My Plastic-free Life - Forum: Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/ Simple:Press Version 5.2.6 backpack45 on LunchSkins? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/lunchskins/#p1232 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/lunchskins/#p1232 I was just sent a product called LunchSkins to review that are snack bag, sandwich bag, and sub bag sized reusable fabric containers to be used instead of plastic baggies. So far, so good and they are really cute. Can be washed 100's of times apparently. The exterior is cotton, but, the lining is a food-safe polyurethane--is this a reasonable alternative to plastic baggies? 

]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:06:42 -0700 Dana on Plastic-free irrigation system? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1229 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1229 I asked a woman who runs an organic farm if she is concerned about plastic drip irrigation, and she made the point that water comes through pipes and/or plastic fittings/tubes along the way to your home/farm. I'm guessing you don't filter your water outside. I think it just comes down to picking your battles.Smile

]]> Fri, 31 May 2013 17:52:14 -0700 Sunny on Crafts - stamp ink http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/crafts-stamp-ink/#p1226 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/crafts-stamp-ink/#p1226 You can use a bit of cornstarch, olive oil and spices (think turmeric, paprika) to make your own rustic cool pigments, but for vivid colours, try Glob Natural Paints. They come in glass vials with metallic lids, http://store.globiton.com/default.asp

heres a review of the paints themselves:

http://www.dailycandy.com/san-.....-Eco-Paint

]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 06:19:10 -0700 AngieFordB on Please help my hair http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1225 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1225  

Have you tried argan oil, i buy pure organic argan oil from Ebay, it comes in a glass bottle, some have the pump spray already in the bottle but some do not.  I have not very plastic free bleached blonde hair and this makes it feel like real hair instead of straw!!  I work it in to damp hair before drying.  You would need to experiment with the amount needed, better to add a liittle at a time, I have discovered that a small amount can be added to dry hair.  I also use this on my face and body as a non-toxic, chemical free and natural moisturiser every day.

]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 04:20:37 -0700 controlled_abandon on Please help my hair http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1224 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1224 I use the shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley, and I absolutely love them. They ship their bars plastic free, except for the packing tape. The classic no poo baking soda and vinegar never worked for me, and neither did plain castile soap (Dr Bronners, and I tried mixing in a few other things), so I was so happy to find the shampoo bars. I think they are somewhat different from regular soap bars, but I don't know exactly how. 

 

Right now I've been using hot oil treatments for moisturizing and keeping my hair not too tangly, but the oils all come in plastic bottles, so I have to work on that. I'm glad to see the recommendations here. 

 

Also relevant - I have hip-length or a bit longer hair, and hard water. 

]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 17:26:53 -0700 S.Assilem on Crafts - stamp ink http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/crafts-stamp-ink/#p1223 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/crafts-stamp-ink/#p1223 I would like to make cards and do crafts plastic free. I have some stamps, but what can I do without ink? I think markers work, but they're plastic. How about bottles of ink for the refil pens?

]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 16:33:34 -0700 Beth Terry on Plastic-Free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1222 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1222 I'm pretty sure those "foil" wrappers are a composite of metal and plastic. 

]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 16:18:11 -0700 S.Assilem on Plastic-Free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1221 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1221 Use a water gun or bucket instead?

What about the foil wrapped cream cheese packages?

]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 14:28:11 -0700 S.Assilem on Plastic-free irrigation system? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1220 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1220 Well, depending on the size of the garden etc, you could first set up your faucet right next to your garden (use pipes to get it there), if it is very large lead the pipes do your faucet is in the middle of the garden or have several. You could set up some sort of system where the water runs along a series of pipes with holes drilled in them. You could cover the pipes (and your garden) with mulch.  You could use halved bamboo or some metal. Oh, I bet a metal gutter with holes would work.  Think if the system that was used in the Swiss family Robinson movie. Or, flood the trenches between the rows of veggies OR, go to Pennsylvania and ask the Amish what they do. 

 

You can find wooden rain barrels. We had one. I bet there is a metal container out there you could use. Or create. 

]]> Tue, 28 May 2013 14:22:22 -0700 Beth Terry on Plastic-free irrigation system? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1219 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1219 I wish I had a solution for you.  Maybe someone else will chime in.  When I created my plastic-free garden, it was small, so I just used a metal watering can and a metal pitcher.  http://myplasticfreelife.com/2.....-watering/

 

But I'm guessing this will not work for a large garden.  Anyone have suggestions?

]]> Mon, 27 May 2013 23:26:38 -0700 Beth Terry on Plastic-Free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1218 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-alternatives/#p1218 Hi Patricia.  Another reader has recommended flip flops made from recycled materials:  http://www.ecosandals.com  

]]> Mon, 27 May 2013 20:30:51 -0700 Marina on Plastic-free irrigation system? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1217 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/plastic-free-irrigation-system/#p1217 Hello to all you kindred spirits!

 

Does anybody have a good system for irrigating a large garden without using plastic? I don't know how it happened, since I use almost no plastic in my day to day life, but somehow I got talked into buying soaker hoses for irrigating my veggie garden. The idea is a good one - conserve water by burying hoses that slowly seep water directly into the soil under your plants...

 

But I smartened up when I got home and read the (cardboard!) packaging more thoroughly. They're made out of recycled tires...so they're as toxic as you can get in terms of type of plastic. (They smell toxic too.) They also come with carcinogen and reproductive health warnings, though those are conveniently out of sight until you open the package. 

 

I don't want those chemicals in my veggies. So does anybody have a plastic-free system that works for them? We've been watering with a hose, but we'd like to do something that conserves water and time. Also, the hose is, of course, plastic too. And if we were to get a rain barrel...also plastic...

]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 05:47:24 -0700 Beth Terry on Please help my hair http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1216 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1216 For the past year, I've been using MadeOn's Second Life Hair Butter.  (http://www.hardlotion.com/hair-butter/)  I had been using Product (http://www.thenameisproduct.com/), which worked great, but I didn't love the plastic lid on the jar.  So when the jar I had ran out, I switched to the Hair Butter, which comes in a metal tin.  And I love it.  It really gets rid of the frizz without making my hair totally greasy.  It's not a holding product like gel, mind you.  But I don't need my hair to stay still... I just want it to be smoother.  And the only ingredients are shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and orange essential oil.

]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 10:59:01 -0700 Jill DeVine on Please help my hair http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1215 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/please-help-my-hair/#p1215 I finally just got around to reading the reviews about hair care products. I switched several months ago to the "no poo" hair cleaner, and with great success. I have curly hair that is frizzy all over the place when not tamed. I used to use Aubrey Organics B5 Design Gel (long list of what looks to be clean, natural ingredients), but of course it comes in a plastic bottle. I found a source that suggests using gelatin for hair gel. Well, as a vegan, I couldn't do that, so I experimented with cornstarch, arrowroot, and Agar Agar flakes (a natural sea vegetable thickener), the latter of which works REALLY well for me. It comes in a 1 oz PLASTIC package in most natural food stores, and costs about $10, but I found two food coops in my area who sell it in bulk form, and at a more affordable price. Just follow directions for dissolving in hot water. I put it in a glass pump bottle which makes it easier to dispense. You could add essential oil if you like.

Jill

PS-I LOVE this website...

]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 08:59:05 -0700 electrofriend on Any electric kettles with plastic free interior? http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/any-electric-kettles-with-plastic-free-interior/#p1214 Plastic-free Alternatives http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/plastic-free-alternatives/any-electric-kettles-with-plastic-free-interior/#p1214 What about an old glass Pyrex percolator instead that you put on the stove top?

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