Moms Living Green

Eco-Healthy Baby Books

2008-07-28T05:16:00.001-07:00

Good Morning Moms,

Today I'd like to introduce all of you to a book I have recently completed called, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan, CEO of the nation's leading nonprofit for children's environmental health - Healthy Child Healthy World / www.healthychild.org.

I understand that for many moms out there finding time to read is a pure luxury. However, I would strongly recommend this book, not as one to cozy up with on your end-of-summer vacation, but as an excellent reference to all things green in your home and for your child. This book is packed with useful information on topics ranging from green cleaning products to heathy food (both for your child and our environment), gardens, toys, clean air and water, pets and even positive activism (even if just within your own family.) I found that this book is better than many others available on these topics because it serves as a true reference with many additional resources and websites listed. Also, unlike many other "green living" books, this one focuses beyond the basics of raising an eco-healthy baby (cloth diapers, organic baby food and FSC certified wood toys) and encourages building a healthy, environmentally friendly community for your children in which they are active participants.

My other favorite eco-baby book is called The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu. It's lighter, easier reading and a great resource for those who are just awakening to the "green" lifestyle during a pregnancy. It's focus is more specifically on preparing your baby's first environment (starting with the health of the mother), but is none the less a good resource filled with additional resources and websites.

My main criticism of both of these books is that they are, well, books. Having participated in writing a textbook myself, I know how long the publication process can be. Reference books are often outdated before they are even published, and of course require paper and fossil fuels to produce. So, though there are hundreds of "green living and green baby" books out there, buy just these two. Then, go to the websites they suggest, and continue to read this blog and other green blogs for updated information on all things green rather than filling your shelves with out-of-date books that require valuable resources to produce.

I hope you're enjoying the summer green mamas!
Jessica

Eco-Healthy Childcare

2008-06-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Environmental Council has recently begun certifying childcare centers that take steps to make their environments healthier for children. Currently, certified centers are mainly in Oregon and California with plans to expand nationally over the next couple of years. Until your child's program can be officially certified, check out their checklist and recommend these 25 steps your child's childcare provider. The list focuses on simple, low cost steps such as the use of non-toxic techniques to limit pests, use of biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products, use of low-VOC paints, not allowing cars to idle, techniques to minimize lead and mercury exposure, elimination of wall to wall carpets, use of non-toxic art supplies, and recycling. In addition to these suggestions, my daughter's daycare provider is very focused on feeding the children healthy food. They feed the children mainly organic, unprocessed food and very little sugar. I have noticed that the children tend to be healthier, calmer, better behaved and more focused than your average gaggle of 2-5 year olds. And, now that this list is available from the Oregon Environmental Council, I will suggest these ideas to our childcare director to make my daughter's daily environment healthier for her now and in the future. After all, my goal is to protect planet Earth so that she has somewhere safe and healthy to live as she, and her children and all future generations grow up.

Important News

2008-05-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

Good Evenings Green Mamas!

I have two important bits of news tonight that I hope that all of you will join me in supporting. The first is that the Senate is scheduled to vote in June on some crucial global warming legislation. I hope that all of you will join me in emailing or calling your Senator to ask him or her to vote for this important bill. For more information, go to this link on the Environmental Defense website to learn more about the bill, the key swing voting Senators and how to take action. It will take only a few minutes, and one day you can tell your kids that you were responsible for saving the planet! Cool.

The second hot topic is that Moms Living Green will be joining forces with a new and very media savvy non-profit called the Ecomom Alliance to use the buying power of moms (and dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and teens, kids and friends everywhere) to sway large corporations to go green! (And, I mean really go green, not just fill our lives with fake green marketing or more "green" stuff that we don't want or need!) I will be becoming an Ecomom Leader once we've finally settled in Houston, and until then I'm calling on all of you to join the Ecomom Organization so that we can quickly build enough members to push some large companies in the right direction. When you click to join you can also make a donation to support our work, but that is optional. Check it out!

The Dirty Dozen

2008-05-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

As I write, I'm listening to a thunderstorm outside. It sounds like it might be a pretty big one, but after several months of drought here in North Carolina, I'm grateful for the rain. And thanks to the Spring rains, we're now finding a bounty of beautiful, and delicious, veggies at our local farmer's market. I would strongly encourage all of you to spend some time finding and going to a farmer's market near you. You can find farmer's markets in your area by checking out the Local Harvest website.

We have also been CSA members for the past 2 seasons. (You can find out more information about CSA's in your area on the Local Harvest website as well.) When you join a CSA, you essentially join a local farm. You pay for a season's worth of veggies (approximately April/ May through October/ November.) Then, each week, you pick up a box of delicious, organic, local produce that will feed your family, and you can freeze and save any extras for the winter. Yum! We have used Tantre Farm in Ann Arbor, MI and Timberwood Organics in Chapel Hill, NC both are great!

Pound for pound, kids eat a lot more than adults. So, to keep our kids healthy and to minimize their exposure to pesticides (which can cause cancer, are neurotoxins, and may have other health effects that we don't yet know about), it's best to feed them tons of ORGANIC fruits and veggies. Plus, by feeding our kids organics, we also help to protect the health of farm workers, and the soil and water environments of the farm and the local community. But, sometimes, organic fruits and veggies are more expensive. To keep your family budget in check, get your organic produce at local farmer's markets, and when you have to choose which fruits and veggies to buy organic, prioritize "The Dirty Dozen." These 12 fruits and veggies have the highest pesticide load when grown conventionally. So, if you have to pick and choose what to buy organic, chose these... Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Lettuce, Grapes, Pears, Spinach, and Potatoes.

Conversely, the fruits and veggies that are the "Cleanest" (lowest in pesticide load) are Onions, Avocadoes, Frozen Sweet Corn, Pineapples, Mangoes, Frozen Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Kiwis, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli, and Eggplant. So, those are OK to eat even if conventionally grown. (Source: foodnews.org)

Mark your calendars to poke around your local farmer's market this week, and make a list of "The Dirty Dozen" to take with you on your local shopping trip. And, hey, green mamas... don't forget your re-useable grocery bag!

Have a great week green mamas!
Jessica

A Clean and Healthy Bathroom

2008-03-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Green Mamas!

I get lots of questions about the best eco-friendly cleaning products out there... here is a fabulous article
from Grist that does an excellent review of several green bathroom cleaning products! Check it out! But, also do read the comments and do your own research too. (FYI, Borax is very toxic to kids and pregnant women... so, keep out of reach and don't use while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.) The Environmental Working Group is another great source for toxins in everyday products.
Scrub a dub dub.

Take care,
Jessica

Green Light

2008-03-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Ecomamas!

So sorry that I have been sporadic lately with the posting. Life has been busy here... started a new job, trying to sell a house, got the flu... twice! Normal fun things that all of us go through are slowing me down this month!

In the interest of keeping it simple, I wanted to bring up a simple idea this week for greening your home.

Last weekend began daylight savings time... meaning that we now have more evening daylight.

On Sunday morning just after the time change, my daughter was, for the first time in years, awoken by the sun. We actually heard her lying in her bed and saying, "Mom... turn off the light!" It was hilarious!

Now is a great time to begin to use more natural light in your day. Open the blinds, use candles at dinner, play with your kids outside or picnic in the evenings. (A great excuse to make sandwiches and salads for dinner... saving electricity and mom's energy!) CFL's and other high efficiency light bulbs are great... but nothing beats using the good old fashioned light of the sun!

And remember to simply turn off lights in rooms when you're not using them. Teach your kids too while they'll still listen to you.

Let some natural light in your life green mamas!
Take care,
Jessica

Voting to Protect the Planet

2008-02-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

Since Super Tuesday is this week, I thought that I would spend a few minutes thinking about which candidates' positions would be best for the planet...

First of all, I urge all of you to check out this chart at Grist Magazine.

Grist does a great job at discussing the positions of the remaining candidates on many facets of the Climate Crisis.

The most important factors in my opinion after looking at the scientific recommendations of what will be needed to avert a major global warming crisis are these...

1. Globally, we must lower carbon emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
2. A Cap and Trade system to do so seems the most likely to be politically possible in this country, but a carbon tax would be much more efficient according to most economists.
3. On fuel economy standards... the higher the better in my book. Why don't we just jump to 100 mpg and level the playing field with the rest of the world?
4. Renewable Energy: We need a market stimulus of a required 25% of the country's energy portfolio ASAP, and we need to fund R&D in this field in the billions!
5. Biofuels: Scientifically this is tricky as to effectiveness. Cellulosic ethanol offers the most promise, but can't yet be produced on an industrial scale. I support R&D funding in this area, but not over-subsidizing corn.
6. "Clean Coal": I would support this if it could work, but so far there are no indications that it will. And, coal-to-liquid fuels would actually worsen the carbon emissions of our fuel.
7. Nuclear: This could be a useful last-resort source of energy, But, there are a lot of problems with storage and safe disposal. It's likely that renewable energy and efficiency options would be much cheaper.

And, finally, whoever becomes president will not only need to deal with this issue at home, but will need to be able to be persuasive abroad as we must work with the developing world to truly deal with this global problem. And, this is not an issue to be seen in isolation. If a "green" economy becomes a goal for this nation, it could also be an outstanding source of economic stimulus and job creation. So, the issue of climate change is inseparable from the economy, poverty, and foreign relations.

Based on the work Grist has done in looking at the candidates' positions, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are essentially tied on the Democratic side, either would be a huge step forward on this issue for the nation. (Mike Gravel's positions are also very strong, but as far as I know he is no longer in the race.) On the Republican side, John McCain shows the most leadership on this issue. But, his targets are not strong enough to avert severe climate damage, he does not support renewable energy strongly enough, and his support for coal-based energy and fuels could be dangerous.

Now... get out there and vote green mamas! The next generation is counting on us to solve this crisis, and we can't do it alone. It will take real leadership from our nation!

Jessica

Sustainable Shopping... Part 1

2008-01-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

Moms through the ages have engaged in both recreational shopping and shopping out of necessity. In other words, as soon as we drop the kids off or are heading home from work, we have to shop for milk, dinner, diapers, cupcakes for 60 tomorrow... whatever. And, when we get a free Saturday afternoon (such as a "dad-urday" afternoon), we like to hit the stores for some retail shoe shopping therapy!

So, though many would argue that shopping in and of itself is not really sustainable... it can be necessary, and it is a big part of our culture.

Moms who are trying to live a more sustainable life should first consider the sustainability of their consumer habits. It is important to generally shop less if we are to build a more sustainable culture. How many pairs of shoes, TV's, new ipods, jeans, handbags, etc. do you really need? I will leave that to each of you to consider, and I would challenge you to think of all of your purchases in longer terms in 2008. If, for example, you do need a new handbag, toy for your kid, couch, car, whatever... could you buy one that will last longer, was made locally, is more efficient, uses less water, is made from sustainably sourced materials, or comes in less packaging? I'm trying this year to, as contradictory as this might sound, make my shopping more sustainable.

To start off we're going to talk about tea.

I recently moved from Ann Arbor, MI which is full of people who are trying to make their lives more sustainable. When people live more sustainably the concept of sustainability bleeds into their businesses as well. So, I thought I would introduce you to a local business in Ann Arbor, that is taking the concept of sustainability and increasingly applying it to the reality of their business. The ideas presented here could be useful in many businesses, large or small. So, as a shopper, begin to look for them when you're buying everything from pacifiers to playpens, from car seats to cleaning products, from tomatoes to chocolate, and everything in between.

The company is called Arbor Teas.

As you have probably guessed, they sell tea. Now tea, in and of itself is no different from many consumer products. People buy it and consume it because they like it. It comes in packaging, it is bought, used and discarded. But, Arbor Teas has gone out of its way to make sure that their teas leave as small of an impact as possible.

They start by buying (and then selling to you) tea that is certified organic and most of it is fair trade certified. Thus, their teas have been farmed in such a way that is more beneficial to both the environment where it is farmed, and the local workers who farm it. Now, tea is not grown in the US, so there is some impact in the transportation of the tea from the village in India, China, Africa, Japan, etc. to you, but the overall impact is minimized by the organic farming method, and the fair trade treatment and payment of the farm workers.

Next, Arbor Teas has reconsidered the packaging of their teas. They teamed up with students at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources to minimize the carbon footprint of their packaging by converting from tin-plated steel canisters to canisters made of parchment-lined paperboard, which generate less than one-fifth of the carbon emissions of tin-plated steel canisters. And, these containers can still be re-used to extend their lifespan. Additionally, if you buy a gift certificate to Arbor Teas, you can have it sent paperless by email to the recipient. Cool!

Arbor Teas aggressively recycles many of their processing materials. Even packing peanuts that are used to protect the teas as they are mailed to customers are recycled. And, if you live in Ann Arbor, your tea will be delivered to you by bike... further cutting transport emissions.

Finally for the emissions that they can not reduce in absolute terms, such as delivery flights, ground transportation, facility electricity, etc., they have opted to either purchase renewable energy credits from their local electricity company or to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits through Carbonfund.org.

So, kudos to Arbor Teas, and as a green living mom and shopper, you can take these ideas and take a look at local and corporate business in your community and ask how they are reducing their emissions. If they have not begun to look at their emissions, packaging, recycling, water and energy usage, materials sourcing, organic farming, etc. make some suggestions to improve your community businesses and support those businesses like Arbor Teas that are actively greening their products and operations.

Have a great green week mamas!

And, if any of you are shopping for a house in 2008... check out this green energy showplace! Hurry! Because as energy prices continue to soar... this one will be snapped right up!

Jessica

Go Green This Year! Start with a Reusable Shopping Bag

2008-01-13T16:41:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year Green Moms!

This year, look here for easy ways to go green daily in our busy lives. Every change makes a difference!
Start by switching to reusable bags for all of your trips to the grocery store, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, the library, the Farmer's Market, even the mall. If you don't need a bag when you buy just a few small things, just tell the cashier that you don't need a bag. If you're buying more or larger things, carry your own bag. I have been testing this new habit for several months now, and though all reusable bags work, my favorite is the green one pictured above. (It comes in several colors.) It's called the Granite Gear Air Grocery Bag. You can get it at REI.com for $17.00. It's my favorite because it holds a lot, it's very strong, and it easily stuffs back down to a tiny bag that fits in your purse, so it's always there when you need it. The downside is its price compared with other reusable bags. Most grocery stores now sell them for just $1 or so. The one pictured above is available at Walmart for just $1. It is made of recycled materials and can be recycled!

So, start the new year right. The next time someone says, "Paper or plastic?" Say, "Neither, thanks... I have my own bag." Try it for 2 weeks and you'll be hooked!

Thanks to Kathryn in Houston, TX for help with this MLG Action!

Happy New Year Green Moms!
Jessica

You Tube Debut!

2007-12-05T05:38:00.000-08:00

Check out our You Tube debut!

This video will jump start your family *Living Green*!

Enjoy and share with all of the young families in your life. I'd greatly appreciate any comments on the video, or ideas for future videos.

Thanks green mamas!

Jessica

Finding Eco-Quality on the Web

2007-11-29T17:11:00.000-08:00

This week I'd like to point you to some excellent sites out there for finding all sorts of quality, environmentally-friendly products and services. These websites hand-select vendors, or rely on the input of others who have used them, to find products or services that are truly green. These sites look past green marketing to find products and services that save energy, are less toxic, save water, and are high quality.

Take some time to look them over... you may just find a few ideas for your holiday gift lists!

EVO
Low Impact Living
The Green Guide
Great Green Goods (a shopping blog)
Great Green Baby (a shopping blog for baby stuff)

Happy holiday shopping green mamas!

Jessica

Killer Toys!

2007-11-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Well, the holidays are fast-approaching, and I have begun to think about where to find gifts that are fun, kid-friendly, imagination enhancing and most of all... SAFE! It seems like we can't turn on the TV these days without hearing about another toy recall: lead, poison, drugs, you name it! This season, let's work together to support small companies that are both eco-friendly and kid-friendly. Here are some of my favorite sources. Let me hear from you about yours!

Greenfeet
I really like this source for all sorts of gift-giving (and getting! :))
The owner also produces an excellent podcast, called More Hip Than Hippie which is broadcast weekly. Learn more about it at their website! And, tell them I sent you!

Magic Cabin
This is a great new source for me that I saw on Martha Stewart's show last week. There are some excellent choices and ideas here!

Taraluna
Taraluna is another source for many types of gifts. The owner is on the greenbusiness listserve that I follow. Her store provides great customer service! If you visit them, tell them I sent you!

Tree City Diapers
This store is local to us here in Ann Arbor. It has a wonderful selection of all things for your little ones, plus slings, cloth diapers, nursing stuff, etc.
They also always provide great customer service! One of my favorite baby gifts is the kleen kanteen sippy cup... you'll find it here!

Other sources that look interesting, but that I have not tried personally...

Myriad

Koukla

Bella Luna Toys

Fat Brain Toys

ImagiPlay

Pristine Planet

Enjoy shopping with these eco-friendly and kid-safe retailers!

Have a great day!
Jessica

Want to Buy a Green House?

2007-10-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Isn't this just the most adorable stucco and limestone home. Inside you will find a chic limestone fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, four spacious bedrooms, four designer bathrooms, plus a bonus room with a tree-top balcony. It's in a lovely neighborhood in the western hills of Austin with a distant view of the Lake Travis dam. Move into this home and your children will walk to exemplary schools and you'll end each evening with a glass of wine on your upper balcony listening to the sounds of laughter echoing in the canyon. Just beyond your backyard is a greenbelt filled with trails for biking, running or nature walks.

Oh, and did I mention that in the bones of this home are some rock star "green" features!

The most important "green" features in this home will keep you cool in hot Texas summers without breaking the bank as the costs of energy continue to skyrocket! In fact, this home can produce much of the energy that it needs with free, clean energy from the sun! It also sparkles with a high tech radiant barrier and extra-high ceilings to keep it cool even without AC! And, for those days and nights when AC is a must... this house can cool only the rooms that you're in with 3 separate zones.

Beyond the cool factor... this home also has high efficiency lighting and appliances. The coolest thing about the most modern green homes like this one, is that your lifestyle is actually improved by living in them. With this home, you'll be saving the planet, saving money, and you won't be sacrificing a thing.

On the surface, this home looks like the modern, hip, high fashion home that it is... only you will know all of its hidden, high tech, planet-saving features. Well, that is until you start bragging about them to all of your neighbors, then they will be racing to keep up with you.

Come on Clark Kent... this Superman home is waiting for you!

Now that you just can't wait to live in this fabulous green Austin home... check out the listing and give my realtor, Maryann Pyle, a call (512-422-6207) she'd love to show you around. By the way, she's working on her EcoBroker certification, and is a great resource for green homes all over Austin!

Take care green mamas,

Jessica

Everything's Cool: Step It Up

2007-10-11T08:01:00.001-07:00

How to be an Armchair Activist (aka SuperMom!)

2007-10-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Today, I'd like to take the opportunity to talk to all of you about becoming a more active citizen. Here's the problem. Global Warming is here, and we must deal with it, mitigate it, and adapt to it. But, we can't do it alone. Each of us must take the small and large daily steps to minimize our own contribution. We have talked about a lot of these steps here, and we'll continue to do that each week. But, it must be said that individual action will not stop global warming.

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. As much as I'd like to think that everyone is just going to jump in and do their part, we don't have enough time to even educate everyone about this problem, never mind teach them how to respond. So, greenhouse gas emissions reductions must be MANDITORY. At the end of the day, emitting greenhouse gases must become expensive if all people and businesses are going to stop doing so. This has to happen in each city, state, and nation. Right now the US and China are neck and neck as global leaders of polluting emissions, and those of us in the US are far higher emitters per capita. To begin to attack this problem, all of us must support policies that will bring us closer to mandatory reductions. And, as the Artic ice (aka "the canary in the coal mine") is telling us loudly and clearly this week, these emissions reductions must begin now.

Here's how to help shape policy right now:

1. Know your legislators. Go to my website and click on the "Congress and State" link. Find out who your legislators are and call them or read their websites to find out what their positions are on climate change issues. Get to know them, call them, attend their events. No matter which party they belong to, they are just people, and will often listen to the squeakiest wheels, and those who financially support their campaigns.

2. Be supportive of good policies, and actively fight poor ones. From everything that I have learned about climate change policy, there are a few good ones that stand out:
Mandatory Caps on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: This idea can allow nations and the global business community to use innovation to lower their emissions to the mandatory level. If they can innovate beyond the mandatory level, they can sell "carbon credits" on the open market to those companies that cannot reach their mandatory limit, who will be forced to buy credits. Cap and Trade programs work best if the caps are mandatory, economy-wide, strong and scientifically based, steadily lowered over time, and if the initial credits are auctioned off rather than simply given away to the most polluting firms by the government. Look for those key factors when expression support or opposition to "Cap and Trade" policies
Higher Fuel Economy Standards: Not only must we express our opinions to Congress and other legislators, but we must speak directly to leaders of companies, especially those that are large and global. Large, global companies have the financial power to lobby legislators to write laws that will make it easier for them to do business. For example, all of the major automakers, including Toyota (maker of the Prius), are actively lobbying Congress right now to weaken the fuel economy standards in the coming energy bill. They claim that meeting the proposed standards will be impossible from an engineering perspective. However, that is simply not true since the standard in question, 35mpg for cars and trucks, is already in place in Europe and Japan, and will be achieved in China in 2009. (See graph on page 9 of this report.) The main problem is that Americans prefer larger cars, so it becomes an economic issue for those companies who want to make those large cars that we prefer to drive. Well, as citizens, we can choose smaller cars, or companies can be forced to innovate in order to create larger cars that still meet the standards using plug-in hybrid technology and other new technologies. When we make these standards mandatory we encourage and reward important innovations that will otherwise not be rewarded by the current market in which environmental issues are primarily seen as externalities.
A Tax or Fee on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Most economists agree that this is the fastest, most effective, and simplest way to move us into a post-fossil fuel economy. Right now it seems to be politically unpopular. But, that is quickly changing. Jump on the bandwagon for a Carbon Tax, and we'll very quickly reward innovation and tax behaviors that will lead to the destruction of our children's futures. For more about the economics of the Carbon Tax, visit this website. And, don't worry, it's not going to "wreck the economy." The more quickly we learn that lowering greenhouse gas emissions does not have to destroy our economic prosperity, the more quickly we will push to save our habitat.

3. Sign up for Automatic Alerts. It's tough enough to remember when one kid has soccer practice and the other has a doctor's appointment, never mind keeping up with your local, state and national legislative sessions. Let the hard core activists do the work for you, and just throw your voice in the fray at times that are most important to getting things done. Go to my website, and click on the links under "Action Non-Profit Groups." Sign up with these groups, and they will send action alerts right to your email box when important legislation in your area needs a push from you. Also, look for local and regional groups that are working to keep the air and water clean, the parks green, and the children healthy in your neighborhood.

It's that simple. Three steps to save the world for your kids! Don't you feel like SuperMom today!

Thanks,
Jessica
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Power Vampires

2007-09-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

See Smart Home USA

Does it really matter if I unplug my cellphone charger, coffee maker, computer, TV, etc. when they're not on?

Yes!!!!

Power (or energy) vampires are one of my biggest eco-pet peeves! If all of us would just remember (or set up systems to remember for us) to turn things all the way off when they are not in use, we would save a lot of power! And, a lot of money!!! I once calculated that by turning off just my TV, DVD, cable box and stereo and then shutting the power strip that they are all plugged into off (so, all of them are truly OFF and not on standby), I could save about $2000 to send with my daughter when she heads off to college... and, it would have NO EFFECT on my lifestyle.

So, do it today! Eliminate the vampires in your life! :)

Check out these links for more detailed info on energy vampires...

WorldChanging
Grinning Planet
Treehugger

Have a great week!
Jessica
jessica.drummond@momslivinggreen.com

Lazy Composting

2007-09-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! This week we're talking compost. I get questions all of the time about composting. Is it worth it? Is it difficult? Is it messy? My answer is always that it is so easy! And, you will dramatically reduce the amount of trash you send to the landfill (reducing your personal carbon footprint), since Americans throw away 12%-25% of the food we purchase to eat.

The Guide to Lazy Composting...

First of all, we bought a plastic bin with a carbon filter to keep on the kitchen counter. That way for a few days at a time, I can just collect the kitchen scaps as I'm cooking. All kitchen scraps except for meat, dairy, eggs or oil can go into the compost. Vegetable and fruit scaps, peels, rinds, coffee grounds, filters, tea bags, etc. can all be composted. Rachel Ray keeps a "garbage bowl" on her counter when cooking. I do the same thing, it's just a "compost bowl" at our house. To buy one go to this website.

Then, we keep a large trash can with a lid out in the back yard. Every few days, dump the kitchen scraps into the outdoor trash can. Basically compost is just rotten organic material, that becomes a great soil additive for a strong organic garden. Without going into too much detail, you want a balance of carbon, nitrogen, moisture and oxygen. So, practically speaking, you want an approximate balance of "brown" (shredded newspapers, toilet paper rolls, leaves) and "green" material (kitchen scraps, grass clippings.) If you begin your compost in the fall, start with a nice base of leaves from your yard, then just add the kitchen scraps all winter until the compost is ready for your spring garden. When you start again in the spring, add layers of toilet paper rolls or shredded newspaper from time to time to keep your kitchen scraps from getting too moist.

And, that's it!

For another perspective on "lazy composting," check out today's tip from The Green Life.

More Composting Resources:
Compost Guide
EPA's Guide to Composting
TerraCycle (organic fertilizer made and packaged entirely from waste!!!)

Happy Composting!
Hit the farmer's market this fall as often as you can! Winter's coming!

Keep up the great questions. And, check the main website weekly for new links.
Take care ecomamas!
Jessica

Reader Question: A Greener Way to Pick Up Dog Poop

2007-09-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone! This week's question is from Heidi in Ann Arbor. She's begun to compost more and more of her family's waste for her garden. Now she would like to start composting the dog poop that she picks up on her daily walks with her 2 dogs and her toddler. My first thought was to use a child's sand bucket and just "scoop the poop" into it and then dump it in the compost when she returns home. But, when you're trying corral 2 dogs and a stroller, it's tricky to add a sand bucket and a scooper to the mix. So, I came across this excellent post from The Green Life: a pet lover's perspective on living healthy and green. This post is full of resources for biodegradable dog poop bags that can be easily composted along with the dog poop.

Check it out here!

And, as a follow up to last week's post, a reader recommended Trader Joe's liquid laundry detergent. It is concentrated, so the small jug contains many cleaning loads, just be sure not to use too much with each load. It is eco-friendly and at minimum it removes stains as well as regular detergents. Try it!

Have a great week!
Keep sending me your ecomama questions... jessica.drummond@momslivinggreen.com.

Reader Question: Greening your Laundry Detergent

2007-08-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

Our first question comes from Amy in Ann Arbor, MI. She wants to know what laundry detergent to use that is both eco-friendly and can be used with a newborn in her growing family.

First of all, the #1 thing to do to "green" your washing machine is to wash everything in COLD. Most of the energy that is used for washing clothes comes from heating the water, and the vast majority of our homes are supplied by electricity from coal or natural gas-fired power plants which are the most significant source of pollution in our homes.

Here is what else I dug up on eco-friendly laundry...
1. What to avoid to protect the water supply, air quality and human health: petroleum-based chemicals, optical brightners, dyes or artificial fragrances.
2. Instead, look for brands that are biodegradable, non-toxic, vegetable-based cleansers, dye-free, and either fragrance free or fragranced using natural essential oils.

At our house, I use the Whole Foods 365 brand laundry powder, mainly because of its low cost. Admittedly, it doesn't remove all of the tough preschool stains we have around here. But, it won't irritate our skin or eyes, has no chemicals in it that may cause cancer, and won't pollute the environment. None of our old brands cleaned everything perfectly either.

For a home with a new baby, I would recommend using Seventh Generation's Baby Laundry Detergent or their Free and Clear version. Both are similar and are free of dyes and fragrances which can irritate a baby's skin. Just because these detergents are gentle it doesn't mean that they are not effective enough for cleaning all of your family's clothes. There are other "free and clear" laundry detergent brands on the market. But, I cannot confirm that they are not made with petroleum based chemicals. So, though they won't irritate your family's skin, they will pollute our air and water.

Other recommended brands are: Ecover, Sun & Earth, and Natural Choices Home Safe Products.

Also, exchange chlorine bleach (a known carcinogen) for oxygen bleaches, and add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry's rinse cycle instead of using fabric softener.

For more resources on greening your laundry detergent check out these resources:
1. Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin
2. Clean House, Clean Planet: Clean Your House for Pennies a Day The Safe, Non-Toxic Way by Karen Logan
3. Co-op America (details a very inexpensive way to use castille soap to clean your laundry.)
4. The Green Guide (includes user feedback on some eco-friendly laundry detergent brands)
5. The Green Guide (more DIY recipes)

Thanks for the question, Amy!
Look for more info on high efficiency washing machines and how to save energy when drying in a future post.
Keep the questions coming to jessica.drummond@momslivinggreen.com.

Welcome to Moms Living Green!

2007-08-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today I am launching my new website: www.momslivinggreen.com! The website, and associated blog, educational resource and consulting company has grown out of 2 years worth of exhaustive (though by no means all-inclusive) research on climate change (global warming.) At this point, I think I have come to a pretty full understanding of what we will be facing as mothers to young children who will be growing up in an era of climate change. Along the way, I have discovered some unexpected connections between our lives and our environment, lots of mis-information, lots of excellent information, and lots of fun resources, products and forward thinking entrepreneurs and policy-makers. I'm looking forward to your questions, ideas and perspectives, as we raise the next generation... here's to the Green Generation!