contents NATURAL HEALTH SPECIAL • AUG/SEPT 2009 ISSUE 30

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MAIN FEATURES 10 LIVING OFF GRID

We explore what it means to live with no mains power or water. 15 ALTERNATIVE BREAKS

Last minute eco holiday ideas for those looking for something different. 18 RISING ENERGY

Natalie Fee shares tools and techniques to increase your energy.

FAMILY LIFE 17 SUNDAY SELECTION

Our favourite day of the week – places to go and things to make. 27 SPIRITUAL PARENTING

How to turn your junk into treasure. 82 SMALLHOLDERS DIARY

Janet Ross longs for a break but what can she do with all her animals?

BUMPS & BIRTH 21 TONGUE TIED

Jo Middleton explains how tongue-tie affects breastfeeding.

4 The Green Parent

24 BLESSINGWAYS

How to create a beautiful ceremony to honour pregnancy.

LEARNING 28 ON THE BOOKSHELF

Great green reads for the whole family. 30 NATURAL LEARNING

Gill Kilner shares stories of autonomous home education. 31 MAKE YOUR OWN

Painted picture collage inspired by summery leaves and objects.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 45 CHILD HEALTH

Dealing with constipation. 47 YOUR HEALTH

How our skin is affected by our emotional wellbeing. 50 SLEEPLESS IN BED

Rebecca Stonehill shares her experiences of insomnia and ways to combat it.

33 NATURAL HEALTH SPECIAL 34 GROW YOUR OWN DRUGS How to plant a magical herb garden for beauty and wellbeing. 36 MEET THE CREATORS Inspirational women who have started their own skincare ranges. 38 DIY BEAUTY Ideas and tips from making natural toothpaste to homemade shampoo. 40 MAKE YOUR OWN Recipes to make your own herbal lotions and potions for the whole family. 49 TRIED AND TESTED Luscious natural body lotions put to the test by our reader panel.

DIY BEAUTY Natural Health Special

Recipes for gorgeous natural skincare Page 40

P A G E S O F G R E E N

I D E A S A N D R E C I P E S

© T H E U L T I M A T E N A T U R A L B E A U T Y B O O K , K Y L E C A T H I E

GROW YOUR OWN DRUGS Plant a garden for beauty and wellbeing 34

PLUS MEET THE CREATORS 38 | HERBAL HAIRCARE 41 | ORG ANIC LOTIONS 47

Natural Health Special | The Green Parent 33 MEET OUR READERS This issue we have five lovely readers to test out natural and organic products and give us their opinions.

TRACY SIMMONS, 34 lives in Cornwall with partner Gareth, and their two boys, Thomas Arlen, nine and Reuben Kern, two. Describe yourself: Scatty, loving daydreamer Favourite

film/read: Amelie/Cider with Rosie Best place

in the world: Our local country park by the duck pond with a book and my boys! Most memorable experience: The births of my boys, both very different experiences! Hobbies: Veg growing, reading, painting and needle felting Edible treat: Pumpkin seeds.

CLAIRE STEPHENSON, 30 lives with her husband Mark and daughter Phoebe-Alice, three, in Lancashire. Her second baby is due any day now! Describe yourself: Creative, tenacious and caring Favourite film: Love Actually Best

69 ECOSOURCEBOOK In this edition our eco source book is a celebration of all things organic from toys to cleaning products. Discover organic homemade soaps and find out which board games are the best for teaching children about the environment. We also have a fabulous selection of competitions to win organic goodies.

L E A R N I N G

E T H I C A L F A S H I O N

ecosourcebook

Everything you need for green an d ethical living

SUMMER BLUES

Our pick of the best organic

t-shirts for boys p72

B U M P S & B I R T H

WIN organ ic

bedlin en

page 78

R E A L N A P P I E S

L E A R N I N G

E T H I C A L F A S H I O N

B U M P S & B I R T H

R E A L N A P P I E S

place in the world: Home Most memorable experience: Meeting my husband for the first time Hobbies: Walking, reading, creative writing and relaxing in a hot bath Pets: Four hens and a dog Edible treat: Home-made blueberry mufins.

SPECTACULARLY POWERFUL .

SUPREMELY ECOLOGICAL .

LOOKS LIKE WE REALLY HAVE CLEANED UP.

DAWN DUNLOP, 38 is married with a daughter, aged three. She lives in Hampshire Describe yourself: Creative, optimistic, resourceful Favourite read: Any books on permaculture Best place in the world:

EcovEr’s powErful nEw clEan ing rangE rEally is thE pEak o f

clEaning powEr. it combinEs a pionEEring Eco-surfactan t tEchnology

with thE most Ecological ing rEdiEnts to dElivEr our bEst r Esults yEt.

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Anywhere with my family, preferably outdoors Most memorable experience: Holding our daughter for the first time Hobbies: Reading, gardening, music, spinning wool, knitting Edible treat: Homemade pizza with freshly picked salad.

SARAH FOX, 34 lives in Warwickshire, is married to Ian and they have a son, Tom aged two. Describe yourself: Slowly getting greener! Favourite read: Currently Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Alice Walker is an all time favourite

though. Most memorable experience: Giving birth to my son Hobbies: In the summer; gardening, working on the allotment, and in winter; crafts. Pets: Three-legged black cat called Spike. Edible treat: Tarte au Citron and clotted cream.

LOUISE BROWN, 34 lives in Oxfordshire with her partner and their son, two. Describe yourself: Happy go lucky Favourite read: The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett Best place in the world: My bed on a Sunday morning

with the two most important men in my life Most memorable experience: Receiving the keys to our home on the winter solstice Hobbies: Knitting, sewing, reading, watching live music Edible treat: Monty’s dark chocolate.

E C O L I V I N G

INSPIRING

STORIES Families doing great

things

E C O L I V I N G

H E A L T H & B E A U T Y

FOOD & DRINK 53 WHAT’S IN SEASON

I M A G E : C L O S E P A R E N T . C O M

What’s inside? 70 learning organic soft toys and eco book s to win 72 fashion our favour ite

t-shirts for boys and the best o rganic jeans 74 bumps and birth win soft organic towels a nd

pregnancy treats 76 real napp ies win real nappy sets 78 eco living bamboo cutlery for bab ies

and organic bedlinen competit ion 80 health and beauty o rganic soaps and vouchers to w in

ETHICAL FASHION 61 WHAT’S NEW

ecosourcebook | The Green Parent 69

H E A L T H & B E A U T Y

Foraging, making preserves and cordials tried and tested. 54 SIMPLE SALADS

23/6/09 15:53:37

Perfect for a summery lunch these salads are seasonal, easy to make and extremely tasty.

HOUSE & GARDEN 57 HOME NEWS

Green roof for an outdoor education centre, an eco renovation and more. 58 SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS

Corinna Wood shares the reasons why plantain is also known as the first aid plant. 59 GO GREEN IN THE…

This issue we explore ways to make your garden as environmentally friendly as possible.

Beautiful clothing made from the hemp plant.

GREEN TRAVEL 63 FAMILY RIDES

Exploring along the South Wales coast.

REGULARS 7 YOUR LETTERS 9 OUT AND ABOUT 64 NEXT ISSUE 65 ASTROLOGY 66 SUBSCRIBE

COMPETITIONS Email your details to competitions@ thegreenparent.co.uk 70 NATURE BOOKS 72 ECO SWEATSHIRTS 74 ORGANIC TOWELS 76 ORGANIC NAPPIES 78 ORGANIC BEDDING 80 BEAUTY VOUCHERS 80 BABY MASSAGE OIL

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