Welcome to the Online Resources accompaniment to the “Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time” book. If you haven’t already purchased this book, you can read more about it here.
You can also download a checklist to help you with your progress here.
Baby Step 1
Online Articles
Reduce your Trash (by A Recycling Revolution)
Precycling: Shopping for Future Generations (by The Environmental Defense Fund)
Make Less Garbage (by Association of Science – Technology Centers)
(contains some good questions to ask yourself and helpful suggestions for reducing your waste)
Recommended Websites
The Story of Stuff
(contains a very thought provoking short film)
Recommended Books
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide
Nicky Scott
Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007
It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living
Crissy Trask
Gibbs Smith, 2006
Baby Step 2
Online Articles
Apple Cider Vinegar (by Disabled World)
254 Uses for Vinegar (by WiseBread)
131 Uses for Vinegar (by AngelFire)
Baby Step 3
Online Articles
Brown Rice (by World’s Healthiest Foods)
(You’ll find plenty of great info on the health benefits of brown rice.)
Foolproof Method for Cooking Any Kind of Rice (by The Kitchn)
(This isn’t the method I use, but many people I know use it and swear by it – give it a try!)
Recipes
Brown Rice Recipes (by Epicurious)
(Not every recipe here is totally healthy, but you can get some inspiration as you start using brown rice!)
Fool-Proof Oven-Baked Brown Rice (by A Veggie Venture)
Baby Step 6
Online Articles
The Numbers…Believe It or Not (by ReusableBags)
(contains interesting facts on plastic bag use, as well as lots of great reusable bags for sale)
Where to Buy
Reusable Bags
- Yvonne Totes
- Envirosax (set of 5 bags- these fold up small to fit in a diaper bag or purse. I have a set of 5, and I love them and use them constantly!)
- Eco Bags
- The Cloth Bag Company
Baby Step 7
Online Articles
Free-Range vs. Commercial Eggs (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Eggs: A Powerhouse of Nutrition (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
The Chicken and Egg Page (by Mother Earth News)
Recommended Books
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
Baby Step 8
Online Articles
The Menu Planning category at Keeper of the Home, full of posts on this topic, as well as a menu planning challenge that we ran last fall, with specific tips and tricks shared throughout the posts, as well as sample menu plans from both myself and many readers.
Free Downloadable Meal/Menu Planners (by Money Saving Mom)
Ebook
Plan It, Don’t Panic (by Keeper of the Home)
Baby Step 9
Online Articles
My Frugal Beauty Routine (by Keeper of the Home
Tips for Saving Money on Natural Skincare (by Keeper of the Home)
Healthy Skin Tips and Recipes for the Winter Months (by Keeper of the Home)
Identifying and Avoiding Toxins in Beauty and Personal Care Products (by Simple Homemade)
What Are You Putting Onto Your Skin? (by Keeper of the Home)
Natural Body Products on a Budget Part 1 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Natural Body Products on a Budget Part 2 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Going no ‘poo? (by Keeper of the Home)
Recommended Websites
Skin Deep Database
(An amazing website where you can look up beauty products by name, and read their ingredients, the risks associated with them, and their overall rating.)
The Oil Cleansing Method
(The very simple and frugal method I use for cleaning my face)
Recommended Books
Crunchy Betty’s Food on Your Face: For Acne and Oily Skin (ebook)
Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body
Dina Falconi
Ceres Press, 1998
Organic Body Care Recipes
Stephanie Tourles
Storey Publishing, 2007
Where to Buy
Natural and Affordable Beauty Supplies
Baby Step 10
Recommended Websites
Storebought Cleaners
A few brands that I either use, like, or have heard rave reviews of)
Seventh Generation
Country Save
Good, cheap places to buy cleaners
Biokleen
Recommended Books
Simply Clean (eBook)- Full of homemade cleaning recipes that really work!
Clean House, Clean Planet!
Karen Logan
Pocket Books, 1997
Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home
Linda Mason Hunter, Mikki Halpin
Melcha Media, 2005
Recipes
Non Toxic Cleaners You Can Make at Home (by Keeper of the Home)
10 Homemade Kitchen Cleaners (by Keeper of the Home)
Recipes for Odor Eliminating Air Freshening Sprays (by Keeper of the Home)
Back to the Basics: Frugal, Non-toxic, Green Cleaning (by Keeper of the Home)
Household Cleaning on a Budget Part 1 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Household Cleaning on a Budget Part 2 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Baby Step 11
Online Articles
Good Fats, Bad Fats, and why I Eat Plenty of Butter (by Keeper of the Home)
The World of Oils Part 1 (by Passionate Homemaking)
The World of Oils Part 2 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Incorporating Coconut Oil into Your Daily Life (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Recommended Books
Nourishing Traditions
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., Sally Fallon
Hudson Street Press, 2005
Know Your Fats : The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol
Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
Bethesda Press, 2003
Baby Step 12
Recommended Websites
All Recipes
(just search the type of condiment you’d like to make, and chances are, you’ll find the recipe! As well, look for spice mix recipes, like taco seasoning mix.
Recommended Books
Easy Homemade (ebook full of simple recipes for staples, including condiments, salad dressings, spice mixes and more)
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book
Editor: Jennifer Dorland Darling
Meredith Publishing Group, 2002
Recipes
Ingredients to Make From Scratch (by Keeper of the Home)
Homemade Ketchup Recipe (by Keeper of the Home)
Homemade Mayonnaise (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Make it Yourself – Homemade Salad Dressings (by Passionate Homemaking)
Our Everyday Salad Dressing (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Honey Mustard Dressing II (by All Recipes)
Baby Step 13
Recommended Websites
Baby Step 14
Online Articles
When Recycling Won’t Cut It (by Elephant Journal)
Repurpose, Recycle Ideas (by Stop the Ride)
The Imagination Factory’s Trash Matcher (by Kid At Art)
Reuse Trash Ideas for… (by A Recycling Revolution)
Uses for Plastic Bags (by The Frugal Life)
Recommended Books
Another Use For . . .101 Common Household Items
Vicky Lansky
Book Peddlers, 1999
ReMAKE ReSTYLE ReUSE: Easy Ways to Transform Everyday Basics into Inspired Design
Sonia Lucano
Watson-Guptill Publishing, 2006
Baby Step 15
Online Articles
The Easiest Sourdough Pancakes Ever (by Keeper of the Home)
Soaking Oatmeal (by Keeper of the Home)
Nourishing Practices – Soaking Grains Part 1 (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Nourishing Practices – Soaking Grains Part 2 (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Recommended Books
Nourishing Traditions
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
Recipes
Whole Grain Breakfasts and Snacks for Toddlers (by Keeper of the Home )
Crockpot Whole Grain Breakfast Cereal (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Cream of Wheat – The Nourishing Way (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Baby Step 16
Online Articles
Making Homemade Yogurt (by Keeper of the Home)
Photos and Instructions for Making Homemade Kefir (by Tammy’s Recipes)
(Kefir is similar to yogurt, but more liquid-like.)
How to Make Raw Milk Yogurt (by eHow)
Making Cultured and Fermented Foods (by Keeper of the Home)
Buying Starter Cultures
Cultures for Health (buy starter cultures for various types of yogurts, kefirs, sourdough cultures and more)
Recommended Books
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fermenting Foods by Wardeh Harmon- excellent resource!
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
Sandor Ellix Katz
Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2003
Baby Step 17
Online Articles
Mama Cloth Adventures and Review of Four Resources (by Keeper of the Home)
Make Your Own Cloth Pads (by Keeper of the Home)
The Shocking Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products–What Are Your Options? (by Mercola)
Homemade Sanitary Pads (by Hillbilly Housewife)
Recommended Websites
Where to Buy
Good, Cheap Places to Buy Cloth Pads
Glad Rags
Cloth Pad Shop
Lunapads
Where to Buy Natural, Disposable Pads
Drugstore
NatraCare
Baby Step 18
Online Articles
31 Ways to Use a Mason Jar in Your Kitchen (by Keeper of the Home)
Spring Cleaning for Your Plastics (by Keeper of the Home)
Questions About Plastics (by Keeper of the Home)
Bottles, Sippy Cups and BPA – Oh My! (by Keeper of the Home)
Greening Your Kitchen the Frugal Way (by Keeper of the Home)
Q&A – Freezing Food (by Passionate Homemaking)
Plastic Containers Buying Guide (by The Green Guide)
Consumer Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure (by Environmental Working Group)
Recommended Books
The Green Kitchen Handbook: Practical Advice, References, & Sources for Transforming the Center of Your Home into a Healthy, Livable Place
Annie Berthold-Bond
Harper Collins Publishers, 1997
Baby Step 19
Online Articles
The Dirty Dozen: Making the Most of the Money You Spend On Organics (by Keeper of the Home)
The Great Debate: Washing Our Fruits and Vegetables (by Keeper of the Home)
The Shoppers Guide To Pesticides (by Environmental Working Group)
Find a Farmers Market in Canada (by Canada Farmers Market Blog)
Recommended Websites
Local Harvest
(find local farmers and products, CSA’s and more in the USA)
Farmer’s Market
(search for Farmers Markets in the USA)
Canada Farmers Market
(a blog on farmer’s markets in Canada)
Azure Standard
(quality, bulk natural foods. I use Azure a lot!)
Co-op Directory
(a directory for Co-op’s in the USA)
Recommended Books
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
Mel Bartholomew
Rodale, Inc, 2005
Baby Step 20
Online Articles
Simple and Frugal Soft Drink Recipes (by Keeper of the Home)
How to Make Water Kefir (by Keeper of the Home) -Very healthy soda alternative with beneficial bacteria
Traditional Beverage: Kombucha (by Keeper of the Home)
Forbidden Fruit Juice (by Mercola)
The Not-So-Sweet Reality Behind Artificial Sweeteners (by Mercola)
Recommended Books
Sugar Blues
William Dufty
Warner Books, 1975
Sweet Deception: Why Splenda, NutraSweet, and the FDA May Be Hazardous to Your Health
Joseph Mercola, Kendra Degen Pearsall
Thomas Nelson, 2006
Baby Step 21
Online Articles
By Keeper of the Home
Dispelling the Myths: Why Cloth Diapering is Truly Easier Than it Seems
More Reasons Cloth Diapering is Easier Than You Think
How to Swish a Diaper in the Toilet and Other Cloth Diapering Questions
Affording Cloth Diapers on a Low Income
Reducing Waste by Using Cloth Diapers
Solutions to Irrashional Problems with Cloth Diapers
Diaper Series (by Sorta Crunchy)
Cloth Diapering 101 Part 1 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Cloth Diapering 101 Part 2 (by Passionate Homemaking)
Quick and Easy Pre-Folded Cloth Diapers (by Tammy’s Recipes)
Articles on the Dangers of Disposable Diapers
Are Disposable Diapers Really Dangerous? (by Cloth Diaper My Baby)
Disposable Diapers Linked to Asthma (by Mothering)
The Disposable Diaper Myth (by BNET)
Recommended eBook
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert – This is an extremely thorough book and will answer any and all questions that you have about cloth diapering!
Recommended Websites
Craigslist
(A great place to find used diapers)
Baby Step 22
Recommended Websites
FreeCycle
(a great site to get useful things for free and to get rid of stuff you don’t need)
CraigsList
(This wonderful site has local sites for most major metropolitan areas and many smaller areas as well. It is a rich resource for finding used items, and it also has a free section on which you may find items you need or post items you have to get rid of. We frequent this site, and are often surprised by what we find!)
Baby Step 23
Online Articles
Grass Fed Meats (by Keeper of the Home)
How to Find Local Sources of Meat (by Keeper of the Home)
Q&A – Freezing Food (by Passionate Homemaking)
Nutritional Foundations: Finding High Quality Sources For a Whole Foods Diet (by Keeper of the Home)
Nutritional Foundation: Making the Best of the Regular Grocery Store (by Keeper of the Home)
Where’s the REAL beef? (by Mercola)
Recommended Websites
Eat Wild
(An excellent online directory of sources for both high quality beef, chicken, lamb, dairy and more. Has resources for both the USA and Canada.)
Organic Grass Fed Beef Info
Local Harvest
(real food from real farmers)
Baby Step 24
Online Articles
For the Love of Sourdough: Starting a Sourdough Adventure (by Keeper of the Home)
Making Your own Sprouted Grain Flour (by Keeper of the Home)
Soaked Tortilla Tutorial (by Keeper of the Home)
Getting Started Sprouting Wheat Berries (by Keeper of the Home)
Be Kind to Your Grains (by The Weston A. Price Foundation)
Nourishing Practices: Soaking Grains Part 1 (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Nourishing Practices: Soaking Grains Part 2 (by The Nourishing Gourmet)
Recommended Books
Sourdough A to Z (ebook)
Nourishing Traditions
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
An Introduction to Whole Grain Baking
Sue Gregg
SueGregg Coookbooks, 2007
Recipes
From The Nourishing Gourmet
Cornbread
Raspberry Poppyseed Muffins
Spiced Blueberry Coconut Muffins
Homemade Pizza Crust
Homemade Crackers
From Sue Gregg
Blender Batter Coffee Cake
Blender Batter Pancakes / Waffles
From Passionate Homemaking
From Keeper of the Home
Baby Step 25
Online Articles
How I Stock my Natural Medicine Cabinet (by Keeper of the Home)
Home Remedies: Recipes and Resources to Help You Stay Healthy Naturally (by Keeper of the Home)
Favorite Winter Herbal Remedies for Colds, Coughs, Stomach Viruses, and Headaches (by Keeper of the Home)
Cold Kicker Remedy (by Keeper of the Home)
Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup (by Keeper of the Home)
Homemade Herbal Vapor Rub to Relieve Coughs and Congestion (by Keeper of the Home)
Healing Ear Infections Holistically (by Keeper of the Home)
Using Homeopathic Solutions for the Family (by Keeper of the Home)
5 Simple Home Remedies That Really Work (by Simple Homemade)
10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Between Natural and Conventional Treatments (by Keeper of the Home)
Drink Your Silver (by Keeper of the Home)
Recommended Websites
What to Buy and Where to Buy It (from Keeper of the Home)
Vitacost (new customers get a $10 off coupon with this link!)
Traditional Medicinals
(A great variety of herbal teas to help with different ailments. My favorite is “Breathe Easy” for congestion)
Joy of the Mountains
(My favorite brand of Oil of Oregano)
More Than Alive
(Purchase Bulk Herb Tea Blends and Home Remedies)
Baby Purity
(Includes a library of common children’s ailments, and natural remedies)
Granny Med
(A natural home remedies guide)
Recommended Books
(I think everybody should have some sort of book like these to reference!)
Herbal Nurturing (an ebook with a handy collection of simple home remedies, easy for beginners)
Better Health Through Natural Healing
Dr. Ross Trattler, Dr. Adrian Jones
McGraw Hill, 2001
Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies
Phyllis A. Balch
Penguin Putnam, 2002
Prescription for Natural Cures
James F. Balch, Mark Stengler
John Wiley and Sons, 2004
Baby Step 26
Online Articles
What’s So Great About Raw Milk? (by Keeper of the Home)
How to Find Local Sources of Raw Milk (by Keeper of the Home)
Real Milk (a directory for finding sources of clean, raw milk where you live)
Milk: It Does a Body Good? (by The Weston A. Price Foundation)
The Real Reasons Why Raw Milk is Becoming More Popular (by Mercola)
There Are Two Raw Milks (by Real Milk)
Raw Milk – Written by an M.D. (by Real Milk)
Is Raw Milk Safe For Babies? (by The Weston A. Price Foundation)
Recommended Books
Nourishing Traditions
Sally Fallon w/ Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.
NewTrends Publishing, 2001
The Untold Story of Milk, Revised and Updated: The History, Politics and Science of Nature’s Perfect Food: Raw Milk from Pasture-Fed Cows
Ron Schmid, ND
New Trends Publishing, 2009