(This is a sponsored post. Even though Goddess Garden sent me their sunscreens to try, all opinions are my own. If I love it, I’ll tell you. If I hate it, I’ll tell you too.)

Want to snag Goddess Garden? Here’s where to grab it!

Of course if you’re going outside, you should cover up and wear a hat. But if you’re like me (and devoted to your tank tops and flip flops), that’s not always going to happen. So, we look to a sunscreen to protect us from any harmful UV rays.

Three weeks ago, I was sent Goddess Garden Organic sunscreens to try for 30 days, and now it’s time for me to tell you why I’ll make the switch to their sunscreens.

1. They’re not your average sunscreen

They don’t smell like normal sunscreen, and they’re not made of the same harmful ingredients as average sunscreens. 

2. They’re made of all-natural ingredients, and a lot of these ingredients grow in my own garden.

I know their ingredients are safe – they’re items I consume every day (like raspberry oil and coconut oil). 

Who doesn’t have raspberries growing in their garden, or at least consume raspberries every now and then?

3. These sunscreens are made of ingredients that are reportedly non-nano.

There’s concerns that the ingredients in average sunscreens could damage your body on a cellular level, since they’re made of ingredients that can penetrate your skin.

Goddess Garden sunscreens are made of ingredients that can safely be used on your skin, without worry they’ll cause cellular damage or lead to cancer, like other sunscreen ingredients.

4. They’re tailored to different skin-types.

Young babies, children, and adults have different needs when it comes to skin care. I love that Goddess Garden sunscreens are made from ingredients that are customized depending on who will be using the product.

For example, the children’s sunscreen has shea butter, which moisturizes the skin as well as nourishing it.

It’s great to know the children’s sunscreen is gentler for younger skin!

5. They smell incredible.

I’ve had some stressful days on the homestead. Did Goddess Garden completely take away the stress?

No.

Not much can take away the stress of a dog attacking your goat.

But did offer some creature comfort during those times, and I’m sure the smell of lavender (known to relax you) did help. 

It’s rare I devote a whole post (let alone 3) to a single product line, but I wanted to make sure I really liked these sunscreens before recommending them, and the short answer is I really do like Goddess Garden.

Will I personally make the switch to Goddess Garden?

Yes. I wouldn’t recommend these sunscreens unless I use them personally and believe in them!

Are you ready to make the switch to organic sunscreens? I am.

It’s been 10 days since I switched out my sunscreen with Goddess Garden’s organic sunscreen. I’m sure you’ve been wondering how it’s been going!

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(In case you’re catching up: Goddess Garden believes in their product so much, they asked 15 bloggers (me included!) to test drive their organic sunscreens, and share the results. Even though Goddess Garden sent me their sunscreens to try, all my opinions are my own, so you can be sure you’re getting an honest appraisal!)

I keep talking about the smell, and that’s really because I can’t get over it. Every time I open the bottle, I instantly de-stress (and homesteading can be a frustrating lifestyle, let’s face it). The notes of tea tree oil and lavender permeate the scent of their sunscreens, and it’s wonderful that my body gets to smell like it.

As far as practicality goes, the all-natural, organic sunscreens do their job well. I’ve applied it daily, and even though I’ve been outdoors a lot lately between planting gardens and building pastures, Goddess Garden sunscreen has held up to the job. I haven’t burned AT ALL, and I’ve barely tanned (and it’s been 80 degrees and sunny).

The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide act in a way to block and scatter the sun’s rays – naturally, because they’re naturally reflective. These minerals are naturally occurring, too.

Even though I’ve been sweating and messing in the dirt, my sunscreen hasn’t worn off. The directions on the bottle state I should reapply every 4 hours, so I’ve done just that.

Most sunscreens are made of ingredients that allow nano-particles to permeate your skin and enter your bloodstream. According to Time magazine (you can read that article here), the ingredients in normal sunscreens can lead to premature aging and cancer.

I double checked with Goddess Garden, and their sunscreens are non-nano, meaning their ingredients are safe. Sounds good to me!

What’s in Goddess Garden organic sunscreen? I’ve already mentioned the tea-tree oil and lavender, as well as the active ingredients, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, but there’s also aloe vera, raspberry seed oil, and coconut oil, among other ingredients.

There’s different formulas for children and babies. Besides the zinc oxide (the same ingredient in diaper rash cream, so you know it’s safe), there’s also aloe vera, shea butter, lavender oil, coconut oil, radish root ferment (who doesn’t love a good ferment?), and sunflower oil.

If this sounds like it might work for your family, good news, you can buy Goddess Garden through Amazon! It’ll be delivered right to your doorstep. (I do get a small affiliate commission when you buy from Amazon at no extra cost to you, so thank you in advance if you do buy!)

There’s still time left in my 30-day test drive, and I can’t wait to fill you in on how it’s going!

(This is a sponsored post. Even though I’m being compensated, all opinions and research are my own, so you can be sure you’re getting an honest appraisal. If I love it – I’ll tell you. If I hate it, I’ll tell you that too!).

Until next time!

The question of whether you should let your chickens free range is a complex one, at least as far as chicken keeping goes.

I’ve had plenty of questions about the subject of whether chickens should free range lately, and I’ve presented both sides of the argument.

There are die-hard advocates of both schools of thoughts, and it’s a little like the American electoral system, with leftists, right-wing conservatives, and moderates.

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The pro-free ranging group believes chickens are healthier when free-ranged and allowed to choose where they go. Other people believe chickens should remain in a coop with a run, while moderates believe allowing chickens to free range while supervised is appropriate.

I’ve tested this subject for a while, and I believe the answer is (drumroll….):

It depends.

Sorry, I know that’s not a very satisfactory answer. But truth be told, I think it’s up to the individual owner and what you can live with.

If you aren’t sure whether to free range, ask yourself one question:

Can I afford to lose chickens?

I’ve allowed my chickens to free range, and I’ve kept them cooped. There’s a lot of pluses and minuses with either direction.

The top priority, regardless of the direction you go, is the overall health of your flock. I underscore the phrase “overall health of your flock” because you should take into account the well being of your collection of cluckers, and not necessarily the health of one chicken if it risks the health of your entire flock.

For example, let’s say your favorite chicken is snatched by a predator, so you decide to coop everyone permanently. Your chickens might remain healthy, but very bored and start picking on each other, or they might start to lose important nutrients because their diet has altered.

Or perhaps the opposite happens. One chicken just wasn’t getting enough water in the coop because every time she tried to drink, the other hens ran her off. You decide to free range, but coyotes are a problem where you live. 

Do you risk your overall flock because of one chicken’s needs? I wouldn’t.

So, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of free ranging versus cooping your chickens.

When you don’t free range you risk:

• Low protein levels, which can effect egg production and the lifespan of your hens. Studies show chickens will consume up to 70% protein when they free range.
• Certain chickens not getting enough food/water because of the pecking order, even if you build enough stations.
• Low levels of Vitamin D and other nutrients (particularly if you keep them cooped inside a lot), which effects calcium absorption and is linked to late embryonic death (if you incubate your eggs).
• Issues such as picking, feather plucking, etc., if there’s too many chickens in one space
• Certain skin issues, such as lice, are more likely to spread, and you’ll have to offer a dust bath in the coop.

The advantages to free ranging are:

• Your chickens are likely to have a high-protein diet, which creates those golden yolks
• They satisfy their natural urges to scratch, peck, and hunt
• You won’t have to feed as much grain, so you’ll save money
• Your chickens will get a varied diet
• You don’t need to provide a dust bath – they’ll make one themselves!

If you choose to free range however, you will lose chickens. That’s pretty much a given, so you should expect it.

In my opinion, the choice to free range depends on whether you can afford to lose chickens or not.

Things get slightly easier if you have a rooster – he can alert you to danger and fend off some predators, but he’s useless against a hawk (that swoops very quickly from above and breaks your hen’s neck) or a very aggressive dog (ask me how I know).

Still want to free range but don’t want to lose any hens?

If you can’t afford to lose chickens, but still want to free range, then offering a large run or a tractor that you move daily is an option, and so is supervised free ranging.

A tractor is an excellent option if you don’t have a lot of hens (if you have 50 or so, moving a tractor that fits all of them gets trickier) because not only are your chickens safe, but you can use them to turn up a compost pile or a garden bed.

I’ve seen runs that are very tall so chickens can’t get out, but that don’t offer any protection from hawks or an adventurous raccoon or possum that wants to climb to get a meal. A chicken run like this will offer some protection, but I would still worry about predators getting in. (And really, if you take the time and money to care for a chicken, do you want a rogue possum to make a meal out of her, and lose all the eggs she could have laid?)

Let’s look at the advantages of using a coop:

• Your chickens will be secure
• You can control their diets and make sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need
• Easier to gather eggs (no hiding them in odd places)
• Protection from outside diseases, since they’re less likely to come into contact with other birds

If you don’t coop your chickens:

• You will probably lose a chicken every now and then
• You have to be more alert to predators
• You will likely have to hunt for eggs
• You’ll still have to supplement their diet to make sure they’re getting everything they need nutritionally
• You might have a hard time medicating your entire flock if need be (for example, if you need to give them antibiotics in their water).

The choice whether to coop or not is a personal one, and is dependent on your individual situation. There’s advantages and disadvantages to each, and only you can decide if it’s right for your flock.

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