Going GreenHouse

This Month’s Expert: Going GreenHouse

April Prothero shares her non-toxic cleaning tips

DDo non-toxic cleaning products work as well as other products? Short answer? Absolutely!

On top of having a sparkling clean home, you’ll have the benefit of knowing that your home isn’t teeming with toxic fumes! At Going GreenHouse, we have been in the nontoxic cleaning business for over 10 years. We have procured a green cleaning kit that we arm all of our team members with that allows them to clean any surface thoroughly, without harm to the surface or the indoor environment—and, leaves it fresher and cleaner than before.

One objection that I hear from people is that they just can’t understand a clean home without it smelling “clean.” Some say that it’s not clean unless you are blasted with the scent of pine trees and bleach upon entering the home. The smell of clean has evolved, and if it smells strongly, that’s a good indication that it is also toxic to your environment. Not just in the air that you, your children, pets, and guests breathe, but also waiting on those countertops and floors to absorb into your skin when you touch it. If you are one of those who grew up with this philosophy but want to give non-toxic products a shot, we have a couple of tricks up our sleeve. We use peppermint castile soap to clean the shower, as well as mop the floor. It leaves a lovely, gentle mint essence that can only be described as a clean scent.

One product—which also took us a while to perfect—was our stainless-steel cleaner. You can’t really skimp or substitute here, and if you do, the streaks left behind on your fridge door will show that the product isn’t perfect. A lot of stainless-steel cleaning products are wipes, which we find wasteful, or aerosol cans, which were only acceptable back in the ’80s AquaNet hairspray days. We finally found a soy-based cleaner made by the good people at Ecos that cleans and

shines stainless-steel surfaces so they look like they’re brand-new! In a pinch, olive oil can be used to clean stainless steel surfaces—but keep in mind a little goes a long way! Finally, our secret weapon. We use a pumice stone for a couple of different things when we deep clean. That funky ring in your toilet that you can’t seem to get rid of? Pumice stone, baby! We like the one with the handle for this purpose especially. Our other favorite use for a pumice stone? To remove all of those baked-on food remnants from the interior of your oven. No more need for abrasive aerosol spray oven cleaner— just pre-soak the door and floor of your oven with your favorite all-purpose spray, moisten the pumice stone, and go to town!

At Going GreenHouse, we are passionate about making the world a greener place, one step at a time. If you have any questions about the products you are using or would like suggestions on alternatives, please feel free to reach out to me, the founder and CEO, at april@goinggreenhouse.com, and I would be happy to help. Visit www.goinggreenhouse.com for more information about our services.

breakfast ‘n lunch

online ordering

gluten-free and kosher available

Total Wine Plaza

10320 N Scottsdale Rd. (480) 483-6922

SkySong

1455 N. Scottsdale Rd. (480) 664-4200

La Mirada Plaza

8876 E. Pinnacle Peak (480) 590-7200

www.nybbaz.com

GREENShe’s GREENHe’s

BY JENNIFER & JOHN BURKHART

Sometimes fun in the sun includes bringing along a tasty adult beverage, with cleaner ingredients. Organic or gluten-free? Yes, please! Or, maybe a special guy would love a tasty brew in his Father's Day gift basket. Whatever you're celebrating, we say “cheers” to living in the moment!

Ground Breaker Brewing Co.

Olallie Blackberry & Rosehip Ale

He Said: Drink this one out of a glass. It has an awesome red amber color, and the can it comes in is ugly, haha. I found the flavor of this one very flat. It was sweet dry berries up front with a floral almost soapy hops finish. If I had to sum this one up in one word, that word would be meh.

She Said: A great one for those tired of the same 'ol, but don't want to go “full fruity.” Just a slight sour berry flavor and smoothness made this one unremarkable, but easy to drink. Hey, at least it's gluten-free! Samuel Smith's

Organic Apricot Fruit Ale

He Said: Okay, big asterisk on this beer. This is not beer that is brewed with apricots, it is a light lager that is mixed with apricot juice poured into the bottle. It had a very sweet fruit apricot juice taste, and only the slightest beer aftertaste. This is the perfect beer for someone who doesn't like beer.

She Said: Hmmm, this is way more juice than ale, and that's dangerous! It was delicious, like carbonated apricot juice with just a bit of ale flair. I love that it's organic, and from Yorkshire's oldest brewery. Epic Brewing Company

Glutenator, gluten – free beer

He Said: Is it really beer if it's not made with barley? This frankenstein beer is made from sweet potatoes and molasses, and you can definitely taste both. Earthy and sweet, with a molasses and hops aftertaste. It's interesting but not really something I would drink again. Oh, and I can't say the name without doing my Arnold voice, “Get to da choppa!”

She Said: Mmm, surprisingly smooth! An easy-to-drink, light beer I'd recommend even if you aren't avoiding gluten. It's so awesome that nowadays even folks with dietary restrictions can readily find tasty products. This one even has a fun name, the “Glutenatorrrrr,” (said in a deep grumbly voice while flexing those pecs).

Hopworks

Golden Hammer Organic Lager

He Said: It's that time again when I'm forced to drink beer and tell you guys about it. Hopworks has a nice light lager here. It has a citrusy flavor up-front, with a nice hoppy finish. It reminded me a lot of zee German lagers—think Heineken und Becks but with a bit more hops. It was a gut bier, yah.

She Said: The perfect accessories with this lager: can koozie, sunglasses, a beach chair, and toes in the water. I loved how crisp and refreshing it was when it was ice-cold, and so smooth! No face-distorting bitterness or hoppiness. An ideal summer brew!

GREENScenes

June-July Events Throughout Arizona

CENTRAL PHOENIX June 1, July 6

Lake Pleasant Clean Up Event

Volunteer to help keep Lake Pleasant’s shoreline beautiful and safe for wildlife. Running both June 1 and July 6 from 6-10 a.m. to avoid the heat, Lake Pleasant Regional Park needs help picking up litter and trash. In exchange for your generous service, all volunteers will receive free admission to Lake Pleasant for the entire day. For more information, visit https://signup.com/client/ invitation2/secure/806996359112608060/false#/invitation.

June 6

Dig Online: Basics of Seed Saving—Do’s, Don’ts, and Shortcuts

Learn how to save seeds from past successful vegetable and flower gardens to save money and grow better adapted plants. Running from 2-4:45 p.m., this workshop guides attendees through reasons for saving seeds; basic botany for gardeners; what types of seeds are recommended for saving; and how to ensure healthy, true-to-type saved seeds. Tickets are $12, with sales ending on June 4. Visit https://extension.arizona.edu/ maricopamg for more information.

June 3, 4, 8

Maricopa County Parks-Native Seed Collection

Spend a morning collecting native seeds with Maricopa County Parks to be used to restore parks that have been impacted by wildfires. Maricopa County Parks is hosting several native seed collection events from 8-11 a.m. at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, and White Tank Mountain Regional Park. For more information, visit www.maricopacountyparks.net/events/.

GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE & WANDER HOME June 24

Virtual 1-Day Wellness Event

Green Living magazine, in partnership with Wander Home, hosts its virtual 1-Day Wellness Event from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. PST (Los Angeles time) via Zoom. The 1-Day Wellness Event is an expertly designed, 1-day event that includes meditation, yoga, breath work, a sound bath, live Q&As, and interactive talks around mental well-being and resilience in times of crisis. Tickets start at $28 for replay access to the virtual event (which is available for two weeks), and increase depending on the desired ticket. Those wishing to attend can also purchase a live access ticket ($48), a live and replay access ticket ($58), or a live and replay access ticket, plus a virtual gift bag, for $78. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.greenlivingmag.com/events/1-day-wellness-event/.

June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and July 7, 14, 21, 28

Phoenix Poetry Slam

Come grab a cup of coffee and spend the night listening to local Phoenix poets spill their heart out at this charming bookstore. Beginning at 7 p.m., Lawn Gnome Publishing chooses five randomly selected audience members to score performances on a 0.0-10.0 scale, giving poets a welcoming space to hone their craft. Tickets start at $7 every week before Wednesday and increase to $15 the day of the event. For more information, visit www.lawngnomepublishing.com/phoenix-poetry-slam.

NORTHERN ARIZONA June 19-20

Summer Solstice Soul Reset

Reset, rejuvenate, and celebrate the solstice with yoga, meditation, and nature. This outdoor weekend experience at Grand Canyon Eco Retreat takes place over two days, and includes three yoga and meditation sessions, a visit to a special viewpoint at the Grand Canyon, and time to relax and make s'mores at the campfire. Three vegetarian meals are provided. Tickets begin at $250 for the full nature retreat experience, and $150 for a 1-day mini-retreat. For more information, visit www. biggerlifeadventures.com/events/summer-solstice-soul-reset.

July 10

Highway Cleanups with Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival

Join volunteers from 7-11:30 a.m. to clean up a section of Mingus Avenue. The section of road in question is a beautiful river area that provides a habitat to many bird species. All supplies— including bags, grabbers, and safety vests—are provided. For more information, visit www.beoutdoorsarizona.org/event/ highway-cleanups-with-verde-valley-birding-and-naturefestival/2021-09-11/.

June 6, 13, 20, 27

Movies on the Square

Bring the family for a free nostalgic drive-in movie. Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance will be presenting Frozen 2 on June 6; The Secret Life of Pets on June 13, The Incredibles 2 on June 20; and The Princess Bride on June 27. For more information, visit www.downtownflagstaff.org/events/movies-on-the-square.

BUSINESS June 17

Sustainability Committee Meeting

Join this Zoom meeting from 8-9 a.m. to recognize sustainable businesses in Tempe while providing education and resources to all Tempe Chamber Members who would like to adopt or enhance sustainable methods and practices. For more information, visit https://tempechamber.glueup.com/event/sustainabilitycommittee-meeting-31916/

SOUTHERN ARIZONA June 1

Imagine the Possibilities: Book-building with Repurposed Materials

Ever thought of a book made of plastic bags? Packaging material? Tickets are just $40, and this class will teach you the building blocks of the artistic and creative books you see all around you. You will learn how to transform everyday common objects into simple handmade books. Join Julia Jai Miller from 1:30-3 p.m. to get crafty. Visit www.visittucson.org/event/ imagine-possibilities-book-building-repurposed-materials for more information.

June 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29

San Pedro River Walk

Explore the narrow green oasis rippling through desert grassland, known as the San Pedro River, one of the last wild rivers in the Southwest and one of the most endangered. These three-hour guided walks from 6:30-9:30 a.m. among towering cottonwood trees will introduce you to the birds and other wildlife that make their homes in the sanctuary of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Visit www.beoutdoorsarizona.org/event/ river-walk/2021-06-29/ for more information.

June 26, July 24

Movies on the Lawn

Bring the kids, your picnic blanket, and some popcorn to join in on watching Frozen 2 on June 26 and Sonic the Hedgehog on July 24. Set against scenic Arizona dusk at 7:30 p.m. at Oro Valley Community & Recreation Center, this event gives everyone a chance to beat the heat and get outdoors this summer. For more information, visit www.visittucson.org/event/movies-lawn-orovalley-community-recreation-center.