Tag Archives: spring

Unique, Wacky and Gently Green Holidays to Celebrate in MAY

  By Donna DeForbes | May 1, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Unique and Gently Green Holidays in May | Eco-Mothering.com

Some people only think about an eco lifestyle on Earth Day, April 22. However, a little research showed me that every month has a few unique and earth-friendly holidays that can be cause for celebration. Pick whichever ones appeal to you, then get out there and celebrate! May is National Bike Month. Since 1956 National Bike Month has given Americans the chance to celebrate this two-wheeled and eco-friendly mode of transportation. And from 2000 to 2013, bike commuters in the U.S. rose 62% - how awesome is that? Bike to Work Day is May 15 this year. May is also Barbecue Month, Get Caught Reading Month, National Photo Month and Date Your Mate Month. May’s Celebrations by Date: May 1 – May Day Whether it’s fertility dances, political protests or spring celebrations, May Day is honored around the world. One of the most common activities is maypole dancing, which really … Continue reading →

Unique, Wacky and Gently Green Holidays to Celebrate in APRIL

  By Donna DeForbes | April 2, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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Some people only think about an eco lifestyle on Earth Day, April 22. However, a little research showed me that every month has a few unique and earth-friendly holidays that can be cause for celebration. Pick whichever ones appeal to you, then get out there and celebrate! April is Lawn and Garden Month. Beginner gardeners can get resources on Vegetable Gardening 101. Or if you’re looking for simple tips on how to make your yard more eco-friendly and safer for the kids, read this post. April is also Couples Appreciation Month, Poetry Month, Decorating Month and National Humor Month. April’s Celebrations by Date: April 2 – International Children’s Book Day Recognized as the approximate birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, International Children’s Book Day is a day to call attention to children’s literature around the world. So go to the library, stock up on some books and read, read, read! April 3 … Continue reading →

Best April Fool’s Day Pranks in History

  By Donna DeForbes | March 30, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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1957spaghetti

Here’s a fun post for April Fool’s Day that has nothing whatsoever to do with eco-friendly living or parenting. Enjoy this list of some of the best April Fool’s Day pranks in history. Make sure to click on the “read more” links to get all the details from the Museum of Hoaxes. The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest of 1957 A British news show broadcast a story about a bumper crop of spaghetti in Switzerland. Their phony video footage of people pulling pasta off tree branches had hordes of callers inquiring about how to grow a spaghetti tree. Read more. The Taco Liberty Bell of 1996 A full-page ad appearing in six major U.S. newspapers announced that Taco Bell had purchased the historic Liberty Bell, renaming it as “Taco Liberty Bell.” Thousands of irate citizens hounded Philadelphia’s National Park Service until Taco Bell fessed up to the hoax. Read more. The Left-Handed … Continue reading →

April’s Top 5 Eco Crafts

  By Donna DeForbes | April 4, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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Eco-Friendly Spring Crafts | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to my monthly installment of eco-friendly arts and craft projects gathered from around the Internet. While some projects require adult supervision, they are a fun, educational and green hobby for your kids. This month’s collection focuses on crafts for Earth Day, plus make-your-own Easter baskets. Enjoy! Food Jar Terrarium from Our Big Earth Printable Tree Planting Tag from Chickabug Blog Plantable Paper from Alpha Mom Upcycled Mobiles from Plum Pudding Recycled Paper Easter Basket from Roots of Simplicity See more ideas for making your own Easter baskets at Crafting a Green World.  

Top 5 Activities for Celebrating the Spring Equinox

  By Donna DeForbes | March 14, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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sofie-daffodils

The vernal equinox (March 20) marks the first day of spring, a shifting of seasons, a time when daylight and darkness are of equal length. Nature is in balance. Traditionally, the vernal equinox focuses on rebirth, and it was honored by ancient cultures in the festival of Ostara. With winter giving way to spring, Ostara celebrations centered around new life, fertility and the planting season. For us in the northern hemisphere, we appreciate spring’s soft breezes, newly born wildlife and the melting snow giving way to damp, nutrient-rich earth. It is a season of wonder, new beginnings and a “spring fever” that energizes us from our dormancy. Here are five ideas and family activities for honoring the essence of spring. Nesting Birds Clean out your family’s hair brushes (or the vacuum cleaner) and put the hair outside for the birds to build their nests with. Engage in some birdwatching and see how many … Continue reading →

March’s Top 5 Eco Crafts

  By Donna DeForbes | February 28, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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Eco-Friendly Spring Crafts | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to my monthly installment of eco-friendly arts and craft projects gathered from around the Internet. While some projects require adult supervision, they are a fun, educational and green hobby for your kids. This month’s collection includes crafts for St. Patrick’s Day and the Spring Equinox. Enjoy! Shamrock Sprouts from Housing a Forest St. Patrick’s Day Bunting from Simple As That Blog Garden Hose Spring Wreath from Create Craft. Love. Floppy Disk Planters from Brit + Co. Hanging Light Bulb Vase from DIY Weddings This post is featured on Natural Living Monday, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Tuesday Greens, Works for Me Wednesday and Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Blog Hop.  

Celebrating May Day and Welcoming Spring

  By Donna DeForbes | April 30, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Celebrating May Day | Eco-Mothering.com

Even though it’s officially been spring for over a month now, here in New England April still means jackets and heaters and (mostly) closed windows. But the month of May—with its blossoming of trees and flowers and its warm weather—is supremely spring. And it arrives on Beltane, known in the U.S. as May Day. May Day has a long and varied history as a “working class holiday” that, depending on what country you’re in, might include costumed revelry, fertility dances or political protests. Beltane began as a Pagan celebration that welcomed the coming summer and celebrated fertility, both human and agricultural. Known as a fire festival to the ancient Celts, Beltane was typically marked by music, sword dancing, feasting, drinking and people leaping over huge bonfires for purposes of purification. Prior to motherhood, I actually did celebrate Beltane with outdoor drum circles, scarf dancing and fire leaping, but when Sofie came along … Continue reading →