Spring is a little more than a month away! 

As a lover of summer and warm weather, I’m starting the countdown. However, with spring quickly approaching means that we don’t have much time to prepare seedlings for our gardens. Remember, around Thanksgiving, Naturally Wild had a blog post about composting and its wonderful growing properties. Well it’s time to put that compost to work. All the nutrients that our compost piles have been building up through the holidays will be just what those little seedlings need for a fresh start this spring. Lots of seeds can be sowed inside in our compost and transplanted outside to our garden areas between March and April. This is an excellent opportunity to teach our little ones about a plant’s life cycle: how they start out as seeds, then grow into plants that give off fruits, and lastly decompose to become part of the compost for next year. It is a wonderful self-sustaining process that not only provides them with a learning activity but also a chance to get a little dirty and appreciate where some of their food comes from. And you’ll be able to enjoy some fresh organic greens for super cheap!

So how do we get started? Well, save the cardboard carton the next time you finish a carton of eggs, cut out each individual section, place compost dirt in each section, and plant your seeds. Then when the time comes to transplant them outside, you will be able to stick the carton section in the ground without having to take the seedling out. This will reduce stress on the plant and giving you the best possible chance of getting some home-grown fruits and veggies. The carton will decompose around the plant leaving some extra nutrients so it can grow. Plants that you can start sowing inside this time of year are broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, kale, eggplant, leeks, tomatoes, onions, and peppers.

Happy Early Valentine’s Day Everyone! 

I am sure that most of you are worrying about what to do on Saturday for that special someone in your life, as well as who will babysit for you. If most of you are like me, I never have a ton of money to spend on romance, especially when babysitters increase their prices during this day of love. Not to worry! There are many family-fun, romantic and affordable things for all of us to consider doing for our Valentines. If a candle-lit dinner is romantic, why not turn things up by having a picnic out by a campfire with the kids? Some of my favorite childhood memories are around campfires, and I’m sure your little ones will love to feel involved and put their special touch to your Valentine’s Day surprise. If a dozen roses with a box of chocolates is more your thing, why not take your sweethearts on a romantic hike through the woods where nature’s flowers and sweet smells are starting to come through. Just let your child run around along the trail and start building that love for nature early on. Both of these options are, in my opinion, way more exciting than their cooped-in counterparts, plus they are kid-friendly so there is no need for a babysitter. However, there is one popular romantic gesture that can only be done outside that I would like to see disappear. Every year I see a new heart with two initials inside it carved onto beautifully large tree trunks. Why do I have a problem with this you ask? Well my concern lies with the health of the tree itself. Allow me to explain…

A tree’s bark is its skin and serves the same purposes as our skin. Our skin protects us from diseases, insects, rapid changes in temperature, and other outside commonalities. If our skin gets scratched deeply, our blood quickly puts up a protective barrier to block out these threats to our health. Trees do not have such a luxury. When a tree’s bark gets cut to expose the sensitive inner wood, it cannot just put a Band-Aid over it and call it a day. It stays exposed and vulnerable to diseases and insects, which wouldn't be a problem with just one. However, some trees have super thin smooth bark (American Beech), which makes them prime targets for the initialed heart carving. I have seen many trees covered in initials from years of romantic people just trying to show their special someone that they care, and those trees are extremely weak and dying.

So please, this Valentine’s Day, instead of shortening a tree’s life span, leave your sweetheart a sweet little note and have your children make a home-made card. Let their imagination run wild and it will definitely be a more unique gift.   

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

As we have already discovered, playing outside is beneficial for parents and children alike. However, during this cold time of year, we all might be struggling to go outside when tempted with the warmth and comfort of our homes. Parents might also be a little apprehensive about letting their children play outside due to the old wives’ tale of cold weather giving people colds. Surprisingly, the opposite is true! Not that warm weather gives us colds but that the weather in general influences our body’s immune system. Studies show that more people get sick this time of year because more people stay inside where they think they are safe. Staying in close proximity to others is the culprit of our wintertime ailments. 

The moral of the story is to keep finding ways to be outside: walk your dog a little longer, let your kids enjoy those “5 more minutes” of tag, enjoy the ever-increasing daylight hours by watching the sunset with a cup of cocoa or coffee, play in the snow after work, and so one. The list could go on forever! An inspirational teacher once told me that “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”. I have come to remember this saying when I find myself grumbling about the weather. So don’t let the winter season coop you up inside and keep reading for more fun Naturally Wild outdoor activities.