Do You Really Need to use a Shampoo?

http://www.betweenskyandearth.com.au/



Do you really have to use shampoo or is it just a habit that is second nature?

I have been washing my hair with plain warm water for a few weeks now.

Due to allergies and sensitivities I have been using an unscented shampoo for over 16 years. But it was quite harsh on my hair and I could not find an alternative that was gentler that I could tolerate.

I have a friend who had gone shampoo free a couple of years ago and was very happy with the results. I also knew of a number of people who did the same.

Hmmm ... ? I pondered it on and off for a long time. Then I forgot about a haircut appointment. This had happened before. Was it an omen?

So, now I do without both shampoo and haircuts. At least for a while.

My decision sits well with me as an environmentalist and on account of my health issues and also, to a lesser extent on my hip pocket.

Time will tell if it is a physical benefit to my hair. It certainly doesn’t damage it.



KISS for Life,

Peace to all,

Miriam

Eco Mum Deals

We are excited to announce our new bulk buy deals - Eco Mum Deals. We have uploaded four (4) deals so far. Please check them out (see link below) as they are really great deals.

http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=202

We want people to change their lifestyles to be as sustainable as possible and we are willing to help you out as much as possible.

We have lots of products on our site that we can potentially offer to you via our Eco Mum Deals facility. More deals will be added over the next fortnight.

All you have to do is buy in bulk. You may not always get a choice of colour. So, get your friends, relatives, colleagues, and/or club members together and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE while you GO GREEN!

If there is a product on our website (or not) you would like to see with an Eco Mum Deal, please contact us

http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=202

and we will do our best to help you out.

KISS for Life,
Peace to all,
Miriam.

Permaculture is Sustainability in Action

Permaculture Day - 1st May 2011 - is rapidly approaching. There are many activities scheduled in Australia to promote and educate people about permaculture. (http://www.permacultureday.info/)

Here is a really good video to get you in the zone, thinking about the issues involved and how useful Permaculture philosophy and sytems are to us all, no matter what our circumstances.

 http://youtu.be/8nLKHYHmPbo

Permaculture is a wonderful KISS philosophy.

We run courses and NPOs for those interested in learning more.

KISS for Life
Peace to all,
Miriam.

Human and planetary survival and climate change are intertwined

Climate Change is doing severe damage all ready (latest example in my country is Cyclone Yasi).

The way we operate broadscale agriculture is one thing that urgently needs to change. It is doable, it is not so difficult, it is rewarding for those doing it and it can be applied practically anywhere.




How we all live our lives - especially in the West - needs to alter quickly.

Reduce your carbon footprint NOW. Even if you all ready do and you don't think you can any further, reflect on it and how you live. Try helping others to reduce their footprint by at least 10-20% over the course of 2011. Explore ways you might reduce your own further if you were able to form groups or partnerships with others to accomplish various things - share garden/farm for fruit and vegies; car share/pool; cargo bike share; share composting and worm farming facilities (have a larger system, collect scraps from local business); create biofuel communally - lots of things are possible.

Want a hand? http://betweenskyandearth.com.au/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=3

KISS for Life,
Peace to all,
Miriam.

Triclosan - a dangerous compound in many products

Well, this compound, Triclosan really is the pits if you like to be healthy.

It's making its way into such a vast range of products too. All manner of personal care products - due to its "antiseptic" capabilities. Yep, that means toothpaste, soap, and lots of other stuff. It's now in lots of socks, pillows - anywhere the product owner thinks it would be a good marketing ploy to have an anti-bacterial agent in their product.

So, be an educated consumer - check out what you are getting before you purchase ("caveat emptor" = buyer beware) 'cos if a chemical is approved for use noone else will look out for your wellbeing. (Remember- passive smoking and asbestos?!) Unfortunately, it won't always be obvious that Triclosan or another unwanted compound is in the item/s you are buying.

At Between Father Sky and Mother Earth, we don't sell anything with Triclosan. We vet our products as well as we possibly can before deciding to include them for sale. AND we are very particular about what we will sell. We value our own health and those of everyone else.

Check out www.betweenskyandearth.com.au for great natural and or healthy alternatives to choose from. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Peace to all
KISS for life
Miriam.

The story of bottled water - part of the Story of Stuff project

Here's the latest from Annie Leonard, creator of the Story of Stuff, about bottled water at http://www.thestoryofstuff.org/.

Remember, the best way to avoid the problems associated with too much stuff, ie. waste materials used to make products that companies convince us that we need, is to ignore the marketing and don't buy the stuff.

If something is called or marketed as "take-away" there is probably packaging involved that is bad for the environment (eg. plastics and polystyrene) or it's a very poor nutritonal choice or it cost hundreds if not more times what it would cost you to take from home in the first place or all of these things!

Recycling is not always a good option either. Some plastics are recyclable but they are generally downcycled - the new product is inferior to the original.

Here endeth the lesson for today.

If you are interested in these sorts of issues and/or products and services that can help you live more sustainably, or you would like to make a comment, please contact us:

info@betweenskyandearth.com.au

See our website:

http://www.betweenskyandearth.com.au/

Thanks for your time. Enjoy the rest of the day - plant some seeds and see what happens.

Miriam.