Veggie Booty Recall for Salmonella Risks

One of my son's favorite snacks has been recalled. Fortunately, we have not purchased any Veggie Booty for quite some time, but I know this is a popular natural, but not organic (just the soy flour is organic), snack for children. Veggie Booty is made by Robert's American Gourmet and is made of puffed corn rice with a blend of spinach, kale, carrots, parsley, broccoli, and cabbage.

If you have a bag of Veggie Booty, you should dispose of it immediately. In a letter from Rob himself, he writes, "Robert’s American Gourmet has been alerted to a recent outbreak of salmonella and the potential contamination of Veggie Booty. Due to the serious nature of the health risk, Robert’s has decided to temporarily stop the manufacture and sale of Veggie Booty ONLY until test results can positively identify the source. We stand by our snacks and hope to resume making Veggie Booty shortly." To obtain a refund, simply send the empty bag of Veggie Bootie, along with your name, address, phone number, store where you purchased the product, and the purchase price to
Robert's American Gourmet
Veggie Booty Recall
P.O. box 326
Sea Cliff, New York 11579

There are a suspected 51 cases of salmonella poisoning from Veggie Booty in 17 states. According to MSNBC, "none of the products has tested positive for salmonella, but the company acted as a precaution after the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that many of the infected people had eaten the product." Salmonella can grow on any food substances and causes fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. It can be fatal for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Long term effects can include severe arthritis.

Organic and health food are not immune to the risks of salmonella and other bacterias that enter our food supply. There is also a recall on Maranatha Organic Raw Tahini for salmonella bacteria. As long as we continue to process our food in factories and ship across the country, the chances for food borne illnesses will increase. In fact, according to the CDC, 5000 deaths a year occur in the US from food borne illnesses. The typical ingredient on your table has traveled 1500 miles to reach your home. The 100 Mile Diet is not only good for the planet, but I believe it protects consumers from food borne illnesses as well.

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Volunteer with Your Family

One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways you can impact the greenness of your community is to volunteer. Wikipedia defines a volunteer as "someone who serves in a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so." Volunteering can be both informal and formal opportunities to help, and with a focus on greening your community, you can do your small part to help improve the lives of those around you. Volunteering is also a wonderful opportunity for you family to spend quality time together modeling your green values.

Finding formal volunteer opportunities is relatively easy. Typing in "volunteer" and your city's name into a search engine (you can narrow this search by adding "environment", "river", "recycling", etc.) will result in many opportunities. Also, many of these opportunities are posted in newspapers, or you can contact a local environmental agency. In my area of northern California, there are many opportunities for coastal clean up, removal of non-native species, recycling, environmental education, etc. There are also many volunteer websites and programs that can link you to local organizations based upon your interests:

Do Something
Idealist.org
Volunteer Match
Heifer International
Living Lands and Waters
Sierra Club

Informal volunteering is an even easier way to make an impact on a daily basis. Simply find an area of interest and carry out your own action plan. For example, if headed to the recycling center, stop along the way and pick up recyclables you see on the side of the road. I once picked up five tires on one such trip. Or, you could volunteer to start a recycling program at a local school or assisted living facility. These locations may also benefit from a donation of CFLs. It is also easy to pull a non-native weed from the ground while on an enjoyable hike.

The possibilities for volunteering are endless and can take minimal time and effort on your part. The Volunteer Family lists multiple ideas such as,

Write letters to congress supporting legislation that helps the environment
Help clean up shore around lakes, beaches/coasts, river
Clean up litter on the street or in a park
Weed in a cemetery or park
Use more energy-efficient light bulbs
Work on a community garden or farm
Clear trails
Start a compost pile
As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." By volunteering in your community, not only will you help your local environment of which people are a part, but you will help yourself as a living member of your ecosystem.

This post orignially appeared on Green Options: Tip O' the Day.
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A Klean Kanteen Family: Update on the Safe Sippy Cup

It has been over six months since I wrote about the Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle revolution (see "Finally, A Safe Sippy Cup"). Since I wrote that post, we have purchased a Klean Kanteenfor each member of the family and an additional one for my son. Toddlers do need more than one sippy cup!

In six months, our Klean Kanteenshave been dropped many times and have a few dents. My daughter's Klean Kanteenoften needs a little hammering on the bottom to make it sit level. I broke the lid on my Klean Kanteenwhen I dropped it on a concrete sidewalk, but we had an extra lid from switching my daughter's to a sippy cup lid. My husband feels like his Klean Kanteenhas a metallic taste, but none of our other bottles have this taste. We have cleaned it according to the suggestions with vinegar, and that did help remove the taste. Just a few days ago, I figured out how to clean the lid of the sippy cups (I can't believe it took me six months to figure it out!). The disc shaped valve comes off completely and then easily pops back on. Before I made this discover, I had been folding it back to clean underneath. My son's oldest Klean Kanteenis starting to leak a little, but I think I just need to swap the green spout to amend this problem. I actually do not mind, as the leak is helping teach him to leave his bottle upright, which will help him move beyond sippy cups all the time. Thingamababy offers a great suggestion on how to make Klean Kanteensippy cup name tag. ReusableBags.com is my favorite place to shop for water bottles.

Natural, Rubber Wood Toys by Plan Toys

Children today are bombarded with plastic, limiting toys that do not expand their imaginations or aid their development. Not only can plastic toys be harmful to children's health, but the production of plastic toys further increases our dependence upon petroleum and leaves a greater carbon footprint than natural, wooden toys. There are many companies that produce wooden toys; however, not all of these companies provide information about the kind of wood they use or their sustainability practices. In addition, many of these companies manufacture their toys in China, where constant monitoring is required to ensure dangerous substances, such as lead, do not accidentally enter into production, such as the recent recall of Thomas the Tank Engine wooden railway toys exemplifies. Plan Toys is a company you can trust!

Plan Toys uses chemical-free rubber wood to produce their toys. These trees are at least 25 years old, and thus have stopped producing latex. Rubber wood farmers traditionally fell these trees and burn them to produce charcoal, in order to clear the land for replanting. Plan Toys increases the value of these trees by using them to produce their beautiful line of wooden toys. The wood is kiln-dried to avoid bacteria and pest infestation, thus making the rubber wood naturally preservative free and safe for children. All paints are non-toxic, the glue used is latex-based, and all corners are rounded for safety; however, some toys do contain plywood. Plan Toys insures that their "plywood complies with E1 standards, thus ensuring emissions of urea formaldehyde at levels below those acceptable to the World Health Organization (WHO)". All packaging materials are recyclable and do not contain PVC.

To read more, please visit Green Options: Green Family Values: Natural, Wooden Toys by Plan Toys.


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A Guide to Reducing Your Families Impact on the Planet

This post comes courtesy of Lighter Footstep, a website dedicated to helping people live lighter, more sustainable lives...one step at a time.

PORCHLIGHT:
A Family’s Weekly Guide to Reducing Your Impact on the Planet at Home

Written by Sonya K. Hess
_____________________________________________________________


Child-Raising: Three ways to lighten your impact on the planet AND economize

Children have become a fad: grocery store tabloids map celebrity-babies’ every move, note who is riding in which tricked-out stroller, and remind us where so-and-so got her baby’s $300 shoes. But fads mean money spent on a constantly changing environment of style, one that only encourages over-consumption and overuse of already precious resources. Want to bring child rearing back to earth, and save money in the process?


1. SHOP SECOND-HAND

For some parents thrift stores may be a budget necessity, but regardless of your wallet, shopping thrift stores for kids has endless benefits. First, remind yourself that your child, at least for the first two years of her life, could care less what she wears, as long as it’s weather-appropriate. Reminding yourself of this can help you to care less too. Second, children’s second-hand clothes are rarely worn out or even stained, thanks to kids’ rapid growth, so your bargains are going to look and wear like practically new clothes. Someone is out there paying full dollar for those clothes, and you stand only to benefit. Third, most small- to mid-sized cities, to say nothing of metropolitan areas, are exploding with consignment shops for children’s clothes. These stores range from mega-cheap to highly selective, so whatever your style and budget, you can find a deal. And finally, buying second hand will really add up: if the average new outfit for a child at a large chain store runs about $25 and you find it for $10, you’ve saved $15 per outfit which can easily mean close to $100 for a week’s worth of clothes. Plus, with the resale options many consignment stores offer, your kids’ outgrown clothes can go right out the door again and earn you credit or cash in the end.


2. USE CLOTH DIAPERS

It’s funny how many people I’ve talked to say something like this: “I know I should try cloth diapers just like I should try to recycle and use less gas and minimize my waste, but it just sounds so hard.” Well, I’m about to show you that it isn’t—at least no harder than trudging out to the grocery store late at night for another package of disposables because you discover you’ve used the last one.

The Economics of Cloth Diapers

If no other reason convinces you, saving money should be a no-brainer. The average child will be in diapers for over two years, and a family’s monthly disposable diaper spending averages $35-55, depending on brands bought, as well as extra supplies (wipes, etc.). Sure, you make an initial investment with cloth diapers that can run anywhere from $150-$300, but even at the high end you’ve easily spent less in total than you would on even six or seven months of disposable diapers. And if you chose to have more than one child, remember that that investment will last you through all your kids, while a family adding a child adds another $35-50 spent, per month, on what is basically garbage.

**Want to learn more about the economics of cloth diapers, including detailed breakdowns of waste production and water use for disposables vs. cloth? Check out Punkin Butt’s wonderful article entitled The Diaper Dilemma: The Environmental Cost of Diapers.

Cloth diapering really can be easy

Think for a minute: wouldn’t you calmly explain to a friend that he/she was crazy for using paper plates and cups for every meal, and show them that using a sink or dishwasher is actually pretty handy? We use paper plates at company picnics because they make things easier, but at home it just makes sense to eat your pasta out of a bowl, wash the bowl, and use it for your cereal the next morning.

Now shift those thoughts over to diapers and clothing: we all do laundry already, right? Does it sound easy to you to do one more load, especially if you know you’re saving money and easing your burden on the earth? I hope so, because that’s what cloth diapering is: a little more laundry, and a lot less money.

Options for cloth diapers

The internet is full of options for those who choose cloth, and this article will give you the basics, as well as referring you to a host of websites that can teach you even more.

Sharp diaper pins and cracked plastic pants are a thing of the past. Cloth diapers come in two basic types: “prefold” diapers (your basic thick rectangle of cotton, folded into diaper shape) with a waterproof velcro- or snap-closure cover, and “all-in-one” diapers (AIOs in the diapering world) that are cover and soaker in one, held on with Velcro, snaps, or elastic. Beyond cotton innards and waterproof coverings, there are many fleece and wool choices as well, especially nice for babies with skin sensitivities.

The prefold route: probably the most savings—you buy 4-8 diaper covers in your baby’s size, as well as 2-4 dozen cloth “prefolds,” depending on how often you’d like to do laundry. The diaper covers can be used more than once, until they are overly wet or soiled, and then a quick hand wash and line dry has them ready to go again in several hours. The inner prefolds that handle the bulk of the urine and waste get rinsed and soaked or tossed in your diaper bin until laundry time.

AIO: you’ll spend more up front for these, because you need enough to get you through all the diaper changes for a couple days (unless you want to do laundry every night). Most folks choosing all-in-ones will buy 2-3 dozen in each size necessary, and wash all of them every third day or so.

Washing cloth diapers—getting down to business

Everyone will develop their own system for washing diapers, and many types of all-in-one diapers or diaper covers may come with their own set of washing instructions. The very basics are a bucket-soak or soak-cycle in your washer, either with vinegar or baking soda, followed by a hot wash/cold rinse, and then drying on the line or in a hot dryer. Since your washing machine will be doing most of the work, the only time you spend is getting diapers to and from the machine, and if you hire a diaper service to do the washing, even this task is cut out, although it really isn’t that much of a hassle.

**Still skeptical? Skim through another article from Punkin Butt’s wonderful website, this one entitled “Punkin Butt Easy Wash System: Simple and effective instructions for how to wash cloth diapers".


Other concerns: daycare, reusable wipes, etc.
Concerned about how to integrate cloth diapers into your child’s daycare routine?
Heather Sanders’ article “Cloth Diapered Children and Day Care Providers” can be found at http://www.thediaperhyena.com/daycare_clothdiapering.htm. She covers a range of issues, from introducing cloth diapering to your daycare provider to the more complex legal and health-code issues associated with diapering and daycare centers.
Reusable wipes?
Just like the washcloths we use in the shower, wipes for baby’s bottom can easily be made from cloth and used endlessly—my mother still has a pile in her rag bag that get used in the garage, twenty-some years after the fact! Many cloth diapering websites sell their own special styles of flannel or terry reusable wipes; you can make your own or simply buy thin baby washcloths or second-hand washcloths to do the job. Count on getting about two dozen to make life easier.
Ready to get started?
The Internet will be your best friend as you collect your cloth diapering supplies. The websites listed below are only a guide to get started, as many others abound and a simple web search will turn up enough sites for you to compare prices and options. Ebay is also a great way to find new and used diaper covers and brand new prefold diapers for less money than many online stores. If you are lucky enough to live near a children’s supply store that stocks cloth diapering materials, visit them and support your local business. Many carry used diaper covers as well.
www.thediaperhyena.com
www.punkinbutt.com
www.diapersafari.com
www.babycottonbottoms.com
www.treecitydiapers.com

3. TOYS—Simplifying the Playroom

Nowhere is marketing to children more apparent than in the toy department. Aside from limiting your children’s exposure to television (most pediatricians recommend NO screen time for children under 2-3 years of age) you can exercise a certain amount of control over how many toys your child has, and what types of toys you allow into your home. Here are some things to think about:

Plastics vs. natural materials

Recent research has shown the potential risks plastics pose to our bodily health, and this risk is increased for children because their bodies are so much smaller and because they spend much more time as babies with things in their mouths. Why not eliminate the risk of toxic leachates from plastics and give your baby wooden or cloth toys? Plastics are also petroleum products of one sort or another, and so in addition to the fossil-fuel energy it took to produce the toy, the toy itself is using up precious resources, and won’t biodegrade quickly (as wood and natural-fiber cloths do) when finally thrown away.


“Characters” vs. open-ended toys

Marketing is a factor again here. I don’t assume that we can indefinitely shield our children from all toy marketing, movies, and the like. Most parents don’t even want to do this. But at an early age, you probably noticed that babies derive just as much pleasure from playing with your car keys or a wooden spoon as the action-figure they’re given to knaw on. Rather than toys that have just one use, provide your growing children with tools for creativity: blocks, puzzles, materials for forts and other creative play, and of course the great outdoors are your child’s best playthings. These toys will likely be durable as well, reducing what you end up spending and throwing away over the course of childhood. And just like clothes, many quality toys are available second-hand.

More Thoughts on the Thomas the Tank Engine Lead Paint Recall: Children Around the World Should Be Protected

The recall of Thomas the Tank Engine toys, as well as other recent recalls, reminds us that our children will never be safe until children are safe globally from harmful products in their toys. A recent opinion article in the New York Times by Christian Warren speaks to this issue. "The Little Engine That Could Poison" reminds us that the important lessons to be learned from these recalls is not only about the protection our own children, but "regulating environmental poisons in the global economy".

With the majority of products consumers purchase being manufactured overseas, the incidence of "accidental" contamination will continue. As Warren writes, "It is important to do what we can to prevent the import of dangerous toys. But it is at least as important to help our international partners curtail the use of lead and other toxic substances in their own markets. Lax product safety and environmental regulation overseas undoubtedly lowers manufacturing costs there, but it also perpetuates the risk to our children and guarantees harmful exposure to both workers and children in countries that continue using lead as blithely as we once did." Lead is very dangerous stuff that causes irreversible damage in humans.

No family anywhere in the world should have to suffer from the effects of this known poison, especially in an effort to produce cheap products for the world market. As a world power, we need to do something to extinguish this hazard globally. We have some protection in this country, despite President Bush slashing of the Consumer Product Safety Commission budget by 10%, yet our children are still exposed to lead in their toys. Who knows how many children throughout the world play with lead tainted toys?

Magnetic Dolls....Better Than Paper Dolls!

Two years ago, my daughter received a magnetic princess dress up doll similar to Melissa and Doug's Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up Doll. The magnetic parts adhere to the doll easily and are durable, compared to paper doll clothing. Not only are the magnetic backed wooden parts long lasting, but they are much easier for little hands to manipulate and thus do not cause the frustration. I remember being in tears as a child when my paper dolls tore, and these paper dolls required adult assistance to play with at a young age.

Our magnetic doll has been repeatedly played with and hardly rests on a shelf at all. Melissa and Doug's Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up Dollcomes with 24 pieces and is low priced ($7.50). There is a stand for the doll; however, we mostly play with our doll lying flat. The stand is useful when you have more than one doll to interact with each other in dramatic play. Melissa and Doug's Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up Dollis recommended for children three-years old and older; however, with close supervision, younger children can enjoy this wooden toy. Some of the pieces, such as the shoes and crowns, pose choking hazards, but a parent could remove these items to allow a younger child to play with the doll independently.

Britax Parkway Booster: A Less Toxic Car Seat

After discovering my children had the most toxic car seats evaluated by the Ecology Center, I purchased two Evenflo Big Kid Deluxe Booster Car Seats. These booster seats were lower on the list of toxicity and available locally, so it was an immediate solution to our toxic car seat problem. After one 20 minute car ride with the Evenflo Big Kid Deluxe Booster Car Seats, I developed a headache and my lungs felt weird. I am not a very chemically sensitive person, but the fumes off these seats were unbearable. I returned the Evenflo Big Kid Deluxe Booster Car Seats, much to my daughter's disappointment, as she liked the little lights above the shoulders she could turn on to read books in the car. I also felt that my almost three-year old son was too small for the seat, as he did not appear to be securely held. I did not want to purchase another five point harness seat, as he would only be able to to use it for a few more months, and he had already outgrown his old, toxic one.

Disappointed, I went back to Healthycar.org and revisited the list. I decided to order the Britax Parkway Booster Car Seat for my children. A friend let my children sit in her Britax Parkway Booster Car Seat, as I was concerned my daughter would not tolerate the wrap around sides around the neck and head that provide side impact protection.

We have been using our Britax Parkway Booster Car Seatfor two weeks now, and we love them! The extra support around the neck and head is perfect for sleeping in the car, and my son is held snuggly in this car seat. The seats had a faint odor when first out of the box, but this odor was not detectable at all in the car. The Britax Parkway Booster Car Seatreceived a toxicity rating of 0.5 compared the 5 rating of our old seats. It was worth the extra expense ($84.00 a piece on sale) to have the peace of mind that my children are not breathing in toxic fumes in the car (well not as much). In addition, I truly believe the Britax Parkway Booster Car Seatis a safer car seat, as described by the product description: "The Britax Parkway belt-positioning booster has been designed for increased safety incorporating deep torso and adjustable height head support. True Side Impact Protection, developed by Britax engineers, has been confirmed through rigorous side impact sled testing to better contain a child in dangerous side-impact crashes. The seat shape correctly positions the lap belt over your childs pelvis while the shoulder belt guide keeps the vehicle belt comfortably away from his/her neck."

I find it interesting that the Britax company could have one of the least toxic car seats in the booster department, but this same company ranks highly in the convertible car seat model. I hope that one of these days our children will truly be protected from toxic products. I am so tired of learning about lead and other harmful substances in products designed for children. It just doesn't make sense.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Yesterday, we spent the day frolicking at the river, so I forgot to wish all of you a Happy Summer Solstice! This day has become a day of World Peace and Prayer, so I offer you this blessing:

I pray for peace in my being
To create peace with all beings,
Because peace is healing the planet,
Our Mother Earth.

I pray for peace in my being
To create peace with all beings,
Because peace is healing the planet,
Our Mother Earth.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Many of the products used to clean are homes create unhealthy indoor air quality for our families. Making your own cleaning products not only saves you money, improves your indoor air quality, makes your home less toxic, but it is simple and easy.

There are many natural window cleaners available at coops and natural food stores; however, these products can be expensive, and in my experience, their performance leaves much to be desired. It is very simple to make your own window cleaning solution with vinegar and water. This homemade window solution is very effective and inexpensive.

To make homemade window cleaner, combine 3 teaspoons of vinegar to one quart of warm water. Pour the solution into a reusable spray bottle, and you have the safest, best window cleaner for your home. To prevent streaking, do not clean your windows while the sun is on them and use crumpled newspaper to wipe them dry. The newspaper can still be recycled after cleaning your windows. It is hard to break the paper towel habit when it comes to cleaning windows, but once you do, you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Vinegar is very inexpensive. A gallon of organic vinegar costs about $12.00 (non-organic vinegar costs about $3.00 a gallon) and will last you for many years of window cleaning. You will find many other uses for vinegar beyond cooking , such as killing weeds and rinsing laundry, as you explore this amazing liquid. It is also relatively easy to make your own vinegar from juice, then you would have a truly homemade window cleaner!

This post was included on Green Options Tip O' the Day, which contains many great simple ways to make your life greener!

Good Children's Literature: My Body My House

With environmental issues on the forefront of many peoples minds these days, there has been an increase of children's literature on the subject. My Body My House is one such book that focuses on the choices we make in our home that affect our body's health. Written by Lisa Beres and illustrated by Juila Woolf, My Body My House addresses "sick building syndrome", suspected as being responsible for almost half of the illnesses in this country.

My Body My House begins with a man living in a healthy home, surrounded by trees, heated with wood, and providing a garden with fresh vegetables. Soon, the Body (man) begins to notice his neighbors and feel the need to "keep up with the Jones's". He begins to remodel his home, wanting to do so cheaply and not concerned with the toxicity of the buidling materials. He replaces hardwood floors with carpeting, seals the windows, uses insecticides to kill bugs, etc. The House continues to warn the Body he is creating an unhealthy environment, but the Body continues to remodel. "'But you don't understand,' the House started to gush. 'My air now contains pollution and dust. You've added new things. I'm no longer the same. Look in the mirror, only YOU are to blame.'" The Body continues to become ill from the indoor air quality, until he eventually opens a window, breathes in fresh air, and discovers the error of his ways. "He reached his arms out and hugged his dear friend. 'Don't worry, wise House, these problems I'll mend!' Then he skipped out the door, not a minute to spare, spotting all of his friends as he leaped in the air. Butterflies, trees, birds, bugs-everyone. And the Body now realized we are woven in one."

My almost six-year old daughter enjoyed My Body My House; however, there were a few aspects of the book she said she would have changed. First, the text does not follow a consistent rhyming pattern. Some lines rhyme, some do not. When reading orally, a rhythm begins to develop on some passages, only to be abruptly changed a few lines later. In addition, it bothered her that the character was referred to as the Body throughout the book. I understand the author's choice of the Body to reinforce the parallels between our homes and our bodies; however, this choice created an awkard storytelling experience. The goal of the story to educate parents and children about the relationship of our homes to our health and the environment is good, yet the awkardness of the text makes me think this book will not stand the test of time as a great environmental children's book. The illustrations match the light, whimisical text well.


If you would like to read more of this review, please visit Green Options: Green Family Values: My Body My House Review.

The Best Organic Strawberry Tart Ever!

Sadly, strawberry season is beginning to wane here in northern California; however, the news is not all bad as the raspberries and cherries are ripening in my garden. This delicious recipe for Organic Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese Tart came from my friend Laura. Our town hosts a good old-fashioned pie auction every spring to raise money for our community council. Laura made this tart one year, and it sold for almost $200 at the pie auction. Fortunately, a friend bought it, so I was able to try a piece and begged Laura for the recipe. This Organic Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese Tart is amazing, with just the right combinations of ingredients. The tart is light, using very little sugar and fresh strawberries. My tarts never turn out as beautiful as Laura's high priced one, but the taste is one I look forward to every strawberry season. This recipe is modified from one published in Cooking Light magazine.

Of course, bakers should use organic ingredients to make this recipe pesticide free! I use organic Sucanat , which stands for Sugar Cane Natural, for all my baking. Sucant is Fair Trade certified from Costa Rica and is made by crushing sugar cane, extracting and heating the juice, then hand paddling the juice until it dries into porous granules. Unlike refined sugars, Sucanat retains many vitamins and minerals present in sugar cane, such as iron, calcium, vitamin B6, potassium, and chromium.

To obtain the full recipe, please visit Green Options Weekend Grub: Organic Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese Tart.

Carbon Offsetting the Family Vacation

With climate change on everyone’s minds, purchasing carbon credits offers a means to alleviate some of our green guilt. Terms like ”carbon neutral”, “carbon credits”, “carbon offsets” etc. are thrown around the green community to describe ways we can absolve our carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. The average American contributes over 20 tons of carbon a year, and the family vacation is a part of this equation.

Because we live off the grid and run biodiesel (B99) in our truck, I’ve never been too concerned with purchasing carbon credits; however, this summer, my family will be taking a flight across the United States to visit family. According to the CarbonNeutral Company, “Airline flights are among the fastest growing sources of global warming gases.” There are many websites that provide carbon calculators to help you figure out how much carbon your vacation will emit. For example, the flight calculator at Conservation.org figures our trip will contribute 4.4 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which we can offset for a $44.00 donation.

To read more, please visit our post on GNM Parents.

Father's Day is Tomorrow: How About Giving Dad a Suistainable Gift By Not Buying!

Sunday is Father's Day, and just like Mother's Day, it originated out of tragedy. The modern American celebration of Father's Day began in 1908, when 361 men were killed in a mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia. Father's Day is celebrated around the world (on different days) to honor and commemorate the importance of male figures in family life.

Traditionally in this country, gifts are given by children to their fathers, but does Dad really need another Jerry Garcia silk tie? According the The Green Guide, more than half of dads say they've never received a "good" gift, and the average cost of a Father's Day gift is $89.00. There are plenty of green, eco gifts available to buy Dad. Instead of supporting the overconsumerism in this country spawned by holidays, how about showing Dad you love him with a truly sustainable gift. These gifts don't require you to buy Dad anything, but to spend time with him.

To read more, please visit Green Options: Green Family Values: Eco Gifts for a Green Father's Day Means Not Buying Anything!

Whiffy Bean Bags Herbal Scented Fun

Whiffy Bean Bags are homemade, natural toys filled with aromatic herbs. Over 50 different herbs and essential oils are used in various combinations for Whiffy Bean Bags, and you can request your own combination too! We sampled the dried lavender and chamomile bag, as well as the calming blend of herbs. Both combinations smell wonderful to me, but my daughter felt they were a little strong.

Bean bags are great fun for young children and are perfect for learning to catch. We practiced throwing our Whiffy Bean Bags high into the air and catching them as they fell. We practiced repeating the words "up" and "down" for my son, who is a late talker, as we played with our Whiffy Bean Bags.

Whiffy Bean Bags cost $4.50, and you can custom choose your fabric and herbal blends. The fabrics we sampled were made of some synthetic fibers; however, I think you could request natural blends for your custom herbal bean bag. Whiffy Bean Bags also makes a variety of other products, such as key chains and a See It filled with scented beads that helps children's manual dexterity.

Thomas the Tank Engine Recall: Lead Paint on Wooden Trains

Once again, we are left to wonder why manufacturers of children's products include lead in the materials. 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine products are being recalled due to lead in the surface paint. These wooden railway train products were sold between 2005 and 2007 and manufactured in China. You can visit the CPSC website to learn more information. Consumers are advised to take the toys away from their children immediately and contact RC2 Corp (parent company of Learning Curve) for a replacement. Unlike the Small World Toys recall we participated in earlier this year, you must return the recalled toys to RC2 and fill out a form.

We have several of the recalled trains; however, they were purchased before 2005 when my daughter was a toddler. One of the problems with toy recalls, besides the fact that there are too many of them-unsafe products should not be on the market in the first place, is that most small toys are not registered. Parents are good about filling out registration cards for car seats and other big ticket items, but a $10 wooden train does not even come with a registration card. Parents must rely on news reports, friends, and families to find out about recalls of this nature. Thank you Dad for telling my mainstream media avoiding family about this recall of Thomas the Tank Engine toys.

Tell Congress to Include Organic Farmers in This Year's Farm Bill

The Environmental Working Group has released a petition to Congress in support of organic farming. Only shopping in coops and natural food stores, I forget that organic produce is still not abundantly available throughout the country. According to EWG, only 3% of fruit, 2% of vegetables, and 0.02% of corn available in grocery stores is organic.

The EWG petition asks Congress to increase funding for organic farms as it rewrites the farm bill:
*Give organic farmers their fair share of my tax dollars for research on how to grow organic food.
* Help more farmers make the transition to organic farming.
* Level the playing field for the organic industry by devoting a fair share of resources to organic pest control and crop nourishment.
Please sign this petition to give organic farmers a fair chance in the US food market.

Since we are talking about food, the Telegraph reported yesterday that "Global Food Abundance No Longer Guaranteed". Corn inventories in this country have fallen to the lowest levels ever, and we are not alone as global shortages and price increases are occurring.

Great Children's Literature: Hello Hello

Hello Helloby Dan Zanes and illustrated by Donald Saaf is based on Dan Zane's excellent children's song by the same name. The text/lyrics are very optimistic, speaking of the potential of each day and ending with a multicultural image and words for hello: konnichiwa, namaste, hallo, bonjour, etc. Hello Hellocomes with a cd, featuring five Dan Zane's songs. The lyrics and musical notation for each song is included in the back of the book. I truly love this song and book! "Every day brings more than the day before, open any door and say hello hello hello. It's the same bright sun shines on everyone...." Hello Hellosends the message to love life and its inhabitants, while the whimsical illustrations with fold out pages delight young children.

Recycled Tires Swings

One of my favorite things to do at the park as a child was swing on the tire swing. There was something about the shape of the tire and the way it swung that appealed to me. Our backyard was not big enough for a tire swing, but I always enjoyed tire swings at my friends' houses. Recently, the Green Guide provided safety information about tire swings. I have always wondered about the safety of recycled tires in children's swings and playground surfaces.

80% of tires are now recycled (not as tire swings!), compared to only 17% in 1990. At extremely high temperatures, tires off gas toxic benzene and toluene; however, older tires are not likely to off gas at cooler temperatures. Tires can also be breeding grounds for mosquitoes if water pools in them. The Green Guide offers the following tips for recycled tire swing safety:
*Light truck tires work well, but bigger, heavy truck tires used on semis can cause harm. Avoid steel-belted radials, which can pose cutting hazards.

*Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the tire.

*Use a rot-proof nylon rope to hang the tire from a sturdy limb on a hardwood tree such as oak or ash rather than a softer-limbed evergreen. Or, in a playground, check that the tire swing is hung from chains securely bolted to an overhead support with no obstacles within swinging distance.

*Pad the ground beneath the swing with wood chips, bark or recycled-tire rubber tiles (see below).

*For elaborate and amusing handcrafted tire swings in a variety of shapes including airplanes and kangaroos, see Abundant Earth .

*To ensure safety, inspect swing sets regularly and always supervise children on playground equipment.

We previously featured a recycled horse tire swing from Magic Cabin, although you don't need to buy an expensive tire swing to provide your child with outdoor fun. If you feel adventurous, Dave's Garden offers a pattern to make your own recycled pony tire swing from a recycled tire.

A Little Wooden Dollhouse

For my daughter's first birthday, we gave her Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouse. The recommended age rating is three years old, but we felt we could watch her closely and hide away small parts until she was older. Five years later, she still plays with her Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouse, although she does wish for a bigger dollhouse. Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouseis perfect for little spaces like our cabin. It is compact, yet it comes with ample wooden furniture and two wooden figurines.

Over time, we added Melissa and Doug's Family Doll Setto extend the pretend play, as well as more wooden doll house furniture. I still remember my daughter in the early stages of talking and toilet learning playing with the dolls on the wooden potty. She would say, "Peepee in potty," then wash the doll's hands. She did this over and over again. Now that she is almost six, she has painted the rooms, finger knitted rugs and blankets, etc.

Parents often think of dollhouses as gender specific toys; however, I have noticed that boys love dollhouses too. Our Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouse was the first toy one of my daughter's little male friends would play with at our house. My son also enjoys our dollhouse. The large doll house at our preschool is very popular with the male students too. Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Wooden Fold and Go Dollhouseis affordable, at about $30.00, and compact, allowing every little child a chance to have a dollhouse.

PlayGround Hazards: Sand and Pressure Treated Lumber

The weather is warmer, and children are spending more time playing outside and in parks. Just like many other products designed for children we have discovered, there are potential health hazards on the playground. Play sand contains carcinogenic dust, and wooden play structures made with pressure treated lumber contain arsenic compounds.

Children love to play in the sand, but have you ever bought a bag of play sand? If you live in California, the bag of play sand is labeled with a Proposition 65 warning label telling you that it contains "chemicals known to cause cancer in the state of California." Play sand contains crystalline silica, which has been identified as a human carcinogen; however, there have been no reported cases of children developing cancer from play sand. In addition, play sand contains traces of the mineral tremolite, a form of the human carcinogen asbestos. Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of the Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, as quoted in the Green Guide, states malignant mesothelioma—a lung cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos—is extremely sensitive to limited exposure. "Even very small doses of asbestos exposure," Landrigan says, "can increase the risk of malignant mesothelioma for four or five or six decades." As expected, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) fails to see a problem with play sand.

The good news is that a safe sand alternative exists. According to the Safe Sand Company, "Safe Sand is a fine white playsand, but unlike crushed quartz, it is a feldspathic sand. Our finely gradated and clean play sand is ideal for use in children's sand boxes. Our beautiful white sand is the perfect texture for creating sand castles and sand sculptures." We filled our sandbox with local sand from the river. Since this natural sand is not manufactured play sand, I assume (perhaps foolishly) that it is safe.

Another risk found in backyard and playgrounds comes from wooden structures built with pressure treated lumber. This lumber often has a greenish tinge to it from the chemicals injected into it to preserve the wood. This wood is treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) to prevent rot from insects and microbial agents. This is one area in which the government has acted to protect our children. The EPA has worked with manufacturers since 2003 to eliminate CCA from children's play structures. Unfortunately, many older playgrounds still exist and the CPSC has refused to ban CCA. Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall said, "EPA's cancellation of the registration of CCA as a pesticide will have the effect of prospectively banning the use of CCA-treated wood, and most major manufacturers of playground sets have already ceased using CCA-treated wood. I urge the staff to continue its work to identify stains and sealants that will reduce exposure to arsenic from existing CCA wood structures." The CPSC staff scientists found that some children may face an increased risk of developing lung or bladder cancer over from playground equipment made from CCA pressure-treated wood. Children come in contact with arsenic residue from the hand to the mouth after playing on CCA pressure-treated wood playground equipment. The Environmental Working Group led the way in petitioning the CPSC. Their report titled Poisoned Playgrounds found that, "We know that arsenic in drinking water is dangerous for children, but what we found was that the arsenic in lumber is an even greater risk," said EWG Analyst Renee Sharp, principal author of the report. "In less than two weeks, an average five-year-old playing on an arsenic-treated playset would exceed the lifetime cancer risk considered acceptable under federal pesticide law."

EWG makes the following recommendations for protecting children from pressure treated lumber:
*Seal arsenic-treated wood structures every year with polyurethane or other hard lacquer
*Don't let children eat at arsenic-treated picnic tables, or at least cover the table with a coated tablecloth
*Make sure children wash their hands after playing on arsenic-treated surfaces, particularly before eating.

Remember, pressure treated lumber may exists in many places outside your home. Be cautious around decks, fences, railings, etc. Newer wooden play structures are preserved with "ammoniacal copper quaternary, is considered less toxic to children than arsenic compounds, but its effect on the environment is still unknown. The most responsible choice remains naturally rot-resistant woods like cedar or redwood. Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, or choose play sets made from recycled plastics", as suggested by the Green Guide. My personal opinion is to look for cedar products, as I am concerned with overharvesting in the redwood forests. If you are shopping for a backyard play structure, The Green Guide also offers product comparisons of alternative playground equipment.

Tin and Wooden Tea Sets for Children

Both male and female children love to play with tea sets as part of their dramatic play. We have previously owned a ceramic tea set, but inevitably cup handles, plates, etc. broke. You also have to be cautious when purchasing a ceramic tea set to be sure the glazes do not contain lead. A few months ago, we discovered Magic Cabin's Children's Tin Tea Set. This little tea set is durable, aesthetically pleasing to little people, and comes with 15 individual pieces. The only drawback is that the Children's Tin Tea Set is made in China. Real liquids can be placed in the cups and tea pot, but these liquids should be at room temperature since the cups are made of tin. My son likes to play with it at the sink and practice his pouring skills. Sand also provides another medium to practice and experiment with pouring.

Magic Cabin also offers a Curious George Tea Set, if you are looking for a tea set with a gender neutral design. The pail, along with the Curious George Tea Set, makes this set perfect for taking to the beach or garden. Both Magic Cabin sets cost about $16.00.

Melissa and Doug make a delightful Wooden Tea Set. This Wooden Tea Setis very popular at my preschool program, but it is more expensive at $25.00 than the tin sets mentioned previously. The Wooden Tea Setonly comes with two tea settings, and the painted wood makes it strictly for dramatic play. The children at my preschool love to cook with sand in the dramatic play kitchen center, and this Wooden Tea Setis always part of the play.

Organic Lollipops

The breadth of organically grown products available today is amazing. Children do not have to miss out on childhood treats, such as lollipops, because their family only eats organic. Two weeks ago, we discovered Yummy Earth's Organic Lollipops. These lollipops are delicious and the perfect size for children. At $2.21 for 15 lollipops (assorted sizes are available), Yummy Earth's Organic Lollipopsare affordable. We have tried other natural lollipops, like Magic Cabin's Natural Lollipops.

Magic Cabin's Natural Lollipops are made in England (Yummy Earth's Organic Lollipopsare made in Mexico), and they cost about $8.00 for 8 lollipops! Magic Cabin's <Natural Lollipops do not look like "normal" lollipops, and they are not organic. They are handmade, but they are very big and sweet, thus we couldn't finish one in one sitting. Both Magic Cabin's <Natural Lollipops and Yummy Earth's Organic Lollipops come in a variety of sweet flavors.

If you are interested in reading an interview with a friend of mine, who dropped out of the corporate world to start his own green company, please visit Green Options Interview: Steve Elfrink, Founder of OmTerra.

Great Children's Literature: The Great Kapok Tree

Reading aloud to a child is perhaps the single most important activity parents can do to help their child's developing mind. The benefits of reading aloud to children also extends to seaking meaning from the messages present in the literature. Storybook content and illustrations provide a catalyst for discussing the green values expressed by the author and/or illustrator and espoused by your family. There are many wonderful children's books that use the narrative form to express green values and ideas, especially conservation. The Great Kapok Tree is one such book.

The Great Kapok Treeby Lynne Cherry is set in a rain forest about to be logged. An ax man enters the jungle, then falls asleep and dreams about the extraordinary and diverse inhabitants of the jungle. Snakes, butterflies, jaguars, a child, etc. whisper into his ear the consequences of deforestation. The anteater says to the man," Senhor, you are chopping down this tree with no thought for the future. And surely you know that what happens tomorrow depends upon what you do today. The big man tells you to chop down a beautiful tree. He does not think of his own children, who tomorrow must live in a world without trees." When the man awakes, he can not cut down the tree. Lynne Cherry's detailed illustrations reveal a reverence for nature and beauty.

To read more great, green children's literature recommendations, please visit our post on Green Options: Green Family Values: Environmental Children's Literature.

Fair Trade Benefits Children

Fair Trade is a term that is often used in the green community, and you have probably seen your favorite organic chocolate, coffee, tea, etc. labeled as fair trade certified. The concept behind fair trade is simple: to create a sustainable and just global economic system through fair trade (Fair Trade Federation). This goal is accomplished by supporting seven principles identified by the Fair Trade Federation:
Fair wages in a local context,
Participatory workplaces,
Environmental sustainability,
Financial and Technical Support,
Consumer education,
Respect for cultural identity, and
Public accountability.

As consumers in a “developed” nation, most of our goods are produced overseas. Fair trade targets these exports from developing countries to North America and Europe. As a parent, I become especially appalled when I hear about products manufactured by children in unsafe working conditions, such as Gap Kids clothing made by children in third world countries. Fair trade certification gives the consumer some peace of mind that children were not exploited in the production of the goods they are purchasing. Fortunately, fair trade is moving beyond coffee, chocolate, and tea to encompass toys, sports equipment, musical instruments, clothing, etc. for children.

If you would like to read more, including links to fair trade curriculum for parents and teachers, please visit my post on GNM Parents: "A Little Greener: Fair Trade Alternative & Kids".

Organic Strawberry Fields Forever

Our strawberry patch is a gift from the gods! Every day, we get a large bowl full to munch down and freeze. I think that every child should grow up with an organic strawberry patch. It is like a candy store for natural kids. Yesterday, my daughter and her friend were squealing with delight as they found the sweet delectables. The strawberry patch also provides entertainment for my little ones, while I toil away in the garden.
It is important to buy/grow organic strawberries, as strawberries receive the most pesticides of any crop grown in America, and 90% of commercially grown strawberries test above safe levels of pesticide contamination. Also, strawberries are highly allergic, thus my midwives always recommended children under one year of age abstain from eating them.

My favorite way to eat strawberries is raw from the garden; however, occasionally I feel inspired to create a dessert. This weekend's Weekend Grub on Green Options was my recipe for Old Fashioned, Organic Strawberry Shortcake. One of my earliest childhood summer memories is of strawberry shortcake; however, it was always made with spongy, store-bought shortcake. I never much cared for the soft, fluffy shortcake, but I thoroughly enjoyed the strawberries and cream. When I made the shift to organic eating and later wanted to provide my children with the same strawberry summer pleasure, I could not find an organic readymade shortcake in the local coop. In my searches for a recipe, I discovered that traditional strawberry shortcake is not made with an airy cake but sweet biscuits. The first time I tried strawberry shortcake made with biscuits, the taste reminded me of a time when people milked their own cows and had small family farms. I felt like I was sitting in a midwestern farm house eating a treat made by my great grandmother.

Finally, a Use for Plastic Baby Dolls

While stumbling around the web, I discovered these surreal images by Phillip Toledano. Mr. Toledano has been taking odd pictures since he as 11 years old, and he believes, "a photograph should be like an unfinished sentence. There should be space for questions."

I loathe plastic baby dolls, as you probably already know (see "The Search for a Natural Baby Doll"). Not only do I believe these dolls may be made of toxic materials, are aesthetically displeasing, smell, etc., but they seem to be able to be fruitful and multiply! If your experiences are like mine, plastic baby dolls enter your life repeatedly as a gift for your little girl. I have even had one of my daughter's friends give her plastic baby doll two years in a row for her birthday! Why would any one need so many plastic baby dolls, unless of course you are Mr. Toledano.

Oompa Toys offers many great natural and organic dolls sure to please any little girl and her crunchy mama. As my daughter's birthday approaches, I will steer well meaning, doll giving friends and family to Oompa Toys. Oompa Toys is one of my favorite, natural toy stores!

And the Winner Is Erin!

Congratulations Erin! You won our random monthly drawing for an Eco Child's Play hemp bag! Erin left many wonderful comments that enriched our understanding of natural products this month. Erin has two blogs: I've Done Gone Green and The Chronicles of Little Miss E. Her recent blog posts range from sleep deprivation common to all parents and cloth diapers (including a great shot of the laundry line!) to natural sunscreen I will have to try!

Don't forget, to enter June's drawing for an Eco Child's Play hemp bag, all you have to do is leave us a comment. We love to learn from our readers and share in the discussion of raising children in green, sustainable ways. Thank you to all our readers and their comments!

Erin, please email me (jennifer@ecochildsplay.com) your physical address, so I can mail you the bag. The only contact info I can find for you off Blogger is for AIM. I will try to contact you this way too.

A Rose (or Child) By Any Other Name Would Still Be Sweet

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

I've been tagged for a meme by Jeremiah McNichols of Z Recommends. Being new to the blogosphere, I first had to figure out what a meme was! According to Wikipedia, "The term "meme" (IPA: /miːm/), coined and popularized in 1976 by the biologist Richard Dawkins, refers to a "unit of cultural information" which can propagate from one mind to another in a manner analogous to genes (i.e., the units of genetic information)." This meme is about children's names. Jeremiah was tagged by Adrienne of Baby Toolkit, who won our Eco Child's Play monthly hemp shopping bag giveaway for April (stay tuned until tomorrow to find out who May's winner is!) Here are the meme directions: Give the meaning of your kids’ names, and write about what or how or why you gave the name to your kids. Tag five people to play along and leave a comment at their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Before I tell you about my children's names, please watch this beautiful video morphing women's portraits throughout art history. As I watched this video, I couldn't help wondering about the women behind the images, some of who's stories I knew, and their names.

Choosing a child's name is one of the earliest and hardest decision a parent makes, as you have to live with the name forever! I am glad I had practice with dogs, but this also became a problem. My partner felt we used our best boy name on our dog and wanted to give our son the same name. Of course, we could have changed the dog's name, but he is old and the name suits him. I thought it would be confusing for the dog and my son to have the same name, even though my son will outlive the dog.

This is the process we went through to find names. First, we selected three to four names for each sex. We lived with these names and talked about them with family and friends, who suggested more and more names. Most of the suggestions, I rejected, as I associate a name with a personality I have previous known. I have always found it easier to chose female names; I don't know why. My grandmother died when I was pregnant with my daughter. This would have been her first great grandchild. As I flew to see her in the hospital, I decided to tell her I would name my child after her, if it was a girl, if I made it before she died. I did not make it in time. My sister had told me that she had already planned to use this name, and I could sense my partner wasn't too thrilled by it, but he would have gone along if it was what I wanted. We did not name her after my grandmother, as I felt it was unfair to all the other dearly lost women in our family, like my partner's mom, to select this name. Not to be superstitious, but I also consulted a book on name meanings in the airport bookstore and discovered negative associations with this name.

We like to have our children select their names, sort of like how Native Americans traditionally get to know a child before naming them. When our daughter was born, we spoke to her the three names we were considering, including my grandmother's, and she turned her head to her given name. Her name means "in the likeness of God."

Naming my son was more difficult. There were only two boy names that I liked, even after resorting to online name sites and books. I wanted to name him Langston, after Langston Hughes, but my partner thought it sounded like a last name (funny, his name now is also some one's last name). He also thought people would call him Langy for short. After my son was born, he was not given the chance to respond to his name, because he was unresponsive. He was breathing and pink, but he was very lethargic and wouldn't nurse. His congenital heart defect took center stage, and somehow, his name seemed trivial. When we rushed from our home birth to the doctor's office, he was given his name sort of by default when the doctor wanted a name for his records. Somehow this made it official, but we still weren't committing. It was my sister, out of frustration with us, who started calling him by his name from our leading name candidate. Our son's name means "of the sea", which is appropriate since his daddy is a commercial fisherman.

Now I need to tag five others! I've tagged Carey's Cats, The Chronicles of Little Miss E, Green for the Mini, The Not Quite Crunchy Parent, and the Lactivist.

We are honored to have one of our posts featured on Lighter Footstep, a great site on sustainable living. We look forward to a great partnership with the great folks at Lighter Footstep.