Flowersorri: Sensorial, Montessori-inspired ergonomic furniture for kids

(TreeHugger) by Kimberly Mok

Alternatives to conventional schooling like Waldorf and Montessori schools often focus on educating the whole child, allowing the child's innate curiosity to guide their studies, rather than imposing methods of rote memorization and misguided one-size-fits-all ideas behind standardized testing. The concept of a specially "prepared environment" -- an orderly atmosphere complete with child-sized items and furnishings -- is a key component that Italian educator Maria Montessori pioneered back in the turn of the twentieth century, and something that we actually see translated in most modern kindergartens today.  Read more here.

Probiotics shown to dramatically heal food sensitivities

For those who are familiar with the GAPS diet, rebuilding the gut is of paramount importance. After all, the gut isn't only involved in properly absorbing nutrients to keep us fit—it's the foundation for a strong nervous system and immunity as well. When the gut is in top form, food sensitivities and illnesses have a harder time taking root. Interestingly, research has shown that probiotics can also heal the gut to such a point that food intolerance and allergies disappear.

The power of probiotics

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride developed the Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet in response to her son's diagnosis of autism. Through years of research, she discovered that avoiding certain foods (such as starches, grains, beans and most sugars) while rebuilding the gut with bone broth, protein and probiotics, lead to dramatic recoveries in her patients. Behavioral disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar, depression, autism, food sensitivities and a host of other afflictions have been successfully treated with GAPS. Even multiple sclerosis responds well.

Destructive weather patterns and HAARP—Scientists investigate a possible connection

With unusual weather patterns becoming more commonplace over the last few years, many are beginning to question a possible link involving the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Alaska. Several researchers who study the science behind HAARP have come forward with concerns about the disruptions this technology causes in the ionosphere and the impact it has on earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other natural disasters. Some also consider HAARP to be a new breed of weapon.

HAARP 101

HAARP is located in Gakuna, Alaska. It is a collection of antennas placed on a computer controlled grid referred to as a "phased array." The Navy and Air Force manage the program. According to the official government website:

Effective Immediately: France Bans All GMO Cultivation

(Activist Post) by Heather Callaghan

The French National Assembly has made a sweeping declaration with a new bill, effective immediately. No more genetically modified crops.

On Tuesday, the French lower house of parliament adopted a law immediately banning cultivation of any GMO corn, due to environmental safety concerns.

Recently, they also made a halt decree to prohibit planting the only GM crop allowed in the EU - Monsanto's MON810 corn, with built-in insect resistance.

Fracking: A silent death sweeps across the nation

Farmland is tainted. Drinking water turns flammable. And humans along with animals are sick. The cause? Fracking. It's terrorizing the environment, destroying the health of those who live close to the sites and contaminating the food supply. With more than 600,000 fracking wells and waste injection locations around the country, if this practice is not contained soon, clean water and food will become a distant memory.

Fracking 101

What exactly is fracking? It's a technique used by the oil industry to facilitate the flow of natural gas or petroleum by injecting mass amounts of noxious liquid deep into the earth. The chemicals used in fracking (benzene, arsenic, ethylene glycol, lead, formaldehyde, toluene, Uranium-238, Radium-226, to name a few) devastate the land and water within proximity to the poisonous injection sites. Even more alarming, the toxins are also linked with birth defects, cancer, autism, kidney failure and autoimmune disorders.

Flowers Top Awesome Shipping Container Guest House in Texas

(inhabitat) Jim Poteet Architects transformed a royal blue shipping container into an airy guest house in San Antonio, Texas. The container was customized to give the comforts of home, including massive glass sliding doors that open to connect the indoors to the outdoors. Aside from repurposing the old shipping container, Poteet used recycled soda caps and telephone poles in this gorgeous green guest house perched at the top of Stacey Hill.

To keep the message of sustainability at the forefront, Poteet decided to leave the exterior of the shipping container as is, including its original blue color and markings from when it was used to haul goods. The end was cut away and replaced with a large floor to ceiling window, while part of the side was replaced with sliding glass doors that create a flow of both natural light and air. The opposite end’s corrugated walls were kept with a smaller, higher window added, which allows for a private bathroom.