Category Archives: Home and Garden

DIY Upcycling Projects: 2 of 12 - OLD TIRES

  By Donna DeForbes | November 2, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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One of the cool things about the green movement is that it has inspired people’s creativity for repurposing items. The term “upcycling,” which was first used in 1994, is now a widely understood concept that refers to the process of transforming waste or unwanted products into something new, usually of a higher quality. This post highlights five DIY Upcycling projects using old tires. Be amazed and inspired! DIY Tire Ottoman from That Was a What?!   DIY Garden Planters from Lushome   DIY Tire Sandbox from I Heart Nap Time   DIY Tire SeeSaw from My Fix It Up Life   DIY Tire Pet Bed from Fab Art DIY  

DIY Upcycling Projects: 1 of 12

  By Donna DeForbes | October 6, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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One of the cool things about the green movement is that it has inspired people’s creativity for repurposing items. The term “upcycling,” which was first used in 1994, is now a widely understood concept that refers to the process of transforming waste or unwanted products into something new, usually of a higher quality. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve done a 12-month series on Eco-Friendly Crafts and Unique, Gently Green Holidays. This post begins a series highlighting DIY Upcycling projects gathered from the Internet to amaze and inspire. Suitcase Lounge Chair from Crafty Magazine   Old Leather Coat into Leather Handbag by Luz Patterns   Spool Bookcase by Pink Stitches   Do you have any DIY Upcycling projects to share?  

Tips for Greening Your Child’s Bedroom or Nursery

  By Donna DeForbes | September 29, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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It’s easy to get caught up in buying brand new, chain store stuff right from the start, especially when the Baby Industry woos you with their surplus of oversized cribs, cozy rocking chairs and cute monkey-adorned blankets. However, this is not a very sustainable choice and, often, not very healthy for your child either. A child’s developing body is more sensitive to environmental hazards than an adult’s, so it makes sense to pay more attention to what goes into your child’s bedroom – where they can spend up to one-half of their day. The materials and adhesives that go into furniture, flooring, bedding and décor often contain and emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds), a mixture of chemicals that can have adverse health effects. One common VOC, formaldehyde, is a known carcinogen. PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used as flame retardants, and they tend to migrate from household products … Continue reading →

DIY Solutions for a Natural Summer

  By Donna DeForbes | June 16, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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DIY Solutions for a Natural Summer | Eco-Mothering.com

Summer is a carefree time of sunshine, vacations, picnics and outdoor living. For the eco-conscious person, that outdoor living can bring up questions from “How do I make my own tiki torches?” to “What natural product will keep bugs out of my garden?” Other times, the casualties of summer (sunburn, bug bites) leave us hunting last-minute for natural remedies. Be prepared for anything summer dishes out with these DIY solutions for your body, home and garden. DIY for Health and Body DIY Herbal First Aid Kit for Summer from Delicious Obsessions Easy Sunscreen Recipe from Scratch Mommy Homemade Sunscreen for SPF Allergies from Life Currents Bug Repellant with Coconut and Essential Oils from Delicious Obsessions Treating Bug Bites with Essential Oils from Mix Wellness Healing Garden Salve from Nourishing Simplicity Strawberry Lemonade Foot Scrub from Richly Rooted Medicinal Yarrow Salve for Cuts, Rashes and Stings from Montana Homesteader DIY Non-Toxic … Continue reading →

Creating a Safe and Eco-Friendly Backyard for Your Children

  By Donna DeForbes | May 8, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Creating Eco and Child-Friendly Outdoor Spaces | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Patricia Dimick Children have an innate desire to be outside to burn off extra energy and experience nature. Yet it can be difficult to send children outside if there is not a safe place for them to play. With these helpful hints, some planning and thrifty purchases, you can create your own safe and eco-friendly backyard using recycled and repurposed materials. Creating a Safe Space When your tiny little bundles of joy get their feet under command, they are impossible to keep up with, and a fence may be necessary. Enclose the entire area with no more than five inches between slats. The open/close or locking mechanisms of the doors should be installed out of the reach of tiny “Houdini” hands. All parts of the fencing should be checked for holes or sharp areas. Look into sustainable fence options. You should get down to … Continue reading →

Guilt-Free Green Tip #123: Use a Rain Barrel

  By Donna DeForbes | April 28, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Benefits of Rain Barrels | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to a regular blog feature called Guilt-Free Green Tips. These will be easy action steps you can take to be a little greener, and each mini post will feature one tip. Choose the ones that appeal to you, and learn what eco benefits a single, simple step can make. Rainwater collection dates back to ancient civilizations, from simple clay pots in Southeast Asia to complicated cistern systems of the Roman Empire. Only in the last decade, with the expansion of the green movement, has collecting rainwater become a more common practice in the U.S. And what exactly does a rain barrel do? Placed under a shortened downspout, rain barrels capture water from your roof and gutters. Whether you purchase one ready-made or make your own, a rain barrel is an easy, sustainable way to reuse water that would otherwise just sink into the ground. Use it to water your … Continue reading →

How Green is Your Mattress? Q&A With Actress Amy Smart

  By Donna DeForbes | January 27, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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A Life Less Toxic: Green Mattresses Q&A with Amy Smart | Eco-Mothering.com

The Environmental Media Association’s (EMA) new PSA video “A Life Less Toxic” is the beginning in a series on living a sustainable lifestyle. In the first episode, actress and environmental activist Amy Smart along with her eco husband Carter Oosterhouse (from HGTV’s Red Hot & Green) go to the mattresses at the Naturepedic factory in Ohio. Founder Barry Cik was inspired to start the Naturepedic company during the impending birth of his first grandchild, when he was unsatisfied with the mattress choices in a baby store. They were comprised of vinyl and other toxic plastics; Barry wanted something safer for his family. What makes a mattress green? Why should we care about sleeping on one? Amy, Carter and Barry answer these questions and more in this short video. Q&A with Amy Smart Amy Smart’s interest in the environment extends back to her childhood, from her high school days volunteering for … Continue reading →

Commit to Non-Toxic Living with Green Virgin Products

  By Donna DeForbes | January 20, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Non-toxic Household Cleaner | Eco-Mothering.com

Some people adopt a healthy, non-toxic lifestyle because they’re aiming to be the best they can be. Some people adopt a healthy, non-toxic lifestyle because it helps them overcome a medical condition. Some people, like Ken and Lola Marion, were inspired to go down the non-toxic road following the loss of a loved one. Ken and Lola’s research into possible causes of their brother’s untimely death from cancer led the couple to discover how everyday household products, from cleaners to laundry detergents, are filled with carcinogens. According to U.S. Poison Control Centers, cleaning products alone were responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures.1 Multiply that exposure on a daily basis and it’s no wonder health problems such as allergies, asthma and bronchitis are on the rise. The Marions were inspired to create an affordable, alternative line of products safe for use on people and the environment; thus, in 2009, Green Virgin … Continue reading →