Backwoods MamaJosée

How to Decorate an Outdoor Tree with Treats for Wildlife

How to Decorate an Outdoor Tree with Treats for Wildlife

Decorating an outdoor tree with healthy treats for local wildlife is a wonderful winter tradition that gives back to nature. It's a tradition that my children look forward to every winter. We often decorate a tree close to the Winter Solstice or Christmas Day but...

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How to Make Tree Ornament Seed Bombs (+ Free Printable)

How to Make Tree Ornament Seed Bombs (+ Free Printable)

When it comes to giving gifts during the holiday season, I'm all about hand-made earth friendly gifts. If I had the time to make all of my family and friends something handmade I would. However, it seems that time accelerates during the holiday season. Or maybe time...

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7 Fun Ways to Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day with Kids

7 Fun Ways to Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day with Kids

My children believe in Santa Claus. Not the fairy tale version of Santa Clause with his red suit, rotund belly, jolly laugh and flying reindeer but the man that inspired the legend: Saint Nicholas. Our family has been celebrating Saint Nicholas Day since my kids were...

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A Unique Gift Guide for Outdoorsy Kids

A Unique Gift Guide for Outdoorsy Kids

Encouraging kids to spend time outside is one of the best gifts they can receive. With that in mind, this gift guide was carefully curated to encourage kids to get outdoors. Each item is something that my own children enjoy using, or would enjoy, or it's something...

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How to Make a Fall Leaf Mason Jar Lantern

How to Make a Fall Leaf Mason Jar Lantern

As autumn unfolds and the days get shorter, all the cozy and comforting things call my name: a cup a hot tea, a fuzzy blanket, a good book, and the soft glow of candles. Throughout the cold dark months of late autumn and winter, my kids and I love create beautiful and...

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Fall Outside: 30 Prompts for Exploring Nature with Children

Fall Outside: 30 Prompts for Exploring Nature with Children

Fall Outside: 30 Prompts for Exploring Fall with Children is an eBook offers parents and educators thirty fun prompts for inviting children to explore the season of fall outdoors. The prompts can be used as a 30-day challenge or they can be used randomly throughout...

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How to Help Children Overcome Their Fear of Bugs

How to Help Children Overcome Their Fear of Bugs

"Mama, there's a wasp in my room!" "I think there's a tick in my hair! Get it out! GET IT OUT!!!!" "Help! There's a spider on the door!" Fear of bugs, even among the most nature loving children, is extremely common. It's so common that it pops up regularly in online...

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Naturally Dyed Dandelion Play Dough Recipe

Naturally Dyed Dandelion Play Dough Recipe

Dandelions are a telltale sign that spring has truly arrived. This common "weed" is one of nature's wonderful gifts to pollinators and insects in the spring. In fact, it's only been recent that dandelions have been viewed as weeds. For the longest time they were a...

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Dandelion Flower Butter Cookies

Dandelion Flower Butter Cookies

I have been obsessed with dandelions this spring. We've been using dandelions to create art, decorate our nature table and fill our bellies. There have been plenty of dandelion "fails" along the way... I will spare you the drama of my dandelion play dough. However,...

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How To Make a Wet Felted Mason Jar Lantern

How To Make a Wet Felted Mason Jar Lantern

A few years ago I shared a tutorial on How to Make a Wet Felted Lantern For Winter Solstice. This project has always been a favourite in our home. This year we wanted to try the same technique on mason jars to create a lantern with sturdier sides. The result: A...

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How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild Birds

How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild Birds

Every winter my kids and I make cookie cutter birdseed ornaments to hang on a special tree for our feathered friends. It's one of our favourite winter traditions. We also make extras to give as gifts to teachers, friends and family to celebrate the Winter Solstice and...

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Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During a Pandemic

Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During a Pandemic

In a very short span of time our lives have been flipped upside down. Places of gathering have been closed. Schools are shutting its doors and millions of children are staying home. Parents and children are struggling to adjust to this new normal which may go on for...

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50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of All Ages

50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of All Ages

Spring officially starts on the spring equinox which falls on March 19, 20, or 21 in the northern hemisphere and September 22 or 23 in the southern hemisphere. On this special day the sun shines directly on the equator of our planet and for a short time day and night...

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