Happy Earth Day! (link love)

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day I am going to share some links with you that are "green" related. Please visit them all, they are great!

The place where we buy all of our green cleaners and house supplies -
www.melaleuca.com (if you are interested in buying any contact me and I'll get you set up)

40 Ways to a greener home
http://simplemom.net/tips-to-go-green-at-home/#more-2086

Daily Green Hour
http://simplekids.net/green-hour/

Jack Johnson- The 3 R's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6IbRSRe8MQ

Billion Acts of Green (add yours to the list)
http://www.earthday.org/

The Green Guide
http://www.thegreenguide.com/

Care2
http://www.care2.com/

Mother Earth News
http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Raise your own chickens (can't wait until we can do this!)
http://www.grit.com/daily-commute/Save-Money-in-2009-Raise-Your-Own-Chickens.aspx
http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Chickens-in-a-City
http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Pick your own
http://www.pickyourown.org/

Find a Co-op, Farmer's Market and more
http://www.localharvest.org/

If you know of anything I forgot or you want me to add something leave a comment.

Our Garden

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"


Last Saturday, we got to see our Community Garden Plot. We were lucky enough to get a plot this year, we tried last year but it was all full. This year they changed things up and did a lottery and miraculously our name was drawn! We have a great spot right along the edge of the gardens and next to the shed where they keep the "community" tools. We can plant anything we want in our garden and it is all ours to keep. Plus, that primo spot is ours until we don't want it anymore. So, since Jarrod couldn't help us with the plot this time, we decided to just go ahead and get the hay off the top. Kaitlyn raked for a little while, the other kiddos loaded the wheel barrel,I took the wheel barrel to drop off the hay, and the kiddos unloaded it onto the pile (it had to be spread over the pile). Then, Kaitlyn and I switched. This week we are going to add some compost and make our rows so that we can measure them off and decide what to plant. I kind of did a tentative planting chart, but I have since decided to skim it down a little bit b/c I don't want to do too much and end up disappointed. We are soo excited and can't wait to start planting! We are going to do some starts (we'll get those at the Farmer's Market next month) and some seeds (I'm not too sure how the seeds will do- I usually do better with starts). Here are some pics that Jarrod took that day.


Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden. ~Robert Brault

Our Garden Plot

Kid's filling wheel barrel

Raking with Coen

Easter

This Easter was a good one. On Friday I made Hot Cross Buns. They were yummy! I am really loving Pioneer Woman's recipes. On Sunday we woke up and the kids got their baskets, we went to church, then Cracker Barrel for brunch and then home to see what the Easter bunny left. The girls found their eggs crazy fast while Jude took his sweet time. He was more interested in finding an egg, opening it and then eating what was inside. Thankfully the bunny only left ten egs each (he didn't want to overdo it) so it didn't take too long. We hunted in the house since we don't really have a yard, plus it was a yucky day. Here are some pics of the kiddos in their outfits. All in all it was a fun relaxing day and we got to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. He is risen!