Category Archives: Home and Garden

Top 5 Eco Interior Paints

  By Donna DeForbes | October 18, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Eco-Friendly Interior Paints | Eco-Mothering.com

When we moved into our house four years ago, I couldn’t wait to paint it. After years of apartment living, I finally had walls I could paint! And I knew I’d be seeking eco-friendly options that did not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs include a variety of chemicals with short- and long-term adverse health effects. They can off-gas for years, which is why interior paint is a prime contributor to indoor pollution. According to the EPA, even old cans of paints, solvents, stains, etc. sitting in your basement can leak chemicals and wreak havoc on your health. Dump the VOCs. Below are five eco-friendly indoor paints. Benjamin Moore Aura and EcoSpec I began painting with Benjamin Moore Aura because my online research showed the brand had great coverage and lasted forever. PROS: (1) The coverage was good — the paint was rich and smooth, and I only needed one … Continue reading →

Natural Cleaning Solutions for Your Home

  By Donna DeForbes | October 10, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Natural Cleaning Solutions | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Allison Foster. When it comes to your home, you want cleaning products that are inexpensive and effective. Ideally these products would neither harm the environment nor your family’s health. Although many cleaning products on store shelves today work well, they often emit noxious fumes and contain harsh chemicals that harm the environment. Why expose the earth and your home to such toxins when there are effective organic solutions that already exist in your home? Here are some of the best cleaning agents you can use to get your home spotless while saving money, protecting the environment and keeping your kids safe: White Vinegar This all-purpose cleaner is great for removing odors from almost anything. A concentrated solution of vinegar also helps to kill germs and fungus, leaving your surfaces safe and clean. A half and half solution of vinegar and water is great for … Continue reading →

Infographic: Improve Your Home and Health with Feng Shui

  By Donna DeForbes | September 12, 2013 - 5:30 am | , ,
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This is a guest post by Marcela de Vivo. When it comes to your overall health and happiness, there is only so much that a well-balanced diet and daily exercise can do. Did you know that the environment you live and work in affects your health as well? Energy (or “Qi”) is continuously flowing around us, whether we are aware of it or not. The way in which you arrange your furniture, the colors you choose for each room and the lighting in a certain space can greatly impact this energy. If your home or office is cluttered and dark, the energy you feel will be the same. Make sure you are living in harmony with your natural surroundings, rather than disrupting it. To do this, you’ll want to incorporate the five elements of Feng Shui (fire, water, earth, metal and wood) into your personal space. As demonstrated in the … Continue reading →

Gardening With Flowers You Can Eat!

  By Donna DeForbes | August 20, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Edible Flowers | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Linda Bailey. When it comes to gardening, you may think you have to sacrifice beauty for utility. After all, most edible produce does not make your garden burst with color. However there are some edible plants that do have great flowers. Here are five examples. Rose We are all familiar with roses, but did you know they are related to apples, cherries, peaches and plums? Rose petals are actually edible, and they lend a delicate fragrance and flavor to salads and other dishes. They can also be made into rose water or jelly. Rose hips are full of Vitamin C and make a tasty tea or jelly. Note: Never eat roses from a florist as they have been showered with pesticides. Redbud Tree This small tree or shrub is part of many landscaping projects for good reason. The redbud’s bright pink flowers bloom directly on … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Pest Control for Your Garden

  By Donna DeForbes | July 25, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Natural Bug Control for your Garden | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Maya Rodgers. Perhaps one of Mother Nature’s greatest mysteries is her ability to create and maintain highly balanced ecosystems in which animal, plant and insect life mutually thrive. For me, gardening and eating what I grow is one of my most satisfying hobbies. But when pests make a mess of my garden, I get frustrated and discouraged. Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar feeling? Before turning to products that may harm your garden (and you), investigate natural options. Fortunately, there are many natural and eco-friendly remedies for pest control. Add Beneficial Insects One of the simplest solutions to a garden pest problem is to introduce beneficial insects. Remember that not all bugs are pests—beneficial bugs ones will eliminate the pesky ones for you. Unlike pesticides, beneficial insects introduce natural harmony into your garden. Pesticides may kill pests, but they can also kill the beneficial insects, … Continue reading →

Top 5 Things You Should Know About Hazardous Waste in Your Home

  By Donna DeForbes | July 19, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Household Hazardous Waste | Eco-Mothering.com

I made a drop-off at the Eco-Depot last week. That’s Rhode Island’s household hazardous waste (HHW) collection agency. I’ve known about them for years but pure laziness has kept me from ridding our home of toxic products (some are even leftover from the previous residents). Scroll to the end of this post to see a partial list of what is considered household hazardous waste. It feels great to have finally made the trip. This isn’t to say that my home is completely toxin free. We have nail polish remover, antifreeze, craft glues, etc. that we still use. But getting rid of the old stuff has made a big dent, and it makes me breathe a little easier. Know the Dangers So there’s a can of old paint thinner sitting in your basement. Big deal. A few items don’t seem like much, but when you add up all the toxic products in … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Lawn Greener and Safer

  By Donna DeForbes | May 7, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Tips for a Safe and Eco-Friendly Lawn | Eco-Mothering.com

I blame 1950s suburbia for getting America excited about plush green lawns. Sure, they accent the white picket fence nicely, but plush green lawns require a lot of work, money and, most of all, harmful chemicals that end up seeping into our water. According to Sierra Club, lawns cover about 40,000 square miles of the U.S. and are maintained with nearly 100 million pounds of pesticides annually. And where do all those lawn fertilizers and pesticides end up? They leach into our groundwater. They get washed into local rivers, streams and lakes when its rains. Why? Because in your local watershed, everything flows downhill. Even if you don’t live right by the water, pollutants on land eventually end up there where they can kill fish and lead to polluted waters unsafe for human contact. (Want the technical details on human exposure to pesticides? Read this.) This doesn’t mean you have to … Continue reading →

4 Tips for Teaching Children to Garden

  By Donna DeForbes | April 23, 2013 - 6:00 am | ,
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Tips for Gardening with Kids | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Sara Dawkins. Getting children interested in gardening starts with making it fun. Instead of focusing on the hard work and heavy lifting, start out with some fun stuff to get kids enthusiastic. Here are a few tips. Choose Fast Plants One of the biggest obstacles for kids and gardens is the time it takes to let something grow. That’s why it is a good idea to start out with fast-growing plants like beans, which are often one of children’s favorites. Herbs and sunflowers also grow fast, rewarding children quickly for their hard work. Go Big If a long-term garden is in the works, and you have to room, a great way to encourage children is to pick large varieties of vegetables. Huge pumpkins and watermelons, towering sunflowers, and tomatoes bigger than their heads will wow kids. Big foods and big gardens can impress upon … Continue reading →