This is a guest post from the staff of Modernize.com, a site for home ideas and inspiration. The Earthling's Handbook is not affiliated with any of the businesses whose products are linked here, and the editors of The Earthling's Handbook have not used any of these products in our own home--but we strongly encourage recycling … Continue reading Eco-Friendly Building Materials for Your Home
guest post
Recycling Used-Up Pens and Markers
This is a guest post by Nicholas Efran, nine-year-old son of 'Becca and Daniel. He wrote this article for the June 2014 issue of the Colfax Communicator, his school's newsletter. (Mr. Sikorski is the principal.) We hope it inspires other kids to start recycling things that are getting thrown away in their schools! Three third-graders … Continue reading Recycling Used-Up Pens and Markers
Pocket: A Handy Tool for Web Browsing
This is a guest post by Ben Stallings (brother of ‘Becca) , who is a permaculture gardener, home energy efficiency auditor, and owner of a curbside recycling business in Kansas. I got an email a few days ago informing me that I'm in the top 5% of users of a service called Pocket -- I've used … Continue reading Pocket: A Handy Tool for Web Browsing
Ben’s Hot Chocolate
Autumn is here, and the hot chocolate season is beginning! This is a guest post by Ben Stallings (brother of 'Becca) , who is a permaculture gardener, home energy efficiency auditor, and owner of a curbside recycling business in Kansas and also happens to have a scrumptious hot chocolate recipe. For most of my life, … Continue reading Ben’s Hot Chocolate
10 Lessons Learned from Rewiring an Old House
This is a guest post by Ben Stallings, my brother, who is a permaculture gardener, home energy efficiency auditor, and owner of a curbside recycling business in Kansas. I spent most of my spare time in 2011 rewiring our 1920 house, replacing the old knob & tube wiring with modern nonmetallic cable that meets code. … Continue reading 10 Lessons Learned from Rewiring an Old House
Sphagnum Moss Diapers
This is a guest post from storyteller Doug Elliott, whose free e-newsletter offers occasional stories like this one. Doug's storytelling DVD, and his books about nature for children and adults, would make great holiday gifts! Sphagnum moss sure is an amazing plant! I’ve been hanging out in some wetlands lately, and with our son Todd … Continue reading Sphagnum Moss Diapers
Get Rid of Ragweed and Grow Your Garden!
Organic gardener Ben Stallings explains how pulling up ragweed before it blooms reduces allergy suffering and provides a rich source of green matter for sheet composting.
Things Not To Do: Dessert Edition, Volume II
from storyteller Fran Stallings (Becca's mom), a story horrifyingly similar to the tale of the Fruity Whip While our kitchen is being renovated, we've set up camp in the main bathroom, which we have equipped with electric skillet, small microwave, and toaster oven. Electric kettle and toaster are on the dinette table, which is camping … Continue reading Things Not To Do: Dessert Edition, Volume II
Seven Reasons Not to Circumcise Your Son
by Daniel Efran Well, I figure if my girlfriend and my parents are discussing my penis on the Internet, I'd better chime in! The subject, specifically, is routine circumcision of infants--whether it should be routine, whether it should have been done to our son (which it wasn't), and whether it should have been done to … Continue reading Seven Reasons Not to Circumcise Your Son
Circumcision: The Earlier Generation
My article on why we didn't circumcise our son mentioned that when my partner Daniel learned more about circumcision, he felt "that he was mutilated without his consent simply because of tradition and ignorance" and was so upset that "he wouldn't speak to his parents because he feared he would yell at them." As I tried … Continue reading Circumcision: The Earlier Generation
Organic Chocolate Made Cheap & Easy!
by Ben Stallings [Becca's brother] I've just discovered the simplest, cheapest way to make really good organic chocolate! I like chocolate a lot, but I've cut way back since I learned that most chocolate that isn't certified organic and/or fair trade is made from cocoa processed by child slaves in Cote d'Ivoire. When I asked … Continue reading Organic Chocolate Made Cheap & Easy!
Scary math tricks with U.S. Presidential Elections
The United States presidential election system is more complex than most people realize, and it has some serious mathematical pitfalls. Be aware of them so that your vote will mean what you think it does.
Jeremy’s Breakfast Pitas
This is the kind of hearty breakfast food that, with some fruit and coffee, gives you steady energy for many hours. It's pretty good for lunch or dinner, too!
Beans & Rice
This is our basic "Mexican food" recipe. It is very flexible and reheats very well. You can use leftover beans, leftover rice, or any appropriate leftover vegetables you happen to have.
Earth Day
Earth Day is an opportunity to think about how you've treated the earth (and how the earth has treated you) in the past year, and to strive to improve that relationship. Earth Day is a great opportunity to commit yourself to positive change.