This is an area I have just recently started thinking more about as our "household manager."  I will start by saying that I am no where near an expert on the subject or anywhere close to 'arriving' at a toxin-free home, but I am thinking, reading, and making changes little by little.  I will also say that I am not 'afraid' of chemicals (they are everywhere, even in nature!) and I don't think that in this modern world we can ever be completely free of toxic substances in our environment.  That being said, I do think it is to our benefit (and our family's and our world's) to not turn a blind eye to the way our 'modern living' can effect our health, the earth, and our pocket books!

And so, the 3 main reasons I have been motivated in this venture:
(1) the health of my family
(2) the stewardship of our shared environment
(3) the frugality of simpler living and less consumption of 'products'

I'm not even going to attempt to 'prove' or even site sources for these beliefs I've come to hold; a simple internet search can provide tons of reading from reliable sources. Mostly, I've tried not to become 'fanatical' but rather to decide on each matter and see if it makes sense to me. That's it. I realize that puts me at risk of being superstitious or unscientific, but I've decided that even if I am, the changes I'm making in behavior cannot possibly be any more harmful than the alternative!

> Food <
This is an obvious one. So many pesticides, preservatives, dyes... Things we've discussed here before, so I won't go into much detail. I just try to grow whatever I can, buy organic (as the budget allows), and cook/bake from scratch instead of processed. Healthy foods also lead to a healthy system that can detox itself.

> Cleaning <
I realized that I have SO many products and chemicals under my sink! I got married and thought I needed every cleaning product I saw my mother use, and I just bought them! I have recently been researching the various uses of vinegar, baking soda, Borax, etc. I'm trying to work these things into my cleaning routines and use up/throw out the extras. I also bought a couple microfiber cleaning cloths. I especially like the one for windows and mirrors. I use a vinegar/water solution and wipe with this microfiber cloth... no more Windex! It leaves no streaks and does a great job! I also have no worries if Evie walks into a cloud of spray while I'm in a cleaning frenzy.

> Laundry <
Some people banish bleach from their home; I'm not quite there yet, but I am trying to use it very sparingly. I started using vinegar as a fabric softener-- I think I will never buy Downey again!  I'm also adding Borax to loads to make the detergent go further. I have converted to All Free and Clear for most loads (I'm still looking for the best detergent for the cloth diapers; I'll try some of your recommendations). I think it's nice when our clothes smell fresh and clean and not like a bunch of man-made perfumes.

> Home <
I still remember the argument Brian and I had when Evie was a tiny baby. I had put a Plug-In in her bedroom to make it smell like "linen" instead of baby poo. He was very determined as he removed it and HID the Plug-In from me... saying he didn't want her breathing in all those chemicals! At the time, I thought he was a little psycho-- but now, I'm really thinking the same thing. He won't even let me burn scented candles! :) But as I've come to think about it, they burn my eyes and tickle my throat... I just don't think we need them that badly in our home. I'll pick some fresh flowers instead! Now I just spray everything with vinegar water; the vinegar scent fades and leaves a fresh smell. You could also use essential oils to freshen up a room.  

> Medicine <
I'm always looking first to a natural or homeopathic remedy instead of pharmacy. We figure the fewer drugs in our system, the better. For example, I'll drink a few glasses of water and close my eyes if I have a headache. I'll boost vitamin C, zinc, and water consumption if I feel a cold coming on... all the while cutting out refined sugar. That almost always gives my immune system a boost. When my ob/gyn office diagnosed me with a urinary tract infection, I decided to skip the antibiotics and just drink tons of cranberry juice... did the trick! From the small decisions (like headaches) to the big decisions (like vaccinations), we've come to believe that a healthy system actually heals itself, in most cases, and can't stay 'healthy' if it's constantly on drugs!

> Yard <
We just borrowed a book called "Organic Gardening" from the library and loved it! It really made me think about ways to organically keep pests out of our garden. It also got me thinking about our yard and the pesticides we put on it. Have you ever thought about how much pollution your lawn mower produces? A ton! So, my wonderful hubby works extra hard with his old fashioned lawn mower and only mows with the gas mower every other or every third time.

> Personal Care Products <
I once read that you should put nothing on your face that you could not eat. Wow. What a standard. But if you think about it, there are so many harmful and irritating chemicals we put on our faces or wash our bodies with every day. I don't think I will ever be able to afford the fancy, pure and natural products on the market... so I've been looking into making my own. I'm very new into just thinking about and researching various foods that can be used in recipes for shampoo and even making your own soap. Interesting... haven't done anything yet, and don't know if it'll ever work it's way into my daily routine. In the meantime, I'm just wearing less make-up, taking fewer showers :), and discovering the wonder of tea tree oil!  My friend just gave me a recipe for making my own deodorant... I mixed it up tonight. We'll see how it works... (...feel free to tell me if I smell!).

Well, I think I'm going to wrap up this *book*!  Please do share feedback and ideas that you have. What works for you??

Okay, I know, May is almost over. But for those of us in the northern US, it's the perfect time to get planting!! This month's challenge is to either expand the garden you have, or start one you've never had. Just grow something that you can eat!

With food prices going up, it's the perfect time to venture into the world of growing your own local, organic produce. If you're a 'gardening virgin,' just start small and don't worry about digging up a huge plot. You can grow a couple tomato plants or herbs in pots on your back porch. Just make sure they get full sun.

I am a lucky wife whose husband is the garden guru. He does most of the work. I do the weeding and picking while he plans the whole thing out and does most of the planting. Some of you have hubbies that are not so interested... Do what you can to inspire a "working together" attitude... even with your kids. If they're old enough, they can help with picking, weeding and even planting. There are so many cool life-lessons that can be taught/learned through gardening activities. We even look forward to our toddler participating in the garden this year by picking strawberries and blueberries to snack whenever she wishes. Yum! Hopefully, all these 'hands-on' fruits and veggies with help develop her love for them and, in the future, a work ethic to go along with it.

So, my advice would be: start small and let it grow :) each year. You'll love having yummy fresh produce at your fingertips for almost pennies.