Aromatherapy is proven to have a calming effect on the mind and is a powerful mood booster. A good smelling home and bathroom is very attractive and makes the house a refuge away from the daily hassles. Store-bought air fresheners are the first option when looking to make the home or bathroom smell fresh. The problem is that they contain a variety of chemicals that can be allergic to some people. There is also the question of the footprints of these chemicals on the environment. However, there are natural ways of making the house smell great and here's what you have to do.

1.    Oranges and cinnamon

This is really simple to do. Build some water in a pan. Put in some orange peels and cinnamon chops. Let this boil for some minutes. The evaporating fumes give off a very good scent coming from the kitchen. You can splash the ‘soup’ on the bathroom floor to give this citric scent.

2.    Carpet deodorizers

Make a carpet deodorizer by mixing baking soda, borax and essential oils in a bowl.   Sprinkle this mixture on the carpet and vacuum after 15-20 minutes. This leaves the carpet and the living room smelling fresh.

3.    Homemade Gel fresheners

Add 10 drops of essential oil to two cups of water. Stir in some salt and add a pack of gelatin. Place this mixture in a heat-safe container and let it harden. This becomes a free standing freshener that can be placed anywhere in the house for fresh scents.

4.    Natural diffusers

Take a glass or jar and fill it halfway with a mixture of water, cleaner and essential oils. Take 8 bamboo skewers and trim them such that they are not more than twice the height of the glass. Dip them in the glass and place in the bathroom for fresh scents.

5.    Flowers

Flowers add color and wonderful scents in a room.  Palm trees, lilies, and orchids work very well in a room. 

6.    Air freshener jars

Make air freshener jars that can be placed in any room. Take a small mason jar and poke holes in the lid. Take ½ cup baking soda and add into the ball together with six drops of essential oils. Place anywhere in the house.

7.     Pine cone fresheners

Take a few pine cones such that the bunch’s stems can fit in your handhold and arrange them in a big jar. Take essential oils and dab each pine cone with one or two drops. This makes a fine piney scent freshener that can be moved from room to room.

1.    Mental health benefits

Being out in nature relieves the mind from the pressures of everyday life. The mind is not subjected to stressor factors like ringing phones, traffic jams, and work meetings. Instead, the mind is free to explore other sounds like tweeting birds, buzzing insects, and fluttering leaves. Outdoor meetings are found to be more productive as participants are more upbeat and willing to consider their place in influencing the future.

2.    Immune boost

The Japanese discovered the immune boosting properties of nature long ago. The Japanese have a practice of shirin-yoku which roughly means ‘forest bath.’  This is walking in a forested area. This has been linked to phytoncides that are released by trees, which have antimicrobial properties. Practitioners of forest bathing have been found to experience lower blood pressure and better parasympathetic activity.

3.    Greater motivation to exercise

The Journal of Physical Activity & Health did a study comparing those who exercise outdoors and those who exercise in the gym. The study on 11,600 people showed that people who exercised outdoors had twice as much motivation to exercise outdoors. Their routines were also found to be twice as effective.

People who spend more time outdoors are found to be more physically active which makes them reap huge health benefits.  Exposure to sunlight boosted levels of vitamin D which is vital for strong bones.  The air in forests, parks or beaches has also been found to be cleaner than the air in cities and other built up areas. 

4.    Faster healing

Medical studies on healing patients have shown that those who come in contact with nature heal faster than those who spend healing time in sterile rooms surrounded by chrome, steel, and concrete. Medical doctors did a study in the 80’s and it showed that patients who had windows looking out to nature healed at a faster rate than those who had rooms that faced walls. This was confirmed by studies that showed patients who saw nature based images like murals, aquariums, nature paintings and the result was they had faster rates of healing.

Nature is God's gift to man in so many ways.  We just have to tap into it's natural resources and discover the many benefits it provides. 

Changing the way people think of sustainable environmental practices begins st home. When all homes in a community make a conscious effort to practice green habits, the overall effect is the better use of energy, water, and other resources, as well as reduced waste needing disposal into the landfills. Mobilizing communities to go green is not as easy as it sounds. Many people are removed from the impacts of damaging practices like climate change, pollution, and scarcity of resources. However, green activists can influence change with a few simple and sustained ways.

1.    Form environmental clubs

Children are easy entry points for families. They can be used to influence green change in their families. Green clubs with children can be formed in which fun activities like community clean and recycle days can be organized to enlighten the children on the practicality of green habits.

2.    Insisting on the 3R’s

The message to reduce, reuse and recycle should be consciously reiterated into every member of the community. Starting with the children environmental clubs, community members can show how the 3R’s work.  Show the kids how to reduce the use of water and energy in the home. Demonstrate how common products can be reused and recycled for other uses at home.  Also, demonstrate how to separate waste at home for easier recycling.

3.    Social networks

Show green habits in action by showing what you are doing for the rest of the community on social media. Put up a Facebook page and Twitter handles where community members can make suggestions and exchange views on going green.

Social networks also make good sharing platforms for information on going green. There are tons of good information on the internet on sustainable environmental practices. Share this on social media so that community members can learn about green practices at their own pace.

4.    Arrange competitions

Going green contests can spur the community’s interest in green practices. For example, you can organize a contest for the house with the most innovative use of 3R’s. This can be done for a period of 3 months culminating in an open day where everyone in the community gets involved.

5.    Get political

Political support can give a voice to environmental work. If you can get the local council representative involved, it is an added voice that can help advance the cause. Local counsel  representatives are able to spread the message through their grassroots networks. They can also attract support to your activities in the form of funding from authorities and organizations with similar causes.

Climate change is a fact and a reality. This has become to some very scary as the impact and the damage is starting to be seen across the world. There are harsher droughts, larger and uncontrollable wildfires, more severe storms, hotter summers and shorter winters. Some climate experts say that the impacts of climate change are being seen faster than was expected. In the past, the climate change impact was thought of as something that would happen in 30 or 50 years or so, but this is not so. The effects are being felt in an increasingly vulnerable world. Indeed, climate change will and can make the world a inhabitable place. Other than the storms, flooding, acid rain, wildfires and sea level rise, what can happen if we don't get the climate crisis under control?

1.    More contagious diseases

Climate change has led to higher temperatures in some places like Africa and Asia. This has led to a scarcity of water making inhabitants in these places depend on unsafe water. This raises the risk of contagious diseases outbreaks like diarrhea and cholera.

One effect of climate change has caused more places around the world more conducive for pathogens. A study recently done found that the E.Coli bacteria has increased by 8% for every 1-degree increase in world temperature.

2.    Increase in allergies

Warmer weather makes for easier growing conditions  for weeds and other pollen releasing plants. Scientists in the US found that weeds growing in the city, where temperatures are hotter than in the countryside grew taller and faster releasing more pollen into the air. Warmer weather also makes the growing season longer meaning there is more pollen releasing plants growing. Sufferers of hay fever will experience nastier allergies.

3.   More vermin and parasites

A study was done in Canada and the US on tick reproduction that showed warmer weather has boosted tick reproduction by as much as five times compared to other places that did not have the same increase in temperatures. It has also been found that deer mice has increased as big predators decreased due to loss of habitat.  This in turn will increase incidences of Lyme disease caused by the increased number of deer ticks that look for hosts.

4.    Irritable moods

Studies on human behavior have shown that humans get more irritable in warmer temperatures as the body becomes more uncomfortable. Hotter temperatures outside mean that people will find it less attractive to venture outside and will stay indoors longer making causing mood change behaviors and vitamin decreases especially Vitamin D due to lack of exposure to the sun.

5.    More volcano eruptions

The arctic ice weight keeps the ground under it compact and under huge pressure. This makes it harder for volcanic magma to find its way to the earth’s surface. As temperatures rise, arctic ice is melting faster taking this weight off and making volcanic eruptions more possible and likely.

We can all play a part in this global crisis by discovering ways you can help preserve the environment.  What impact can you make today to help preserve the planet and the future of the next generation. There is really no need to be alarmed if we prepare now.

Recycling is taking the useful elements of an item that is no longer useful and using these elements (parts) to make something else useful. Using old newspapers to make paper towels is an example of recycling paper. There are many everyday items you can recycle and help make the world a greener place by reducing raw materials needed to make new items.  There are thousands of items that can be recycled. Here are a few you know and some you may not know.

Clothing

Fabric can be used to make holding items like tote bags or cloth bags. Cotton fabric contains cellulose which is a useful ingredient in making starch and artificial sugars.

Cardboard boxes

The cardboard used in these boxes is recycled to make newer cardboard. It can also be used to make heavy duty paper. Cardboard also contains cellulose which can be used in making explosives for fireworks.

Car batteries

Old car batteries are taken apart to take the lead from them and use it for making other items. Lead is famously used in making bullets. The plastic covering can also be recycled to make other plastic items like paper cups.

Bio-plastics

These are fake plastics that can decompose, unlike the ordinary plastics. They are collected in a pile and used to make compost for fertilizing gardens.

Home electronics

Items like computers, stereos, games consoles, and mobile phones have plastic and electronic circuitry, which can be recycled. Some gold collectors extract the small traces of gold in these electronics to make jewelry.

Motor oil

Used motor oil is recycled to make heavier lubricants for use in heavier machinery. It can also be used to make heavy plastics.

Ink cartridges

Offices routinely throw away ink cartridges. These cartridges can be recycled by refilling them and extending their lifetime.  They can also be taken apart to extract the fine gold circuitry in them. The plastic is also recyclable.

DVDs and game discs

Game discs, DVDs, and CDs are made of special plastics. They can be crushed to recycle this plastic for other items.

Crayons

Half-used or broken crayons are collected, melted and made again in exciting shapes.

Compact fluorescent bulbs

The fine glass in these bulbs is crushed and recycled.

Foam packing

The foam that is used to protect new fragile items like electronics is shredded and made into new shapes for other packing uses.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are made of metal or plastic frames, and plastic lenses. Broken eyeglasses are broken to extract these two components for recycling.

Carpets

Old carpets are processed by carpet reclamation facilities to make new looking carpets.

So if you have any of these items above that are old or out of use, don't it away. Put it to good use and reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reusing is one of the most cost-effective ways of going green. There are plenty of items that you can reuse around the house to reduce waste that you need to recycle or dispose of. Old items can be put to new use with some bit of creativity.

Plastic bags

The plastic grocery bag can be used as a pollutant as found in many lakes, oceans and streams or it can be a very versatile item. There are hundreds of ways of reusing this much-vilified item. The first priority is reusing them for shopping at the local grocery or farmers’ market. It also comes in handy when walking around and you need somewhere to place trinkets purchased by the roadside. A plastic bag makes a very good trash can liner as it is waterproof meaning wet waste put in it will not leak. Use it for a bathroom or kitchen trash can. It also makes good storage for waste that can be smell and disgusting like used diapers or dog waste collected around the house.

Old newspaper

The first thought that comes to mind when looking to dispose of old newspaper is recycling. Before taking it for recycling, you can reuse old newspaper to stuff items that are in danger of shrinking like shoes or handbags.  It can also be used to wrap items that are fragile for example decorative china before putting in a box. A newspaper is good insulation against harsh cold weather. Cover your potted plants with newspaper to protect the leaves and flowers and you can find unique ways to wrap gifts using newspapers.

Dryer sheets

Instead of throwing away dryer sheets after your laundry, dry them out for reuse. They are very good for wiping smooth surfaces like windshield glass and table tops. The slight texture of dryer sheets makes them more effective in wiping off dirt than paper towels. They will clean the glass without scratching it.

Honey or Mason jars

An empty honey jar can be used around the kitchen for holding other items like sugar or salt. It can also be used in the home office to hold stationery items like pens and erasers. A honey jar is long lasting meaning it can be reused for as long as you like. Mason jars are the staple item used to preserve food items. Besides honey, you can turn your jelly mason jars into many useful items.

Fallen leaves

Who would have ever thought that leaf litter can be used to give more life to plants in the yard. You can use leaves to make compost for use in your kitchen garden instead of fertilizer. They way you carry this out is by pouring the leaves directly into a potting jar where they will decompose to make nutrients for your flowers and herbs. Leaves also make good mulch to insulate other plant’s roots against cold winter weather. And don't forget your child's school project. You can use leaves for their art and science projects by drying the leaves and sealing them in wax paper. They can then be stuck on drawing books as creative art.

  

A baby is very delicate and anything that he or she comes in contact with be it food or bath products can have a big effect on her skin. Unfortunately, many parents ignore unrefined natural products in preference for the refined processed products.  Natural or organic products are easier on the baby because the human body was created to use these products naturally. Lets look at some natural skin care products that you can use at home the is good for the baby and the environment.

• Coconut oil

 Coconut oil is extracted from mature coconut fruits. This oil is very good for treating abrasions and heat rashes. This oil has anti-fungal properties which will keep your baby’s skin free of ringworms and other fungal infections. It is very soothing to irritated skin. Coconut oil is perfectly safe for applying directly in its raw form.

• Chamomile

Chamomile is a flower that is also considered a herb. It has long been known for its powerful medicinal purposes, and natural anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antifungal, and anti-parasitic properties. This herb can also be used to calm an irritated stomach. You can mix it with warm water and give the baby one teaspoon to calm colic. It is also a good recipe for making natural creams or oils to moisturize baby’s delicate skin.

• Shea Butter

Shea Butter is natural oil extracted from African Shea tree nuts.  This oil has powerful moisturizing properties making the skin incredibly soft. In its raw form, Shea butter has powerful anti-fungal properties.  Shea butter is very good for healing irritated skin as it is high in Vitamins A and E and helps promote collagen production in the skin. It further protects the skin from harmful UV rays of the skin as it contains a natural SPF of 6.

• Avocado 
Avocado is referred to as the king of fruits. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and fiber all of which are essential for a baby’s physical and mental development. You can make a gradual introduction by mixing it with food like cereal or make a puree and sweeten with honey for better flavor. Beginning at the age of 8 months, the baby will accept and can enjoy diced pieces of this fruit.

• Eggs

Eggs are packed with protein, fat, iron and biotin which are very good for mental growth.  Unlike the mistaken belief that the egg white is not safe for a baby, the entire egg is safe to feed the baby when it's hard-boiled. Around the age of 6 months it is safe enough to mash or make a puree of a hard-boiled egg and feed the baby one or two teaspoons. Take care not to feed the baby too much egg to avoid protein allergy.