Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Supplies

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

Beat the Winter Blues and Prep for Camping Season With These Green Tips

camping-in-trees

This is a guest post by Douglas Moore. It’s never too early to start thinking about camping season, especially while hibernating during the dead of winter. Suffering from cabin fever? Look ahead to an adventurous camping excursion with your family once this brutal winter finally breaks. A camping trip is the family’s warm light at the end of a snow-flurried, bone-chilling winter tunnel. Plan an upcoming camping trip that’s not only super fun, but kind to our earth. Eco-Packing Tips Start with the essentials — a tent and sleeping bags for shelter and staying warm at night. Unless you’re avid campers, ask family or friends if you can borrow a tent or sleeping bags. Before investing in a collection of camping gear, think about whether you’ll actually get use out of your investment or if the gear will just collect dust and take up space in your garage. For the … Continue reading

5 Must-Have Apps For the Eco-Conscious Shopper

Food Shopping Apps | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Garret Stembridge. So you’re shopping for salad ingredients when you remember that your sister recently mentioned spinach could be high in pesticides. Wait, was it spinach or was it cabbage? Better go with the box labeled Certified Organic, just to be safe. But how environmentally conscious is that packaging? You could spend half your day scrolling through pages of Internet search results, but who has the patience for that while standing in the fresh produce aisle? Even when time is of the essence, you don’t have to sacrifice your eco sensibilities. Check out these five, *free* smartphone applications that bridge the gap between real life and the virtual information highway to make you the savviest shopper on the block. GoodGuide Don’t tell your four-year-old, but the GoodGuide app could be the best shopping buddy you’ve ever had. With over 170,000 catalogued food, personal and … Continue reading

7 Winter Games to Get Your Kids Outdoors

Winter Games for Kids | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post from Katie Bugbee. Who wants to go outside?! If this question is often met with chilling silence in your home, you’re not alone. These freezing cold temperatures can make everyone want to hibernate. But outdoor play — even in cold weather (as long as it’s above 20 degrees, per our preschool rules) — is good for kids and their grownups. It energizes, refreshes, provides room for healthy exercise and tuckers them out for bedtime. Below are seven fun games to inspire kids to rush for their hats and mittens. Game on! 1. Sled Sprint Here’s a fun game to keep the holiday spirit alive well into winter. Pretend you’re all reindeer on a mission to get stuffed animals home safely. First, take lightweight plastic sleds and tie them to the waist of a child. Then place 3-5 stuffed animals on each sled (the same amount … Continue reading

3 Unique Weekend Getaways for Nature-Loving Families

Nature Getaways | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Dolores Edwards. Environmental mindfulness starts at home with simple green living habits like recycling and using homemade natural products. Nature, however, is the best teacher for showing our children Earth’s beauty and why it’s our responsibility to honor and preserve it. Educational outdoor landmarks provide families with hands-on experiences that can foster a green spirit. The following three unique trips can also engage your little ones with Mother Earth. Family Field Trips (Moab, Utah) Discover the majestic sandstone of the Colorado Plateau and sheer cliffs formed in deep canyons while adventuring along the Colorado River. Journey into Labyrinth Canyon as you and your family paddle down the Green River. Your family can experience a memorable white water expedition with Canyonlands Field Institute (CFI), an outdoor non-profit organization that offers wild canyon country getaways and river explorations. During a one-day or private custom trip, learn … Continue reading

5 Children’s Books to Teach Kids About Nature

Children's Books About Nature | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Liz Nelson. When my children were little they had a great love for the outdoors. I made sure to point out the elements of nature around them. We looked at fallen leaves, talked about the different types of trees and flowers, and, of course, discussed animals and the funny sounds they made. As my children have grown older, they still have an abiding love for nature and are mindful of their impact on the environment. I believe much of that is due to the kind of things we talked about and the books we read when they were young. Here are a few of my family’s favorites that opened their eyes to the wonders of nature. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon This is my daughter’s very favorite book, even to this day. The beautiful illustrations bring the world of bats to a new light. As … Continue reading

5 Ways Cardboard Can Keep You Warm This Winter

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

Natural Remedies for Earache Symptoms and Infection Prevention

Natural Remedies for Earaches | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Michelle Ramone. During the winter, a mom’s number one enemy is the cold and flu. Germs from a single, unprotected sneeze from your child’s classroom can easily infect your home and make your little one sick with an agonizing earache and cold symptoms. Despite meticulous cold prevention efforts, kids still get sick. You can heal your child back to health and cure throbbing ear pain with natural home remedies. What Causes an Ear Infection? An earache can be caused by a legitimate infection or fluid buildup that causes pressure and irritation on the ear drum. Untreated fluid buildup could cause an actual infection. An acute ear infection can also be caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the middle ear as an individual recovers from an upper respiratory tract infection or cold. You can gather more ear infection and earache info on symptoms and … Continue reading