Tired of school and club fundraisers that are ecologically unsustainable and even bad for you (such as gift wrap and candy)? Take a tip from the Australian herb company Herb Herbert, which promotes the sale of herbs as fundraisers. “Fundraising with herbs is a perfect opportunity to encourage families and children to spend their money on an environmentally friendly product that will motivate physical activity and provide a healthy alternative with endless benefits,” the company’s newsletter says. For ideas on how to use herbs as a fundraiser: www.herbherbert.com.

Herbal Voices: American Herbalism Through the Words of American Herbalists is a new book that features interviews with 20 of the country’s most prominent herbalists about the recent boom in popularity of herbal medicines. The herbalists address controversial issues such as the endangered plant crisis, licensure, and ecology. These leading herbalists share the joys and pitfalls of practicing an age-old healing tradition in modern America. Herbal Voices is $34.95 but you can get a 20% discount when you order online by using the special offer code BKD20.
www.HaworthPress.com or phone 800-HAWORTH.

Mint oil granules (2% mint oil on peanut shells) were tested as a repellent for the red imported fire ant. When fire ants were confined on the granules in the laboratory, the granules were lethal. When fire ant mounds were covered with the granules, ants left the mounds within two days and formed satellite nests. Mint oil granules might be used to repel ants around homes and areas where they normally are a problem. (IPM Practitioner, September/October 2004.)