If you've finally managed to coax your kids off the couch and outside, there are some protective measures you may want to consider to keep their skin and hair healthy for the season. Sure sunscreen is an absolute given - absolutely non-negotiable in fact - however other activities can cause issues besides sunburn and they may be things you never even thought of.

Skin
- Wet skin leaves kids susceptible to funguses and viruses such as athlete's foot, warts and ringworm and while they are curable, are a nuisance just the same. Make sure kids wear flip flops or other sandals when by the pool. Feet can also be disinfected whey they are done for the day and in the car for the ride home.

- The use of sunscreen and bug repellent may also mean children are taking more baths or showers than usual. Even though dry skin is typically more problematic in the winter months, the additional water and soap from bathing may still cause some problems. Switch to a milder soap and use less of it. Enough to rid the body of sweat and dirt. Health experts say a buildup of sunscreen isn't such a terrible thing and will actually help add some extra protection from the sun.

- If skin is excessively dry, use lotions or creams containing shea butter or aloe immediately after bathing to add some moisture.

- When you do buy sunscreen, make sure you buy the appropriate type if your child has problematic skin, such as sensitivity or acne-prone. Rashes and clogged pores are also often the result of higher SPF levels, which tend to be thicker. Experiment to see which works best.

Hair
- Hair stylists often say the final haircuts of the summer prior to the start of school are the most brutal, likening the process to cutting straw since hair tends to be dry and brittle after a summer of swimming and lots of bathing. Conditioner should always be used after shampooing. Leave conditioner on for a few minutes if hair is overly dry.

- Exposure to water also makes encourages knots, especially in longer hair. A ponytail or loose braids are recommended when kids or active of sleeping.

- Finally, if your child will be spending much of their summer in the pool, consider using a swimmer's shampoo to prevent the unsightly green tinge that comes with overexposure to chlorine.

» MSNBC Health

We already know water shortages are now a common concern in several parts of North America and experts are encouraging us to treat water as the precious resource it is. As an estimated 69 per cent of worldwide water use is for irrigation, and 15 to 35 per cent of this irrigation is unsustainable, it's epsecially crucial for farms to practice water conservation techniques whenever possible.

It's not just important for the sake of the worldwide water supply - in times of water shortages, farmers have to ensure they have enough water resources to make it through the growing season, which can definitely present a challenge during times of drought. It's a fine balance to ensure crops have enough water without wasting it, but it can be done using the following techniques:

☆ Leaks in the irrgation system can be found using a water meter by turning off the system and watching the meter to see if it is still running. Consistent wet spots along the irrgation line that do not dry up may indicate a leak is present. If such leaks are found, they should be repaired as soon as possible.

☆ Soil can become oversaturated with water as it only absorbs what it can; the rest drains below the root zone or runs off the surface. By learning the maximum irrigation set time, farmers can learn to apply only the necessary amount of water without wasting extra.

...read the rest...

In this day and age you really can turn any common and seemingly mundane activity into a social occasion. One of the latest excuses to host a party? Getting together to make green cleaning products with your friends.

The idea originated with Women's Voices for the Earth, a national organization that encourages women to advocate for the right to live in a healthy environment. WVE started the green cleaning party initiative as part of their efforts to educate women about the 85,000 chemicals currently on the market in various products, most of which have not been tested to see how they affect human health. Until companies provide full disclosure regarding the chemicals in these products (unlikely), WVE believes individuals should make their own to reduce the risks of asthma, birth defects and infertility.

WVE offers a Green Cleaning Party Kit to help party planners get started. The kit includes a booklet with background information and party planning tips, as well as an educational video that can be previewed at the event, recipe cards with instructions for making the products, supply lists for guidance about what is needed for the party and container labels for the products themselves.

Party hostesses (or hosts!) can be creative with the additional details, such as serving organic wine and snacks or requesting that guests wear green in honor of the occasion. For larger events, hostesses will need to find a space with several tables so each party guest mix ingredients without bumping elbows with their neighbors, as well as a sink since many recipes call for water.

To top off the party, WVE encourages women to carry the idea of non-toxic products beyond a social event and suggests taking action by signing a petition to companies asking that they remove toxic ingredients from their products or list all ingredients on the products.

Find out more about hosting your own green cleaning party, as well as to request your party planning kit, after the jump.

» Women's Voices for the Earth (Official Site)

I don't know about you but I'm definitely a label-shopper.  I look for those little stickers that contain the buzzwords that differentiate one product from the other.  I think we all do this at one time or another.  Whether you're hunting for "fat free" milk, "no sugar added" cookies or "certified organic" beef, what you're hunting for is that little label that says, "okay buy this."

But what exactly is organic beef?  After skimming the Organic Grass Fed Beef Info home page I saw "natural beef", "grass fed beef", "organic raised beef" and "pasture raised beef" all used to describe some for of organic beef.  So what gives?

According to the USDA guidelines, certified organic beef must come from a system that collects data on the entire history of every animal in the program and must meet the following criteria:

• Born and raised on certified organic pasture
• Never receive antibiotics
• Never receive growth-promoting hormones
• Are fed only certified organic grains and grasses
• Must have unrestricted outdoor access
• Must receive humane treatment

Okay, that all sounds good.  I think the "USDA Certified Organic" label is easy enough to understand. 

Natural beef is a different animal altogether.  All that "natural beef" means is that the beef is minimally processed and has no additives.  Natural beef may not have any antibiotics or hormones in it, but there is no third-party check for this.  Natural beef doesn't mean grass-fed, humanely treated, or anything else from the list above.

There is no current definition for grass-fed beef, so that's one label to look out for.  Organic cattle may munch on tasty organic grass their entire life... until slaughtertime draws near.  Then they're stuffed full of grain like any other cow.  It's called "grain finishing" and it's a little loophole at the end of the cattle's lifespan when they can be fattened up.  Also, you can have beef labelled as grass-fed that has been given antibiotics and growth hormones, so remember that grass-fed does not equal organic.

Pasture raised and pasture finished refers to the stage in life when the cattle graze on pasture.  A pasture raised animal my still be "finished" at a feedlot whereas a pasture finished animal is... well, "finished" on a pasture.  It's important to note that grass-fed and pasture raised can mean different things.  Apparently just because cattle eat a diet of grass doesn't mean they're wandering around in fields.

So is there a conclusion here?  Frankly I'm more confused than when I started, but there are two rules when buying beef that I think are safe to stick with:

1) When the only differentiating factor is a label, I think that the only label it's worth paying for is the one that says "Certified Organic".  As far as any other label goes you really have no clue what the heck has happened to that meat.

2) If you have the option, buy from a small producer like Alderspring Ranch.  These local producers often have excellent web sites with very detailed information on how they operate their ranch and how their cattle are raised, allowing you to make an informed decision.  You don't have to rely on your interpretation of a two-word label to understand the quality of your meat.  Plus, you can either order direct from the site or find their products at your local market which is very handy.

So there you have it.  It is a bit confusing, but if you stick to the labels you know and do some Googling you'll be more informed and you won't pay extra for a label that may mean nothing.

» Alderspring Grass Fed Beef

Last summer CeeBee introduced us to some tips to get started herb gardening, and there are numerous kits available that make herb gardening super-easy.

Growing an herb garden in your kitchen makes green sense in a lot of ways:

1. It's a great way to try your hand at a little gardening without making a big commitment.  The green thumb requirement is pretty low and it makes a great project for kids!

2. With a nice planter they make a great decoration to beautify your kitchen.

3. You can grow one little pot or parsley or a fantastic multi-tiered herb garden like the one pictured.  So regardless of the size of your kitchen you can create an herb garden to suit.

4. The aroma of fresh herbs in your home is fantastic, especially first thing on a lazy Sunday morning.

5. It's so convenient you'll find yourself adding fresh herbs to all of your cooking.  A sprig of parsley here, a little mint there... it's a fun way to jazz up your meals.

6. Herbs aren't just for cooking.  You can also grow your own medicinal herbs or even your own tea garden.

I could go on, but you get the idea.  Now I'll be the first to admit that I would have a hard time keeping a chia pet going, so I'm the type of novice gardener that's looking for some kind of starter set to help me get going.  If you hit the jump you can check out this great site I found called HerbKits.com which carries kits for culinary herbs, tea, medicinal herbs, even kits so you can grow your own salsa veggies or strawberries.

So don't just sit there, get growing!  (oh, haha I crack myself up)

» HerbKits.com

A typical kitchen in North America has several appliances to make our lives easier and more efficient, or so it seems. Here are few thoughts about some kitchen appliances and how you can save energy in your kitchen.

Dishwasher
Dishwashers use a lot of water and a lot of energy to heat the water. To get the most out of your washer make sure you have filled it up as much as possible before running. A dishwasher should be able to handle most small food remains so you shouldn’t have to pre-scrub the dishes before loading. Use the regular or normal setting and you should be good.

Microwave
The only reason to keep your microwave plugged in when you aren’t using it is to read the time and most of us have a wristwatch or other clock near the kitchen anyways. Most mics have converters in them that are constantly draining a bit of electricity so go ahead and unplug your microwave and your going to saving a bunch of useless standby energy.

Stove
No one likes burnt cookies so make sure you cook at suggested temperatures and set a timer so you don’t overcook your food. Another simple trick to save energy is set your timer about five minutes shorter and turn off the stove when it rings. Your food will continue to cook as long as you don’t open the door.
 
Fridge
Keep the temperatures set properly and the coils cleaned regularly and you should be good here.

Ditch landline Phone
I still have a landline but I’m seriously thinking of discarding it. They suck up more energy than a cell phone especially with an answering machine included or separate. It seems that the cell phone technology is pretty solid and if you want to be reached or reach someone else the cell phone makes much more sense.

» CWAC.net