Category Archives: Home and Garden

Top 5 Unique Containers to Recycle into Seed Starting Pots

  By Donna DeForbes | March 7, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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seed-pot-eggs

This time of year many of you are planning gardens, starting seeds indoors or making lists of what to buy in a few months.One thing you don’t need to buy is seed starting containers when there are a myriad of household items that can be repurposed as such. Save money and the earth by using any of these five unique options to start your garden growing. Loofah Sponges from Thyme Square Garden This is the coolest thing. Ever. Grow your own Loofah (I didn’t even know it grew as a backyard plant!) and then use the harvest to pot next year’s plants? Wow. Roasted Chicken Containers from Inside Urban Green My family is a sucker for pre-roasted chickens as a quick dinner. Now I have a great re-use option for the container. (This idea also works great with Applebees To-Go containers.) Egg Shells and Carton from Free People Blog Such … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Supplies

  By Donna DeForbes | March 6, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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Natural Household Cleaners | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Paisley Hansen. Here’s an inspirational quote that says much about the “green” approach to cleaning a home: “Humans in the developed world spend more than 90 percent of their lives indoors, where they breathe in and come into contact with trillions of life forms invisible to the naked eye: microorganisms.”— Jessica Green Most microorganisms that we live with are fairly harmless, even if they are a bit gross to contemplate. But dealing with those relative few that cause illness doesn’t mean blasting them with harsh chemicals. After all, the household must also live with the residue of those same chemicals. And most of those harsh, store-bought products need to be kept away from pets and kids. Following are several ways you can clean your home with supplies that are all natural: Vinegar and Water It seems that a solution of one half vinegar to one half … Continue reading →

Product Review: Buckwheat Pillows and Honey

  By Donna DeForbes | February 11, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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Benefits of Buckwheat Pillows | Eco-Mothering.com

I’ve been on the hunt for a new pillow, so when asked to review a buckwheat hull pillow from Crooked Brook, I jumped at the chance. The pillow arrived, small and flat with the feeling of a sack of birdseed. How could that possibly be comfortable? And yet, when I lay my head down at night, the pillow seemed to conform perfectly to my head and I melted into dreamland. What is in this magic pillow? The pillow is filled with buckwheat rather than feathers or foam. This idea dates back to ancient China and Egypt but has become more popular in America in recent years. Buckwheat is actually a fruit seed of the rhubarb family, not a grain like the name suggests. The hulls are typically roasted first to remove any dust from the fields before being inserted into pillows. Allergen note: While buckwheat is an excellent natural substitute for … Continue reading →

5 Ways Cardboard Can Keep You Warm This Winter

  By Donna DeForbes | January 9, 2014 - 5:30 am |
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Ways Cardboard Can Keep You Warm | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Paul Taylor As the winter months take their toll on your house, consider alternative—and simple—methods to keeping warm. Whether you use a gas furnace, electric heating, wood stove or other method of heating, you probably have something in your possession that can make a world of difference in energy efficiency. That ally is cardboard. Cardboard is much more than box storage for knick-knacks. It can be a great insulator from the cold, especially the thicker corrugated versions. Where in your home can you use cardboard to promote heating efficiency? Windows By taping sheets of cardboard onto your windows, you prevent the cold from radiating in and the warm air from being cooled by the surface. If you provide approximately one-half of an inch of space between the glass and the material, you won’t have to worry about condensation soaking through the paper-like surface. Remove … Continue reading →

Update your Home Décor with These Green Painting Tips

  By Donna DeForbes | November 14, 2013 - 5:00 am |
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Green Painting Tips | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Angelo DiGangi. Want to revamp your home décor in the greenest way possible? Look no further than refinishing an existing piece of furniture. After all, nothing’s more eco-friendly than using what you already have. Whether you’re repurposing a bookcase from office files to playroom toys, or relocating an old bedroom bureau to serve as entryway storage, sometimes new life can be had with little more than a fresh coat of paint. Here are some tips for making furniture projects greener from start to finish. Choose Greener Paint Starting with an eco conscious paint product will aid your efforts immensely. YOLO Colorhouse is an EcoOptions certified paint with low-odor and zero VOCs. And because the paint base itself has no VOCs and the colorants used in the tinting process also contain no VOCs, you know you are getting as close to zero VOCs as possible. … Continue reading →

Top 5 Indoor Plants for Improving Air Quality

  By Donna DeForbes | November 8, 2013 - 5:00 am |
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Houseplants to Purify Your Air | Eco-Mothering.com

Now that a late autumn chill has set in, your house windows are likely shut. Unbeknownst to you, this traps you indoors alongside a host of invisible pollutants with scary-sounding names: benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, ethyl acetate, acetone and chloroform. These are just some of the chemicals present in household items from furniture and carpet to everyday cleaners and toilet paper. The first three, particularly, can trigger asthma, allergies and cancer. So what can you do to improve your indoor air quality? Easy—add plants. Many of them are natural air purifiers, including these common (and easy to care for) top five. Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium) This workhorse plant (pictured above) clears out a variety of VOCs, especially formaldehyde, which is lurking in particleboard and other furniture components. Warning: The plant leaves are toxic if eaten, so keep away from kids and pets. Tips on caring for Heart Leaf Philodendron. Aloe Vera … Continue reading →

6 Simple Energy-Saving Habits for Your Family

  By Donna DeForbes | October 22, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Energy-Saving Tips | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Kevin Bumgardner. Some easy energy-saving habits can help reduce carbon emissions. When you stick with these habits and use energy-saving services, appliances and optimal energy providers, you will increase your efficiency and save money. You — and the earth — are going to reap the benefits. When you become a good role model to your kids by making simple earth-friendly habits normal, you not only help them but pave the way for an environmentally responsible future generation. Turn Off Your Lights This is one of the most common (and easy) energy-saving habits. It takes several weeks to fully form a habit, so the more you are reminded to turn off the lights, the more likely you will do so on a consistent basis. Your lights might not draw a lot of power individually, but when you leave your entire house lit up for hours … Continue reading →