Where can we get more information on workshops or recipes?

Can you or Ms. Bowman share the recipes, with measurements included,
for these earth friendly cleaners?

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who noticed that there were no
instructions or recipes included in the article.  Lots of people
know that one can clean in an environmentally sane way because
they've heard or read about it somewhere, but they want and need to
know exactly how to make (and use) these cleaners.  If you couldn't
include such instructions, couldn't you have at least included
applicable websites or names of books?

wow, sorry I missed this workshop at Bowman Hill. It would be great
if you could post some actual recipes for cleaning. Maybe in another
column?

www.allrecipes.com has a section of home-related, non-food recipes
for this type of use.  Hope that helps. 

where?  I couldn't find anything for cleaning at this site (I looked
under "cleaning" and "non-food"

Hi!

I have become very conscious of what I put in my body, and well as
what I use on and around my body ever since I developed several
severe food allergies and Celiac's.  I was very interested in your
article about making disinfectants and cleansers with all natural
ingredients.  Do you do a workshop, or do you have some information
you might be able to send me??  Thank you for your time, and I truly
look forward to hearing from you!

Have a Wonderful Day,

~Michelle

Hi Michelle, I'm sorry about your allergies and Celiac's.
Fortunately there seems to be a lot of information available about
using natural ingredients for cleaning and skin and body care. Here
are three websites listed on Jeannine Vannais' brochure.
www.manataka.org/page1624.html "Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaning
Kit" by Annie B. Bond. Women's Voices for the Earth at
www.womenandenvironment.org. and www.greeningschools.org. This is a
place to start. I'm sure the more you delve for information, the
more you'll discover. I'm surprised that when casually talking with
other women about this workshop, several offered recipes and other
information. 

For information about Jeannine Vannais' workshops, call 215-968-6491
or email her at grahamvan@comcast.net. Feel free to post any
information you find on this blog.
Best,
Charlotte 

Hi Bonnie, Karen, Nancy, Priscilla, Susan, Michelle, and Miss Mudd.
I've been waiting to get the okay from Jeannine Vannais about
sharing her recipes. No reply yet. Here's the Lemon-Mint Window
Cleaner recipe. I'll keep trying to reach Jeannine for permission to
post the rest. Lemon-Mint Window Cleaner. Juice one lemon; 2 cups
club soda; 1/2 tsp peppermint oil; 1 tsp corn starch. Blend lemon
juice and corn starch in a small bowl. Add peppermint oil. Add just
enough club soda to make this liquid. Pour liquid into a plastic
spray bottle. Top off with the rest of the club soda. Mixture will
fizzle and spray. None-the-less, shake well before using. Spray a
small area, then wipe off quickly with newspaper if you have it.
Paper towels are okay too. The area may need a bit more rubbing than
you're used to with commercial cleaners. 
Have fun.
Charlotte

Hi all, Jeannine Vannais emailed that she got the natural cleaning
products recipes from the web. Here are the other two from the
Bowman's Hills class. Aloe Tea Tree Disinfectant Spray.
For burns, on skin, on body infections. 
In a small spray bottle, combine 2+ oz. aloe (juice or gel); ½ t tea
tree oil; 1 t echinacea oil; 1 t lemon. 
Citrus Vinegar Cleaner (for household cleaning). 1 qt distilled
white vinegar, 2 large organic oranges, 2 organic lemons, 1 cinnamon
stick, 3 whole cloves. In a large saucepan, bring vinegar almost to
boil. Remove from heat. Quarter citrus and add with spices. Return
to heat and bring to boil. Simmer gently 15 minutes, covered. Let
cool to room temperature, covered. Strain through fine filter paper.
Use in spray bottle. Store in a cool dark place.
Enjoy. Charlotte

I’ve been intrigued by the ongoing discussion of “green” cleaning
products and hope by next week (it’s that time of year) to test the
Lemon Mint Window Cleaner you shared with us. But I am cursed with
an “anal” gene, and need all the facts before concocting a recipe.
So I’m wondering what size spray bottle you pour the basic
ingredients into before adding additional club soda. I’m also
wondering whether the cleaner has any shelf life beyond the
fizziness of the soda. (In other words, should I make just enough
for one cleaning session at a time?)
Judging from the response to your initial column, I’m not the only
one intrigued by the idea of substituting natural cleaning and
healing products for harsh chemical agents. Perhaps you and Ms.
Vannais might consider publishing a simple online guide for readers,
using some PayPal kind of charge for your time and efforts? Or even
a simple pamphlet?
I always look forward to your columns; they are such lovely
surprises in an often dull world.

Hi Jinny, I actually just cleaned two mirrors with the Lemon Mint
Window Cleaner I made at Jeannine's  workshop several weeks ago. Had
to rub a bit harder than I recall - to dry the sprayed area. Mirrors
shine clearly and brightly though. I didn't refizzle with club soda.
Worked fine.
Spray bottle size? We used new one-quart bottles. Smaller,
half-quart bottles would have been fine. Recycling an empty window
cleaner bottle would suffice.
I'd be honored if Ms. Vannais would consider collaborating with me
on an online guide. Great idea. I'll explore that.... Thanks for
your kind words, Jinny. I'm delighted you enjoy the columns.
Blossoms up - especially on your hostas and butterfly bush.
Charlotte