I've gone organic in so many aspects of my life, but the cosmetics are one of the hardest parts to switch. There is a difference between wanting to switch to totally organic and all natural cosmetics, versus switching because you are worried about toxicity of ingredients. EWG is the GOLD standard of seeing if cosmetics are toxic. Their Skin Deep Database is the best way to see what brands and what colors could be problematic. Surprisingly, a lot of drugstore makeup not made with organic ingredients at all are very low toxicity. Among the lowest you can get by EWG standards. They're inexpensive and super easy to get. Here's a partial list of just some of the drugstore cosmetics that are among the least toxic: https://www.getgreenbewell.com/best-non-toxic-drugstore-makeup-brands-blush-and-bronzers/ Lead in lipstick is a very real concern, and even natural lipsticks have been shown to contain lead (Burt's Bees years ago was one of the highest offenders in one study). Even some organic companies say that they can't assure that their lipsticks don't contain lead. But there are a lot of great options, and they are among my favorite brands because they don't make my lips peel and itch like some conventional lipsticks do. Here are my favorites: https://www.getgreenbewell.com/10-lead-free-lipsticks-for-kissing/ 100% Pure is a brand that uses all natural ingredients, with colorings from plants and fruits. There are a lot of organic companies. But what I've found is that my skin often breaks out from using all natural cosmetics. I've yet to find the reason and what ingredient it is to avoid. So the lesson is that all natural isn't always better and some drugstore choices might not be as bad as you think. It's a matter of what your reason is for choosing organic cosmetics.

To those of you who have been using these "home made" detergents, are you experiencing any odor, mold or mildew issues? The reason I ask is because castile soap builds up into a gooopy, gel-like gunk if not properly rinsed. This could potentially cause problems in washers. Every home-made product I've tried - from detergent to fabric softener - has proven unsatisfactory. Either the products don't clean well, they risk building up in my machine or on my clothes or they just don't work. Price is not the only consideration, which is what appears to be driving this homemade laundry movement.

Interesting test! If the Shout has a bunch of fillers, brighteners and other crud found in standard detergents, it would make sense that it might coat the fibers of the clothes and help the stains to "hang on." I've found that while CS doesn't get out every stain, often after a few more washes the stain will just fade away. This is acceptable for kids' clothes, IMHO. The stains are usually really light after the first wash anyway. Would you consider doing the test using CS all-purpose cleaner? That's not supposed to have any extraneous chemicals in it. You could also wash the socks a few more times in CS to compare the progressive fading of the stain.

A lot of safety gardening issues are double-edged swords. There can be no doubt that excessive sunlight exposure can cause melanomas, but sunlight is also something that all living creatures need. I'm guessing I am not getting the requisite amount of rays, due to the fact that I wear long sleeves and long pants as armor against insects and because I am often too cold but never too warm. Because my eyes are sensitive to light, I also wear hats with brims, just so I can see, but it also limits my sunlight exposure, for good or bad. I will never wear gloves while gardening, simply because I cannot stand them! And also there is a known benefit to skin contact with the soil, and nature in general, that out-weighs the concerns of parasites or other evils lurking in the soil. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9099/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-going-barefoot.html http://modernfarmer.com/2014/08/dirt-make-us-happy-getting-hands-ground-better-prozac/ I probably shouldn't say this, but I treat myself every year or so for possible parasitic infection using equine worming products. Worms live in the soil, and I don't want them living in me! Once, long ago, I went through the appropriate human medical channel to treat roundworms and was subjected to lengthy humiliation and charged 10 times what the same drug in the agricultural community costs, and I said never again. When I get barbed wire or thorn cuts or insect bites/stings, I immediately pour hydrogen peroxide into the wounds. It introduces oxygen into puncture wounds and prevents or stops infections in their tracks. It is far more effective than anti-bacterial soaps (which carry their own health hazards, so much so that I have banished them from my home). Peroxide is always the best first medicine for puncture wounds, and soaking in hot water, especially with Epsom salts which will draw out foreign objects, is a great follow-up. Tetanus shots at 5 year intervals are a must for any gardener, especially for those of us who have pastured horses on their property at any point in time. We have only to mention that we are former horse owners to dissuade any reluctance on the part of physicians to give us out 5 year "jabs." Tetanus lives in moist damp earth so it is always a concern. The tick danger is perhaps the most serious of all, as well described by Dee.