Traveling Nut Show

I've been in St. Louis visiting my family this week. It's been busy, fun and exhausting. I always tell myself that I will get more sleep on vacation, but I never do. The kids go to bed at semi-decent hours, which is to say that they get to sleep before I do because there is always some late night game or discussion (or both) taking place around the dining room table. Bryson was unable to accompany us, so I also get to Skype with him before the kids go to bed and last night Benjamin gave him a virtual hug. I love that boy.

I packed only enough outfits for half of the days and brought a sack of soap nuts with me. I like packing light and, let's face it, doing some laundry halfway through is really not that difficult since the invention of washing machines and dryers. The added bonus is that I was able to show my mother just how easy they are to use. But after tossing my nut sack into the bottom of the washer, she asked me a really good question. So soap nuts are good for the environment, but other than that, why do you use them? I'm so glad she asked. Here are just a few of the answers I have come up with off the top of my head, feel free to add to them:

1. They're cheaper - After using soap nuts to wash your clothes, soften your clothes, dust your furniture, clean your windows, mop your floors, wash your car, soak your jewelry and line your compost bucket, they have paid you back in full!

2. They're good for you - Not only is their USE good for the environment, they are also biodegradable and hypoallergenic. Whether or not you believe that the world was created for us or that we were created for the world, one thing is becoming more and more evident as we evolve. We ARE compatible with the planet we live on. These beautiful little dried fruits give you a clean that makes "Clean Linen" scents smell artificial. You're clothes, sheets, rags, etc. are just clean, pure and simple. (And dish rags no longer get that musky smell anymore. No shit!)

3. They are sustainable - If using them helps the environment and growing them depends on a healthy environment, they - in essence - charge their own batteries. If the lights went out tomorrow and factory labs could no longer produce detergent, we could throw our nut sacks into a wash bin and be no worse off than we are now. Same clean as yesterday and no need for a power source to either use or produce them. Now if only we could grow the trees in our own back yards or a community garden we wouldn't have to order them online(which leaves a mark).

4. It just feels good - Try them and you'll see. They make you feel closer to nature and that's saying something coming from someone who spends a lot of time indoors.