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Human respiratory systems aren't as fragile as birds, but check out these non-toxic, bird-safe, environmentally friendly home recipes for household cleaners that are good for people too!


Check out a list of the 10 best and the 10 worst organics and make sure you're eating what you want to!

Get a Taste of History

Read the Coop newsletter archives! Selected articles are posted back to 1990!

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NEW INFO on ORGANICS:

Click to download this week's Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative available produce list

Click to download this week's available Conventional Bowie produce list

Jolie of Xerxes found this list of best and worst non-organics from "Fitness" magazine dated Jan 2001. All these foods are produced in a pesticide-friendly environment but some food will carry those pesticides to the grocery store more than others.

10 WORST
Apples
Celery
Grapes (from Chile)
Green Beans
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Red raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries

10 BEST
Asparagus
Bananas
Cauliflower
Cherries (from Chile)
Corn
Onions
Pineapple
Sweet peas
Watermelon

SOURCE: Environmental Working Group, compiled from FDA and EPA data

WHAT THE NEW LABELS MEAN:
"100 percent organic"--The product must contain organically produced ingredients only.
"Organic"--At least 95% of the product's ingredients must be organically produced.
"Made with Organic"--Fifty to 95 percent of the content is organic. If less than 50% of the content is organic, the package must declare the total percentage of organic ingredients.


Home recipes for household cleaners:

All Purpose cleaner/disinfectant

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp borax
2 cups boiling water
Place in spray bottle and use as you would any all-purpose cleaner.
Note: It's best to mix in a bowl before placing in spray bottle. If any bits of borax don't dissolve, they'll clog your sprayer.

Furniture Polish

1 part distilled white vinegar
3 parts olive oil
juice of one lemon
Note: This must be made fresh each time. It gets really rancid if it sits.

Floor Cleaner:

1/2 cup washing soda
1 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp. vegetable-based floor soap
2 gallons hot water

Tub and Tile Cleaner:

1 3/4 cups baking soda
/2 cup water
2 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable-based soap
Stir until lumps are gone. Keep covered when not in use, or it will dry out. Shake well before using. Great for greasy, grimy jobs. If you find a baking soda residue, rinse with a squirt of vinegar and water.

Glass Cleaner

The best glass cleaner you can get is plain club soda. If you use newspaper instead of a rag, you'll be thrilled with the results!

Rust Remover

Sprinkle some salt on the rust. Squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave on for 2-3 hours. Use the lime rind as a scrubber. Rust is gone!


Oriental Brown Rice Salad
(this recipe taken from the Spring 1998 Coop Newsletter, reprinted from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals website)

4 cups cold cooked brown rice
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 medium carrot, peeled & sliced
1/2 cup chopped snowpeas
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
3 green onions, chopped
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

Place the rice in a large mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl, combine the peanut oil, salt, pepper, sugar, and sesame oil. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then pour over the rice, toss, and set aside. Steam the carrots, snow peas, and corn over a small amount of boiling water for 1 minute. Rinse the vegetables in cold water, drain, and stir into the rice. Add the remaining ingredients and toss to mix well. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

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