Sometime last week as I was splashing around in the pool, I noticed that several bees had become stranded on the water’s surface. As I came across them I would gingerly remove them to the pool deck to dry and fly away. My father-in-law was visiting, and was also in the pool. I saw that he had spotted a bee and pursued it with somewhat less empathy. I shouted across the pool, “Don’t kill that bee!”

As I climbed up on my soapbox, I proceeded to impart all my knowledge of the importance of honeybees (and all pollinators) to the continuation of human life on earth. By the time I was finished, you would have thought that we all owed our very existence to this one, unassuming little insect. And that may well be true.

But the conversation had a much more philosophical impact as well. It highlighted the delicate balance of nature and the true insignificance of man. We may think we have the ability to control our environment, but this chapter of life on earth is but a fleeting moment in the history of existence. Everything we do – every decision we make – impacts the length of this chapter.

If we all chose just one thing that we would passionately preach and practice, we could stretch out the chapter of humanity just a wee bit farther. There’s so much from which to choose: GMOs, plastic bags, fossil fuels, pesticides, nuclear power …  What’s the foundation for your soapbox? Please share your passion in the comments.

More from Cherri:

10 Tips for Earth-Friendly Travel

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It has been confirmed by new studies that the Mass Die Off of hundred of thousands of Bees this spring being reported by farmers and Bee Keepers in states across American is due to pesticides. (See more as ABC News Reports)

I find it quite strange now after reading the new studies that have come out recently that prove pesticides as being the culprit for the mass die off of our bees. Purdue University has stated that “Analyses of bees found dead in and around hives from several apiaries over two years in Indiana showed the presence of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are commonly used to coat corn and soybean seeds before planting. The research showed that those insecticides were present at high concentrations in waste talc that is exhausted from farm machinery during planting. “

You only need to be a gardener, much like myself to notice the the detrimental loss of bees of all sorts. Not only do I see no honeybees, I’ve seen but a scant couple of Bumble Bees this year. While I have been very happy to see many wild bees come to pollinate my trees, I have none of the usual visitors. I don’t have to be a scientist to know that there is a very serious problem.

As I look back this season very early on in February as my Borage began blooming I had taken photos of lovely bees all about feasting upon the herbs nectar. But again I’ve come to realize that this was before all the thousand of acres of corn and cotton was planted here in Texas that commonly use neonicotinoid insecticides.

Pollinator Garden, end of May 2012

I’ve read recently that many farmers have now begun to depend greatly on the Wild Bees to pollinate their crops. I am concerned for them now as well because of the chemicals the farmers are using.

As you can see I have a whole lot of different Wildflowers and Native plants throughout my Pollinator Garden. I have hoards of butterflies and moths with only a few Wild Bees. I can only see my garden as a sanctuary for what bees there may be to recover and perhaps nourish them back to health.

As a few areas across our country may see more bees than others, it is said that is because those areas may not be as close to agricultural areas where the insecticides are prevalent. I actually see more bees in urban and city limits than what we have in our rural areas. As you come to realize the emergency set forth by massive bee deaths you may feel more inclined to get on board with efforts steered towards protecting them.

Many people have rushed in now across the country, learning how to raise their own bee hives. If this might be something you are interested in, you can begin gathering information through your local county extension office. Some Master Gardening Groups also offer a member to set the hives up and maintain them for you on your property while you learn.

For many other people raising bees may not be an option, but gardening to nourish them back to health might be possible. Making it easy to begin a Pollinator Garden with a no-till method will get you off to a quick start.

Steps For Making An Easy No-Till Pollinator Garden

1. Purchase wildflower and native seeds that are specific for your zone. Flowering herbs and plants are perfect as well. Make sure they are all grown organically.

2. Select an area in your yard that will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Begin by laying out paper such as old grocery store bags or newspaper or even most feed sacks will work well. Wet it all down. This will begin the process of smothering out the existing grass or weeds. A black tarp or weed barrier will work for this part as well, but you will need to roll it up after several weeks out in the hot sun. It is still best to go ahead and lay out the wet paper as it is biodegradable.

3. Cover the paper with heavy composted material. Leaves, grass clippings, pine needles and a compost pile go a long way. Lay the organic material  thick. A foot is ideal for this.Water it all in really well.

4. Go ahead and plant your plants. Mulch very thickly. Scatter your wildflower seeds at the proper time for sowing in your garden zone.

5. Get creative with your designs. Make pathways between your new wildflower beds. Add water features and trellises. For more beauty, plan on planting each variety in massive groups. Keep the larger ones towards the back areas. Include small native trees and shrubs. Fruit and nut trees work very well. Don’t forget to include some common plants like sunflowers, old fashion marigolds and zinnias.

Note: All pesticides, herbicides and insecticides are reaping havoc on our important pollinators. Even organic pesticides can have alarming effects on the environment. The vast majority of Agricultural farms use pesticides. Some claim they are from a natural source and less toxic. Some may state that they are within the EPA guidelines and plant rows of wildflowers within their farms, but the chemicals they spray are still toxic to the bees. We must take a serious look at our behaviors and practices in agriculture. We should not invite pollinators into our fields to then cause them harm.

Related posts:

1. Sunflowers: Good For You and Great For Bees!
2. Creating Your Herbal Sanctuary
3. Cheap And Easy Organic Raised Beds for New Gardeners

While the Koran says children should be breastfed until age two and historical evidence affirms that ancient Jewish women were expected to breastfeed until age three, somewhere in history, Americans have decided that breastfeeding a toddler is gross.   There is a complete disconnect that Jesus was breastfed longer than my two year old has been.

Because it’s considered taboo, I normally don’t breastfeed my toddler in public.  When the Time Magazine recently published an issue with a three year old nursing on the cover, I braced myself.  The backlash was horrendous.  Everyone from the ladies of The View to the average Jane blogger had something negative to say.  I felt like I should run and hide in my home.  Trying to explain why I practice “extended” nursing to others during that tumultuous time period felt like fighting a loosing battle.

I didn’t care for the Time cover either but for different reasons than the ladies of The View.  I felt like it made extended nursing look unnatural because a toddler standing on a chair to nurse is really uncommon.  My toddler usually cuddles on my lap.

Fortunately many other brave bloggers spoke up.  Many of them agreed that the Time cover made us look bad and that it was giving “extended” nursing a bad reputation.  I watched as one by one they spoke about the things I’ve always spoke.  Some said they nursed for bonding, for pain management, and/or for nutrition when at times their toddlers couldn’t hold any food down.  Why didn’t Time interview any of us or take pictures of us breastfeeding in a natural environment?  I think the most simple explanation is that controversy sells magazines.  Printed magazines aren’t making as much money as they did before.

After the hoopla died down, I have once again decided to nurse my toddler in public.  Because in order to make “extended” nursing seem normal, people need to see what it looks like in real life– not how Time portrayed it.  Even though I didn’t like the magazine for what it did, it has some positive effects.  People are becoming aware of “extended” nursing, and I have readied myself to tackle and ultimately crush a cultural norm– one nursing toddler at a time.

Related posts:

1. What’s The Issue With Comfort Nursing?
2. The Benefits of Tandem Nursing
3. Nursing in Public: Is There a Line to be Drawn?

What is Altitude Sickness?

As a body finds itself at higher altitudes, it will feel the effects of air pressure and a decrease of oxygen in the air. It is more than a matter of needing to take deeper breaths. For anyone unaccustomed to the conditions, it can be hazardous to one’s health.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes the symptoms of altitude sickness as follows:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid pulse (heart rate)
• Shortness of breath with exertion

Most cases are mild in nature and can easily be treated at home. Severe cases need immediate medical attention. Treatments and prevention include oxygen and medication.

Water is one of the resources you can look to as part of your anti-altitude sickness regimen.

Importance of Water

Our bodies are largely made up of water. In fact, 90% of the body is water. No wonder a creature in the first Star Trek shows called humans “bags of mostly water.” Every cell in the body needs fluid. Water is essential for our existence and our daily health. Daily intake of water is crucial. Dehydration happens quickly of you are not drinking enough water. This prevents the cells from repairing as they are designed to do. Your body cannot function without the needed water.

As you move about in higher altitudes, you will find yourself breathing heavier and using up more of the water in your body. This is especially true when you are hiking in those regions. Water is always important for hikers. Hiking in high altitudes calls for even more water.

As a body dehydrates, it causes fatigue. You experience headaches and nausea. You can also experience trouble breathing. Notice how these symptoms are similar to altitude sickness? The loss of too much water in your body can lead to altitude sickness. Constant intake of water can help prevent you getting the condition. It is the solution, but a part of the solution package.

Water is important to everyone. Too often it is not taken in enough each day. To continue that habit when visiting high altitudes is to invite altitude sickness. Keep plenty of water with you and stay hydrated.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001190/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001190/

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-altitude-sickness.html

http://www.highaltitudelife.com/dehydration.htm

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1. Natural Morning Sickness Remedies
2. Why Water Birth?
3. Why Are We Choosing Bottled Water Over Tap?

Don’t be discouraged

Sometimes, this phase is called “false labor”, which can be a discouragement to you if you are experiencing prodromal labor. Prodromal labor can feel very much like early labor. In fact, it may be hard for a you to determine exactly when you went from the prodromal phase of labor to the early phase.

Prodromal labor can sometimes last for several days. During that time, you’ll be worried about whether or not you’ll ever go into “real” labor. Your body is going through slow changes as it gets ready for labor and the birth of your baby. Some of these changes are barely noticeable, but rest assured that your body is doing real work.

If you are becoming discouraged, your doctor or midwife may be able give you clues as to how your body is making changes; You or your husband are also be able to check your cervix for dilation or effacement.

Read more about how to check your own cervix here. Confirmation of these changes will encourage you when you are experiencing a long prodromal labor.

The benefits of prodromal labor

The wonderful thing about a long prodromal labor is that it can shorten the active phase of labor. This is because your body has already done a considerable amount of work to dilate and efface your cervix, as well as move your baby down.

Midwives agree that they should take their on-call status seriously if you have been in prodromal labor. Your labor may go quickly, and you may not realize until well into labor that your baby will be here sooner than you thought.

How to cope

If you are experiencing this phase of labor, it’s important that you listen to your body and follow it’s lead, just as you should in active labor. Your body is doing an incredible amount of work internally. If you are feeling tired, you should rest as much as possible. If you feel like busying your hands, feel free to do some light activities.

If you are feeling the urge to nest, make sure you don’t wear yourself out too much. Labor could approach at any moment, and you want to reserve your energy for that. If there is something that you feel you must organize, move, or lift, ask for help.

Keep yourself occupied by watching movies, doing puzzles, chatting with friends on the telephone, or journaling your experience.

Mental exhaustion and uncertaintly is completely normal. Take mental breaks often; Try relaxation techniques, relaxing baths, herbal teas, and calming music. Talk to other women who have gone through prodromal labor and can assure you that everything is going as it should and that your baby will be here soon.

Related posts:

1. Evening Primrose Oil for Inducing Labor
2. Hypnosis for Childbirth
3. Physiological Childbirth

A new study asked people all over the world to rate how healthy their food intake was over the course of the day.  The results indicate a pattern of healthy eating in the morning, followed by fewer and fewer healthy choices as the day progresses.   For many people, all over the planet, it becomes harder to continue eating right once the sun goes down.  You can view an interactive map of this data here.

Of course, this is far from scientific.  The data was gathered by an iPhone app called The Eatery, which allows users to take a photo of their food and self-rate how healthy it is.    So this is really a study about the food habits of iPhone users, which is quite a small subset of the worldwide population.  There’s also a lot of variability to be expected in how people self-rate their meals.  Not everyone agrees on the meaning of the word “healthy” even here in America, and indeed, food culture across the globe varies dramatically.

Still, there is insight to be gained.  Why do the eating habits of the participants in this project seem to worsen as the day goes on?  There is some suggestion that willpower wears thin as people face more and more tough choices through the day.  They are awake, alert, and motivated in the morning but by evening their willpower shows the effects of a stressful day.   Perhaps the decrease in healthy intake is due to people fulfilling their commitments and obligations during the day, and having more free time in the later hours with which to indulge their cravings.   Or could some facet of our innate psychology direct us to eat more at certain times of day?  Maybe our ancestors passed down this trait over many generations because it was so useful to their own survival.

Regardless of the relatively small subset of the population examined, or the reasons behind the phenomenon, clearly there is a trend at work.  How can we fight the temptation to eat poorly late in the day?  For some people, it may help to do meal planning ahead of time so there are fewer choices to be made at mealtimes.  For others, adjusting their schedules to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier may help with late-night snacking.  Maybe practicing  stress-reduction techniques could help to keep people from seeking their “fix” of junk food.

Most important though, is learning about nutrition so you can tell what is healthy and what isn’t.   None of these other strategies can replace nutrition education.  Above all, we’re responsible for our own health, and even if that package of cookies is calling our name or Ronald McDonald says it’s ok, we should try to remember that junk food is unhealthy all day long!

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Of course, TIME is hardly the first to bring attachment parenting into mainstream light and not necessarily in a good light. In all fairness, the articles included in the TIME package on May 21, 2012, were probably the most fair, least biased of any mainstream coverage on the parenting style that I’ve seen. But it still perpetuated a lot of myths: One that particularly irks me is the claim that there is no research to back up attachment parenting, when in fact it is very well researched and one of the branches of research where there are very certain results, with studies all pointing in the same direction rather than some studies contradicting one another.

One of the myths that is particularly virulent – but then again, always has been – is that attachment parenting equals mommy martyrdom, that it asks too much of parents. I find this a little humorous, because what does that say about you if you think that there is a parenting style that asks too much of you? As if your child isn’t worth it. Are there parents who think that way? I hope not.

What the argument is really, is revealing an overall lack of a sense of individual balance in our Western society. Asking us to do a little more for the betterment of our children, whom we love, wouldn’t be such a big deal if the majority of parents didn’t already feel tired and overworked and severely lacking some “me” time. If our emotional cups were already full most of the time. But they’re not. As a society, we seem to be constantly seeking contentment, chasing happiness.

There are plenty of theories abound of why this is, but I see it as our society asking too much of us. Mothers are supposed to work and raise children, and really, there are not many mothers who have a choice between working and staying at home. I feel fortunate that I am able to work from home, but the truth of the matter is, if I couldn’t work from home, either I would have to work outside the home and put my children in daycare or my husband would have to get another job. We just plain could not make it on one income, and we don’t use credit cards and very little debt in general. Actually, what kills our monthly budget is rising food costs and fuel costs, as we need to commute everywhere and we have chronic medical issues that require special dietary needs. Sometimes, I think about what it might be like to not have to work – or at least not work as much I need to – but that’s not reality.

Fathers, thankfully most in the younger generations, recognize that women simply cannot do it all. They are beginning to realize that being a female does not automatically relegate all the housework to the woman. Especially if both parents work, it’s only fair that both should do the housework and parenting, right?

What scares mainstream parents about attachment parenting is that it’s another thing to do, that it’s something else that they really need to do but just cannot get to, that not doing it could have real and lasting consequences and they already feel guilty of what they perceive to not be giving right now. Attachment parenting isn’t asking too much of parents but too much of people who already have too much going on in their lives. To give our children as much time and energy that mainstream parents are imagining that we “attachment parents” give, well, it would require that they give up on something in their life – and that would probably be the only thing in their life that gives them in sense of personal balance. It would require mainstream parents to re-learn how to be happy.

It’s not that I’m judging mainstream parents who scoff at attachment parenting. I have strived to understand that point of view for a long time. I don’t agree with it, but I understand it. And I think I know how daunting that must be for mainstream parents who are faced with the drastic change in thinking that it would require to change to an attachment parenting style – without first addressing their own unmet emotional needs.

For attachment parenting to become more mainstream, it couldn’t come by force or policy – but that isn’t our way as “attachment parents,” anyway – it would have to come by a shift in our societal attitude. And I think it’s coming, slowly, but it won’t be quick. It’ll take a few more national spotlights on the level of TIME magazine’s attention to get there.

Related posts:

1. Attachment Parenting is for the Imperfect Parents, Too
2. What Does Attachment Parenting Look Like?
3. What’s the Big Deal with Attachment Parenting?

What is an unassisted birth?

Unassisted birth is defined as a birth that takes place without a trained birth attendant present. There are two types of unassisted births that take place. The first type is unplanned. Unplanned unassisted births take place when there was no time to make it to the birth place, the birth attendant didn’t arrive in time, or medical help was not available. These births are more risky because the mother or family is usually not prepared to handle complications. The second type is planned unassisted birth. These take place when the mother and family has planned to give birth without an attendant present.

Why do women choose planned unassisted birth?

Women choose to give birth unassisted for many reasons. In some states, it is illegal or risky for a midwife to attend births at home, so a woman will choose unassisted birth in order to give birth in her location of choice. In some cases, the woman was denied a trial of birth with a midwife or in a hospital for reasons such as a breech baby or a previous cesarean. Still, there are women who choose unassisted birth because it is the best choice for them.

I personally chose an unassisted birth at home because I could not risk interference of my labor from anyone who did not completely trust my body’s ability and the safety of birth. It is not likely that the nearest midwife would have made it in time anyway, as I had a quick and easy 4 ½ hour labor.

Isn’t that dangerous?

Women who choose to give birth unassisted are smart people. They educate themselves about the birth process and prepare themselves for any complications that may arise. A solid backup plan is essential as with any home birth, including who will be called, what will be done, and who will take any older children should there be an emergency.

Many unassisted birthers take newborn resuscitation classes, train themselves in how to recognize and handle excess blood loss and shock, as well as how to handle many other emergency childbirth situations.

Making the choice

Making the choice to give birth unassisted is part logical, part intuition, and part spiritual. It is my belief that anyone choosing to give birth unassisted should be completely prepared and comfortable with the idea. The answer as to whether to give birth unassisted depends on the pregnancy, the situation, and the attitudes of everyone who will be involved with the birth. I will warn you that unassisted birth is not a choice that most people are comfortable with, including family, friends, and medical professionals. If you do choose this for your birth, be prepared for opposition.

Being prepared

Preparation is the key to unassisted birth, which includes having a solid backup plan and knowing when to seek professional help. It’s important to be humble and realistic. The safety of you and your baby is first and foremost. You’ll prepare for an unassisted home birth just as you would an attended home birth. In addition, you’ll need to know what a birth attendant would do in certain situations and emergencies. It’s also important that you be a part of a community of women who have previously given birth unassisted. You can find these communities online.

Related posts:

1. Hypnosis for Childbirth
2. Surprise Breech Unassisted Waterbirth of Edward Isaac
3. Physiological Childbirth

Breaking Out the Vac!

How much simpler can one get in the organic garden? When I start seeing those pests cropping up in the garden I always break out my little hand held vacuum. The wet/dry vacuum is best because by adding a small amount of soapy water inside, as you vacuum up the bugs, they end up in the water and die. I like that!

Why spray anything whether organic or some homemade solution? It takes the same amount of effort to set the wet vac up as it does a spray rig. I keep mine handy on a wall mount inside the potting shed along with a couple of nice extension cords. Where ever I plug into an extension cord I tie a knot. This way if the cord snags on something as I’m dragging it around it doesn’t come unplugged. I also don’t like using really heavy cords and prefer keeping it lighter with a thinner one. It makes dragging it around a breeze.

Most experienced gardeners are already familiar with which bugs are bad and which ones are good. It’s a good idea to learn about bugs, especially the bugs common to your area. We certainly don’t want to suck up the good guys.

There are many good books as well as resources to be found on the internet. My favorite book is called Texas Bug Book: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly , written by . Malcolm Beck  and John Howard Garrett . These two authors have hands on experience and that’s what I like to read.

Why we have such a run on names from the famous movie that features Clint Eastwood is what gives Texas its charm I think. A fun link on the internet is one called The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Texas’ Amazing Insects by Dr. John C. Abbott. What amazing photos to really get an up and close look at identifying insects.

The Leaf-Footed Bug

Common Garden Pests

You will usually find me in my heirloom tomato patch with the vacuum sucking up some stink bugs. Sometimes they will be in clusters on the tomatoes sucking the juice from them. That usually makes it more fun for me because I can get a bunch of them all at one time. If some fly off, which they will do, I just wait about an hour or so and go back with the vac. Once things have settled down, believe me, they will come back.

I always feel so bad for my northern garden friends who have such an awful time with the Japanese Beetles. I don’t have a problem with them in the south, but have seen the nasty photos posted of them destroying their gardens. My best advice when asked is to do like I do in Texas and suck em up!

The Squash Bugs are a common garden pest throughout the U.S. for most gardeners. Many gardeners have given up on trying to grow summer squash all together. This is another excellent opportunity to use the vacuum. I can usually find them trying to hide out down at the base of the plant. You have to use one hand to pull back a few of the large leaves to expose the insect and aim the hose right for them.

The vacuum is not a full proof method that will get rid of all of the bad bugs, but it will sure cut down on a whole bunch of them. The most important helper in getting rid of the bad bugs is having plenty of good bugs. The good bugs are natural predators that will consume the pests. Making sure you have plenty of diversity and natural habitats will help ensure and attract beneficial insects.

Related posts:

1. Cheap And Easy Organic Raised Beds for New Gardeners
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3. The GMO And Organic Dirt! Motivate For Our Childrens Sake!

Natural Family Today presents.. June Giveaway Splash!

A month full of natural product reviews and giveaways. Don’t miss your chance to win some valuable prizes from companies such as:

That’s just to name a few! Stay tuned. Giveaways begin on June 4th and we will be unveiling new giveaways throughout the month. There will be plentiful prizes and lots of chances for extra entries.

Follow our facebook page, twitter, newsletter, or subscribe to RSS to stay up to date on all new giveaways!

Giveaways:    

 {We will be adding more, so keep checking!}

Earth Mama Angel Baby ~ Organic Third Trimester Tea  - Link coming soon!

rePETe Snack Time set ~ by Chicobag  - Link coming soon!

Purple Prairie Botanicals $25 online gift card – Link coming soon!

 San-J Gluten Free Thai Peanut Sauce – Link coming soon!

3 copies of Designing Your Language Arts Curriculum Ebook – Link coming soon!

3 copies of Notebooking Success Ebook by The Notebooking Fairy- Link coming soon!

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