How and why to clean without harsh chemicals

DAMASCUS — SEEDS presents their next free forum: Green Cleaning – How and why to clean your home/body without harsh chemicals. The forum will be held Tuesday night, May 12 at the Damascus Township Community Center, 60 Conklin Hill Rd, Damascus, just west of Cochecton, N.Y.

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) has lined up a group of individuals to talk about how much we can improve the health and well-being by rethinking cleaning routines. This Green Cleaning workshop will demonstrate how to make home and body cleaning products, how to avoid harsh chemicals, and how to know which natural ingredients are actually not harmful. Door prizes will be given away.

Speakers include: Janet Brown, founder of Green Leaf Cleaning will share cleaning recipes and tips with a direct focus on sustainability. Janet Brown of GreenLeaf Cleaning, LLC began her green cleaning business in May of 2011 along with her sister Cindy. GreenLeaf Cleaning strives to use the most non-toxic chemical free alternatives for all cleaning needs. Janet has a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Scranton, and is passionate about fostering an environmentally conscious society.

Carl J. Milks, MD, a board-certified allergist will discuss how indoor air quality is adversely affected by many of the modern everyday products we buy and use. “At least 60% of everyone that has a runny, stuffy, sneezy nose has at least a component of non-allergic rhinitis, ie a "cranky nose". Fortunately we have control over many of these things in what we buy and what we use, and some of the things that are not good for the nose and lungs are "natural".

Gudrun Feigl of Mount Pleasant Herbary will demonstrate household uses for herbs and spices and how beneficial they are to our well-being. She will demonstrate how to make potpourri, fabric softener and deodorant. “The products of Mount Pleasant Herbary are made with herbs we grow right here in our herb garden including Anise, Lavender, Chamomile, Chocolate Mint, Moroccan Mint, Spearmint, Peppermint, Calendula, and Lemon Balm. We grow our herbs without the use of herbicides or pesticides. After handpicking and drying the herbs, they are combined together and hand packaged into wholesome, delicious herbal teas. We also use the herbs in our natural handcrafted soap and add them to our dream pillows. Handmade, heat-able buckwheat pillows and sachets add to our wonderful array of products.” Gudrun Feigl grew up in Germany, close to the border of Switzerland. With Mount Pleasant Herbary, she is combining her love for nature, gardening and beautiful things.

Registration is encouraged, but not required. Email jocelyn@seedsgroup.net or call 570-245–1256.

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) is a non-profit organization that works with residents and businesses to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and grow renewable energy infrastructure.

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