the ecomoderate

A few months ago my friend mentioned that he recycles and freecycles. What in the world is freecycle you might ask? Well I wondered the same, so I checked it out.

The Freecycle Network™ is all about reuse and keeping stuff out of landfills. A grassroots and entirely nonprofit group, it has more than 4,000 groups with approximately 5.2 million members across the globe and has grown to become the largest recycling and reuse website in the world. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer, membership is free and everything posted must be FREE, legal and appropriate for all ages. You can find everything from baby/kids items, recreation gear, gardening supplies, party supplies, furniture, computer equipment. You name it people post it. Or if you are looking for something specific you can create a post to the community to see if anyone might have it. And best of all it’s FREE! Who doesn’t like a good bargain.

So next time you’re thinking about throwing something out , post it on Freecycle. As the old saying goes… one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

They say a Gardner with a green thumb began their hobby as a young child. When I was a young, I loved it when the snow melted and the ground began to defrost. I would get out my gardening tools and start digging in the dirt to help plant the fruits and vegetables for the season. When the growing season came to an end the family would pick the remaining crops and prepare them to use in the winter.

Now that I have a daughter of my own I want to get her involved in starting a garden but without all of the nasty chemicals that we used back then. It’s important for me to let my daughter play in the grass barefoot or pick a berry off a bush and not worry about the chemically laden sprays and fertilizers we have become accustomed to using for making our gardens and lawns beautiful. In fact, the American Journal of Public Health found that children who live in homes where chemical weed and insect killers are used are four times more likely to develop cancer than homes that use natural alternatives. And only 35 percent of these chemicals ever reach the intended target while the rest go into the air or seep into the ground water. So forego the poisons and layer your garden with all-natural compost instead. Compost enriches the soil by providing it with nutrients your plants will love. You can make your own “gardner’s gold” by using homemade compost. Visit www.recyclenow.org to learn the 1-2-3’s of low fuss composting and product reviews on composters. Not into composting? Contact your local nursery and garden center about natural and organic fertilizing options. Another great way of nurturing your soil is with a worm farm. This is a great way to get your child involved in maintaining the garden with you.

Let’s talk about enlisting your child’s help with planting your garden. By doing so you will help inspire their fascination in the structure, function, and flavors of the plants we eat and build fond memories for a lifetime. Start first by choosing an area where you want to plant. If you want to give them their own space chose a container for them to plant in. Bring them to the nursery to pick out the plants and be sure to ask the staff which plants are in season. This will help teach your child the importance of the growing and harvesting seasons. It’s not easy for little hands to handle an adult shovel, let your child pick out tools to help them dig and sow the soil. And don’t forget the dirt for the container, if there is one thing kids like it’s dirt! Once the garden is planted set specific days that you and your child will water and weed the area. This is important as it teaches them that even plants need nurturing. If you’ve planted fruits and vegetables help your child plan and make a meal to use these fresh ingredients. When the season is over make it a family event. Pick the remaining crops and store them for winter use.

If you would like to learn more about getting your child involved in gardening there are some great websites. One I particularly like is kidsgardening.com. It provides lots of online and print resources for you to get started.

Additional resources:

www.safelawn.org

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/
http://www.the-organic-gardener.com/compost-making.html
http://www.gardensimply.com/index.php