To kick off the growing season we met up with Laura Watt from Cubit’s, a Canadian organic seed company. Laura is excited to offer a seed-give-away on naturalmommy. Keep reading for details of how you can win her fabulous seeds for your 2012 garden!
Laura is from Toronto Canada and she has a passion for organic gardening and helping others to grow healthy, natural food. Cubit’s offers organic, rare and heirloom seeds on-line and they have a special interest in urban gardening and local food because they believe that anyone can easily grow their own produce. It’s fun, healthier than non-organic-store-bought-produce and good for the planet too!
Laura’s passion for gardening and helping people get passionate about growing food themselves is infections. Laura’s website, cubitsorganics.com, offers fun recipes and tips for what to do with all those delicious veggies and herbs after you’ve grown them! Check out her recipe for Canada’s Best Sandwich, found [here].
Some of Cubit’s seeds are truly unique, like their organic watermelon radish seeds which will turn any salad into a conversation piece. What is a watermelon radish you might be wondering? It is a radish that looks like a miniature watermelon! We also love Cubit’s organic carrot seed blend called Rainbow Carrots (featured in first image) and their beet seeds that create mouthwatering organic early-wonder-tall-top-beets (featured in second image).
What to win some of these incredible seeds?
All you have to do is like us on facebook, then, send us a message letting us know what your gardening aspirations are this year! Simple, eh?
Once a winner is chosen, Cubit’s will send them 6 packs of organic seeds to help them achieve their organic 2012 garden!
The Best Labor Aid recipe. By midwife and childbirth educator Elizabeth MacKay, creator of the Peaceful Birth On-line Course found [here].
You will want to eat and drink light, healthy foods during labor. If you eat and drink during labor, then you don’t need an IV. Labor is work, calories are needed for your body to work effectively, and in order to have the energy you need to give birth.
Starving yourself and becoming dehydrated during childbirth can lead to complications. If you have to get an IV, It will keep you from moving freely during labor, but it is movement that helps you give birth faster and easier. The use of IVs can cause other complications, such as fluid overload and hyperglycemia for both mother and baby. And you can find yourself in the “cascade of interventions”, where one intervention leads to more interventions.
But don’t drink sports drinks or energy drinks as they can actually make things more difficult for you in labor.
The Ingredients used in these drinks can affect you and your baby’s heart rate and blood pressure. As these drinks contain very high levels of caffeine. Some brands have as much as 8x the amount of caffeine as 1 cup of coffee. Continue reading “The Best Birth Aid Recipe”
Chef John Bishop’s cookbook titled Freshis centered on seasonal recipes and local foods.
Bishop states that his cookbook was inspired by Gary and Naty King, owners of Hazelmere Organic Farm, a sustainable family-managed organic vegetable farm in Surrey BC. The Kings supply much of the food for Bishop’s restaurant. The farm is about nourishing and educating the community about real, healthy food with a focus on healthy-lifestyle vs. a for-profit-business.
An excerpt by Gary King writes, “By late May…the Farmer’s markets begin, and we start to see dramatic increase in customers. I always look forward to this time, the sharing the food grown with love, effort and dedication and respect for the wilderness from which it comes, so that it can sustain our bodies and our communities.” (32)
The pictures Bishop has included about the King’s farm capture a way of life that is in-tune with nature and about respecting each other. They are having fun while looking after the earth. Continue reading “Fresh”
Have you ever parented an itchy, unhappy child with an angry red rash? Perhaps your child had the rash with little bumps weeping fluid, or maybe she had the dry rash that cracked when she scratched it? Eczema is an increasingly common health issue among babies and children and can be an endless source of frustration. What is eczema anyway? There are two main types. Contact Dermatitis is an allergic reaction to laundry soap or another irritant in the environment. This type of eczema can be usually be “cured” by removing the irritant. The other type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is an itchy red rash that may be inherited from one or both parents. Allergies and asthma are linked to eczema so you may see any of these conditions occurring in members of the same family. Eczema, asthma and allergies are genetically linked and are all the result of a malfunctioning immune system. For this reason, they are sometimes considered autoimmune conditions. Continue reading “Babies & Kids with Eczema; no fun for anyone!”
WORTS + CUNNING APOTHECARY is a purveyor of quality, handmade herbal products as well as natural products for moms. The Apothecary is currently in Mesa, Arizona and run by owner, founder, and herbologist Alexis J. Chapman.
Alexis chose the name for her apothecary by blending two words: Wort, meaning plant and Cunning meaning artfulness. In other words her focus is on working with plants in new artful ways, while retaining the ancient art of creating herbal remedies for health and healing.
We were so excited when Alexis agreed to offer a give away for our readers! She has chosen her Organic Bundle of Joy Postpartum Kit(featured in picture) which includes Herbal Sitz Bath, Sweet Nectar Milk Tea Blend, Blue Skies Postpartum Courage Blend, Labor & Postpartum Belly Balm and her Sassy Mama Tea Blend.
How does this give-away work? You must nominate a special pregnant woman in your life by sending us an e-mail or facebook message letting us know who you are nominating and why. It is as simple as telling us what you think is special about her and why you want her to win this special postpartum gift-set. We will be selecting our winner on Mother’s Day.
Want to win yourself? Get a friend or family member to nominate you! Once we announce our winner, Alexis will send out this amazing gift direct from Worts + Cunning Apothecary!
We also had the chance to chat with Alexis about her work and love of plants. Please read our amazing interview with her below.
Natural Mommy (NM): Alexis, how did you get started working with plants/herbs and what do you love about it?
Alexis: My story with plants begins with a koala – a real koala that I had the opportunity to hold and have my picture taken with when I was about 5 years old. For the next few years I knew that I was more than just a little girl, I was, in fact, a koala and set about exploring the world as I thought a koala would. I rode my tricycle around the city and in parks, picking leaves off trees and bushes and eating them. I figured out pretty quickly which plants tasted good, others that were not so palatable, and my parents (bless them) realized that they could not stop my koala-ness but began to educate me about poisonous and non-poisonous plants. We would move to a new place and my mom would take me around the yard, showing me what I could and could not eat. So it began, my lifelong journey with plants from koala girl to herbologist (though there is still a bit of koala left in me). Continue reading “Give Away & Interview with Worts + Cunning Apothecary”
New to Ontario, but not new to Quebec or Manitoba, is the opening of two birth centers – run by midwives and acting as a pilot project, which if successful will likely change how women give birth in Ontario.
“On Tuesday, Ontario women moved a step closer to having that third option when Premier Dalton McGuinty announced plans to launch the province’s first two birth centers.” (Toronto Star)
A birth center is a place where women can give birth with a midwife, aimed at expectant mothers who want to give birth naturally within a community setting. Many women do not want to be in a hospital, but are also not comfortable giving birth at home. A birthing center would offer another option for them to consider. Continue reading “Birthing Centers in Ontario Canada”
Safety is a subject that all parents worry about. It is also a subject where most of us need some guidance or at least a refresher. Having some safety tools in your parenting tool-box can relive some of the tension and offer empowerment. This is why we had to introduce you to the amazing web-site, Safely Ever After by mom & certified prevention educator Pattie Fitzgerald. She offers practical, down-to-earth strategies for keeping our kids safe.
As she says, “there is more to keeping kids safe than just teaching the stranger-danger concept.” She takes a positive, no-fear approach and challenges traditional safety-strategies. One of her tips is to teach kids which strangers are safe: “If you kids get separated from you at the mall, tell her to flag down the first mom with kids she sees.” In other words, other moms are safe strangers. Another thing to tell kids according to Fitzgerald: safe grownups don’t ask kids for help!! (They go to other grownups if they need assistance). Good one!
Fitzgerald’s web-site offers tips and safety rules for kids. She also has a “did you know?” section which is devoted to teaching parents about predators. Importantly, she helps parents know what they should tell their kids and encourages open dialogue between parent and child. She also encourages parents and kids to go with their gut feelings. When you get a bad feeling about someone, trust your instincts! Also, listen to your kids when they get a bad feeling because they might be picking up on something that you’ve missed.
A kid’s science project highlights the importance of eating organic food. What is happening to our food without our knowledge is simply appalling. We also love the idea of educating kids on the importance of natural living. Check out this video and see just what we mean!
Botanical tincture
This is a botanical tincture that can be taken 6 weeks prior to delivery. Mother’s cordial
Caulophyllum, Mitchella repens, Chamaelerium luteum, Vibernum opulus (equal parts of individual botanical tincture, can be compounded – see Resources below). Dosage: 1 tsp 3 times/day, take in warm water. Continue until onset of delivery/labour. This tincture helps prepare the uterus for delivery, and also increases the effectiveness of contractions.
If you are past 36 weeks (i.e., 9 months), taking evening primrose oil 500 mg capsules up to 2-4 times a day with food can help initiate labour by increasing prostaglandins in your body.
The Wooly Owl was created by owner and operator, Alissa Tarita-Havenaar from Muskoka Ontario because she believes that babies, moms and the earth deserve the best. Her company uses sustainable materials, like organic cotton and reclaimed wool fibers to create truly unique items for earth-conscientious families.
Alissa Tarita-Havenaar’s company was created from her own personal desire to live from the land and to offer reusable, biodegradable alternatives to many of the items used by moms, such as nursing pads. Her goals include keeping materials as local as possible. In her quest to be sustainable, Alissa uses 100% wool materials and organic cotton knits, organic flax seed, and biodegradable materials. She also uses recycled (aka upcycled materials) like vintage buttons. Materials, like vintage buttons add to the uniqueness of her pieces.
Alissa’s business is a one-woman enterprise and out of her creativity is born one-of-a-kind items, made by her, for moms and babies. Her business represents her commitment to the planet and helping others to live a chemical-free life. We just had to talk to Alissa about her business, her values and her future goals.
NaturalMommy: Alissa, what are some of the reasons why you use local materials in the products you create?
Alissa: There are a few reasons. First, it keeps the cost of materials low. I purchase all of my wools from local second-hand stores. Convenient since at present I can walk to the store, (saving gas money from my pocket and from added carbon emissions into the air,) and second, all donations to the stores will usually be made by the local people in the community. Thus, the materials in their own way are from the community made back into items for the community. I was purchasing organic cotton form the United States, but have since decided to go strictly with recycled materials over organic. Although there is a huge market right now for things strictly certified organic, I feel that buying used over newly organic is genuinely a greener choice. The material is already there and does not require raw materials to be processed weather organically or not. Continue reading “The Wooly Owl”
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms of the world who do so much for their families. You all make the... http://t.co/zpMX44lR (about 4 days ago)
There are many natural remedies that can be made at home which are safe and effective. Sophie Uliano (NY Times Best Selling author of Gorgeously Green, The Gorgeously Green Diet and Do It Gorgeously) shows us how to make a natural cough remedy.
"Join North America’s best and brightest health care leaders, educators and keynote speakers for three great days of inspiring ideas and innovation. The award-winning HealthAchieve – the year’s must-attend event, the largest health care conference and exhibition of its kind on the continent – is back for its 87th consecutive year.
Some of Cubit’s seeds are truly unique, like their organic watermelon radish seeds which will turn any salad into a conversation piece. What is a watermelon radish you might be wondering? It is a radish that looks like a miniature watermelon! We also love Cubit’s organic carrot seed blend called Rainbow Carrots (featured in first image) and their beet seeds that create mouthwatering organic early-wonder-tall-top-beets (featured in second image).
The Best Labor Aid recipe. By midwife and childbirth educator Elizabeth MacKay, creator of the Peaceful Birth On-line Course found 
By: Jessica Carfagnini, ND, 
WORTS + CUNNING APOTHECARY is a purveyor of quality, handmade herbal products as well as natural products for moms. The Apothecary is currently in Mesa, Arizona and run by owner, founder, and herbologist Alexis J. Chapman.
New to Ontario, but not new to Quebec or Manitoba, is the opening of two birth centers – run by midwives and acting as a pilot project, which if successful will likely change how women give birth in Ontario.
Safety is a subject that all parents worry about. It is also a subject where most of us need some guidance or at least a refresher. Having some safety tools in your parenting tool-box can relive some of the tension and offer empowerment. This is why we had to introduce you to the amazing web-site, 
By Jessica Carfagnini, ND of 
