Search Results for: blog what is hemp

Henry Ford and his Hemp Car

Talk about a visionary! Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company over 100 years ago, but even back then; his main object was to build cars that were sensibly priced, yet dependable and efficient. Yet over the years, it seems as if cars have become less reliable and less affordable. Not to mention the price of gas jumping in the past decade. To bring his dream to fruition, Ford envisioned cars that ran on hemp ethanol. In fact, Ford was all for using materials like hemp and vegetable matter to run vehicles. He once said, “There’s enough alcohol in one … Continue reading →

Hemp Facts

Last week, I blogged about industrial hemp and how it was legal to import, but illegal for American farmers to grow because it is in the cannabis family, which also includes marijuana. I thought I’d list a few facts about hemp that I discovered at the Hemp Industries Association web page: – It is believed that the oldest hemp fabric found dates back to 8,000 BC. Two of our former presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson actually grew hemp. – It hasn’t always been illegal to grow hemp in the U.S. In fact, during World War II, the government subsidized … Continue reading →

What is Hemp?

You may have heard about the controversy over the use of hemp for clothing, soap, building materials, bedding, paper, fuel, and even food and medicine. Woody Harrelson has been arrested for planting it. What? Arrested for planting a seed? Well, the problem is that hemp is the common name used to refer to plants in the cannabis family. If that doesn’t sound familiar, marijuana is one of the plants in the cannabis family. More than 30 industrialized countries including Canada, China, and France, have produced an industrial form of hemp. However, the U.S. government doesn’t distinguish between the industrial form … Continue reading →

Coupons for CPK, Arby’s, Pizza Hut, and More!

Dining out doesn’t always have to be expensive! Take advantage of some of these coupons, deals, and special offers from restaurants and fast food places this week. Your family could enjoy an easy dinner without having it cost a small fortune. Taco Bueno has a coupon for “Buy One, Get One Free” peach empanada. This coupon is valid through September 16, 2012. Taco Bueno also has a coupon for a free cheesecake chimichanga, (with any purchase). This coupon is valid through September 16, 2012. Del Taco has a coupon for a Free Crispy Shrimp Taco (choose original or spicy), when … Continue reading →

Are Tiny Holes Draining Your Energy Budget?

Eat your greens. Floss your teeth. Insulate your attic. While we weren’t energy-saving wizards, we thought that we’d covered most of the bases of healthy and energy-efficient living. But the energy bills kept on coming and the floors were cold. That’s when we realized that we were living in a sieve. It was a nice sieve. Bamboo floors, hemp curtains, walls painted in low-VOC off white. It was the blower door test that revealed the problem. Imagine this: a man comes to your door with something resembling a giant fan, installs it in said door, and seems to suck all … Continue reading →

Creative Gifts for Artistic Home Learners

I love creating kits for the holidays. A themed gift can be much more interesting and less expensive than other gifts because it all works together. If you or someone you know has a craft-oriented home learner, here are some gift ideas and some ways to work them into your home learning. Everyone loves clay. It’s natural and feels good on the hands. Buy natural clay and get rollers for it. These can be as simple as dowels from the hardware store. You can also give younger home learners the materials to make homemade clay, like baking soda and cornstarch. … Continue reading →

Teaching Your Child Responsibility

As parents of young children, it is hard to imagine those little creatures as full grown adults. But someday that’s what they will be. Teaching your child to be responsible is challenging, especially if your child has a chronic condition that often makes you want to baby them or feel sorry for them. Here are some ways to put down your emotions and show your child what it means to be strong and responsible in life. Teach by example. Children learn by watching how their parents behave in different circumstances. Screaming at a driver for cutting you off will teach … Continue reading →

More About Sustainable Living and Its History

We talk a lot about sustainable living, sustainable fashion, sustainable architecture, and sustainable food. Tonight, I was watching “King of Queens” and Doug decided to become a vegetarian and become more socially conscious, purchasing Carrie a dress made of hemp. Of course, Doug didn’t stay a vegetarian for long – how funny would that have been? But, many people today are making a conscious effort to live a more sustainable lifestyle. So, what is sustainable living? It is the choice to live your life by doing as little damage as possible to others (that includes animals) or the environment. Simply … Continue reading →

New York Fashion Week’s Greenshows

It is Fashion Week in New York and many up and coming designers were concentrating on one thing – sustainable fashion. The Greenshows part of Fashion Week was held during four days this week in Village Green, an environmentally friendly condo in East Village. Among the designers featured their eco couture was Gary Harvey, who made a fun dress of recycled laundry bags and newspaper pages. Other designs of his featured reclaimed fabric from such items as wedding dress, old t-shirts and jeans, trench coats, scarves, and Army jackets. Harvey said, “Too many garments end up in landfill sites. They … Continue reading →

Find Free Cloth Diaper Patterns Online

I am not the best seamstress. Like my daughter, I tend to craft free-form, without a pattern and without measuring or pinning a lot of the time. However, occasionally I require help. Since I like to turn to the good old Internet for help when I am seeking crafty inspiration, that’s where I turn for simple sewing patterns. If you are thinking about sewing your own diapers, there are sources of free patterns online. Here are a few places that you can look for all-in-one, pocket diaper, or prefold patterns. If you’re just getting started in the world of sewing, … Continue reading →