hSave the whales

hSave the whales

Did you know that since April 2009, lobstermen can no longer use float rope to tie their traps together?

And that Northern Right Whales can suffer injury or even die if they get entangled in the rope?

Down East Doormats, made by the Maine Float Rope Co. are made from 100 percent reclaimed and recycled float ropes.

The hand-woven mats trap dirt, mud, snow or sand and are reversible and weatherproof — and best of all help a good cause.

They come in several colors, patterns and sizes and start at $49.95.

For more information, visit MaineFloatRope.com.

Shop and support

Spiralfoundation.org (Spinning Potential Into Resources And Love), which supports humanitarian programs in Nepal and Vietnam, has too many cool products to list.

Click on the “spiral store” link and you’ll find bed covers, book accessories, frames, kitchen products, tableware, pillow covers and more, most made from reclaimed or recycled materials.

Products are accompanied by brief descriptions and information on where the materials used came from.

Here’s a sample: Handmade Himalayan wool blanket ($25); Red Carpet stationery card set ($12) made of paper from Daphne Bark, from managed forests in the hills of Nepal; hand-carved wooden spatula ($10); and telephone wire bowls ($18 each), made from discarded telephone wire.

Invisible gas

A hidden danger may be making you sick.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that exposure to radon, a tasteless, odorless gas, may be linked to 20,000 lung-cancer deaths a year.

Naturally radioactive, radon gas forms underground as uranium decays and filters into the air we breathe. Radon can seep into homes through loose-fitting pipes, drains or cracks in concrete foundations.

Small amounts of radon can be controlled by sealing cracks with caulking or patching compound.

According to experts, higher radon levels might require the installation of an exhaust system to disperse concentrated amounts into outdoor air.

First Alert developed a new radon home test kit – priced under $25 at major hardware retailers or via amazon.com – that allows consumers to measure their home’s radon levels.

Other home test kits are available, too, such as Jensen’s Pro-Lab Professional Radon Gas Test Kit ($14.99).

For more information , visit www.FireAlert.com or www.epa.gov/radon/NRAM.

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