Tight schedule with no time for an outdoor dose of fresh air? Not too worry. Bottled Air brings that breath of fresh air to you, leaving you the time to get your to-do list done.

Yes, bottling fresh air is an actual thing.

In the UK, a study found that 74% of workers feel stressed on a daily basis. (Shocking, we know.) But instead of considering promoting 20 minute breaks for a set of sun salutations or a brisk walk outside, The National Trust has a better solution: offering bottled fresh air to stressed out Londonites.

“With most of us living in an urban environment and having little time to escape to the great outdoors, we thought it was about time the National Trust shared just a fraction of our copious amounts of fresh air with the nation,” says Andrew McLaughlin, Head of Communications at the National Trust.

The fresh air, which comes from three different rural and coastal locations, is bottled in recycled glass jars and is said to “relieve stress for up to ten minutes with each 454 gram jar containing 0.42 grams of fresh air.” And when you’re done enjoying your breath of fresh air, you can reuse that bottle for many things, including “capturing your own locally-sourced fresh air.”

I’m all for providing the tools to allow for a stress-free work environment, but I’m not entirely convinced that it comes bottled in a jar. Yes, fresh air in the countryside is unbeatable, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting out and exploring your urban environment.

Need help? Check out our guide to urban hiking. Or go plan an urban bike ride. Whatever you do, make sure you’re allowing yourself to spend time outside of the cubicle doing something active. That’s much better than sniffing a glass bottle.

Photo Credit: National Trust

Buzzzzzzzzzz. These little pollinators are a boon to gardeners, helping edible crops and ornamental plants flourish – and while they may send you running for the house, they’re way more interested in nectar than in you.

It does take time and effort, but the rewards of keeping bees are sweet. Almost too sweet – many backyard beekeepers end up with so many gallons of honey, they don’t know what to do with it all. But who doesn’t want another excuse to make sticky baked goods like honey buns?

So, why not come up with a plan bee? Even beginners can get a hive up and running within a few months, and before long you’ll have busy little bees working hard in your yard. These basic suburban beekeeping tips will help you get started.

1. Check your local ordinances and if backyard beekeeping is legal in your area, determine where you’d put your hives. A sunny spot that’s not directly situated next to a recreational area like a picnic table or playground is ideal. It’s best to plant a hedge or put up some kind of barrier around your bee colonies to prevent vandalism, protect the hive from wind and induce the bees to fly upward when leaving the hive (rather than through your neighbor’s yard.) Speaking of neighbors, you’ll need to talk to them about your plans. As long as none of them are allergic to bees, a little bribery with some honey should put them at ease.
2. Avoid a buzzkill by reading up on all things bee prior to ordering or building any equipment. It’s important to understand how colonies work including biology, social order, behavior patterns and potential problems like mites, colony-killing pests and intruders from other hives. A gentle, well-kept colony won’t bother your family or your neighbors. Don’t be too intimidated – the bees will do most of the work.
3. Find your own queen bee – a local beekeeping expert, that is. Take a course or visit a beekeeping farm or an experienced backyard beekeeper and ask plenty of questions. Many areas have amateur beekeeping groups where you can talk to other hobbyists and get the 411 on what it’s really like to keep bees in the city.
4. Consider your options in terms of equipment. TheFarm.org has a rundown on what you need for a conventional set-up, which includes supers, frames, a bottom board, a hive body, a queen excluder, inner and outer covers, a feeder, a smoker and protective clothing. BeeSource.com offers free plans for building your own hives, or you can purchase them from a recommended list of suppliers. Top bar hives are a great option for beginners, since it’s an inexpensive way to produce smaller quantities of honey.
5. Get your buzz on! Find a local source of bees if possible, or order them online. Honeybees are usually shipped in two- to five-pound packages containing about 9,000 – 22,000 bees. Once you’re accustomed to handling bees, you might be ready to capture a swarm that has branched off from another colony. “Beemaster” John Clayton has tips on how to find, inspect and gather swarms and acclimate them to your hive.
6. Prepare to be stung. It will inevitably happen every now and then, but there are a few tips to keeping your bees calm and happy. The University of Kentucky’s entomology department recommends that you avoid passing directly in front of a colony of bees, working from the side or back instead. If you are stung, remove the stinger by scraping it with a fingernail and wash the area so the scent of venom doesn’t get the other bees excited. If your colony consistently displays aggressive behavior, re-queening with a queen of gentle stock can help mellow them out again.
7. Get into the groove of seasonal honeybee management, feeding and medicating during the first two months of the year and inspecting the hives for growth and disease symptoms in February. By mid-April, your bees will begin gathering nectar and you can watch your supers fill with delicious honey over the summer.
8. Harvest that sticky, succulent honeycomb. While expensive honey extractors are available, there’s an easier and much more frugal way for beginners. Just cut chunks of honey-filled comb from the frames and wrap them in plastic or put them in sterilized containers, and enjoy the bounty of your buzzing bees!

Image: Don Hankins

I had so many special hideouts in nature growing up – tucked behind the boughs of Grandma’s weepy plum tree, under the cedar beside the frog pond on Huckleberry Lane, on the cool patch of grass inside the heady lilac thicket. Perhaps you did, too. Treehouses never quite captivated me the way a quiet spot beneath a live tree could. In first grade, I would frequently get in trouble for wandering far from the playground into the woods by myself, and for bringing back leaves and pebbles for safekeeping in my desk. Those teachers just didn’t understand.

Mom likes to tell the story about the time I responded to my grandparents’ question about what I’d been doing out in the backyard with a shrug and a careless, “Oh, you know, just drinking in life.” (I was nine.) Nature has always held so much magic for me, as I’m sure it does for many of you. Sometimes I just can’t believe how lucky we are to live with such profound beauty.

I hope you don’t mind if I share a few of my favorite places and scenes from around the world. Let’s just take a moment to be grateful for this incredible planet we get to live on.  Take a little break, share, and enjoy. This is what we’re all working to preserve, after all – and how beautiful it is. We live here. Wow!

Halla, Olof S

Marksburg, Germany, zemzina

New Jersey at the Delaware River, joiseyshowaa

Maldives, Ahmed Amir

Mt. Rainier from Tipsoo Lake, Washington, Alaskan Dude

Fremont, California, Tony

Unidentified field, kwerfeldein

Monteverde, Costa Rica, Adam Baker

South Haven, Michigan, James Jordan

Top image: Munnar, kcbimal

Getting back to nature – same thing as roughing it? If you find yourself loathe to ditch your oh-so-self-indulgent rituals like “warmth”, “being clean” or “eating actual food” you’ll be delighted to pitch in with a hot new approach to the great outdoors – glamping. Luxury without ostentation, eco-tourism without eco-terrorism – and everything catered for so you can enjoy your surroundings without worrying if you’ll survive the night in them.

Solar-powered lighting, rainwater reuse and an organic menu make Canvas Chic an eco-friendly lodging, while antique décor, four-poster beds and oriental rugs make it luxurious. Located along the Ardeche River gorge in the Rhone-Alps region, the scenery is awe-inspiring.

At Ecocamp Patagonia in Chile, you can stay in domes that resemble the ancient dwellings of the native Kaweskar and soak in the stunning landscape of Torres del Paine National Park with activities like hiking, horseback riding and kayaking.

Looking for something a little closer to home? Just an hour outside San Francisco, Costanoa is set in the heart of nature among 30,000 acres of protected wilderness. Their spacious canvas bungalows seem more like cabins than tents with queen beds, windows and hardwood floors. (Image via Jazz Violin)

Built above the ground to catch the breeze off Jervis Bay, the safari style tents at Paperbark Camp in Australia are extravagant and eco-friendly, with spacious verandas, solar-powered lighting, insect screening and hardwood floors. Plus, guests can explore the bay and surrounding forest with complimentary canoes and bikes.

At Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, tents are equipped with their own fireplace, cozy bed, antique dresser and composting toilet. This stunning destination on Vancouver Island provides plenty of activities for its guests with library, lounge, spa, dining and games tents.

The Resort at Paws Up is nestled along the beautiful Blackfoot River in Montana. Lavish tents with king beds, stylish wall art and a personal butler make for a pampered stay, while activities like horseback riding and mountain biking cater to your adventurous side.

Not exotic enough for your seasoned taste? Take a journey into the Gobi Desert and stay at the Three Camel Lodge. Their deluxe gers feature wood stoves, hand-painted furniture and a king bed. Plus, they come stocked with Mongolian-style bathrobes, felt slippers and locally produced toiletries.

Main image: notsogoodphotography

Unless otherwise noted, images are the property of the corresponding, respective facilities.

No one growing up during the upbeat, Mattel-directed Sixties figures they’ll be worse off in middle age, forced to scrounge harder for work, buy less, live smaller.

Those Barbie songs my sister and I sang along to in our pink and green room constituted teenage visions of a supercalifragelistic future that we owned, co-starring Dick Van Dyke, four kids, a shiny Lincoln and full-service yacht.

“Here’s a cake, that you and I can make, I’ll share the recipe, if you say yes to me.”

But due to the recession and soaring costs of raising two girls in the city, I’m singing a different tune today on my birthday. Sure, I married Ken, but where are the other Camelot conquests I was guaranteed?

Gone is the wine country home, jaunts to spas on a whim, the black velvet boxes concealing gems he bought for me with cash from cases he settled.

Despite the unexpected Barbie plot twist, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude as I take inventory of what I do have.

For instance, I spotted a gold necklace on Fillmore Street with a round charm that that bore the words I am completely blessed. I didn’t dare buy the $600 trinket but I have kept the affirmation close to my heart.

So, I’ve decided to count my blessings today (my colleague Sarah Irani should know that quite a few of them came free!). Here are a whopping 50, plus one for good luck.

I am completely blessed because…

1. I birthed two healthy, spectacular daughters who teach me something new each day.

2. I married a great father.

3.  I follow my bliss every day that I write.

4. My girls are strapping amazons because God gave me super human breast milk.

5. I’m surrounded by friends who are like family.

6.   My mother is still around and down to just one biting criticism of me a day.

7. I am never hungry when I don’t want to be.

8. We live without war in the  streets of San Francisco.

9. I have not been killed by a truck like my brother.

10. My religious faith has connected me to a community of fellow yentas to grow old with.

11. My older sister is an exceptional auntie.

12. My older brother is keeping the family business afloat during rocky times.

13. My pug and cat think I’m their mommy and I am.

14. I married father nature.

15. I’m healthy and strong from exercise and can climb the fence when I get locked out.

16. The builder’s daughter has always had a roof over her head.

17. I have commercial-free TV.

18. I have art on my walls from friends who made it.

19. I have memorized dozens of bedtime songs.

20. My daughters sing the songs I have sung to them.

21. My children are known for being creative and kind.

22. My beloved camera almost always works.

23. My children can read and write and like to do both.

24. My children make me exquisite birthday presents and set a regal table with a tiara at my place.

25. I can walk to the movie theater on Saturday nights.

26. No one at the theater asks me if I want the senior discount.

27. My city has excellent public transportation.

28. I can still see very well when I wear magnified lenses.

29. My mom, who unloads much, has kept her box at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.

30. My children get to use the box at the Hollywood Bowl and hear live music.

31. No menopause yet.

32. Menopause will come sooner or later.

33. I think I’ve seen god.

34. I think god is the miracle of birth.

35. I have learned how to kayak.

36. I have learned Italian.

37. Henna makes me higher than jewelry.

38. I married a great teacher.

39. My husband rarely spends money. When he does, it is on books and candy.

40. I have kept my commitments.

41. I’m in a bad girls book club.

42. My book club is all about the food.

43. Decent chick flicks are still being made, i.e. Julie and Julia.

44. I can grow vegetables in my yard to make soup.

45. I can pick flowers in my yard for table bouquets.

46. I can find stylish Sixties-inspired fashion on sale.

47. My Weight Watchers Guru is a Stanford Nutritionist.

48. I have gained the wisdom to see my own culpability.

49. I was born a healthy female in a rich land.

50. I’m a survivor because my Polish grandparents were survivors.

51. Today is my 51st birthday.

Main image: Sparkleneeley

Second image: Luanne Bradley

This is the fourth in Luanne’s new lifestyle column, Life in the Green Lane.

Sit on the grass; look out at the trees; wake up in the field; float on the water.

These four frolics in nature are woven into the fabric of the vintage French furniture reclaimed by Chair Couture, a delightful contemporary source that seeks to make stuffy, highbrow seating more down to earth.

In salvaging original French antiques for her quirky collection, owner Margaret Elman carefully selects fabrics that fits the mode. She says the recycled polyester or organic cotton used is derived from photographs of nature.

It’s all designed to bring the outdoors inside with splashy textiles in vivid shades that really grow on you.

I remember when a friend first spied the ocean fabric and flipped, telling me it was like nothing she had seen before. She was able to locate the fabric by the yard.

If you purchase one of the reconfigured antiques, such as the Constance chaise covered in a water print (above), the price might hit you like a wave. It’s $15,000. The David bergère chair covered in grassy cloth (at top) is $7,000 and the 1930s carved bed in the dandelion print(below)  is $13,000.

The price tags might be out of reach, but if you have the means, these pieces emerge as works of art that make a huge statement.

Cell phones, laptops, the Blackberry, iPods, texting, Twitter. Do you ever feel a little too in touch with the world? Next time you’re suffering from technology overload, cut the cord and spend some quality time with Mother Earth for a weekend. Here are some basic tips for a few days off the grid and out in nature.

Make a list of everything you need and check it twice. There won’t be a convenience store around the corner if you forget something, so review these essentials to make sure you’re prepared.

Dress for the occasion. Wear waterproof hiking boots and lightweight, water-resistant clothing that breathes. If you’re headed up to a high altitude, be ready for a temperature drop with plenty of layers.

Even though it’s so easy, a caveman can do it, make sure you know how to start a fire. If you follow these simple steps, it should be a cinch.

Invest in a tent and sleeping bag made for backcountry camping. Lightweight and compact, they’re easily portable.

Bring a detailed map and compass and familiarize yourself with the area before setting out. Getting lost in the wilderness is no joke, so you’ll need to brush up on your navigation skills before venturing off the grid.

Carry a camelback and make camp near a fresh water supply, such as a river or stream. Just remember to purify drinking water from these sources before quenching your thirst.

Hang your food from a tree to avoid dangerous encounters with wild animals.

Leaflets three, let it be! Learn to identify plants like poison ivy and poison oak and steer clear of them at all costs. An irritating rash is the last thing you want on your backcountry adventure.

It’s inevitable that you’ll spend your weekend among insects, but these tips to keep bugs away will make their presence less of a nuisance.

Brainstorm some fun games and activities for evenings around the campfire. (Check out this list of free activities, many of which you can do in nature.)

Image: Nicholas_T

Last year, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Penguin Classics joined together and went looking for interested citizens to participate in a new anthology.

The topic: personal stories about global warming.

The response: overwhelming. There were over 1,000 submissions from established writers and new voices from across the country.

The result,  Thoreau’s Legacy: American Stories About Global Warming, is a collection of 67 essays from scientists, students, activists, parents, journalists, grandparents, artists and business people, all of whom have stories to tell and views to express.

Named after Henry David Thoreau, one of America’s earliest environmentalists, the anthology starts with a foreword by Barbara Kingsolver who sets the book’s tone as she calls on all to realize that we cannot simply pretend nothing is wrong. Writing with energy and enthusiasm, Barbara asks everyone to actively combat climate change.

The essays, chosen by a team of reviewers from Penguin Classics and the Union of Concerned Scientists, fit into the seven chapters that are loosely organized around themes relating to people, the landscape, wildlife and faith.

A limited-edition hardcover coffee table book is available. You can also read the anthology for free at the Thoreau’s Legacy website. Have a look and pass in it, virtually, through email and your social media networks.

Raze the roof for green.

I’ll let you in on one of my secret eco-dreams: to tear down dilapidated buildings and allow nature to recover the land. As it turns out, this just might be a new municipal strategy in combating urban blight.

The first site of this radical experiment? Flint, Michigan: a sprawling and impoverished, underpopulated city. At 34 square miles, Flint requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep (think: garbage trucks, road repair, electricity lines).

So, how to maintain a city’s integrity without the taxpayer base to support it? Just tear down the buildings and parts of town that are already on the decline. It’s “pruning the deadwood,” to put it in gardening terms. The idea is to raze decrepit buildings and replant them with trees or allow natural meadows to grow on the land.

According to Dan Kildee, the brains behind this project, nobody is being forced to move and people are being offered better homes in more maintained parts of town. The ones who choose to stay will simply have more natural areas surrounding their homes.

The U.S. government and various charities have approached Mr. Kildee and asked him for advice on how to proceed with this idea in other declining cities around the United States. Seems like “less is more” and “back to nature” may come together on a grand and tangible scale.

Image: Saquan Stimpson

Since the beginning of time, we’ve been beautifying ourselves with the plant kingdom’s best skin and hair care helpers, and if you buy wholesome, natural cosmetics (like Juara, Pangea, or Angelface Botanicals to name a few), you’ll notice your ingredient list is full of plant names. But let’s face it, these little beauty potions can be pricey. Thankfully it’s not difficult to create your own homemade beauty products using common herbs and essential oils. It doesn’t take a huge expense to ensure you have beautiful, healthy skin and hair.

Rosemary

It’s no secret why many natural brands make rosemary shampoo – a rinse made from this herb adds luster to dark hair and strengthens and smooths damaged hair shafts. Check out EcoSalon’s DIY recipe for rosemary shampoo or make a strong rosemary tea for an after-shampoo rinse.

Chamomile and Thyme

infused into a strong tea make a great and gentle cleanser for oily skin. Pour a liter of this tea into your bath to help clear up body blemishes, not to mention the relaxation…ahhhhh!

Lavender

is a favorite herb of many natural skin care products, but why not make your own? Lavender is soothing and antiseptic, so it’s a great solution for burns, psoriasis, infections and sensitive skin in general. Make a spritzer with strong lavender tea, or a small spray bottle filled with distilled water and a few drops of lavender oil (start with a low dilution, then keep adding drops until you find the strength that’s right for you). And because lavender is a natural mood lifter, using this spray will make you smile and that’s definitely a key to beauty.

Rosewater

You can pick up a bottle of rosewater at a Middle Eastern market, or a rose aromatherapy spray from the natural market (Heritage Products makes my favorite), but if you’ve got a rose garden and the DIY inclination, simply make your own. Since ancient times, rosewater has been used as a gentle astringent and is anti-inflammatory. Use with a cotton swab as a toner or spritz onto your face a few times a day. And don’t forget, you’ll smell great!

Neem

is one of the big guns of the herbal world. Because it’s anti-bacterial, neem oil is used to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, and it has a strong, garlic-type smell, so it may not be part of your daily skin care routine, but it’s good to have around for when you really need the stronger stuff.

Comfrey

with it’s big, soft leaves beckons us to use it. It is a well known herb for healing blemishes and repairing damaged skin. To make your own comfrey oil, stuff a jar of olive oil with comfrey leaves and let sit for 6 weeks. You can then use this oil on dry hands, chapped lips, scrapes and burns, or even eczema. If you’re really DIY, melt some beeswax or cocoa butter with the comfrey oil to make a salve of thicker consistency.

Sage

Got oily skin? Then listen up. Sage (yup, the kind you grow for cooking) is astringent, so a strong tea made of sage and mixed with a bit of witch hazel or apple cider vinegar serves as a great daily toner. Or if you want, simply use the plain tea as a daily facial rinse.

Evening Primrose

You can find the oil in bottles or capsules at any natural market. Evening primrose oil contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that is unfortunately not produced by your body, but which promotes healthy, rejuvenated skin. Take the oil both internally and use topically on your skin to firm and hydrate your skin, help heal blemishes and reduce signs of lines and wrinkles.

Henna

Well known as a natural way to become a little more of a redhead, henna powder is a great way to add shine and protection to your hair.  If you’re looking for the shine without the reddish tint, go for “neutral henna,” which is actually the plant Cassia obovata, but conditions and nourishes the hair just the same.

Basil

is particularly useful if you live in a polluted area and your skin has lost its luster, crush a handful of basil leaves and pour a cup of hot water over them to make a strong tea. Once this brew has cooled, splash your face with it as a detoxifying, circulation-promoting toner. Without drying off, apply moisturizer.

Turmeric

is a tricky one, simply because it will temporary tinge your skin yellow, but it is a great cleanser and adds a lot of moisture to your skin. Read more about turmeric here.

Seaweed

You can bypass the expensive seaweed wraps at the spa and give yourself a simple facial at home. Sea vegetables are not only nutritious for the body, but because of their high mineral content and softening properties, are very nourishing for the skin. Buy some nori sheets (the same kind you’d use for making sushi), quickly dampen them with water and place them on your face for a moisturizing mask. You may want to keep spritzing to prevent the nori from drying out. Remove after 15-20 minutes and voila, you’re a mermaid!

Aloe Vera

Aloe is well known for treating burns and scrapes, but you can use it on any irritated skin. A face mask made of aloe, honey and kelp will greatly soothe and moisturize your skin. You can buy the gel in stores but it’s always best if you have a plant to ensure purity. At the very least, read the ingredients and make sure your aloe gel doesn’t contain any of these common cosmetic toxins.

Geranium

The essential oil of this common garden flower is used in many cosmetic products for balancing skin and hair. If your skin is oily, simply add 2-3 drops of geranium oil to a bowl of water and splash your face. For dry, sensitive skin make a healing oatmeal-geranium mask out of oatmeal, water, a teaspoon of melted honey, and 4-5 drops of geranium oil.

Burdock root oil

(shown at top)

is an ancient healer for dry, itchy scalp. It can help get rid of dandruff and keep the skin on your scalp healthy. For best results, rub a little bit into your scalp after you wash your hair and while your hair is still damp. Modern studies have shown that burdock root oil contains essential fatty acids and phytosterols, which promote hair growth and a healthy scalp.

Take charge of your beauty with nature’s finest ingredients – the plants! And don’t forget, beauty does radiate from the inside out and a healthy diet and lifestyle is essential. Enjoy – and be beautiful!

Images: Rubber Slippers in Italy, dnak, matsuyuki, mezuni, Lilly, Lida Rose, wikipedia, Smoobs, missycorley, Tanaka Juuyoh, yimhafiz, The County Clerk, Just Food Now, miheco, titanium22, lizzlebob