Bio-Safe Pest Control?

I have some little ants that are making their Springtime debut in my kitchen -- and they won't go away! I've tried keeping my doorway sealed, and sprayed vinegar on the doorway (as well as baking soda) to discourage them, but there's still an odd few that seem to make it through my 'barricades'. Any ideas? It's not an infestation, but annoying nonetheless.

I'd rather not go the chemical/toxic route, of course.

New Belgium Breweries / Fat Tire Ale = Eco-conscious beer!

It's a great time to be alive...one of the craft beers that first moved me to drinking independent brews has finally made it's way East with distribution in Indiana! Woohoo! No need to road-trip to Schnuck's groceries in St. Louis to fill up the ol' car's trunk!!!

Yes, Fat Tire (from the wonderful "wind-powered and employee-owned" New Belgium Brewery in Colorado) is now here. Weirdly enough, it's being sold in 12pks of cans...and larger-sized bottles, but not the regular 12oz. bottles (at least yet). Ah well, it's all good (beer).

Looks like there's a special 'Hoosier' bottle for us Hoosiers, and I've seen the 1554 Black Ale here now, too. Yum.

New Belgium Brewing website

And a brief promo for New Belgium's 'Follow Your Folly' theme, featuring the inimitable Devendra Banhart...

Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Soaps!

I have become an ardent supporter and proponent of Bronner's Magic Soaps. It's organic, fair-trade, and so very economical, I've been using the same $9.00 bottle for well over a year! I use it as shampoo (not daily, but usually every couple of days), hand (and body and face) wash (25% Bronner's mixed with water in one of those foam-soap bottles), and more. You can find Bronner's in your local health food stores (Whole Foods, local places) as well as mainstream retailers like Target these days. It comes in several sizes, as well as different scents like Peppermint (my favorite), Tea Tree Oil, Rose, Lavendar, Eucalyptus, and more (even a Baby Mild formula). All the ingredients are natural, with no weird chemicals, so you know it's safe and biodegradable. Check their site at:

Dr. Bronner's website

And check out this interesting expose on Bronner's soaps (I can't embed this particular clip, so a link to the official site that features this video). It details California punk rock drummer Don Bolles (The Germs, etc.) and his experience with Bronner's, as well as exposing some untruths about some of the other so-called 'organic' soap products.

Video clip

A note about this blog

Welcome! I hope this blog can become an open-ended dialogue, where ideas and knowledges can be shared for the mutual benefits of all of us. My aim is to enlighten and encourage green and subsistence living, on a shoestring budget, with as little waste or toxicity as possible. My background? I'm a 30-something single guy (very happily attached to an amazing lady) with an an old house in the midwestern United States that's neither green nor environmentally efficient (at this point), though I do my best on my admittedly meager income. I hope if you're reading this, that you will feel free to chime in with your opinions on products, as well as wisdom, tips, and/or experiences.