Greetings All, I am very pleased to see more women exploring natural options for various aspects of daily living. But I do have a curiosity about those who claim to be "environmentalist" but seem unsure about how to collect their menstrual fluid. Any female who is an environmentalist would have no doubt considered using a non-disposable product for handling her menstrual flow--I would hope. Since some posters have touched on it, but haven't gone into great detail about collection/reusable menstrual products I will provide more information. Menstrual Cups: Not limited just the Diva or the Keeper/Knock off MoonCup are a great option for both improving your foot print on the environment and allowing you to neatly collect your menstrual flow. Insteads fall into this category but because they are worn very high in the vagina, next to the cervix like a diaphragm I would not recommend it for those that want to stay neat or collect blood. I would imagine it difficult to remove the Instead without spilling the flow but you would have to check out a forum of actual Instead users to find out if I am right. I personally use a Mooncup UK. If you are looking to switch to a menstrual cup you should explore all your options and brands that are made world wide and get one that you think will be better suited to your body. If you look at the bottom of my article on The Culture of Menstruation http://theanthroblogogist.50webs.com/body/the_culture_of_menstruation.html you will see links to every known menstrual cup made. If you need more information you can indefinitely feel free to contact me through my website. I've also heard about people using the rinse water from their cloth pads. Thats great as long as all natural detergents are used to launder your pads. Try etsy or ebay to find very cute cloth pads, or find a pattern and make some yourself. With sea sponges I am not really sure how much of an environmentalist one could be, since these were actually living creatures at once. I can't assume but can only imagine how far down hill things might go in the harvesting/farming of sea sponges just to be used as your personal tampon. I wouldn't recommend it as they are not a readily renewable source & something like a menstrual cup has more positives on this option. I do not recommend using disposable products to harvest your menstrual fluid from as they are laden with chemicals which is why most truly heath and environmentally conscious people have looked for better options. I am sure that if these are just house plants and nothing edible it might be fine, but for your health benefit switching to one of the healthier options discussed would be an excellent choice for yourself and the environment. To all of those people here who are "grossed out" by this I can only lend a sad laugh that you think of your body that way. It is silly to think that far "grosser" things aren't being put into every product you could possibly buy in a store. I do think that there are valid points about pathogens and disease, etc. But I would expect a person to know their body, know if they are taking BC to be careful or avoid fertilizing edibles. And use common curtesy and not fertilize a public (especially edible) garden without the consent of those who share it. Other than that, there is little if anything gross or dangerous about using your own bio-goods to contribute to the natural life cycle of the earth. To answer someone's question about being married. Yes I am married & my husband knows about all of this. He was weirded out by me bringing up the watering of plants with the blood from my cup (I haven't done it yet) But he is pretty open minded and would never try to stop me from doing so. Also I am sure he would eat plants I have grown that way (We use natural methods of BC, so no extra hormones). Why do people think its accptable to eat plants grown from animal feces or even animal blood as fertilizer, but somehow our own is just disgusting suddenly? Goodluck & health to everyone, please visit my page if you would like more info, or to discuss any of these topics further. Sincerely, The Anthroblogogist http://TheAnthroblogogist.50webs.com Here is a link that might be useful: Visit The Anthroblogogist Website

I just found this thread. Glad you got it running. An earlier poster suggested going to half choke, pull a couple times, then go to full choke. That is backwards according to the manuals for every small engine I've ever read. It's full choke till it tries to start, then half. Be listening for that "tries to start" - it will be a brief firing of the engine and you HAVE to stop there and go to half choke so you don't flood it. Another poster mentioned being careful with the choke so as not to flood it. I would agree 100% with that. If you pull it on full choke several times (my limit is about 5) and it does not try to start, STOP and go to half choke for a couple pulls - it may be already flooded with fuel and needs more air. These things can flood easily and no amount of pulling will clear it, only fresh air. If I suspect I've flooded one I go to full open on the choke (ie RUN mode) and pull a couple times. If it doesn't start I go get some ice tea and leave it for a few minutes. Once the engine is warm you may need no choke to restart it, or only half choke. Don't go to full choke on a warm engine unless it won't start without it, or you can flood it. And don't suck up bad crap. :-D

I think perhaps also the supply is catching up with the slowing demand. Back in June, four Vircos disappeared rather quickly from my local Costco, within a week. No doubt people were getting ready for the big 4th of July weekend. This month, three units have been sitting for weeks, although I expect they will start to move as people prepare for the Labor Day weekend.

On the net, has that unit and the install material. Also for a price on the unit itself. Usually, your local electrical showroom/contractor supply has all the piping and fittings, and they are available on the net. Make sure to get the rough piping/low voltage bell wire and inlets done before drywall. That will cost very little, even if you involve a union plumber or electrician. You can purchase/install the unit any time down the road. If you are bricking the exterior, put two pipe sections out for the exhausts (so they can brick around) which will save some time down the road.