Learning To Breathe

The weather here is far different than any other place I've known.  Here, it is often just as warm or warmer during the night then it was during the day.  One morning, when we woke up it was 20 degrees warmer than it was the evening before.  I always thought that when the sun went down at the end of the day, the temperature had to decline.

I have a special project for you.  Ready?  Take a deep breath in, then let it all out.  Simple, right?  Not always.  Before moving to BC I thought I breathed well.  It was during my first visit here last year that I became aware of how much better I felt, and breathed, and slept.  I was so much more relaxed.  Then, when I returned to California, I began a quest to clean up my immediate environment.  I became more aware of the existence and effect of chemicals in my house.  As many of you know, I am very sensitive to numerous common household chemicals and food additives.  We all live in a toxic world and so we cannot entirely eliminate all the chemicals from every surface and from the air we breathe, but I want to do as much as I can.  Product labeling does not require that ingredients are listed on the labels of cleaning products.  Additionally, I've learned that terms used on cleaning product labels such as "organic" and "pure" may be false.  

Shortly after I moved here,I was able to make my own chemical free laundry detergent with great results. I would like to share it with you.  Below, I also included for you the youtube video that I like for making the laundry soap. There are several variations on the internet, but they all seem to have the basics in common.  The gal that made this video is just funny too.  I really needed a toxin and perfume free soap. The bonus is that it is very inexpensive to make.  Each batch makes 10 gallons of liquid detergent, and uses very little of each product per batch. 

If you search for other videos, search "homemade liquid laundry detergent".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgY-Poz2Fiw

Here's the variation of the recipe I used:

First heat about 6-7 oz grated soap bar in 4 cups water, stirring until it is dissolved (about 10 minutes)(I cut this short with a drink mixer)  =)

Fill a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full of very hot water.

Add the soap mixture.

Then add 3/4 to 1 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Washing Soda, and 1/2 cup Baking Soda

Stir well. (paint stir stick works great)  Fill the bucket the rest of the way with very hot water, and cover for about 24 hours.

Stir again.

Fill a smaller container 1/2 full of Wash detergent, filling the remainder with water.

For each full washer load, use 3/4 to 1 cup detergent.

Now that the snow storm has blown in here and turned the land white, I still have much to keep me busy here.  I have been learning to cook a wide variety of the wild meats, mostly Moose.  They are so much better tasting.  Wild meat is much leaner and free of the hormones and antibiotics used in farm raised livestock.

To prepare for the coming spring, I have much time to learn about mini-greenhouses and cold frame gardening.  We live in a Zone 2 climate.  Gardening will be much different here.  We purchased a mini-greenhouse and I am anxious for Spring to be able to use it, but here, it seems Spring is a long way off.

Spring will also bring with it an explosion of wild herbs and the return of much wildlife.

Update: Nov 17, 2015: I still love this laundry soap, and I have yet to need to make a new batch.  It lasts a super long time!  It cleans very well for "regular" everyday laundry, but needs something extra for heavily soiled clothes.