With the arrival of warm weather, many people look forward to sandal season – but others look forward to barefoot season. It used to be customary for children especially to go barefoot in the spring and summer, but our culture has changed and now shoes are the norm. Going barefoot indoors in the winter is not unheard of, either, in this day and age of centrally heated homes. Taking off the shoes and going barefoot now and then – or regularly if possible – can have some real health benefits. Read the rest of this entry

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 18 million people around the world who are blind due to cataracts. Five percent of those 18 million people can attribute their cataract-caused blindness directly to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also notes the correlation between ultraviolet radiation and eye problems, including cataracts. Read the rest of this entry

Wind, solar, and geothermal energy are probably terms your are familiar with. But you may not know about the pros and cons, set-up costs, potential savings, and other details. Here are some of the basics about these types of alternative energy. Read the rest of this entry

Emotions can be big and scary to young children. They do not have any coping skills or life experience to draw on to put things in perspective. The caretakers in children’s lives have a responsibility to explore children’s feelings and teach them how to get a handle on them. Being able to deal appropriately with one’s emotions is key to success in school, relationships, and life in general. Here are some ideas on how to explore the world of feelings with your children. Read the rest of this entry

Cookbook author and macrobiotic practitioner Wendy Esko makes bread without using commercial yeast. She uses natural leavening in the form of a sourdough starter or no leavening at all; she claims that unleavened bread dough will rise on its own if placed in a warm place for 8-12 hours. But when she lets her children help her make bread, she says, it never fails to turn out well. When the children help, “they are so happy and really put a lot of happiness into the bread,” she says. Maybe you should try putting some happiness into your bread, too! Read the rest of this entry

Eco-therapy is an application of eco-psychology. It is geared toward helping people learn to cope by forging a connection with nature. Specifically, eco-therapy addresses clients’ anxieties and fears about the environment (eco-anxiety). People who practice eco-therapy are called eco-therapists, although some conventional therapists integrate eco-therapy into their practices. Read the rest of this entry

These days, the creative, individualized look is in. Do-it-yourself projects that are eco-friendly are hip and modern. So if you’ve wanted to cover your walls with something a little different, now’s the time!

There are a lot of interesting wall covering materials available nowadays. And you don’t have to use a “proper” wall covering purchased from a store; you can use materials you have on hand. Let’s take a look at some of these possibilities and their costs and durability. Read the rest of this entry

Ecosystems are a complex series of interconnected life forms that depend upon each other. Ecosystems exist in a state of balance and when one component is affected, the whole system is thrown off.

Bees are an integral part of a healthy ecosystem. Here are some things to think about the next time you get annoyed by a bee. Read the rest of this entry

In treating prickly-feeling heat rash, the focus needs to be on cooling the skin. Here are some tips and suggestions for treating heat rash naturally.

1. Ice

Simple but effective, an icy compress can soothe and cool skin very effectively. Rather than rubbing the skin directly with ice, put ice cubes or an ice pack (such as you use in your cooler) in a zip-top plastic bag and wrap it with a cloth before applying it to the skin. Read the rest of this entry

The art of feng shui and eco-friendly decorating are very compatible. Feng shui is intended to open up the flow of energy in your home, bringing a sense of peace, harmony, and renewed energy to the inhabitants. Eco-friendly decorating ties in with this concept, since eco-friendly interior design is intended to promote a healthy, clean indoor environment (while protecting the earth as well). Both concepts are based in nature. Read the rest of this entry