Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is..."blooming heather"! If you read this please send me your address via email
simon@dandelionsummers.com and I will send out your book on Monday.
It was delightful to read of the simple and beautiful things your families enjoy. Thank you for sharing.
Shannon Milliman

10% off any two Organic Wool Puddle Pad order (before August 9th, 2009)

Ta da! One of life's greatest delights, 100% organic wool puddle pads. This folded one is for a crib. To highlight how effective it is, water has been poured on it to show how well organic wool repels liquid. When a leak occurs the water just beads up, ready to be quickly sopped up by an organic cotton diaper. There are no harmful or uncomfortable chemicals. No bleach, dyes of formaldehyde (yes, I agree it is scary that these are standard in conventional bedding items.) Your baby will sleep better on this and so will you. Synthetics including vinyl are so uncomfortable and don't breath. I don't know about you but I am of the opinion breathability is important! Another reason why it is a good investment is that you can use it for a long time. The flat wool puddle pad can be placed on a bigger bed-although the fitted choices are best for complete coverage. They are well-constructed and made in the USA. Of many that I have tested this comes up as my favorite because unlike others it is soft and not itchy. So soft it would work as a blanket. The reason for that is that it is not chemically treated or felted like some of the cheaper ones. It doesn't poke delicate skin through the sheet at all. I hang it up to dry after an accident and it remains fresh. Purchase any two puddle pads before August 9, 2oo9 and receive 10% off your order. http://dandelionsummers.com/html/organic_mattress_pad.html

When you place your order type in "blog" as special instructions and your account will be credited back 10%.

Blog Giveaway! "Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children" book

Blog giveaway! Here's your chance to get a free copy of a great resource for inspiring little minds. Here's how: Leave a comment about your favorite organic or natural item in your household and mention why or what about it you enjoy. Here's hoping some fresh ideas from one another will encourage us all to think about what other organic and natural items might be a worthwhile addition in our homes. The winner will be chosen by drawing. Good luck and if you don't win, don't worry...we'll have more in the future. Those first checking in, feel free to read earlier posts to get to know Dandelion Summers and co better. The prize will be chosen next friday, August 7, 2009. It is a copy of the book, "Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children" by Ginger Carlson, M.A. Ed. Have fun!

http://www.dandelionsummers.com/

Parade Pictures

Here's Troop Dandelion Summers waiting for the parade promenade to begin. Sunny did a great job with costumes choosing yellow as the base color, she raided every closet we had and added her own accesories. We couldn't get Moses in anything but a superhero t-shirt-not exactly organic but you can't be perfect all the time...Rainbow fell asleep half way through the route so she missed most of the adoring fans. The kids loved seeing folks they knew on the sidelines. It was in the 90's so it was nice and toasty. This factor resulted in Moses being less than energetic but all in all it was a fun day. The crowds were excited to see our family operated business in action. The kids are learning more and more about organic choices each day.

Woodstock Festival Parade

Here are some shots from our preparation for this Saturday's Woodstock Festival Parade. It's a work in progress. The parade happens at 11:00 from 54th and Woodstock to 41st & Woodstock. It's a fun neighborhood community event with local bands, face painting, food, local vendors and more. When I brought up the idea of being in the parade to my kids: C, M and A said "Hurray! We'll be stars in a parade!" C is in charge of costumes. Since we would rather use our organic and natural cotton for our bedding we went through our old linens and are recycling some fabrics to make banners and costuming. We searched the house for yellow to complement the dandelion theme. C's ensemble is nearly set: Some yellow 80's style crochet-knit type shorts, a gold sash, a yellow ribbon, a yellow striped shirt. Somehow she managed to pull it off rather well. Seeing her creativity unleashed with this one is what I love best about her. We have decided butterscotch candy looks most like dandelions so that's our choice of candy to throw to the onlookers (aka-our fans!) Hope to see you there!

Nature Walk each day 5 minute monday makeover

5 minute Monday Makeover
I'm back! Today my goal of the week is to take more little moments with my children. We took a nature walk around the neighborhood to find beauty in the little details. Each day this week we plan to take a nature walk. It's a great time for me to observe their discoveries while making my own along the way. Although I live in urban Portland it's still possible to live in a way that appreciates nature. Growing up I lived in a rural, Alaskan town where my backyard was woods, a creek nearby and endless unforaged trails. We all thrive on that sense of dicovery and independance. I miss that freedom for my children but they constantly amaze me at their creative ways of still acheiving their own sense of self-sufficiency and creativity. That's what I think of when I see a dandelion. They grow everywhere, in cities, in the country, pushing up concrete in a parking lot they are there. Just like all of us, planted in our various surroundings, dandelions remind us we can thrive naturally despite the odds. This masterpiece is one my daughter Carolina did. It was her response to our nature walk painted with Stockmar watercolours.

Seed Selection

I spent just five minutes as promised today thinking thoughts of gardening. I choose which plants I would start froms seeds. We settled on green beans, yellow beets (something new for us), spinach and carrots. I learned something about seeds. The hybrid seeds although they may have good purpose for climates where the growing season is shortened or conditions are tougher but in my climate my research seems to imply anything related to genetic modification when it comes to seeds is not necessary. Those hybrids that are often hyped up to be uber-resistant to disease and weather and much more productive just might not be all they're cracked up to be. An advocate oh heirloom seeds (those that have been passed down naturally had three reasons I thought was worth considering"Nutritional Integrity Many vegetables today lack nutrition from over-hybridization. Recent tests are showing that many of the vegetables, grains and other produce you buy, INCLUDING ORGANIC PRODUCE, are nutrient-deficient. If you want to truly be in charge of your nutritional intake, you must home garden. If you want the higher nutrition of original varieties you must use non-hybrids.
Economic security and independence Growing your own food, now, is becoming an economic necessity for many. Even those in cities are growing food on their balconies and rooftops and in suburban backyards. 2009 will likely become known as the year America returns to home gardening (see Victory Gardens of WWII) as a way of defending against the hostile adversary of an economic downturn! Security of Food Supply Securing the nation’s food supply against the “invasion” of GM (genetically modified) and over-hybridization of foods is coming down to the backyard garden. Yours and ours." Something to think about. I love the prospect of eliminating the worry out of what's on your dinner table. Sure, not every thing we here about the latest risks are not certain but not having to worry either way is a better bet for me.
www.dandelionsummers.com