Ecology begins in the home

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32965, 11 July 1972, Page 6

Ecology begins in the home

If you are under the [impression that ecology concerns are for youthful fanatics, self-styled saviours of mankind and other assorted bores, then “Household Ecology” is a book worth reading. The idea of a clean and healthy place to live is not a fad; it is a fact of life, say the book’s American authors, Julia Percivall and Pixie Burger, who put over their point of view in concise, and at times racy, style. “The right balance between creation and destruction creates a cycle: this chain of building up and breaking: down forms the wheel of! nature and of life. Man is part of this continual chain of [ activity.” ! Women, too. and as the [authors say, “there is no, opting out." IMPORTANT LINK In fact, women may well! have the most important part to play in the ecological chain. From pregnancy and child rearing to the everyday chores of the world’s chief consumer, women have the power and potential to change a value system that is endangering our comfortable span on this earth. “Household Ecology” puts this newly fashionable science in its right perspective when it says ecology begins with the individual at home.

I Thinking of one’s home as lan organism in the total enIvironment makes sense. Like [charity, ecology begins at home. Any woman can make a start by looking at what she brings into the home from the market place in a new light.

t Conspicuous consumption—- > waste, in plain English—is out • according to “Household | Ecology,” and recycling is in. . Buy only what you need, and reuse it wherever possible is > the word. “Over-packaging,” '■ and particularly the use of [ plastic, comes in for some ■ strong criticism. The warning [ on plastic, which cannot be decomposed by bacteria and i often gives off harmful gases [and a solid soot residue when incinerated, is loud and clear. CLEANING Good old-fashioned soap—las the authors call it—combined with washing soda is recommended as the “world’s truly magical cleanser.” It is, they say. the answer to pollution problems of petroleumbased synthetic detergents, and to the health controversy surrounding enzymes. Nature’s bounty is rich in cleaning resources, and medicinal and cosmetic properties, all of which “Household Ecology” calls into use. The many and varied uses of vinegar make it read like one of those turn-of-the-century miracle potions, but the authors swear by it. Following their recipes would certainly cut down on the household" budget, and all those “foreign bodies” flowing into the drainage and sewerage systems. New Zealand housewives, having not succumbed to the all-disposable age, will find much that is familiar in the author’s household management advice. The “ecology closet,” containing everyday reusable articles—an extension of the old rag bag—is undoubtedly still part of most households in this country. What is simply and sensibly thrift to us has become recycling to the Americans. “Household Ecology” contains plenty of down-to-earth advice on how to maintain the balance of nature without benefit of pills and potions. The benefits of fresh foods, and the increasingly popular

e health foods such a yoghurt, tr i are extolled. And in the secition entitled “Detoxifying jlthe Medicine Chest” the" reel commended drinks for ward;l ing off a cold (“Tropical Cold . [Grog: A tot of rum, some ’demon juice and a pinch each '.[of salt and pepper make a t bedtime anti-cold grog that. [should knock both you and 1 the cold out, if taken early | I i enough”) make the symptoms I II seem almost worth while. | I GARDENING 1: A guide to gardening. '[ nature’s way includes mix- 1 " tures for sprays and insect' '■repellents that could elim-i •l inate much of the use ofj ’[chemicals that are being dislitributed in such liberal doses' ['these days. >| Leaf mould, mulching, and[ [ composting are made easv—“an indeed imperative—in this! book. A chapter on birds,: 'bees, and butterflies brings' '[to light some fascinating 1 1 asides—butterflies have col-' pur preferences and yellow! land purple are their" main [passions. i The authors put forward “a word or two in defence, of weeds,” which, they say, [ have their place in the scheme of things. They tell of a city balcony, ' surrounded by thickly polluted air, where a lushly green pot .

,of healthily leafed plant - makes an attractive sight. 5 doing their bit toward re- - freshing the air by helping ■ make oxygen and every last 1 one of them a weed. ; Although this book ent-1 i phasises the necessity fori 11 everyone to take step’s, big tjand small, to protect our en-( I vironment right now, it con- ' eludes with some thought-i ; provoking suggestions about 1 the future. Producing fewer.; but healthier babies, is one] of their concepts, as is teach-1 ing our children a reverence! for life. Parents are en-l Jcouraged to introduce their (children to the fascinations of (the daily life of small wildlife around them and to keep land care for pets. And a final note on the ( 1 | back cover of this highly 1 (readable book should give - this country’s forestry in-! idustry food for thought. The! 'book, published by Prentice(Hall, has been printed on (recycled paper.