A Trip To The Library

Now that I had fully embraced cloth diapering, I began to wonder what else contained the harsh chemicals that disposables had.  I learned the answer was EVERYTHING and I turned to our local library for help on alternatives.   

The "Baby Animals" book is my daughter's contribution; as much as I love sweet little baby animals (except chickens, which are vile creatures at any age), they are not in our future....except for maybe a few chickens. *sigh*  We do however intend to grow a fairly extensive garden when we get out of the military next year, so I grabbed some books on vegetables and herbs as well.

 I found Green Up Your Cleanup by Jill Potvin Schoff to be very helpful as far as making homemade household cleaners.  It has seven different recipes in it, that would cover the full range of cleaning.  I headed out to the store to gather the ingredients: vinegar, borax, baking soda, hydrogen bleach and castile soap.  I found all of them without trouble except for the castile soap, which I will be ordering online along with some essential oils.  I am really looking forward to trying out these cleaners and comparing their fighting power to what I've been using for as long as I've been cleaning.

While I was gathering all my cleaner ingredients, I went looking for organic hygiene products, not sure that the commissary would offer a fair selection.  I was wrong!  I came out with some Avalon Organics Lavendar Shampoo, Conditioner and Shaving Gel.  I have tried them all and I have to say, I like them!  The shaving gel in particular is great.  The other main organic company that seems to be represented there is JASON, which I intend to try next.  On a subsequent trip to the library, I found The Herbal Body Book by Stephanie Tourles, and hope to try some of those recipes also.  I think it would be great to make most of our products myself....it's just a matter of justifying the cost and time, which I will be working out as I go...