HMN Blog – Page 2 – Holistic Moms Network

Connecting with Our Mother Earth

April 18, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

As Earth Day approaches many of us focus on doing. Lists of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle are abundant, and it’s a necessary piece of our responsibilities as we mark Earth Day each year. We created this resource a couple of years ago to help with just that. This year, however, we would like to go a bit deeper, and reflect on our relationship with the planet that sustains us, specifically from the perspective of mothers and motherhood. As mothers, there is nothing more precious to us than the bond we share with our children. It’s a connection that runs deep, built on a foundation of unconditional love, nurturing, and protection. As we celebrate Earth Day, we are reminded […]

Dandelion Recipes

March 31, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

Many early spring flowers and greens are edible and very nutritious. Pre-refrigeration these foraged crops were a welcome change to a winter diet lacking in fresh foods and provided a nutrient rich boost to spring diets before new crops came in. Dandelions, usually treated as a weedy nuisance, are wonderful perennial herbs widely spread across the world. When young, the whole flower, greens and roots can be used in a variety of recipes from jellies, honey, salads, baking, soups, even coffee substitutes and wine! Since these plants are so prolific, easily identifiable and their look-alikes are non toxic they are a great first step into foraging. You can identify dandelions by their hollow stem with a milky sap. They have […]

Seed Starting

March 15, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

March is a great time for seed starting for many annual vegetables for most of the US! With seeds you have greater choice of the variety as well as the preparation and care of the plants used to generate your seeds at less cost than purchasing seedlings at a local nursery or farm. There are a few key things to consider when starting seeds. The first is timing! How long do plants take to germinate and grow into a seedling that can be transplanted? When can your plants go in the ground in relation to the last frost date in your area and how long will they take to mature? Working in a spreadsheet or notebook can help you keep […]

No-Till Gardening: Less Work & Healthier Plants

March 15, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

Soil is a living thing, each handful is full of millions of organisms including, bacteria, fungus, viruses, insects and invertebrates. All of these organisms are working together to help the soil replenish itself through decomposing plant material on the surface, helping to build soil structure by holding water and air, and supporting the conversion of minerals in the soil into components plants use to thrive. By using no-till gardening techniques we can support this natural process keeping the soil structure intact. No till methods help our soil thrive and improve over time, growing healthier plants all with less work than traditional methods and can be used as an organic gardening method anywhere from a commercial market garden to a patio […]

Around the Table

February 7, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

by Nancy Peplinsky, Founder Holistic Moms Network Above my over-sized dining room table are the words “The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.” Growing up, my parents were relatively flexible in their parenting style but were strict about always sitting down to dinner as a family. The dinner table was a place not only to enjoy a meal, but a place of connection, conversation, and exploration. My father was ever the scholar and always intellectually curious. As a passionate teacher of the humanities, he brought his interests in art, literature, language, history, and philosophy to the table, quite literally. Dinner conversation could extend hours beyond the completion of a meal, debating life’s great questions, comparing interpretations of […]

DIY Vapor Rub

February 6, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

Create a simple vapor rub to help sniffly noses breathe a little easier and avoid harmful products in commercial blends like petroleum jelly. Please note the use of EOs in this mix that may not be appropriate for children under 3 years. Ingredients 4 tsp beeswax beads 2 T cocoa butter 8 T coconut oil 20 drops each of rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oils Directions Melt beeswax and cocoa butter in a double boiler Once melted turn off the heat and add coconut oil and essential oils Pour into a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid Makes about 3/4 cup Can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 year Ingredient Benefits: Beeswax: the base to […]

Creating a Vision Board

January 17, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

The new year brings thoughts of goals and and visions for the coming months as well as a reflection on what has past. Spending time thoughtfully checking in with yourself, understanding where you are, what you want and setting intentions for the year can be a powerful step towards manifesting those goals into reality. Making a vision board enables you to visualize those goals and by placing it in a prominent spot that you see everyday can help inspire you to take continual small steps resulting in big changes over time! You can use a vision board to focus on just one area of your life, the bigger picture, or specific long or short term goals. Get started by […]

DIY Bone Broth

January 11, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

A warm nutrient rich bone broth is perfect for winter, simple to make at home and cheaply made from scraps you might otherwise compost or discard. Bone broth has ancient roots. It been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2500 years to support the kidneys and digestive health and Hippocrates, in Greece also recommended it for digestion. Used around the world in different forms, today we recognize it is full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acid loaded gelatin and collagen. Studies suggest this combination can help aid digestion, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, protect your joints, reduce bone density loss and improve skin aging. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) If you are vegan there are great alternative recipes (here and […]

DIY Beeswax Wraps

December 13, 2022April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

A great quick last minute gift that is both useful and environmentally friendly is a beeswax wrap! Gather your supplies: 100% cotton cloth – consider upcycling an old button down shirt, cloth napkins or other similar weight fabric Beeswax – pastilles or shavings from a block Pinking shears or scissors Parchment paper Baking sheets Paintbrush Oven Clothesline and pins to hang to dry Preheat your oven to its lowest setting. While it’s heating up, cut your fabric to the desired size for your beeswax wraps. Pinking shears will help prevent frayed edges but scissors will do! Small 8” square wraps are great for wrapping a cut piece of apple, avocado or cucumber or covering the top of a mason jar. […]

light shining through the pine trees covered in snow

Celebrating Winter Solstice

December 13, 2022April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

“The winter solstice celebrates the return of hope to our land as our planet experiences the first slow turn toward greater daylight. Soon we will welcome the return of the sun and the coming of springtime. As we do so, let us remember and embrace the positive, enriching aspects of winter’s darkness. Pause now to sit in silence in the darkness of this space. Let this space be a safe enclosure of creative gestation for you.” Excerpt from ‘The Circle of Life’ by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr The winter solstice, the darkest night of the year, is a time of reflection, looking inward and gathering courage and hope to sustain us through the remaining long nights of winter. It […]