Natural Father is growing from the seed of natural parenting and attachment parenting and unschooling, and is fed with the joy of fatherhood, simple living, and positivity. We support local food production, starting with our own gardens...
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Natural Father is growing from the seed of natural parenting and attachment parenting and unschooling, and is fed with the joy of fatherhood, simple living, and positivity. We support local food production, starting with our own gardens. We are also regulars at the farmers market and our local food co-op, buying in bulk for the best prices. The dream of the homestead is still alive and our self-sufficient zero-energy input green home is being planned. Our permaculture oasis is a sustainable small-scale village. Single-speed bicycles, drumming, and DIY anything can really make us grin.
A while back I started a series (okay, I say series, but this is only the second one) tagged Clark Kent's Icebox . On these posts I display some of the kids' artwork on a refrigerator they same way you would at home when your children bring home pictures you want to show off. The difference with Clark's Icebox being that the refrigerator is a "virtual" fridge (you'll see, bare with me). Now that school's started, there's practically a limitless supply of items to be hung so I'll probably do... Read Full Story
We had our oldest son in the hospital and he was circumcised at birth, partly because we didn't know any better, and partly because I wanted him to "be like me" ("it's normal, everyone does it"). I decided that I would accompany him and be with him during the process because I needed to know what it entailed, and I wasn't going to send him to a room with the doc by himself. After witnessing his birth and holding his tiny body to my chest, being filled with love and awe at this miracle, I... Read Full Story
Argentina calls it their national drink. Uruguayans, Brazilians and Paraguayans consume large amounts of it. North Americans and Europeans are picking up on it. What the heck is it? Yerba mate consists of the leaves and small stems of a type of holly that grows in Argentina and surrounding countries. The proper name is ilex paraguariensis , and it is the traditional drink of the Guarani Indians. Its leaves contain xanthine , an alkyloid in the same family as caffeine and theobromine. Some... Read Full Story
From the New York Times: A world-renowned Harvard child psychiatrist whose work has helped fuel an explosion in the use of powerful antipsychotic medicines in children earned at least $1.6 million in consulting fees from drug makers from 2000 to 2007 but for years did not report much of this income to university officials, according to information given Congressional investigators. This guy and his cronies are in the pockets of the corporate drug dealers, and use fear and "studies" (read... Read Full Story
Don't let this be you! Having a homebirth without a midwife is a radically empowering experience, whether by choice or by accident. Unassisted childbirth is the term, although that implies that you usually need assistance in giving birth. I prefer the term free birth, and can heartily recommend it for anyone that wants a safe, cheap, DIY homebirth. Many people choose hospital or birth centers to have their children, and fear plays a big part in making that decision. The medical establishment... Read Full Story
Image via Wikipedia One easy way to lower your food costs and up your intake of fresh food is to start sprouting in your kitchen. It's something you can do with no experience, it takes very little time to maintain, and you can get all you need to get started for free or at very little cost. When a seed starts to sprout, the nutrient qualities begin to change, with complex compounds such as carbohydrates starting to break down into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty... Read Full Story
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. -from the Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell translation One of the greatest gifts that the natural father can give to his children is to be present. To be here now. To be actively engaged in their lives. Your presence as a father, as a man, is something completely different than what they... Read Full Story
High energy snacks that are healthy and cheap to make are great to have available for hungry kids and parents alike. Sprouted grains make quick, simple meals that are as nutritious as they are delicious. One easy breakfast is sprouted wheat cereal with sunflower seed "milk". Soak a cup of whole wheat berries in plenty of water overnight In a second container, soak a cup of raw hulled sunflower seeds in two cups of water. In the morning, drain the wheat and blend in a food processor or... Read Full Story
Image by Ian Fuller via Flickr This recipe is a huge hit at potlucks and parties. It really hits the spot when you want a sweet chocolate munchie that's full of nutrition. Wind's Raw Cashew Fudge 2 cups raw cashew pieces 1/3 cup cocoa powder a pinch of salt 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup honey 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla Grind first three ingredients together in a food processor until fine. Add wet ingredients to dry and blend until a dough ball forms. Roll into balls or spread in a pan and... Read Full Story
Infant Potty Training is something so intuitive and natural that it's hard to remember that many parents don't know about it. It's the method that most cultures that don't have access to disposables or washing mashines use. We started our youngest when she was an infant, and she was pretty much done with diapers by 1 and a half. When she was old enough to want to go by herself, I built her this potty chair out of scrap wood , scrounged from a cabinet shop. There is a removable container (a... Read Full Story
