Natural and Sustainable

• What you will need:

-Recycled, plastic container. Make sure it is pretty tall so you can continue to fill it without having to empty it as often.

-Utility knife

-Recycled paper

-Scissors

-Recycled tape

What you will need to do:

Wash and clean the plastic container thoroughly. Especially clean it well if it contained soaps or other washing liquids or cleaners. Next, tear away any labeling and add this labeling to your recycling of paper goods on the curbside pick up.

Take the recycled paper and make palm tree leaves or daisy petals to add to the top if your coin bank. You can even paint the outside of the container with paints or use the recycled paper and make additional designs and paste them on the outside of the container. Once the paints and the paste dry, start adding coins to your newly made bank. Once the bank is full, donate the money to a wildlife charity or buy seeds to plant in your garden. This project is good at teaching children the three Rs. Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Make you own paints and pastes, here’s how:

For paste: Mix 3/4 cup cold water with 1/2 cup cornstarch. Bring 2 tsp corn syrup, 1 tsp. white vinegar, and 3/4 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Slowly add the cornstarch mix to the boiling mixture. Stirring until dissolved. Let cool for 24 hours. Store in an airtight container. These two recipes are better for the environment and your child’s health in the long run.

There are paints and then their are better paints. Better as in or your health and the planet. Here is a list of some of the best “better for you” and “better for the planet” paints currently out on the market today.

• BioShield: Withclay paints in natural and brights, solvent-free wall paints in matte finish and satin finishes, color washes, clay plaster, Kinder paint, Aqua resin trim enamel, and Casein milk paints.

• SafeCoat Paints: They carry wallboard primecoat, transitional primer, metalCoat metal primer, zero VOC flat paint, flat enamel, zero VOC eggshell paint, eggshell enamel paint, zero VOC semi-gloss, semi-gloss enamel paint, trim and door enamel, all-purpose exterior satin paint and concrete/floor paint.

• Sherwin-Williams (HealthSpec® paints): With Duration home and harmony latex paints that are better for the environment, they also carry other brands and colors that are better choices and have low VOCs. Ask you local Sherwin-Williams paints dealer today.

• The Real Milk Paint Company: Real Milk Paint ® is a all natural paint finish made from purified milk protein, lime, natural fillers and pigment. Other paint companies choose to use Kaolin Clay as a filler. Real Milk Paint ® does not contain Kaolin Clay which can be derived from radioactive clays. Our organic paint comes in a water soluble powder and does not contain solvents (Zero V.O.C. = No Volatile Organic Compounds). They carry colors such as: Black, white, blue, red, green, brown, mustard, raw umber, salmon, yellow ochre, terra cotta, golden rod, ultra marine blue, and bright red.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Make sure you check to see if the label or packaging states “organic” before you purchase it. Just because the item is sold at a health food store, don’t automaticly assume it’s natural or organic. Of course their choices are a lot better than a regular supermarket, but do read labels at any store.