Sustainable+Practices+at+Westmeade+Elementary

If we all step up to the plate, we can make our community better and if our community is better our world will be also. Our focus in the garden is to encourage students and parents to become more aware of our world and develop healthy relationships with it.

We emphasize all the areas of sustainability. It is like a puzzle. There is a SOCIAL piece, an ENVIRONMENTAL piece, and an ECONOMIC piece. Click on the links and see what is happening. There is also the HEALTH component of being a sustainable community.

There is a great link for helping elementary kids understand all the connections. The Eastman Chemical Company is sponsoring a program for TN Vols. fans to toss their plastic cups and bottles into bins for recycling instead of into the trash! We need to thank and support corporations that take these positions and provide opportunities for kids to learn more! GO EASTMAN!! []

Healthy and Cheap Cleaning Alternatives Want to make cleaning products that save you money, are environmentally friendly, and completely safe for your family’s health? Read on. Products you need on hand: Baking Soda, Borax, Cornstarch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Essential oils such as eucalyptus or lavender to scent and provide anti-bacterial properties such as Tea Tree Oil, Glycerin (not food grade) Soap (naptha or plain old Ivory to grate up) Washing Soda, White Vinegar, and Lemon juice-- Earth Easy lists in a very straightforward outline of virtually every kind of cleaning problem and provides a solution that is cheap, easy and safe! []

The Real Simple site offers a list of ingredients and formulas using natural non-toxic ingredients and explains how each one functions and how to make formulas for specific tasks. [] Watch for activities throughout the year and do your part at home!

These recipes come from: [|http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html#ixzz2BbPIPnl6]

Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit. Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time.
 * CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER**

1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent3 tablespoons vinegar2 cups waterSpray bottle -- Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake & use as like any brand.
 * WINDOW CLEANER**


 * ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER -** 1/2 teaspoon washing soda - dab of liquid soap2 cups hot tap water. Combine ingredients in a spray bottle shake until dissolved. Apply- wipe off with sponge or rag.


 * FURNITURE POLISH** - 1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juiceMix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Vinegar Spray Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.
 * MOLD TREATMENTS** - Tea Tree Treasure - Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. The smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it dissipates in a few days. --2 teaspoons tea tree oil -- 2 cups water Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.