How We’re Doing on Our Green Goals for 2009

With July already well underway, I realized it’s time to review our goals for 2009. I wrote about the annual goals we set earlier and since then we have added a few more. Here’s how we are doing so far.

Mission Accomplished!
•    Expand our garden beyond containers. We now have a small garden going in our backyard. After doing some research, we decided to stick mostly with herbs this first year while we build up the soil. Even with our record breaking drought, the garden is doing well so far. (Fingers crossed!) Thanks to Heather at Simple-Green-Frugal for answering my newbie questions about gardening in Texas! Read more

Family Friday: The Fun of Family Campouts!

For June, Lucas Miller draws our attention to the fun of a family campout, whether it is in your own backyard or farther out in nature. The Great American Backyard Campout is quickly approaching so start talking with your family about how you want to participate!

On our last campout, we did not take Lucas’ advice about avoiding marshmallows, as you can see from this photo of the girls. He is right about getting them off your shoes! But the s’mores were such a hit that next time we’ll just step more carefully.

Do you have an old tent lounging on the top shelf of your garage? Some sleeping bags up there, too? Well, air ‘em out! And pull that dusty six-string out from under the bed, too, because the National Wildlife Federation is declaring June 27 the Great American Backyard Campout! Oh, yeah, and grab a couple of different kinds of kid-friendly bug repellent. Read more

Family Friday: Livin’ La Vida Croak-a

This month Lucas Miller shares a fun, inexpensive, and family-friendly activity. Our last home backed to a creek so we had the luxury of listening to the frogs’ serenades nightly there. We’ll need to take a trip to listen to their beautiful night music now but I assure you that it is well worth it. What a great way to help children experience nature!

It’s spring. Yes, the birds are singing—and so are the anurans (“frogs and toads” for those of you who didn’t study zoology). They’re out there filling the spring nights with their croaks, peeps, trills, honks, clicks ,and various other noises. If you think all frogs go “ribbit,” then think again. As Archie Carr, my zoological mentor, wrote, “Frogs do for the night what birds do for the day; they give it a voice. And the voice is varied and stirring; one that ought to be better known.” Read more

Of Milkweeds and Monarchs

Thanks to Lucas Miller’s previous post about milkweeds, we’ve had two young children very excited about spring in our house. My kids were fascinated with the idea of providing sustenance for monarch butterflies and sanctuary for their babies so, ever since we read the article, they have been asking when it would be warm enough to add milkweeds to our yard. We decided spring break would be the perfect time to do so and the countdown began.

Then, days before spring break began, the flu hit. Both girls got sick but with different strains, which allowed us to experience the full glory not once, but twice as germs were swapped. I am now ever more thankful that we own a washing machine.

By the tail end of spring break, everyone was finally feeling better. After a day of waiting to ensure no relapses would occur, we headed to the nursery. With their bright orange and yellow flowers and pointed leaves, the milkweeds were easy to identify among all the other plants. We had looked at some pictures online first, mostly because I wanted to spare the other gardeners a long search by two tired girls and their exhausted mom. Looking at the pictures definitely helped – the girls spotted the plants first. Read more

Nurtured by Nature

Shortly after I posted on my children’s gravitation to the natural world around us, I read about an interesting study in Newsweek on the psychological effect the natural world has on humans. Read more

Call of the Wild

This is my second entry to the Affluent Persons Living Sustainably or APLS Carnival. February’s topic is connections between experiences in nature and sustainable living. The selected entries will be hosted by Green Phone Booth on February 20 so be sure to visit and read what everyone has to say. You can learn more about this and future carnivals at APLS.

Both of my children have had a passionate love affair with the natural world since they were very young. Their reactions to all creatures great and small have helped me to see how omnipresent the natural world is and how powerful its hold on us. Read more

Family Friday: Book Review for ‘Sharing Nature with Children’

“Only by sharing our deeper thoughts and feelings do we communicate to, and inspire in others, a love and respect for the earth. When we share our own ideas and feelings, it encourages a child to explore, respectfully, his own feelings and perceptions.”
- Joseph Cornell, Sharing Nature with Children

Whether your family resides in a large city, is making a home in the suburbs, or lives in the country, Sharing Nature With Children by Joseph Cornell is full of activities to develop and foster a love of nature in your child. And yourself. Read more

Family Friday: Family Movie Night Suggestions

Greening Families is excited to announce that Lucas Miller, of Singing Zoologist fame, will be contributing a monthly guest post. These posts will concentrate on suggestions for families to enjoy and appreciate nature together. We hope that these ideas will deepen your appreciation of the world around us while also strengthening your family’s connections. Read more

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