After about a year of kicking around ideas, and getting lots and lots of requests, we finally created an entire site around Raise a Green Dog, and it went live today!
Don't worry, we're not going to change one little piece of fur on our Raise a Green Dog blog. But the exciting thing is that now, through the top navigation of the blog and site, you can find archived information, news, and all kinds of eco-friendly, green products for your dog and the life they lead - all efor a healthier, happier pup and environment.
We'll have more information here on our blog about all the great new features. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our new site, and if you get a chance, paw us a note and let us know how we're doing!
We all surf the Internet, right? So why not help reforest the Amazon at the same time!
Ecosearch is a search engine that uses Yahoo technology and helps reforesting trees and safeguard water resources in the Amazon region, which constitute today one fourth of the fresh water reserves of our planet.
For every search in Ecosearch, you contribute symbolically to reforest one leaf.
For every 10.000 searches, Ecosearch and Aquaverde plant a tree in the Amazon and in the Canary Islands.
And we have big plans - some agility, some hiking, some playing in our kiddie pool, and more! Can't wait!!!
One way Mum helps keep us cool after our outside activities is with a super cool homemade frosty paw. I not only like the frosty paws, but I like to lick the spoon too!
How do we make 'em? Here's my favorite recipe for homemade frosty paws!
Ingredients needed:
* 1 large container (32 oz) of low-fat, plain, organic yogurt
* 3 handfuls of fresh (organic is best) blueberries
* 1 banana
* 2 tbsp of organic peanut butter
* Other fruit as desired - like, apple slices, orange slices, pineapple slices, and more. Remember, locally grown and organic is best!
Instructions:
Chop up the banana in small pieces (or mash) and mix all ingredients together. Place the mixture in ice cube trays and freeze for about 3 hours.
Once frozen, run hot water over the under side of the trays, pop out the frosty paws, and serve. That's it. For fun, you can use bone shaped ice cube trays!
We found an amazing array of green cleaning recipes on HarmoniousEnvironment.com! Not only are they effective, but they are safe for your pup!
Here are a few of our favorites:
Antibacterial product:
1 cup water
25 drops pure essence lavender oil
Pour water into a spray bottle, add lavender oil and shake. Spray onto surfaces—no need to wipe. This spray is good for use on “high-touch” areas like doorknobs and phones when someone in the family is sick.
All-purpose cleaner:
White vinegar and baking soda
Combine when ready to use--makes a science-project like foam. With this combo you will constantly find new uses for cleaning with them. Here are some: stubborn stains (let sit, then rinse), stainless steel, water fountains, silver, brass, stained glass.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners:
Cornstarch or baking soda
Sprinkle several pounds of cornstarch or baking soda on a nine by twelve carpet or liberally on upholstery, let sit for an hour and vacuum. For freshly soiled spots, use soda water or make a paste with baking soda and vinegar or soda water and scrub dirty area. A water-only steam machine is also an effective method for removing stains and dirt from carpets and upholstery.
Toilet bowl cleaner:
White vinegar
Pour 2 cups of white vinegar in toilet bowl and let stand overnight
After last year's effects of tough weather on our lawn, we've been doing a few new things to bring it back to life this Spring!
Last years heat, and the prior years drought, took a big toll on our lawn. It's really showing this year.
So what have we been doing?
About a month ago, we dug up a few weeds, and sprayed some of the Mega Green Organic Lawn Food Quart RTS fish emulsion we had purchased last fall (we like to purchase in bulk as much as we can to save money in shipping costs, and keep the carbon pawprint lower). Since a lot of our lawn was looking pretty good, and growing very fast with all the rain and cool weather we've been having, we focused spraying the fish emulsion in just certain areas of the lawn that needed help from last year.
Then just last week, the great folks at Terracycle sent us some of their amazing concentrated, liquefied worm poop — nature's premier fertilizer — packaged in a used 1-liter recycled soda bottle. So we couldn't wait to try it out. That's me with the Worm Poo in the pic!
The other day Mum got busy spraying. I have to say that in just a few days we've seen a difference. An area of the lawn that is filled with rock and clay, and suffered a lot last year, is looking oh so much better. We can't wait to see what the next week brings. And we have a little left over that we'll be spraying again in a couple of weeks.
Why do we use such odd products on our lawn?
There are two reasons. It's healthy and safe for us pups, my Mum and our visitors, and it's good for the environment.
Contrary to popular belief and advertising the dangerous lawn chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides, that millions of people put on their lawn throughout the year, have been linked to grave illnesses in dogs. Just think, if they kill bugs and weeds, what are they doing to children and pets? And they are not good for the environment.
Last year we posted about our friend Raisin, an adventurous kittie living near a vineyard in California. Raisin was exposed to the pesticides that were sprayed on the vineyard, and those pesticides had the same effect on her that these dangerous chemicals are designed to have on bugs - poison them. Luckily Raisin survived, and out of the experience her loving owner wrote an incredibly informative post about the experience and research she found.
BeyondPesticides.org has a multitude of facts and figures relating to the use and affects of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and insecticides on humans, pets and children. They indicate studies find that dogs exposed to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens can double their chance of developing canine lymphoma and may increase the risk of bladder cancer in certain breeds by four to seven times. (xvii) This site is also a great resource for finding and utilizing organic, eco-friendly, and safe lawn care.
In Canada, eight Canadian provinces have provisions enabling municipalities to enact pesticide by-laws. And approximately 45% of the Canadian population is protected from pesticides. Quebec is leading the way with regulation of pesticide sales and have province-wide protection.
Be sure and tune in to Wendy's Animal Talk Tuesday, May 12th on HealthyLife.net at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT and hear my Mum, Leslie, talk about Raising A Green Dog!
The show is live and if you would like you can call in to 1-800-555-5453 and ask her some questions!
For the past year and a half, I've been creating educational and really fun Squidoo lenses on all kinds of subjects related to us pups.
From dog sports and fun things you can do with your pup, to dog parties and great dog people, there is a wealth of fun and information! Be sure and check them out, we know you'll have fun and learn something too!
Well, we did it!
10.000
