We finally had warmish, sunshiney weather over the weekend and all I wanted to do was be outside cleaning up the garden and yard. And although I have to hold off on planting outside as we are still getting below freezing temperatures at night, it felt great to get my hands dirty.
Gardening can be incredibly rewarding, and one of the benefits of gardening is that it’s an excellent way to relieve stress. Physically digging, raking, and pruning are great for releasing tension. Not to mention, great exercise for your body, too. In addition, sunshine provides vitamin D, a very important vitamin involved in immunity and promoting a positive mood. Continue reading “Benefits of Gardening to Relieve Stress”
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released their list for the dirtiest produce on the market. And by dirtiest, they are referring to fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticide residue, also known as the Dirty Dozen™. According to EWG’s analysis of test data from the Department of Agriculture, nearly 70% of produce sold in the United States comes with pesticide residue. Consuming foods that contain pesticides has been linked to a myriad of health issues including cancer and fertility issues.
In an effort both to live a greener lifestyle and save some money, I began making some small changes at my house. At first it seemed daunting and undoable, especially with a busy schedule and two young children, but after a few weeks and with some thought, we have cut down a lot on paper and plastic and we really don’t miss these items like I thought we would. One of the biggest wastes is single-use plastic, such as water bottles, Ziploc bags and plastic wrap. Over half of the plastic we produce is for single use purposes and it is estimated that as much as 91% is not recycled. Much of it ends up in our oceans. So armed with that stat alone, we started our switch. 
Health is officially on the menu every Monday in New York City public schools!
Even though it still feels very much like winter where I am, the decluttering and prepping for our annual spring cleaning begins. The moment when we can open the windows and let in the fresh air is the day that the rugs go out and the deep scrubbing begins. More and more, I get questions about alternatives to the potentially harmful cleaners on the market.
