Do you support fair trade products? I started learning about fair trade few years ago when I was in a flea market in New Zealand. Honestly, I never quite understood that term in the beginning. As I knew was, I like artisan stuff as they are usually eco friendly and eco natural by nature.

Wikipedia defines fair trade as “an organized social movement which promotes standards for international labor, environmentalism, and social policy in areas related to production of Fairtrade labeled and unlabeled goods.” The fair trade movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries into developed countries. Fair trade also supports and promotes safe working conditions for artisans as it hleps to sustain livelihoods for communities in developing countries. This in turn helps to improve social and humanitarian conditions for those communities at the same time ensures workers keep earning uninterrupted wages.

AS the fair trade movement grows, some organizations even expand further to recuit jobs in sales to help with the cause. Perhaps it’s time to look at fair trade products the next time you need to buy eco natural gifts for someone. With the increase of online eco friendly stores in the web, you can find categories in jewelry and accessories such as handbags, purses and tote bags; toys; crafts or handcrafts; clothing and apparel; bedding, home linens and other fabric items.

Last week, I came across another website that carries eco natural products for the home. That was good news for me as I am always on the lookout for new products, brands and information on the eco friendly movement.

I have been using natural cleaning products for the home and personally, I enjoy the peace of mind of using products that are free from those harsh and harmful chemicals. This matters to me as I have a little child at home who is prone to allergies and using eco friendly and natural products prevents toxicity and the inhaling of these chemicals present in the products. All natural home and laundry products are safe and effective alternatives to petroleum based ingredients found in name brand detergents. Choose those that are free from artificial fragrances and color brightening chemicals.

Whether you are looking for natural products for your vehicles, natural cleaning products for your home, furniture and even your ps3, natural laundry detergents, all natural dishwashing cleaners, essential carrier oils, you can find the answers to your needs by clicking on the banner above.

In the last post, I wrote about an eco natural lifestyle with aromatherapy oils. In this post, I would liek to highlight a few of my favourite essential oils which are common ones used in the home.

Essential oils provide a fantastic natural alternative to common ailments we see at home. The actions of essential oils are broad, ranging from topical antiseptics and anti-inflammatories to analgesics, digestive system tonics, and anti-depressants. While essential oils should not be a substitute for professional medical care, they can be successfully employed for many minor complaints, and as adjuncts to other therapies.

1: Tea Tree Essential Oil

When first examined for it’s antiseptic properties, Tea Tree essential oil was found to be 100 times more powerful than carbolic acid ñ the medical standard at the time. Tea tree has an extremely broad range of antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal properties that have been confirmed by modern scientific research. Often used topically on small wounds, Tea Tree is also commonly found in oral hygiene preparations, and can also be effectively employed for Candida, athlete’s foot and acne, among other things.

2: Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender has often been called the ‘medicine chest in a bottle’ for its broad range of applications. Every home should keep Lavender on hand, even if no other oil is used, as it is so very effective on burns. It’s anti-inflammatory action is responsible for the beginnings of modern aromatherapy. Lavender is considered to speed wound healing and reduce scarring. The oil is also pleasantly calming, and can be used to reduce stress in a variety of situations – a commonly used technique is to apply Lavender oil (undiluted) to the soles of the feet of patients recovering from almost any ailment.

3: Peppermint Essential Oil

An excellent digestive tonic, Peppermint essential oil can sooth many stomach complaints. For the traveler, itís effectiveness on calming motion sickness can be of great help. Further, at least eight controlled studies have shown Peppermint oil to be effective in reducing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a painful condition of the intestines. Beyond it’s support of the digestive system, Peppermint is delightfully stimulating to the mind, brightening and sharpening mental focus. My business plan writers friends can stand a claim to this! Finally, Peppermint is considered by some to be a more effective insect repellent than citronella when used on the body (rather than in the surrounding air).

As you embark on an eco natural lifestyle, you will soon find that nature has the answers to many things. I’ve been a long time fan of aromatherapy and has enjoyed the benefits all-natural, pure essential oils all these years. Nature holds various useful resources which can be put to several uses. And this is what aromatherapy makes the best use of. Aromatherapy blends are a natural way to cure your problems.

Aromatherapy uses natural extracts, botanical essential oils from plants, leaves, seeds, and flowers as a healing art. Aromatherapy blends refreshes and relaxes the skin while soothing the mind by helping to induce a sense of well-being and reinforce the freshness.

Aromatherapy blends can be used in oil diffusors, or blended into a product base such as massage oil, or bath salts. Finest blends of essential oils in quality base oils are what aromatherapy blends is all about. Enjoy the uplifting power of essential oils; find relief from menstrual cramps, headache and congestion by using aromatherapy blends. I once gave an aromatherapy gift pack to a friend who does cad drawings and she became a convert not long after.

Have you been pampering your skin with the artificial products that contains harmful chemicals? If yes, it’s time to embrace an eco natural lifstyle. Aromatherapy blends are available in wide variety, use them and give your skin an opportunity to benefit from it. Relaxation, stress relief, energizing, healing, meditations, sinus relief, citrus passion, romance, and headache relief are some of the commonly found aromatherapy blends.

When there’s a discussion on eco living and keeping the environment green, one of the measures mentioned would be on the dangers of cigarette smoke. There is no more question regarding the ill-effects of cigarettes to people who smoke as well as to those who don’t. Second hand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer and heart disease in non-smoking adults. It is also blamed for the so-called sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children. It is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States of America each year.

More people are paying attention to their health. Everyday, thousands of people are searching answers to best colon cleanse, best ways to keep the heart healthy…etc. There is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke. Every exposure has substantial and immediate adverse effects on cardiovascular and respiratory health. Each cigarette actually contains more than 50 carcinogens. It is about time that a comprehensive smoke-free law is enacted that will be applied to all workplaces and public places. Comprehensive smoke-free workplace policies are the only effective way to protect non-smokers from second hand smoke. Other approaches, such as the installation of air ventilation systems and the setting-up of smoking and non-smoking sections of rooms are not effective and do not not eliminate chances of exposure.

According to statistics from the Society of Actuaries in the United States, second hand smoke cost the country around US$ 10 billion a year in health care bills, lost wages, and related expenses. Second hand smoke, or passive smoking, is a major preventable cause of death. Since smoking hurts more people than just smokers, smoke-free laws need to be upheld at all times to protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air.

I have been a little stressed past few days cos some bad person exploited my site and deleted it completely! I don’t understand why people do such things but I’m thankful that my host had been kind to restore this site. As such, I can still continue my posting on eco living and share my stories on this new found passion.

It seems that many brand retailers are riding on the eco bandwagon and started using the word ‘eco’ just on everything. Sad to say, the labeling can end up deceiving many ignorant buyers who don’t even try to read the labels properly. The term ‘eco’ is seen used from household products to food and beverage. It is important to find out why is it ‘eco’ in the first place and how is it contributing to the environment. Hoteliers are also walking this eco living path and I was told that some las vegas hotels are also embarking this trend too. It is rather common to spot eco friendly amenities in the hotel rooms in some of the hotels.

Eco living can start at home and you can do that by avoiding as much chemicals as possible. It may take some efforts but it’s definitely better for your family, your health and the environment.

2010 is here! What have you set your mind to achieve this year? To practice eco living or to begin this path if you haven’t even started at all. Yesterday I read in the local papers that few supermarkets have begun their eco friendly campaign by having ‘no plastic’ days. The intention of this move is sure good but the companies have not done enough to inform their customers which led to many frustrated faces.

‘No plastic’ days are becoming popular among retailers too though some customers still feel that it won’t be fair to tuck their purchases in their own bags when they had paid lots of money for them. It takes a long while to educate customers to practice eco friendly principles when they are not accustomed to this awareness. My uncle went to buy some discount cigars and he expected them to be packed nicely in a bag. He would be upset if they told him that there wasn’t any packaging for them. Some retailers start to use recycled wrapping papers for their customers which are good options to promote green living.

This year, we hope to continue our green living journey. For a start, we have begun using fruit enzyme for our household cleaning instead of harmful detergents. It takes some efforts and time to walk this journey but the results bring inner satisfaction as we become more socially responsible.

Very soon, we will be entering the new year. By then, we would have finished our Christmas turkeys, honey baked ham and pudding. I’m sure some of you are already setting goals for the New Year and perhaps endeavoring to build an eco natural home for the family.

I’m planning to get a few items for the house as far as eco living is concerned. I told hubby about getting a new water filter, an air filter and perhaps look into humidifier filters for our bedroom. With more chemicals in the living environment, it is necessary to do whatever we can to keep the air in the house clean in the most eco natural way. It can also mean a lifestyle change and adjustment for some of us but everything in life comes with a price, isn’t it?

So as you enter the New Year, think about what little you can do for a more eco natural home. It can be for yourself or your family but once you start thinking and getting the ball rolling, the influence can be contagious. Have a blessed Christmas.

With the holiday season leading up, this is a busy time for many people. Those who are working are busy clearing their work before the holidays began. Families are busy with holiday planning and many of us will be busy with gift shopping for our loved ones. With so many choices in the marketplace, it can be hard deciding what to buy for the long list of recipients! Perhaps this year, you want to do things abit differently – to shop for eco natural gifts for those you love and care about.

If you are looking for fashion tees, have a look at some of the unique and cool ones online. T-shirts are such versatile gifts and they are great for any occasion. They are affordable and most of the time, they fit well into a tight gift budget. I used to search for gift ideas in free web directory when I need to stretch my mind a little.

Whenever I run out of gift ideas, a fashion tee is what I would go for. If tees are not your cup of tea, choose an eco bag to encourage the recipient to do his or her part for the environment. Other eco friendly gift ideas include planting a flower pot for a friend, sending an organic fruit basket or even getting a wellness gift for the ones who are passionate about eco living! Shop for more eco natural gift ideas here!

As a person becomes more involved in the care of the envrionment, the individual tends to become more conscious and aware of what he or she utilizes tfor her living space, including her garden which can affect the environment and the plants being grown. Consequently, many people are turning to organic gardening practices, adding on to their eco living principles.

Organic gardening practices actually have been around and utilized by people since certain ancient tribes gave up hunting and gathering and settled down to grow their own crops and to maintain their own domesticated animals. In their most basic form, organic gardening practices consists of the use of naturally occuring materials (organic materials) in the care and treatment of a garden patch — vegetable or floral. No man made chemicals or any type are utilized in true organic gardening regimens. This supports the philosophy of eco living in a large way. Even for your living spaces, you can turn to organic products or homemade cleaning options. Instead of using chemical sprays on your Kettlebells and exercise equipment, mix a solution of white distilled vinegar and water instead.

When it comes to providing nutrients for an organic gardening, two resources normally are used: compost and manure. Likewise, when it comes to cleaning the house or the issue of pest control, natural steps are taken to tackleoffensive bugs and insects. In this regard, benign insects that do not damage plants but who prey upon bugs that harm foilage are placed in a garden to handle the infestation problem or situation.