One of the sustainable practices I have started this year is beginning a less wasteful and less toxic laundry routine. This was one area of our lives where I felt my family and I were being exposed to quite a few toxins in the products we were using. I started to research and look into less toxic alternatives for washing and drying our laundry. Through this process, I have found several ways to not only reduce the toxins my family is exposed to through our previous laundry routine, but have also found ways to reduce our waste, energy used and save us money all at the same time!
Washing
One of the most money-saving and eco-friendly practices we use during our washing process is using cold water. Approximately 75% of the energy required to wash a load of laundry is attributed to heating the water. Using cold water saves money because you do not use as much energy to hear the water and puts less pressure on electricity grids. Hot water also can damage and fade clothing. Using cold water will also help your colors stay brighter for longer and prolong the life of your wardrobe.
Another change we made to our laundry routine was using a less toxic and less wasteful laundry detergent. Instead of using popular (and toxic!) brands like Gain and Tide, I have chosen to switch to using either Tru Earth Landry strips or making my own laundry detergent with Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap.
I like Tru Earth because of their plastic-free mission. The laundry strips I have purchased do a fair job cleaning laundry with no measuring. I chose the unscented option since added fragrance tends to be where you are potentially exposed to unknown toxins. I also like that Tru Earth laundry strips come in minimal and recyclable packaging.
Making Your Own Laundry Detergent
I also like to make my own laundry detergent with Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap. Castile soap is a concentrated multi-purpose cleaner that is available in a bar or a liquid. This extremely effective cleaner was originally named after the olive-oil based soaps from its renowned namesake Castile, Spain. This vegetable-based oil cleaner is completely natural and free of animal fats and synthetic ingredients. I prefer the liquid form, but you can purchase the bar soap for cheaper and convert it to liquid form, although the consistency differs from traditional liquid castile soap. I have tried several different brands of liquid castile soap, but Dr. Bronner’s is my favorite.
Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap is made from all-natural and biodegradable ingredients with only organic coconut, hemp, jojoba, palm, and olive oils. It is certified fair-trade and non-GMO with zero foaming agents. AND Dr. Bronner’s bottles are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. One of my favorite things about Dr. Bronner’s is that it is scented with essential oils instead of toxic artificial fragrances as well, coming in a wide variety of scents. Swapping castile soap for traditional laundry detergent has been amazing!
Dr. Bronner’s label advertises 18 uses, but there are so many more than that! I have been able to replace more than 10 toxic personal care, hygiene and cleaning products in my home with liquid castile soap! I no longer buy laundry soap, dish soap or hand soap, shaving cream, bath oils, glass cleaner, face wash, degreaser, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, and multi-purpose cleaners. This magical cleaner is fairly concentrated so dilution is required, but a little goes a very long way, saving me money as well.
Fabric softeners are another way that toxins can sneak into your laundry. SO many fabric softeners contain added artificial fragrances. This wide array of chemicals oftentimes are not required to be listed on the label if considered a “trade secret”, but can cause hormonal issues, allergies, and even infertility! Using an all-natural fabric softener like white vinegar, baking soda, or Epsom salts will reduce your and your family’s toxin exposure and are a more sustainable option for your laundry.
If using white vinegar as a fabric softener, be sure to add to the rinse cycle instead of the wash cycle. Vinegar is acidic and can neutralize base soap, rendering it useless. If using baking soda or Epsom salts, add 1/4 c to your wash load to give your laundry added softness.
Here’s a quick Tik Tok I made about my sustainable laundry routine.
Using a laundry detergent booster is not necessary to get your laundry clean, but for extra dirty loads of baby, teen boy, or workout clothing I like to use a laundry booster. My favorite natural laundry booster is borax. 20 Mule Team borax is another natural cleaning staple in my home because I can use it for so many things, one of those being for laundry. Other natural laundry detergent boosters include peroxide, lemon juice, and white vinegar. If using a laundry detergent booster, add this to the bleach compartment in your washing machine.
For drying laundry sustainably, my preference will always be hanging on the clothesline. Nothing beats the smell of sheets and towels fresh off of the line! But I don’t always like this option for cold Indiana winters so sometimes I use a folding drying rack indoors or my traditional clothes dryer.
When I use my dryer, I try to use a low to medium heat setting for greater energy efficiency. I also like to use my 100% organic wool Friendsheep dryer balls in place of dryer softener sheets. Wool dryer balls are a wonderfully sustainable and non-toxic option for drying clothing because they are chemical-free, plastic-free, and cruelty-free. Friendsheep organic dryer balls are also compostable and biodegradable. The benefits don’t stop there…these amazing (and reusable) little dryer balls also help eliminate static and wrinkles and reduce drying times 25-40%, saving you even more energy and money. I like to add a few drops of essential oils to my dryer balls to give my laundry a sweet smell. Some of my favorite Simply Earth pure essential oils for laundry are: clean linen scent (for towels and bedsheets), citrus scents like lemon or orange (in spring and summer), and cinnamon (in fall and winter).
With nine kids, laundry is a major chore at our house so when we chose to start choosing more sustainable and less toxic products, laundry detergent was at the top of the list! I hope you have enjoyed reading the ways I have been able to modify my laundry routine to make it more energy-efficient, more eco-friendly, less wasteful, and less toxic, all while saving money too!
Last month, I posted a list of podcasts about wellness for you and for your environment. On this list was a podcast that my daughters really like called Eco-Fashion Frenzy for Kids with Sienna. I had the pleasure of speaking with Sienna a couple of weeks ago and guesting on her podcast! It was so much fun! You can check out the interview here.
So What is Eco-Fasion Anyway?
Did you know it takes approximately 1,800 gallons of water just to produce ONE pair of jeans?
I honestly had never heard of eco-fashion until I started my sustainability journey. I had never really thought very much about how the fashion industry contributes to the environmental issues our world is facing. So you may be asking…what is eco-fashion anyway? Well, eco-fashion is typically described as a brand or clothing line that takes environmental concerns into account during product production, packaging, shipping, etc.
I did unknowingly practice some eco-fashion ideals like thrifting, mending, reusing, and upcycling already, but after reading some shocking statistics while researching this post, have been inspired to explore even more ways to combat fast fashion!
How much do YOU know about Sustainable Fashion? Take Allison’s quiz from Sustainable & Chic to find out!
6 Ways You Can Participate in Sustainable Fashion
Borrow or do a clothing swap with a friend or family member
Thrift or garage sale
Wear what you have
Mend worn items
Support eco-friendly and fair fashion brands
Email brands about creating more eco-friendly and sustainable production processes and packaging materials
Want to Learn More about Eco-Fashion?
Check out some of my Eco-Fashion and Sustainability Friends’ Blogs!
Did you know the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual carbon emissions? This is MORE than ALL international flights AND maritime shipping COMBINED!
Check out Donna Naturale’s podcast interview with 11-year-old Eco-Fashion Warrior, Sienna Salcedo.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sienna a couple of weeks ago and guesting on her podcast, Eco-Fashion Frenzy for Kids. It was so much fun!
Sienna and I talked about ways she and her family have started to become more sustainable and less wasteful by cutting out straws and other plastic.
Her family has also recently become vegan! Congrats to this young Eco-Warrior on the small steps and HUGE impact she is making!
Sienna and I also discussed ways kids can be less toxic and more eco-friendly in their lives.
I even summarized these things in a super cute Pinterest graphic for parents and kids to print at home!
Did you know it takes a piece of cotton clothing 2 to 5 months to decompose? Synthetic fibers such as Lycra and polyester can take hundreds of years to decompose!
Eco-Fashion Frenzy For Kids, Hosted by Sienna Salcedo
Eco-Fashion Frenzy is an earth-friendly fashion podcast for kids. Sienna shares the latest fashion news, trends, history, and ideas as well as interviews with industry leaders. Save the earth fashionably!
Sienna has been an avid fashion-lover since the age of four! She is a podcaster and founder of her own brand, Sienna Styles, and is currently working on creating her own online store.
My little fashionistas love listening to Sienna on Eco-Fashion Frenzy!
You can find Sienna's podcast on all major podcasting platforms.
Did you know podcasting has roots dating all the way back to the 1980s?
Audio talk show programs distributed in digital format, formerly referred to as audio blogs, are considered the be the foundation of the present day podcast. Podcasting began to really take off early in the new century with the introduction of broadband internet and portable audio playback devices. In 2005, Apple added podcasting to its iTunes platform, and later that year in July, the first People’s Choice Podcast Awards were introduced during the Podcast Expo.
As more and more people began to podcast, Podcast Godfather, Gary Leland, in collaboration with Dan Franks and Jared Easley, launched the Podcast Movement in 2014. The Podcast Movement is a conference for new and experienced podcasters to learn and collaborate. This event is still being held and continues to grow by the thousands each year.
Since more than 50 million Americans over the age of 12 listen to podcasts on a weekly basis, it’s no surprise these days to find a podcast on just about any topic you could possibly have an interest in! In fact, according to podcasthosting.org, there are presently over 1 million active podcasts to choose from and over 30 million podcast episodes!
You may listen to podcasts for a variety of reasons, but comedy, education, and news podcasts seem to be among the most popular content.
I like to listen to my favorite podcasts while working, driving, folding laundry, or doing yard work. Listening to podcasts not only helps keep my brain actively learning and growing but also helps me to stay focused and motivated!
I have compiled this list of my favorite podcasts for Total Wellness for You AND Your Environment touching on all things natural from around the world, some of my favorites, including clean beauty, wellness, self-improvement, motivation. sustainability, eco-friendliness, and ways to be less wasteful.
Clean and Green Beauty Podcasts
Clean and green beauty is one category that is near and dear to my heart since it is one of the main reasons I decided to start blogging.
I was completely horrified when I starting reading and listening to podcasts about the toxins in our everyday beauty, hygiene and cleaning products! I also felt so guilty for exposing my children to all of these chemicals and toxins. I had always been more inclined to use holistic and alternative natural remedies so I chose to begin reducing our toxin exposure by purchasing greener, non-toxic products or making my own.
This list of Clean and Green Beauty Podcasts include some of those who have been most influential in my journey!
The Toxin Terminator, Hosted by Aimee Carlson
I have to talk about this podcast first and foremost since it has majorly influenced my awakening on toxic beauty, health, and cleaning products. I think of Aimee as a mentor and have learned so much through her podcast. On The Toxin Terminator, Aimee and her esteemed guests explain hidden toxins in our everyday routines and explain how these toxins can affect your mind and body.
The Toxin Terminator is one of my most favorite podcasts so I am super excited to include Aimee in this post!
“Aimee Carlson is THE TOXIN TERMINATOR. She is the host of The Toxin Terminator podcast, a best-selling author, and featured expert guest on numerous podcasts and summits. Aimee has spent the last 7 years removing hidden toxins from her own home to be free of chronic disease and has helped hundreds do the same. Through her podcast, she has had access to some of the top doctors, healers, experts, and industry leaders in the natural health and wellness field. Aimee’s passion is giving hope to those who are still suffering, getting no relief from traditional medicine, and ready to take control by detoxing and cleansing their health and environment.”
The Toxin Terminator is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, Castbox and Podflow.
Aimee has also recently released a book on Amazon! Find it here!
Clean It Up Podcast, Hosted by Jess and Julie
Jess and Julie are two twenty-something best friends who have obsessively researched, adopted, and adapted to clean beauty and sustainable living so much that they decided to start taking notes and share their experiences with others. They graduated college together with a Chemistry and Biology degree, respectively, and dove head-first into figuring out how to eliminate plastic and toxic chemicals from their routines and minimizing waste as much as possible along the way.
Each week on Clean It Up podcast, Jess and Julie explore a specific lifestyle topic – from non-toxic beauty to sustainability at home and on the go – and they dive deep into how it might be made better, cleaner, less toxic, more sustainable, even waste-free. They discuss product switches or newly-developed habits they’ve tried and hilarious fails they wouldn’t recommend to a friend. Jess and Julie are constantly learning and trying new things in this realm and want to continue to share their wealth of information with anyone who has a shared passion or budding interest in being more sustainable or non-toxic!
You can download or stream new episodes of the Clean It Up Podcast every Monday on Apple, Spotify and all other major podcasting platforms.
And don’t forget to follow the Clean It Up Podcast on Instagram and Twitter!
Clean Beauty Podcast, Hosted by Cassandra McClure
The Clean Beauty Podcast is hosted by clean beauty artist turned entrepreneur Cassandra McClure. Cassandra is also the created of Lash Binder and founder of Clean Beauty Con, Retreat and KIT.
The Clean Beauty Podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms!
Total Wellness, Self-Improvement, and Motivational Podcasts
Total Wellness comes from a combination of various aspects of your life. It’s difficult to maintain happiness in your home and work life if you are struggling with negativity, lack of motivation or inspiration, and unproductivity. Here are a few podcasts to help you maintain a positive outlook, stop that negative self-talk, and be more productive to improve your overall happiness and total wellness.
Style Your Life, Hosted by Erin Moody and Michelle Arguello
Erin and Michelle are two best friends who know life can be overwhelming and sometimes the odds can seem stacked against you.
On Style Your Life, Erin and Michelle talk about ways to style your life by pursuing personal growth and maintaining a positive outlook and how this can make a HUGE impact on your life! They strive to encourage and enlighten while providing proof that you have the power to change and the ability to overcome anything! Small changes over time lead to BIG results!
Style Your Life Podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms including Apple, Stitcher, Spotify and Alexa.
Jeremy Todd delivers million-dollar motivation, inspiration, and success strategies for the entrepreneur, manager, business owner, and salesperson. Learn to overcome fear, failure, and adversity by developing a new and positive mindset.
I enjoy listening to The Positive Side Podcast quite frequently and not just because Jeremy is a childhood friend! Catch positivity and productivity tips and guest interviews, all with a comedic twist!
The Positive Side Podcast is available on any of your favorite podcasting platforms including Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, and more!
And head over to The Positive Side’s website to check out Jeremy’s life-changing coaching programs, sign up for Monday motivation emails, and browse his amazing network of Mindset Change Makers.
Got that go-getter mindset and ambition within you? Love all things creative?
Pursuing the Happy, hosted by Hedy from Happily, Hedy is a lifestyle podcast that delves into self-care, mindset, living green, style, and more. Join Hedy every episode for simple and effective tips to pursue your best life and live happy, along with feature interviews of inspiring people pursuing their happiness.
Nicole founded this podcast during quarantine in March 2020 to help others know they are not alone in feeling burned out. On Burned Out, you will not only find a supportive space of encouragement but also get tips and tricks on avoiding burn out and being more productive. Nicole hopes to grow her Burned Out movement to eventually include courses for self-improvement and time-management.
Burned Out is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to!
Burned Out is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Eco-friendly, Sustainable, and Zero-Waste Podcasts
The number of Eco-friendly, Sustainable, and Zero-Waste Podcasts is rapidly growing! A healthy environment is ESSENTIAL to the total wellness of your body and mind!
Whether you are looking for education, inspiration, or tips for being more sustainable and less wasteful, tune in for advice from people and companies making an environmental impact all across the world!
The Ethical Conversations Podcast, Hosted by Jess Rigg
Jess Rigg is a 19-year-old blogger, Instagrammer, and podcast host from England who focuses on ethical fashion, responsible travel, and low-impact living.
If you’re looking to live a more sustainable life, this is the podcast for you! The podcast was founded during the 2020 pandemic and focuses on everything sustainable, eco & ethical. Covering topics from slow fashion to affordable veganism to consumerism, it aims to be an accessible and non-judgemental space for people to learn about issues affecting our planet. It’s released weekly on Fridays and each episode features a new guest to chat too.
The Ethical Conversations Podcast can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
You can also find both Jess and The Ethical Conversations Podcast on Instagram.
A Greener Me, Hosted by Lucy Warren
A Greener Me is a down-to-earth podcast documenting Lucy’s journey to becoming more environmentally friendly. Each week, Lucy set challenges, presents facts, and introduces some fantastic zero-waste and eco-friendly products she has discovered along her journey.
You can find A Greener Me podcast here and follow on Instagram.
The Environmental Podcast, Hosted by Aaron Chakraborty and Alicia Aikens
The Environmental Podcast is about the widespread cultural and environmental issues of modernity, explored through art, history, pop culture, and ideas for a better society.
The Sustainability 101 podcast brings you tips from around the world on being more sustainable. Sustainability 101 was started by a group of friends who are interested in taking initiatives for bringing about the sustainability revolution with information and insights from the world’s most inspiring eco-friendly change-makers. The vision behind this podcast is to encourage you to “Think Sustainably, and Act Responsibly!”
The Sustainability 101 Podcast can be found on most podcast platforms including Google, Spotify, Apple, and Anchor.
Climate Queens Podcast, Hosted by Kate and Clodagh
“Clodagh & Katie (aka the climate queens) met in 2017 while volunteering in the environmental sector in Dublin, Ireland, and became fast friends! They were constantly exchanging ideas on books to read, actions to take, and regularly brainstorming creative solutions for our planet. As both of them were avid podcast listeners, they soon realized that there was a gap in the podcast-sphere for an easy-listening, approachable and relatively short podcast on the environment, that they could easily consume on their commute. They were looking for the hard-hitting facts with positive solutions and decided to create the exact thing they are looking for. Climate Queens launched their first episode around fast fashion and the environment in April 2019 as part of fashion revolution week.
CLIMATE QUEENS is a monthly podcast series aiming to raise awareness about the effect that we, as humans, are having on our shared planet and what we can do about it. The changing climate is a vast subject and can be very overwhelming at the best of times, but through sincere chats and numerous cups of tea & coffee, these two Irish gals are breaking down the facts and providing easy, everyday solutions for their listeners to take action for both people and the planet.
Join Katie & Clodagh on the last Friday of every month, where they will be covering everything from global warming, fast fashion, the minefield that is recycling, and everything in between!”
You can find the Climate Queens Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
And don’t forget to follow the Climate Queens on Instagram and say hello!
Positively Green Podcast, Hosted by Kelsey Jorissen Olesen and Becca Tetzlaff
Positively Green Podcast was started in 2018 by Kelsey and Becca, a couple of sustainable-living ladies who believe in the ethical treatment of the earth, the positive power of collaboration, and the impact we, as consumers, can make. With each episode, Kelsey and Becca hope to educate and empower others to live greener lives. They cover a wide range of eco-friendly topics including sustainability tips, holistic living, clean and natural beauty, eco-fashion and so much more!
Positively Green Podcast can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and Libsyn.
Head over to Instagram and follow the Positively Green Podcast too!
Plentiful Lands, Hosted by Naomi Bosch
Naomi Bosch is an agricultural sciences student and passionate nature-lover. She also truly enjoys writing and being able to combine her expertise in science & farming along with her personal experience of trying to live a balanced, fulfilled & eco-friendly life. Naomi started her blog Plentiful Lands in 2019 and the podcast earlier this year. Through the blog & podcast, she hopes to spread ideas for regenerating farming, people & nature. Naomi envisions a future in which life in harmony and abundance is possible for everyone on our planet! When she’s not busy with her studies or blog, she loves spending time in nature, chatting with friends over a good cup of coffee, reading, cooking, and listening to podcasts.
Plentiful Lands podcast can be found on Anchor and Spotify.
Sustainable Minimalists, Hosted by Stephanie Seferian
Stephanie started her podcast shortly after becoming a mom in 2017. She found herself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of STUFF her infant daughter “needed”. Stephanie began to question that “need” and face serious personal questions regarding consumerism too. She searched for a space online for mothers wanting to declutter in an eco-friendly way but was unable to find others speaking about sustainable minimalism so she created the space she was seeking for other mothers.
The Sustainable Minimalists podcast focuses on small, deliberate actions we can all take to improve the health of the planet. Through her podcast, Stephanie hopes to inspire greener living and show her audience that being more sustainable doesn’t have to be difficult!
When she’s not podcasting, Stephanie enjoys running, reading a good book, or spending time with her husband, two daughters and yellow Lab.
The Age of Plastic is an environmental podcast about how to try to live plastic-free, speaking to campaigners, filmmakers, authors, and plastic-free business owners who are doing things more sustainably.
The host of The Age of Plastic, Andrea Fox, is a broadcaster and voiceover artist. She started this podcast to learn what she can do to help halt climate change and to help others learn as well.
The Age of Plastic podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and Podflow.
Confessions of an Eco-Worrier, Hosted by Mac and Becky
In 2019, Mac and Becky began their podcast, Confessions of an Eco-Worrier, after meeting through a mutual friend’s group challenge for women to reduce their consumption and discovering their similar backgrounds and like-minded, eco-friendly ideals.
Confessions of an Eco-Worrier is a podcast exploring the possibilities, challenges, and contradictions of trying to reduce our impact on the planet. This podcast introduces tips for caring for the environment while acknowledging our eco-fails and eco-guilt in a fun way! Mac and Becky hope to inspire others to make their own environmentally-friendly changes.
Check out Confessions of an Eco-Worrier on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean.
You can also follow Confessions of an Eco-Worrier on Instagram.
Casually Green, Hosted By Shannon and Sammie
Casually Green is a podcast about all things health and wellness. Shannon and Sammie share their experiences and speak with professionals on complementary and alternative medicine, plant-based eating, mental health, and share tips for better environmental consciousness.
Shannon and Sammie, friends for 12 years, began Casually Green in early 2020 in hopes of starting a creative project with a positive impact on the world. Since Sammie is a pediatric registered nurse and Shannon is a board-certified music therapist, they also share song recommendations every week to incorporate their passion for music. Their goal is to make environmentalism and a healthy lifestyle accessible and attainable for everyone.
Casually Green can be found on Spotify, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.
Zero-Waste Life Hacks Podcast, Hosted by Sofia Ratcovich and Michelle Sinclair
Sofia and Michelle describe ZERO-WASTE LIFE HACKS as a podcast “geared towards showing listeners simple solutions to some pretty big problems without all of the gloom and doom.” They want to show their listeners that there are many easy things we can all do to live more sustainability and feel good about our actions. It’s all about being practical and continuously inspiring each other.
Through their podcast, Sofia and Michelle hope to help you gain knowledge and an understanding of how our daily purchases and ultimately the stuff we throw out can become ZERO-WASTE opportunities instead. Each episode will tackle one item used daily, giving you facts about its global impact and how you, yes even you, can change your daily habits to become a ZERO-WASTE LIFE HACKER!
SOFIA RATCOVICH is a climate activist and founder of the boutique consulting company, Zero Waste Co. She works with her clients to develop and implement sustainability initiatives for special events with the goal of maximizing the efficiency of all operations and minimizing waste. Sofia has trained to be a Speaker for the Surfrider Foundation Rise Above Plastics Program, is an Ambassador with the 5 Gyres and recently completed training as a Climate Reality Leader with former VP Al Gore. Sofia is a mother of 3 and enjoys taking trips to the beach whenever possible.
Michelle Sinclair is a DJ and Music Blogger who is inspired by Sofia’s minimal daily habits towards zero waste living. “I am amazed that Sofia has a household of 4 people and throws away one tiny bag of trash. I want to know more about how she does that!.” Sofia is inspired by Michelle’s ability as a DJ to transform the vibe of a room through her music selection. Together, these longtime friends combined their knowledge and personal connections to create a fun and educational podcast for even the laziest of environmentalists.
This amazing podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google.
Sustainability School, Hosted by Kaisa Kangro and Kai Auger
Sustainability School is a podcast helping to amplify the voices of sustainability and climate change.
Kaisa and Kai began this podcast in 2019 to bring more attention to all of the amazing people and organizations implementing new and innovative solutions to become more sustainable. by producing zero-waste packaging, maintaining sustainable cities, and making reusable swaps for a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
“Today, one in ten people on the planet live in a region that’s declared a climate emergency. Climate change is accelerating and we need to take urgent action. But where do we start? Why is it happening and what can we do today to make a difference?” Kaisa and Kai connect with sustainability experts and scientists to provide answers to these questions in their podcasts as well as provide some useful and researched sustainable lifestyle ideas and tips.
Daniel started Sustainability Champions in January 2019 when he realized we need to put more attention on sustainability champions who are working hard to save protect and heal the planet. The goal of Sustainability Champions is to give people optimism about the environment and the solutions currently being implemented around the globe.
You can find Daniel’s podcast, Sustainability Champions, on all major podcasting platforms including Apple and Spotify.
And don’t forget to head over and follow Sustainability Champions on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Eco-Fashion Frenzy For Kids, Hosted by Sienna Salcedo
Eco-Fashion Frenzy is an earth-friendly fashion podcast for kids. Sienna shares the latest fashion news, trends, history, and ideas as well as interviews with industry leaders. Save the earth fashionably!
Sienna has been an avid fashion-lover since the age of four! She is a podcaster and founder of her own brand, Sienna Styles, and is currently working on creating her own online store.
My little fashionistas love listening to Sienna on Eco-Fashion Frenzy!
You can find Sienna's podcast on all major podcasting platforms.
Sustainability Of is a podcast with weekly episodes interviewing people who work for sustainable brands or just live a very environmentally conscious lifestyle. They have had a wide range of prestigious guests including the founder of Sylven NY, Co-Founder of by Humankind, Scéona from Scéona Jewelry, and different podcasters.
New episodes of Sustainability Of: are released every Wednesday at 12AM PST on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
This is just a short list of podcasts I have discovered…I am sure there are so many more out there!!!
Drop my a comment with your favorite podcasts (any genre)! I am always looking for new and interesting podcasts to try!
When I started drafting this piece a couple of months ago, I had reached out to quite a few podcasters.
I originally wanted to have a huge, all-encompassing list of all wellness and eco-friendly podcasts in one place, but as the post developed, I made the decision to switch gears and solely focus on those podcasters who took the time to respond to my messages and submit their information.
I spent a painstaking amount of time putting this post together, adding and checking links, and adding photos to help show my appreciation for these podcasters and their time!
I am happy to highlight these podcasts, especially since I personally listen to quite a few of the ones included on this list!
Summer is quickly approaching and here in the midwest, with the warmer summer weather, comes an abundance of farmer’s markets and fresh produce stands. Visiting local farmer’s markets, farms, greenhouses, and produce stands are one of my favorite summer activities. I love to seek out new locations we have not been to…one of my favorite places to shop for produce is at an Amish farm about 15 minutes from our home, where they sell a ton of flowers, jams, soaps, wood carvings, seeds, and other items. The kids love visiting the farm and seeing all of the animals too! While visiting our local farmer’s market, we have also been able to find some wonderful local sauces, candles, and beauty products from small businesses in the surrounding area.
Wellness and Your Diet
Webster’s dictionary defines wellness as the quality or state of being in good health. While many facets of your lifestyle can contribute to your overall wellness, diet is one of the most important elements to ensuring your body and mind are able to function at their best. A well-balanced diet with a variety of vitamins and minerals is recommended. Fruits and vegetables are a major source for many of these essential vitamins and minerals our bodies cannot produce on its own.
Benefits of Fruits and Veggies
Besides providing our bodies with essential nutrients needed to maintain peak performance, fruits and veggies have many other benefits such as:
-lowering blood pressure.
-strengthening bones.
-reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
-helping to prevent some types of cancer.
-lowering the risk of eye and digestive problems.
-lowering the risk of diabetes and have positive effects on blood sugar.
-controlling appetite and aiding to maintain a healthy weight with dietary fiber.
Fruits and vegetables also contain electrolytes that function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.
Produce Storage
Storing produce properly is crucial to prolonging its life and lessening food waste. Fruits and veggies can decompose more quickly when not stored adequately. Most fruits and vegetables are okay to be stored in the refrigerator. But no two fruits and veggies are alike so there is no one method to store them all. Some fruits and veggies also emit ethylene gas which speeds up ripening (and rotting) so you must take care when storing to keep fruits and vegetables apart, thus the [generally] two crisper drawers in your refrigerator.
Below I have included 25 sustainable ways to prolong the life of your produce. These tips are guidelines, of course. I recommend regularly checking produce in storage to trim off bad spots, throw out or add to your compost pile if unedible.
Sustainable Ways to Extend Produce Life
Shop local farmer’s markets for produce or grow your own. This cuts out the ripening of produce while during shipping from further away locations.
Prepare to store immediately after purchase in the refrigerator or freezer.
Remove moisture before storing produce and store it in a reusable zipper storage bag. Excess moisture promotes premature rotting.
Plan and prep meals to prevent over-buying and reduce produce waste.
Freeze what you aren’t planning to use right away.
Store in produce drawer to avoid from getting too cold in the back of the refrigerator.
Rinse fruits and vegetables with edible skins with white vinegar to prolong life up to a week. (1 part white vinegar, 3 parts water)
Add foil to banana stems to keep yellow longer. Plastic wrap works too, although this is not something I keep around. And don’t forget — brown bananas can also be frozen to use later for smoothies, baked goods, or homemade beauty recipes!
Store other produce items that do not require refrigeration like potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, onions, bananas, etc in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.
Use ice water to revive lettuce, greens, and herbs. Place in a bowl of ice water for about ten minutes.
Gaseous produce like bananas, apples, and avocados should be stored away from each other and other produce. Also, remember to remove from plastic bags. A mesh produce bag is a better choice.
Inspect produce while storing. Remove any brown leaves or rotting pieces to prevent it from spreading to the rest.
Use lemon juice to keep sliced fruits and veggies from browning. I use this trick on avocados, apples, bananas, and fruit salad.
Wrap celery in foil to prolong its life in the crisper.
Wrap leafy green in paper towels and place in a reusable zipper bag to keep fresher longer. Be sure to leave some air in the bag so the greens do not get smashed.
Keep whole, uncut pineapples, watermelon, cucumbers, squash, and eggplant out of the fridge. These items can be stored on the counter or in the pantry until they are ripe. Once ripe, put in the refrigerator to slow further ripening.
Remove green tops from carrots and beets before storing them in the fridge.
Store asparagus, green onions, carrots, celery, and herbs in water. Don’t forget to trim the ends off first. Water should be changed every other day. This can prolong up to a month!
Apples and citrus fruits do not need to be kept in the refrigerator but will last longer if you do. Did you know apples can soften 10x faster when stored at room temperature?!?
Do not wash berries until ready for use. Moisture encourages mold growth.
When pineapple is ripened, cut the leafy top off and store in the fridge upside down to redistribute the sugar that has settled to the bottom during transportation and helps it to last longer.
Wipe off mushrooms and store them in a paper bag in the main part of the refrigerator.
Use produce scraps to regrow produce. This is a fun experiment, especially for kids. My kids love trying to regrow our produce scraps. We have tried onions, avocados, celery, romaine lettuce, carrots, beets, and pineapple. This is such a fun experiment!
As a general rule, store fruits and vegetables separately.
BUT keeping an apple in with your potatoes can help to keep them from sprouting!
So if you are throwing out produce because it’s rotting faster than you can use it, try some of these sustainable produce storage tips to help you prolong the life of your fruits and veggies for an extra week or maybe even two!
Veggie and Fruit Storage Life
Favorite Farmer’s Markets in My Surrounding Area:
Here are a few farmer’s markets and produce stands in my surrounding area in NE Indiana. If you’re in the neighborhood visiting or traveling, I encourage you to check them out!
**Fort Wayne Farmer’s market is downtown on Saturday mornings at Parkview Field and travels to other locations around town as well. Open YEAR ROUND.
FWFM offers a variety of products from 50 vendors during the indoor weekly season and 60+ during the summer.
-products ranging from farm & garden, home-based & professionally prepared foods that are minimally processed foods, natural products, and local artisans.
Free parking is available in the History Center lot along Berry Street and on the streets in the surrounding blocks, with ample opportunities to lock up a bicycle as well.
Hello, I’m Jessica, blogger at sweetandspicyessentials.com. I enjoy learning about essential oils and how I can replace products in my medicine cabinet with natural alternatives. I’m really excited to be a guest here at Donna Naturale. I hope that by the end of this post you will be intrigued by essential oils and all of the ways you can use them in your home, health, and beauty routines.
Healthy Swaps
Have you ever read healthy swap lists for dining out? You know, the ones that are usually called Eat This, Not That? Then they go on to tell you, choose the Chicken Noodle Soup instead of the Clam Chowder and save xx number of calories? Well, that is what you will find in this article only my focus will be on choices you can make in the drugstore for everyday remedies.
Advice from Grandma
When I was a kid, I thought my Grandma was a little weird for always telling me to eat garlic so I wouldn’t get sick. She also loved to remind me to wash my hands, gargle with warm salt water, take a spoonful of honey for a sore throat, and eat some chicken soup whenever I was feeling sick. But then again, this is the same woman who would eat a tomato like an apple and would salt her raw potato, yuck, so I didn’t always heed her advice. Turns out she was pretty smart and I think this came from growing up in a time when there weren’t options from the drugstore to treat every little thing.
We’ve made a great deal of progress since my Grandma was a little girl growing up in the south in 1918. She used to slather cold cream on her face later in life and I’m pretty sure cold cream was mineral oil or petroleum. Hopefully, they aren’t still producing that special recipe. Yes, selection and medical science have improved, and with those new chemicals that treat every problem.
Healthy Oils
First off, one good investment in making your own natural products is purchasing some good healthy oils. Avocado, Coconut, Olive, Neem, Apricot Kernel, Sweet Almond, Jojoba. All of these oils are wonderful alone and even better when used as a carrier oil with essential oils. You don’t need to buy all of these, of course, but each has its own benefit. For example, Jojoba is the oil closest to the type of oil we produce naturally in our skin. Apricot is healing and less greasy than most oils, so it is good for use on your face. Neem is great for your hair, bugs dislike it, it can thicken your eyebrows and it’s good for eczema. As you can see, it is an excellent oil to add to your toolkit.
Quality Essential Oils
Next, a good selection of quality pure essential oils to be used with the above oils is a priority. To get started I would recommend Lemon, Lavender, and Tea Tree (Melaleuca). Then add to your oil collection as needed. Before you know it you will have collected an awesome essential oil toolkit that you can use for hundreds of recipes.
Ok, are you ready? Let’s start swapping!
Menstrual Pain
Ugh, period pain is the worst. Instead of period relief products like Pamprin or Midol, try any of these essential oils rubbed onto the abdomen with a carrier oil: Clary Sage, Rosemary, Peppermint, Lavender, Copaiba.
Clary Calm is a doTERRA blend of Clary Sage Flower, Lavender Flower, FCF Bergamot Peel, Roman Chamomile Flower, Ylang Ylang Flower, Cedarwood Wood, Geranium Plant, Fennel Seed, Carrot Seed, Palmarosa Herb, and Vitex Leaf/Berry essential oils. Not for use in pregnant women. The roller bottle blends are great and easy to apply, especially if you are new to oils and don’t have a large collection of oils.
Bloating
Ginger, Fennel, Peppermint, Rosemary, or Lemon rubbed onto the abdomen with a carrier oil will help with digestion and bloat. doTERRA’s premade blend is called DigestZen. It is made from Anise Seed, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Rhizome/Root, Caraway Seed, Coriander Seed, Tarragon Plant Fennel Seed.
Athlete’s Foot and Stinky Feet
Ok, those sprays you can buy are expensive and all chemicals. Try this instead: Mix the essential oils of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus with neem oil and rub into your feet and toenails morning and night. Neem oil is an effective antifungal, especially when paired with Tea Tree (anti-bacterial) and Eucalyptus (cooling and healing).
Muscle Aches
Instead of reaching for the Icy Hot, try this: Mix Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Lavender essential oils with coconut oil and beeswax. Peppermint is the mentholated cooling ingredient in this recipe. Eucalyptus is known for its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, and antiseptic properties. Lavender is soothing, relieves pain and inflammation. These three oils together create an effective muscular rub.
Sweet & Spicy Essentials is a blog about all the things I’m doing to make myself a happier, healthier more focused Mom. Let’s face it, Motherhood refocuses your priorities. Reaching out and grabbing time for yourself is not always easy, but it is so important! I’m sharing my passion for more natural products and other topics like home, crafts, recipes, and other stuff that helps moms be their best.
Want to read more about essential oils? Get MORE recipes and recommendations HERE!
April is EARTH Month and April 22nd is Earth Day. Most areas are still recommending to stay at home and practice social distancing if you must go out or are an essential worker, but we can still celebrate the Earth!
Here are 12 ways you can get outside and celebrate the earth while still practicing social distancing.
Plant a garden. Propagate new plants, repot or split over-crowded plants, or plant a window sill garden. Spring is the perfect time to start your seeds indoors for all of your favorite garden herbs, fruits, and veggies.
Take a hike or walk.
Pick up litter around your yard or in your neighborhood.
Find a geocache..or better yet, cache and trash! We cachers call this CITO (Cache In, Trash Out.) Geocaching is a fun outdoor GPS game where you use GPS coordinates to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at locations marked by coordinates all over the world. My family and I have enjoyed geocaching while hiking, running errands or even on vacation. You can join for free at geocaching.com. If you do, look me up at abc0619! We can be caching-friends!
Plant a bush or tree.
Do some yard work. Clean leaves out of flower beds, mow or treat your lawn.
Create a serene outdoor sitting area.
Make a birdhouse or add a bird feeder.
Have a picnic.
Go for a bike ride. Not only are you getting some exercise, but you are also reducing pollution!
Read a book outside in the sunshine!
Have a nature photoshoot. Take pictures of plants, trees, leaves, flowers, insects, the sky, or clouds. Take it all in and enjoy! You may even get some shots good enough to frame!
