Dear Netters, On Friday 18 Dec 2009, Yogita Mehra wrote on the bsg-goa listserv:
> great initiative!! I would absolutely love to learn from you > how you're planning to go about re-using grey water - it's > something I've been wanting to do, but I don't seem to know > how to go about it. Do keep us posted about your 'experiments' > (if I can call them that). Will do...with graphics and all! Right now we are up to our necks moving to the house attached to the little waste water treatment plant we have designed. > As far as I know, strong chemicals in phenyle/floor > disinfectants and surfactants in detergents can possibly ruin > what you're planning on doing (by using Clovers EM products) - > since these chemicals are meant to kill *all *bacteria - the > good and the bad. Till now we have used only EM, but have bought our first bottle of Clover's NatureVel from Green Goa Works. Espie and Joe Lobo have been most helpful. They are our consultants for the microorganism and irrigation part of our...yes, "experiments" is right! But they also design their own total systems and right now have resorts and housing colonies as their clients. > About using non-detergent/non-chemical alternatives, here are > some things I do: > > 1. *Washing Clothes:* I use *reetha*/soap nuts (*Sapindus > mukorossi*). It washes most clothes quite well (the really > soiled ones need stronger stuff to wash though). Since this is > a berry, any waste water from a wash can directly be used to > water your plants etc... no chemmicals to worry about. Fantastic alternative! In older, more ecologically sensitive times, people here in Goa used the 'reetha' berry. We have a tree on a family plot in nearby Pilerne, across the hill from Saligao where we live. We will pick its bounty as it blesses us with fallen fruit. > 2. > *Washing your bathroom:* I've stopped using phenyle/harpic > completely - I've substituted these with Effective > Microorganisms (EM) solution (this is basically the same > product like Clover's - only made by Maple Orgtech). > Substitute harpic and phenyle with EM and use it in exactly > the same way as you would use harpic/phenyle - it keeps the > bathroom rather clean. This we already do for everything in the house - floors, kitchen platform and sink, dining table, vehicles and anything that needs dirt gobbled up! And of course, for composting all, repeat, *all* biodegradeable waste. Thanks to the 'midas munch' of millions of microbes, garbage just turns to black gold, which we then use in the garden. > 3. *Washing utensils:* again, I've > completely stopped using Vim-bar/liquid soaps etc... I've been > using a powder made with *reetha*, shikakai and dried lemon > peels. Use it like you would your regular products - it works > like a charm on greasy utensils - I'm a complete convert! Thanks!...we are hooked already! So far we have been using only the traditional, soft yellow washing soap like Ranjit. No dtergents. And of course we use Goa's abundant coconut coir 'katha' at the kitchen sink. > I've been using these for the last 8-10 months - come see my > home. :-) You've got a date! Just let us move to our new conservation zone (read *home*!) in the next few days and we will fix a date after New Year, to be educated at your home. > Now, the big questions - Where are all these available?? Are > they available in Goa?? > > Yes, you can get all these products here in Goa at the > following places (I've indicated using numbers, what you can > get where): > > *Green Goa Works: (Mapusa)* (you can get 2 from above) > Espie: 9326151534: Office: 2255217 > [email protected] > http://greengoaworks.com/index.html > > *Green Essentials: (Taleigao)* (you can get 1 & 2 from above) > * **Karan: 99606-43250/0832-2451360* > *[email protected] This e-mail address is being > protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view > it *** > 10:00am - 1:00pm & 4:00pm - 8:00pm (Monday Closed) > http://greenessentials.in/ > > *Earthworm: (Porvorim/CHOGM Road)* (you can get 2 & 3 from > above) [email protected], > Nirmal/Roopa: 2410871, 9326107079, 9766358343. Thanks again! GGW are already our consultants and guides. Earthworm's Nirmal Kulkarni is an old friend from the wild life conservation and snake rescue circuit. He was our first inspiration to get into snake handling, rescue and awareness campaigns which we do as a family (part of our children's homskooling syllabus!). We have been meaning to catch up with him at the store, but have been inundated. He has alread responded to our soapy plea for help and we will meet him soon. Green Essentials is totally new. Their site and blog are fascinating from the tiny peep we took just now. They definitely are a must-contact. Thanks a lot, once again. Will keep in touch... In conservational solidarity. M&M. -- ................................................................ there *is* anOTHERgoa at <http://www.anothergoa.blogspot.com> & <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' muriel & mario, "villa faria", 5/3 donvaddo, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 <anothergoa AT gmail.com> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
