing will help to minimise the risk. If you do have asbestos in your house then the advice that is given is to leave it alone! Asbestos sheds and roofs can be a problem if the boards have gone dry and brittle. Demolishing these could cause the dust to be inhaled. These jobs are best left to the experts with the correct equipment.

HOW CAN I DISPOSE OF ASBESTOS SAFELY?

Landfill sites and any council in Ireland don’t deal with the problem of disposing of asbestos. I can guess that this is because the councils are being very careful about claims against them. Exposed asbestos that is undamaged can be sealed with a resin to eliminate the possibility of it flaking if it is exposed to the elements. Removing the material off site is really the last resort. Disposing of asbestos is expensive if the proper channels are taken. The waste is collected and taken to Dublin where it is shipped over to Germany. On arrival in Germany it is land filled at a great depth and kept at a constant moisture level to delay any decomposition

I was talking to Alpha Asbestos Removal in Derry last week to see what services were available in the North. All landfill for asbestos is coming to an end in Northern Ireland and they are following the same path as us, to Germany. Staff at Alpha A.A. are contacted by people in Inishowen who want to get rid of their waste asbestos and are horrified at the cost. From anything like a carrier bag full to a skip load the price is the same of around €500 to €700 euro. (I told you it was expensive!) The company stressed that if you were considering removing an old asbestos shed or refitting the house or offices etc. it would be less risk to your health (and cheaper) to leave the complete job in the hands of the professionals. If you want to find out more about the disposal of asbestos, ring Alpha Asbestos Removal on 04871 269167

Environmental

AIR FRESHENERS

Photo: Buncrana from Lisfannon beach.

Some large supermarkets use chemical sprays to entice us to fill our shopping trolleys. When you walk past the bakery section you could be greeted with a smell of fresh bread, or you could be relaxed by a fresh soothing smell in the vegetable department to calm the nerves, all this will add products to the basket. These smells may be (not always) coming out of a tin. The reason we’re making an issue of smelly stuff this week is while we were doing a spot of shopping in a smaller supermarket this week, one of the staff was happily walking around the shop with a can of air freshener merrily spraying everything in his path. Now I know this isn’t exactly chemical warfare, but the toxic fumes got right up my nose. The shop would have a fast turn over of stock and so there were no nasty smells anyway. We tried to find what chemicals are in these spray containers but as they aren’t for consumption the companies don’t have to list them. The warnings on the can say it all though. Seek medical advice if swallowed -can be fatal, do not inhale! Don’t spray on furniture, clothes, fish, animals… and the list goes on. At least C.F.C’s aren’t used in the cans any more so at least that chemical isn’t eating away at the ozone layer. Anyway, where was I… oh yes. The objection that we had to this indiscriminate spray attack was that it was used around the bakery department, the meat department and the area that has loose sweets for the kids. Giving the kids sugary sweets themselves isn’t the healthiest thing to do anyway, but put one of the chemical ingredients of the air freshener on top, such as 2.4 dimethylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde for example and you have a pretty unpalatable mixture.

Here are a few alternatives to chemical cocktails:

AIR FRESHENERS

We tried using a natural fabric softener (available from health shops) on cheap nylon carpets to keep them fresh and reduce the static. It did work for a while but the mixture builds up on the material if used regularly. It doesn’t smell that fresh after a day or two either so we don’t really recommend this idea. Try using bicarbonate of soda in a shaker and sprinkle on the carpet, leave for a few minutes then vacuum up. This is Shake and Vac more or less, without the chemical perfume.

Find the source of the smell and remove it. This sounds straightforward. Empty the rubbish bin regularly and dispose of the vegetable peelings to the compost bin. Wash out the cans as well -these could be stored ready to go to the recycling centre. Keep things clean and if you have kids check places like under the bed often, you never know what’s lurking in the darkness (usually apple cores, banana skins and carrot tops around here)!

Open the windows. Even on those cold, windy days, try to get some fresh air into the house; it works wonders getting rid of smells.

Make your own smelly stuff. Try mixing some natural essential oil into a fine spray bottle filled with water. Get some wooden balls and soak them with the oil too, these can be left in bowls around the house.

Natural potpourri. You can find natural potpourris in health shops, try making your own as well.

Candles and incense. These can be picked up at a reasonable cost and can set a romantic atmosphere in the house too! (Don’t leave them unattended when lit though).

Toxic and non-renewable substances. Most of the air freshener products that are sold in supermarkets contain toxic ingredients and only cover up the smell with another one. They don’t get rid of the problem. Shop wisely and look for products that are natural.

Household

DOWN TO BASICS

Photo: View from the house in Clonbeg, Buncrana

We’ve been getting down to basics here at Clean and Green this week. Any chemical that was in the house has been safely disposed of. We are now, we feel, well able to tackle any dirty corner, stained and smelly carpet, grimy cooker or greasy window without the use of chemicals. Some people have asked me why we take the time and trouble to spend time looking into alternatives to chemicals in the home. The main reason stems from a couple of years ago when I was pushing one of my lads around a supermarket in the trolley whilst doing the weekly shop. I was happily filling the trolley with food and decided to get a multipurpose cleaner for the worktops. The one I chose was a clear liquid, which to me made it look fresh, natural and harmless. This was put into the trolley. Unbeknown to me the plastic container had a large crack in it. My lad, who was only about two at the time, got hold of it and put the dripping container to his lips. Within a second he was covered in about a pint of this potentially fatal product. I grabbed him, left the trolley full of food dripping with this poisonous liquid and rushed him home to get changed. Luckily he hadn’t swallowed any, but it was a near thing. This made me realise that with children around I wasn’t prepared to have these products in the house and safer methods needed to be found. That’s one of the reasons I have been looking for alternatives.

There is a help line to make a note of if you think your child has swallowed anything poisonous. They are very friendly and helpful should you need them, it’s the National Poisons Centre on Dublin 01 8379964 or 01 837 9966 (available in the phone book emergency numbers).

ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS



All purpose cleaner’s come in powder, cream or liquid form. These products are all very similar and work in the same way as all cleaners. They loosen grease and grime and allow it to be rinsed off surfaces. In order for these products to work as they promise to do, they are said to be far more concentrated than they need to be and could be watered down when you use them. Most of the products contain synthetic detergents, solvents to cut away the grease, bleaches and disinfectants. These are all irritating to the eyes, ears, nose and throat and of course poisonous if swallowed. We have found with our experiments that a pair of rubber gloves, some very hot water, and simple soap can cut away the grease just as well as these harsh chemicals.

RING AROUND THE BATH



To get rid of a bath ring recently we cleaned the bath with dry bicarbonate of soda and a cloth. The ring soon disappeared and after a light rinse the bath was ready for use. With chemical cleaners it is important to rinse very thoroughly to avoid skin irritation. The only side effect with bicarb is that it softens the water in the bath if it isn’t rinsed away.

OTHER IDEAS



Try to avoid a big build up of grease in and around the cooker, these jobs can get very big if you neglect them for a long time.
For tough grease make a strong solution containing ½ tsp of washing soda (sodium carbonate) 2tblsp distilled white vinegar ¼ tsp liquid soap and 2 cups of hot water. Mix these up in a spray bottle. Wear rubber gloves and spray onto the surfaces, leave for a minute or two, and then clean off.



BICARBONATE OF SODA





Bicarbonate of soda makes a great scouring powder. If you wanted a fresh smell to go with it, just add a few drops of essential oil, lemon and lavender are refreshing for example. Keep this mixture in a jar for when it is needed.

If you have stains to remove off the worktops, then a mixture of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a small amount of borax and soap flakes is said to be effective. The borax is a bleaching agent and should be handled with care. I haven’t tried this idea because I don’t like borax in the house. It is a natural product but I think it is too dangerous to have in the house with children around.

Hot water and steam are both great cleaners but don’t forget the magic ingredient to go with all these methods of cleaning…. Elbow grease!

As with all of the ideas on the site, test on a small area first.


Please keep all types of cleaning products well away from children.



Household