Written on
August 20, 2008 by
SusanC
I can vividly recall riding the school bus when I was a kid. I remember the ride as being very long, very boring, and very stinky. And while I was probably exaggerating the long and boring parts (my ride lasted about 15 minutes) I now know that I wasn’t imagining the stink…
A recent Yale University study found that children who ride a school bus are exposed to up to 15 times more particulate pollution than average. Researchers estimate that this increased exposure is due to the idling and queuing of school buses. In other words, as school buses line up and wait in front of the school, they fill up with harmful (and stinky) particulate pollution that will stay with the kids throughout their ride.
Continue Reading »
When we had a difficult time finding an eco friendly kids summer program this year, we were amazed. There are your standard programs: arts, sports, dance, music and even How to be a Pirate or How to be a Princess camp. My husband and I would look at each other mystified- where is the How to be a Good Person camp? Dead end after dead end, I felt exhausted trying to find a program and started to wonder if I was the only one looking for more.
One night at dinner, I vented my frustration and elaborated on what had been brewing in my head.
Continue Reading »
I’ve found there are several aspects of my journey towards going green that require me to slow down my usual crazy, hectic pace, and, I admit, this isn’t always easy. When you decide to do things like prepare your meals from scratch, grow a garden, make your own yogurt or dry your clothes outside on a clothesline, you have to A) plan ahead and B) allow yourself the time to accomplish these things. This doesn’t always make for an easy transition in a world where time is money and we often over-schedule our lives.
When I first started drying our laundry (everything from cloth napkins to clothes, linens to cloth diapers) on a clothesline this summer, I was frustrated with how much time it took, specifically to hang everything up.
Continue Reading »
In the spring the boys and I started organic gardening at Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo’s The Edible Garden. Since then we have spent every Wednesday morning with our friends at the organic garden learning, farming, eating and weeding. Each task brings a new invaluable experience. The latest being the revelation that putting your hands in the dirt while gardening relieves depression!
Kord Staley, one of our farmer friends at the Edible Garden, shared this with me after seeing my big satisfied smile while I sat and picked weeds and it makes complete sense. Here I have been researching natural ways to cure my intermittent depression.
Continue Reading »
Written on
August 18, 2008 by
SusanC
It is the time of year for summer splashes in crystal blue water, lazy sun induced naps, and barefoot running through green blades of grass to come to an end. The sounds of summer are fading as we enter the new season of clouded skies, yearnings for peaks at the sun, and grass that sometimes matches the color of the soil in which it is planted. Many of you have already sent your children back to school while others are still in the planning stages. Care has been given to choosing appropriate clothing, finding great deals on school supplies, and making sure the first day of school goes as planned.
Continue Reading »
These great reads made their way into our minds and we couldn’t keep them to ourselves:
Talking about the latest in toy safety at Grist.
Getting a fresh perspective on reducing, reusing and recycling at Recycle Your Day.
Reading about new ideas on greening your family reunion at Green Baby Guide.
Speaking up about greening up your lady business at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.
Learning about more great ideas about canning your food, from our newest contributor–Chez Artz.
Which links rang your bell this week?
Continue Reading »
Before children, I used to love to curl up with a couple of favorite magazines and a Coke and laze away an afternoon. Important part of that sentence – “before children.” Now, mmm, I don’t have the time. Yeah, right, I would get an opportunity to “laze away an afternoon.” That would be nice. Now, I’m lucky if I can get through 3 pages of advertisements, let alone any substance, before some small body hurls itself at me, demanding attention, and ripping any wayward page that just happens to get in the way. Or dripping Otter Pop stickiness all over the only page I wanted to read.
Continue Reading »
A Going Green Checklist:
- Learning to conserve energy? Check.
- Reusable shopping bags? Check.
- Shopping local? Check.
- Making greener choices at the market? Check.
- Using greener cleaning products or natural alternatives at home? Check.
- Reducing water waste? Check.
- Growing our own produce? Check.
- Driving less? Check.
- Treating my body like an environment worth preserving? Ummmm……check?
Did that last one stump you? In all your efforts to go green in your life, home, and community, have you forgotten something very important? We spend lots of time greening up our homes, our communities, and learning to eat better. We make choices everyday to put the environment first and preserve nature and habitats.
Continue Reading »
Soon after my oldest son decided he was done breastfeeding, he began to have fits in his sleep where he would thrash back and forth and bang his arms and legs against the crib. After receiving my videotape of Jack sleeping, Dr. Weissbluth assured me that Jack would not hurt himself and we continued to monitor him closely. He recommended a pediatric dermatologist that informed us how to change our daily routines and environment to accommodate Jack’s newly diagnosed eczema. I followed every single one. This is where I first got up close and personal with organic products. Remove everything artifical in everything!
Continue Reading »
Birthday parties are all too often lavish and excessive, even when they are for small children. Sometimes it seems like it is a competition for parents. Who can throw the biggest most lavish birthday party ever?! The birthday boy or girl usually ends up with too many toys that they don’t need. They probably aren’t the best quality, and they might be hard or even impossible to recycle. The sheer amount of waste generated at these parties might be staggering with disposables for eating and drinking as well as party streamer, deflated balloons, excessive toy packaging, and wrapping paper. Add this mountain of garbage to the stress created by all day sugar highs and the inevitable sugar blues that follow and it is easy to see why many parents are making the switch to greener, lower impact birthday parties.
Continue Reading »
