There are times when I wish I had the knowledge I have now, back when I was starting my family. It seems that parents are so much more informed environmentally than they were even 13 years ago when I had my first child. There was no internet when I had my son. What I learned was from books I read or people I talked to. There was no emphasis on cloth diapers or BPA issues. It’s wonderful to see parents of young children and babies making the conscious effort to teach their kids from the start how to live “green”. These children will grow up understanding that our earth is precious and worth saving from the beginning.
Tag Archive: green living
A/C Free in Chicago
What started as a joke with our neighbor has grown into a tiny obsession in our home. Months ago on a warm spring day our neighbor chatted with my husband Andy and I about the surrounding homes running their AC full tilt so early in the season. Since our windows were open, we could hear the incessant humming of the machines. Who wouldn’t long for the cool, refreshing breeze wafting into their home after a long winter we wondered.
Once the conversation turned to greening our lives, I made a wager with my neighbor that he would turn on his AC before us.
Healthy School Lunches: Sometimes It Takes Bribery
Over the last couple years, I’ve gradually been going green, and it’s not until recently that our efforts have been more aggressive. However, with that said, I’ve always taken time to stop and explain to my children every step we are taking, all the whys and all the hows. My children are 12, 10, and 7, so there is quite a bit they understand and can participate in. Plus, I’ve always been the kind of Mom that feels the more communication between my children and me, the better.
When I was in college last year–attempting to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up–not having to make cold lunches every morning for my kids was great.
Going Green For The Health of It
Although we lived in the city, I grew up in a pretty simple family compared to many of our neighbors and friends. There was no microwave, dishwasher or cable television in our home. No packaged cereals, boxed juice or single serving lunch snacks for school.
We grew and made nearly all our own food. My father was trained in horticulture and he studied bio-dynamic and organic farming in his spare time. He put all his knowledge to work on our gigantic family garden. I can’t tell you how many times I cringed at the sight of another soggy sprouts, cucumber and tomato sandwich in my elementary school lunch!
Buy Green, Save Green
When it comes to going green we all want to save our green and not lose it! It can seem as though organic food is more expensive, and frequently people use the excuse of not buying organic food because it costs more. There are simple ways to go green in this department without breaking the bank! Recently, MSN Health even reported how to eat organic on a $7 a day budget, so it can be done! Here are some simple pointers that won’t take too long and can save you money and help you buy organic.
♦Choose to buy organic on some items like milk, cheese or meat.
Homemade Bread: Your First Step to Sustainability!
I think one of the best things in the world is homemade bread. I love making it. Baking it. Smelling it. Tasting it fresh out of the oven! Here on our little homestead, homemade bread has become a staple. Baking your own bread is one of the best places to start on a “going-green” journey. In baking your own bread, you are not only guaranteed that the ingredients are wholesome, but when healthy bread at the store costs nearly $5.00 a loaf, baking your own makes good economic sense. It’s also another way not to have to rely on the grocery store so much.
