Organic Joy

Author Archive

If you are thinking of paying a short visit to Mauritius, there are certain things that you have to know about the island such as airport facilities, diseases, visas, vaccination facilities amongst others for your own benefit.

When people visit Mauritius, they want to set out for the touristic places such as Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Port Louis, Mahebourg or Belle Mare but have no idea about the time it takes to get to these places. As from the airport, Mahebourg is 20 minutes away, Port Louis and Flic en Flac 1.5hours away while Grand Bay is about 2hours away. It is advised of tourists to get some money changed at the counters right at the airport once they have landed which may come in handy if they need money and there are no available counters in the surroundings.

Before leaving Mauritius, you may have to pay a tax of Rs 500 in Mauritian rupees and have your flight confirmed three days before you actually leave; these are not meant to make your stay on the island cumbersome at all, but are some guidelines for you to have safe holidays and be informed of the situation before leaving. If you are wondering of how to travel around Mauritius, feel free to go for a car. There are many car rental agencies in Mauritius but most of them require that you book with them at least one week beforehand; so make some research about car types in Mauritius and contact them if need be for your booking.

However, due to high import tax on cars to Mauritius, driving a car can cost some money. Just like in the British system, driving is on the right hand side of the road; diesel and unleaded petrol (which are slightly less expensive as compared to European standards) are used in the cars. One of the many advantages of visiting Mauritius is that it is relatively disease free thanks to a lot of extensive work and determination from its government; there are no potential diseases like yellow fever, cholera et. So a vaccination is not needed before departure.

Moreover, the health care system of Mauritius is very competent and free of charge. If you get sick during your stay, you can always check in a hospital closest to you for quick treatment. There are also a number of payable clinics set in elegant environments and offering world class service. The choice is up to you if it so happens that you need medical care during your stay.

All homeowners at some point will need to have their carpets cleaned thoroughly. Years ago people used to buy their own carpet cleaners as most houses were carpeted throughout. Nowadays people are opting to have most rooms with wooden or laminate floors as the cleaning and upkeep is minimal in comparison to cleaning carpets regularly. Carpets can last for years to come if looked after properly they also retain the heat and keep the house warmer in the winter so if you live in a cold area such as parts of Ireland or parts of Scotland carpets are better suited.

Usually when families will come to sell their properties they will find that the carpet is dirtier or may look more run down than a house full of adults. Children are more likely to spill their drinks and food and even run in and out the house wearing dirty shoes. All houses will have dirty carpets on the stairs as these are known as high traffic areas, so they will have to be cleaned at some point too. So if you want to present the house better to any potential buyers cleaning the carpets is a must. You may soon recover the money you spent on doing this by the sale of the house.

Carpet cleaning

There are a few ways to have your carpets cleaned either by yourself or by a professional. You can hire a carpet cleaner at your local hire shop and they will charge you by the day, buy your own carpet cleaner and hire a company to come and to the work.

Hiring a carpet cleaner – the price will vary depending on the location, machine and how long you intend to keep it. Other costs to consider is the carpet cleaning solution that is not often included in the price, expect to pay £20 – £50 to do it yourself plus extra for the stain and cleaning fluid.

Buying a carpet cleaner – unless you have a big house that is carpeted in most rooms you will not get your moneys’ worth. The machine is bulky and hard to store away, you’ll only need it at least once a year and you can expect to pay £250 – £360 for a good cleaner that does the job well.

Carpet cleaning company – hiring a company makes the job hassle free as they will do all the preparation and cleaning with minimal disruption. Depending on the type of carpet they can be dry within hours.

Eco friendly carpet cleaning

This is becoming even more popular as people opt for more eco friendly cleaning solutions. The good side to eco friendly carpet cleaning is they don’t use harsh chemicals that can harm pets or children so when the carpet is being cleaned you don’t need to lock out your pets or take the children out for the day. Also with eco friendly or green carpet cleaning the carpet seems to dry faster, on average 5 hours compared to 24 hours by some other carpet cleaners. Prices eco friendly carpet cleaning tends to be better too as there are no harsh chemicals to be bought all products used are natural.

 

A little while ago I decided to try soap nuts as an alternative to buying washing powder. Although washing powder leaves my clothes smelling exotic towels and clothes such as jumpers and jeans fell really hard like starch has been added to them. After reading reviews in soap nuts I decided to give them a try. As my father is allergic to most washing powders it was also a good way to test them out before I recommend them.

Buying soap nuts

You can buy soap nuts mostly via the internet as high street shops have not yet been convinced to stock them yet. Places such as John Lewis and Lakeland do however sell them in store. Compared to the standard washing powder on sale they can work out slightly cheaper as soap nuts can be used more than once depending on heat settings and water. If you live in a hard water area you need more but a soft water area you use less soap nuts. I bought mine off the Lakeland website for under £3 for a box; they usually sell for around £6 for 250g.

Since I have been using my soap nuts for a month they do a really good job but it’s not very good if you have children or a husband who loves gardening. It doesn’t really do much for stains, as my husband is a gardener the mud and grass stains do not wash off from his clothes. I have noticed though that if you use some soap nuts in boiling water and let stained clothes soak in them they do a better job than sticking them in the washing machine. I have reused my soap nuts up to 3 times depending on the load size and they work well, I do have to buy separate essential oils to add lovely scents to my clothes which can be expensive and stain remover for clothes that soap nuts do not remove.

So are soap nuts cheaper?

No they are not, I have been using them for a month now and on top of buying soap nuts I have to buy organic essential oils to replace fabric conditioner which costs more than the soap nuts and I also have to buy stain remover. Overall I am pleased with the results as all my clothes look more vibrant and feel soft and bouncy. Even my towels which used to dry flat are more fluffy nice to the touch.

 

The consciousness of health problems, and the wish to live green, has led people to choose the best option for them, that is to adopt organic living. Organic living refers to organic food, organic clothes, ornanic furniture, organic skin care and so on. Anything that claims to be organic has certain restrictions, thus you can’t just be fooled, organic food is manufactured under strict conditions, respecting the word organic that is, it should be chemical free, made without any use of toxins and which is eco-friendly, with no use of antibiotics or animal hormones, irradiation and so on.

Consuming organic food is now a trend, thus its demand is increasing and more and more organic food is being manufactured each day. Why? Because it is good for health. It is food that has not been exposed to chemicals, and has grown naturally. And new parents should stop worrying, because for their satisfaction, there is even organic baby food, it is definitely the best choice for the safety and health of their babies. Organic food is becoming more and more popular because people are now more educated and conscious about the positive aspects of natural food. You can find organic food at your own daily retailer but if you have any difficulty, you can always find online suppliers.

There are also organic cotton clothes, which are clothes made from pure cotton, undyed, unbleached, where no chemicals have been used, I thus recommend you to buy organic clothes, if you are prone to allergies. Buying organic clothes also leads you to participate in doing some good for your environment, you contribute to social and ecological sustainability. Statistical evidence has revealed that organic clothes are really enhancing because they are comfortable, diminish allergies, and protect the environment. They are highly recommended for children because it protects their sensitive skin!

Organic furniture are furniture that have been made from recycled wood and not from new wood cuttings, they are purely eco-friendly, as mattresses and linen used are from organic cotton or wool. By using recycled materials, it helps to protect the environment, saving energy to the amplificating market. You can find rugs, carpets, beds, linens and many more house furnishes. Many people are very concerned about the harm done to trees, but if more people buy organic furniture, its demand will increase thus the cutting down of trees will diminish.

What about organic skin care? These are products made from natural ingredients, which can be very beneficial to our skin. Sometimes chemicals in the products we use lead to irritation of the skin, but organic skin care products which are free from these are more appropriate to use. You must naturally choose the right skin product adapted for your skin. All organic products have for goal a greener life, if you opt for this, you are not only doing good for yourself and your health but you are also contributing to a more sustainable environment.

The consciousness of health problems, and the wish to live green, has led people to choose the best option for them, that is to adopt organic living. Organic living refers to organic food, organic clothes, ornanic furniture, organic skin care and so on. Anything that claims to be organic has certain restrictions, thus you can’t just be fooled, organic food is manufactured under strict conditions, respecting the word organic that is, it should be chemical free, made without any use of toxins and which is eco-friendly, with no use of antibiotics or animal hormones, irradiation and so on.

Consuming organic food is now a trend, thus its demand is increasing and more and more organic food is being manufactured each day. Why? Because it is good for health. It is food that has not been exposed to chemicals, and has grown naturally. And new parents should stop worrying, because for their satisfaction, there is even organic baby food, it is definitely the best choice for the safety and health of their babies. Organic food is becoming more and more popular because people are now more educated and conscious about the positive aspects of natural food. You can find organic food at your own daily retailer but if you have any difficulty, you can always find online suppliers.

There are also organic cotton clothes, which are clothes made from pure cotton, undyed, unbleached, where no chemicals have been used, I thus recommend you to buy organic clothes, if you are prone to allergies. Buying organic clothes also leads you to participate in doing some good for your environment, you contribute to social and ecological sustainability. Statistical evidence has revealed that organic clothes are really enhancing because they are comfortable, diminish allergies, and protect the environment. They are highly recommended for children because it protects their sensitive skin!

Organic furniture are furniture that have been made from recycled wood and not from new wood cuttings, they are purely eco-friendly, as mattresses and linen used are from organic cotton or wool. By using recycled materials, it helps to protect the environment, saving energy to the amplificating market. You can find rugs, carpets, beds, linens and many more house furnishes. Many people are very concerned about the harm done to trees, but if more people buy organic furniture, its demand will increase thus the cutting down of trees will diminish.

What about organic skin care products? These are products made from natural ingredients, which can be very beneficial to our skin. Sometimes chemicals in the products we use lead to irritation of the skin, but organic skin care products which are free from these are more appropriate to use. You must naturally choose the right skin product adapted for your skin. All organic products have for goal a greener life, if you opt for this, you are not only doing good for yourself and your health but you are also contributing to a more sustainable environment.

Growing herbs at home is such an easy task and so enjoyable too. It permits you to do some gardening and save some money also. There are some herbs you can easily grow, and that allows you to have fresh herbs anytime and it is the best way to have tastier food because herbs are used to boost the aroma and taste of foods.

People having a small plot of land can start by growing their own herbs, it is a joy of its own to have your own home garden, growing herbs you can use anytime, so when you go the market and realise that they are out of your favourite dish enhancer, you can avoid all the frustration, because you already have that in your own garden! Growing herbs at home does not mean you need a really large space, just a small plot, you are actually growing herbs for your own use, not for sale! Even people with no garden or who live in apartments can grow herbs, you can easily do that in pots, inside or outside your kitchen!

Herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, sage and so on can be easily grown! Sometimes it is best to soak the herbs before planting them, so that they are not dried up and don’t die as soon as you plant them. But you can grow many herbs from seeds also. If you are planting your herbs in pots, make sure you put them in a place where there is a lot of sunshine and that they receive plenty of water because herbs grown in pots should be watered more often and herbs like rosemary and basil need more sunshine. However, herbs like parsley and lemon balm need a little bit of shade. Don’t forget that herbs grow best in alkaline based and aerated soil.

In villages famers grow herbs in mass on large acres of land, this is sometimes their only income! The herbs you get at your daily grocery is not all the time fresh, it takes some time for the herbs to travel from the farmers to the consumers and most of the time these herbs are not organic, that is they have not been grown naturally, chemicals and herbicides have been used for their growth. And thus it is advisable to avoid using them if you can, so if you grow your own herbs at home you are sure it is best for your health! Gardening is so much fun, you wouldn’t know until you have tried, and growing something that can help you in your daily life is something you must definitely go for!

Fair trade organisations try to make sure that small producers get the maximum profit out of their products. People have always been oppressed because they are small scale manufacturers and they don’t get the full benefit of their products, because they sell their goods to retailers who in turn sell these products at a higher price. Organisations have been put forward to fight against this system, where producers get to sell their own products, limiting middlemen. Fair trade is an open way to cease poverty, allowing poor producers to use their skills and knowledge to climb out of poverty. Fair trade helps small farmers and workers to earn a decent living and if you think that you can do nothing to help them, you are wrong! Even you can start to buy fair trade products! HOW? Just look at the Fair Trade mark on the products you are buying! This will help these small planters, because you are securing a better future for them, it is not much to ask of you, but you will be doing them a favour, at no price! And in the UK, by shopping at the BAFTS retailer (The British Association for Fair Trade Shops), you are sure that your money is being spent on Fair Trade goods, because 70% of their products are from recognised fair trade sources.

Fair trade does not allow child labour, that is a child below 12 years old has no right to work, and most customers in affluent countries tend to think that their clothes or household products are products of child labour, thus they tend to buy fair trade products to support producers in developing countries. There are about 218 million child engaged in child labour, they either work in fields, factories or do hazardous works like mining or handling chemicals. The reason for such a high rate of child labour is poverty, and the demand for cheap and flexible workforce. India is such an example, where children below the age of 12 start to work because they live in too desperate conditions, their families don’t send them to school but on the contrary send them out to work in fields so that they can contribute to the house’s expenditures.

There are numerous laws to fight against child labour, like the 1973 Minimum Age Convention 138 which permits only 15 years old to start working and the Convection for the worst elimination of child labour which insists that a country identifies and qualifies the reasons for child labour. Almost every country has laws banning the employment of child below a certain age, but they don’t always follow this, because if they did, there wouldn’t have been such a high rate of child labour almost everywhere in the world! If people are poor, why do they send their kids to work? If they educated them, send them to school, they would get a better job, they would be better paid, this would have been helped them more to eradicate their poverty!

As you may well know there has been a very high increase in the amount of householders that grown their own vegetables. You don’t even need a large garden; as long as you have some space a terrace can be sufficient enough. Herbs such as mint, thyme and coriander can be grown indoors on the kitchen windowsill. As the trend gets bigger celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall, Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver are also encouraging keeping animals such as pigs, sheep and chickens as part of a more organic lifestyle change.

Increase in the selling of hens

Most people think that you need a special licence to keep chickens and that a huge garden is needed to rear them; this is in fact a common misconception. As long as the council don’t have any strict policies for your area and your neighbours have no complaints there is no reason as to why you cannot have chickens in your garden. If however you choose to get a Rooster to encourage breeding with the Hens then you may have to give them away if a neighbour complains to the council.

There are many garden centres that have noticed an increase of families wanting to buy chickens so have now started to sell them in most of their stores nationwide. The down side to this is that many people will be tempted to buy chickens from random places with no guidance or information about rearing them beforehand. Garden centres are selling chickens for as much as £60 or £24 in some places, they are ridiculously overpriced!

Having chickens as pets can be rewarding because in return you get fresh eggs on a daily basis for a minimum of 4 years depending on the breed of chicken. Garden centres that are taking advantage of clueless organic wannabes are not providing enough information about the care of chickens beforehand. This leads to problems when people who have had no background info bring chickens home only to find that they are much more hard work than they first thought.

What to take into consideration when buying a chicken?

Initially chickens cost a lot of money, they need shelter, a fenced off area, food and stimulation. Here is how it all adds up:

3 chickens: £40 (2 hybrids at £12 each and a pure breed for £16)

Coop: £120

Enclosure: £100

Food for a month: £15

Total: £275

Now just imagine how long it’ll take for three chickens to give you £275 worth of eggs?

If you do decide to keep chickens in the garden then do some research first there are ways to bring the initial costs down. Buy chickens from a farm or reputable breeder who is willing to provide information should you ever need it.

 

Have you ever wondered why organic cotton is usually up to twice as much expensive as normal cotton? Most people when out shopping do not take the time to read why price differences are so big so they opt for the cheaper option. Would we still think the same if we knew how bad non-organic cotton really is? We highlight some of the major reasons as to why consumers should use organic cotton instead of non-organic.

Is non-organic cotton really that bad?

Fresh cotton that hasn’t been modified feels lovely and bouncy whether it’s an item of clothing, bed sheets or cotton balls. Organic cotton is produced so that it does not contain any pesticides or been genetically modified. They are also sold on at a fair price to the farmers so they can continue providing an honest and sustainable income. Cotton farmers can also employ workers without fear of them getting ill from all the chemicals used on non organic cotton. The chemicals used on non-organic cotton is harmful to the environment as it is to people and surrounding plants. The cotton industry uses more pesticides and harmful chemicals than any other crop. Cotton farmers can use up to 60% of their income to produce cotton but make no profit in return. As insects become immune, more pesticides are needed to kill them and the cycle goes on.

The pesticides used can destroy the ecosystem of the crop; they can also leak into the groundwater affecting marine life and water supplies. Who would’ve thought that growing non organic cotton could be so bad for the environment?

Why organic cotton is best

Organic cotton will make sure that farmers are treated fairly in terms of pricing and workers will be paid fairly too. When organic cotton is grown, natural ways to get rid of pests are used such as inter planting. Not only does it provide farmers with another valuable source of income but crops such as chilli and garlic will naturally repel unwanted pests. Workers will not get ill as a result of pesticides but instead will live a long and healthy life through the use of natural repellent methods.

Due to the amount of chemicals used in non-organic cotton, the next time you buy items such as clothes, home ware, cotton balls or any cotton products think well. It’s better spending a little more knowing it’s safer for the environment and for the future of our children.

As we all try to save money and live greener lifestyle, I take a look at the ingenious soapods (soap made from nuts) and how they can transform your laundry. Looking in to alternative ways to wash clothes will not only save money but also find new ways to save the planet.

What are soapods?

Soapods are found in trees that live up to 90 years old which are found in countries such as India, China, Afghanistan, Florida and the Caribbean. They have been around for thousands of years to wash and help preserve our clothes and look like little brown berries. Due to lack of knowledge and companies wanting to make money, that’s how washing powder and scented fabric softener was introduced. Originating from Nepal and India dating back centuries, this practice is now coming back as more people are choosing to be more environmentally friendly. Soapods have a natural outer layer of soapanin that is activated when it comes into contact with water; it is also similar to an ingredient used in cleaning products and soap.

Benefits of using soapnuts?

• Soapods come from trees that live for a very long time so they won’t run out so easily and you can relax knowing that the tree itself is also 100% recyclable from the leaves to the trunk.
• Soap nuts do not contain any chemicals or have any fragrance so it’s good for sensitive skin and delicate skin for babies.
• Due to being 100% recyclable, in time they will just break down into harmless little fragments that can be composted.
• As there are no harsh substances in soapods, washing machines will last a lot longer and will not deteriorate as quickly as using washing powder.
• They are also good at making clothes last longer and towels are bouncier and clothes do not come out flat and dull.
• As there are no fragrances you can buy organic scented oils and add them to the wash to make clothes smell nicer.
• Soapods can be reused up to 6 times depending on water quality and quantity of clothes saving money and space for laundry products.
• You only need a little space as the soapods come in a little bag as small as an orange.

How to use the soap nuts?

Soapods are very easy to use and once you try it you will not go back to conventional washing powder and harsh chemicals. They are sent in 100% recycled brown paper bag; the soapods themselves are put into a small cotton sack and put into the drum of the washing machine with each wash. Depending on the load size and how dirty they are, you can use more soapods or less, add essential oils or perfume to the wash to make it smell nice or just leave as it is. Depending on water quality you may have to use more, soapods are safe to leave in the drum though the rinse cycle.

Ice cream is a very indulgent pleasure but have you ever read the ingredients when you buy ice cream at your local supermarket? What amazes me is the amount of sugar and preservatives that are added to make it last longer. When children discover ice-cream, you will find that they will develop a sweet tooth and want it more often than you should let them. The alternative is to make your own homemade organic ice cream and get little ones to help. The benefit of making your own ice cream at home is you can control what goes in it and the quantity.

How to make homemade ice cream?

You will need the following ingredients (serves 6):

• 600ml double cream
• 4 organic egss beaten
• 2 organic egg yolks
• 175g organic caster sugar
• Organic vanilla essence

And here are the instructions on how to do it:

1. Put cream in a saucepan, whisk gently while on low heat.
2. Add vanilla essence, eggs and egg yolks to the pan and heat until mixture is nearly boiling hot
3. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes, whisk the mixture continuously, until thick.
4. Stir caster sugar into the cream mixture, put to one side and leave to cool.
5. Strain the cream mixture through a sieve (strainer).
6. Pour mixture into a container, cover with lid and put in the fridge for a few hours, stir the mixture so there’s no crystallisation and then put in the freezer overnight to set.

Homemade products are made from fresh products so make sure you eat the icecream within 3 days to get optimum taste. You can make a whole range of flavoured ice cream using different ingredients to create different flavours. It’s best to make ice cream every couple of days than to spend money buying branded ice cream that will usually use cheap ingredients and add preservatives to make it last longer. You’ll see that after making homemade ice cream, you’ll never go back and even children will notice the difference.

Why should we miss out on some of the loveliest pleasures in life such as ice cream when the ones being sold are too fattening and use unhealthy ingredients? Make our own and teach the next generation how we can eat the foods we love so much but healthily.