How to Freshen and Deodorize Your Rugs Naturally

If you have pets in your house or an older carpet (such as in a dorm or apartment), your flooring may need freshening and deodorizing. Although there are many natural carpet fresheners available in health food stores, it is much simpler and cheaper to make your own. You probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

To make your own carpet deodorizer, combine one cup of baking soda with 1/2-cup cornstarch. Next, add your favorite herbal scent or essential oils, and sprinkle on your rug. I prefer to sprinkle lavender flowers from the garden into my homemade carpet freshener, but using eucalyptus or citronella oils will get fleas hopping just before vacuuming. This natural, homemade deodorizer works best when left on your carpet for several hours (optimally overnight). If you do have fleas, be sure to empty the vacuum canister or bag immediately, in order that the fleas do not crawl out of the vacuum and return to your home.

Commercially-made carpet fresheners come with many warnings, and suggest that you use them everytime you vacuum. These products can be irritating (so can essential oils), as well as create unhealthy indoor air. In addition, such products come with warnings to keep the product out of the reach of children and pets. Baking soda and cornstarch are safe to use on all carpets, like the hand woven, naturally dyed tribal rugs in my home, and I find I only need to use it once or twice a year. I wouldn't think of using a commercial, artificial product on my antiques rugs or around my pets and children.

Making your own cleaning products saves money and creates a greener, natural home. Simple recipes, such as this carpet freshener, make greening the good life simple. This tip also works well to freshen the bottom of trashcans!

Yoga Benefits All Children

If you practice yoga, you know personally the benefits to all aspects of your life. Children can also reap these benefits from regular yoga practice. No matter what form of yoga children practice, they will increase their well-being, reduce stress, and purify their little, physical bodies.

There is evidence that special needs children may especially benefit from yoga. For example, often children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy have poor muscle tone. Practicing asanas offers a gentle method to build strength. In addition, yoga calms the mind, eases tension, and teaches children coping methods. These skills are especially important for children with special needs. Joshua Betts, a child with Asperger's Syndrome, writes of his yoga experiences:

My mom loves yoga. Since she loves me so much, she wants me to do yoga too. She says that yoga keeps her happy and not stressed. I learned some yoga poses. I must say they are not as bad as I thought they would be. My body felt weird at first: very shaky and wobbly. My mom made me do this yoga stuff a lot and I actually started liking having my head upside down! I also liked when my mom told me things to think about while I was doing the poses. She told me to think about being a warrior and being brave and strong when I am doing some of the poses. Sometimes when I am bored at school, I think about these stories to make the time go faster and to stop myself from flapping so much. The weirdest thing my mom makes me do is breathe in strange ways. Mom said that the breathing could help me stop flapping when I am not supposed to. I used to flap at the bus stop all the time, because I was bored and nervous about the school day. Mom told me to take some breaths and she breathed with me. Since I was thinking about my nose and air coming into my body, I could not think about flapping at the same time.

Like Joshua's mother, I love yoga too. From the time my children were growing in my womb, they have been part of my practice (some Hindu texts say that children practice all 108 asanas in utero). As my children grew into toddlers, they would alternate between playing with my body, such as crawling under my downward facing dog, to imitating my poses. In fact, my daughter would get upset if I skipped my daily practice.

Young children's attention span for yoga is not that of an adult; thus, many yoga products have been created to entice children to practice. There are many videos, games, and books available to introduce children to yoga. My favorites kids' yoga products are the children's book Babar's Yoga for Elephants, which offers advice as to where to place your trunk during certain asanas, and the Yoga Garden Game, a cooperative game where players work together to plant the flowers before nighttime falls.

Children don't need specially designed products to learn yoga, but they do need a teacher to guide them. As an elementary school teacher, I regularly incorporated asanas into our physical education program. In addition, the whole class would form a circle and complete the sun salutation each morning. We called this the "Good Morning Stretch," and it was a wonderful way to begin our day of learning together.

It is important that children learn that yoga is a gentle practice, in order to avoid injuries. According to Cookie Magazine, "In yoga, children's natural gifts, agility and enthusiasm, are also their curse: Many are so bendy that they may not recognize their limitations and overstretch, inadvertently injuring muscles. Kids can also get hurt in efforts to compete with their friends, impress the teacher, or try advanced poses before they're ready." Children must be taught that yoga is not a competitive sport!

Yoga practice with children is definitely different than practicing with adults, but children deserve opportunities to experience this ancient tradition. If you decide to include children in your practice or volunteer at a local school, be prepared for giggles and silliness. You might even find yourself joining in the laughter with the little yogis and yoginis!

For more information on Yoga for Kids, please visit Yoga Journal.

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The Great Recall of China-Words of Wisdom from Jon Stewart

For another, more serious perspective, see today's NY Times article "After Stumbling, Mattel Cracks Down in China" and the Green Guide's "The Lowdown: The Latest on Lead Recalls".


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Outdoor Fun with Tetherball

When I was a child, I loved to play tetherball! I ruled the playground, and my parents made a tetherball game for me in our backyard. I would spend countless hours practicing. When I saw Magic Cabin offered a tetherball game, I had to get it for my children's birthday.

As I mentioned before, our cabin is small, and outdoor toys are very appealing. I believe children should spend as much time outside as possible, so the tetherball game offered my children another opportunity to play in the shade. When our tetherball game first arrived, only one part of the pole was in the box. I called Magic Cabin, and they were very kind and quickly remedied the problem. When we installed the tetherball game. which does involve a little concrete, the fun began. The pole is very tall and a little wobbly, but it works. My daughter loves to play the tetherball game, and she has taught her little brother to hit the ball too.

The tetherball game is not very natural. The pole is made of galvanized steel, the rope is nylon, and there is no guarantee the ball is fair trade manufactured. I am also not sure what the country of origin is either,but overall, we are very happy with this toy. Tetherball can be a competitive sport, so it is important to downplay this aspect with your children.

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It's Alright to Play With Your Veggies (if they are organic)

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Rope Ladder Gross Motor Fun

A Rope Ladder is a great eco toy for outdoor fun. This Rope Ladder, available from Magic Cabin, is made of sanded hardwood rungs. The nylon rope is the least eco-friendly part of the toy, but a more natural fiber would not hold up to outdoor weather. The Rope Ladder is rated for children 5 years and older; however, we have had a rope ladder hanging from a tree since my daughter was three-years-old. Our ladder came from Ikea, but it appears it is no longer available.

Climbing on a Rope Ladder is more challenging than climbing a stationary ladder, thus it helps continue the gross motor development of older children. A Rope Ladder swings as a child climbs making the task more challenging. A Rope Ladder could be hung indoors, as well, but we are always looking for outdoor toys that don't crowd our small cabin.

Resources for Environmental Education

This post originally appeared on Green Options.

Back to school time is rapidly approaching, and it is a good time for parents and teachers to make plans for environmental education (EE). EE involves teaching children about the natural world and the way ecosystems work. According to the US EPA,

Through EE, people gain an understanding of how their individual actions affect the environment, acquire skills that they can use to weigh various sides of issues, and become better equipped to make informed decisions. EE also gives people a deeper understanding of the environment, inspiring them to take personal responsibility for its preservation and restoration.

Whether your child is homeschooled or attends public/private school, EE is an important part of education. Many school districts feel that they fulfill their EE requirements by sending sixth graders to outdoor camp, but EE should occur throughout the year. Concerned parents should ask their children's teachers what their plans for EE are for the year.

The following EE curricula are ones I have particular experience with in K-8 education. Many curricula exist, and my approach has always been to pick and choose the best units from assorted curricula to provide EE in my classroom. Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, Keepers of the Earth, and Adopt-a-Watershed are my favorite EE curricula.

Project Wild is the most widely-used EE and conservation curriculum used in K-12 education, and most sixth grade outdoor camps use this curriculum as a basis for their programs. Project Wild emphasizes that wildlife has intrinsic value, and humans need to develop into responsible citizens of the planet. "Project WILD's mission is to help students learn how to think, not what to think about wildlife and the environment." Project Wild also includes an aquatic curriculum and Spanish translation. One activity I remember from Project Wild involved creating a food web. Children represented different animals, plants, insects, etc. A ball of string was used to connect the children, as they made choices as to where the string should be connected. In my classroom, we extended this activity by creating a collage of an ecosystem on cardboard, then taking string and thumbtacks to make a visual representation of a food web. The only way to obtain Project Wild materials is by attending a workshop.

Project Learning Tree is a 30-year-old curriculum of the American Forest Foundation. Just like Project Wild, Project Learning Tree "helps students learn HOW to think, not WHAT to think, about the environment." Project Learning Tree is divided into eight modules: energy and society, forest ecology, forest issues, municipal solid waste, risk, places we live, biodiversity, and forests of the world. A children's literature list is included to accompany each activity. One Project Learning Tree activity is the Environmental Exchange Box, in which children collect photographs, stories, samples of local food, natural objects, etc. representative of their local environment. This box is then exchanged with another box from a different school in a different locality. Children can use this box to compare and contrast the contents to their own environment. Just like Project Wild, you must attend a Project Learning Tree training to receive materials.

Keepers of the Earth is an EE curriculum based on Native American stories. "A collection is presented of carefully chosen North American Indian stories and hands-on activities that promote understanding and appreciation of, empathy for, and responsible action toward the Earth and its people." This curriculum is divided into ten topics: creation, fire, Earth, wind and weather, water, sky, seasons, plants and animals, life, death, spirit, and unity of Earth. A common theme throughout the stories is that the world is a family: "earth as our mother, sun as our father and the animals as our brothers and sisters. The stories foster an ethic of stewardship by clearly showing that we are entrusted with the responsibility to maintain the natural balance, to take care of our mother, to be keepers of the earth." There are several other books that have been written in the series, such as Keepers of Life and Keepers of the Animals. Keepers of the Earth is readily available through bookstores and online merchants.

Adopt-a-Watershed is a lesser know curriculum, which enables students to adopt a local watershed, study it, conserve it, etc.

OUR VISION is for education to serve as the
cornerstone of a sustainable community, in which all citizens live their lives consciously choosing actions that ensure a healthy quality of life for current and future generations.

Adopt-A-Watershed's place-based learning programs promote this vision by engaging students in meaningful activities that lead to an understanding of sustainability and how their choices and actions impact the community and the overall environment.

OUR MISSION is to empower communities to care for their watersheds and enhance student learning by providing leadership development, educational tools, and access to a national network of resources.

As an Adopt-a-Watershed school, my classroom conducted bird surveys, planted trees, and raised steelhead from roe to fry in our classroom. The steelhead were then released in our adopted watershed. There are 18 units in the curriculum, and it is used throughout the world.

Environmental education is an important part of any child's education. Parents and teachers can facilitate this learning through the many curriculums that exist. EE is one aspect of education that may not appear on a standardized test, but it is very important for our children and planet.

One More Reason to Hate Wal-Mart

I don't care how green Wal-Mart attempts to be, I hate this store. Recent news from Workers.org describes how 4,000 teenagers in Mexico work for tips only at Wal-Mart, even though full time employment of 14-year-olds is banned by International Labor Organization. According to Workers.org, "Just like the U.S. military, which ignores the economic draft and calls its troops “voluntary,” Wal-Mart claims that the teenagers who work only for tips at their Mexico stores are “volunteer” workers." MSNBC reports,

Wal-Mart is Mexico’s largest private-sector employer in the nation today, with nearly 150,000 local residents on its payroll. An additional 19,000 youngsters between the ages of 14 and 16 work after school in hundreds of Wal-Mart stores, mostly as grocery baggers, throughout Mexico—and none of them receives a red cent in wages or fringe benefits. The company doesn’t try to conceal this practice: its 62 Superama supermarkets display blue signs with white letters that tell shoppers: OUR VOLUNTEER PACKERS COLLECT NO SALARY, ONLY THE GRATUITY THAT YOU GIVE THEM. SUPERAMA THANKS YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. The use of unsalaried youths is legal in Mexico because the kids are said to be “volunteering” their services to Wal-Mart and are therefore not subject to the requirements and regulations that would otherwise apply under the country’s labor laws.

In a country where most people live on less than $4 a day, these teenagers' tips must be scanty. There is no doubt Wal-Mart could afford to pay the minimum wage of less than $5 a day, with Wal-Mart de Mexico reporting profits of $290 million for the second quarter of 2007.

Prayer for Our Son

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha

Please send your thoughts, prayers, positive space, light, etc. for our son today. He is undergoing treatment for his congenital heart defect.

Ahoy Matey! Wooden Pirate Ship Fun!

Another great toy by Plan Toys, the wooden Pirate Ship is made of natural rubber wood and comes with a multitude of accessories. Offered by Magic Cabin, the Pirate Ship is made in Thailand and comes with:
A wooden pirate figure
Four crew members
Two ladders
Two cannons
Anchor
Barrel
Treasure chest
Small rowboat
Plank
Crow's nest
Felt sail

My son received the Pirate Ship for Easter two years ago. This natural toy is still a favorite and great for the imagination. Our Pirate Ship did not come with the bottom of the treasure chest (just the lid), and the mast is broken. The mast can be repaired by purchasing a new dowel and attaching the sail and crow's nest, but even without the mast, my children enjoy playing with the Pirate Ship

Iraq War Jeopardizing Children's Mental Health

Imagine losing your only brother to a shooting incident, and then having your parents fear for your safety so much that you are not allowed to leave your home. This is what is happening in Iraq to children and their families. Children are being raised in a climate of fear and violence, and in my opinion, this upbringing will fuel further hatred of the United States. According to an article in IRIN,

"Children have become prisoners of their own families," Dr Fua'ad Azize, a psychologist in Baghdad, said, but he warned that keeping them locked up inside could seriously affect their development. "Children need to move, read, learn and play but today in Iraq such normal things might lead to death or injury," he said. "Some children and youths are being manipulated and brainwashed into helping militias and insurgents - sometimes with the blessing of their families."

Abdallah's mother is sure that keeping her child at home is the best way to save his life but she knows he is not happy: "I will protect my child with all my strength. I know he isn't happy being kept in all the time but I know it is for his protection," Um Faisal said.

"I try to do my best to make him feel comfortable at home. I buy him chocolates, biscuits and ice-cream, and even if he gets mental problems, that's better than a bullet in the head."

Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, a statistician at the Ministry of Education, told IRIN that at least 125 children had been killed and 107 injured since 2005 in attacks on schools. These numbers do not include children killed or injured on their way to or from school.


In this country, we may fear lead in our children's toys or BPA in baby bottles, but the constant fear Iraqi parents must feel is incomprehensible. This conflict must end. I don't have the answers, but surely war is not one of them.

A Cooperative Game for Young Children: Snail's Pace Race

Snail's Pace Racewas first recommended to me by a fellow preschool teacher. This cooperative game allows very young children to work together moving snails across the board. Two colored die are rolled, and depending on the color showing, the appropriate snail is moved. Snail's Pace Raceteaches turn taking and color identification, and it is fun! The large wooden pieces are easy for little hands, and only the die pose choking hazards. Snail's Pace Raceis a game my six-year-old and three-year-old can play together without adult assistance. For a very thorough review of Snail's Pace Race, visit Thingamababy.
Snail's Pace Raceis made by Ravensburger, a company I have always liked.

Extreme Heat Causes Spontaneous Combustion of Playgrounds

Extreme temperatures caused mulch cushioning on a playground in Arlington, Texas to catch fire. Spontaneous combustion is to blame, and 20 playgrounds were closed in response to the danger. Wood chips containing plywood glues and chemicals are more likely to self-combust in high temperatures, thus the playgrounds will be substituting pea gravel for their cushioning requirements. As our planet's climate changes, we will hear more strange news like this of how extreme temperatures are causing problems we had not anticipated.

9 Million More Toys Recalled by Mattel for Dangerous Magnets

This time my family is affected by the recent recall by Mattel. There will be tears in our household today, as toys Grandpa bought my daughter are included on the list. The concern is powerful magnets that can be swallowed and cause major damage.
The list includes:
Barbie and Tanner - hazardous magnet
Batman - hazardous magnet
Polly Pockets - hazardous magnet
Doggie Daycare - hazardous magnet
One Piece - hazardous magnet
Sarge cars - lead in paint

All affected toys were made in China.

Another recall occurred earlier for Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets, as serious intestinal injury can occur from swallowing these powerful magnets. This was another toy we had in our home. A child living relatively close to our home suffered major injuries from swallowing loose magnets. "Extensive surgery was required to remove the magnets and repair intestinal perforations," according to the CPSC.

Magnets are very cool for children to experiment with, but safety should always be the concern of toy manufacturers. There are plenty of wonderful ways for children to explore the properties of magnet forces with larger products that do not cause harm.

Hearthsong offers a great magnetic toy, that is appropriate for older children or with close supervision for younger ones. The Deluxe Magnet Set includes "a giant horseshoe magnet powerful enough to lift up to four pounds! Also included are two mighty magnetic wands, 20 magnetic marbles, 50 circular transparent discs, colorful paper clips, metal bolts and washers, 4 colorful magnetic shapes, and 3 magnetic discs." It is on sale now for $17.99! The magnetic marbles and magnetic discs could be swallowed by a young child (there are other parts that could be swallowed too, but they are not magnetic), thus the toy is recommended for children four years and up. We have this toy in our preschool; however, I only allow children to request to play with it when there is supervision available.

The CPSC lists magnets at the #1 hidden home hazard. They warn, "Since 2005: 1 Death, 86 Injuries; 8 million magnetic toys recalled.

Today's rare-earth magnets can be very small and powerful making them
popular in toys, building sets, and jewelry. As the number of products
with magnets has increased, so has the number of serious injuries to
children. In several hundred incidents, magnets have fallen out of
various toys and been swallowed by children. Small intact pieces of
building sets that contain magnets have also been swallowed by children.
If two or more magnets, or a magnet and another metal object are
swallowed separately, they can attract to one another through intestinal
walls and get trapped in place. The injury is hard to diagnose. Parents
and physicians may think that the materials will pass through the child
without consequence, but magnets can attract in the body and twist or
pinch the intestines, causing holes, blockages, infection, and death, if
not treated properly and promptly.

Watch carefully for loose magnets and magnetic pieces and keep away from
younger children (less than 6). If you have a recalled product with
magnets, stop using it, call the company today, and ask for the remedy."

Great Children's Literature: Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes

Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes comes from my favorite children's literature publisher Illumination Arts. In this book, a little girl marvels at the circle of life in her little yellow pear tomatoes. She says, "Everyone and everything-my daddy, my mommy, bugs and worms, clouds and sky, lakes and rivers, the sun and stars-are parts of the tomato you cannot see. Take away any one, and the little yellow pear tomatoes in my garden could not be." This book takes its inspiration from the author's little girl and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. The interconnectedness of life is the theme of Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes, as the book is very thought provoking for children and grown ups. This is my favorite book of the five, and I can never look at the yellow pear tomatoes in my garden the same after reading this book.

Massive Toy Recall by Fisher-Price

I've avoided blogging about the massive Fisher-Price toy recall for a week now, as these are not eco toys, but I can't bite my tongue anymore. Besides, even if you only buy your children natural toys, there are times when toys like these creep into your life from well-meaning relatives or your child themselves. Our family is fortunate not to own or have owned any of the recalled toys, but I am once again, flabbergasted that toys designed for children would contain lead. This is not new information that lead is hazardous to our health, so why do Chinese manufacturers continue to use it? Is it that cost effective that it is worth harming workers and children? I just don't get it. You can see a full list with pictures of the recalled items here.

I worry about the conditions Chinese workers who apply this lead-based paint work in, as their health has most certainly been compromised. There are so many reasons to avoid Chinese made toys, as recent recalls have demonstrated. China's record in regards to Tibet and human rights further gives reason to avoid these products. I recently watched Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion, and my heart aches for both the Tibetans and the Chinese people.

Waldorf Kathe Kruse Mermaid Doll

Little girls love mermaids, and I love Waldorf dolls. I have always been drawn to the work of dollmaker Kathe Kruse, the oldest German doll company. "Handwork, simplicity of design, integrity, and an aversion to gimmicks and fads are still very much a part of how the dolls are made. Each doll and item of doll clothing is made by hand and takes from 16 to 36 hours to make. During that time, it will pass through the hands of 8 to 10 craftspeople and artists."

Magic Cabin offers an affordable, Small Waldorf Mermaid by Kathe Kruse. This doll is made of all natural cotton, wool, and mohair. The tail is removable, allowing the doll to live on land, as well as the sea of your child's imagination. The detailing on the doll includes beading and shimmering threads. My daughter adores her Small Waldorf Mermaid, which makes the perfect travel companion due to her small size. Kathe Kruse makes natural toys you can feel good about!

The Power of Youth to Change Their World

While stumbling upon the web, I came across the inspiring story of Malawi youth William Kamkwamba on Inhabitat. With all the doom and gloom news of climate change, William Kamkwamba's ingenuity demonstrates what one person can do to improve their life with green technology. The story also demystifies alternative energy as complex engineering that keeps many Americans from jumping into finding greener methods to power their homes.

Malawi is a democratic, densely populated country in southeastern Africa. The Great Rift Valley runs through the center of the country from north to south. The GDP per capita is $596, and the economy is agricultural, and dependent upon tobacco, sugar, and tea; however, the staple of Malawi's diet is maize. Many refugees from Mozambique, Rwanda, and Congo have fled to Malawi. One million people in Malawi live with HIV/AIDS. Malawi has been in entertainment news lately, as Madonna has been attempting to permanently adopt a Malawian child. Malawi youth William Kamkwamba's story deserves media attention, too.

William Kamkwamba has built a windmill to power his home. Having dropped out of school because of a lack of funds, William studied donated books on wind power at his local primary school. Using salvage materials and investing about $16, he built his own windmill through trial and error. The original windmill could power a few light bulbs and a radio, as well as charge a car battery for days when the wind does not blow. According to Inhabitat,

The 12-meter tall windmill (it was originally only 5 meters) is made out of scrap timber. The blades, originally made from PVC, now steel, power a bicycle dynamo, the type that power a bicycle headlamp, which in turn provides electricity to the battery. William uses this energy for his house, as well as to help others recharge their batteries. Just recently, he moved from a car battery to a deep discharge battery, which will help improve with the power storage of his house.

William is now blogging about his experiences. William Kamkwamba's Malawi Windmill Blog received 113,047 page views in its first month and is now translated to English. On his blog, you can read about his village, how he is spending the money people from the world are donating for his education and improvements for his village and family, his return to school, and the worldwide attention he has received. You can also view pictures of William. To donate to William, visit his blog. A generous donor will match donations of $50 or more.

William offers inspiration of how youth in less-privileged countries can improve their lives with materials on hand, rather than relying on the country's infrastructure to build coal and oil power plants. William has used his ingenuity to improve his home with green technology. Perhaps he was not thinking of climate change when he set out with his project, but his story demonstrates how individuals can make a difference. I don't suspect Americans will be erecting homemade windmills in their backyards out of scrap material, yet this story shows what power the youth have to solve our problems.

This post originally appeared on Green Options: Green Family Values.

When You Are a Hippy Parent....

I have never owned a VW Bus, but Eco Dad did when I met him. When I saw this toy Die-Cast VW Bus, I had to get it for my son. Perhaps all those Grateful Dead shows have made me nostalgic when it comes to the VW Bus. Whatever the reason, my son loves his Die-Cast VW Bus, and it's better than a toy Hummer. Now all he needs is a few mini bumper stickers on the back (including "Powered by Biodiesel"), and he is ready to go. Sometimes, you just have to get your child the cool retro toy.
Note: The Die-Cast VW Busdoes not come with it's own hippy doll.

My Country 'Tis of Thee

Avoid Chlorine Bleach-Make Your Own Whitener or Use the Sun

Once you make the switch to natural laundry soaps and cold water washing, the need for chlorine bleach may creep into your laundry habits. Yet chlorine bleach is harmful to humans and the environment; the good news is alternatives exist. These alternatives are nontoxic or less toxic and will allow you to keep your whites white with a clear, green conscious.

Although bleach manufacturer Clorox claims bleach does not enter groundwater, the addition of bleach to water can free chlorine that can result in the formation of chloroform. Bleach can also combine with ammonia in septic and drainage systems, thus resulting in monochloramine, which is dangerous to wildlife. Furthermore, bleach is harmful to humans. Bleach off gasses for a period of time. Bleach fumes from sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) can cause pulmonary embolisms in susceptible people. In addition, 25,000 children a year in the United States experience an accident involving bleach, such as ingestion, and it is the most common household chemical involved in poisonings. Despite these risks, many groups find household bleach use to be safe, as paper bleaching, pesticides, and plastics manufactures pose greater threats; however, alternatives do exist.

When shopping in your local co-op or natural food store, you may see alternative bleach products sold by companies such as Seventh Generation. The active ingredient in these alternative bleach products is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is not carcinogenic to humans, but it is a skin irritant and harmful if swallowed or exposed to the eyes. In addition, it can be harmful to aquatic life. It is simple and more cost effective to make your own oxygen-based whitener by mixing hydrogen peroxide with water, in about a 50:50 ratio. According to Seventh Generation, "If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 48 oz. chlorine bleach with non-chlorine bleach we could prevent 8.2 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment."

Another alternative to chlorine bleach is to let the sun do the whitening for you. Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice into the rinse cycle, then hang your clothes to dry in the sun. The acid in the lemon juice provides bleaching power, and the sun will sanitize your clothes. This option is great for colors too and will reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating clothes dryer usage!

Alternatives to chlorine bleach do exist, and with a little bit of effort, you can protect your family and environment from this potentially harmful product. Lemon juice, the sun, and hydrogen peroxide provide alternatives accessible to everyone. Keep your whites bright while making your home a safer place!

This post originally appeared on Green Options.

Living Off The Grid With Children

Often people ask me, what is it like living off the grid with young children? The truth is, I have never not lived off the grid with children, so I am not sure how it differs entirely. However, my children have grown up learning about sources of power and its limitations.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful creek that provides us with power via a turgo wheel (1100 watts), as well as two solar panels (170 watts) for backup. This is ample power for a family of four using CFLs, energy-saving appliances, etc. However, there are times when our power is down: large winter storms that fill the creek with leaves, and push the intake out of the water; creek levels drop in the summer and the dam needs rebuilding, etc. These are the times when my children experience down times from electricity, which is a good thing, depending upon how you spin it.

Several times a year, we are without power due to the aforementioned reasons. During these times, my children actually enjoy the close family time we spend. Sometimes we play a game by candlelight, read a book, snuggle close and tell stories, etc. It is amazing how power outages bring a family closer, and we always have a back-up generator and solar panels for recharging the batteries to keep the refrigerator running.

One thing that is nice about having your own power system is that when it is down, it is within your own power to go and fix. You don't have to wait for the power company to rescue you. Young children often imitate the behavior of their adult models, and living off the grid provides opportunities for such modeling. When my daughter was two, she would get on her little wooden scooter and tell me she was going to fix the hydro! It was too cute! We have yet to involve our children in the maintenance of our system, as they are too little and the creek is usually big and dangerous when it needs fixing.

Living off the grid does limit some aspects of your power usage which children need to learn. You cannot turn on several big loads at the same time, especially when power supply has dropped, such as when a few leaves are covering the intake. For a two-year-old, it can be hard to understand why she can't watch her favorite program on TV or listen to her favorite cd, but I also feel like these are good lessons in conservation. My children do not leave rooms without turning off lights, as they have always lived where this can be a necessity.

My six-year-old is just beginning to understand how our power system is better for the Earth, as she questions why there are so many power lines in towns. She has asked me where other people get their power, and she holds the same affinity for our creek that we do. By living off the grid, we are offering our children a unique opportunity to grow up leaving a smaller carbon footprint on our climate.

And the Winner is Ami!

Congratulations Ami Scott! You won our random monthly drawing for an Eco Child's Play hemp bag! Ami always leaves many wonderful comments that enriched Eco Child's Play. Ami has two blogs: Carey's Cats and Forest Cottage. When I first started blogging, I discovered Forest Cottage, as a great resource for homeschoolers, parents, and teachers.

Don't forget, to enter August'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!

Ami, please email me (jennifer@ecochildsplay.com) your physical address, so I can mail you the bag.