plants

5 Houseplants that Improve Air Quality

Most people believe smog, or air pollution, is only outdoors, but it actually infiltrates homes and offices all the time. The best way to combat it? Get some air-purifying plants. According to a study done in 2009 by the American Society for Horticultural Science, certain houseplants can help cut indoor smog, which is important, considering 80 to 90 percent of people in industrialized countries spend their time indoors. Want to make sure you're not breathing in smog-filled air?

Plants to Grow If You Don’t Have a Green Thumb

Plants to Grow If You Don’t Have a Green Thumb

Let’s face it, not everyone was born with a green thumb. For those that can’t seem to keep a plant alive despite a valid attempt, there is hope. You, too, can breathe life into your space by choosing the right plants. These three plants are on the low-maintenance side. So if you are a forgetful gardener, don't worry -- these plants don't mind being neglected.

Air Plants

Organic Home Garden Series: 8 Plants To Grow In Your Autumn Garden

Even though fall can bring on colder weather, there are actually many vegetables you can still plant in your garden this season. Wondering what to plant in your garden this fall? I’ve got 8 plants for your autumn garden that are sure to make your fall harvest as amazing as the color-changing leaves!

1. Carrots

Plants Speak: 9 Messages From Plants

Plants! They are like the mysterious person in the room. The strong silent type that says nothing, and everything. They have no words and yet speak volumes to those who choose to stop and listen.

4 Homemade, Natural Fertilizers From Your Own Kitchen

The Lazy Composter / Homemade Fertilizers From Waste

Couldn’t get compost right? Try these homemade fertilizers instead…

Organic Home Garden Series: 9 Tips for Better Container Gardening

Container gardening can be a fun, creative, and easy way to grow your plants in various different kinds of containers both inside and outside. Although container gardening can be simple, there are definitely some things you need to keep in mind in order to grow successfully. Here are nine tips for better container gardening.

Tip 1:

Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

Are you looking for your next big adventure? If so, why not start with your dinner plate? Exploring a plant-based diet may not sound all too adventurous, but it certainly can be. Preparing mouthwatering plant-based meals is far from boring; as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more and more creative in the kitchen, solely with the help of plant-based flavors. More importantly, I’ve lived on a plant-based diet my entire life, and have witnessed the numerous health benefits firsthand.

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: Tinctures 101

Tinctures are a wonderful addition to the household medicine cabinet. A tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract.  Tinctures are really easy to make and highly effective. They are made using consumable alcohol and medicinal plants, herbs, roots, berries, or bark. For those of you who do not use alcohol, a similar product can be made using apple cider vinegar, vegetable glycerin, honey, or white vinegar.

Where To Shop: Buying Untreated Plants

2014 saw public outrage as up to 51% of plants sold at Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's contained neonics at levels harmful to bees. What’s more concerning is these were the plants that were labeled as ‘bee friendly.’ In response to the public pressure created by these harrowing results - and a general trend toward concern for pollinators in the recent years - many larger chains have started to phase out neonicotinoids.

How To Plant for Pollinators

We’ve all heard that bees are declining at rapid rates, and that many environmental stressors (including neonicotinoid pesticides) are the culprit. Neonics play a particularly integral role in the collapse of bees because they make the bees more susceptible to these environmental stressors that they are often otherwise immune to.