3/15/13

Ginger root is fast becoming a kitchen staple for its healthy digestive properties and delicious taste. If you find yourself with a leftover chunk of ginger root, don't toss it in the trash -- grow a ginger plant from it. Fill a small pot with organic potting mix, place the ginger root in the soil and water it. In a few days, you'll see new growth coming out of the soil, and in a few weeks, you'll have a regenerated ginger root that you can harvest and use at home. If you do this right, you'll never have to purchase ginger root again!

3/14/13

One of the biggest gripes about nontoxic cleaning is that it can be nearly impossible to get the grout in between tiles to look sparkling clean using only natural ingredients. Try this foolproof recipe: Mix 7 cups tap water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup bottled lemon juice and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray away. It'll loosen grime, brighten the grout and give the whole room a fresh, clean smell.

3/13/13

The social media website Pinterest is loaded with clever ideas of how to take everyday pantry staples like instant pudding, cake mixes, snacks and frozen food and mix them together to create homemade treats and meals in minutes. If you see a fun idea that you've pinned to try later, remember this: You don't always have to use the same conventional brands when you try the recipe at home. With organic food brands becoming more prevalent, swapping out a conventional cake mix for an organic one means better quality ingredients and the likelihood of fewer or zero artificial dyes and flavoring.