Make Your Place: Affordable & Sustainable Nesting Skills

In July 2009, I demonstrated various urban sustainability projects at a festival in Baltimore City. This book was part of my natural, homemade cleaning supplies display. Dozens of people picked up the book and were very curious to know where I got it. They all wanted to purchase it right then and there. I wished I had contacted Raleigh or Microcosm Publishing to become a distributor!

Throughout the day, many people asked me for natural ways to get rid of pests, clean different types of surfaces, etc. and I often picked up the book and turned right to Raleigh's very detailed Table of Contents. How to get rid of fleas? Clean wood floors? Make liquid dish soap? It's all right there.

From gardening to essential oils, Raleigh included it all! Not to mention the fact that the book is beautifully handwritten and illustrated. I often get my tips from the internet, but Raleigh's book is wonderful to leave in the kitchen or bathroom as an instant recipe book and guide.

A definite must-have starting guide for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle.

I love books, and have collected quite a library of volumes relating to my varied interests. Some of those interests are natural/herbal health care, natural body care, "green" household cleaning, and urban homesteading. All of those books in my library have one or more of the same ideas contained in this little volume. Yet for some reason, I absolutely love this book. It may be the awkward but adorable handwriting complete with heart-dotted i's, reminding me of my middle school diary. It could be the cute illustrations, with flowers that talk and bubble letter titles, or the little flowers and stars that emphasize the text. I have rarely read a book of this type that uses words like "nast" and "barf", or describes how to deal with crabs or yeast infections with such aplomb. And really, while it may contain recipes and ideas I have found in many other places, it also has some very new ideas that I enjoyed with surprise. All in all, I have the strangest feeling that this book will see more use in my house than several other more comprehensive volumes in my library, and I know that I will have fun in the process.

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For anybody who is wondering, this book was published by Microcosm Publishing, a DIY and punk rock publishing house. Keep this in mind when coming across "offensive" terms and phrases. Quite frankly though, I found none. I did however find this book to be extensively useful and reader friendly.

The articles are all hand written in very neat penmanship, all the illustrations are hand drawn, and everything in the book has been tried out first by the author. There are three sections in the book Health and First Aid, Nontoxic Cleaning and Body Care, and Gardening. The first section includes directions on how to make tinctures and salves, a list of herbs that are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral, and also a list of which herbs and essential oils to avoid if pregnant. More useful than you know. The second section is a combination of replacements for bleach, Clorox and the like, and then recipes for herbal shampoos and whatever else you might call body care. The last section is pretty self explanatory. Gardening without choking up the ground with a jug of Wal-Mart bought chemicals. Chapters include composting, space managing and fertilizing.

I personally found the First Aid section most useful, and most tailored to my needs. This book is very informative and well worth the money. It doesn't take up a load of space (roughly 7 x 5 inches and half an inch thick, 125 pages), it goes over personal safety at the beginning of the book and includes a further reading section (more DIY punk rock goodness) at the back.

It isn't lofty or pompous, or some 100% organic and natural twerpy, skinny assed vegan kid preaching some rhetoric they heard in their college dorm. I think it is well written and friendly, there isn't any political commentary slipped in between instructions on how to turn crunchy dried things into medicinal liquid (which is more rare than you would believe). It's a good book if you are interested in an alternative way to keep yourself and your home healthy and clean.

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Some skills are just good to have. "Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable, Nesting Skills" is a collection of simple and effective skills to improve one's life around the house. The skills range from dealing with the simple messes, to the injuries one faces in life, to dealing with menstrual-cycle induced bad moods. "Make Your Place" is a fine and recommended read for anyone who wants to make their life a little smoother and more enjoyable.

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This book is a little smaller than I expected but that's not a bad thing -it's a portable size to keep handy when you need to look something up. It's got three (all handwritten & hand-drawn) sections, one on health/beauty, one for household cleaning, and one on gardening/composting. I found the gardening/composting section most helpful with all its detailed tips and really practical hints. Trellising, sprouting, and good garden-buddies to plant together or in rotation. I was really impressed with the depth of the information in this section.

I didn't get much out of the other two sections, but I'm already pretty into making my own cleaning supplies and don't keep around near as many ingredients as this book's recipes call for (so many different essential oils, for example). So it wasn't the make-me-a-better-housewife book I expected in that regard -mostly just cream, spray, etc. recipes. But, if you don't already have your favorite recipes for, say, a window cleaner, or an ointment for a cut, you can get them here, and they look good too!

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Toxic Free: How to Protect Your Health and Home from the Chemicals ThatAre Making You Sick

After hearing the author interviewed on public radio, I decided to buy this book. It is extremely informative and easy to read. It covers toxic substances contained in our everyday products and what they do to our health. What I liked was the information on solutions--how to avoid the toxic substances we encounter every day. The author's website is also a great resource as it lists manufacturers of products free of toxic substances. I have started patronizing these companies and avoiding ones that include toxins in their products.

This book is a must for anyone concerned about toxic substances we encounter every day.

We live in a world of physical and emotional pollution. Everything is driven by profit motives, and very little concern for the health of individuals or the environment is exercised by those selling products. We ignorantly believe the happy advertising blitz we absorb every day, while slowly exposing our cells to poisons that are producing rampant cancers, behavior disorders and low energy. Although most people prefer to live in the "ignorance is bliss" mentality, this book is for those who are proactive in their lives, and who are not over-stressed by the pain of thinking. Don't miss reading this book, especially if you have developing children in your home. It will drastically cleanse your immediate environment of packaged poisons we purchase every day to make our lives "better." Let the buyer beware!

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The author promotes the use of zeolite mineral in this book. Otherwise, I would have given this book 4 stars for the good information.

The author, Debra Dadd, of Toxic Free fails to inform the reader that dry zeolite in powder form can cause Mesothelioma if the dust is inhaled, similar to asbestos. Dadd recommends that the reader purchase zeolite online, presumably in powder form, as an alternative to commercially available air freshener. She provides zero warnings to the reader for zeolite in the powder form. The author also promotes liquid zeolite as if it is a proven detox. Liquid zeolite has unproven health benefits and has even shown damaging health impacts to mice in some studies.

In my opinion, these claims by the author are irresponsible. In the case of dry zeolite, she might as well have told the reader to use asbestos as an air freshener and not mentioned the potentially lethal health impacts. A disclaimer needs to be added in the book regarding the use of zeolite.

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Our daughter had been telling for many years to stop poisoning our bodies and our life with toxic products; but, not able to find many alternatives (I thought), we did as much as we could. This book brought home the issues with the products we use and what we can do to stop using those products. We now use vinegar a lot and make our own soap. We are also using as much organic food as we can find in a small town and supporting local organic farmers.

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This book was a suggest must read. I got it from the library and had to have a copy of my own.

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Safe As Houses?: Ill-Health and Electro-Stress in the Home

This is an outstanding book!

David Cowan, a dowser and practitioner specialising in aiding recovery from geopathic stress (illness caused by unhealthy energies emanating from the earth and artificial electromagnetic equipment) has succinctly recounted his experiences into a manual par excellence; not only an explanation of the hows and whys of geopathic stress, but also how everyone can easily combat problems associated with it.

Of the many books I have read on ley lines and geopathic phenomena, none are clearer, nor as insightful as this. Using his vast experience, Cowan describes the many types of lines, waves and spirals which are detectable with both scientific and dowsing equipment; how they are generated in nature, what they `look' like and why, as well as showing how the layperson as well as advanced practitioner and scientist can become closely associated with them to the point of being able to create and manipulate them for the benefit of oneself and others.

This is a true glimpse into the knowledge of the ancient megalithic builders. A tradition now largely lost to the modern world, except through people such as Cowan, Feng Shui practitioners and modern mystics.

Whilst many scientifically verifiable phenomena are discussed in this book, so are so-called paranormal events such as sick-buildings, spirit or entity phenomena, demons etc. All dealt with in a clear and easily understood way as relating to the various effects of living in areas with unhealthy spirals of energy. Much of the mysticism is removed from such phenomena, thereby laying down a challenge for orthodox science to include such things within its remit.

Rodney Girdlestone, a chemical engineer, naturopath and specialist in geopathic stress, has written clearly and comprehensively on the many hazards which surround us both in the home and in the environment from electromagnetic sources such as electric pylons, house electric circuits and appliances, as well as the multitude of EM signals such as microwaves and radio waves which are and are increasingly presenting major and minor health hazards to everyone alive today.

Not only are many common diseases found to be associated with unhealthy energy streams and spirals, such as cancers, allergies, Alzheimer's Disease, Chronic Fatigue, ME etc., but they are also simply addressed using the various methods given in the book.

Cowan's work is further expanded in his follow-up book, Ancient Energies of the Earth (with Anne Silk a professional optician with an holistic interest in the welfare of her patients, here specialising in natural energy phenomena) . In which, he focuses on the ley line system deliberately manipulated by the megalithic builders of previous millennia. Having walked and dowsed thousands of miles over Scotland for many years, he has directly mapped and interpreted various ley systems and energies emanating from natural environmental, as well as man-made structures and shown clearly how they interact and affect the health and mentality of people and animals. From strange lights, to missing time, crop circles and ghostly apparitions, much becomes clear as to the probable mechanism which so many others have speculated to explain. The result of which is an intimate understanding of the (conventionally) mysterious minds of those who built the stone circles, ring and cup marks and old straight tracks in ancient times.

This latter book is also an absolute classic. The best book by far I have yet seen on earth energies. It is such a shame that the publishers decided to stop printing it after the initial short print run. Hopefully, Cowan will find a more receptive outlet for his outstanding and immensely valuable work.

Thanks David!

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Rewards for Kids!: Ready-To-Use Charts and Activities for Positive Parenting

This book came out a just the right moment for me. I had been having terrible difficulty with my older daughter Maya's bedtime, which was making my life miserable. I heard about this book and how it can help frustrated parents like myself and decided to give it a try. The book is very nicely presented and easy to read, and above all else, extremely practical. The author gives examples of typical problems faced by parents and offers sample "plans" for how to deal with them. For really busy people like myself there are pullout charts and other materials that are ready-to-use. I found one example that was very similar to my situation and used the information provided to develop a plan to get my daughter into bed at a reasonable hour. I couldn't believe how well it worked! I've already picked out the next behavior problem we're going to work on. I highly recommend this book to parents who are looking for a positive, common-sense approach to dealing with their kids' difficult behaviors.

As a clinical psychologist and parent of a 6 year old son, I would recommend this book highly to fellow parents, or professionals. It helped me get a fresh perspective on some common behavior problems (like getting kids dressed & out in the morning!) and provided many creative, fun, and positive solutions. It's quite liberating to turn occasions for nagging into games that foster independence and achievement. The book provides many specific ideas, charts and coupons that can be copied and used. I even gave my son's first grade teacher a copy of the book as a gift. She used several of the ideas with great success!

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(...) Dr. Virginia Shiller has addressed the dilemna of adapting effective behavioral techniques to the "wonderful idiosyncratic nature of human beings and the ways that they interact with their environments." Her method is to teach parents how to enter into dialogues with their children so that the Reward Plans they develop are customized to their own families and so that both kids and parents are motivated to give them a try. Instead of simply giving the adults rules to follow, she provides explanations of the underlying principles so that the parents themselves can learn how to address common behavioral problems in a caring and creative manner. Specific examples are given of such common battlegrounds as struggles over bedtimes, picking on siblings, and homework. She describes how to use humor and creativity in order to enlist the cooperation of the children, so that they can become able to experience the rewards of self-control. I liked the emphasis on empowering rather than controlling. In addition, there are lots of cute charts, games, and tokens that are fun to use with kids.

I especially liked Dr. Shiller's discussion of the differences between bribes and rewards. I have already used that in talking with parents. (Though this book is written so that it can be used by the average parent, there is something in it for experienced clnicians, too.) While Dr. Shiller explains the principles in a manner which could instruct a psychology student, she also includes a level of subtlety which is interestting to people who have been doing this for a while. This is a useful and excellent book.

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As a practicing clinical psychologist and parent of a 6 year old son, I would recommend this book highly. Even with previous training in the field, the book helped me gain a fresh, creative, and positive perspective on common everyday behavior problems. I even gave a copy to my son's teacher, who implemented several of the ideas with great success. It was a really great gift. The ideas in the book are specific (charts and reward coupons included!!), effective and fun.

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I am going nuts having to repeat even the simplest instructions ("brush your teeth") many times before my kids do them. I don't want to spend my evenings shrieking at the kids. This book looks like just what I need--lots of sample charts to pull out and use, and lots of step-by-step instructions for using them. I am feeling calmer already.

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The Best Things You Can Eat: For Everything from Aches to Zzzz, the Definitive Guide to the Nutritio

I've been looking forward to the arrival of Dave Grotto's new book and it arrived early today. Having interviewed Dave months ago about its upcoming release I was intrigued by what he had to say so was looking forward to receiving it. Of course as a fellow registered dietitian (and btw, I purchased the book...it was not given to me and nobody asked me to write this review) I'm really interested in knowing what THE best sources are of nutrients.

The "bible" for nutrition in foods is the USDA nutrient database which is readily available online. You can get lists of all nutrients from highest to lowest which is all great and wonderful...the problem is they are ALL based upon 100 gram servings (about 3.5oz) an amount not typically eaten for some foods so comparisons are not really apples to apples. In the book Dave provides serving sizes of what someone might actually eat. MUCH more useful. Furthermore the evals are based upon WHOLE foods and not those fortified excellent! Otherwise Total cereal would be number one on every list :-)

I only wish I would have had this book last fall when I was updating my slides for the nutrition classes I teach. Would have made my job a whole lot easier!

Dave has a very laid back humorous writing style that makes the book very easy to read. Well done!

Great Book! This simple to read, enjoyable text is jammed packed with nutrition info that we as dietitians get asked everyday!It is well referenced in addition to being just plain fun to read. It is not only for the health professional but the foodie and the consumer as well. I was not asked to write this review and I bought my own copy of the text. Dave Grotto has done it again!!!!

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I've had the pleasure of interviewing the author over the past decade for various magazine stories, so I was excited for this book to come out. As usual, Grotto is chockfull of knowledge, and it's presented in an accessible, easy-to-understand way, along with interesting/unusual factoids. He somehow manages to make you want to try beef liver no easy feat. I trust him so much that I recently hired him to help my parents lose weight. This "guy-a-tician" is good.

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I have a library of health and recipe books. I like to refer to them routinely. This was a good addition

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I'm so glad there is finally a nutrition book like this. Within two hours of purchasing this book I was already referring to it! I get many questions about which foods are the best sources of each nutrient (beyond resorting to fortified foods). This book covers it. Also, the real-life portion sizes are helpful since many websites have unrealistic comparisons.

The lists covering sleep and cold/flu were helpful as well.

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1001 Natural Remedies (DK Natural Health)

This beautifully illustrated book provides valuable information on natural remedies for health, beauty, home and pet care. The chapter Natural Health Remedies contains information on herbal teas, compresses and quick tips on improving one's well-being. Natural Beauty tells the reader how to make creams, masks, shampoos, massage oils, bath salts, aftershaves and lip balms from natural products. Natural House and Garden explains how to make your own air fresheners, furniture polishes, kitchen and bathroom cleaners and garden sprays from environmentally friendly ingredients. Natural Pet Care provides hints, tips and information on remedies with natural ingredients to keep the cat and the dog healthy and happy and to treat common ailments of pets. The text is enhanced by full colour illustrations and the book concludes with a list of resources and an index.

I first borrowed a copy of "1001 Natural Remedies" from a friend, then realized it would be a good reference to have on hand. I'm getting good value for the price, as the recipes are concise and well-categorized.

Eventually, you realize that the same 7 ingredients seem to make up the majority of these recipes. For the most part, one trip to the natural foods store will have you ready to concoct lip balm, stress-relieving bath salts and itchy scalp.

It would be nice to have some specific product recommendations, as opposed to "use an unscented, natural shampoo". On the other hand, the author helpfully alerts you to recipes that will be messy.

The photos are very nice, and made me check out things I might have ignored otherwise.

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I highly recommend this book. It is very comprehensive and easy to read. Every health or home-care issue I've thought of that I'd like a natural remedy to seems to be addressed in this book. The remedies are all simple to do/create. The layout also is very user-friendly and colorful.

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I bought this book a few years ago and use it almost daily. If you are into natural remedies, holistic health, or just wanting to better your health this is the BEST BOOK to have in your collection. This was the first book I purchased and helped me on my journey to holistic health. I recommend to all.

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This book has exactly what I hoped it would and is simple to use. While it is not the encyclopedia of natural remedies, it is an excellent place to start. I bought it for a friend and it more than meets the objective.

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Caregiving Tips A-Z: Alzheimer's & Other Dementias

Starr has outdone herself with this book! All of the tips are "real life" answers to everyday problems in dealing with the elderly, and people of all ages. Her tips and sugestions don't require additional money or effort, they incorporate everyday scenarios with everyday ideas. Loved it!

This book is indeed "a practical guide" for getting through each day-in a way that only caregivers can understand. The information in it has made my days better than they would have been otherwise. The chapters on communication and behavioral changes have helped in developing caregiver skills; and there are other helpful chapters on improving the home set-up and managing problems with family members. I was especially impressed with the detailed information put into this book on everything from adult role changes to getting the keys back from your parent. It worked for me!

Linda Owen

-author of LADY PRESIDENT

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I lost my grandfather recently to Alzheimer's disease and am currently repeating the same terrible ordeal with my grandmother. It is a long, long, painful journey and many questions and concerns have burdened my family while dealing with this affliction. Ms. Calo-oy's book provides an exhaustive reference for the myriads of scenarios and situations a caregiver will encounter. This book is written from a sensitive and respectful point of view that not only addresses the loved one's many needs, but the often unknown and misunderstood needs of the caregiver as well. I found this book very encouraging and uplifting. I recommend this book to any individual or institution that is involved with caregiving!

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This book has lots of practical suggestions for how to approach difficult situations without a blowup (by either you or your loved one). It also allows you to appreciate the issues you have already negotiated and those that are likely ahead.

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This is a tough subject, and the book is for more advanced dementia and Alzheimer's than the person has that I care for. Still, there are some good tips and the book is recommended for caregivers of people with advanced dementia or Alzheimer's. It takes a lot of understanding and this book deals with the nitty gritty and could make dealing with a really unpleasant job a little easier.

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