Green Options » botanical

Handmade Soaps: Health and Happiness for You and the Environment

Gennefer Snowfield — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:46:02 +0000

With green living, homeopathy and natural alternatives growing in popularity, soap makers are springing up around the world, concocting magical creations of coconut and lime in gleaming, glycerin-infused goodness that cleanse the body, mind and soul.

Oh, and your hands too!

Growing up in my house, ‘handmade’ soap consisted of my mother gathering up all the remaining bits of bar soap from the shower and bathtubs, tossing them into a container with some water and shaking it up. “Voila, hand soap!” she would state proudly. But her objectives were to save money, not create a luxurious lather to soothe and soften the skin. And, trust me, an acrid amalgum of Dial and Irish Spring was anything but soothing!

But today’s handmade soaps are a beneficial blend of nourishing nutrients, rich with essential oils and alleviating aromatherapy that care for the skin and calm the senses. And because they’re chemical-free, they’re an eco-friendly alternative to their caustic counterparts, making them a great way to indulge yourself and the earth.

Skincare Gets Raw with Astara

Courtney Carlisle — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:11:17 +0000

I was talking to one of the leading ladies in “green” spas, Sara or Sara Elizabeth Skincare in San Diego, a couple of weeks ago when she let me in on a little secret…one of my FAVORITE skincare products (you know, the ones that you want to be blissfully ignorant about if they aren’t good for you) is actually more amazing than I ever knew.

In fact, she is guessing that these raw botanical products are the wave of the future for eco-conscious estheticians.

Tip o’ the Day: Enjoy the Benefits of a Garden Membership

Rebecca Carter — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:11:56 +0000

Roses are red, violets are blue, I just became a member and now so should you. By becoming a member of your local botanical garden, arboretum, or conservatory, you are supporting research, education, and conservation. (Plus, you get to hang out there as often as you like!)

Membership to these organizations comes with various benefits typically including free admission to the garden, discounts at the gift shop, a quarterly magazine, advance notification or special member previews of special events or exhibits, and discounts on classes.

Additionally, more than 160 botanical gardens are part of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Gardens program. Through this program, any member of one of the participating gardens can typically enter other member gardens free or at a reduced rate.

Rebecca says: I just became a member of my local garden, Fairchild, this weekend. By purchasing a type of membership that allows me to arrive with one guest, I'm excited to use it to show visitors, hang out on the grass with my husband, and watch the many iguanas and turtles by the lakes.