I'm wondering...does anyone who visits this blog live in an off-grid self-sufficient home with an heirloom vegetable garden and herb garden? With all the horrors going on with Monsanto and corp. America in general and adequate healthy eating being of serious concern, I'm surprised that more people aren't coming together with other like minds to live cooperatively and harmoniously and communally in this sane manner.

Passport America

Hello my friends, here's a little update on our travels and move.  We left Sarasota and we're currently staying at an RV park near Orlando.  We will be heading for New Mexico December mid-month.  So, we just found out about a great campground discount club and we joined and we just saved $150 by joining and it's paid for itself.  They even have a great referral program where you can earn great money.  I highly recommend that anyone who is going camping and wants to save money join this great program.  Just click on the banner below for more information and to join.
Thank You

 


Passport America - Discount Camping Club

I Love Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics

I just have to sing praises of a wonderful soap I started using from Melinda Olson's wonderful organic health company, Earth Mama Angel Baby® Family Products I'm very chemically sensitive and I can only use 100% non-toxic organic soaps that contain 100% organic plant essences. Now that I'm a Mommy-to-be, I'm even more sensitive and I'm extra careful about everything I use in my hair and on my skin. EMAB's Natural Non Scents Hand to Toe Wash is a wonderful soap that foams and with a little added water, the soap gently and efficiently cleans my skin and feels very light. Natural, safe, non-toxic plant essences like coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, and aloe make this soap very efficient and wonderful. I also enjoy EMAB's Happy Mama Soap, which has the lovely organic aromas of orange oil and ginger oil. I love these soaps and I love the fact that Melinda Olson, the Mama in charge of the company, is a caring, devoted Earth Mama Wise Woman who genuinely cares about other Mamas and their children. I highly recommend her wonderful organic products to everyone who cares about their family's health and the environment.

Appreciate The Indoor and Outdoor Air You Breathe

Do you appreciate the air you breathe?  We’re in the year 2011 and while the principle of green living is becoming increasingly popular, it seems that there are still many people who take fresh clean air for granted.  The evidence of this is the consistent use of those nasty toxic air poisoners fragrance products.  I’ve read many posts online about the importance of recycling, composting, and solar energy and the importance of contributing to the solution.  This is very true and I completely agree, but it’s hypocritical to do these things and continue to pollute the very air we breathe.  

I applaud and support all the efforts to take toward conservation, but it’s very important to pay more attention to those products we use everyday on our persons, in the home and office, and in the air.  When was the last time you stepped outside and paused and took a deep cleansing breath?  The very fact that you can even do this is a blessing and a gift and should not be taken for granted.  Indoor and outdoor air are precious gifts that should be treasured, honored, appreciated, and respected.  The lungs are terrible things to waste.  Let’s contribute to the solution and keep Mother Earth clean and healthy for future generations.

Photos Courtesy of jupiterimages.com

My Special Affinity With Mother Nature's Medicine Cabinet

I've been a devout herbalist since childhood and I've always had a special affinity for herbs and Mother Nature. Many times, my parents tried to give me big pharma meds when I felt sick and they often urged me to take the pills, convinced they would help me feel better and recuperate. When I was suffering from a painful draining cold, my Mom really urged me to take medicine, especially those prescribed by my pediatrician, but once again, I refused and protested.

One time, I relented and tried to swallow a pill, but it was enormous, and I nearly gagged and choked on it. I felt sick to my stomach and promised myself that I would never take another synthetic big pharma pill again.  To this day, I have not taken one synthetic big pharma pill in 25 years.

When I was upset and feeling weepy, my Mom wanted me to drink a mainstream caffeinated tea that she thought would help me feel calmer and more relaxed. I told her that it had caffeine in it and I only wanted a tea if it had an herbal blend in it. She didn't understand and argued with me, but finally let it go and gave me the space to make my own choices.

As upsetting as it was, I tried to understand that my parents didn't know better and were only suggesting something that they thought would help.  Since I'm the only person in my family who prefers herbs to meds, I'm unique.

To this day, as an adult, I still have difficult communication with my family because I'm different, but I'm grateful and proud of who I am and the sage wisdom I've gleaned from such marvelous wise women as Susun Weed, Marisa Herrera, and Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D.

I take heart in knowing that I'm learning to be self-sufficient and I'm relying on Mother Nature's wonderful medicine cabinet, whose majestic beautiful herbal gardens grow in beautiful bounty all over the world. I feel very deeply grateful to know that I'm developing a healthy strong relationship with a natural healing modality that has no dangerous side effects and contains no harmful synthetic ingredients that will harm me.

Photos Courtesy of jupiterimages

Non-Toxic Organic Insect Repellent

In order to enjoy the holiday and be comfortable, it's a good idea to use a non-toxic organic insect repellent so the pesky bugs don't bug you.  You can buy a good effective spray at your local organic  health food store or you can make your own.  Here is a good blend my husband and I make that is very helpful:

Soak 4 thick slices of fresh cut lemon in 4 C boiling hot water overnight.  The next day, once the lemon water has cooled, gently slowly pour into a spray bottle.  Add 3 drops organic citronella essential oil, 3 drops organic peppermint essential oil, 3 drops organic tea tree oil, (melaleuca) and 1 drop organic clove essential oil to the mixture and close the spray bottle tightly and shake well so the blend is thoroughly mixed.  Keep this mixture on hand to use when you need it.  Use caution, as some of the essential oils may cause skin sensitivity.  It's best to use the spray mixture to spray the bugs near you, instead of spraying directly to your skin.

Photos Courtesy of jupiterimages

Green Your Laundry and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

One of the most important steps you can take toward greening your life and reducing your carbon footprint on Mother Earth is using 100% organic environmentally friendly laundry detergent. With the wide array of detergent products available on the market, it's very easy to feel confused. Unfortunately, the 21st Century has complicated a very simple necessary task. The best way to ensure that your laundry is green, safe, and non-toxic and that your carbon footprint is small, is to buy your products from an organic health food store.

To save money and your health, you can also make your own detergent. My husband and I have been using the following non-toxic method for more than 15 years and we are very happy with the positive efficient results. Please remember that the overpowering fumes from the toxic products you use seep into the groundwater and pollute the outdoor air and the wildlife. We tend to forget that we share this beautiful blue green living planet with beautiful graceful creatures that grace our skies everyday, including sea gulls, eagles, turtledoves, hummingbirds, butterflies, and little finches. These beautiful creatures deserve the right to breathe clean healthy air as much as we do. The following is a recipe I use every week to do my non-toxic green laundry.

For A Large Load of Laundry, Mix:
1 C baking soda
1 C white distilled vinegar

Instructions:
Begin a hot water load of laundry. As hot water fills the washing machine, pour the baking soda. Make sure you empty the bowl of all the baking soda residue and then pour the vinegar. The reason for this is that when you pour the vinegar in the bowl while there's some baking soda residue, the 2 ingredients fizz when mixed together and you don't want the bowl to overflow before you pour the ingredients into the washing machine. This mixture is great because it's affordable, easy to use, non-toxic, earth-friendly and completely free of toxic petrochemicals and irritants. My husband and I use this efficient method every time we do laundry and we always have very positive results!

When you add the number of people doing toxic laundry every week in every city across North America, the numbers are staggering and the air pollution that's being caused from this is a horrible environmental nightmare. It's the 21st Century and it's high time to vote green with our wallets and contribute to those companies that genuinely care about the environment, the humans, and the animals.

Photos Courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net