Every year around early summer, I begin to despair about my garden. Either the sun or rain has beat down on it for days on end. The birds and squirrels have dug up my seeds. My tiny seedlings aren’t growing. My bigger plants are full of bug nibbles. Yet every late summer and fall, we…
Read More

  It’s gross: we add some of the most researched toxins to our personal lubricants including known irritants, cancer-causers, and even an ingredient in anti-freeze. None of these ingredients help the health of a woman and some can significantly harm fertility or make a woman more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In particular watch…
Read More

Time for Spring Cleaning? Here’s The Green Mama’s Tips for a safe, healthy, “green” clean

I didn’t visit my family in Miami this summer. I blamed work. I blamed the children’s camp schedules. I blamed my boyfriends filming schedule. I blamed everything but The Truth: I’m a coward. I’m afraid that Miami has the Zica virus. But, I am terrified that Miami is being sprayed with Naled.   Unless you…
Read More

  Summer is a time for the great outdoors. Camping, hiking, swimming, BBQ’s and entertaining outdoors. What do you do when mosquitoes and other biting bugs invade your al fresco fun?! Read on for 7 Green Mama Approved tips to battle bugs without harsh chemicals.   Lemon juice rubbed directly on the skin makes you…
Read More

Like fresh nut milk, once you make your own you will never go back! Ingredients 3 cups freshly roasted unsalted nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts or even sunflower seeds for the nut averse) Directions Place nuts on baking sheet, toast for 10 mins on middle rack in a 300 F oven, wiggle them around…
Read More

Ingredients 2 lbs organic vegetables diced and sliced  (I like using carrots and radishes for their beauty and flavour. But you can use daikon, cucumbers, beets, cauliflower, kale, celery etc.) Flavour enhancers like garlic, pickling spice, or spicy peppers to your taste. A 2% brine (roughly 1 heaping Tbsp of non-iodized unrefined salt for every…
Read More

DIY baby wipes & bum spray recipe from The Green Mama Make a little spray bottle for on the go, take your cloth wipes and pre- soak them, or make disposable baby wipes by adding the baby wipe mix to an unbleached, paper towel roll cut in half or a to flushable cloth- diaper liners….
Read More

Read the related article for all the Green Mama secrets on dealing with this pesty nuisance.   Natural Lice Spray Use this on dry hair for a preventative spray or on wet hair followed–by nit combing–to help  effectively treat lice. 4 cups apple cider vinegar 20 drops Tea Tree Oil 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil…
Read More

After years of pondering the possibility we finally installed solar panels to heat our hot water yesterday.  Of course I would like to have a photovoltaic roof and  be off-grid running on strictly sustainable sources of power, but for the moment that is not our lot.  Our town of Evanston, Il approved a three-year contract in…
Read More

Dry shampoo is just what it sounds like–dry–and you use it dry! In other words, it’s a new mother’s little helper. Don’t have time for a shower and the pony tail look isn’t cutting it–DIY dry shampoo is the trick. The issue with shampooing in general is that its literally addictive. The more you shampoo…
Read More

This recipe has changed and morphed over the years – but it is basically the simplest and best skin hydration I’ve found. Not only do I make it to use at home, I make extra when I blend a batch to share with new mamas in my community. No photos will be shared of this…
Read More

1, 2, 3…. beautiful paper garlands By Vanessa Zises Filley