permaculture

[KNat <knat@sprintmail.com>]

Kathy Evans wrote:
> What is a laundry ball and how well do they work and where could I get
> some? Thank you. And regarding compostable dinner plates....what a joy it
> was in India to see stacks of "paper plates" for sale for a few rupees that
> were really banana leaves mashed down, pressed in some kind of mold and cut
> out. Then you throw your plate on the ground and cows eat it. Things have
> changed (a la the introduction of plastic), but there are still such
> plates, cups, and bowls. 
>   
If anyone can source them, let us know. The simple leaf plates I found 
needed fumigation and were only decorative by the time they were in the 
states, so we need a grower (hothouse banana leaves?) I question some of 
the "safe" additives in compostable plates, to avoid bug infestation in 
storage or early biodegrading. But we currently use a type of 
compostable plates and bowls because we have health codes that are being 
politically applied and forcing us to disposables when we serve the 
students. Bowls and corn starch utensils do not break down well even in 
worm bins. Unbleached paper made in standard process would probably do 
better, even lightly waxed.
For everyday, we like lightweight but solid unbreakable washables in 
washable kit bags to have each student have their own portable 
preparation. Some classes have made their own bowls and spoons from wood 
but the officials freak at seeing them. Kids like Wrap-n-Mats which are 
placemats. But we can't "serve" onto them. So far, we can "share" when 
the adults are there, so it is fun to have a schoolwide function.When 
someone calls food, the children run to their family basket for plates 
and utensils. One day....
I studied laundry balls awhile back and another lister might be more 
current. In front loaders several brands were good but the real trick 
was appropriate enzymes on spots first, regardless of brand. No 
significance between expensive and cheap versions. I'd support a 
distribution stream of choice. In toploaders none impressed me. In the 
winter we use a drier and turn the heat and humidity inside. The balls 
that can also dry and fluff up loads are nice then (but tennis balls 
work too.)

Kathyann