Simple Spray

Once again, I am going to extoll the virtues of vinegar.

I've got a small spray bottle of straight white vinegar that I use for cleaning. I like to use it undiluted, really cuts the grease.

Today I cleaned my tile kitchen floor and it looked great.

I spray a section, wipe it down with a cloth (everything comes off easy), then move to the next section. I rinse out the cloth every other section and wring it almost dry. The smell is actually appealing to me, and it only lingers for a moment anyway.

When I'm done, the floor is sparkling clean with no fake, cloying "spring breeze," flower or pine scent, just fresh and white.

Thank you, vinegar.

New Challenge: Composting or Vermiculture

There's a will, but is there a way?

I need some advice with this project. It's possible that many people share my situation, so hopefully we can come up with the right plan.

The problem: No space exists in my home or either of my patios for a compost pile. From what I know, a bin or pile would need to be at least a yard square. I barely have enough room for a small recycling can that has to be emptied a few times a week.

It is highly doubtful that the HOA would agree to a compost pile. I've almost written the thought off altogether. The board is fine with nice-looking veggie gardens -- but compost (and a beginner-composter pile at that), the possibility of flies or vermin, not to mention where to put it ... I don't even want to ask. (Imagining the looks of horror on a few residents' faces is pure comedy.)

But a worm bin? I may be able to fit a worm bin on my upstairs patio, but it may get too hot for that soon. How small can I make it? And can it even be stored outside?

Or maybe a different kind of composting that doesn't take a yard square? What about those composting barrels?

I need something very small that does not smell and can be outside. Please help!

Paper towels: Not necessary

My third "Sustainable Tip" for Growcology's March newsletter:

With paper towels, "disposable" is an understatement. Their purpose is to be used once and discarded. Many things you do with a paper towel (mop up spills, wipe counters, clean kids' faces, dry your hands) can also be taken care of with a cloth. What's stopping you? Using cloth instead of paper saves both money and trees.

To get started, collect your cloths. You'd be surprised how many cloths you have within reach. You can use stained table napkins, worn T-shirts, clean cloth diapers, old dish towels or pretty much any fabric items that have run their course. Keep a clean stack or two of these in a drawer or under the sink -- possibly separated into a "nice" stack for drying/wiping things and a "yucky" stack for big messes. (You'd wipe your hands or face with cloths from the "nice" stack, but not from the "yucky" one.)

After using a cloth, either rinse and line dry it or rinse, wring and throw it in the washing machine until your next wash. Soon enough, you'll be weaned off your paper towel habit.

Getting Kids to Garden

My second "Sustainable Tip" that I wrote for Growcology's January email newsletter:

The growing problem of childhood obesity has become a big story over the last few years, especially when first lady Michelle Obama claimed it as one of her top priorities. While snacking less and exercising more are obviously the first things kids should do to maintain healthy weights, I believe that sparking a connection to the origins of kids’ food helps them to develop healthy eating habits as well. This starts in our home gardens.

Even very young children can comprehend the planting of a seed and its later growth into a plant that provides nourishment. Give your child a small garden area or container in which she can plant the seeds or seedlings of any vegetables she may like, such as snap peas, tomatoes or lettuce. This will be your child’s own garden, with your child’s own plants. Adding a little handmade sign can help reinforce your child’s “ownership” of the garden. Remind your child daily to check the garden, to watch the plants grow and to care for them by watering and weeding them. Allow your child to get dirty! Very young children will probably need some help to ensure the plants’ survival.

Nearby, plant your vegetable garden. When you are working in your own plot, point out to your child what vegetables you are growing, from seedling to flowering to vegetable development. Use signage, and identify the plants for your child again and again. You should at any time allow your child to pick vegetables and eat them straight from the garden. Peas and lettuce are especially good for fresh eating!

Under wraps

I plan to keep wrapping paper and containers to a minimum this year.

I'm using some paper and ribbons that I saved from previous holidays. Used bags work well, too. After opening, I just grab 'em and reuse them at the next function.

You old meanie

The beastie making holes in my tomatoes is the cabbage looper worm. Here is a photo of one of the suckers. I have found and squished about 10 so far this season. And destroyed 3 cocoon thingies I found under curled leaves.

Friends at mygreenriverside.com helped me identify the culprit and have said I can treat them with a bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis), a natural remedy.

Funny thing is, they are really only attacking one of my tomato plants. I have two varieties. Additionally, the susceptible variety is the one that's not producing any tomatoes. Think I may just uproot the affected one and give all my love to the resistant one. It's a no-brainer.

You mean you put your clothes outside and they got dry?

(For all you awesome, long-suffering, longtime green people out there, skip this one. It may induce eye-rolling and possibly a gag reflex.)

I couldn't help but be intrigued by the concept of line-drying (as though it were something new and humans haven't been doing it for thousands of years), but it is new ... to me ... as a modern, suburb-grown person who never even considered putting wet clothes outside. Why should I ever have, when my own personal clothes dryer has sat there beckoning, offering tumbled ease?

So anyway, it worked like crazy! The weather (100-plus degrees, very sunny, slight breeze) aided my task. I cheated a little by keeping all socks separate and throwing them in the dryer for one big sock load. Other tips: Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. Avoid windy days. Towels get scratchy this way. (Help, please?)

This is how to do it:

1. Keep the kids inside and occupy them with something.

2. Tie a strong piece of string or twine very tightly between two sturdy points, preferably at least 5 feet up and more than 10 feet apart. A long nail hammered into a wood panel worked as a point for me.

3. Fetch wet clothes from washer and carry outside in a basket. Shake each piece well and attach with clothespins to line. A clothespin makes a small hole near the middle of the pinch through which a string can run smoothly, then clothing is clasped separately by the end of the pinch. Surprisingly strong.

4. Put larger items near ends of clothesline, smaller items near middle where it sags. Use two pins for larger items and one for undergarments.

5. Start next load in washer.

6. Check dryness of clothing after an hour or so, when next load is finished in washer.

7. Take down each dry item, shake it and then fold it into a basket. Voila.

Putting up and taking down clothes took 5 to 10 minutes each time. I probably will continue to line dry my clothes; it wasn't too tough. But the socks and towels may still get tumble dried.