Day 182 of our Green Year: Clearing Clogged Drains

Nearly all of us have from time to time had to clear a drain. Maybe food got down it and got stuck, maybe there is hair in it, or maybe a sodium build-up has resulted in the drains clogging. Usually, most people will go to the tried and true method of using Drain-O, but putting that into the water, which then goes to the water treatment plant, is not perfect. Sometimes, those chemicals in Drain-O, like the prescription drugs and other items flushed into the water, make their way back to us. Hence, it is important that we all look for solutions that do not use chemicals like Drain-O.

Previously, Layla and I have mentioned the uses of baking soda and vinegar in the house, and as it turns out, they can be used to clear drains, as Layla and I have demonstrated to media on occasion. First, to keep everything clear in the drain before it clogs, pour one cup of baking soda, and three cups of boiling water down the drain. Do this a few times and your drains will be nice and clear, instead of ready to clog.

Another method is to pour vinegar and baking soda into the drain, which will react together to unclog the drains. It creates a cool reaction, and it is safe for the environment.

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Here are same startling statistics given to us by a fan who read it in the Edmonton Sun.

• The average baby uses 10,000 diapers before being toilet trained. Each year, 1,000,000,000 trees go to the use of making diapers.
• By the age of six months, the average Canadian consumes the same amount of resources as a person in the developing world does in their entire lives.
• North America has eight percent of the world's population, consumes 33 percent of the world's resources, and produces half of the world's non-organic garbage.
• Only one percent of all the water on Earth is usable. Only two percent is in the poles, the rest is in the oceans.
• One ton of newspapers can be recycled to save 19 trees.
• The average North American throws away 600 times their weight in garbage during their life.
• Canadians produce seven million tons of organic waste each year, 66 percent of which is compostable. In fact 70 percent of all landfill waste is recyclable or re-usable, and 35 percent of municipal solid waste is packaging.

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Today was a busy day for Layla and I, and we have some pictures for you of some of our activities today.

Here is a photo of Layla after she made some awesome organic doggy donuts out of Certified Organic ingredients.'


A close up of those yummy doggy donuts.


Here is a photo of me doing some hand-washing of my shirts today.

This is me drying said shirts next to the fire.


Here is a photo of me taking the shower water we collect and putting it in a container for the animal's water.