ecolocal.com

Locavore by suttree

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:17:53 GMT

If anyone here has an iPhone (and lives in the US) then this looks like a very handy tool: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/03/20/review-locavore-for-the-iphone/ "Locavore [..] tells you what’s in season in your area, how much longer it’s in season for, what’s coming into season, and what’s grown in your state, pulling fruit and vegetable availability from the NRDC" If you an iPhone, or iTunes installed, here's a link for more informaiton!

Work bias within eco living families - research by ecosrights

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:09:44 GMT

I am a student at Glasgow University researching whether adopting an ecofriendly lifestyle creates more work, and if it does, whether males or females take more of the burden. That is, basically looking at who does what within greener homes as compared to non-green homes. It would be fantastic if you would help me with my dissertation on this topic, especially if you are interested in finding out whether a greener lifestyle means more or less gender equality. Please take a few minutes (no more than 10) to anonymously complete the survey below. I hope to gather enough feedback to post my findings on the site as well. Living an eco-lifestyle isn’t easy – washing nappies instead of throwing dirty ones away; spending time and energy searching for organic/ local/ in season produce; cooking from scratch instead of instant meals, walking or catching the bus instead of using the car, etc. So when a couple or family start taking on this lifestyle, who is it that spends that extra time and energy to make the household ‘greener?’ Are some people wearing the (now trendy) label of ‘ecowarriors’ without really putting the work in; or can they go more environmental in ways that don’t create extra drudgery? Perhaps some people in the household are more committed than others. Since the 1980s, second wave feminism and a huge increase in ‘working women’ studies () have looked at the sexual division of labour in the home. They have repeatedly found that women still do more than their male partners, despite women earning more and working as many hours as men. While research shows that the amount of time women spend on housework has reduced over the years, () are men increasing the proportion of chores they carry out; are some jobs just not being done; or have labour-saving but energy-hungry devices eased the burden? If an eco lifestyle does increase the amount of time it takes to complete many tasks (whether due to increased preparation, more work maintaining something, more time spent travelling without a car), is there an unequal gender division involved here? As well as completing the survey, any comments/ feedback/ ideas are very welcome. Thank you

Fossil Fuels and economic growth - From the Green Providers Directory by jane

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:37:44 GMT

The following has been provided to us by Dr Gary Robertshaw at the Green Providers Directory. It's a thought provoking piece about the link between economic growth and the use of fossil fuels. Have a read through and add your comments at the end... The debate surrounding the extent to which the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change misses a more fundamental point. That is, fossil fuels are an inherently finite resource. This resource is dwindling at an accelerating rate as economies such as those of China and India expand rapidly. Fossil fuels will run out. Maybe not in the next 10, 20 or 30 years but they will run out. As the scarcity of fossil fuels grows there will be increasing conflict between nations to secure their supplies in an effort to maintain their carbon-dependent economies. At the same time, there is an inexorably growing human population, destruction of rainforests, depletion of natural resources and plummeting biodiversity. Clearly, this situation cannot be sustained in the longer-term.
Yet our capitalist system is based on the principle of economic growth - growth that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and unsustainable practices. Just look at recent events; governments are terrified by anything that threatens economic growth – pouring billions of public money into failing financial systems. In addition, many economists see growth not only as desirable but as essential. They claim it lifts the poor out of poverty, feeding the world’s growing population, supporting the costs of rising public spending and stimulating investment and technological development.
The dilemma is how can we square Earth’s finite resources with the fact that as the economy grows, the amount of natural resources needed to sustain that activity must grow too. I am clear in my conviction that economic growth in its current form is unsustainable. We need a new paradigm that limits (or reduces) the global population, a meaningful shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles. This will require courageous, co-ordinated and global government policies that ensure we don’t use up resources faster than the world can replace them.
Many will dismiss this as a utopian ideology. But isn’t it a utopian ideology to carry on blithely down a path that will ultimately lead to catastrophe? Yes, it will require a new world-view and radical changes but I think we have several grounds for optimism. Firstly, sustainable economies are more stable – whilst growth may be lower than in traditional economies it will be more durable in the longer-term and less volatile. Secondly, the shift towards a sustainable economy would create new opportunities, jobs and greater stability. Thirdly, the potential for conflict between nations is reduced as our dependency on fossil fuels reduces over time. Finally, there is a growing recognition (albeit begrudgingly) amongst governments that the current situation is unsustainable and the mood seems to be shifting from one of cynicism and self-interest to one of genuine commitment to tackling the problem. The prospect of a truly sustainable global economy, fuelled by renewable energy sources coupled with a stabilised human population and harmonised with biodiversity is an ambitious yet achievable goal. But it’s a goal that requires a re-appraisal of the current meaning of economic growth.

Fairtrade Fortnight by Piccalilly

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:48:05 GMT

As Fairtrade campaigners we are delighted to be involved in the FAIRTRADE Foundation's BIGGEST launch ever on the Sunday 22nd February on London's Southbank! And we feel getting involved is really important to demonstrate our passion for Fairtrade and how we are actively committed to making a difference. We'd love you to come along and offer your support too but also wanted to know what others are doing to promote Fairtrade Fortnight?

Eco New Year's Resolutions by ecosrights

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:44:02 GMT

How many of you have set a New Year's resolution for 2009? I bet that a lot of them are about improving your health, finding a new job, getting finances straight, etc. Most resolutions are about doing something for yourself, to improve you. How many of them are about doing something that helps the environment or ethical and healthy living in general? Think about your own resolutions: Get more exercise Well it's clear in this instance that this fits in with the thinking around ecolocal. The key though is how you are going to get more exercise - are you going to go running, walking, gardening etc, or are you going to drive to the gym to work out on electronic pieces of equipment, just to drive home again? Hmm.... Clearly one option is not only greener but cheaper - select a gym that is near enough to home to walk or run, then if you really want to go to classes or to use equipment they have that you can't have at home, use the journey there and back to warm up and cool down. Loose weight There are so many different ways of doing this, and in many instances they are simply quick fixes. I'm a great believer in sensible eating being the way forwards here - increase your fruit and veg intake (including pulses) and decrease the dairy and fat. By doing this you're not increasing the chemicals in your body (unnatural supplements and meal replacements etc) and you can eat food as near to its natural form as possible. Try to buy local and, if possible, organic as well. Even better, shop on foot - the extra exercise will do a world of good and supplement the dieting. Stop smoking Well, I'm not going to say anything about this except - passive smoking and conditions of the people growing the tobacco / ethics of the companies. Stopping smoking has to be a positive thing for everyone!

Homemade Christmas Presents by ecosrights

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:26:57 GMT

For the past couple of Christmases I have tried to make sure that the presents I gave were as eco friendly as possible - some were organic and fairtrade, others were to help people save energy or do something greener etc. I had lots of criteria that i tried to meet, and put lots of it onto ecolocal. This year I thought it was worth trying to gather ideas for homemade Christmas presents... So if you have any ideas, please add them on (I'm sure that you can think of some Blue Peter presents from over the years! I know that's where my ideas often came from as a child). Scented cushions A nice one that can be as "eco" as you like. Use some nice fabric (may be organic cotton, or fun Christmas fabric if it's coming from kids); Cut it into squares (So you've got 2 of the same size. I think I made them about 14cm wide) Place rightside to rightside and sew around 3.5 sides (if the fabric frays a lot it's worth zigzagging the edges first) Then turn it the right way and fill it with a combination of dried lavender and cotton wool (or something else to bulk them out a bit) and sew up the gap. Then have fun with sequins, glitter glue (yes, I'm a great advocate of this stuff even if it isn't green as kids love it), beads, fabric pens, felt shapes... the options are endless so each one can be very different. Homemade sweets Make a selection of homemade sweets (see the How to make Christmas Greener article) and put them into a nice glass jar, then decorate the lid and the jar. Not only does the receiver get some great chocolates, but a nice jar to keep using after the festivities. Personalised t-shirts This one's pretty straight forward and you can get as carried away as you like. Buy plain t-shirts (ideally fairtrade and organic cotton) and then use fabric pens to decorate them. If you're worried that these wouldn't be used, why not use night-shirts? Personalised night wear is always a nice gift. That's just a start... I'll do more soon

Rubbish - what to do with it all! by ecosrights

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:38:34 GMT

I've recently been following the trials and tribulations of the Green family in their attempt to achieve a zero waste target in September this year. They've been working at it for just over a month now, and I have to say they're doing really well. It's got me thinking about a few things in terms of what we do with our rubbish and the rubbish we generate. Rather than join them on their crusade (I don't think I'd have full enough commitment from the rest of the household) I thought I'd create this discussion to see wh at you think and make a few points of my own. Of course that's not to say that I've not reduced our waste, it's just I don't think I could go all of the way to 0! What do you recycle now? We're pretty lucky in that we have a fairly comprehensive council operated scheme. We have one bin for: Plastic bottles Plastic bags Paper Cardboard Foil Cans And a box for glass bottles. We also have a well used compost bin. What would you like to recycle? There are two main things for me... more plastic and Tetrapaks. For Tetrapaks, check out their recycling site for local facilities. Some people are lucky enough to get their cartons recycled via the council kerb side collection - in our area there is nothing. I've contacted both the council and Tetrapak recycling and there are no current plans to improve this (I feel letters to local supermarkets are going to be necessary here!) For plastics, I've come across a number of sites that explain the codes, e.g. here (rather wordy, but informative) or here (looks nicer....). But what about.... A comment from my son the other day got me thinking... We were out and he'd just had a bottle of juice. Instead of going and putting it in the bin, he gave it to me to "carry home". Well this annoyed me initially as there was a bin so near by, but then he said "so that it can go in the recycling bin" Ahah..... The got me thinking. How often do we bin things when were are out that could be recycled elsewhere? I know that no-one really wants to be taking loads of rubbish home with them when they go out, but surely it's worth it if you can recycle it. Consequently I've noticed that a number of plastic cartons are the same code as plastic bottles.... in theory that means I should be able to put these in the recycling bin as well. I've emailed the council and will see if they send a list of what is OK and what isn't. It's going to have me peering at items in shops even more now! (I already check for chemicals, various things we avoid due to my son's allergies, organic, source.... and generally how much packaging there is as I'm sure not all of it is really necessary).

Flock, The Eco Web Browser by suttree

Thu, 29 May 2008 05:29:15 GMT

Flock is a modified, improved version of the excellent web browser Firefox. This version should be of great interest to everyone here at ecolocal, since it comes preloaded with lots of great green news. So what are you waiting for? Download it now :D

Composting by ecosrights

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:05:58 GMT

Composting is one of the first things that people think of when they think of green living, and many councils now encourage it by having compost bin collections or by providing significant discounts on garden composting bins. It's such an easy, logical thing to do that i think that anyone with a garden should compost and that all new build properties should have a compost bin (along with a water butt). Even flats can compost ... just have a small bin in the kitchen and empty it when you empty the main bin. The issues that I have had with composting over the years are: 1 - I have a lawn that has a lot of bindweed growing in it (oh how I love the overgrown gardens surrounding us!) so have to remove as much of that as I can before cutting the grass otherwise it'll start to grow in the compost bin! (Not what you want in the vegetable patch). 2 - You can't compost all kitchen food waste, only from raw fruit and veg plus tea bags and crushed egg shells. I know that you should really aim not to have any waste from meals ("reduce" being the first of the 3 Rs) but with children around there often is... this goes in the bin! 3 - I'm needing 2 bins... in order to "air" the compost at the bottom of the bin, I end up mixing the fresh stuff into the "composted" waste, which means i have to leave it longer before it can be used. I'm tempted to have two bins at different stages in the process. I'm open to advice here though. 4 - the bin in the kitchen got very smelly very quickly and in the summer attracted lots of fruit flies, so I've ended up using paper bags (these can be ripped up and put into the bin too). 5 - trying to persuade everyone else to use the compost bag in the kitchen. Just today I've come across a great new type of bin that means you can compost all food waste. The Kitchen Composter sounds like a great idea to me as it means you don't have to resort to a wormery to get rid of dairy and cooked waste. But, it's rather large! What's your success rate / issues? Any advice? Is it of any concern to you - are you one of the lucky ones whose council collects all of the compostable items (having said that, I'd still want a bin so that I can use the compost on my own garden). Actually, there's a point, what happens to all of the compost that the councils develop?

Christmas Decorations to make with kids by ecosrights

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:09:26 GMT

One of the great things about Christmas is that kids of all ages can get away with getting covered in glue, glitter, paint etc.... GREAT fun. We're all able to do it to make cards, decorations, decorate paper and make sweets. I thought I'd try to list some ideas of some easy and effective decorations to make..... Snowflakes Take a white sheet of paper, fold it in half, turn 90 degrees and in half again. Then fold it diagonally so that you have a triangle. Cut shapes out of the folded edges and then open it up. This is where the fun begins.... Take the glue, the paint and the glitter and just have fun decorating it. You can always put it onto a disc of silver or gold card if you want to and then it's easier to hang it up on the tree. Chains of snowmen, angels or Christmas trees Again, take plain paper (but this time it can be coloured) that is probably about 12 cm high (makes it a reasonable size) and fold it into concertinas..... Then fold it all in half and draw half of the tree etc on the paper ensuring that the image goes right to the edge as this is how it will all join together. Unfold the concertina and have fun decorating - see how many different things you can use for buttons on the snowmen or tinsel on the trees. Just have fun. (Kids can be really creative here) Glitter shapes I came across this on in an Usbourne book the other day.... Take some slices of bread Cut them into shapes with standard paper cutters Put a hole in the top (potentially with a skewer) of each shape Leave them to dry over night (it may take a bit longer if the bread is fresh. make sure they are left in an open space so that they can dry out) Using poster paint, paint the edges Then mix a bit of glue with the paint and paint one face, cover it in glitter (or whatever you want to use)... let it dry then do the other side. Then all you need to do is thread some ribbon or string through the hole to hang it on the tree. These are just a starter... have fun

Ways Hotels Can Be Eco-Friendly by sepvico

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:32:24 GMT

As we learn more about the threats to our environment, more people are embracing a 'Green' lifestyle. Businesses are now realizing that they also need to make changes in order to adopt a more environmentally friendly operation. One business area that is beginning to recognize the need to be more 'green' is the airport hotel industry. Many hotels are responding to consumer demands for a healthier and greener lifestyle by making their businesses more environmentally friendly. Ways that hotels can make their business eco-friendly include: 1) Implement a towel and linens reuse program. Recycle stained tablecloths into napkins, and aprons. You can also make cloth laundry bags from old sheets. 2) Adopt a nonsmoking policy for the entire hotel. 3) Provide guestroom recycle baskets and bins for newspaper, white paper, glass products, aluminum cans, cardboard, and plastics. Provide recycling bins in public areas. 4) Use fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs. Install devices that power down heating and cooling systems when guests leave the room. 5) Adopt the use of nontoxic cleaners by housekeepers. Adopt other cleaning practices such as cleaning the windows with vinegar instead of chemicals. Dispense shampoo and soap from large containers instead of disposable plastic bottles. 6) Offer guests walking maps and information on public transportation. 7) Provide bicycles to guests for sight seeing excursions 8) Use electric or battery operated lawnmowers. Use a mulcher to chop up the garden clippings to make your own mulch. Ban the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer. Use only organic products on the lawn and garden. Use 'Gray' water from the showers and sinks for ponds and landscaping. Compost food waste and use it as fertilizer. 9) Create an organically-grown vegetable garden for the restaurant. 10) If the hotel has a pool and/or hot tub, install a solar water heating system and use pool and hot tub covers when the pool area is closed 11) Use recycled paper and pens with soy ink. Use recycled paper products that are either unbleached or bleached using a chlorine free process. (brochures, menus, comment cards, stationary products) 12) Stock mini-bars with organic or natural snacks and beverages. 13) Install low flow toilets and shower heads. 14) Replace old washing machines with both water and energy conserving models. 15) Use daylight as a light source as much as possible. Use solar energy as a lighting and energy source. Install dimmers on light switches to save energy. 16) Sponsor environmental education programs for guests and the surrounding community. 17) Preserve the property in as much of a natural state as possible. Plant trees and flowers. 18) Earn hotel 'Green' Credentials. Have the hotel certified as 'green' by an organisation such as an independent, national, and state organization that certifies eco-hotels. An example is the Washington-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an architectural and building organization. In Canada, Toronto hotels offering business class executive suites, meeting facilities and using eco-friendly features. 19) Use furniture made from responsibly harvested 'new growth' wood such as bamboo. 20) Use low emission paints and other material 21) Stock the rooms with toilet paper and facial tissue made from recycled products. 22) Buy products and services from eco-friendly vendors. Being green means Green hotels are adopting environmentally friendly practices and programs that will reduce energy, water, and waste. Hotels use a tremendous amount of energy and water as well as collect a huge amount of waste. By doing their part to conserve, recycle, and reduce, they are protecting the planet as well as providing a great place for eco-friendly guests to stay.

Robotic Duct Cleaning is Helping the Environment by sepvico

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:28:40 GMT

Throughout history, there have been many unique and useful cleaning inventions. From sweeping to vacuuming, and now high tech gadgets, technology is always improving how we clean our homes and offices. Because of the increased health risks associated with poor quality indoor air, there has been a need for further technological duct cleaning advancements. For instance, if you are constantly coughing and sneezing in your home or work, the chances are likely that you have poor indoor air. One cause of indoor air pollution is dirty ducts. Air ducts are found in almost every building and many homes. There are now numerous duct cleaning services available. In recent years, there have been many technological advancement in cleaning devices. In the 80's, duct cleaners started using robotic cameras to go inside ducts and videotape dirty ducts to show their clients why the ducts needed to be cleaned. In recent years, robotic systems have been developed not only to videotape the inside of ducts, but also to actually clean them. Many duct cleaning companies are now using these little robots in their business. There are a number of advantages to using robotic duct cleaners. They can get into every crack and corner to effectively remove all of the dirt and debris particles. It is less labour intensive because service technicians do not have to be constantly shifting and maneuvering equipment to reach every space. As well, less time cleaning means much less expense for the customer. The robotic units clean using fast rotating contact brushes that have the ability to brush any duct structure or size while vacuuming the debris. Motorized brushes are attached to the robot and clean the ducts as it makes it way through the system. An attached camera or cameras allow the operator to view the cleaning process. Every side of the air ducts are cleaned. It normally takes one cleaning session to completely clean the entire system. The advantages of robotic duct cleaning include: - The use of robotic duct cleaning devices allows technicians to inspect the ducts before, during, and after the cleaning process. They are mounted with bright lighting so every corner and crevice gets a thorough inspection. As well, current duct conditions are recorded so technicians can implement an effective cleaning plan to eliminate all debris and microorganisms such as bacteria. They ensure that air pollutants are effectively removed the growth environment in the duct system. - Greater contact, access, and maneuverability make the cleaning more thorough while providing proof that the ducts were effectively cleaned. Customers will marvel at the before and after cleaning images. - Labour costs and time are reduced thereby reducing a customer's cleaning bill. Companies will have more time so they can book more cleaning jobs. - Robotic cleaning is a higher quality than traditional manual cleaning. - Material that may be a health risk can be safely removed from the ducts. This can include bacteria and viruses. Once considered science fiction, the use of robotics is now impacting our daily lives. These advanced technological devices are helping to make our indoor air much cleaner thereby helping to improve our overall health and well being.

How Important is it for the City to Recycle Items? by sepvico

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:42:12 GMT

Almost everyone understands the importance of recycling our byproducts, but in this age of consumption it is more important then ever that cities and municipalities encourage this and provide more easily accessible resources for recycling in order to keep local communities from drowning in a sea of trash. Most households use and discard an incredible amount of products that could be easily recycled every week. Nearly every byproduct we use has the potential to be recycled to some extent or another. The list is long and includes plastic beverage containers, newspaper, cardboard containers, aluminum soda cans, egg cartons, old phone books, etc., etc. While each household is responsible for recycling its own consumer products, the city should also be responsible for providing a safe and easy way for those individual households to drop off their recyclable items. Many towns and cities have local drop off locations where the residents can dispose of their recyclable trash for free. Not every city makes these resources available, however, and few advertise their existence and location to the public. Sometimes the information is made accessible in the community pages of the local phone book. Some cities even rely on the local trash disposal company to provide special recycle bins to their customers, but they tend to charge an extra fee for each extra bin. The city government must take the initiative to promote recycling within their community and to make the receptacles more readily accessible. Recycling is a necessary and beneficial resource for any community. By making recycling drop off points easily accessible and well known to their own residents, the city stands to enhance the productivity and standing of their community while even making a little extra money for the city coffers. Many recyclable items, such as aluminum cans and glass bottles, generate a small return from the recycling company and when submitted in bulk the result can be a tidy sum that could be used to benefit the community in many ways. Planting trees, providing funds for the local little league team or purchasing textbooks for schoolchildren could all be free money well spent. The initial cost of setting up a county recycling location can be minimal in comparison to the return on such an investment, and it doesn't have to be fancy, just functional. Once the drop off location is established, the city must make its presence well known to the residents in order to make full use of its potential. The city employees and administration itself should lead the way by recycling all of their suitable trash and placing recycle bins in all city buildings. In addition, the city could start a campaign to reduce and reuse, which has become popular in many rural areas. With so many disposable items being used and discarded every day all across the world, it is mandatory that cities get more involved in the trash habits of its townsfolk. To the city that commits to leading the way for more community wide recycling, the benefits can outweigh the landfill.

Kundalini Yoga Private Sessions in Brighton and Hove by Morgan

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:11:51 GMT

Stretch your body and awaken your soul! Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan is a powerful practice combining dynamic movement, breathwork, mantra and meditation. It purifies, strengthens, and awakens awareness, allowing you to access your full potential as a human being. One-to-one sessions allow you to explore the practice at your own pace with individualised attention and guidance, helping you to tailor a practice for home use. The location of sessions is negotiable within Brighton and Hove, and includes outdoor locations in summer. I am a fully qualified and insured Kundalini Yoga Instructor and have been practicing yoga for 8 years. I have a background and training in psychology,counselling and holistic therapies. Sessions are £30-00 per hour and I offer an introductory session for £20-00. Contact me, Khalsa Kaur (Morgan) on 0773-7299722 or on khalsakaur@yahoo.co.uk

Dartford Summer Festival 2009 by ecosrights

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:20:13 GMT

The dates have been announced for the festival, but as yet the line-up is not available. I'll keep an eye out and update the site accordingly.

Why Use Organic Skin Care For Babies? by wiwita

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:55:21 GMT

When you bring home your new bundle of joy, you bring home a huge responsibility. That little one is relying on you to care for her in every way. Before you rub that baby lotion on her soft, delicate skin, you need to learn a little bit about organic skin care. Why Organic Skin Care for Babies Is Important Babies have very soft, sensitive skin. Not only that, but a baby's skin is five times as thin as an adult's skin. This means the products you put on your baby's skin are absorbed into her body, and often quite quickly. If you read your bottle of baby lotion, do you know what most of the ingredients are? Unless you have an organic or all-natural product, you probably don't. Most common baby products are full of synthetic chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and triethanolamine. If you cannot pronounce an ingredient, do you really want it to go into your baby's body? To date there has not been enough research into the long-term effects of exposing babies to these products. We do know that some petroleum-based products contain waxes that coat the skin. This inhibits the skin's natural ability to exchange moisture, which can lead to irritation and discomfort. It is possible that the other synthetic products that are being constantly absorbed into the tiny bodies of most babies are leading to serious diseases in the child's future. The good news is that there are alternatives to the traditional baby care products. Organic baby care products can be found that do not contain these potentially dangerous chemicals. By turning to nature to care for your baby, you will protect her from potential health hazards that have not yet been discovered. Tips for Organic Skin Care If you are committed to caring for your baby's skin organically, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Your goal in the first six months of your baby's life should be to use as few skin are products as possible. This is not always easy to abide by, because newborns seem to get a lot of rashes. Resist the urge to run to the drug store and buy some baby cream the first time you notice a rash on your baby's skin. Chances are it is harmless and is not causing your baby any discomfort. If you do need to use products to help your baby with a rash or other skin problem, choose single-ingredient organic products first. For instance, you can use pure shea butter to moisturize baby's skin. This will allow you to watch for allergies. Since these are single-ingredient products, you will know what caused the allergy. You may feel that you need to bathe your baby every day. This is actually bad for your baby's skin. A bath two or three times a week is sufficient, and too much bathing could cause your baby's skin to dry out. Keep your baby away from the sun. Use hats and protective clothing when you are outdoors. Remember, there is no safe sunscreen to use on an infant, so you must keep your baby covered. After your baby has reached the six-month milestone, add other organic skin care products to his hygiene regimen. Read all labels to make sure that the product is truly natural and organic. Watch your baby closely for signs of an allergy whenever you try something new. Even with organic skin care products, there could be some ingredient that your baby has a sensitivity to. Once you establish a good skin care routine for your baby, stick to it. Do not let other people or caregivers use products on your baby that you are uncomfortable with. Remember, it is your responsibility to protect your little one, so start from day one with organic skin care for babies.

Pregnancy Yoga by Yogafaerie

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:52:14 GMT

Women are beautifully designed to carry and birth their babies. If we listen to our bodies and the growing life within, we can remain healthy and active throughout pregnancy. In pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is released so that the pelvis can open to ease the passage of our babies into the world. Yoga can enhance this opening. By focusing on breathing into relaxed stretches and on strengthening the body, we avoid overstretching that might weaken the pelvis and develop strong yet relaxed muscles that work and stretch to support and ease a baby’s birth. Toned muscles that do not know how to relax will not enable a gentle birth experience. Gentle exercise, stretching and becoming connected to your own breath & your intuition are excellent preparation for the journey into motherhood, whether this is your first baby or your fifth. Contact me if you would like to attend classes, or arrange 1:1 or small group tuition in your home, in Southsea & Portsmouth.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Lead To Happiness by saurabh2222

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Everyone's prime requirement is to be happy and free of tension. A healthy body goes hand in hand with a healthy mind, because if the body is sickly and weak and mind is not peaceful, one cannot lead a happy life. When the health of the body, peace of mind and joy of heart meet together, there is happiness.

The Gateway Primary School Summer Fair by ecosrights

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:20:10 GMT

There will be lots to do including: a visit from Petwise Zoo with lots of small animals including rabbits, snakes, lizards.... lots of traditional stalls a barbeque Come along and support the schools PFA that have invested a lot in the school over recent years to improve the facilities for the children and staff alike. The fair runs from 12:00-16:00pm

The Little Green Gift Shop by littlegreenjosie

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:59:35 GMT

We are currently touring Moray and The Highlands this summer and taking The Little Green Gift Shop to many events. Visit our website to find when and where you can find us, or to find a beautiful eco-friendly gift for someone (or yourself!).