Home Zone by Maggie Reed

It's handmade with heart and has humanitarian goals. The Nature Bag, a multipurpose bag once known only to a small group of people in the higher elevations of Southeast Asia, is now available all over the world.

Nature Bags are stretchable and expandable, lightweight yet strong, but they are not your generic bags. These totes have an appearance that is somewhat shiny, like silk or satin, and have colors that range from a very light tan to medium-dark brown.

The walls have considerable stretch and form around the items inside, so fragile items, such as fruits and vegetables, are less likely to be bruised. The unique mesh design of the bag also permits airflow.

For thousands of years, these bags have only been made in the homes of the Khmu ethnic group of Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia with one of the lowest per capita income levels in the world. Aimed at reducing poverty in this region, the Nature Bag is the brainchild of Bounsou Keoamphone, a student and son of a poor rice farmer in the remote, mountainous Oudomxai Province in northern Laos. The startup funds came from a retired Iowa philanthropist.

By placing the bags online, Bounsou has developed the concept of linking the primitive Khmu with the modern world. This poverty reduction project is designed to strengthen these links, giving the traditional a means to progress technologically and economically while preserving the ancient ways of the Khmu.

Since all bags are handmade by the Khmu tribe members in their homes and not in a factory, no two are identical.

Nature Bags are made from wild-growing, organic tropical Kudzu, which is now called JungleVine. It is a naturally growing, hearty perennial vine with a deep spreading root that grows quickly during the rainy season and can be found in various regions in Southeast Asia. JungleVine is lightweight, but nearly impossible to break. It is also biodegradable and virtually resistant to mold.

Nature Bags range in size from 10 inches by 6 inches to 24 inches by 12 inches.

Prices range from $10 to $76.

For more information, call 515-244-8909 or visit www.naturebag.org.

WASH WELL

Even without the current flu situation, washing hands properly is always a good practice.

Kids tend to be on the run and fail to follow the rules for washing, but not with the Healthy Hands Disney Musical Hand Wash Timer. When the pump is pushed down to dispense soap, it triggers music to play for 20 to 25 seconds — the wash time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to eliminate germs.

The timers fit the tops of any liquid soap pump dispenser and feature kids' favorite Disney characters with music and flashing lights; they encourage kids to wash longer and more often.

Common advice says to teach kids to sing "Happy Birthday" twice or to say their ABCs twice while they wash their hands. To help them from rushing through these melodies, the timers ensure they spend enough time scrubbing for the best hygiene.

Popular tunes are ties to classic characters, such as the Disney Princess Ariel of "The Little Mermaid" ("Under The Sea") or racecar Lightning McQueen from the Disney/Pixar movie "Cars" ("Real Gone").

Since the tops fit all standard brands of liquid soap, parents can continue to use the brand of soap they trust and kids have their favorite Disney characters to teach them a healthy habit for life.

Disney Musical Hand Wash Timers from Healthy Hands retail for $4. For more information, call 847-220-4000 or visit www.gethealthyhands.com.

Maggie Reed may be reached at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed and other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.

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