alright, i'll start this thread off as requested.

let's post our recipes for and questions about natural alternatives to cleaning products and body care. i have a lot of info in my files so ask away.

this has been discussed before but this is a good place for it.
the oil cleansing method or OCM is a great alternative to commercial facial skin care. it's totally natural, works great for all skin types and costs very little.
check it out here...
[forums.longhaircommunity.com]

for years now i have been using only dr bronner's soap, baking soda, salt, lemon and vinegar to clean my home. i've found so many nifty cleaning secrets; a wadded up ball of tinfoil cleans and polishes chrome, orange peel cleaners get out the worst dirt and smells, a dish of vanilla is a terrific room deodorizer, fresh ground coffee helps get rid of skunk spray, etc etc.

what do you use in your home and on your body? what do you wish you could replace?

Baby powder is a nice alternative to repel ants. Try it and see if it helps for you.

-David Z. Mason

WWW.RawFoodFarm.com

Hey, neat idea about the Baby powder. Just be sure not to inhale it. Talc powder is a carsinogen. (spelling)

peace, love and happiness,
ann

wavy gravy davy, does it have to be the talc kind or can it be the corn starch sort that i got as a baby gift but would never put on my small one's skin? it has to be good for something, right?

For inside my house to have a more 'back to nature feel' I have an air filter that produces negative ions (which are in nature, they are part of what make taking a deep breath so great when you're out in the woods) with a HEPA filter (to get out the bad stuff produced in the house) and it doesn't produce ozone as a byproduct like a lot of the negative ion/filters out on the market. The brand I am most fond of is Nikken's Air Wellness Power 5 (it has 5 filters). I also have a water filter that is terrific aswell (its one of few that get out the byproduct of petroleum that has gotten into nearly all sources of drinking water), oh and I have a shower filter too!. I loved the products so much, I am an independent wellness consultant of Nikken, here's my website : www.nikken.net/happinessiscontagious (Nikken is a company like Avon or Mary Kay, you can only buy through 'consultants'-- so I'm not trying to use this blog as a marketing tool, I just really love the products and you can't go to a store to buy them so I gave you my website-- other wise I could give you somebody else's site if you wish)
peace, love and happiness,
ann

what is castor oil made from?

castor seads.
[en.wikipedia.org]