We’ve had some interesting weather here in Stockholm this week. We woke up on Wednesday to a snow storm. In the middle of October. I don’t think any of us here in the office were ready for that. Luckily, the snow didn’t stick around long and by Wednesday afternoon it was bright and sunny again. Today we have rain.

All this crazy autumn weather got us thinking though, as much as we’d like for the summer sun to stay around, winter is just around the corner.

Even though the calendar says it is only October, Mother Nature doesn’t seem to care, and we have had some cold temperatures. When it gets cold outside, it’s incredibly important to keep your child warm. Here in Sweden it is often said that there is no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing. There is something to be said for that. We know; we’re just a few hours away from the Arctic Circle.

Keeping your child warm starts, very simply, with dressing them properly. Dress your child in multiple, thin layers. This can start with a layer of long underwear under a shirt, add a sweater and finally a coat and your child will have a good layered approach to braving the elements. By layering you will be able to watch your child’s temperature so that they don’t get too cold. Or too hot for that matter.

Remember, your child just won’t be able to handle the cold as well as your average adult, so a good rule to live by is to add one extra layer of clothing than you would wear yourself. You’ll always be able to take that layer off if need be.

Enjoy the waning days of autumn and be sure to stay warm!

We know that there has been some confusion about composting Nature Babycare nappies. Hopefully, our earlier post, “How to Dispose of Nature Babycare Nappies” cleared up some of those questions. We still suggest that you place the nappies in our Nature Babycare Disposal Bags and dispose of them in the trash bin.

That being said, we recognize the importance of ecologically friendly composting. So, for those of you who have the space in your garden, we’d like to explain how to get started with your very own compost pile. It’s the perfect step for anyone interested in environmentally friendly organic gardening.

First, you need to make some room. The size of your compost pile is up to you, but you usually want to set aside a one meter by one meter area.

To ensure that you get a good pile of compost started, some wire fencing around your composting area is a good idea.

Once you have the area set aside, you’ll need something to compost. There are two different forms of composting material, usually referred to as green material and brown material.

• Green material is just what it sounds like, green material. Things like old fruits and vegetables and even grass after having mowed your lawn. Green material acts as a nitrogen source for your compost pile.

• Brown material is your carbon source. This includes things like dead leaves and even un-dyed cardboards.

Make sure that you have a good mixture of the two different materials. It is important to the decomposition process and a good balance will allow for a better compost pile.

How you mix your compost is up to you. Some people suggest you layer your brown and green materials in the beginning, others suggest you mix them all up from the start. I prefer to mix them from the start.

Now that you’ve got your compost pile started, make sure that you the pile stays damp. Not wet, but damp enough that decomposition can occur. To ensure that decomposition is occurring, turn your compost pile once or twice a month. Once every two weeks usually works well.

Over the course of a few months, you’ll notice that your compost pile is shrinking. This is a good thing. That means it is working. You’ll start to notice a dark rich soil appear which is perfect for your vegetable garden, flowers, or anywhere else around the house.

Because you are most likely adding material to your compost pile, be sure to sift through the soil so that you don’t have any material that has yet to fully decompose.

With that, you’ve created a compost pile which will put you on your way to an organic and environmentally friendly garden.

Good luck and happy green gardening! 
 

About a month ago, we were invited to a seminar held by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, known here in Sweden as Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen.

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is celebrating 100 years of environmental advocacy this year. It is incredible timing considering the UN Climate Summit will be held just next door in Copenhagen, Denmark in December of 2009. 

In conjunction with the upcoming climate meeting in Copenhagen, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is holding a series of seminars titled “Key issues for climate change and Copenhagen 2009.”

Each seminar challenges politicians, scientists, and the average citizen to focus on the environmental issues that are becoming more and more important. The seminars are meant to generate support, ideas, and even passion for these key issues.

The seminar on Monday, May 25th, was titled “Winners and losers: How to maximize opportunities and minimize risks.”

The seminar focused on the differences between what was described as “north” and “south” and the history of international cooperation. Both successes and failures. Speakers from organizations such as SIDA, SNF, and the IBON Foundation spoke of the challenges facing the world today as cooperation becomes more and more necessary to overcome climate change.

Much of the seminar focused on the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen and the importance of the summit. The seminar ended with a call to action. A call to all citizens to make demands of their governments, and of the UN, to work together in the quest for a greener climate. 

Being a Swedish-based company and being active in Denmark, we at Naty look forward to seeing the decisions made at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen.