Green Child Magazine Summer 2011

Summer 2011

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from our editor....

My soul is full of longing For the secret of the sea, And the heart of the great ocean Sends a thrilling pulse through me.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Ahhh, that time of year again and Henry, I couldn’t have said it better myself! My family and I spent yesterday on Shell Island, a quaint little seven mile stretch of land in between the bay and the gulf in Panama City, Florida.

As I sat in the sand and watched my boys play in the surf, it dawned on me, this is it, this is really all I need, my family and the beauty of mother nature. It was a simple as that. It is my hope that you and your family will also find your happy spot this summer, be it a beach, a state park, a lake, a creek, your unique location where nature’s beauty and the song of your family is all you need.

For those who do not know me, I am the publisher of the parent company of Green Child, Melamy Publishing.

Green Child was literally an idea that woke me up in the middle of the night, I ran to the computer, bought the website and the rest is history.....or just the beginning should I say! Each issue brings more excitement, this issue is no different. We can’t wait for you to take a peek!

As always, we love to hear your feedback, we hope you enjoy our Summer Issue!

Warmest, Amy

Amy Shepherd Smith, Editor advertising@melamy.info Amye King, Art Direction & Design creativedirector@melamy.info cover photo by Melody Abrahamian, Rockin A Photography 2

Cover photo by Rockin’A Photography

I’m Amy by the way, for those of you who have been following Green Child, I am not the editor you are used to seeing. While we send well wishes with our former editor, Danielle, we also welcome our up and coming editor, Amber Maxwell who will join us in the August/September issue. So in the mean time, you got me:)

Features

Children Inspire Design 18 Giving Diapers, Giving Hope 34 HGTV Green Home 54

Articles Watermelon! 17 Keeki... Pure and Simple 22 Kids Are Seeing Green 24 Organic vs. Non-organic 46

EcoFab 4 What’s in Season 9 Recipes 12 Nutritional Nuggets 14 Design 18 Great Stores 30 Book Reviews 42 greenchildmagazine.com

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EcoFab Tooth Tissues

Bean-B-Clean

disposable textured dental wipes specially designed to help remove plaque from your baby and toddler’s teeth and gums. Use Tooth Tissues with confidence because they are all natural, fluoride-free and paraben-free.

The revolutionary scalp massaging brush effective in the fight against Cradle Cap.

LuSa Organics Booty Balm - Diaper rash, cuts, scrapes, drool rash, windburn, sunburn

- try it on any sore or rashy skin. LuSa Organics Baby Juice Just 1 minute. That’s all the time it takes to make a week’s worth of baby wipes to keep your little one clean (and that little bottom free of the synthetic fragrances and preservatives found in so many commercial wipes). Want to waste less and spend less? Then buy your soaps naked! Naked soap is the same as our boxed variety, but delivered without the packaging. No box, no sticker, no waste. Just soap, already naked and ready for the tub. The Sugar Scrub Exfoliates and moisturizes you from shoulders to toes - without the bite of salt. Lusa Baby - Gentle, natural, nourishing. There is nothing better for your little one (except your love.)

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Keeki Pure and Simple

safe, fun colors and we love their natural polish remover!

LAWN by Boon Inc.

The flexible grass blades hold all your just-washed baby accessories. (And whatever else you want.)

Nourish Baby

bottles are 100% bpa free, phthalate free, reusable and recyclable.

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Children in Waiting

What a cute duo! Don’t you want to make them part of your family? This sibling set of two hopes to grow up together in a family that they can call their own. Gabriela is a girly girl who loves to sing, dance and color. She is just like any little girl next door who loves to play with dolls and watch cartoons. Gabriela is healthy and developmentally on target. Albert is making great strides in his development. He is energetic, loving and a real people person. Albert has more challenges to overcome as he is diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Mental Retardation, Horizontal Nystagmus, Developmental Delays, ADHD and Insomnia. He receives Regional Center Services and is making steady progress. This lovely sibling set really enjoys spending time together. They eat well, sleep well and get along well with other. More information can be found here.

Daquane, Tiara, Emani and Nasir are four very close siblings. They take pride in their relationship and bond. They are quick to praise one another and call each other out when warranted. Daquane would like to work with animals when he is older. He enjoys video games and skateboarding.

He loves to read as well. Tiara is great at track and has been active in other sports, including volleyball. She is also a good artist. She is quick to let you know how she is feeling. Emani is very outgoing and enjoys playing with her dolls. She enjoys bike riding, too. Nasir loves art and sports. He has also played softball and soccer.

All of the children require structure, clear rules and expectations, and supervision. They are involved in counseling and psychiatric services to address emotional and behavioral issues. They would benefit from a family that is patient, nurturing, structured and disciplined.

For more information on Daquane, Tiara, Emani and Nasir, contact their worker Jennifer Cranston at (330) 996-1064 or jcranston@summitkids.org.

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Children in Waiting

Austin, born December 2002, has a cleft palate which can make his speech a little difficult to understand. He enjoys school and loves the outdoors. Austin likes working in the yard and playing basketball. He is well mannered and somewhat shy. He enjoys helping others. Austin also likes playing video games.

Tonya, born March 2001, enjoys going to school and loves to read. She is well mannered and very talkative. She is very active and outgoing.Tonya enjoys helping others. Tonya also enjoys watching television and playing video games. She also loves animals.

Patrick, born January 2004, enjoys school and loves the outdoors. Patrick is well mannered and very active. He is small for his age but makes up for it with his outgoing personality. Patrick is talkative and loves to help others. He loves basketball and enjoys playing video games.

Austin, Tonya and Patrick have a close relationship and would like to be placed together. They would like to have a forever family who enjoy outdoor activities and going places. For more information visit www.heartgalleryalabama.com.

Dallas, born March 1997, is an intelligent boy who loves school. Dallas enjoys videos games and drawing. He strives to make good grades so that he can go to college. He would like to be a Hematologist when he grows up so that he can help find a cure for cancer. He is a very caring young man. Dallas has a sister that he must remain in contact with. For more information visit www.heartgalleryalabama.com.

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Deryck, age 15 Colorado

Stay fit and have fun! Deryck loves to play sports, especially football and soccer, and keeping in shape by lifting weights is fun too. Like most teens, he's always up for video games, but when there's options like camping and fishing, they win hands down! Deryck had the opportunity to fly a small airplane and remarked that that event was his greatest memory.

In the eighth grade, Deryck thrives on structure and benefits from counseling, which will need to continue after placement.

Deryck hopes to remain in contact with his brother and his mentor.

His caseworker will consider all family types for him. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related expenses.

For Colorado children, both homestudied and non-homestudied Colorado families are encouraged to inquire; only homestudied families from other states should do so.

Child ID 6234

For more information about Deryck or other waiting children like him, please contact The Adoption Exchange at 800-451-5246 or visit our website at www.adoptex.org.

What’s in Season

by Louise Goldberg RD CSP LD CNSC An Apple A Day Nutrition Consulting www.AnAppleADayNutrition.com 713.478.3823

There are so many options it would be shorter to list what’s NOT in season! Join us on Facebook and tell us what are your favorites? Here are a few of ours:

A sea of colors!

Summer is my favorite time of year for fresh produce. The farmers markets have exploded with their harvest bounty.

Tomatoes: Nothing says summer has arrived better than the bright red of a juice tomato. They are low in calories, an excellent source of Vitamin C and A, and a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and folate. They also contain many cancer fighting compounds. One of these is lycopene, a phytonutrient that has shown protective benefits against colorectal, prostate, breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers. There are several varieties to choose from and are tasty eaten raw in a salad or sautéed in a ragu.

What’s in Season?

Cucumbers: While it may not be THE most nutrient dense produce, the cucumbers health benefits go beyond vitamins. They are high in vitamin C and caffeic acid which helps soothe irritated skin and decrease fluid retention. They also have a high water content, which makes it crisp and refreshing even when it is hot outside. You can stay ‘cool as a cucumber’ if you eat them for a snack or mix thin slices into an unsweetened non-dairy yogurt with chopped dill for a rich tzatziki dip.

Blueberries: Off the chart when it comes to how good these berries are for your health. The phytonutrient, anthocyanin, that gives them their blue color has demonstrated anti-aging properties and cancer fighting benefits. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and fiber, as well as manganese, which helps develop bones and metabolize protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Not to mention, they are just plain fun to pick and eat straight off the bushes.

Check out www.PickYourOwn.org to find a farm near you to get a bucket!

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Cucumber, Tomato, Red Onion, and Basil Salad 1 English cucumber (has fewer seeds), peeled 3-4 Roma tomatoes, cut in half, seeds and juice removed Red onion, sliced thinly or chopped fine 3-4 Basil leaves ½ Tablespoon White Wine Vinegar ~1 Tablespoon Olive Oil Coarse Sea Salt White Pepper Slice cucumber and tomato lengthwise and then again across the thin strips so you end up with small cubes about the same size. Add to bowl. Slice the red onion as thin as possible. How much you add is at your taste discretion! Add to bowl.

Roll up basil leaves and thinly slice (chiffonade). Add to bowl Drizzle olive oil and vinegar evenly over the top of the salad.

Toss lightly with spoon to distribute. Salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Muffins 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 2 Tablespoons Soy margarine 1 ripe banana, mashed up 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup non-dairy milk Zest from one Lemon ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup flour 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries, coat with 1 Tablespoon flour before adding ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional) Streusel Crumb Topping (optional) ½ Tablespoon cinnamon ½ cup flour ½ cup brown sugar 3 Tablespoons soy margarine Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together.

Mix wet ingredients together in separate bowl, then add to dry ingredients. Gently fold in flour coated blueberries. Spoon batter into lightly oiled muffin tins, ½ to ¾ full. Sprinkle streusel on top of each individual muffin batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes on rack. Enjoy!

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Recipes

by Sara & Jo The Innocent Primate Vegan Blog innocentprimate.wordpress.com

Lemon-Cherry Cornmeal Scones 1.5 C all-purpose or oat flour 3/4 C cornmeal 2 TBSP ground flax 1 TBSP baking pwdr 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp lemon extract or fresh lemon zest 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 C canola oil 1/4 C brown rice syrup 3/4 C hemp milk 1 C dried cherries

Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, flax, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In another bowl, or large measuring cup, mix together the lemon extract or zest, vanilla extract, canola oil, brown rice syrup, and hemp milk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. You don’t want to over work it. Fold in the dried cherries, and drop heaping tablespoon sized drops onto a lined baking sheet. They won’t spread very much, so leave just an inch or two between each one. Bake scones for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown on top. Let cool and enjoy.

Serve warm or reheat. And remember, if you need gluten-free use an appropriate flour like buckwheat.

Oat flour reduces the gluten levels, but not to the point of zero..so plan accordingly!

3-Bean Quinoa Burritos 2 C quinoa, rinsed 4 C vegetable broth (or combo of broth and water) 1 TBSP canola oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced 3-6 cloves garlic (depending on your taste), minced salt and pepper to taste pinch of cayenne 1 tsp cumin 2-3 C cooked beans (any combination of 3 beans: I used pinto, black, and red chili beans)

corn or flour tortillas tomatoes, diced baby spinach, rinsed and roughly chopped fresh cilantro, minced

Preparation: If using corn tortillas, wrap in foil and warm in a 300°F oven while the quinoa is cooking. Heat oil in a deep sauce pan. Add onion and garlic, sauté about 5-8 minutes, until onion becomes softened.

Add rinsed quinoa, and toast for about 2-3 minutes.

Add broth, beans, salt, pepper, cayenne, and 12

cumin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 12 minutes – until all the liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, chop some fresh cilantro, tomatoes, baby spinach or lettuce, or whatever else tickles your burrito-fancy. When ready to serve, if using flour tortillas, warm the tortillas in a hot skillet for about 45 seconds each side. Add a scoop of the beany quinoa to the tortilla, top with diced tomatoes, spinach, and fresh cilantro. You could also top with any salsa you have on hand, or squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice over the burritos (for extra zing) as well.

Blueberries & Cream Ice Cream

Preparation: In a medium saucepan, bring water, nectar, and berries to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for about 1 minute. Remove from heat, set aside (for up to 30 minutes – the longer it steeps the richer the blueberry flavor). Transfer berry mixture to a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth.

Strain into a bowl, unless you want to keep the blueberry skins in there for a little texture. Add in coconut milk and lemon juice. Stir to combine.

Transfer to an ice cream maker an freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Move to a container and freeze for at least 1 hour to let it set up. This will stay good in the freezer up to 3 days.

2 C fresh or frozen (thawed) blueberries 3/4 C water 2/3 C agave nectar 1 C coconut milk (or about 1 can) 1 TBSP fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 a small lemon)

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Nutritional Nuggets My daughter loves breads and pastas but won’t eat much else. How do I get her to eat other things?

by Louise Goldberg RD CSP LD CNSC An Apple A Day Nutrition Consulting www.AnAppleADayNutrition.com

Should I be giving my kids a multivitamin?

Ideally if your child is eating a healthy well balanced diet, she should not need one. The reality is that kids are unpredictable though. If your child isn’t consistently eating the appropriate balance of protein, fruits, veggies, whole grains, a good source of calcium and some healthy fats, you should discuss with your pediatrician or dietitian how to make adjustments to the diet in order for her to meet her nutrient needs. If you decide to give a multivitamin, it should not contain more than 100% of the daily value (DV) for each nutrient to prevent excess supplementation.

How do I know if my child is allergic to a food or something in the food?

If you or your spouse has a strong family history of food allergies, there is a good chance that your child could be allergic to those same items. Avoid those foods until your child is at least 1 year old and discuss with your pediatrician if it should be avoided for longer. If your child has a reaction to something he ate, it may manifest as red bumps on his skin, an upset or cramping stomach, blood in his stool, vomiting, or even difficulty breathing which is clearly an emergency situation. Make sure you follow up with your pediatrician or an allergist to have him tested for allergens. Once you’ve determined what his food allergies are, it is important to know where that food is found, how to find it (and any alternative names) on ingredient lists. It is also important to educate any caregivers that are with your child during the day. Label lunchboxes, pin a note to his shirt, have him wear a wristbandanything you can do to remind people to keep him safe.

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I don’t blame her, who doesn’t love breads and pastas? You are right to be concerned about getting a balance of nutrients though. For my more ‘selective’ eaters, I recommend that you get her involved with the meal planning and shopping. This has been shown to increase children’s willingness to try new foods. Ask questions that allow her to feel she is making the decision but don’t allow her to answer yes or no; for example, instead of “Do you want vegetables for dinner tonight?” ask “Would you like broccoli or peas for dinner?” In addition, be a good role model because she is watching you closely! A recent study showed if parents smile while eating vegetables, children are more likely to accept them, as well. Most importantly, don’t give up. Continue to offer her fruits, vegetables, and proteins without making a big deal about it. Children’s preferences change almost daily and you never know when that green thing that has been staring up at her from the plate for several weeks will suddenly seem appetizing.

We are an active family with 2 kids in weekly sports and other after school activities. Any ideas for quick healthy meals we can eat on the go? It is especially hard to find vegetables that travel well.

Sandwiches of any kind are an easy way to get in whole grains and fiber. Fill with nut butters, non-dairy cheeses (read the label carefully as some soy cheeses still contain dairy), or meat-alternative sandwich slices. A whole grain tortilla filled with pre-made rice and beans folded up just right can be the perfect thing to hand to your kiddos are the baseball field. Mix cooked whole wheat pasta with Italian vinaigrette, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and sliced olives. Then scoop into individual containers and store in your fridge so all you have to do is grab a fork before you head out the door.

There are also several tasty soy products that can be heated up before you leave the house, throw in a bento box and be on your way. A handful of nuts and dried fruits can also be a good source of protein. I realize the vegetables can be a bit trickier. Instead of thinking about cooked vegetables, consider ones that can be served raw or cold. They can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge when you need it. My boys enjoy: sugar snap peas, sliced green-red-yellow-orange bell peppers, edamame, grape or cherry tomatoes, snow peas, bite-size broccoli or cauliflower, kale ‘chips’, cucumber slices, celery sticks, and sweet crunchy carrots.

I am exclusively nursing my first baby. How much calories and protein do I really need? Is there anything else I need to include in my diet?

Congratulations! Welcome to the parent club! It is estimated you may need up to an additional 500 calories daily and extra protein but the amount really varies from mom to mom. In addition to calories and protein, you must remember to drink enough liquid. Try to drink something every time you nurse. Being dehydrated can negatively affect how much milk you produce. As in pregnancy, calcium, iron and folic acid are also important. You can find these nutrients in dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans and grains, and any fortified foods like cereals, tofu, and juices. If you follow a vegan diet, your main concern beyond just focusing on healthy foods is getting adequate Vitamin B12. It naturally occurs in animal products so you must make a conscious effort to find foods that are fortified with B12. While our requirements our small, a deficiency could lead to serious problems.

Louise Goldberg is a registered dietitian, specializing in child, maternal, and family nutrition. She is also a board certified pediatric nutrition specialist and practices with An Apple A Day Nutrition Consulting in Houston, TX. If you have a nutrition question for our next issue, you can send it to her at LouiseGoldberg@ me.com or post it at Green Child Magazine’s Facebook page or An Apple A Day Nutrition Consulting’s Facebook page.

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Watermelon!

by Thresia Paulose

No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

Summer and watermelon are inseparable. Watermelons are found almost everywhere in the world. Although we can find watermelons in our markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERMELON 1. The health benefits of watermelon are really great.

No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.

2. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

3. The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene.

These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

4. It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

5. Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

6. Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

7. Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.

8. The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.

9. Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.

10. Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

When the heat of summer tires us with thirst, eating watermelon is a safe alternative to taking energy drinks.

Since it contains high water quantity it can hydrates us whereas other drinks are caffeine filled energy drinks which can easily dehydrate us. Nothing can be more satisfactory on a hot, dusty day than a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon!

To learn more about the health benefits of watermelon and over fruits and veggies, visit HealthMad.com.

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Design

Children Inspire Design www.childreninspiredesign.com

Artist, mother and social entrepreneur, Rebecca Peragine, has combined her passion for global design with her desire to inspire children to celebrate eco-consciousness and the beauty of different world cultures. Children Inspire Design was born. It is a product line of modern, eco-friendly and culturally diverse wall art, wall cards and posters, full of whimsy, and designed to help children learn compassion for our earth and all who inhabit it. Green Child Magazine had a few questions for Rebecca.

GCM: Rebecca, tell me a bit about your life pre-motherhood.

Rebecca: Pre- motherhood I was living on a tiny island in Caribbean Mexico with my now husband. I owned a tiny little coffee shop, he a tiny little pizzeria and we pretty much lived on the beach for about 4 years.

We lived in a pretty international bohemian community, so our world, as tiny as it was, was very globally rich. Our first son, Giovanni, was born while we lived there, but when he was almost 2, I started to feel that we needed more to grow our family. So, it was between Italy (where my husband is from) and WI, and somehow WI won. I can’t remember exactly why. The irony is, we’re currently making plans to make our way back home to our tiny little island. What we needed was there, we just had to grow as parents and individuals to learn to trust our guts.

GCM: Ahhhh, and then you became a mom (smile), you say, “I was playing the stay at home role, going out of my mind. I lost my identity as a “super cool international coffee shop owner on a tropical island with a really hot Italian boyfriend.” I love that line and can secretly relate...well, minus the hot Italian boyfriend! So you started dabbling with art, share with our readers what you were using to create your masterpieces.

Rebecca: When we moved back to my tiny hometown (looking back I should have known it was not going to be good) I had a total identity crisis. I really missed the global community, more for my children than anything. So I did what I could to surround our children (at that point they

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multiplied to 2) with globally inspired work, and Children Inspire Design was born. I started by taking recycled materials, paper, magazines, gift wrap, and I created collage art that always had something to do with global and environmental education. I created alphabet and number posters in 10 languages, counting cards, animal wall cards etc, all in different languages so parents like us could create a space that spoke of our children’s multi-cultural diversity and supported the importance of environmental responsibility.

GCM: And how does one go from playing with scraps to owning a successful art business?

Rebecca: tiny, tiny steps, consistently, without giving up.

I remember once a friend told me you have to treat your business like a garden and plant seeds. So thats what I did.

I started planting seeds everywhere I could and eventually my work paid off. I opened an etsy shop to see if I liked selling art. It worked out well, so I launched my own site.

I studied a lot of other companies and I read books. Lots of business books. And I used free services like SCORE to help me figure out the business side of things. That was the hardest part, but I recognized early on that the business part of the business was hard for me and it was where most creatives fail. So I made up my mind to learn as much as possible about all the things that bore/scare me.

Then, I stumbled upon the biggest blessing of my career. At the moment when I was maxed out, couldn’t package another order, dreaded the daily trek to the post office I found a small, family run print company in WI who took over my printing, packaging AND shipping. And that was it, I was in business. It freed me up enough to start a second line of art, Fresh Words Market, globally inspired art for the space where adults and children meet. With the

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creation of the second line, we’re now designing an Ambassador’s program, which is a program where organizations, schools etc can use our products for fundraising. We give 50% of proceeds, help individuals and groups raise much needed funds and all is good. It’s great because we’ve designed to program to work for a large non-profit, as well as the individual music teacher who has no funding to get his class to the museum. We’re very proud of that.

The program will launch August 2011.

GCM: You say at one point you were not able to get a loan for your business and that turned out to be a blessing, can you elaborate?

Rebecca: I think my experience living in Mexico made me scrappy enough to say, to hell with it, if I can’t get support, I’ll do it myself. So I financed my business slowly on my own. And Im very thankful I did. Because I feel like if I was given a chunk of money I may have rented that studio I thought I needed and hired that graphic designer I thought I must have instead of teaching myself. I probably would have gone into debt, and in 2006-present, I may not have been able to pull myself out. So, it was a blessing in disguise.

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GCM: How old are your children now and how do you balance being a mother and owning a business?

Can you tell our readers a little about Peace and how your business is involved with Peace?

Rebecca: My boys, Giovanni and Matteo, are 8 and 5.

I’m very lucky to be able to be at home when they go to school and when they get back. Having said that, it has been a challenge and this is really the first year that I’ve had chunks of free time to focus only on work. Before, there was always one at home and I was always moving between “home” work and “work” work. And the shut off button was always a struggle for me, but now I covet the late night and early morning as my time to get work done (it’s 11:00 on Sunday night as I’m writing this). I also was very upfront with people I am in contact with on a daily basis. I work from home. My kids are with me. I shouldn’t feel the need to apologize for the background noise. I’ve taken my fair share of phone meetings in the closet, but apart from that, it is what it is. It’s actually a way to connect with my peers in situations like this. I work in the children industry. When I get a phone call about an order, 90% of the time it’s from a mom who also has 2 kids hanging from their legs. So it’s a moment to bond, kind of to say, right on, you’re doing it too!

Rebecca: PEACE is an umbrella organization that serves communities in developing areas in Mexico. Programs include after school programs, environmental initiatives, a women’s cooperative and spay and neuter clinics for animals. Molly has set the bar very high in terms of doing good. She’s an amazing person and has done so much for so many. She’s also my business partner in Fresh Words Market. I’ve worked with her to help establish a women’s cooperative in her area (Puerto Vallarta) and now on the east coast where we lived together (Isla Mujeres). The latest cooperative, located in Isla, creates the beautiful birds used in our recycled bird mobiles. I designed the product, then taught the women how to make them. I buy them from the co-op and fashion them into mobiles and ornaments.

We were approached by an organization called Global Family Philanthropy who asked us to help create a co-op in Les Cayes, Haiti. It was at that moment that the One Mother to Another Initiative was born. It’s a line of handmade products made by mothers in MX and Haiti, sold at CID.com. So we’ve just begun doing that and will have beautiful garland from the women in Haiti ready for purchase later this summer. It’s very rewarding to be able to take a design, teach the art of making them and sell them to a community like mine. The women benefit are given an economic opportunity otherwise unavailable in their country, and they’re also teaching their children power. They are changing the future of their children. And the mothers who covet Children Inspire Design understand the power of the product. They feel the connection from one mother to another. I am so proud to play a small part in that. We’re all mothers and we all want more for our children.

Being a mom has also inspired me to use my company as a resource for parents who understand the importance of art and creativity. We use our blog to offer free art projects, DIY ideas, free art downloads etc. To me, creativity is a necessity for children and unfortunately you see less and less of it in schools. So, to be able to offer some fun activities for parents and children to share, that inspire to be creative and honor the earth, that makes me really happy.

GCM: Lastly, CID works closely with an organization founded by your friend, Molly Fisher, PeaceMexico.org.

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Design

weeDECOR weeDECOR.com

Founded in 2010 in San Francisco, CA, weeDECOR designs mix-and-match nursery wall decals made of eco-friendly fabric for decorating a one-of-a-kind nursery. weeDECOR’s wall decals are removable and reusable making it easy for mom to change the look of her baby’s room as her child grows or her tastes change. weeDECOR’s wall decals have a matte finish so they look hand-painted on the wall without the mess of paint. weeDECOR offers a broad selection of animals, trees, flowers, and personalized names in a modern, clean aesthetic. Swinging monkeys, cute owls, fluttering butterflies, and gorgeous fonts are among weeDECOR’s stylish collection. weeDECOR wall decals are designed to match popular nursery themes and the color palettes of major children’s brands including Pottery Barn Kids, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, and many of the brands carried at Target. They will even create custom colors to ensure the wall decals match mom’s nursery decor perfectly! weeDECOR wall decals are made in the US from biodegradable fabric and unlike most wall decals, which are usually made of vinyl, do not contain harmful PVC’s.

weeDECOR wall decals are smartly priced from $5 $150. As further incentive, weeDECOR offers a 10% credit to customers that submit photos of their weeDECOR decorated room. The photos may be featured on their web site, blog, and Facebook page so mom can showcase her customized baby room and share nursery decorating ideas with other moms.

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Keeki....

Pure and Simple! www.keekipureandsimple.com

If you’re a mom, what do you do when the non-toxic, organic cosmetics you’re looking to buy for your children don’t seem to exist? If you’re Natalie Bauss and Katy Scheffler, two West Michigan moms, friends, and entrepreneurs, you create Keeki Pure and Simple products and start a successful business while you’re at it!

Keeki Pure and Simple is the brainchild of Bauss, 40, who lives with her family on an organic farm in Ada, and Scheffler, 39, a Rockford mother of three. The two were introduced by a mutual friend who thought their entrepreneurial aspirations might mesh.

Bauss, a California native with 20 years experience as an esthetician and a background in international sales and marketing, had been checking out reference works from the library and conducting exhaustive Internet searches in her quest to make wholesome products for her own friends and family. “I started out creating recipes in my kitchen from things we’d grown on the farm, just experimenting,” she says.

But Natalie’s interest in organics also goes way beyond food. A Board-certified Esthetician, Natalie has worked in the cosmetics industry for more than 20 years. Continuous research on the latest products and trends opened her eyes to the many chemicals and other toxins in mass-market body products. Concerned by the idea of exposing her children to these toxins, Natalie began making soaps, lip balms, lotions and deodorants with the some of the products produced on her farm. After meeting Katy and finding they shared the same concerns for themselves, their families, and the environment Keeki™ Pure & Simple was born.

Scheffler, an intern architect by trade, was reading labels at the health-food store in her efforts to find products that would be compatible with her daughter’s need to be

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gluten-free. “I live in suburbia and I’m trying to get a handle on this whole organic lifestyle trend just like other moms. When I realized what I was looking for wasn’t out there, I wanted to change that,” she says.

Through loving research and determination, Katy learned that whole foods and organic, chemical-free products help her family feel their very best.

Excited by this discovery, Katy set out to make eating organic, chemical-and gluten-free tasty and fun. “I want my kids to have normal lives and eat foods they really enjoy,” she says. “Eliminating the allergens is easy, it is finding foods that are equally as pleasing to replace them that is the challenge”.

Along the way, she also learned that unhealthy ingredients lurked in non-food products too – especially in body and skin care products that attracted her three girls. “My girls love to paint their nails,” she said. “But there are harmful chemicals they can inhale and absorb in most nail polish.”

So she set out to find chemical-free products to replace the harmful versions too – which she, along with Natalie, now help bring to other concerned Moms through the Keeki™ Pure & Simple line.

Happy environmentalists, they also enjoy recycling and exploring new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. This reminds Katy of what her hero Mies van der Rohe said, “Less is more.” Katy says “The ‘less is more’ idea has really helped me in so many areas of my life. The fewer ingredients in a product, the better. Less packaging equals less waste. These are all things we want our kids to understand for a better, healthier life and a better, healthier planet.”

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Kids are Seeing Green

by Kids Konserve

EEarth Day Kids - Ava, Kate, and Caroline Kids are turning Green and I am not talking about the color.

This young generation knows that Green is an action word!

Last year Kids Konserve shared about how 9 year old Margaret captured the attention of the President, her peers and organizations across the U.S. A nine year old might be small compared to the big politicians lobbying for environmental change, but she has shown that Small Voices add up to big things!

More and more Kids across the world are doing great things for our planet. 12 year old, Lil Peppi is the King of Eco Rap. His current top hit, Mother Nature is Crying was 28

written after learning about global warming in school. He said, “That same week I saw this movie called “Happy Feet”. That night my Pops showed me this commercial from the seventies about the “Keep America Beautiful” campaign. It had an Indian crying because people were littering everywhere. At that time I decided I wanted to do my little part to help clean up the planet”.

EcoRenaissance woman Erin Schrode, the face of the new green generation, the spokeswoman and co-founder of the US-based Turning Green campaign promotes global sustainability, youth leadership, environmental education, and conscious lifestyle choices. This “sustainability prodigy”

(San Francisco Magazine) shares her knowledge as an eco expert through a variety of mediums, speaks frequently, serves on panels, and hosts events, shows, conferences, summits, and videos to raise public awareness about environmental and social responsibility for individuals, schools, and communities.

Teens Turning Green is a student led movement devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities. They seek to promote global sustainability by identifying and eliminating toxic exposures that permeate our lives and threaten public and environmental health.

Helping the environment is a common theme. Schools are educating more and more about protecting the Earth.

Programs like ours are more available to help raise awareness and funds for schools. Cool the Earth, One Small Step, and many others are popping up. Just like Kids Konserve, many companies offer products, MOST importantly they offer a message. And, the most important, Kids are stepping in to spread the word!

This year we are unveiling Earth Day Kids! Ava, Kate and Caroline recently finished a classroom project that entailed visiting a recycling center and making a movie out of their experience that was shown at the Lark Theater. The R’s came into play! If you ask some adults they may stumble over remembering all the R’s. If you ask one of these girls, you are more likely to hear a story, a song, see a skit or they will be rattling off facts about the R’s. Hence my EcoResolutions’ to introduce the most important R of all – REMEMBER! We are in good hands with this new generation!

Committed to providing organic, chemical-free products.

Some of the products that we offer: Hand salves, Healing salves, baby’s butt cream, Baby’s Butt foaming wash solution, Mommy’s Belly cream, eczema relief cream, flea and tick preventative/treatment for dogs, room and body sprays,ache and pain relief for nursing moms, diaper pail freshener and more.

Everything that is made by Earthly Remedies is done so without the use of chemicals. Baby’s Butt products are cloth diaper safe.

Mention this ad with your order and receive a free lip balm.

Owner: Erin Ethier | 518.534.3003 | info@earthlyremediesbyerin.com

www.earthlyremediesbyerin.com Look for me on Facebook

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Great Stores

Granola Babies www.granolababies.com

When Giselle Baturay shopped for cloth diapers in 2005 for her little baby girl, she would first visit a Californian online store called Granola Babies.

And while the store (at the time) didn’t have a large selection of products, she would choose it first, since the name went along with her lifestyle as a natural living mother. Little did Giselle know at the time that later she would become the owner of Granola Babies and have an online and brick and mortar store that is known for its large selection of hand-selected eco-friendly and sustainable products for green families.

Located in Orange County California and with a passion for supporting parents in their green parenting journey, Granola Babies is a well-known resource and community gathering for parents and their babies. There’s a community room that is used for a wide range of classes and events, such as childbirth 32

education, breastfeeding support, music and play sessions, yoga, and nutrition education, as well as green baby workshops. And on Saturdays parents can go to attend the popular Granola Babies Cloth Diapering 101 Workshop, Parenting Prep Series and Babywearing Clinic.

Known as a source for green baby products, Granola Babies offers a fantastic selection of cloth diapers, comfortable baby carriers (Giselle is a trained Babywearing Educator), wooden and organic toys, glass and stainless steel feeding products, non-toxic bath and body products, holistic healing products and gifts for mother. The online store (www.granolababies.com) ships worldwide and the brick and mortar store is open throughout the week.

Granola Babies has become somewhat of a haven for

mothers who visit the store and stay to mingle with others or attend one of the many classes and events. Angela of Irvine, CA who started coming to the store while pregnant and is now a proud mother to a new baby boy said, “The information I’ve received here has helped me from learning to cloth diaper my baby to tips on how to nurse him. I tell all of my mommy friends that they must come to Granola Babies.”

Giselle remembers how it was like to be a first time mother parenting naturally in a modern world. Her experience is what drives the mission of Granola Babies. “Every product and workshop at Granola Babies is to support and nurture parents as they go more green with their babies. We meet parents where they are in this journey and educate and support them by creating a community of parents and providing them with the best possible products for themselves and their babies.” And since Giselle only adds products she uses with her three children or has experience with, parents have come to rely on Granola Babies as a trusted source for eco-friendly products for their families.

Giselle and her family recently celebrated the 6th anniversary of Granola Babies and together they feel honored to be a part of so many growing families that visit Granola Babies. With a store owned by such a nurturing natural living mother, it’s easy to see how this Southern California store has become an essential resource for green families around the world.

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BRAVO LEGO! florida.legoland.com

LEGOLAND® Florida is preventing 18,000 tons of concrete slab from entering Florida’s landfills by crushing the existing sidewalks and foundation into stones and powder. The Park has contracted with an outside company to operate a 15 ton machine to “chew up” concrete and sort it into several different sized bits. Once crushed, the gravel will be re-used in the Park as a base layer for the new sidewalks thorough Central Florida’s newest full-day family theme park.

“It’s important to us at LEGOLAND Florida to make as little environmental impact as we build Central Florida’s newest full-day family theme park,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND Development, John Ussher.

“By recycling and reusing the concrete already on the property, we’re not only saving 18,000 tons of slab from area landfills, but doing what’s right for our business.”

Other ways the Park is reusing assets is with tree restoration and relocation. 660 oaks and palm trees from the property’s former adventure park area have been moved to an alternate location for the duration of construction.

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Once the diggers and back-hoes have completed their job, the trees will be relocated to their new home in LEGOLAND. LEGOLAND® Florida opens in October 2011 and will be a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun!

Teeny Tiny Spice www.teenytinyspice.com Family Owned and Operated Teeny Tiny Spice Co. of Vermont is a small, family run specialty food business. They create and manufacture 100% organic spice blends that represent varied world cuisines. To ensure that you have the freshest spices and herbs, their mixtures are made in small batches and ground just before packaging. Ingredients are of the finest quality. When blends include salt or sugar, they use Himalayan Pink Salt and organic Vermont Maple Sugar.

All of their ingredients for each blend are listed, so you know exactly what you are getting.

“Our spice blends have been developed to provide home chefs with a convenient method of adding exotic flavor to their dishes. We are enthusiastic cooks. Despite our kitchen’s extensive spice collection, we often found while planning more exotic dishes that we did not have all of the ingredients called for,” says Thora. “Red and pink rose petals? No. Ajwain seed? No. Juniper Berry? Well, yes.”

But having 9 out of 12 spices does not give the flavor that you are trying to achieve. So Teeny Tiny Spice Co. of Vermont was born to provide you all of those spices, already combined in proportions to give you just the right flavor profile to create dishes with the essential flavors of North and South, East and West.

Ed and Nora feel blessed that in their home, cooking has become a family affair. Son Nick, who is now thirteen, has been cooking since he was a toddler. “I used to prop him up on a chair at the counter where he would help me make bread, cookies or any number of things. As most children do, he and his sister loved to mix, pour, mold, throw and smear whatever it was we were making.

I loved to see their pure joy and intense concentration as they worked away at whatever they were creating,” Thora says. “Both of my children still love to cook, but for Nick, it is truly his passion. When I ask him to make bread on his own now, he asks me if I would like a traditional loaf, braided or not, baguette or rolls.”

This past year,Thora had no time to think of what to do for her wedding anniversary dinner. Nick planned a menu, rode his bike into town to shop for ingredients, wrote out the menu (which she saved) and prepared the most beautiful and delicious dinner. And for Christmas dinner this past year, Nick took on the task of making a Buche de Noël.

It took him 2 days and 3 attempts at getting the cake part right, but his persistence paid off!

Visit TeenyTinySpice.com to complement your cooking experiences.

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Giving Diapers, Giving Hope

What is Giving Diapers, Giving Hope Foundation?

We are a cloth diaper lending service for low income families. We are a Not For Profit organization and run completely on donations and volunteers. We accept donations of cloth diapers and diapering accessories, as well as monetary donations, which help us maintain the diapers and purchase more diapers to be lent out. We are NOT a diaper service. We lend the diapers to the parents/guardians and they are responsible to do the washing themselves, with either a washing machine or the diapers can be washed either in a basin or camp washer if desired or needed.

What kind of diapers do you lend?

We lend all kinds of diapers!! We do try to keep similar style diapers together (prefolds/flats together, pocket diapers together, all in one diapers together, etc.), to make it easier to switch over to cloth diapers. However, this is dependent on which diapers we receive as donations.

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Is there a rental fee? How much does this cost?

There is NO COST!! This service is completely free. Since this began as a local foundation to serve local families in the Northeast of MA, all applicants who are out of that area need to pay for shipping of the diapers to them and back to us (approximately $30 for one complete stash).

If you do use our service there is an optional but recommended $10 donation for each month that you use the diapers. This goes towards repairing, replacing and purchasing more diapers for our stash so we can help as many families as possible. When you receive your diapers, you will be given an inventory list with the approximate retail cost of each diaper you are given. If you lose or ruin a diaper while in your care, it is suggested to donate the cost of the diaper/s so that we can purchase another diaper of similar quality. This is not mandatory but highly recommended so that we can continue to provide this service to other families.

What if I don’t know how to cloth diaper?

When you come to pick up your diapers we will explain to you all the things you need to know about cloth diapering and laundering the diapers. We will also give you a paper listing the care instructions. You are welcome at any time to contact us to ask any questions that you may have.

TO APPLY: Email us at givingdiapersgivinghope@gmail. com or contact us by phone (315-491-9447). The more diapers that are donated, the more families we can help, but there is the chance that due to limitations, there may be a waiting list. We will do our best to provide for as many families as possible, as soon as possible!

What if I get my diapers and get home and realize some don’t fit my child?

Just give us a call! Not all brands use the same sizing, so a small in one brand may be bigger than a small in another brand. Let us know and we will swap the diapers that don’t fit out with other diapers that should fit better.

TO DONATE: Mail anything you would like to donate to: Giving Diapers, Giving Hope 8 Beckford St. Gloucester, MA 01930

Find Giving Diapers, Giving Hope on Facebook

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Gatlinburg Goes Green Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a day’s drive or less for most of the US population east of the Mississippi River and is one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. This family-friendly mountain town boasts more than 40 eateries, hundreds of unique hotels, motels, cabins, and bed and breakfast locations, as well as unique attractions, an incredible 8-mile arts and crafts community, plus a yearlong calendar of community events perfect for travelers of all ages. The biggest draw to this tourist hamlet, however, is and always will be Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park receives millions of visitors annually, making it the most visited Park in the nation. With more than 800 miles of hiking, horseback riding, biking, fishing, picnicking and more, plus the blooming wildflowers in the spring and the explosion of changing colors in the fall, it is no wonder that so many people come to explore the streams, mountains and backcountry of the Smokies.

Gatlinburg Goes Green is still growing and evolving, and the initiative is by no means a green certification model.

The program does, however, encourage the tourism-based business community to take the first steps, often the hardest, to examine how their daily practices may be impacting the very environment we depend on. We continue in our pursuit of the ideal balance between the protection of our natural resources and promotion of our mountain town.

This summer, if you are looking for a fun-filled, affordable family adventure, Gatlinburg and their eco-minded participants in the Gatlinburg Goes Green program are waiting for you! Feel free to visit Gatlinburg.com for help planning your trip, or call us toll-free at 1-800-237-4569.

Bring the whole family for a week or a long weekend, and enjoy local crafts, the Gatlinburg Farmers Market, community events, plenty of attractions and countless outdoor activities, and visit GatlinburgGoesGreen.com.

Gatlinburg may be a small town, but the business community has taken a stand in the past few years to protect the environment, as Gatlinburg is a Gateway City to the International Biosphere that is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, more than 600 members strong, launched its Gatlinburg Goes Green initiative in 2008. Gatlinburg Goes Green is a voluntary educational program that allows Chamber Member businesses to evaluate their operations, set goals, and take specific actions towards environmental, social and economic sustainability. The program also recognizes businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations on our websites and publications.

To date, about one in five of the Member business of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce participate actively in Gatlinburg Goes Green. To participate each business must conduct a self-evaluation that covers topics including communication and education; waste reduction, reuse, and recycling; energy efficiency and management; mater conservation and wastewater management; air quality; wildlife and landscape conservation and management; transportation; purchasing; and local community benefits.

These self-evaluations are graded and a program level is assigned: Entry, Bronze, Silver or Gold level. All of the current participants can be searched on Gatlinburg.com, or by going to GatlinburgGoesGreen.com/travelplanning.

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www.green-pan.com In the 1950’s, scientists developed a way of coating a frying pan with a synthetic material called PTFE (polytetrafluoroethelyne). Non-stick cookware was born!

It revolutionized the kitchen. Cooking with non-stick was easy and fun!

A few years ago, scientists identified that there were a few key issues with this technology. These key issues affect us all.

Every traditional non-stick has a common enemy, High Heat.

Above 450 degrees F the PTFE coating is decomposing as you literally burn off that coating. It only takes MINUTES to overheat your traditional pan (your traditional stove can go about 570 degrees F.) As the coating decomposes, harmful fumes are released from the overheating PTFE. It is even proven that it is lethal to small pets like birds. On humans, these fumes can be potentially harmful to the respiratory tract, causing nausea and headaches.

Overall: overheating the PTFE pan ruins cookware and is bad for your health.

Another problem is one of the chemicals used in the manufacturing of PTFE coatings. PFOA, perfluorooctonoicacid, is actually classified by the US environmental Protection Agency, a.k.a EPA, as apersistent pollutant of the environment.

PFOA is a tough chemical the body has the greatest difficulty expelling and is actually defined as a likely human carcinogen. By using PFOA in the manufacturing process, traces of this chemical are emitted and left in the eco-system.

This issue is so serious that the EPA and other key chemical manufacturers have committed to redrawing the use of PFOA from 2015.

You don’t have to wait until 2015! GreenPan™ has pioneered research into this very field. Thermolon™is the solution; a 100% PTFE and PFOA free, natural, ceramic, non-stick coating made of minerals instead of plastic synthetics. It’s a hard non-stick mineral based coating with incredible food release properties. But with yet another advantage…if you were to accidentally overheat your pan to 850 degrees F, you will never, ever get any harmful fumes and the coating will never ever blister or peel.

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Independent tests have proven that GreenPan™ performs outstandingly, throughout the course of a whole variety of tests…food release, hardness, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance. And Thermolon™ is a better heat conductor.

This gives your superb searing, browning and crispy frying.

GreenPan™cookware allows you to cook evenly on low to medium heat, which makes GreenPan™even better for your energy bill and the environment. And last but not least, GreenPan™is so easy to clean. GreenPan™meets all international product and food safety standards. So in essence, sometimes it pays to go Green!

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NaturoKits www.naturokits.com

Alternative health enthusiasts everywhere are embracing NaturoKits®. And they aren’t the only ones. You’ll need a NaturoKit® if you are: a parent, a sports enthusiast, a pet owner, a frequent traveler, a college student, a gardener, a cook, a hobbyist, a laborer, a desk jockey, a retiree, an eco-conscious individual, or someone who might fall prey to minor illnesses or injuries from time to time (that’s almost everybody!). People of all ages, even pets, respond very well to naturopathic care.

A NaturoKit is a compact collection of tried and true natural remedies. Every natural medicine kit comes neatly packed in a cotton bag and includes detailed information about each remedy and its uses. A typical kit includes homeopathic remedies, herbal medicines, flower essences, and dietary supplements.

Developed by mothers and naturopathic physicians who are raising/have raised their children in natural, sustainable, and organic environments in Portland, Oregon. NaturoKits is similarly dedicated to empowering people to take charge of their health with safe, effective, natural remedies. The first aid gift packages are ideal for baby showers, graduations, weddings, bon voyage parties, birthdays, college care packages, employee appreciation days, and holidays. There really isn’t anyone who wouldn’t love to receive one!

In order to lessen any negative impact on both our environment and on our health, NaturoKits™ strives to be green and sustainable. Their professional printing is done on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based inks. 75% 42

of the manufacturers that they work with are located in the Pacific Northwest (that‘s local to them!). The electricity that powers their office comes from Wind Power. The bags for the kits are made of cotton instead of PVC or other plastics common in ‘cosmetic and gift’ bags. And they very proudly have our bags screenprinted and sewed in Portland, Oregon by other small businesses. “We feel that by choosing more ecologically-friendly goods, supporting other local businesses, and selling gentle-acting natural remedies, our business has the potential to contribute to positive change in individuals, communities, and the world as a whole.”

Our Basic First Aid NaturoKit® is clean, organic, sophisticated, and current. The remedies are effective, natural, easy-to-use, and safe for all ages (even pets).

In fact, we boldly proclaim that everybody needs one (outdoors enthusiasts, wellness buffs, athletes, families, gardeners, the elderly, etc.)…

Let’s face it, people are busy nowadays. They want themselves and their families taken care of; they want peace of mind; they want to feel smart and prepared; they want things to be easy, effective, and quick. Our Basic First Aid NaturoKit® delivers!

• Natural first aid remedies – taking first aid to a whole new level of relief and healing • Includes nine homeopathic, herbal, and nutritional remedies which address over 40 first aid situations (burns, bites, cuts, fear, food poisoning, bruising, etc.), plus complete, clear instructions on use, in a compact, canvas bag • For people who are health-oriented, alternative-minded, outdoors-focused, and/or eco-conscious • Easy to use, easy to pack • Perfect for home and travel (camping, overseas trips, car trips, a day at the park, etc.) all year round • Created by moms and ND’s (Naturopathic Physicians) • Safe, convenient, very effective, and well-presented • Gives people the resources and confidence that they need to be prepared for lots of common accidents, injuries, and minor illnesses that are bound to occur at some time or another • A great gift for a baby shower, graduation, a college care package, a bon voyage party, or the holidays

A fresh approach to first aid…naturally.

Save 10% with code DCGREENCHILD NATUROKITS.COM | 888.908.5487

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Book Reviews

Let’s Save the Animals Written and Illustrated by: Frances Barry

Although recommended for ages 4 - 7, there’s much to be seen and learned for all ages in this colorful flip-the-flap book telling us what animals are in danger and how we can help them.

Frances Barry begins with some interesting facts inside the front cover, such as “Polar bears have black skin underneath their fur” and “African elephants sleep standing up.” Next, she expresses the wish that we could save all the animals in the world, and introduces some of them with ingenious flaps, cut-outs and cut pages.

Concluding with a list of what we can do to help protect and save animals.

babies rock. stains don’t. it takes a baby 3.6 seconds to ruin an outfit. put the gentle smackdown on stains, with natural ingredients and serious attitude!

-Dye Free -Naturally Scented -No fillers -Cleans and deodorizes -No enzymes or optical brighteners -Easy rinsing formula -Perfect for cloth diapers -Great for sensitive skin -Recyclable packaging -HE compatible -Great for all water types -100% Phosphate free -Great for kid’s clothes -Economical at pennies per load!

www.RockinGreenSoap.com 44

Use coupon code “GreenChild” for 15% off your first order!

Spit That Out!

Book Reviews

Written by: Paige Wolf

“Paige Wolf is the mom I wished lived next door. She makes neurotic look sexy and shares practical tips for saving the ozone and your sanity.”

– Abby Sher, author of Amen, Amen, Amen: Memoir of a Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Praying (Among Other Things) Have you ever stayed up all night scraping lead paint off the walls (only to realize you’ve just made the problem worse)? Googled every toy in the house to make sure they didn’t contain high levels of cadmium or lead?

Searched every product in the cabinet for the mere mention of a paraben?

As a new mother, Paige Wolf has been committed to living an eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. And as an advocate for green living and owner of an eco-friendly public relations company, it has been especially important for her to “walk the walk” and be especially conscious of her choices. But with the flood of constantly changing information, it can become an increasingly impossible task.

Spit That Out! The Overly Informed Parent’s Guide to Raising Children in the Age of Environmental Guilt answers the questions posed by mothers on the verge of a “green mom nervous breakdown.” Parents in the 21st century have to deal with myriad concerns and information overload, the likes of which past generations never imagined. In addition to the age-old daunting task of raising happy, healthy babies, we are constantly bombarded with new and contradictory research concerning environmental toxins, long-term product effects, and the far-reaching impact of every product we purchase and decision we make.

Spit That Out! turns to experts in pediatrics, environmental advocacy, science, holistic health, and humanitarianism to present facts, debunk myths, and help parents stay on a reasonable and responsible course without losing their minds. The mothers themselves also offer anecdotes and advice on staying sane in an ever-changing landscape of conscientious parenting. Chapters include “Green Mom Sanity Tips,” “Dollar-Savvy Sustainability Tips,” and “Parent-to-Parent Pointers” from real moms who have been in the trenches of eco-anxiety.

Real moms confess “eco-sins” and share solutions to everyday dilemmas. In addition to “everyday moms,” comedians, authors, and actresses like Tammy Pescatelli, star of WE TV’s A Stand Up Mother; Lisa Landry from Comedy Central’s Standup Showdown; Sideways actress Alysia Reiner; Amy Wilson, actress and author of When Did I Get Like This?; Vicki Glembocki, author of The Second Nine Months; and Abby Sher, author of Amen, Amen, Amen: Memoir of a Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Praying (Among Other Things) find humor in the journey from overwhelming madness to solace and sanity.

Whether they are cloth-diapering, holistic mamas or moms who still can’t give up their designer duds, all modern mothers can relate to the desperation of wanting to do the best for their children — and feeling hopelessly overwhelmed in the process. Spit That Out! feeds an audience of mothers hungry for commiseration, direction, and relief.

Spit That Out! The Overly Informed Parent’s Guide to Raising Children in the Age of Environmental Guilt will be available on Amazon.com and select retailers. In partnership with Eco-Libris, one tree will be planted for every printed copy sold.

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Organic

vs. Non-organic

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Farming has existed for nearly as long as we have. In the past, most people in the country farmed as a means of living; this was the main lifestyle before the industry and automobile age. A non-organic way of farming that has been adopted is to use methods that fight pest infestation and to produce higher quantities of crops.

The first methods are pesticides and herbicides, which are used to combat insects and weeds. However, these highly toxic chemical residues have been found in the crops themselves. The FDA has since banned these chemicals from being used. However, since some crops are imported, they come into the country, and many DO contain these chemicals.

The second method used is contaminated sewage sludge. This was found to be a great idea as it made use of human waste as fertilizer for non-organic crops.

At first it seemed to be a great idea, as it was cheap and easy to obtain, however, recently tests have shown that large amounts of this may contribute to chronic illnesses.

A third method used is hormones, antibiotics and remains of other animals. All of these contribute to quickly fattening up animals for the market. Hormones, while expensive and often illegal, are injected into animals to quickly bring them up to market size. Antibiotics are in fact used to keep the animals alive until they are butchered.

However, a great problem with this is when we eat this meat; our bodies are ingesting antibiotics in high volumes and are becoming immune to their bacteria fighting abilities. So when we go to the doctor for an antibiotic shot, it does nothing for us. As to carcass meal (remains of other animals) which are often fed to animals in the meat and dairy industry, many doctors now believe that this has helped to lead to the disaster which we now are beginning to realize. Carcass meal helps contribute to mad cow disease by keeping the diseased animals in the food chain. This is especially dangerous for humans when we ingest it.

Organic farming is all about developing crops and livestock using the most environmental, humane, economic systems available. In order for this to work effectively, two things are needed. The first is fertile land which can be used to plant a diversity of crops. Other is people who are willing to work on the land and learn this method of farming. In Europe, many of the countries are leaving the toxic chemical approach for a healthier organic method. These countries call it ecological agriculture which relies heavily on taking care of the environment.

Organic farming relies on the following principles: 1. Ensuring that the soil can be used for many succeeding generations without using the fertilizers that were used in non-organic farming.

2. Properly caring for the crops by using soil organisms and not by using pesticides.

3. Recycling livestock manure and organic materials, including crop residue.

4. Control weed growth and insect infestation with crop rotation. Also, not using anything that science has used in conventional non-organic farming.

5. Not tampering with genes of animals, no genetic engineering. Allow animal life to remain as it should.

6. Lastly, determining the effects of this method on the environment.

The last method is irradiation. Spices are exposed to radiation to kill bacteria or microorganisms that may be present. This also does more harm than good since it can lead to various diseases.

Recently, studies have shown that chemicals and other substances are toxic and cause various illnesses and death.

Seeing the oncoming threat, the government has been making changes in the agricultural industry. They are encouraging farmers to shift from this chemical way of farming to something that is less threatening and safer for all.

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In deciding which is better, everyone can see that the organic method is safer and better than the non-organic toxic chemical one. Organic farming no longer uses genetic engineering, sewage sludge and irradiation.

However, it is not an easy task to stop non-organic produce from entering the market. This is because some products, which the consumer demands, have to be imported. Regardless of what regulations and bans the government places on products grown in the USA, other countries that export here are not regulated as we are.

Unless other countries agree on the same regulations, there is no guarantee that the food we consume from them is safe and free from toxic chemicals and sludge. The best thing we can do is buy organic food, and substitute for the food that is not organic.

This requires participation on our part to be more aware of what we buy and to raise our voices, if need be. We can let our opinions be known even in the most simple ways. A good example is when we shop, if there is no substitute for the product we need, let the store owners know, they will surely change their products.

The number of organic farmers has more than doubled in the past 16 years. This will continue to grow as long people continue to see the bigger picture.

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ReCycling Fun

Right after spring break this year, 7 year-old Ty Mullis fell ill.

Upon his first visit to Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City, Florida, it was discovered that Ty had a mass in his intestines. At the time it was hopeful this mass was a fatty tissue blockage that would pass through on it’s own. One week later they discovered the mass had grown in size and taken hold of his intestines. He immediately had emergency surgery to remove the section of his bowels which were infected. The mass and surrounding Lymph nodes were sent to John Hopkins for review.

The diagnosis came back on Tuesday April 26th as Burkitts Lymphoma. Burkitts is a very aggressive but treatable childhood cancer that typically, which tends to affect boys ages 7-11.

Justin Windsor felt a strong need to do something for his buddy. “The afternoon I told Justin about Ty having cancer we were out on a 7 mile bike ride,” says Justin’s mom. He said to me ‘Mom, what can I do?’ “ she continues. “Of course I said things like make a card, visit him in the hospital and so forth.” Yet for Justin, that just wasn’t enough.

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A few miles down the road he said, “What about my DS games? I’m not really playing them anymore since I have my iPod. I can give those to him since he just got a DS and doesn’t have any games yet.” Couple more miles went by and he said, “Mom, you think you can help me get the school to ask other kids to donate them?”

And so the collecting began, Justin and his mom began making flyers and drop boxes for used DS games. To date (3 weeks), he’s collected nearly 30 used games and 10 playstation games. And a playstation system is coming for the oncology dept at Pensacola Children’s Hospital!

You can follow Ty’s progress on his Facebook fan page, Ty Mullis. And you can follow Justin’s leed to recycle fun by donating any used electronic equipment your child no longer uses to a children’s hospital or the children’s wing of your local hospital!

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Raise a Volunteer by Being a Volunteer

By Jamie Wilson

“Even if I wanted to help, I just don’t have the extra money to give right now.” Have you heard yourself using that line lately? Yes, charitable organizations depend on the generosity of others to sustain themselves but the current financial shakiness doesn’t mean we can’t help in some way. Most nonprofit organizations need your time as much as they need the monetary donations and its needed all year long, not just around the holidays.

“But I just don’t have the time to give.” We’re busy and we don’t want to give up any more time away from our families than we need too but showing our children the importance of helping others in our community is an invaluable lesson. My solution, don’t give up time away from your family to volunteer, bring them along. Children as young as 3 years old can be included and many school districts now require community service hours from older students.

Volunteering with your friends and family members can be a great way to get to know each other in a different way or use the opportunity to make new friends with common interests.

Volunteering is also a great way to develop personal or professional skills that you wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to do. It can also be a great reminder of who you are, remind yourself that you once used your skills to negotiate business deals and not just naptimes. Another benefit, there’s current research that shows people that volunteer are healthier and happier than those that don’t take the time to give back.

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For several years I participated in a walk for a nationally known charity. Being a part of the event required a huge fundraising effort as well as a time consuming, physically demanding, training schedule and although I was proud to be a part of the event and it is a worthwhile charity I felt like I was missing something. I wanted to see the people I was helping; I wanted to see the progress that was being made.

I don’t actually remember how I first discovered The Junior League although I’m sure it had to do with a late night and Google. When I saw that there were so many opportunities

The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women creating demonstrable community impact. Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 leaders tackling society’s toughest and most urgent issues. Together the 292 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world. Every year, thousands of Junior League members volunteer their time, energy and abilities to tackle urgent needs in their communities. They work to prevent violence against women and children, promote literacy and early childhood education, improve women’s health, and much more. To find out more information about AJLI go to www.ajli.org

to volunteer through the year along with the added bonus of the social events, it sounded like a great match for me.

I’ve been a member now for five years first with The Junior League of Philadelphia and now The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley. In that time I’ve worked with children’s programs that have taught the importance of good nutrition and how to deal with relational aggression. I’ve seen shelter rooms renovated, community gardens created, and I’ve watched new parents learn the importance of literacy. I’m very fortunate that my experiences with this organization have not only been rewarding but I’ve also made lifelong friends. To my surprise, after years of wondering what I was going to be when I grow up, my work with the League has also pointed my return to the workforce into a whole new direction that I hope I will find just as satisfying as my volunteer work.

I’ll be honest, as much as I enjoy volunteering and the satisfaction I get from helping others, I have ulterior motives, I want to be a role model for my daughter. When she’s older, I want her to be proud of me and what I’ve accomplished and I want her to look up to me instead of the current “it” pop star. I also want her to value helping others and the community just as much as I do. I know I spoil her and I don’t hide the fact that I want her to have every advantage that I can give her; I do however want her to be appreciative of these advantages, and I think including her in my volunteer work is a great start to teaching her about generosity and gratitude.

Get Your Children Involved Here are some suggested activities for volunteering with your children. By working with your children they may have the opportunity to volunteer somewhere that normally wouldn’t take anyone under 18 years old as a volunteer. Obviously, a younger child may need heavier supervision with certain tasks but with your patience and their energy a lot of work can get accomplished along with some fun. Go to The United Way’s Youth Volunteer Center at www.volunteer-center.org or www. volunteermatch.org to search on opportunities in your area.

3-5 years old • Park or playground clean up - children can help collect sticks, pull weeds, or help to plant new flowers • Draw pictures or make cards for residents of a local nursing homes or hospital patients • Sorting items collected at a donation drive 6-8 years old • Park or playground clean up – children can help to collect trash or rake leaves • Collect items for donation • Make signs or t shirts for fundraising events 9-11 years old • Dog walking or kennel maintenance for a local pet shelter • Help at a story time session in your local library or read to seniors with poor eyesight, can also record stories to tape • Manning water and food stations at runs or walks for charity 12-15 years old • Tutoring younger students in school work or helping them improve additional talents like with a musical instrument or a sports skill.

• Teach computer skills to seniors • Giving tours at historical sites, museums, or zoos

All photos and text courtesy of HGTV

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h g t v. c o m / g r e e n - h o m e HGTV’s Green Home is in Stapleton. Denver, Colorado’s eco-progressive community created on the site of a former airport in Denver. Stapleton is reusing/recycling 4,700 acres of land and reconnecting it to Denver’s urban fabric.

Over the past decade the community has emerged as one of the country’s most ambitious examples of sustainable development. The 2,400-square-foot, custom-built “green” home will be given away as part of the HGTV Green Home grand prize package at the end of June. The HGTV Green Home Giveaway 2011 premieres Saturday, August 20 at 8 p.m. A video and information about the location of the home is available at HGTV.com/greenhome.

“The HGTV Green Home gives us an opportunity to display the latest products and highlight the newest practices for the ever-evolving standards of sustainable living,” said Jack Thomasson, HGTV House Planner. “The combination of a spectacular eco-healthy home design, built in a vibrant community, will undoubtedly make this our most dynamic HGTV Green Home ever.”

About Stapleton Located on the site of Denver’s former international airport, Stapleton is one of the largest urban redevelopments in the United States. The core objective of the community plan is to create a living example of progressive, sustainable neighborhood design. With a walkable mix of energyefficient new homes, retail districts, schools, offices and an extensive network of parks and open spaces, Stapleton is not only leading the way environmentally but economically and socially, too. For more information, visit StapletonDenver.com.

The community is being developed by Forest City Enterprises, Inc., an NYSE-listed national real estate company engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate throughout the United States. For more information, visit ForestCity.net.

The HGTV Green Home features open spaces that flow together to create an interactive environment. The home’s exterior mix of hipped and cantilevered roof forms gives a feel of a winged structure, recalling the site’s airport past. By not replicating a traditional house style, the HGTV Green Home of 2011 looks to the future with a modern prairie look and does not try to reproduce the past.

Constructed by Infinity Home Collection of Denver, it features construction and design elements that are known to contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier living environment.

“In Stapleton, we’ve worked to create a community that is founded on sustainability,” said Denise Gammon, Senior Vice President of Development for Forest City Stapleton, the master developer of the Stapleton Community. “We’ll be delighted to welcome the lucky winner of the Green Home Giveaway to the neighborhood.”

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Girls Room Clean, contemporary and uncluttered, the girl’s room features only essential furnishings to maximize floor space. Interior designer Linda Woodrum took one look at the carpet in a shade of bright bubblegum, and knew immediately that one room would be over-thetop colorful. “That room feels joyous and happy, and it’s fun to be in the space,” she says.

Window dressings include cellular shades and Roman blinds in a neutral shade to temper bright-pink shades.

“Linen really holds up to the sun well. It doesn’t break down,” says interior designer Linda Woodrum. “It’s very sustainable.” Bedding includes organic cotton pom-pom blankets and quilted duvets.

An oversized wing chair, upholstered in sustainable fabric, is paired with a casual wooden cube to create a reading nook. “The room is symmetrical with a chest and two beds and you want to keep it from getting too sterile. So you bring in things that don’t match,” says interior designer Linda Woodrum.

Cool doggie wash

The inclusion of adult furnishings in a child’s space makes sense to Linda. “If a young girl is in there, she’ll be in there for maybe 10 years,” she says. “Don’t buy children’s furniture.”

Boys Room Stripes of wood flooring create a rug-like effect in the home’s second guest bedroom, designed to accommodate a young boy. “That’s where the character starts in that room,” says interior designer Linda Woodrum.

A topaz wall color complements light wood stripes in the flooring. The standard-size bed, crafted by carpenter David Brown from old doors, is as comfortable for a child as for an overnight guest.

Ultra-stylish dining room

Bedding incorporates a cotton voile bubble quilt in a soft-washed shade of iron, ikat-striped organic cotton sheets and custom-made, botanical-print pillows.

A mirror is framed in recycled pieces of tin — a global tapestry of recycled iron sheet packaging.

The reading chair’s geometric pattern adds sophistication in a space that will grow along with a child. “It’s about textures, grays and creams in that space. And it’s very cozy and warm,” says Linda.

All photos and text courtesy of HGTV

The versatile do-room

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