living

Intro:

Like most first-time well-to-do western parents, I get a vague sense that we’re hyper-obsessing. Along those lines, one of the first things we tried to do after we found out [we were expecting] was to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in our household, food, and personal care products.

by Robin Plaskoff Horton | Urban Gardens Web

Here’s an all-in-one mobile solar power system that’s as easy to use as any simple home appliance.

by Abby Quillen / fix.com

It probably won’t surprise most vegetable gardeners that insects outnumber humans many millions of times over. While some insects can be beneficial for certain plants, gardeners are all too familiar with the destruction of many tiny crawly critters.

Fortunately, nature offers plenty of non-toxic ways to discourage and manage detrimental insects. The following six steps can help a gardener reduce pest problems without toxic chemicals. Remember: Prevention is always the first and best line of attack.

More and more attention has been focused on the negative health effects of outdoor air pollution—and that’s a good thing. But while curtailing pollution outside is important, we’re not necessarily safe indoors, either. In fact, any toxins or pollutants released indoors are approximately 1,000 times more likelyto be breathed in than anything released outdoors. Nearly three percent of the global burden of disease is attributable to indoor air pollution.