Raleigh Briggs collects her zines, illustrations, and thoughts around what it is that makes a great DIY household: homemade cleaning solvents that aren't made from poison, herbs that will heal you, and how to setup a great garden. These tips and tricks fill in the gaps for those of us longing to live this lifestyle but lacking the necessary know-how.
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Raleigh Briggs is an herbalist, potion maker, DIY homemaker, and the author of Herbal First Aid, How to Make Soap, and Nontoxic Housecleaning. She lives in Seattle.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
163 of 167 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In July 2009, I demonstrated various urban sustainability projects at a festival in Baltimore City. This book was part of my natural, homemade cleaning supplies display. Dozens of people picked up the book and were very curious to know where I got it. They all wanted to purchase it right then and there. I wished I had contacted Raleigh or Microcosm Publishing to become a distributor!
Throughout the day, many people asked me for natural ways to get rid of pests, clean different types of surfaces, etc. and I often picked up the book and turned right to Raleigh's very detailed Table of Contents. How to get rid of fleas? Clean wood floors? Make liquid dish soap? It's all right there.
From gardening to essential oils, Raleigh included it all! Not to mention the fact that the book is beautifully handwritten and illustrated. I often get my tips from the internet, but Raleigh's book is wonderful to leave in the kitchen or bathroom as an instant recipe book and guide.
A definite must-have starting guide for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Throughout the day, many people asked me for natural ways to get rid of pests, clean different types of surfaces, etc. and I often picked up the book and turned right to Raleigh's very detailed Table of Contents. How to get rid of fleas? Clean wood floors? Make liquid dish soap? It's all right there.
From gardening to essential oils, Raleigh included it all! Not to mention the fact that the book is beautifully handwritten and illustrated. I often get my tips from the internet, but Raleigh's book is wonderful to leave in the kitchen or bathroom as an instant recipe book and guide.
A definite must-have starting guide for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle.
72 of 73 people found the following review helpful
By FroggyMama
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love books, and have collected quite a library of volumes relating to my varied interests. Some of those interests are natural/herbal health care, natural body care, "green" household cleaning, and urban homesteading. All of those books in my library have one or more of the same ideas contained in this little volume. Yet for some reason, I absolutely love this book. It may be the awkward but adorable handwriting complete with heart-dotted i's, reminding me of my middle school diary. It could be the cute illustrations, with flowers that talk and bubble letter titles, or the little flowers and stars that emphasize the text. I have rarely read a book of this type that uses words like "nast" and "barf", or describes how to deal with crabs or yeast infections with such aplomb. And really, while it may contain recipes and ideas I have found in many other places, it also has some very new ideas that I enjoyed with surprise. All in all, I have the strangest feeling that this book will see more use in my house than several other more comprehensive volumes in my library, and I know that I will have fun in the process.
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Absolem
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
For anybody who is wondering, this book was published by Microcosm Publishing, a DIY and punk rock publishing house. Keep this in mind when coming across "offensive" terms and phrases. Quite frankly though, I found none. I did however find this book to be extensively useful and reader friendly.
The articles are all hand written in very neat penmanship, all the illustrations are hand drawn, and everything in the book has been tried out first by the author. There are three sections in the book Health and First Aid, Nontoxic Cleaning and Body Care, and Gardening. The first section includes directions on how to make tinctures and salves, a list of herbs that are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral, and also a list of which herbs and essential oils to avoid if pregnant. More useful than you know. The second section is a combination of replacements for bleach, Clorox and the like, and then recipes for herbal shampoos and whatever else you might call body care. The last section is pretty self explanatory. Gardening without choking up the ground with a jug of Wal-Mart bought chemicals. Chapters include composting, space managing and fertilizing.
I personally found the First Aid section most useful, and most tailored to my needs. This book is very informative and well worth the money. It doesn't take up a load of space (roughly 7 x 5 inches and half an inch thick, 125 pages), it goes over personal safety at the beginning of the book and includes a further reading section (more DIY punk rock goodness) at the back.
It isn't lofty or pompous, or some 100% organic and natural twerpy, skinny assed vegan kid preaching some rhetoric they heard in their college dorm. I think it is well written and friendly, there isn't any political commentary slipped in between instructions on how to turn crunchy dried things into medicinal liquid (which is more rare than you would believe). It's a good book if you are interested in an alternative way to keep yourself and your home healthy and clean.
The articles are all hand written in very neat penmanship, all the illustrations are hand drawn, and everything in the book has been tried out first by the author. There are three sections in the book Health and First Aid, Nontoxic Cleaning and Body Care, and Gardening. The first section includes directions on how to make tinctures and salves, a list of herbs that are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral, and also a list of which herbs and essential oils to avoid if pregnant. More useful than you know. The second section is a combination of replacements for bleach, Clorox and the like, and then recipes for herbal shampoos and whatever else you might call body care. The last section is pretty self explanatory. Gardening without choking up the ground with a jug of Wal-Mart bought chemicals. Chapters include composting, space managing and fertilizing.
I personally found the First Aid section most useful, and most tailored to my needs. This book is very informative and well worth the money. It doesn't take up a load of space (roughly 7 x 5 inches and half an inch thick, 125 pages), it goes over personal safety at the beginning of the book and includes a further reading section (more DIY punk rock goodness) at the back.
It isn't lofty or pompous, or some 100% organic and natural twerpy, skinny assed vegan kid preaching some rhetoric they heard in their college dorm. I think it is well written and friendly, there isn't any political commentary slipped in between instructions on how to turn crunchy dried things into medicinal liquid (which is more rare than you would believe). It's a good book if you are interested in an alternative way to keep yourself and your home healthy and clean.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not the book for us
-We do not feel that borax is a safe ingredient. Please research and understand the negatives associated with this ingredient.
-The unusual font was unpleasant to read. Read more
-The unusual font was unpleasant to read. Read more
Published 2 months ago by p31Mom
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better info found elsewhere
All of the info in this book can be found with better detail and greater knowledge in other books, for example "Making It" by Coyne & Kuntzen. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jael
5.0 out of 5 stars
nesting skills
purchased for my own personal use
great gift for young bride
delivered in excellent condition
would recommend to anyone
would be great for people with allergies... Read more
great gift for young bride
delivered in excellent condition
would recommend to anyone
would be great for people with allergies... Read more
Published 3 months ago by nanagain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful!
This is a treasured little volume. First of all, it is an aesthetic delight, as all the pages are in (very legible) handwritten script with fantastic little illustrations. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lola
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cute design, great ideas
My wife purchased this after seeing it on a blog and she loves it. We've already instituted a number of the suggested ideas. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Mierendorf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute little book...
A nice start for someone who wants to take some steps in the "sustainable" direction. Short and informative. Read more
Published 4 months ago by marlenadee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still using!!
Cool information and will be keeping this book on my kitchen book shelf for a long time. The service was great!!
Published 4 months ago by Martha E LaJoie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super practical
There is so much in this book that is helpful to people looking for alternative ways to do things without harsh chemicals. Read more
Published 4 months ago by duh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative
this has helped me to cut cost on alot of household cleaners and laundry supplies. Would recommend to any one who wants to go green and cut cost around the home.
Published 5 months ago by brenda
4.0 out of 5 stars
A simple and lovely book.
This book is a very easy to understand summary/collection of DIY information on how to grow and use herbs alongside simple products like castile soap and vinegar in mild/gentle yet... Read more
Published 7 months ago by H. Jasper
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