GOOD FOR NATURE

CRAFTS, GARDENING, GIFT GUIDE, GOOD FOR NATURE, HOLIDAYS
DIY Eco-friendly Plantable Seed Paper Valentines
- February 6, 2020
February is the month of love! We not only want to encourage you to spread love to friends and family, but to make sure you’re also loving on your planet. As Valentine’s Day approaches, parents are faced with trying to figure out what to send to class with the kids. We know plastic trinkets, individually wrapped candies, and pre-printed cards are fun and easy. But those things aren’t always great for the environment. This year we hope you’ll consider some eco-friendly alternatives. Today, we have the amazing Chelsea, professional photographer and eco-conscious mom of 2, sharing a simple project for turning recyclable paper into adorable Valentines that are good for the birds and bees! Chelsea walks us through how to make DIY wildflower plantable seed paper Valentines that are fun and easy for kids to make from materials you already have at home.

Making a change

Each year I try to make a few changes in our lives that allow us to leave a smaller footprint on Earth. As I was thinking about what to do for this year’s valentines for my kids’ classmates, I realized this was another area we could make improvements. It seems like every year my kids bring home more and more stuff from their class holiday parties. Little plastic trinkets, individually wrapped candies, plastic baggies stuffed to the brim with junk that eventually ends up in the trash.

And let me be honest, my kids absolutely LOVE IT. They love receiving all those fun treats and they love giving them out as well. But this year I can’t do it. I can’t add to the growing problem. So, I decided to find an alternative that would more closely match our values.

DIY plantable seed paper Valentines

Instead of buying something that would be thrown away, we decided to make something. These DIY plantable seed paper valentines made from recycled paper are a perfect alternative to the usual store-bought valentine items! They check all of the boxes when it comes to a Valentine that aligns with our values. They’re handmade, which allows for me to spend extra time with the kids. They’re made from recycled materials, giving a new life to things that would otherwise be thrown away. And they’re plantable, which means our little Valentines will keep on giving long after we’ve gifted them!

Not only will these homemade Valentines provide beauty when they’re grown, but they’re extra good for the environment. We deliberately chose a wildflower pack that’s specifically made for birds and butterflies! Win-win for everyone! We had so much fun creating these eco-friendly seed paper valentines and hope you will too. They’re super simple to make and absolutely adorable!

Plantable seed paper materials

The great thing about these Valentines is that you don’t really need anything special to make them! Other than the wildflower seeds, you probably already have all the materials necessary to make your own plantable seed paper at home right now. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
- Paper scraps
- Food dye (optional)
- Wildflower seeds
- Water
- Large bowl
- Blender or food processor
- Grease splatter screen (or screen material)
- Towels
- Cookie sheet
- Pencil
- Scissors
How to make plantable seed paper

I was pleasantly surprised just how fun and easy it is to make your own DIY plantable wildflower seed paper. It didn’t take us long at all and we were so happy with the way it turned out. The paper is also so versatile and can be used for any variety of holidays, gifts or projects. Tuning the plantable paper into Valentines was so much fun and we truly loved the way they turned out.

Step 1: Gather paper and rip

The first step is to gather scrap paper and let the children rip up the paper into small pieces. I highly recommend using paper that has been used and that you’d normally recycle, as opposed to new clean paper. You can really use any kind of paper, from printer paper to construction paper. You can use junk mail, papers from the kids’ schoolwork that you aren’t keeping, flyers, old coloring book pages or even newspapers.

We used a stack of papers that would be normally tossed into the recycling bin. We also used one piece of red construction paper, just for some added color. You can use any colored paper depending on the color you want your seed paper to be, or just leave it out altogether.

Step 2: Soak the paper

Next, place the ripped pieces of paper into a bowl of water. Let the paper bits sit in the water for 10-15 minutes to allow the paper to fully soak and saturate.

Step 3: Puree to a pulp

Once the recycled paper is soaked, place the pulpy mixture into a blender or food processor. If you want create colored paper, now is the time to add a few drops of food coloring to the mix. We used two drops of red dye for ours. Put it all in the blender and liquefy it! This step should definitely be supervised by an adult!

*Please note: the blending can be hard on appliances so you’ll want to use a high-quality appliance. This may also dull your blades. Blend at your own risk*

Step 4: Add seeds and spread

Place a towel on a cookie sheet. Then place a splatter screen over towel. Once the paper mixture has been blended into a pulp, pour it back into the bowl. Then mix the wildflower seeds into the recycled paper pulp.

Have the children use a spoon or their hands to spread the pulp onto the screen. Using your hands or a spoon, spread the pulp as thinly and evenly as possible over the entire screen, pressing lightly to squeeze out any extra water. The towel beneath the screen will also help absorb the extra water that comes out of the paper.

Step 5: Let dry

Once the pulp has been evenly spread on the screens, leave it to dry. Drying time will vary depending on the thickness of the pulp and humidity. Our paper took several days to dry completely. Give it time! During the drying process, you’ll need to remove the wet towels under the paper and replace them with dry towels. Once the seed paper was stiff enough to handle without falling apart, I flipped it once to help with the drying time.

Step 6: Cut into shapes

When the plantable seed paper is completely dry and stiff, it’s ready to be made into Valentines! Use a cookie cutter as your template or even just a cutout shape of your choosing. We chose a heart (naturally!). Trace your shape onto the seed paper using a marker and then carefully cut them out. You may want to have the children do the tracing and have an adult do the cutting because the paper is quite fragile!

Step 7: Share the love!

Once you have your plantable seed paper cutout into the shape of your choice, that’s it! Your frugal, earth-friendly valentines are complete and ready to give to friends, neighbors and family members. Let them know that they just need to plant the paper in a sunny spot to grow a beautiful little patch of wildflowers that will brighten their days and help the birds and bees. You could even print off some cute cards with fun phrases on them to attach to the Valentines. Pinterest has some great free printables to use!

Plantable seed paper makes a great gift!

Plantable seed paper doesn’t only have to be for Valentine’s Day. You can make wildflower seed paper for so many occasions, using any kind of cutout shape, size or color. So it would be great for Earth Day, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion or holiday. These little cutouts make a great take-home favor for birthday parties and bridal/baby showers as well.

Do you make your own Valentines?
How do you make holidays more eco-friendly?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
RWMC posts: Chelsea Furlong
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GOOD FOR NATURE, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Solstice Family Traditions & DIY Ornaments
- December 18, 2019
The Winter Solstice is quickly approaching. December 21 marks the first day of winter (here in the Northern Hemisphere), which is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The days ahead will be longer and brighter, which calls for a celebration in my books! Many families adopt traditions for the Winter Solstice that they do every year to get outside and celebrate the change of the seasons. Traditions help us remember the past and are wonderful ways to pass love and memories to the next generation. If you’re looking for some fun festive traditions to start with your family to celebrate the Winter Solstice, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we have Holly Morgan, a Midwest mom of two here, sharing a few fun and simple ways her family celebrates the Winter Solstice, plus a tutorial for making DIY Winter Solstice ornaments.

The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice occurs around December 21st (in the Northern Hemisphere) and marks the beginning of the winter season. It is also the shortest day and longest night of the year. After this day, the days begin to lengthen and the nights begin to shorten, which will continue until the Summer Solstice (around June 21st). The arrival of the Winter Solstice has been celebrated since ancient times. Both then and now, people use the sun, stars, and planets to keep track of time and seasons. We also look to nature to mark the change in seasons and understand more about the world around us and how it works. The Winter Solstice and many of the traditions associated with it center around fire, light, and nature.

The rhythm of winter

For our family, the Winter months are a time to slow down and live in rhythm with the darkness of Mother Nature. To rest and root deeply in our intentions. Each year, the winter season officially begins with the Winter Solstice. This is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year. While winter can feel like a time of dormancy for some, we choose to enjoy the opportunity to slow down. We choose to live in rhythm with the quiet stillness of Mother Nature. We intentionally turn inward and delve into our inner light and intentions. And we always make time for nature play!

Winter Solstice traditions for the family

For us, celebrating the Winter Solstice also means welcoming the return of the light. We thank Mother Earth and celebrate the longer days to come. We do this with several family activities and offerings to Mother Nature and our creature friends. Our Solstice traditions include celebrating with a candlelit family dinner on the first day of the winter season. We also set intentions as a family for the coming year and reflect gratitude for the seeds we have planted. We light a fire to honor the returning light and work together to make an edible offering to our animal friends outside.

These are just a few of the many things you can do together as a family with your children to celebrate the Winter Solstice and welcome back the longer days. Every family is different and can celebrate in their own way. Other ideas could be to have a bonfire with friends, make a snow cake decorated with edible items for the animals, go on a winter hike, bake a yule log, watch a sunrise/sunset or make/light candles. Each of these activities (or any of your choosing) are simple ways to thank Mother Earth for the return of the light and celebrate the longer brighter days ahead.

Celebrate the Solstice with an offering

We celebrate the Winter Solstice each year by making treats for our feathered and furred outdoor friends. These easy bird feeders are made with dried orange slices, pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. For the past three years, we have made these Winter Solstice ornaments that we use to decorate our backyard cedars. It is a great child-friendly activity and a fun way to get the whole family outdoors for some fresh air. With just a few simple ingredients (and maybe a few sticky hands) you will have engaged kids and very happy animals in your yard!

DIY Winter Solstice ornaments

Below is a simple tutorial on how you and your little ones can make some Winter Solstice offerings of your own. Even if you don’t celebrate the Solstice, these easy treats are a perfect way to offer some winter reprieve for our furred and feather friends. These are our ornaments from last year, and we made a few more as the winter months passed on. My son was especially interested in trees and pine cones last year, so we gathered all shapes and sizes from our property and had a very healthy pinecone collection! We strung all our ornaments from the trees with simple jute. They became a treat for the birds and squirrels, which we really enjoyed watching over the season.

What you’ll need
- Oranges (or any citrus fruit of your choice)
- Pinecones – we collect these on walks or in the yard
- Peanut butter
- Birdseed mix (or any seed/nut mix of choice)
- Jute or natural fiber to string ornaments
Directions for DIY Winter Solstice ornaments
1. Evenly slice citrus and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake on lowest oven temperature (my oven goes down to 170 degrees Fahrenheit) for five to six hours, turning once to dry. You can also use a dehydrator.
2. Tie jute onto citrus slices and pinecones for hanging outdoors.
3. Roll pinecones in peanut butter and then roll again in birdseed mixture.
4. We let our dry for a day since the peanut butter was very thin; this seemed to help the birdseed adhere.
5. Find a tree or bush and string your Solstice treats for the birds or squirrels to enjoy on the longest night of the year!
Does your family have any Winter Solstice traditions?

About the author

Holly Morgan lives in the Midwest and is a stay at home mom of two. She loves gardening and growing flowers and herbs for cooking and holistic wellness. Her other crafts include photography, kitchen adventuring, and writing. A Wisconsin native, she is raising her littles to be wild and free through nature play. You can follow Holly and her family’s daily rhythm on Instagram at @hollyandhomestead.
FAVORITE GEAR, GIFT GUIDE, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION
Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips, Swaps & Gift Ideas
- December 12, 2019
For many, the holidays are a time of celebration, gift-giving, and abundance. This is the time of year we tend to overspend, over-indulge and make a lot of choices based on what’s easy and convenient. However, we’re all aware of the desperate shape of our planet and how much it needs our help. Now is a great time to make some deliberate decisions to be more eco-friendly in your actions and support brands and companies that are doing good for our planet. Our creative team member and resident eco-mom, Chelsea Furlong is here today to help us make small changes in our actions and purchases this holiday season to be a more conscientious and Earth-friendly consumer. Not only does Chelsea have lots of great ideas and tips for things you can do to be more sustainable, but she’s got a huge list of eco-friendly holiday gifts for everyone on your list!

Eco-friendly holidays

It can be really hard to not get caught up in the consumerism which often goes hand-in-hand with the holiday season. Once those sales start, we tend to get ourselves all worked up and forget that there is ultimately a cost with every single purchase we make. This holiday season, I encourage you to slow down, step back, and really think through your actions and purchases. The decisions we make today will have an impact on our planet for years (decades). If we all make small choices that are better for the environment, the combined impact can be huge! Together, we can make a difference.

Sustainability tips for the holidays

If you’re interested in making some eco-friendly holiday choices this year, stay tuned! In this post, I’m sharing some general tips to be more sustainable and help minimize your environmental impact. These are small actions and eco-friendly swaps that make a big impact. I’m also sharing some of my favorite Earth-conscious and eco-friendly gift ideas. These gifts are not only good for the planet, but most of them will support a small business.

Swap out your wrapping paper

When it comes to wrapping paper, we all know how much waste ends up in our recycling bins on Christmas morning. It’s always upsetting to me to see all that paper pile up! This year, instead of buying regular wrapping paper, make a better decision. Purchase reusable wrapping gift bags or buy them from a small business on Etsy.com.

Want to make your own recycled wrapping paper? If you forget your reusable bags (on one of those countless trips to the grocery store for last-minute ingredients for holiday meals), opt for paper bags. When you need wrapping paper, simply open them up and have your kids decorate the bags. Their art makes beautiful (and very special) wrapping paper! We do this every year and the grandparents love seeing their grandchildren’s artwork all over their gifts. You can also use recycled kraft paper for this.

You can also skip the wrapping paper altogether! Instead, just DIY a little decoration made from materials you find in nature. Attach a branch of pine or a twig of holly to the unwrapped gift instead!

Finally, if wrapping paper is your thing and you do choose to purchase those large rolls of wrapping paper, try to opt for a brand made with recycled paper. Every little action matters.

Eco-friendly tips for holiday meals

Speaking of those last-minute trips to the grocery store, we all know this is the season for lots of parties, baking, and eating. Whether you’re bringing a potluck dish to a family member’s house or hosting your own big shindig, there are lots of ways you can make your meals more eco-friendly and better for the environment. Here are a few ideas. Keep these in mind for all your party planning.

Avoid single-use tableware

While it may be easy to grab some single-use paper or plastic plates, napkins, and utensils, it’s truly unnecessary if you already own these items. These materials are used for maybe 15-20 minutes, and then they’re generally tossed right into a landfill. In addition, think about the significant resources used to create those items in the first place. From the trees or oil from which they’re made, to the energy that runs the factory which produces them. The entire process uses up valuable resources. While it may save you some time doing dishes, it’s really not worth the trade-off when you look at the big picture.

The same goes for paper towels and napkins! Although they may be easier to use, it’s so much better for Mother Earth to skip them altogether. You can purchase reusable napkins for almost nothing at your local thrift store. Keep a basket of folded-up cloth towels and napkins right on the table for your family and guests to use instead. If you’re not comfortable offering mismatched towels and napkins during gatherings, you can go a little higher end with unpaper towels made by one of my favorite companies, Marley’s Monsters. And while you’re over there, feel free to grab a couple of their reusable sponges to use instead of throw-away ones you have sitting on your sink!

Avoid single-use food storage

Most of us will have leftover meals and baked goods from our holiday gathering or have baked goods to give to others during the holiday season. Instead of using a plastic sandwich bag to store the items, pick reusable sandwich bags or use washed-out food jars.

We try to buy items packaged in glass jars over plastic anytime possible. Once the olives, pickles, salsa, etc. have been consumed, we give them a second life before they end up in a landfill. (Did you know: only about 9% of your recycling actually gets recycled? So even if you usually put your glass/plastic jars in the recycling rather than the trash, there’s still a good chance it ends up in a landfill.) You can store all sorts of products and leftovers in glass jars! And if you’re sending guests home with leftovers, you won’t have to worry about getting the food containers back!

If you usually store your food on plates or bowls covered in plastic wrap, you could opt for a reusable beeswax wrap instead. And most of us know that it’s always better to purchase stainless steel or glass food storage containers in place of plastic ones. But, since they’re significantly more expensive than plastic ones, I still recommend using the free glass food jars most of you already have sitting in your fridge instead!

Buy your food locally

When planning your holiday meals, try sourcing your food locally! Look for a local CSA for your produce or your neighborhood farmer’s market. See if there’s a local farm nearby where you can buy your meat. Go to a local bakery for your bread. You may be surprised at all the amazing options you have nearby once you start looking into it! Not only will the food be fresher and locally-grown, but you’ll also be supporting small businesses in your area.

Christmas tree dilemma

One of the biggest eco-friendly holiday swaps relates to trees. When it comes to Christmas trees and the environment, there are arguments for both real and fake trees. On the one hand, an artificial tree can be reused many times and keeps a real tree from being cut down and then decomposing. But, on the other hand, cutting down a live tree can be both environmentally beneficial and economically conscious. Let’s take a deeper dive into both options.

The environmental impact of a real tree

I’ve read many articles on the environmental impact of both real and artificial trees and I’m still “Team Real Tree.” We know that decomposition does put carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. And we know that fossil fuels are used to deliver them. However, the benefits of purchasing (or cutting down your own) real tree outweigh the few environmental costs.

For example, when you purchase a live tree you’re supporting a farm that depends on the income from those trees to continue to run. While the trees are growing, they’re helping to clean the air. Once the trees are cut down, they’re replaced with new ones. Once you’re finished with the live Christmas tree, it can often be repurposed. Here at the beach, we bring our trees over to the water to help prevent beach erosion. Many cities also collect the live trees and turn them into mulch or other products that are used throughout the year. In those cases, the tree gets another life before it decomposes.

The environmental impact of artificial trees

While artificial trees can be reused for several years, they’re made from products that will sit in a landfill for generations after we’re gone. They’re often produced in factories overseas and use lots of resources to reach the United States. Instead of supporting a small farmer, you’re likely supporting a large corporation. Unless you do a significant amount of research, you’ll also not know how that factory operates. How does it treat its workers? What are the carbon emissions produced by that factory? There are lots of details we don’t immediately know about the production of those artificial trees. But, if you have any local Christmas tree farms, you can talk directly to the farmer!

If you do have an artificial tree, don’t beat yourself up or immediately throw it out. Data shows that you should reuse it for at least 7 years to balance out the environmental impact. And when you’re done with it, try donating it to a school, hospital, nursing home or somewhere that might be able to squeeze a few more years out of it! The longer we can keep them out of landfills and in use, the better.

Another option (which I think is the best option), is to get a live tree that hasn’t been cut! Some places even rent them out! However, buying a full tree that can be planted after Christmas is the most expensive option. A small potted tabletop tree (not a full-sized Christmas tree), runs around $70. And as the size goes up, the price goes up. Not everyone can afford it, but if it’s in your budget and you don’t mind the much smaller size, it’s a great super eco-friendly Christmas tree choice!

Eco-friendly holiday cards

Like everyone else, I truly love receiving holiday cards. I used to excitedly send them out, but in the last few years, I’ve opted out. Considering that those cards will most likely just be thrown away in two weeks, it’s sadly not worth it to me. The wasted paper, the cost of the cards, the fossil fuels necessary for delivery all add up. Plus, the overwhelming stress of choosing the perfect card and all the time necessary to address, stamp and stuff the envelopes. It’s one thing I’ve taken off my to do list and has the added bonus of being good for the planet. Feel free to give yourself this same break!

But if holiday cards are your jam, instead of traditional paper cards, consider sending eco-friendly holiday cards made from plantable paper. These have seeds incorporated into them and can be planted in your garden. Another alternative is to send digital cards. I know this doesn’t have nearly the excitement as a real card and may not seem as personal, but it also won’t have the environmental impact. If you truly love sending traditional holiday cards and can’t give it up, look for a brand that uses recycled materials or is compostable.

Eco-friendly holiday gift-giving

When it comes to gift-giving, I’ve become much more conscious as a consumer over the last few years. When I’m looking for items for our family or to give as gifts, I often spend a lot of time researching. It’s important to me to spend my money on brands and companies that support my values and beliefs. I like to choose products that are made with the environment’s best interest in mind. These little changes can make a big difference, especially if we all start shopping with our hearts and our heads.

Choose slow fashion

As a society, we are very hung up on “fast fashion,” for example. Fast fashion is the result of clothing companies making the consumers believe that your wardrobe needs to be replaced at least every quarter. Because of this, many people are purchasing cheaper fashion items to be used only for weeks and then tossed out. Instead of falling into this fast fashion trap, I recommend taking the time to really research where your clothing is being made and how long that item will last. It is definitely more expensive to buy higher quality items, but those items will last years (often decades, depending on the brand.)

Patagonia is one of the best examples of slow fashion that I know. This company intentionally makes products meant to last a long time to reduce the number of clothing items tossed in a landfill. They also have a repair service they encourage you to use if your gear gets damaged. They prefer that you fix a product you’ve purchased from them before purchasing a new one! Not many organizations put the planet before their bottom line. Obviously, you will pay significantly more than you would at your local Target, but you’ll have the items a long time or you’ll be able to pass them down to other people several times.

Buy second hand

There are also many options for purchasing pre-loved fashion items now, too. Thrift stores and online used boutiques allow you to avoid falling into that fast fashion trap! If you’ve never purchased second-hand clothing, just give it a chance. Years ago, the thought of second-hand fashion products freaked me out. I get it. But trust me, it’s actually pretty awesome! I get so excited when I have a good thrifting day and get lots of name brand gear without the guilt. You may find that you love it, too!

Purchase high-quality brands

If you are going to buy new items, look for ones that have a track record of lasting a loooong time. You don’t want to purchase something that’s going to fall apart after a few washes. When we purchase items, we also consider things like:
- Are the items sustainably made?
- Is the company certified fair trade?
- Is there a product guarantee or warranty?
- Does the company participate in/donate to any organizations that positively impact the environment?
I’ve often found that the brands we’re interested in purchasing from are part of 1% for the Planet or One Tree Planted. If I’m considering similar products from a couple of different companies, I will always pick the one that gives back in some way. As an added bonus, usually, when a company participates in one of these organizations, they’re more likely to be careful about their carbon footprint throughout the entire process.

Buy products locally

I used to be someone who ordered almost everything online. It was so easy! However, as I saw the boxes piling up on my doorstep (and all my neighbors’) the more it started to bother me. Not only did it make me aware of how much Americans are consuming on a DAILY basis, but it also made me start thinking about how many resources we’re using up for every single item we get delivered. I realize that many of us will still need to purchase some items online because we may not have direct access to stores that sell the items we’re looking to buy. But I highly recommend putting in that extra effort to check your local stores first. Instead, you’ll put your hard-earned money right back into your local community and avoid the use of resources it takes to deliver every individually boxed item to your door.

Best eco-friendly holiday gift ideas

Phew! That is a lot of information! Now that we’ve gone over the general best practices, let’s get to the fun stuff! Here is a list of some of my favorite eco-friendly holiday gift ideas. I hope this will help as you work on your holiday shopping! This list has everything you need for everyone on your list to have a truly magical and eco-friendly holiday! Hopefully, some of these items will even inspire the recipient to make more earth-conscious decisions and take more eco-friendly actions in the future. Our planet needs more conscientious consumers.

Eco-friendly stocking stuffers
- Metal or paper straws
- Bamboo toothbrush
- Soap or shampoo bars by Chagrin Valley Soaps
- Bite toothpaste bits
- Reusable utensils
- Compostable phone case by Pela
- Safety razor
- Eco-Dough
- Deodorant paste or eco-friendly Deodorant Sticks
- Silk floss
- Kooshoo hair ties
- Bath bombs or bath salts (you can even DIY)
Eco-friendly holiday gifts
- Ansel + Ivy plants
- Stainless steel travel mugs or water bottles
- Children’s clothing from Sawyer
- Hamilton Perkins Collection bags
- Plan Toys
- Lil Bellies products for outdoor kids
- Paperless towels from Marley’s Monsters
- KeepCup
- Fazl socks or hat
- Clothing from Christy Dawn
- House of Marley speakers or headphones
- Bamboo bowls or cutting board
- Greenpan cookware
- Yoga mat by Manduka
- Plant Therapy essential oils
- Tea strainer with loose leaf tea
- Compost bucket or tumbler
- Food storage containers
- Eco crayons
- Cosmetics by Elate or Aether Beauty
- Rothy’s shoes
- Lux Woods watches
- Proof sunglasses
DIY a gift

There are also tons of eco-friendly holiday gifts you can make yourself. Pinterest has an endless supply of ideas. This year I’m making vanilla extract using some vanilla my husband brought back from a work trip to Madagascar! I plan to reuse some glass jars and dress them up a bit to use as gifts for friends.

Another great DIY gift for kids is to make an art cart! We have a cart like this in our home and we have all sorts of art supplies and “trash” items. Our kids love making art from trash. I have a constant collection of plastic, cardboard, and paper products that I add to our cart throughout the year for the kids to use to create whatever they want. Whenever we have other kids over at our house, they always head right to the art cart to see what fun items are stored in there. You can even use a storage unit you already have in your house or find one at the thrift store instead of purchasing one new. Grab some items from your recycling bin, get some art supplies at the thrift store, and let your kids create! They’ll love it!

Give experience gifts

I’m sure many of you already do this, but gifting someone an experience rather than a possession is always a great eco-friendly holiday gift idea! You could gift a membership to a local museum, rec center, zoo, aquarium, nature center, science center, children’s museum, or botanical garden for families with children. You could even gift memberships to AAA, a local gym, yoga studio, spa, etc. for adults. Gifts like these keep on giving and you can avoid the guilt of getting someone “stuff” that they may or may not even use.

Gift cards and activities

Similarly, gift certificates and gift cards are another great eco-friendly holiday gift option! You could gift an experience using a gift card to the movie theater, an indoor golfing facility, climbing gym, local pool, digital music or movie service. Local spas, painting or art classes, or restaurants are also great options. If you have a traveler in your life, you can even get AirBnb and airline gift cards now!

For families with children, how about offering to pay a month’s worth of tuition to things like dance lessons, music lessons, sports, swim lessons, or other activities? As a parent, I LOVE when family members offer to help with these kinds of activities. They get really expensive, and since the kids are already doing the activities, it’s very practical. Another great idea is to offer babysitting services so the parents can have a night out! Most parents I know would welcome any of these in place of toys that will clutter up their house.

Make a donation

Finally, making a donation to an organization in your friend or family member’s name is a wonderful eco-friendly holiday gift alternative to giving material items. You can find an organization you know the person is passionate about and donate directly to that cause. It’s a great way to show someone you truly listen to their heart while contributing to a cause in need of funding!

Eco-friendly holiday changes

There are so many ways to keep your holidays eco-friendly. I hope you’ve come up with some small, but impactful changes to make this year! If we all choose to make even a few eco-friendly decisions, we can make a big difference. Hopefully, we’ve convinced you it’s worth trying! I’m always looking for new ideas to reduce my carbon footprint, so I’d love for you to share some of your small changes with me.

What small changes have you made to reduce your carbon footprint?
What are your favorite eco-friendly gifts to give?

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
RWMC posts: Chelsea Furlong
GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Quick & Easy Kid-Friendly Snacks from the Garden
- October 15, 2019
It may officially be fall, but the plants in my garden are still going strong! We’ve got heirloom and cherry tomatoes for days, squash and carrots that are still growing and lots of herbs, onions, and potatoes! We’ve talked extensively on this website about the benefits of gardening with children and how fun and easy it can be to grow fruits, veggies, and flowers. And while it’s an absolute blast to dig in the dirt and care for your plants, the real fun comes when you get to eat them! Today, we have Wisconsin mom, photographer, and homesteader Brandi Rondinelli here sharing four quick and easy ways to make kid-friendly snacks from the garden. These snacks are the perfect way for you to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work with the kids in a healthy, easy, and delicious way!

Gardening with kids

There is nothing more rewarding than growing your own food! Am I right or am I right? Having the ability to go into your yard and gather food for dinner, lunch and snacks is so neat! It’s a novelty that still amazes me every year. And my kids love it just as much as I do! The whole gardening process is an amazing experience for both kids and adults. From choosing the plants we want to grow to planning the garden and then carefully planting the seeds, my kids are involved in the process from day one. They love having a say about what we’ll grow, and they learn so much about the life cycle of plants.

Watching the sprouts come in and tending to each plant daily over the course of the summer is also quite an experience for the kids. We love taking care of our plants, nurturing them, and singing to them. But in my opinion, harvesting your crop of fruits and vegetables is my favorite part of the process! There’s nothing like biting into a strawberry you grew with love or serving a meal to your family that you took care of together.

Benefits of gardening with kids

There are so many amazing benefits of gardening with kids. Creating a garden with your children is a wonderful way to spend quality time with them outside and teach them about nature and the environment. Kids get the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and outdoor activity. It teaches them responsibility for caring for living things by watering, pruning, weeding, and fertilizing. Gardening teaches them patience and tenacity. It makes them think about where their food is coming from and encourages them to eat healthy. Planting a garden is a cheap and easy activity that educates and nourishes. It’s a great life skill, and of course, it’s fun!

Easy kid-friendly snacks from the garden

My kids love being part of the gardening process, but they really get excited about our harvesting days. When our plants are ready, we’ll spend the whole day harvesting, canning\storing & eating all of our goodies! Just the pure joy on their faces pulling out the carrots that they’ve watched grow for months is worth every dirty fingernail. I definitely try to transfer this excitement about harvesting into eating our haul! Here are a couple of quick and easy ways that we make kid-friendly snacks from the garden.

Straight from the garden snack ideas

My favorite way to eat the goodies from our garden is straight off the plant, outside in the sunshine! There’s something absolutely divine about plucking a cherry tomato off the vine and tasting the warm sweetness of it! It’s heavenly, and I highly recommend you try it! There are so many different fruits and veggies you can plant that you can eat straight from the garden, with little to no prep work. Here are a few kid-approved snack ideas straight from the garden!
- sliced cucumbers
- strawberries
- cherry tomatoes
- sugar snap peas
- green beans
- bell peppers
Tips for enjoying veggies straight from the garden

Letting kids eat veggies straight out of the garden can be a fun and educational experience, but it’s important to ensure their safety and health. Here are some tips for parents:
1. Thoroughly Wash the Vegetables: Even if they’re homegrown, you may want to wash the vegetables to remove dirt, insects, and any potential contaminants. Use clean, running water, and consider using a vegetable brush for root vegetables like carrots and potatoes.
2. Teach Proper Handling: Show kids how to properly pick and handle vegetables to avoid damaging plants and ensure cleanliness. Encourage them to use clean hands or tools.
3. Inspect for Pests: Check vegetables for signs of pest infestation. While some insects are harmless, others can carry diseases. Remove any insects before consumption.
4. Avoid Chemical Pesticides: If you use any pesticides in your garden, ensure they are safe for food crops and follow the recommended waiting period before harvesting. Organic and natural pest control methods are often safer for gardens where children will be eating the produce directly.
5. Supervise Younger Children: Always supervise younger children to ensure they’re not eating plants or parts of plants that aren’t safe for consumption. Educate them on which vegetables are safe to eat and which are not.
6. Introduce Gradually: If your children are not used to eating raw vegetables, introduce them gradually to avoid any digestive discomfort. Start with small quantities and observe how they react.
7. Emphasize Cleanliness: Encourage good hygiene by having kids wash their hands before and after handling garden produce.
8. Educate on Edible Parts: Teach kids about which parts of the plant are edible and which are not. For example, tomato leaves and stems are not edible, while the fruit is.
9. Be Aware of Allergies: Keep an eye out for any allergic reactions, especially if it’s a new vegetable your child is trying for the first time. Consult with your pediatrician if you have concerns about food allergies.
10. Use Safe Water Sources: Ensure the water source used for your garden is safe and clean, as contaminated water can transfer pathogens to your vegetables.
By following these tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your children as they explore and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of their gardening efforts.

Kale chips from the garden

One of our favorite super easy kid-friendly snacks from the garden is kale chips! We plant kale in the spring and pick handfuls of it throughout the summer for chips, salads and side dishes. The kids loves making kale chips and we try to keep it around all the time for a quick easy grab-and-go snack that’s healthy and delicious. The recipe couldn’t be easier and within minutes of picking, you have a tasty snack for the whole family!

Kale chip cooking directions:
1. Rip the kale into small/medium pieces and place in a large bowl
2. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the kale (be sure not to drench as they will end up soggy)
3. Add salt or seasoning of your choice (e.g. garlic salt, ranch seasoning packet, etc.)
4. Toss to coat
5. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for about 8 minutes or until crispy
6. Enjoy!
Juicing from the garden

Juicing is another wonderful way to incorporate your garden goodies into kid-friendly snacks from the garden. Making our own juice is one of our favorite ways to get more fruits and vegetables into our meals. The benefits of juicing are plenty! From lowering cholesterol to building your immune system, boosting your energy and improving digestion. But the best part about juicing is that it’s so easy! You can use whatever you have on hand. Feel free to throw in fruits and veggies from your garden, but also anything you have in the fridge (not from your garden).

There are a million different juice recipes and you can customize any of them to your taste or needs. If you grow celery, you can juice just celery for some amazing benefits! Carrots with beets, cucumbers and kale make a great juice, using all ingredients from your garden.

One of our favorite green juice recipes is made by blending the following: 2 apples, 2 bunches of kale, 1 thumb of ginger, 2 cucumbers, 1.5 lemons, 1/2 a pineapple, and 6 oz of water. Oh man, this one is good! It’s green, but the kids love it!

Garden herb-infused water for kids

Herbs are another fun plant to include in your garden and use in various ways. You can use herbs for seasoning meals, making teas, infused oils and even soaps, if you are feeling creative 🙂 This year, we grew the following herbs: Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Sage, and Basil. We used all of these herbs in so many different ways, either fresh from the garden or dried for later use.

One of our favorite ways to incorporate fresh herbs into our diet is to make herb-infused drinks for the kids. The subtle flavors of infused water are so much better for kids and adults than the overly sweet flavor of most juices. Also, most fruit juice also contains a lot of sugar, which you avoid with infused waters.

There are so many great combinations of fruits, vegetables and herbs to add to water to make it more fun and flavorful. Infused water is best 2 to 4 hours after you’ve made it. Or, you can let it infuse overnight in the refrigerator. Here are few delicious and herb-infused waters for kids:
- cucumbers and rosemary
- basil and strawberries
- lemon (or lime) and mint
- orange slices and basil
- honeydew and mint
- watermelon and basil
- red pepper, pineapple and basil
- apple and thyme
More garden snacks for kids

Here are a few more creative ways kids can eat and enjoy vegetables from the garden. These ideas can help make vegetables more appealing and enjoyable for kids while incorporating the freshness and nutrition of garden-grown produce.
1. Veggie Sticks with Dips:
  - Slice cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and celery into sticks.
  - Serve with a variety of dips like hummus, ranch, or yogurt-based dips.
2. Homemade Veggie Chips:
  - Thinly slice vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes, or beets.
  - Toss with a little olive oil and bake until crispy.
3. Garden Fresh Salsa:
  - Combine diced tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and cilantro.
  - Add a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt for a fresh salsa to enjoy with chips or as a topping.
4. Veggie-Packed Smoothies:
  - Blend spinach or kale with fruits like bananas, strawberries, and a splash of juice or milk.
  - Add a spoonful of honey for sweetness if needed.
5. Zucchini Bread or Muffins:
  - Incorporate grated zucchini into a bread or muffin recipe.
  - These can be a sweet and healthy snack or dessert.
6. Stuffed Peppers:
  - Hollow out bell peppers and fill with a mixture of quinoa, black beans, corn, and cheese.
  - Bake until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
7. Cucumber Sandwiches:
  - Slice cucumbers into rounds and use them as a base for mini sandwiches.
  - Add fillings like cream cheese, smoked salmon, or turkey slices. Serve them at a fun outdoor tea party!
8. Veggie Pizza:
  - Top a pizza crust with tomato sauce, cheese, and an assortment of garden vegetables like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and spinach.
  - Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Carrot Cake:
- - Use freshly grated carrots in a homemade carrot cake recipe.
  - This can be a delicious dessert that sneaks in some extra veggies.
Garden snacks for kids

I can’t tell you enough how much I love gardening with my kids and enjoying the fruits of our labor together (pun intended). I highly recommend that you try gardening with your kids so you can enjoy so many of the wonderful benefits. If you don’t have the room or the time to maintain a large garden, there are still options, like indoor potted plants, window sill herb gardens and community gardens. Kids will reap benefits from even the tiniest of gardens, so don’t let size stop you. I hope your little ones like these kid-friendly snacks from the garden as much as mine do!

What’s your favorite way to eat from your garden?

About the author

I’m a wife, published photographer & mother of two little wolves. We are a homesteading family & love everything about the outdoors. We have traveled all around Wisconsin and hiked 21 state parks in just 2 years. From raising chickens, kids, having a full garden & a photography business, you could say we stay busy but we always have time for an adventure and new memories.

You can find Brandi online in the following locations:
Instagram: @motherhenshomestead
Website: http://www.soulshinephotographer.com
Run Wild My Child posts: Brandi Rondinelli
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Helping Kids Overcome Fear of Insects, Snakes & Creepy-Crawlies
- September 9, 2019
Slugs, snakes, and spiders…oh my! The fear of insects, snakes, worms, butterflies, bees, spiders and other so-called creepy crawlies* is very common for young children. It’s also pretty common in adults! However, a phobia like this can keep your child from spending time in nature and playing outdoors, both of which are extremely important for children. Today, we’re here with some tried and true tips, tricks and methods to help kids (and parents) overcome fears of insects, snakes, bees, worms and other creepy crawlies.

* Slugs, ladybugs, beetles, roaches, lizards, snakes, leeches, crawdads, worms, centipedes, caterpillars, crabs, butterflies, lightning bugs, bees, spiders, dragonflies, salamanders, mosquitoes, flies, moths, ants, wasps, crickets, frogs, snails, roly-polies, stinkbugs, grasshoppers, cicadas, praying mantis, etc. For the sake of brevity, we’re lumping together all kinds of animals into this giant category. And no, we don’t really think they’re creepy.

@lifewasmeant4adventures

Fear is normal

Fear is a normal part of any child’s development. Kids can develop a fear following an experience, like a scary bug landing on them, or can develop them as a result of their creative imagination. Things like dogs, storms, masks, the dark, or an automatic toilet flusher are all common fears. It makes sense, these things are unpredictable. Research has suggested that somewhere around 90% of young children have a specific fear.

Fear of bugs, insects and creepy crawlies is completely normal. What’s not normal is taking that fear to the extreme. For example, a child refusing to go into their bedroom because there was once a spider in there. Refusing to play soccer because there might be bugs in the grass. Hysterically panicking in the car because a bee, moth or fly is in there (which could cause an accident).

@soulshinephotographer @sara_mccarty

Fear of insects in kids

Fear of insects and other creepy crawlies can be one of the most stubborn fears to deal with. Almost all humans have some degree of aversion to these animals, but when a child has a phobia that leaves them hysterical, panicked or screaming in fear, it can become more than just disruptive. These fears can be dangerous and last through adulthood if not addressed early. If you have a child that’s scared of bugs or insects, it’s best to start helping them deal with that fear as early as possible.

Regardless of whether or not your child has a ‘normal’ fright of bugs and creepy crawlies, or something more extreme, there are things parents can do at home to help their kids work through it.

@thisgirlnamederin
@joanna.milcarz

Understanding the fear

A child’s panicked reaction to bugs stems from two causes: (1) young age and (2) lack of understanding. Adults who suffer from phobias are usually aware that their fear is irrational, but continue to be scared in spite of what they know to be true. Children’s fears, on the other hand, can often be attributed to simple inexperience – they become scared because they don’t have complete or accurate knowledge of the thing that scares them. For a child, overcoming a fear happens as the child matures and gains knowledge over the situation. With patience and knowledge, you can help your child overcome fear of insects, bugs and other creepy-crawlies.

@nataliegildersleeve @jennifer_martin_photo

Acknowledge the fear

Fear of insects and other creepy crawlies is real and normal. A child’s fear should never be ridiculed, taunted or dismissed. Do not talk your child out of the fear or force your child to confront the object of her fears head-on right away. The best way to initially overcome the fear is by acknowledging the fear while remaining calm yourself. Assure your child of your protection and support. When your child sees and feels that you take their concerns seriously, they feel closer to you and are more ready to work through the fears.

Help overcome fear of insects

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of tips, tricks, techniques, and advice for parents to help their child overcome fear of insects, bugs, snakes, reptiles and other creepy-crawlies. We hope the following list is helpful for anyone dealing with a scared child and managing their fear.

@mandiperdue

Keep your reactions in check

Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a parent is model accepting/tolerant behavior of bugs for them. The fear of insects or other creepy crawlies is one that is commonly conditioned by parents and immediately sets them up to continue the cycle. If your child has seen you run screaming from the room with arms flailing at the sight of a spider, it’s natural that they are going to be terrified too.

Parents are the protectors and the ones that teach children what’s dangerous and what’s not. Children catch anxieties from adults like they catch a common cold. Any little bit of anxiety you show may be amplified tenfold by them. So, as hard as it might be for you, try to keep from squirming and panicking to yourself. If your child sees you reacting in a calm, deliberate way, then she/he will be able to copy your behavior when ready. Getting your reactions under control is probably the most important thing you can do to help your child overcome their fear.

@cescapes @cherryblossom_and_carrots

Don’t flee

When a child starts to panic over a bug, offer them comfort where they are. Resist the urge to remove them from the situation (i.e. take them inside) and “out of harm’s way.” Instead, sit beside them and help soothe their distress. Try not to facilitate their urge to flee. By picking them up, you may inadvertently reinforce the idea that there’s a reason to be afraid or that they’re in danger where they are. Help them overcome their fear of insects and bugs in the present location by remaining calm and demonstrating that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

@blessnestlearning

Explain that bugs are helpers

One of the things that can make bugs so scary for kids is that their motives seem difficult to decipher. They buzz, fly or jump around seemingly at random. They fly by a child or land on them suspiciously. Teaching them about the benefits of bugs and the purpose they serve may help diffuse the nervousness. Explain how bees are busy at work trying to collect nectar from flowers to make honey and pollinate flowers. Talk about how ladybugs eat tiny bugs and help plants grow. Teach kids that worms aerate the soil and help make dirt. Explain that these animals aren’t gross, they’re good guys! The more you can help your child see bugs as helpers, the less scary they’ll be to children.

@eunicekimphotography @sara_mccarty

Use humor

Help a child overcome their fear of insects by using humor. When a bug or insect gets too close to your child, turn it from a scary experience into a funny one. Say something like “Silly grasshopper! He hopped into the wrong place!” or “Crazy bee, doesn’t she know you’re not a flower?” or “What’s that frog doing? Maybe he thinks you’re a princess!” Give calm, reassuring statements that make the antics of bugs seem humorous so the child comes to realize the bugs isn’t out to do them harm.

@robbs_rule @tracy_ann_tabor

Talk about size

It may help some children overcome fear of insects by pointing out the age-old wisdom that “bugs are more afraid of you than you are of them.” Ask your child to consider the bug’s perspective for a moment. Imagine how you might feel if you came across a creature that was as tall as a giant! That’s what we are to bugs. Ask your child who is bigger and stronger, him/her or the bug? Putting your very large child in a bug’s shoes may help them realize just how tiny bugs can be.

@briviglianco

Inspire empathy

Similarly to talking about size, inspire empathy for the insect by telling your child how much bugs have to worry about. Bugs are in constant fear of being hurt or stepped on by humans or eaten by other insects, small rodents, and birds. Bees will die after having stung someone, so they have no desire to sting you.

@alirae29
@sara_mccarty

Empower them with info

Help your child overcome fear of insects, reptiles and other creepy crawlies by arming kids with lots of information on bugs. Developing a better understanding of insects, spiders, and other bugs goes a long way toward helping make them less scary. Talk about why bees might sting or why a snake might bite. Discuss how they can lower the odds of being stung or bitten: standing still when a bee buzzes around or lands on them, not prodding or messing with a snake, avoiding areas where these particular bugs or animals congregate. Such knowledge helps a child feel empowered, and the more control they feel, the less afraid they’ll be.

Books like the Children’s Guide to Insects and Spiders, 1001 Bugs to Spot and The Big Book of Bugs allow kids to learn all about bugs in the comfort of their own home before encountering them again outside.

@halfpinthikes @sara_mccarty

Find a favorite

Talk to your child and see if there are any bugs or insects that your child likes or is interested in? Butterflies, lightning bugs, caterpillars, dragonflies, daddy long legs and ladybugs are a few relatively well-loved (and relatively not-scary) insects to start with. Find out what these are and learn more about them together with your child. Search for them together and study them. Show them how harmless they are and then use this knowledge to talk about similarities with other insects.

@noemimounier

Counteract the negative

Some creepy crawlies (like spiders, snakes, and leeches) get a bad reputation from humans. They are seen as evil, scary, sinister and out to get us. Throughout books, fairytales, and movies they are depicted as the bad guys and are frequent stars in horror scenes. Try to balance this negative perspective with more positive information and examples. Find a book or show where the insect is the hero (e.g. Charlotte’s Web, The Very Hungry Caterpillar). Teach your child all the cool facts about what that particular type of bug does (maybe it eats pesky mosquitos or is a vegetarian).

@emilyflodstromphotography @sara_mccarty

Address misconceptions

Sometimes a child’s fear is based on misconceptions they’ve heard or untrue ideas they’ve gotten into their head. Children can pick up a lot of bad information about bugs and other creepy crawlies, either through television, stories or other kids at school. If your child is verbal enough to talk to you about their fears, ask your kid what they know about the particular bug and what specifically scares them. Ask if there any experiences your child had with a particular bug she/he can tell you about?

Counteract some common myths with fact. For example, spiders do not crawl in your mouth while you’re sleeping. Mosquitos will not suck out ALL your blood. Most snakes aren’t venomous. Bee stings (other for those who are allergic to bees) may cause itching or irritation, but seldom significant pain. Snails don’t have teeth. Frogs won’t give you warts.

@bubblepicture @yana_kiesau

Manage pain expectations

Some fear of insects and other creepy crawlies stems from a child’s fear of pain. Kids tend to obsess over certain pains disproportionately (shots, bee stings, etc.). Oftentimes kids will end up psyching themselves out, exaggerating how bad the pain will be. You may help dispel some of the fear by helping a child put the pain into perspective. Yes, getting stung by a bee might hurt for a minute, but so does falling down and scraping your knee. Yet, this doesn’t keep you from walking, running, or riding your bike. A mosquito bite may itch, but so does wearing that scratchy princess dress.

@we_are_the_mcauleys

@borngirlxo

Watch and learn

Watching an insect and seeing what it does is a great way to expose your child to it without it being an overwhelming experience. Find a flower garden or tree and observe the insects that come and go. Find an anthill and watch the ants march in a line. Try going to the insect house at a local nature center or zoo and watch them do their job. Encourage your child to observe the bugs in their habitats and ask the staff questions. They might also see other children who are excited by bugs. Seeing others act calmly around the insects may further reduce their stress and help them overcome fear of insects.

@theramseyeve @sara_mccarty

Nurture

When children care for something, they develop empathy towards it, which can go a long way towards relieving anxiety about ALL bugs and creepy-crawlies. A good way to help kids overcome fear of insects is to have them take care of a bug and observe it. Roly-polies, beetles, crickets, and ladybugs are good candidates for observation. Although snails aren’t insects, they’ll cohabit peacefully with these bugs and are also fun to observe. Or start a wormery with your kids where they can take care of them and help them grow. Have your child make a home for the insect based on the type of habitat they live in (this may require a little bit of research). Have your child feed and care for them.

If your child is literate, encourage them to keep a journal of any interesting things the bug do. If they’re preliterate, discuss these things with them at an opportune time: What do they like to eat? Where do they spend most of their time? And so on. The nice thing about this project is that it’s easily disposable once it serves its purpose and the kids grow tired of it. Just take the habitat outside and conduct a ceremony to set the bugs free.

@fatandhappyphotography @smfrazer

Model appropriate reactions

In addition to not panicking when you see a spider or other “scary” insect, make sure you are modeling the calm and empathic behavior you want to see if your child. The actions of others speak incredibly loudly for any child trying to overcome fear of insects.

For example, say you spot a spider in your kitchen. Show your child how to calmly place a small clear jar on top of it, and then slide a stiff piece of paper under the jar. The spider sits on top of the paper. Now you can safely slide your hand under the paper and lift the jar. Carry it out of the room and release the spider outdoors. Handling its removal this way allows your child to see that you are not afraid, it’s not bad (and doesn’t need to be killed) and that you have compassion for it and want it to be in the “right” place.

@court_boucher via @solace_farm_homestead

Immersion therapy

Once your child is over their initial fear of the particular type of bug or creepy-crawly, ask them if they’d like to touch or hold one. Do not force the child to confront their fears in this way from the beginning or you may traumatize them. However, once they know more about the insect, understand that the bug can’t/won’t hurt them and have dispelled some of the common misconceptions, they might be curious enough about it to want to see it up close.

There is nothing like a hands-on experience to help a child make a connection when learning. The same can be true for making the connection between a bug and it’s harmlessness. Model the behavior first by letting your child see you hold the animal and how to be calm and gentle. Offer it to them, but if they’re unwilling or not ready, don’t press it. Give it some time and ask again in a few weeks/months.

@arthasmyheart

Be patient

Overcoming a fear is not going to happen instantly or overnight. This is something that you’ll need to work on together over time. Let your child set the pace. They are likely inundated with cues and misinformation from media and other kids that bugs are “gross” and “scary.” But with knowledge and patience and constructive bug interactions, your child’s fears should ease over time.

@sara_mccarty

For children who are allergic

If your child is allergic to bees, wasps or other insects, then their fear isn’t entirely irrational. They should have a certain degree of anxiety around these insects, but they also need to be able to manage the situation safely without panicking. Often excessive fears arise because of a traumatic memory. Maybe it’s from the first time they were stung or a parent or sibling’s reaction to a bee.

In order to decrease your child’s panic, talk through the situation and assure them they will be fine. Remind them that their epi-pen is close and will help them breathe should they get stung. Talk about how you’ll both manage the situation. You might also consider telling them that sometimes people outgrow allergies, so it’s possible they won’t have any reaction at all if they get stung. Talking about these things is often enough to turn down the fear dial to a level they can manage.

@alex_catches_things

When to get help

The takeaway here is that regardless of what your child is afraid of, fear is completely normal for children and parents can play a large role in helping their kids work through it. But sometimes it is appropriate to seek additional help. A rule of thumb for any fear is that if it’s upsetting the entire family or getting in the way of family functioning, then it’s probably time to get help. The best place to start is with your family’s pediatrician, but he or she may recommend a referral to a child psychologist.

@ambertalbertphotography @farmhouse_schoolhouse

Do you have a child that scared of creepy crawlies?
How are you handling it?

Special thanks to all the talented members of our amazing Instagram community who let us feature their incredible photos in this post. We are so unbelievably lucky to have such a wonderful online community of parents, kids, photographers and creepy crawlies!
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
How to Plant a Butterfly Garden with Your Child
- August 19, 2019
The joy of digging in the dirt, growing flowers, and watching butterflies alight on fragrant blooms make growing a butterfly garden a magical summertime activity for kids of all ages. Today, we have the amazing outdoor adventure mom Josée, from The Backwoods Mama, here teach us all about why butterflies matter, what flower they’re attracted to and how to help butterflies thrive by planting a butterfly garden with your child. Planting a butterfly garden is a wonderful project for children of all ages. And you don’t have to have a lot of space; you can grow a butterfly garden nearly anywhere!

The butterfly is a flying flower, The flower a tethered butterfly.” – Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun

A budding interest in flowers and butterflies

“Maman, look! It’s a butterfly!” my daughter exclaimed with delight.

A beautiful tiger swallowtail alighted on a flower in our garden. We quietly watched as the butterfly sipped nectar and then fluttered away on the warm summer breeze.

Flowers and butterflies have been the topic of many conversations in our home lately. It all started when my children received a special parcel with fifteen tiny little painted lady caterpillars. As those little caterpillars, grew so did our collection of library books on butterflies and flowers. Soon, we were making lists of flowers that butterflies like and making trips to our local garden centre. We had decided to plant a butterfly garden for our soon to hatch painted ladies.

Why do butterflies matter?

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects on our planet. Their delicate wings dance like flowers in the wind. However, butterflies are much more than pretty bugs; they are very important for healthy habitats.

Butterflies are crucial pollinators. Some plants, like milkweed, depend on butterflies to help them reproduce. Butterflies are also an important food source for birds, amphibians, reptiles and other creatures. Butterflies are even considered an “indicator” species because they are very sensitive to changes in habitat.

Sadly, the fragile butterfly is under threat because of habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. Don’t despair! That’s where you and your child can help. Growing a butterfly garden helps butterflies by giving them food to eat and a safe place to rear their young.

Attractor flowers for butterflies

Did you know that butterflies can see the color red? It’s true! That’s why many butterflies prefer flowers that are bright red, orange and yellow. Butterflies also taste with their feet – yum!

Another interesting fact about butterflies is that they are picky eaters. Each species of butterfly has its own favorite flowers. However, despite their picky palate, there are many flowers that butterflies love. I have compiled a list below of twenty-five flowers that are sure to attract butterflies to your garden.

These butterfly attractor flowers listed below come in all shapes and sizes. Some will come back every year (perennials) and others will not (annuals). Remember, flowers behave in different ways. Some get really tall or very wide. Other like to spread everywhere. Mint and goldenrod send out runner roots and can very quickly take over an area. Plant these in containers or in areas that you don’t mind be taken over.

Also, some native flowers can be difficult to find. Milkweed is a native plant and can be difficult to find. Check local nurseries specializing in native plants. In our butterfly garden, we have a mix of sunflowers, zinnias, dianthus, cosmos, echinacea, marigold, veronica and yarrow. It’s beautiful chaos and butterflies love it.

25 flowers that attract butterflies
- Allium
- Aster
- Butterfly Bush
- Chrysanthemum
- Cosmo
- Daisy
- Dianthus
- Echinacea
- Goldenrod
- Joe pye weed
- Lantana
- Liatris
- Lupin
- Marigold
- Milkweed
- Mint
- Monarda
- Black Eyed Susan
- Nasturtium
- Snapdragon
- Sunflower
- Verbena
- Veronica
- Yarrow
- Zinnia
How to plant a butterfly garden

Planting a butterfly garden with your child is a wonderful way to connect with nature and help butterflies thrive. You don’t need a huge backyard or a large space to make a butterfly garden. If you don’t have a lot of room, don’t worry! A butterfly garden can come in all shapes and sizes. You can plant a butterfly garden in a pot on your balcony, in a hanging basket or in several containers along the sunny side of your home.

1. Choose a sunny spot

The location of your garden is more important than its size. Butterflies and flowers are sun-powered, so it’s important to plant your butterfly garden in a nice sunny spot. Make sure you also have access to water, whether that’s from rain, a sprinkler or a hose.

2. Gather your supplies

Once you’ve picked your sunny spot, make a list of supplies. You will need the following items:
- soil
- something (or somewhere) to plant your flowers in (container, pot or hanging basket)
- seeds or flowers to plant
- water
3. Select your flowers

My suggestion is to make a list of flowers that bring you and your child joy (from the list above) and take it to your local garden center, greenhouse or plant nursery. Find someone there that is happy to talk plants and offer you ideas for what kind of plants will work best for your space and climate.

Some things to think about when purchasing flowers are:
- Where are you going to plant your flowers?
- How much space do you have?
- Will the flowers come back every year (perennials) or not (annuals)?
- How much space will your flowers need?
- Will the flowers grow well in your climate?
- How big will your flowers get?
- How much water will the flowers need?
- Is it easier to grow this flower from seed or as a seedling?
4. Plant your flowers

Once you’ve selected your flowers, it’s time to get dirty! If you are planting your flowers from seed, it’s best to get them into the ground early in the season. For flower seedlings, plant them into your pot or into the ground as soon as possible. I find that it’s quite easy to forget about flower seedlings and have them accidentally dry up and die before being planted – oops!

Encourage your child to get their hands dirty and help with planting the flowers. Dirt is good for kids! And don’t forget to give your newly planted seeds and seedlings water so that they can grow.

5. Watch for butterflies

Once your flowers are planted, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your need butterfly garden. Set up a chair, blanket or reading nook near your flower garden and keep an eye out for some colorful butterfly friends with your child. Take out books from your local library about butterflies and enjoy some read-aloud time together. Maybe you will even want to rear your own butterflies!

Rearing your own butterflies

Butterflies have an amazing life-cycle called complete metamorphosis. This process has four stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa) and butterfly (adult). It can be very difficult to see all four stages in nature which is why rearing butterflies in your home can be such a great learning opportunity.

These days it’s easy to find butterfly rearing kits from online education stores. One popular butterfly to rear is the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly. My kids reared their first butterflies this season and they just loved it.

What butterflies live in your area?
What types of flowers do they like to visit?

About the author

Hello! Bonjour! I’m Josée. I am a nature lover, blogger, photographer and homeschooler. I live in the sunny Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada with my husband and my three children. We are avid rock climbers, hikers, campers, skiers and adventure seekers. We love exploring new places, both near and far, and enjoy getting outside whatever the weather. I believe in the beauty of raising wild children!

You can find more about Josée and her adventures at http://www.backwoodsmama.com and on Instagram at @thebackwoodsmama.
GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Gardening with Kids: 5 Easy Vegetables to Grow
- July 5, 2019
Gardening is a fun and easy nature adventure to do with kids of any age. Kids love getting messy, muddy and digging around in the earth. They also love being outside, being active, learning about new things and taking care of their very own project. All these things make gardening a perfect activity for kids. Today, we have the absolutely amazing Jemma of thimbleandtwig.com (English teacher and mom to 4 in London) here sharing tips on starting a vegetable garden and 5 easy vegetables to grow with kids.

Benefits of gardening with kids

There are so many great reasons to get kids involved in gardening. As outdoor activities go, gardening is a wonderful and well-rounded way to teach a valuable skill and connect kids to the earth. Half the fun of gardening is eating what you sow and kids that grow gardens tend to eat healthier and are more likely to try new fruits and vegetables. I’m always amazed at what my kiddos will eat when they’ve spent some time growing it with their own fair hands! Gardening is also a physical activity that gets kids outdoors and gets their hands in the dirt. This physical contact with nature is an immeasurable benefit to kids. Gardening can also build confidence by making children feel more skilled and capable.

No land, no problem!

You don’t have to own a big plot of land to garden. Fruit and vegetables can easily be grown in containers or hanging pots on a balcony, fence or windowsill or even inside if you’re a city dweller! Strawberries do very well in hanging baskets, for example. And tomatoes absolutely thrive in containers, so long as they have ample sunlight. Radishes do great in deep pots and beans grow well in pots with a trellis.

Experimental gardening

Last year, we built a couple of vegetable boxes in our garden for our children to grow vegetables. We had an experimental year where we planted lots of different types of fruit and vegetables and waited to see which ones would do well and which ones didn’t make it to the table! Some of the fruit and vegetables didn’t grow properly or were eaten by birds (I thoroughly recommend a net over any fruit you might grow!).

Even if all your crops fail – simply the experience of planting, tending and nurturing vegetables can help instill a sense of responsibility in children and help them care for their environment. Their excitement at the first glimpse of a little shoot after they’ve planted the seed – is priceless! They are always so excited at the first glimpse of green!

Five easy vegetables to grow with kids

If you’re looking to start a vegetable garden or grow a few container plants, here are 5 easy vegetables to grow with kids (plus a bonus fruit). These vegetables are easy and foolproof to grow with kids. We had a great experience growing these plants last year and we’re not particularly green-fingered in the garden! This goes to show that if we can grow something – anyone can!

1. Green Beans

Green beans are perfect for growing in a vegetable garden with kids. They are easy to plant, grow and withstand a variety of weather. There are lots of different types of beans – runner, climbing French beans and dwarf beans. Beans are perfect for a sunny, well-drained spot and can also be grown in pots. You will need something for them to grow up (some type of trellis or climbing netting), but this is easy to construct from canes and twine. We found that beans grow quickly and that the runner beans and broad beans were the best hit with our kids. They loved picking them and popping them open to discover the beans inside.

2. Carrots

Carrots are another easy vegetable to grow because they survive in most climates. If you have a vegetable bed, you may need to grow a shorter version like Chantenay Carrots that don’t need as much space. These are also the best variety to grow in colder temperatures too. Since you cannot see how big your carrots are growing underground, picking the first carrot is always so much fun! It’s a total surprise and you never know what you’re going to get. The kids love choosing their carrot stem and seeing what comes up when they pull!

3. Potatoes

Potatoes are an amazing vegetable to grow with children because you can grow them in container bags and you don’t need a veggie patch! Plus, nearly all kids like eating potatoes since they are versatile to cook with. As you start with a seed potato, it’s a little bit like a science experiment for kids, which is lots of fun. My kids liked waiting for the ‘eyes’ to grow and once the seed potatoes have ‘eyes’, you can plant them in a deep bucket or potato bag (some even have a see portion so you can watch them grow). Every time the plants reach the surface, kids should cover with more soil. Potatoes are an easy vegetable for kids to learn how to take care of themselves. A good tip is to wait until all the flowers on the potato plant have nearly died back before harvesting your potatoes.

4. Cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are another great vegetable to grow with kids. (Ok, yes, tomatoes are technically a fruit.) Cherry tomato plants are usually high yielding and produce a ton of little red tomatoes. These are perfect for snacking on (pop them directly into your mouth!), throw them in a salad or skewer them for kabobs. They’re also a bit sweet, so kids like them much more than larger varieties.

5. Peas

Peas are also easy to grow and grow quickly and they can be grown in pots. They are the most fun to harvest as the kids love shelling them from their pea pods! Peas can be frozen or kept in the refrigerator for about 5 days which makes them perfect for getting the most out of your crop. My kids (and I) love the sugar snap pea variety because they’re so crunchy and sweet. For more tips on growing peas with kids – see this article from The Educator’s Spin on It!

Bonus: strawberries and raspberries

Not a vegetable, but I’m adding this in as a bonus because kids LOVE strawberries! Strawberries and raspberries are perfect for growing with children because they are truly delicious! Homegrown berries are so much sweeter and juicier than you buy at the store. Kids love peeking under the leaves of the plants to find the red ripe strawberries or raspberries. In our garden, the strawberries didn’t ever make it back from the garden though! Strawberries can be grown in any part of your garden and can take up either a small or large space, depending on what you have available.

Be sure to check out my website for more tips on Growing a Vegetable Garden with Kids, including how to make a handy wooden spoon planter to label your vegetables! Have great fun growing in your garden with kids! We’d love to hear what successes you’ve had in your vegetable garden!

Are you growing a garden with your kids this summer?
(it’s not too late to start one)
What are you growing?

Meet the author

I’m Jemma and I live in London, England with my husband and 4 kids. My all-time favorite thing to do is take photos and capture memories of my family. I’m on a mission to ensure parenthood doesn’t rush by so quickly by creating mini family outdoor adventures and hopefully some big adventures too, one day! I’m a mum to four and an English teacher to many; my passion for storytelling, adventures and nature crafts is packaged up into my blog http://www.thimbleandtwig.com.

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @thimbleandtwig
BEACH, FAVORITE GEAR, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, SUMMER
The Best Reef Safe Sunscreens for Kids
- June 24, 2019
Summer is here and so is the sun! That means it’s more important than ever to make sure your kids are protected from the elements. Sunscreen is one way that you can keep your kids’ skin protected from the sun. However, we want to make sure that the products we’re using are not only safe for your kids, but safe for the planet. Climate change, pollution, and other environmental factors are slowly eroding the health of coral reefs around the world, which in turn can affect the health of the oceans. Today, Desirée Macke is here with ways you can keep your kids’ skin safe from the sun without putting the environment at risk. She’s also sharing 6 of the best reef safe sunscreens for kids and other ways that you can help keep our oceans safe from damaging chemicals.

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Not all sunscreens are the same

The hot sunny days of summer are finally here! That means your kids will (hopefully) be outside doing fun outdoor activities and spending endless hours in rivers, lakes, pools, or oceans. It’s super important this time of year to keep your kids sun-safe. Sunscreen becomes necessary and unavoidable – you need good stuff and lots of it. If you’re anything like me, you hit up your local market and grab the sunscreen that’s on sale. In the past, I’ve often reached for any big name brand – the cheaper, the better. I lather the kids up and send them on their merry way.

However, sunscreen has come a long way over the last few years and those changes have made me reconsider the way I choose sunscreens for my family. Not all sunscreens are created equal and there are some very important reasons why you should be considering more than just size and price when choosing a sunscreen for your kids.

Why choose a reef safe sunscreen?

It is estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen are deposited into our oceans each year. Much of that sunscreen contains oxybenzone and octinoxate. Studies have found those chemicals hurts coral, and contribute to coral bleaching. When coral bleaches, it is not dead, but under significant stress and subject to increased mortality levels. This, in turn, affects sea life and the overall health of our oceans. In addition, sunscreens containing petrolatum (commonly known as mineral oil) and Titanium Dioxide both takes many years to biodegrade and are known to be harmful or fatal to aquatic life and waterfowl.

Sounds scary for our oceans, right? It is. And it’s important. Hawaii is the first state in the US to ban the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Most popular sunscreen brands are known to contain these dangerous chemicals. However, there’s good news! We are starting to see a trend of new, less toxic sunscreen lines which are made without oxybenzone, octinoxate and parabens, which are much better for the environment.

6 reef safe sunscreens for kids

Choosing the right sunscreen is important not only to protect skin from burns and cancer, but also to preserve our oceans and marine life. Selecting a sunscreen that is both effective and reef safe can be overwhelming, but fear not! We’ve compiled a list of the best reef safe sunscreens for kids that will protect your family from the harmful sun rays, and help to keep our oceans safe from damaging chemicals. In this breakdown, we’ll provide price points for each product. We will also show what the Environmental Working Group has rated each product, on a scale of 1 to 10. A rating of 1 is the safest for consumption/application as well as the environment.

Babo Botanical Clear Zinc Sunscreen
- $12.50 for 3 oz ($4.13/ounce)
- SPF 30
- Be sure to reach for the Clear Zinc, rather than the Sheer Zinc
- EWG rating: 1
Beautycounter Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
- $39 for 6.7 oz ($5.82/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: 1
Coola Mineral Body Sunscreen
- $36 for 5 oz ($7.20/ounce)
- SPF 30
- Also available in SPF 50 Sensitive for Babies – $36 for 3 oz ($12/ounce)
- EWG rating: 1
Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen
- $18 for 3 oz ($6.00/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: 1
Reef Repair Suncream
- $15 for 4 oz ($3.75/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: not available at the time of this publication
Thinksport Kids Sport Sunscreen
- $22 for 6 oz ($3.66/ounce)
- SPF 50+
- EWG rating: 1
Other ways to keep kids safe in the sun

Even mineral-based sunscreens can negatively impact fish and coral reefs at high concentrations. When thousands of people get into the water at a single beach, the oils from even the safest sunscreen products can induce toxicity. The best thing we can do is limit products when recreating in high use areas and find other safe ways to keep our kids safe from the sun.

If you plan to go into the water at the beach, the best way to protect both your kids and the environment is to cover up with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing. Not only are the kids covered up and safe from the sun, but it’s also so much easier than asking 163 times for the kids to stand still while sunscreen is being applied. There are lots of options for UVF clothing, but two of our favorite companies are Veyo Kids (which has sun hoodies and Noggins sun hats to keep the sun rays at bay) and SwimZip (which offers swimsuits, rash guards, and cover-ups for the whole family). Even regular non-UPF clothing offers excellent protection. You’ll still have to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin, but you’ll need far less—up to half the amount—than you might if you were in a bathing suit.

Other options for sun protection include giant sun umbrellas and pop-up canopies.

What are you doing to protect your family and the oceans this summer?

I’m Desirée; wife to Scott, mom to Marcus and Julia. I’m the domestic engineer (that’s my fancy term for stay-at-home-mom) of the family, here in Southern California. My husband, kids, and I love the outdoors. Our favorite ways to explore are hiking the coastal trails near us as well as combing the tide pools for aquatic treasures. To quench our thirst for wide open spaces beyond the hustle and bustle of our urban jungle. We love to visit state and national parks, as well as conservation areas and nature preserves.

You can find more of Desirée’s adventures in the following locations:

Instagram: @desireemacke

Blog: Macke Monologues
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FAVORITE GEAR, GOOD FOR NATURE, PHOTOGRAPHY
Making a Difference with Vivobarefoot Kids
- April 25, 2019
We humans have been pretty terrible to the planet we live on and the animals that inhabit it. Just since 1970, human activity has destroyed 60% of all the world’s animals. There are now over 16,000 endangered species threatened with extinction. Scientists estimate that 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird, and mammal become extinct EVERY 24 HOURS. Insect populations are declining at a rate that could be “catastrophic” for our ecosystems within two generations. Scientists are describing what’s happening to animal life on earth as “biological annihilation.” Something has to change. And that change starts right here, with us! We are making a difference, one kid at a time!

Here come the wild ones

Last month we had the honor of teaming up with one of our all-time favorite outdoor kid’s shoe brands – Vivobarefoot Kids – to host a hashtag campaign to raise awareness for our planet and its animals. VivoKids recently launched a new line of eco-friendly kids shoes inspired by endangered species. These “Wild” shoes have minimal impact on the environment and are made with cleaner, greener materials. For example, the Ultra Blooms are made from algae blooms and each pair returns 25 liters of clean water and reduces 6 balloons worth of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

A portion of the profits from the sale of these shoes go directly to The Aspinall Foundation, a British charity that works to promote wildlife conservation through education, captive breeding programmes and, crucially, by reintroducing endangered species into the wild wherever possible. Over the last few years, the Aspinall Foundation has successfully reintroduced a range of animals (including 8 black rhino, 49 Javan Langurs, 9 Javans gibbons, 11 European bison and over 60 western lowland gorillas) back into the wild in their natural habitat.

#wildkids4wildlife

In connection with this amazing collaboration, we became inspired to encourage kids (and their parents!) to learn more about the animals in whose footprints they are walking and to take action to help our planet. We believe the more kids know about the environment and wildlife, the more ingrained it will be in them to care for it and act accordingly as they grow.

During the month of March, we ran a hashtag campaign on Instagram with VivoKids and our favorite hub @wildandbravelittles. We encouraged kids (and parents) to take action with a good deed for the earth and tag us! Our #wildkids4wildlife campaign was born and it was absolutely amazing! Throughout the month we featured these tagged images and were blown away with the incredible response and feedback we received.

Be the change you want to see

We saw kids doing all kinds of good deeds, from picking up litter to planting a tree. From gardening and composting, to recycling and attending rallies on climate change. Some kids made donations to their local wildlife rehabilitation centers, stopped their use of single-serve plastics and wrote letters to their congressional reps about changes that could be made to protect our earth. We saw kids reading books about endangered animals, visiting their local zoo and learning about them and making a commitment to help. It was inspiring! We hope this will be the starting point for a lifetime of conversations, actions and changes so that we can all be kinder to our planet.

With VivoKids’ help, we chose three “winners” from the tagged images. Each of these winners received shoes for their kids from Vivobarefoot. Their images were not only inspiring but told a beautiful story about the compassion and power of kids. We asked the winners a few questions about their images and the story behind them. Their answers are below.

@amys.place

NSW, Australia, on the Coffs Coast
4 children; Lara (10), Dylan (7), Freya (5) and Ciara (3)

The story behind the image

On 15 March 2019, I accompanied my eldest daughter to a local student strike against climate change, which was a globally organized event inspired by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish student who began striking each Friday in August 2018. Greta has been a source of inspiration for my daughter, who is an aspiring biologist and who cares deeply for our planet. On 15 March, Lara woke early and set to work on her sign. Her message was clear, and indeed helped set the theme for the day, that no one is too small to make a difference.

How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

My husband is an environmental scientist and I have a legal background. Both he and I have raised our children with an awareness that our planet cannot be exploited and taken for granted as it has in the past. On a household level, we make efforts to reduce our waste and produce our own food when possible. We use solar energy at home and we collect rubbish from waterways, parks, bushlands, and beaches. Our children all know and recite the phrase “take three for the sea,” (though we often end up with large collections of plastic after a beach trip). We continue to educate our children to respect our planet and to advocate for it. We encourage them to enjoy it, to learn from it, but to never to take it for granted. They will, after all, be the next generation of leaders and decision-makers. Moving forward, I hope that they will learn from our mistakes, but I also hope that we can show them that we learned from them too. We must not wait for the next generation to fix what we broke, because this is impossible. We have to make the change now.

@soulshinephotographer

Southeastern Wisconsin
2 children – Lorenzo (4.5) & Halona (3)

The story behind the image

This photo was taken while we were planting our first garden at our new house. We really wanted to have the kids be hands-on (literally!) with the gardening process, which they love. This picture was taken on our transplant day when we moved our plants outside. We started all our vegetables from seeds, so when the time was right, most had to be transplanted outdoors into the garden. The kids and I spent the day transplanting our little seedlings with love, care, and tenderness. Yes, it took most of the day as we have well over 200 plants growing!

How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

We are a homesteading family and have been teaching the kids all about the natural world and how to help protect it since they were babies. Taking care of our environment is a big part of our lives. Getting the kids involved in gardening has really helped them become aware of the earth and all it has to offer when treated right and what happens when you don’t. I love talking to the kids about the process and teaching them when to water and feed plants, how the soil absorbs the nutrients and what helps the plants grow strong. Then we introduce other ideas, such as what might happen when other (harmful) things are absorbed by the soil? I like to introduce these types of open-ended questions and let the reasoning happen naturally.

We are also a big hiking family and on our hikes, we observe the natural world. On these hikes we be sure to bring our reusable bags and pick up any trash we see on the way. We have been teaching our children the importance of taking care of our earth by also doing the things listed below. Things you and your family can do too to help protect our earth!

What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

Some everyday activities we have done/do to make a difference to our planet:
- turn the lights off when you are not using them;
- unplug things not in use;
- use cardboard for burning to reduce the amount being put into landfills;
- use reusable bags instead of harmful plastic bags;
- recycle;
- hang clothes on the line to air dry;
- use cloth diapers;
- potty train as soon as possible to eliminate diapers and extra laundry;
- pick up trash even if it’s not yours;
- be a part of the community and participate in clean ups;
- plant tree and bee-friendly flowers;
- grow our own food to alleviate food transportation waste; and
- eat less processed foods.
@erinbethray

South Florida
2 boys, ages 7 and 8

The story behind the image

My images show my boys cleaning up the Broward County waterways. We participated in the 2019 waterway cleanup, which is held across our entire county, from the beaches all the way to the Everglades, and everywhere in between! Wherever there’s a waterway, river, or canal, we’re trying to clean it up. It’s our county’s largest and longest running environmental event!

How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

We are constantly learning and trying. Every day is a learning experience on how we can help mother earth and protect our planet. I believe if you do good, your kids are always watching and, in turn, they’ll do good! I try to lead by example. We also love to learn about animals. I believe that if you teach children that our earth is the home for these animals, it can help them want to do better for those creatures and our planet. Give them a love of the world and nature and they’ll WANT to help.

What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

I think one of the easiest things people can to do to make a difference for our planet is to use metal straws. Also, if you’re going out into nature (to the beach, a park, trail, etc.), bring a bag and pick up as much garbage as you can. It’s simple and effective! Also, we should all recycle as much as we can!

The earth is not ours to inherit – it’s on loan from our children and grandchildren. If we want there to be anything left we have to act now. All of us.

* This hashtag campaign and giveaway is sponsored by and in collaboration with Vivobarefoot Kids.
GOOD FOR NATURE, HOLIDAYS, MCFAMILY, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Tips for Cutting Down Your Own Christmas Tree
- December 1, 2017
Cutting down your own Christmas tree is a fun family tradition that gives you adventure, fresh air and a respect for nature. It’s a fun excuse for a little physical exercise in the great outdoors and wonderful reason for your family to spend some time together.

While you might expect a pro-nature argument against cutting down a live tree, it’s actually the opposite. When you choose a real tree over a plastic artificial one, you help both the environment and your community. While there are benefits of artificial trees (convenience and accessibility), we hope you’ll consider a real tree this year, for environmental and economic reasons. A there’s no better way to find the perfect real tree than getting out there and cutting down your own!

Benefits of a real tree

Artificial trees will last for seven to ten years in your home, but centuries in a landfill. Artificial trees are produced in overseas factories, with less stringent environmental regulations, poorer working conditions and lower wages. On the other hand, real Christmas trees are produced locally, from sunlight, rainfall and soil. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree farms. Those farms grow approximately 350 million trees and employ over 100,000 people.

Planted like an agricultural crop, these trees provide wildlife habitat, air filtration and prevent soil erosion as they grow until they are harvested and replaced by another tree. Each tree grows for an average of eight years. A fresh cut Christmas tree is recyclable and biodegradable. Once used, the tree can be chipped for mulch, burned, or land filled, where it will naturally break down over time. There are also thousands of Christmas tree recycling programs across the U.S. Trees are used to make sand and soil erosion barriers or placed in ponds for fish shelter.

Forest or farm

If you want to cut down your own tree, you can either go to a tree farm or venture into the woods to find your own. If you want that extra sense of adventure, head into the woods, but be prepared. Some areas require a permit to cut down a tree (usually a nominal fee). There may be areas where cutting is restricted or allowed only during a certain time. The size of tree (diameter of the trunk at the base) may be regulated and gas powered tools (chainsaws) may not be allowed, so tools are limited to axes or handsaws.

There are lots of benefits of cutting down a live tree from the forest. It provides more room for remaining trees to grow, which are less stressed and better situated to cope with disease and insects. Reducing competition allows for easier access to water, nutrients, and sunlight and reduces wildfire risk by providing less potential fuel for a fire.

If you go to a Christmas tree farm, you will be supporting your local community. Farm trees will be much more uniform in size and shape. Trees are usually grown in rows so they get plenty of sunlight to form a symmetrical shape. They’re usually anywhere from 3 to 10 feet in height and cost an average of $55/tree. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, so there’s bound to be a farm by you (check out this website for state-by-state info).

Tips for cutting your own tree

We’ve been cutting down our own Christmas tree from a local farm (Eckert’s in Belleville, Illinois) for the last few years. It’s become one of our family’s favorite annual traditions. Riding the tractor out to the field and choosing the perfect tree is always a fun outing for the kids. Plus, there’s always a lot of other fun holiday related activities to do at Eckert’s, including making gingerbread houses, visiting Santa and story time.

Over the last few years, we’ve learned a few lessons about cutting down our own tree, which we’re happy to pass on to you! So, before you embark on your own tree-chopping journey, here are some things to keep in mind.
1. Don’t go too early – the best time for cutting your own Christmas tree is between late November and mid-December. The average time a well-watered cut tree holds its needles is 3-4 weeks.
2. Measure your space – make sure you measure both the place in your house where the tree with go (height & width) and the space in your vehicle where you’ll be transporting your tree.
3. Take a tape measure – a lot of farms will provide measuring tapes or sticks, but it’s always best to bring your own. Expert parenting tip: if you have more than one kid, bring a tape measure for each so there’s no fighting over it.
4. Boots and gloves – wear sturdy boots that protect your feet and good, heavy-duty work gloves. Sunglasses also protect your eyes from rogue pine needs. Wet wipes are great for removing sap from hands and fingers.
5. Do a walk through – before you choose your tree, walk through the grounds and scope them all out. Sometimes trees are arranged by size, shape, breed, etc. Get a lay of the land before making your final decision. Also, when you think you’ve found the perfect tree, walk-around the entire tree to make sure there are no bald spots, dead patches or animals living in the tree.
6. Test for freshness – in order to make sure your chosen tree is fresh, run a branch through your enclosed hand. The needles should not come off easily. Bend the outer branches – they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry.
7. Lightweight saw – it’s best to use a lightweight saw that is meant for cutting live trees. Most farms will provide these for you; just call the farm ahead of your visit to make sure.
8. Cut low – cut your Christmas tree low to the ground and quickly, if possible. The low cut will allow the tree to re-sprout a central leader to form another Christmas tree for the future. Once the tree starts to lean over, finish your saw cuts quickly. Don’t push the tree over. That can cause the bark to rip and splinter. It is best to have an assistant support the tree as you are cutting.
9. Shake it – the tree may well have become home to birds, bugs and spiders during the year, so once it’s cut, shake it! A vigorous shaking will not only get rid of loose pine needles, but will also evict Charlotte (and her web). Lots of farms will shakes your chosen tree on a mechanical shaker for no additional cost.
10. Be careful during transport – be careful not to break branches or bend the thin part at the top. Also, you should prepare your vehicle for transport. If you’re putting on top of your car, bring ropes or tie-downs. If you’re going to put it in the vehicle, bring a large tarp or blanket to keep any pine needles from shedding all over.
11. Ensure freshness – when you get your tree home, take a 1 inch slice off the bottom of the trunk where the tree was cut to allow it to soak up nutrients and water faster. Get the tree into water as soon as possible. Make sure the water is not too cold (it can shock the tree).
I hope you and your family try a real tree this holiday season! And for an extra adventure, cut down your own tree. Make it a family tradition. Don’t feel guilty – it’s good for the environment! And it feels great to get outside together and choose a tree as a family. I guarantee you’ll have fun and make amazing memories while you’re at it. Don’t forget your camera!

Have you ever cut down your own tree?