by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 2

Please, do make a conscious effort to eliminate or minimize use of toxic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in your garden. Choose organic alternatives. If you take good care of your plants, your garden will be healthier and have fewer problems with insects and disease. Invite beneficial insects to your garden by planting a variety of flowers, especially wildflowers. If problems arise, please try the following earth friendly sprays:

All Purpose Insect Spray:
Mix 3 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 2 tbsp. canola oil, 2 tbsp. vinegar and 2 gal. warm water. Apply with hand sprayer.

Fungus Spray:
Mix 1/2 cup molasses, 1/2 cup powdered milk, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 gal. water.

Powdery Mildew Spray:
Mix 4 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 gal. water.

Slug Spray: 
Mix 1 1/2 cups ammonia, 1 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 1/2  cups water. Spray over area where you see signs of slug activity.

White Fly Spray: 
Mix 1 cup sour milk (leave milk at room temperature for 48 hours), 2 tbsp. flour, 1 quart warm water.

Disease Preventing Spray:  
Mix 1 cup chamomile tea, 1 tsp. liquid dish soap, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. peppermint oil (or 1 tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap), 1 gal water.

Mole Tonic:
Mix 11/2 tbsp. Tabasco sauce, 1 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 quart water. Pour small amount of mixture into mole runways. Or, insert sticks of unwrapped Juicy Fruit gum slit lengthwise into the runs.

ROSE CARE:
Rose Spray: 
Mix 1 gal. water, 1 tbsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. oil. For aphids, add 1 tsp. liquid soap.
Mildew Spray for Roses:
Mix 1 tbsp. baby shampoo, 1 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp. instant tea granules, 2 cups of water.

Soil Enhancement:
Work banana peels into soil near roses; the potassium will help the plants fend-off pests and diseases, and deliver beautiful blossoms.

Other Tips:
Every time you use eggs, crush the shell, soak in water overnight and pour the water on your plants to provide then with calcium. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around plants to keep cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels away. Aspirin keeps plants healthy. With regular doses every two months, indoor and outdoor plants will grow more, bloom better and have fewer fungus and pest problems. Dissolve 1 regular strength uncoated aspirin tablets in 1 gallon water.

A message from Helen Caldicott:

Hope for the Earth lies not with leaders but in your own heart and soul.

If you decide to save the Earth, it will be saved. Each person can be as powerful as the most powerful person who ever lived — and that is you, if you love this planet.

For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935

by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 1

The U.S. Geological Survey found traces of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including hormones from birth control pills, in lakes, rivers, ground and tap water. Our septic systems or treatment plants are not designed to remove drugs from wastewater. Scientists are trying to determine the effect the exposure to this mixture of drugs has on our environment. Early studies show that even small amounts of  pharmaceutical products in our water affect the health of our aquatic life, our health and all life on earth. Some of these micro-pollutants break down naturally when exposed to sunlight. But most chemicals in drugs degrade very slowly or not at all, and enter our waterways.

Few people think about what happens to medicines after they do their work in the body. Most ingested drugs actually pass out of the body with urine and make their way into our groundwater. You can minimize their polluting effects by selecting remedies and other products with fewer synthetic and toxic ingredients whenever possible. Finish your prescribed medications. Also:

• Dispose of medicaitons safely: Do not pour unused portions down the drain. Instead, return medications to a local pharmacy or hospital that accepts toxic waste.

• Buy nonprescription drugs in small enough quantities so you can use them before the expiraiton date. If you must toss drugs, leave them in their container and wrap it up tightly in a small plastic bag to minimize that the drug will leech into the groundwater at the garbage disposal center.

• Filter your water. Reverse osmosis systems or granular activated carbon filters work to remove inorganic pollutants.

• Urge legislators to devote resources to developing a nationwide plan for the safe disposal of over-the-counter and prescription medication.
  
  
• Support research efforts of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Toxic Substance Hydrology Program, which is testing our water for micro-pollutants. Under proposed budget cuts it may lose most of its federal funding.

Our Earth was formed as a sacred space, protecting us with a life-giving atmosphere. Please protect our Earth.

For environmentally friendly information call: 732-922-2935

Printing compliments of The Atlantic Club