Earth Day Every Day

Playschool Earth Day Project

Yesterday was Earth Day--a yearly reminder to all of us to take care of our planet.  Two years ago, on Earth Day, I decided to attempt cloth diapering Bunny.  I was pretty nervous about it, as I do not like doing things at which I am not sure I can succeed.  I had a lot of support.  Both my mama, and my older sister, Meagan, were CD veterans and had lots of good advice and help to offer.  My mama actually started cloth diapering me on Earth Day, 22 years ago. Needless to say, CD went quite well for Bunny and I.  Her papa even got into it.  He said he liked that her bottom always had some padding.  Bunny was potty trained at 21 months, which seems to be very common when CD.  She still wears a diaper at night, but most mornings wakes up dry.  I am looking forward to cloth diapering Squirrely from day one, and plan to write more about that in a later post.

My experience with the ease of cloth diapering led me to try more things that I had formerly thought would be difficult.  For me it wasn't as much an issue if something was eco-friendly, as it was if it was people friendly.  I am driven by my desire to keep toxins and harsh chemicals away from Bunny and out of my home.  Turns out, they are almost always the same thing.  If it is good and pure and healthy for my family, then it is probably good and pure and healthy for the earth.  I have made many changes over the last two years.  Some I eased my way into.  Others, I jumped into with both feet.  There are many ways to start, you just have to decide what is important to you.

One of my most recent endeavors has been to use salt instead of antiperspirant/deodorant.  It all started when I was watching some random TV show after Bunny was in bed and someone said that scented toilet paper can give you cancer (I had heard that before, as well), because your bottom has the biggest gland in your body, except for you armpits.  It just got me thinking that if we shouldn't perfume our bottoms, we probably shouldn't perfume our armpits either.  I bought a salt block, and keep it on the sink next to my hubby's regular deodorant. Since it is bacteria that makes our armpits stinky, and salt kills bacteria, it works quite well. I just rub some on at night, after my bath, and again when I get up in the morning. Salt will not keep you from sweating (which is actually healthy), but it does keep you from stinking.

My goals for this coming year are pretty simple. I want to make my own laundry detergent and toothpaste. I am also attempting a small garden, but with the funky weather we have been having, and also a new baby in July, I am not sure how succsesful that will be. It is important not to beat yourself up about it. The point is to make a healthy change. Could be big or small. Could be the way you live, or just the way you think. I am sure by this time next year I will have more ideas of changes I want to make. Things that I probably wouldn't even consider now. As long as I am continuing to make better, healthier choices, I am celebrating Earth Day, every day of the year.


Sharing with: Wildcrafting Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Homemade Mondays, Natural Living Mondays