It may sound silly, but I've been thinking a lot of about composting lately, given that we've been having so much fun planting and bringing our little backyard back to life. Since today is Learn About Composting Day (I know this thanks to Kris-Ann), I wanted to share how crazy easy it is to compost. Totally doable and good for the environment. Here's the how-to in 5 easy steps:

1. Get an indoor compost receptacle. This is actually an optional step but a handy one; an indoor compost receptacle allows you to collect kitchen scraps to reduce trips to your outdoor composter. We just use a large plastic bowl with a lid but I'm thinking of replacing that eyesore with this stainless steel Epica composter.

2. Get an outdoor composter. Composters range from simple to fancier (we have one simple and one fancier); here are three good options to consider:

• We bought our "simple" composter at our town DPW for around $30 I think. It's basically a cylinder with a cone inside (to allow for airflow) and a cone lid with a rope handle. If your DPW doesn't sell composters the Geobin Composter is an inexpensive option at $30. The only thing I'm wondering about is a lid, to keep animals out.

• Our "fancy" composter (the EnviroCycle Composter) is out of stock but the Good Ideas EnviroTumbler is very similar. It's a little pricier (currently on sale at Amazon for $116, down from $160) but is so due to handy features. The composter rolls off the base so you can roll it to where you need it in the garden + the base collects the compost "tea," which we pour over our plants that need extra love.

• For a model a bit more in the middle, the Forest City Tumbling Composter is a well-rated option at $99. This composter has two chambers (let one sit while you fill the other) and a good ventilation system.

3. Collect your kitchen scraps! In your indoor composter, collect green matter: fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds/filters, tea bags, and egg shells; the coffee grounds, tea bags, and egg shells offer excellent nutrients for compost. Do not include non-plant matter (e.g., meat, beans), which will attract animals.

4. Mix it up. Dump your kitchen compost into your outdoor compost and add some brown matter to it (e.g., dead leaves). And when you're watering your plants, water the compost. Ideally you want a mix of brown and green matter and also water; the brown matter provides carbon, the green nitrogen, and the water moistens the mix to facilitate breakdown.

5. Turn and use. If you have one composter, you'll need to dig up the "black gold" from the bottom. This is one reason I like the rotating composter. However, later on we found we needed/wanted a second composter so what we do is fill one composter through the year and let the other decompose and then switch the next year. We either use compost for new plantings (dig a hole and line it with compost) or it's been great to spread compost + compost tea on existing plants as they've been coming back to life after the long winter.

For more information, you can check out the EPA’s guide to composting, but really, these 5 easy steps have carried us through many years of urban composting. If you have questions, let me know in the comments!

Image credits: Amazon

I pull out of the school drop-off line and listen to the creak of the motor pulling the top down off my car. I read somewhere exposing yourself to natural light first thing in the morning is the best way to wake up, and I didn't want to wake up this, her last day of fourth grade.

I woke only begrudgingly, soaked in sweat for the second time last night, my first tshirt and shorts lying in a still-damp heap at the foot of the bed. I wasn't drenched from a nightmare; I'd been having dreams all night of college, back when I could wave an arm at a group of near-strangers and invite them on an adventure or to play a game, and they would come with me. Back when I could walk into a room of people and start conversations halfway through with people I'd never met before.

The soaking comes from getting older, from the prelude to the change. The dreams come from writing about that time in life when anything seems possible: age nineteen.

I should've stayed up when I rose first to change my clothes, when I woke shivering to find myself damp and cold but also hot in that confusing way that seems to be my new normal. I should've stayed up, because when I did finally rise, it was hard from the middle of a deep sleep, and being ripped from that lovely dream where I was at a party and everyone was smiling at me and we didn't have anywhere to be or anything to do the next morning because finals were over and we were floating in the knowledge that we'd secured our spot at college for another year, that we didn't have to be real adults yet.

Instead I pulled on the third tshirt of the night/morning and laced up my running shoes and made sure my daughter was wearing sunscreen and deoderant and fixed the broken garage door and drove to school. 

And then, as I pulled away, I dropped the convertible's top to let in the early summer sunshine and drove home, remembering the dream.

Today, Debbie shares 5 ways to eat local on a budget:

“Eat local” is a popular sentiment these days, and for good reason. When we eat what’s grown nearby, we support the local economy, reduce the environmental impacts of long-distance shipping, and get food that’s more nutritious than the mass-produced, shipped kind. Of course, one challenge is that mass-produced, shipped products are often cheaper than their small-crop, locally grown counterparts. Here are 5 ways I've learned how to eat local on a budget:

1. Join a CSA. A CSA (community-supported agriculture) has you pay a certain amount up front for your share of that season’s crops. Vegetable, fruit, fish, meat, and grain CSAs are all available in the greater Boston area. Some deliver; others require you to pick up. You don’t get to choose what’s in your share, but the overall dollar value of the share typically exceeds what you pay for it. Find a CSA near you at Local Harvest.

2. Shop seasonally. Produce costs less when it's abundant, so it helps to keep track of what's in season and menu plan around seasonal produce. For those in Massachusetts, refer to this handy in-season chart.

3. Preserve the harvest. Preservation can be as simple as freezing (e.g., I puree and freeze tomatoes) or you can try canning or dehydration (perfect for those who like fruit leather or dried apples). Here’s a good first source for information on home food preservation.

4. Visit a farmer’s market for education. Ask about the growing season. Get recipes. If prices are high, buy only specialty items and tastes of new foods. Another benefit? Booth displays can tempt kids to try foods they might otherwise ignore! Use Local Harvest to find a farmer's market near you, and here are links specific to Massachusetts farmer's markets.

5. Find farms that don’t come to market. Small farms and orchards might not have extra staff for markets, but they want your business at the farm stands and pick-your-own days. Check this local farm guide for options near you.

From a parenting perspective, what's been particularly great about committing to eating local is that my kids see that food is produced by real people. They're starting to understand the basis for every economy in the world and are eating more fruits and vegetables thanks to meeting the growers.

Image credits: Local Harvest Facebook page

I've caught up with a few friends with kids lately, and the conversation inevitably turns to what activities our kids are participating in during [insert season]. As usual, my kid isn't doing shit.

We started out strong. We put her in Twinkle Toes ballet class starting at two, and she followed it through up until last December, when she hung up her leotard after class went to twice a week with an hour-long round-trip commute. She took gymnastics for a year, long enough to convince me to buy the expensive leotard she ended  up wearing maybe five times. It was easier when she was wee -- all I had to do was drive her to wherever and we'd sit through an hour of music class or tumbling or what have you. Now she's older and opinions, she's got them. 

She just doesn't care.

We've lined up another mom to watch her while I work for the majority of summer vacation. She'll be with two of her best friends doing whatever it is kids do when their moms are off during the summer. There will be gaps, and I tried to interest her in drama camp or robot camp or basketball camp, but she had zero interest in any of them, and at the end of the day, paying hundreds of dollars and driving halfway across the city when I'm supposed to be working for something she'll protest seems ridiculous.

I dangled swimming in front of her yesterday, but she flipped over in the pool and demonstrated that she already knows how to swim with non-race-worthy proficiency, point taken. 

And then I asked myself for the hundredth time why I care. 

It's probably because I shit you not every single other mother I know has her kids in at least one sport or lesson each, usually multiple leagues of multiple sports all happening at the same time. When I was growing up, I myself took dance lessons and drama lessons and drum lessons and any camp I could get my hands on. I was spending a week at sleepaway horse camp once a summer by the time I was her age.

My daughter doesn't care.

On the flip side, her complete and total lack of involvement in any extracurricular activities has left her available to go visit her friend Ka'Vyea in the hospital. She's played quite a bit of pick-up cul-de-sac kickball. Her dolls are all currently in the doll hospital for various broken bones she lovingly wrapped with gauze and signed like casts. We spent all day this past Sunday and Monday at the swimming pool, floating lazily on our backs and eating Starburst. She made paper lanterns for our Memorial Day cookout of her own volition.

I'm ambivalent. I spent my whole life ambitious, and sometimes I feel like I've lost my ambition when it comes to trying to get my daughter to participate in things. I worry I've been worn down by this working-mama gig to the point where I'm taking the unnecessarily easy way out, that I should force her to get more involved.

I absolutely insist that she behave and wear age-appropriate clothing and her seatbelt and eat her vegetables. But I've been letting her completely self-direct on most activities. Beloved and I agree we'll make her take band or strings for at least a year, because MATH and ART and CULTURE, but if after that year she wants to chuck it, I'd let her.

But then I find myself justifying it. It's not like she's sitting around cooking meth while she's home. And when I start talking to the other mothers I question whether I shouldn't be pushing her harder to do something that requires sign-ups and special shoes and schedules. People say over and over they think it's so great she's all Free-to-Be-You-and-Me, but then I look at their kids and see eight different uniforms and a piano practice book and a calendar full to popping and I think they would never ever let their kid opt out of all competition.

I hope I'm doing this right. The sad thing is, at ten, she's already past the point of no return for a lot of sports. Fifth grade is too old to start anything that could be played as league starting at age four in a suburb my size. 

Sometimes it feels like there's no which way but loose when it comes to modern parenting.

Today's Dear Boston Mamas query comes from reader Dina, who is looking for a convertible car seat that's easy to install in and out of rental cars. Though I became facile at installing Vi's infant car seat in and out of Zipcars, by the time she outgrew the seat we had acquired a regular car. So I turned to my friend Sheri Gurock, co-owner of toy and gear haven Magic Beans for a guest response.

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Here's Dina's specific query (including some of her preliminary research):

Hi Christine,

We are a car-less family with an 11-month-old child living in Coolidge Corner. Our daughter has just about outgrown her infant car seat and so we are looking to buy a convertible seat that we can use when we drive Zipcars. The seat must be light enough to carry to a car and relatively easy to install rear facing. Basically it seems like there are no good options for urban families who use cars occasionally. The best we've been able to find are 2 seats - the Cosco Seneca and the Combi Coccoro. However, the Cosco seems to be hard to install rear facing according to Amazon and the Combi reviews are conflicting about ease of installation. No one seems to carry the Combi in the Boston area so we can't really check this out for ourselves (Amazon will only let you return a seat if the box is unopened). Any advice? What do other car-less families do?

Thanks, Dina

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And here's Sheri's response:

Dear Dina,

Unfortunately, what you're looking for doesn't really exist. The seats that are the easiest to install generally have pretty hefty safety features, which keeps them on the heavier side. The reason you're reading conflicting things about the ease of use for certain car seats is because the installation will vary from car to car. In some cars, installing a certain seat will be a breeze, while in others it can be a 20 minute project. If you use Zipcar, you need to really become an expert with whatever seat you choose, since you're likely to be installing it in a few different ways, depending on the make and model of the car you're using on any particular day.

My advice would be to look at the Chicco NextFit. It weighs 25 pounds, so it is not the most portable option, but it is extremely easy to install both rear- and forward-facing in most situations. The schlepping from your home to the car is probably a good trade-off for the quick installation once you get to the car. You can also get the Britax Travel Cart and use it to wheel the NextFit from place to place, rather than carry it. Another option to look out for is the new Clek Fllo, a compact convertible car seat coming from Clek later this summer. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but if it is easy to install, it could be a nice option for you.

Chicco NextFit

While I was researching this, I found a pretty awesome Google doc that lists the specifications for all convertible car seats, including seat weight. It might be useful if you're really committed to finding something lightweight.

Whatever you choose, I'd recommend making an appointment with a CPST. Explain your situation and ask the CPST to tell you as much as s/he can about your particular seat. Learn how to install it with LATCH and with a seatbelt, and practice it in a few different positions in the back seat. That way, you'll have the training you need to feel confident installing the seat in a variety of different situations.

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Thanks for writing in Dina, and thanks so much for your guest response Sheri! If you have a question you'd like to submit for Dear Boston Mamas, e-mail it to: editor@bostonmamas.com with "Dear Boston Mamas" in the subject.

Image credits: Magic Beans

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm sharing the Weekly Blueprint early so you can plan accordingly for tomorrow's day off. In addition to the Monday through Friday event roundup below, if you're looking for a local parade, my friends at Boston Central have collected a big list of Massachusetts parades (thanks Stacey and team!). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and my thoughts and gratitude go out to all members of the armed forces and their families.

May 26: Access to the Children’s Museum for children with special needs. (Boston)

May 26: Live musical performance with Thread Ensemble. (Boston)

May 26: Newburyport Spring Festival continues. (Newburyport)

May 26: Perfect day for a beach ramble. (Westport)

May 27: Help create a sandbox city. (Acton)

May 28: Help prepare Rabbit’s Silly Salad. (Lincoln)

May 29: Do some good and go bowling for rhinos. (Malden)

May 29: An inspiring celebration of spring concert. (Watertown)

May 29 - 31: The Frog Prince and Other Frogs. (Brookline)

May 30: Music and movement with Ms. Bernadette. (Acton)

May 30: KidsJam. (Boston)

May 30: Story time at the Curious George Store. (Cambridge)

Image credit: Newburyport Chamber of Commercea

Despite my training in statistics, I'm someone who likes data, but not too much data. Subsequently, I'm loving my Misfit Shine activity and sleep tracker (which I unexpectedly won at Mom 2.0!). It's minimalist in design (countless friends have noticed it on my wrist and asked me about it), operation (it measures distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep), and setup (just pop in the battery, download the app, lay the Shine on your phone to sync, and done). No daily data entry; no need to charge it up.

Best of all? The Shine has modified my behavior. I definitely operate well with a carrot in front of me and using the Shine has inspired me to get to bed earlier and be more active so I can hit my 100% activity and sleep goals each day. Particularly on days when I don't run first thing in the morning (which always ensures I reach the 100% activity level), seeing my activity level on the Shine frequently has inspired me to walk instead of drive whenever possible so I can reach (or at least get close to!) 100%. So awesome.

I have the classic Misfit Shine sport band (in coral; shown below), but you can also get it as a simple necklace or fancier bloom necklace. I highly recommend this tracker if you're like me and want to gain awareness about your health habits (and work to improve them), without getting mired down in a lot of data entry!

Want more Friday Finds? Of course you do! Check out: Smooth Move, Beyond Baby, Bella Sante HydraFacial, chair reupholstery tutorial, Mizuno Wave Prophecy, Jordana lip balm stains, La Fresh eco-wipes, ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, Where Is The Cake?, and Travelpro luggage

Image credits: Amazon

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week and are looking forward to the holiday weekend! A regular Weekly Blueprint will be forthcoming on Monday (or possibly Sunday) to capture weekday events (including the Monday holiday), but meanwhile, here are 20 events for Saturday and Sunday, lovingly curated for your consideration. Enjoy!

1. It’s national scavenger hunt day. (Acton)

2. Boston Calling Music Festival at City Hall Plaza (Boston)

3. Mental Health Awareness Day. (Boston)

4. Interactive storytime with AJ Smith. (Boston)

5. Remembering our heroes aboard the USS Constitution. (Boston)

6. Explore the art world of Nick Cave on life-size coloring book pages. (Boston)

7. The Three Wishes and A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing puppet show. (Brookline)

8. Beautiful sea creatures in glass exhibit opens. (Cambridge)

9. Asparagus festival. (Concord)

10. 40th Annual Sheep and Woolcraft Fair. (Cummington)

11. Turtle and field day. (Easthampton)

12. Open barnyard at Weir River Farm. (Hingham)

13. Discovery Day in Lexington. (Lexington)

14. Creative nature photography workshop. (Mattapan)

15. Newburyport Spring Festival.  (Newburyport)

16. Watch the Sox game on the big screen! (Roxbury)

17. Art investigations. (Salem)

18. Celebrate the new American Alligator Exhibit with Lyle the Crocodile. (Stoneham)

19. Wool Days at Sturbridge Village are here. (Sturbridge)

20. Opening weekend for the Tree Canopy Walkway. (Worcester)

Image credit: Harvard Museum of Natural History

Today's Lessons Learned essay comes via Susan Petcher, a mom, music teacher, blogger (at Learned Happiness), and advocate for women's mental health:

My five-year-old daughter bounded into my bed this morning, dashing my hopes of a few more winks of sleep with her Tigger-like enthusiasm. And as I returned her hugs and kisses, I cherished the small moment of happiness between us. Because there was a time when I could not return her love, when the gift of bonding was stolen from us both.

You see, from the moment she bellowed out her first cry, my world fell to pieces. She was very much wanted (and planned for meticulously) but her arrival heralded the onset of a frightening case of postpartum anxiety with side servings of OCD and depression. I suffered from a menagerie of symptoms, ranging from panic attacks to rage, and eventually a numbing depression.

I spent my first six months as a mother afraid of my baby and terrified of motherhood. Every interaction with her was an opportunity to confirm what I felt inside so deeply: that I was a failure and that I would never be the mom she deserved.

One in seven mothers experience this same struggle, yet I felt alone and isolated. Even after I began treatment, in the form of therapy and medication, and started to feel the depression lift, the stigma and shame weighed me down. Though I was working furiously to heal, the PPD had taken my confidence and my power.

When I stumbled upon Postpartum Progress, it was as if a hand was reaching into the dark, pulling me back up into myself. I marveled at each of the amazing women who wrote about their postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, admiring them for their strength and courage, never once thinking less of them for their struggles. And then one day, without warning, it hit me: how can I admire their courage yet fail to see it in myself?

This community of survivors -- of Warriors -- gave me their stories and their hope. Through their support and understanding, their emails and their tweets, I found a new identity. Instead of a sufferer, I became a survivor. I reclaimed my power. And with it, I found the strength to bond with my daughter and to love her despite my anxieties. Now, as an advocate, I speak for those who have lost their hope. And in a weird way, I find myself grateful for the postpartum anxiety and depression that led me to the Warrior Mom community. Though I would not wish my experiences on anyone, I wouldn't change a moment of my journey.

This June, I get an opportunity to give back while celebrating my recovery. I'm climbing a mountain with a team of survivors and their support networks as a part of Postpartum Progress's Climb Out of the Darkness awareness and fundraising campaign. On June 21, I'll be climbing Mt. Washington and while I anticipate it to be a challenge, it'll be nothing compared to what I faced back in those early days of motherhood.

Bring it on. I'm a Warrior now. And you can be too.

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Editor's Note: Local moms can join or donate to Susan's Mt. Washington team or Candice Brothers' Walden Pond team. To find a climb near you, visit the Postpartum Progress's Climb Out of the Darkness page.

For more in the Lessons Learned series, see The Practice of Kindness, Sibling Acceptance. Do you want to submit a Lessons Learned essay? See submission guidelines here.

Image credits: 1) Postpartum Progress; 2) Susan Petcher