Tag Archives: gardening

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 →

Be a Greener Babysitter with These 4 Eco-Friendly Kid Activities

  By Donna DeForbes | July 2, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Eco-Friendly Babysitting Ideas | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Christine Maddox. An eco-friendly lifestyle promotes sustainability. Whether or not the family you sit for follows that lifestyle, as a babysitter you can introduce earth-friendly projects that are also fun and educational for the kids. Potato Power A favorite activity among many kids is discovering that potatoes can become batteries that can be used to power an LED light bulb or clock. This demonstrates that the ability to generate power is all around us. The simple experiment is cheap requiring not much more than a potato, a penny, a galvanized steel nail and a few alligator clip wire units. Experiment with other foods as well; citrus fruits supposedly produce more power than potatoes. Follow these steps for making a potato-powered LED clock. Solar Energy Experimenting with solar power is an affordable option for introducing children to sustainable energy. The cost of solar panels have … Continue reading →

How to Build a DIY Fairy Garden

  By Donna DeForbes | June 11, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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DIY Fairy Garden | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Jessica Nattamai. Gardens are more than a place to grow food and flowers. They can become an imaginative space for kids to take part in creative play while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Furthermore, digging in the earth allows children to be in immediate contact with diverse life forms: worms, plants and cocoons can all be discovered. Luckily, most children aren’t hesitant to get their hands dirty. All they really need is a little inspiration. Creating a fairy garden is the perfect project to inspire imagination for the whole family. Simply adding stones, small plants or homes turns an ordinary garden into a place of magic! Here are a few tips on making a fairy garden. Collect Your Materials A garden, natural space or a container with a drainage hole (A wine barrel, tin basin, planter or even a salad bowl will work … 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 →