Score One for Cloth Diapers!

I hope you all had an amazing time at the #GivingHOPE Twitter party last night put on by Kim from Dirty Diaper Laundry!  She did an amazing job organizing all of it.  Between 7pm and midnight there were 1,493 tweets!  That means collectively, we reached 1.6 million people!

There was lots of great conversation,  prizes, donations, and most importantly awareness raising about Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  It could not have been possible without the participation of the many companies and blogs that took part, and of course you, the readers that came to show your support.  BUT, it's not over yet! 

Be sure to head over to Kim's Facebook page to show your support for the amazing blogs and companies involved and have a chance to win some awesome prizes (they total more than $1,700!!)  There you will find an easy to use form where you can enter to win.

Share this event with all of your friends too!  Raising awareness is something we can all do.  If you want to do more, make a donation to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope by visiting their website.  When you do, you can select the "donation" option on the giveaway form to receive 25 additional entries to the giveaway mentioned above!

A shout out to all of the companies and bloggers that helped make this possible!

Bloggers! - go, follow and show them some love :)
The Eco Chic, Change-Diapers, Geeky Green Mom, Cloth Diaper Geek, Padded Tush Stats, Boba Blog, All About Cloth Diapers, Baby Dickey

And the Companies!

NOW Family, Jack be Natural, Orange Diaper Co., Incredibum, Tushie Ties, Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique, THE Balm, Modern Cloth, BabykicksUSA, Oeko Popo, GEN-Y, Abby’s Lane, Thirsties, Go Green Baby Co., Diaper Junction, Revel Handmade, Kelly’s Closet, Knickernappies, Kelly Wels, Hot Mama Gowns, Eco Nuts, MoDia Diapers, Dearest Diapers, Sweet Pea Diapers, Wooly Rounds, and The Parent Guide

What do you know about Toxic Shock Syndrome?

Did you know that anyone who uses a traditional tampon is at risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS?
Brands like Tampax, Playtex, Kotex and OB, just to name a few, are among those to watch out for.

What is TSS, and why is there a risk with traditional tampons?
TSS is the result of the common bacteria, Staphylococcus Aureus, producing a toxin which is absorbed into the bloodstream.  It quickly takes over the body and begins to attack the major organs. It can manifest similarly to the flu, with symptoms like sore throat, achy muscles, fever, nausea, rash, confusion, dizziness, low blood pressure and diarrhea. While these symptoms might seem like a common flu, if you ever have them during your menstrual cycle, call your physician!  TSS can be fatal.

The cause for the relationship to traditional tampons is that they contain synthetic fibers which not only leave tiny abrasions in the vagina, giving direct access to the bloodstream, but also because synthetic fibers do not breathe like natural fibers.  They provide the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, like the strain that can cause TSS.  Half of all know cases of TSS are related to tampon use.  It is also associated with diaphragm birth control methods and contraceptive sponges.

Thankfully there is an alternative.
Choosing 100% organic cotton tampons, a reusable menstrual cup or menstrual pads can eliminate the risk.  No one has ever reported TSS as the result of using a 100% cotton tampon.  Brands like Maxim Hygiene and Seventh Generation are great options.  Additionally, reusable cups like Lunette & Diva Cup offer the same claim, and are oh so friendly to your body.  I'm a total cup girl, I can't deny it.

You can read all about why you don't want to use traditional menstrual products here (and what ones to give a try!)

Want to learn more about TSS and how you can help?  Visit You-ARE-Loved.org

Who benefits from this?

I was upset by a newsletter sent home by my son's school principal last week.  The first thing I read was that our school was able to profit approximately $10,000.00 by selling cookie dough.  My first thought was WOW, that's a lot of cookie dough. My second thought was WOW, what message are we sending to our kids?

We are in a rural area with a small population, so our elementary school only has around 800 students K-8, to put into perspective the volume sold.  I fully understand the need for fundraisers, but I question this method.  With convenience foods everywhere and our nation facing a serious health crisis as a result, I have serious reservations about "cookie dough" as a method for school fundraising.  What happened to fruit sales?  Future Farmers of America continues to do citrus sales year after year - proof that healthy foods have a place in this market.  Why not choose something that benefits the school and sends a good message that supports healthy living?

Maybe I'm being sensitive, but I feel that elementary school is a place where we should be leading by example and promoting healthy living in all areas.  When our schools have contracts with soda companies, fast food restaurants and fundraise by selling an unhealthy lifestyle, I can't stand by and say nothing.

Who benefits from this?

Does your school offer a wholesome solution?  I would love to hear it, along with your thoughts on the subject!

Preaching to the Choir

I feel the need to rant on the "environmentalists".  *gasp*

Environmentalist (n.) - A person who is concerned with or advocates the protection of the environment.

The term has grown to send waves of anger down my spine and make my mouth spew facts like word vomit.  Anti-environmentalists use this tone and say it as though they are calling us those people.  Sadly, in politics, "environmentalist" has turned it into a nasty word.  A word used to describe nuts and radicals, except that those who have an issue with environmentalists don't distinguish between rational thinkers and extremists.

I got a phone call the other day, asking me to participate in a town hall meeting held over the phone.  I was happy to listen. After all, I should be up-to-date on politics and be willing to have my say.  So, I listened.  Coincidentally, the first thing that I heard is this congressman talking about energy independence (Woo!), about coal and natural gas (Umm, well at least it's not foreign?).  Then he abruptly changed the topic.  Umm... am I missing something?  What about wind, water or solar energy?  I swallowed my fear (I'm totally not good at public speaking) and pressed '0' to ask my question.

As I waited for my turn an older woman comes on the line and said that she was happy to hear him talking about coal and natural gas, but what was he (our congressman) going to do about all of the environmentalists and their job-killing EPA regulations and bills?  *visualize me spitting out a drink here and shouting profanity*  I couldn't believe her lack of regard for anything other than a paycheck, and then again with the tone of the word.  The way she used that word made it so derogatory and condescending.

I was wound up.  I waited patiently to ask my question.  He said that he would take one last question, and it was mine!  He asked me how I was.  I told him, "Fine, thank you," and bought up his mention of energy independence and asked, "what about wind, solar and water?"    I barely choked out my question due to my emotions running high and my fear of public speaking.  The answer was, of course, a bit of a non-answer in that was long and off topic, except for a final mention that water, wind and solar would of course be needed too if we hope to have energy independence.  He rattled on something about JFK speeches and I'm not sure what else.  I have to admit that I tapped out a little.  I can hold a conversation, but I have a habit of tuning out when people talk in circles.  I blame... or maybe thank? my mother for this.  Eventually he came to a close and said something about what a sight it would be to have our country using coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, wind, solar and water.  That would make other countries take notice, he said.  To me it sounded as though he had tossed my question onto the end of an existing answer, but I suppose I was happy enough that he at least included them on the record.

The answer could have been better, but I was still left feeling upset and frustrated by the way in which the term "environmentalist" was used.  It was said as though it was dirty or fanatical, like no one with a rational mind could be this way, so 'how can we deal with them'.

I may not speak for everyone, but I love the Earth.  I love taking walks and enjoying the nature around me.  My husband enjoys planting a garden and harvesting wild game and our children enjoy playing in the grass in our yard.  I'm not foolish enough to think that because I can't see a nuclear plant or coal mine in my back yard, that it doesn't have an impact on my life and the lives of my children.  Perhaps I'm selfish, but I want to preserve this Earth so that generations of my family, and yours, can live in a world that is healthy and that has something more to offer than industrialized acres and toxic chemical residues and byproducts.

I live in an area rich with coal and natural gas.  There are lots of jobs tied up in that industry and that's everything to so many struggling families.  I truly understand and appreciate that, but things change.  Everything changes at some time.  Wanting clean energy isn't only about wanting to save the planet.  For me, it's about wanting to save lives.  It's about wanting to preserve our health and to provide a sustainable path for our economy.  I don't consider change to be 'job killing', more like job relocating.  Technologies come and go.  Perhaps people should consider creating and following change instead of fighting it.

Way to go ChicoBag! Plus Giveaway!

Some time ago ChicoBag announced that they were the sole defendant in a lawsuit files by three of the largest plastic shopping bag companies.  They claimed that ChicoBag had "irreparably harmed" their business.  Just a thought, but isn't that the nature of change?  Things come, and things go... right?!

It appears that the companies had issues with some statements found on the ChicoBag site:

• “A reusable bag needs only to be used eleven times to have a lower environmental impact than using eleven disposable bags.” Source: EPA
• “Only one percent of plastic bags are recycled.” Source: EPA
• “Somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.” Source: National Geographic
• “The world’s largest landfill can be found floating between Hawaii and San Francisco. Wind and sea currents carry marine debris from all over the world to what is now known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This ‘landfill’ is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and thousands of pounds of our discarded trash, mostly plastics.” Source: National Geographic
• “Each year hundreds of thousands of sea birds and marine life die from indigestible plastics mistaken for food.” Source: L.A. Times

You might notice that ChicoBag was not the creator of these statements!  According to the announcement, this information has been used in hundreds of publications, and among those, ChicoBag is one of the few who provides sources for the facts they use.

In a press release on September 13, 2011, ChicoBag announced that the lawsuit (which lost 2 of the 3 complainants when ChicoBag challenged the companies to back up their claims) has been settled, with the support of thousands of citizens.

As a result of this settlement, the public will be better informed of the statistics on single use plastic bags and Hilex Poly plastic bags will now feature the statement “Tie Bag in Knot Before Disposal” in an effort to prevent windblown litter.

I love *love* my ChicoBags.  I have plans to take several to the upcoming ABC Kids Expo with me.  I will be gathering all sorts of materials during the expo and I don't like lugging around unnecessary baggage.  I know that my ChicoBags will work great.  To share the love, ChicoBag has provided me with a bag to share with you!

Be sure to do both of the mandatory entries (the first two)!

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided the product mentioned for review. All reviews are my own and honest opinions.  Review & Ad Information, Giveaway Guidelines

I love my Buckeyes!

I love Ohio State, and now I love them even more.  I didn't know that was possible!  They are taking their stadium to the next level by going green.  They have set up seventy-five waste stations in the stadium consisting of two barrels, one for compost and the other for recyclables.  The stadium is using all biodegradable paper products to make composting easy.  Simply toss it in - food, plate and all.

Last year, Ohio State was able to collect 6.5 tons of recyclables per game.  I can't wait to see what this new program can do!  I'll certainly be watching tomorrow's game with a bit more admiration.  Go Bucks!

Green Your Laundry (and maybe more!)

I think we all know to buy safe laundry detergents, but what about the containers they come in?  It seems that every detergent I see comes in a bulky plastic bottle that's nearly impossible to reuse/repurpose and the only option seems to be recycling.  Throw what you know about traditional containers or into the proverbial recycling bin - there's a new bottle in town!

Like our family, working mom Julie Corbett was shocked by the amount of plastic jugs and cartons her family produced on a regular basis.  She decided to do something about it.  With some inspiration from the Canadian milk pouches (they're thin bagged milk, which is often placed into a reusable pitcher - it's amazing) and the molded fiber tray her iPhone came in she got to work.

After lots of hard work and a paten on her technology in May 2008, Ecologic Brands was born.  Today I introduce you to their fantastic two-part container.  The molded fiber shell is made from 70% old corrugated cardboard boxes and 30% old newspapers. The inner pouch and spout are made from #4 Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic. The dosing cap is made from #5 Polypropylene (PP) plastic.

Every empty Ecologic bottle is 100% recyclable.  Simply pop open the outer shell at the seams and separate it from the inside bag.  The outer shell can be recycled with cardboard or tossed into your/your local compost bin.  Rinse out the thin inner plastic bag and recycle it along with the cap at your local recycling center.  If you need help finding your local center, use the search at Earth911 or check your local Whole Foods Market.

I was lucky enough to have a chance to check out one of these bottles myself, and I must say - I love it!  It's sturdy and I love the look.  In addition to the bottle, inside was Seventh Generation's 4X Concentrated Detergent, which I am loving.  You can read more about it here.  I have the scented version, and it's so nice.

I love this bottle and I hope to see it come to store shelves in so many more categories than detergent.  Can you imagine?!  Juice bottles, milk jugs, additional cleaners, and more - all easily recycled and consuming far less plastics.  We're a family of five and it's impossible to avoid containers.  A product like this can make such an amazing impact.

What do you think?  Have you seen it/tried it?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

5 Easy Steps

If you've been around here long you've heard me talk about Healthy Child Healthy World. They are a fantastic organization that works to create safe and healthy environments for children.  In April, I won 4th place in Marcal Small Step's Small Steps for Big Change Environmental Awards.  I was given the chance to choose an environmental charity to donate $500 to in my name.  I chose Healthy Child because of he changes that they are helping to make that benefit all of us, and the youth to come.

Healthy Child has a wonderful list of 5 Easy Steps to help you create a healthy home environment.  They were inspired by the contest and asked me to write a post for them about my own five steps.  They are a great organization and I feel very blessed to have this platform to share more.  I think that much of the thanks goes to all of you as well, for coming here, reading my blog, interacting with my posts and inspiring me to learn more and reach out to further to share it.

It was hard to pick just five steps, there are so many!  You can read my full article here.

Some additional tips:

6. Avoid chemical cleaners.
Thankfully there are some great companies out there making safe cleaners, but you can save yourself a load of cash (and time searching for products) by using homemade cleaners.

• Use vinegar and water for a basic all purpose cleaner (equal parts).  Want an extra boost?  Add a drop of dish soap the the bottle and some tea tree oil for extra disinfecting properties.
• If you'd like to skip residues all together try the Activeion Ionator HOM, I adore mine!
• Skip all of the junk in traditional laundry detergents by making your own.  Try our recipe, you can make this even more gently by using a castile bar soap, or none at all if you choose.
• If you want to buy cleaners and detergents choose safe products like those from Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products, Eco-Me, etc.
• Skip fabric softerers and choose a safe option like dryer balls or vinegar.

7. Compost!

You would be surprised how much of your daily waste can be composted.  If your community has a compost area, you can use that or get your own bin.  They take up very little room, and one is really enough!  We have two, and really only needed one.

• Read more about composting, plus a printable PDF list of what to put in your compost bin.

8. Keep toys safe.

There are so many toys on the market these days and it seems like most are plastic.  We all know that plastic is bad for the environment, so when you buy toys, try to choose products made from wood, cloth, metal or recycled materials.  Choosing products that can be passed down or recycled is a good way to go.

• There are loads of great toys available these days from companies like Plan Toys, Haba, Green Toys and even store brands from companies like Toys R Us.
• Some of my favorite shops are Moolka.com, Oompa.com, and of course Amazon.com (search for "eco-friend toys" or "green toys")

I would love to hear what some of your favorite tips are.  What things do you do that you feel make an impact on your life, or which ones do you just enjoy or feel good about doing?

Thank you Jackson Browne

My mom is a big fan of Jackson Browne, she actually got to see him in concert earlier this month and was so excited!  My mom is not what I would consider eco-friendly in any way really, but when one of her favorite stars started talking about bottled water she started listening.  When she was telling me about this video a couple of weeks ago, I could hear the interest in her voice.  It made an impact, and for that - I thank you Jackson Browne.

My mom sent me a link to his video this morning and I would like to share it with you.  I admit I'm not terribly familiar with Mr. Browne, aside from my mother, but I enjoyed what he had to say.  Check it out:


Jackson Browne talks about the Albatross birds who are consuming plastics and feeding them to their young.  Below you can see the carcass of two unfortunate Albatross.  Their bodies full of plastic waste that they cannot digest.  Eventually their bodies become so full of plastic that there is not enough room left for real foods and they die from starvation.  It's a direct result of people - people who choose not to care or to look the other way.  These are not isolated events.  A quick Google search for "albatross plastic" will yield pages of results.

I really liked his idea about leaving a note declining the water.  His tag idea is a bit lengthy, but I think something similar, to-the-point and polite would be a fantastic idea to implement.  Browne uses the example of these Albatross as a great metaphor for our society's hunger for real food, information and an authentic life.   Become teachers!  Your words won't have an impact on everyone you pass them onto, but they will make a difference to some - and that makes all of the difference.

Lead by example!  If you don't have a reusable bottle, pick one up.  They are well worth the investment.  I recommend choosing a quality stainless steel bottle.  I avoid aluminum, since they require protective coating inside of their bottles.  Reusable plastic bottles are not my go-to either.  They are still plastic after all.  Below are a few of my favorites:

Klean Kanteen with Sport Cap

You can also get flat & loop caps.  These come in smaller sizes that can be used with sippy attachments to be used by little ones as as well.

Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Insulated

These are AMAZING!  They keep things piping hot or ice cold even in extreme temperatures.

Pura 'kiki' Water Bottles and Sippy Cups/Bottles

Pura makes great bottles similar to those above with the addition of these great sippy cups/bottles.  No plastic parts touch your drinking water!

Earthlust Water Bottles

Want a little fashion?  Earthlust stainless bottle fit the bill.  They come in dozens of designs to suit any taste.  They also have insulated varieties.  I have one of each and really like them.

Safe Sippy 2

If you're looking for something for your little one, the Safe Sippy 2 (with straw attachment) is a great option.

Share the cloth love with a printable guide!

So I've mentioned it before (a lot!) that I've been working on offering classes locally.  We held our first real class last month, along with some great local promotions and it was great! (Farmers' market, local tv, newspaper, hospital, etc!) I really enjoyed the class and am looking forward to our next class this July.  It was a lot of fun meeting new moms and sharing something that I care so much about.

For my class I made up a six page handout for attendees to take home and be able to reference.  A lot of work has gone into this, and I want to share that with you so that you can share and use this too.

This is a PDF version of my handout.  I encourage you to hold classes of your own and to share this with friends, family or anyone else interested in trying cloth.  Know someone having a baby shower?  Include it with their gift.  Be sure to print double sided to save paper!

Cloth Diaper Info Packet PDF

The sheet covers environmental facts, health facts, explanations of the different types of diapers, how to wash (our detergent recipe too!), what's needed and a whole lot more.

If you are interested in holding your own class you might use this simple flyer design.  Simply write in your date, location and contact info (email or phone, whatever you're comfortable with!)

General Class Flyer PDF

If you have any questions or need help, please let me know!  I'm happy to help!  You can reach me in the comments below or by emailing me at amanda@theecofriendlyfamily.com

Also!  Be on the lookout, I am offering an Intro to Natural Feminine Care class later this month and will have an info sheet packet for it as well!

Happy Earth Day!!!

I was hoping to put up some big post, but things have been so busy.  In a good way!  I think today I just want to send out a reminder to live healthy and love our Earth.  I want to thank all of you for coming here and making this blog what it is.  I love sharing with you, hearing your stories and I appreciate all of the support.

Because of you I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn and grow so much.  I have had some amazing opportunities locally to spread the word and I couldn't feel more blessed.  I wrote earlier about the new Moms Everyday television segments (we have another airing next week!) and for Earth Day we've just been featured on the front page of our local newspaper!

I hope you have a great day, enjoy the fresh air and maybe some fun Earth Day projects too!  If you care to share, I'd love to hear how you're spending the day!

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2011!

Local family sets ‘living green’ example

April 22, 2011By Ashley Hill - The Marietta Times (ahill@mariettatimes.com) , The Marietta Times

About three years ago, around the time Amanda Hearn's oldest daughter, Lily, was born, one of Hearn's friends told her about a study which shows that baby shampoo containing phthalates can potentially cause adverse health effects in children.

"They're hormone disruptors," Hearn said of the chemical.

After she did some investigating and learned more about phthalates, Hearn, of Vincent, started using natural baby shampoo, such as one manufactured by Burt's Bees, for Lily and her other daughter Gwen, 19 months.

But it didn't stop there.

"The more I learned...it snowballed," said Hearn, 28. "There are hundreds of thousands of chemicals that are used (in America) that haven't been proven as safe - it comes down to knowing what you're using and knowing what you're putting on their bodies and in their bodies."

Now, the Hearn family, which consists of Amanda, her husband, Trevor, Lily, Gwen and six-year-old Ethan, have dubbed themselves "the eco-friendly family," and Amanda even has a blog by the same name, theecofriendlyfamily.com, where she posts "green" tips and tricks with hopes of encouraging others to "go green."

Today is Earth Day, marking the anniversary of the start of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It's a time when everyone is encouraged to do things in their daily lives that have a positive impact on the environment.

Earth Day will be celebrated in Marietta April 30 during the 12th annual Earth Day Celebration at Armory Square. The event is hosted by Peoples Bank, the Ohio State University Extension office in Washington County, the Marietta Tree Commission and the Marietta Area Recycling Center.

Green technologies, hands-on activities for kids, environmental displays and demonstrations and recycling ideas are among the things that will be featured.

"We're going to have a little bit of everything," said Connie Grimes, a member of the Earth Day Committee.

Even when it's not Earth Day, there are plenty of things ordinary people can do to help the environment.

Cloth diapers are one thing Hearn recommends that all parents use for their children, because they don't cause as much of a mess as disposable diapers and they can be used over and over instead of being thrown away after one use, thereby lessening the negative impact on the environment.

Additionally, cloth diapers don't contain the chemical that is found in disposable diapers, Hearn said.

"They contain dioxin, which is a serious carcinogen," she said.

A U.S. EPA report found that only trace amounts of dioxins are found in diapers and that there isn't much cause for concern. Dioxins in the diet are more dangerous, according to the report.

Hearn is participating in The Great Cloth Diaper Change Guinness World Records diaper changing challenge Saturday. Locally, the event will be held beginning at noon at the Christian Life Center, 3211 Sixth Ave., Parkersburg.

"Everybody that's attending will change a cloth diaper at the same time," Hearn explained. "The whole idea is to raise awareness about cloth diapers."

Hearn will also offer an informational class about cloth diapers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 30 at Barlow-Vincent Elementary School, which is free and open to anyone. She's trying to spread the message that cloth diapers that are available today aren't like what they used to be.

"For most people, it's getting past the visual you have of cloth diapers," she said, noting that cloth diapers are available in different styles and many feature buttons and velcro.

The Hearn family also eats as much organic food as possible, and firmly believes in composting and recycling.

"Between recycling and composting, we were able to get rid of our trash service," Hearn said.

Grimes said, she, too likes to recycle.

"I think it's important...to make a cleaner and better Earth for our kids and grandkids," she said.

Hearn not only likes to recycle, but she also prefers to use certain household cleaners, such as a combination of vinegar and water.

"(It) really will kill germs - it's not just something your grandma did for fun," she said.

Some people believe that going green is hard to do or costly, but Hearn said it pays off in the end.

"You have to start re-training your shopping habits," she said.

© Copyright 2011 The Marietta Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Have you heard?!

Marcal Small Steps recently held the Small Steps for Big Change Environmental Awards.  Between January 1 and February 25th, fans were able to submit an essay on why their green hero was deserving of the award.  After the nomination phase, a panel of judges went to work choosing one grand prize winner and 4 runners up.

What's so great about these awards is that the chosen heroes win donations to environmental charities, made in their name.  The grand prize was for a whopping $5,000! First place - $2,500, Second - $1,500 and Third and Fourth place both received $500 to the charity of their choice.

The winners were announced Monday and if you take a look, you just might see someone familiar!

I am so thrilled and I'd like to extend a huge congratulations to all of the winners.  Their works are inspiring and I am honored to be in their company.  Thank you also to Marcal for these great awards and the good works that their donations will facilitate!

I chose Healthy Child Healthy World as my charity.  They are a fantastic organization that works to create safe and healthy environments for children.  As they say, "We ignite the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals."

You can learn more about them by visiting their site, and if you haven't seen it yet, check out their Wake Up Story!  It is truly inspiring.

Recycle, and earn gear!

Yes, you read that right!  There is a great program called Recyclebank that rewards you for recycling.  If you're like me, your area might not have that amazing incentive yet, but no fear - you can earn points online too for the products you buy, referring friends and various other awesome promotions.  I used 10 points last month to get a coupon that saved my husband and I $6 on our date night dinner bill!

If you'd like to see Recyclebank brought to your community, there are even forms you can use on their website to submit to your local government and trash service.  Imagine how much people in your area might recycle if it were offered curb side with incentives (as if helping the planet weren't enough)!

Head over start your very own Recyclebank account and start earning.  They actually happen to have a really awesome promotion going on right now for Earth Month, called the "Green Your Home" Challenge.  For this challenge Recyclebank is encouraging people to take one small green action a day and rewarding them for it.  It's so easy to do (I'm already over 100 points!)  In addition to featuring simple steps you can take toward a healthier, greener lifestyle, Recyclebank will post a challenge each day this month offering opportunities to earn points.

Not only will your points earn you access to awesome discounts and deals, the highest scorers at the end of the month (April) will win some fantastic prizes!  How would you like the chance to win 1 of 100 prizes, or better yet the grand prize of a green kitchen makeover worth $18,000 just for making your home a healthier place?  Yea, I'll take that!  Some of the prizes include a suite of energy efficient LG Studio appliances (including a refrigerator, dishwasher and LCD flat screen TV).


So what are you waiting for?!  You've got nothing to loose, and a lot to gain - and potentially win some amazing prizes!  Have fun with Recyclebank's Green Your Home challenge!  Good luck!

Need diapers? Emergency or no cash? No problem!

I saw this amazing idea on a blog post this weekend.  The post is from the Cotton Babies blog.  In it Jenn Labit, creator, shares her story and journey with cloth from humble beginnings.  At the end of the post there are some great links for options on what to do when you simply don't have a diaper or can't afford to buy any.  One struck me as pure genius!  I love it and so I wanted to share it with you.  I'll can't wait to show this example at my cloth diaper classes.



The great thing about this idea, to me, is that t-shirts are so common place.  You can get shirts for next to nothing, or even free possibly from some organizations.  Wash them as you would any cloth diapers to increase absorbency.  My DIY recipe is very economical and can even be used on clothes.  I even prefer to use this on my towels to keep them absorbing well.

If you need a cover, many popular branded covers are inexpensive if you just need a couple.  Another option is to buy used or make your own from fleece or wool (buy something from a used shop and repurpose it!)

Need a closure?  Diaper pins are inexpensive, as are Snappis, but if you don't have a diaper store nearby you might have to order them.  If you're really in a pinch, get some large safety pins or even use a ribbon or scrap fabric to tie around baby's waist like a belt.  Just be sure to keep it loose enough for comfort.

Have other ideas?  I'd love to hear them!

Fabric Softeners: What you should know.

Dryer sheets and conventional fabric softeners are not only expensive, they aren't good for the environment or you.

Traditional dryer sheets contain all sorts of chemicals.  The first thing you might notice is their scent.  They are chock full of synthetic fragrances (phthalates!).  Phthalates are hormone disruptors found as components of synthetic fragrances. They are linked to issues with obesity, reproductive development and more.

Next you might notice their waxy sheen.  Did you know that most sheets use animal fat (tallow) to give your clothes that extra softness?  There's just nothing like animal fat on freshly cleaned clothes... right?

If that's not enough, there's still a lot more.  When you think of fabric softeners it obviously occurs to you that it is in contact with the skin, but keep in mind that most, if not all, of these chemicals have serious side effects when inhaled.  To me, it only makes sense that if it's in my dryer being heated up and evaporated off into my home (and around it), there is a risk of inhalation.  If I can smell it, I'm inhaling it.

According to the EPA these are just some of the chemicals found in traditional softeners.  You can read more about fabric softeners (and a whole host of other common household items on this PDF release).

alpha-Terpineol: Can cause inflammation of the skin on contact for some people.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.
Benzyl Acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.  Skin irritant.
Benzyl Alcohol: Skin irritant irritant, respiratory irritant.
Camphor: May cause mild skin, eye or respiratory irritation. Some sources suggest that it is possible that epileptic-like seizures may be caused through exposure.
Chloroform: Carcinogenic.  Causes skin irritation resulting in redness and pain. Removes natural oils. Respiratory irritant. Causes central nervous system effects, including headache, drowsiness, dizziness.  Prolonged exposure may lead to death due to irregular heart beat and kidney and liver disorders.
Ethanol: Can cause central nervous system disorders.
Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.  Skin irritant. Symptoms include redness, itching, and pain. Repeated or prolonged contact with the skin has a defatting effect and may cause dryness, cracking, and possibly dermatitis.
Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system & respiratory disorders.
Pentane: Causes skin irritation, cracking or flaking due to dehydration and defatting action.  Vapors have a mild narcotic effect. Symptoms of overexposure may include drowsiness and irritation of the respiratory passages. Greater exposure may cause unconsciousness and death.

Anyone else noticing that the fabric softeners meant to keep our clothes soft are seriously damaging and drying out our skin?!

So, what can you use?

Vinegar
You can pick up gallons of this stuff for a couple dollars.  Use about a 1/4 cup per load in your rinse cycle. I like to use a Downy ball (you can find these for a couple dollars at your local store). I fill it about half full and toss it in with my load. If your machine has a compartment for softener, you can put it in there.

This will not leave your clothes smelling like vinegar! I was hesitant to try it at first because I thought it would. So, I tried it out on a load of my husband's work laundry. I'm terrible, I know.  But it worked, no smell and everything was softer! For fun scents, you can add essential oils to your vinegar.

Dryer Balls
I love dryer balls.  I use four of the Nellie's Dryer Balls (2 standard, 2 pvc free) and I just adore them.  My clothes dry faster, my diapers (even all of my all-in-ones) dry in a single cycle and everything gets so soft. It even helps with wrinkles.

Wool

Nellie's Dryer Balls
(I love these!)

Nellie's PVC Dryer Balls

(love these too)

Eco-friendly Branded options
I'm sure there are more options out there, but here are just a few.

Ecover
Seventh Generation Liquid  - we have used this and it works great
Seventh Generation Dryer Sheets
Method Liquid
Method Dryer Sheets - we have used these and like them a lot
Mrs. Meyers Dryer Sheets
Mrs. Meyers Liquid

Where are your votes going?

It's said that when you purchase a product, you are voting with your dollars.  The question I've been asking myself recently is "Am I using my whole vote?"

My family likes cereal.  It's quick, easy and a great way for us to get in whole grains.  Organic whole grain cereal and some organic milk makes for a good start to my day.  I personally love Cascadian Farm Multi Grain Squares.  I was pleased too that the Cascadian Farm cereals include Box Tops for Education.  The economy is bad and every penny helps, right?!  

I was watching TV one day when a General Mills commercial came on saying that they were the only cereal with Box Tops.  What?  No, my Cascadain Farm cereal has Box Tops too!  I went to the cabinet, pulled out my box of cereal and inspected it.  Not a single reference to General Mills, not so much as a suggestion that they could be linked.  So I hopped online and sure enough, Cascadian Farm is listed on the General Mills site.  I must say that it was even very difficult to find General Mills mentioned anywhere on the Cascadian Farm website.  Only when I looked at the small print privacy policy and terms of use pages did I find it.

Do I still buy their cereal?  Yes, I like it - I feel like it's healthy and safe for my family.  It is reasonably priced and available to me locally.  Do I wish they were more transparent?  Absolutely.  I feel mislead.  Making consumers feel as though they are supporting the little guy, when they are not, is deceptive.

So what's the big deal?  Well, for me - I'd like to know who I'm supporting.  I don't buy a lot of non-organic products because of the other ingredients they often contain: artificial colors, flavors, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, aspartame, excessive amounts of sugar, etc.  I feel as though these ingredients (among others) are not best for a healthy diet (to put it politely).  My general feeling is that a company who knowingly uses such ingredients is not looking out for the best interest of their consumers - or the children that will consume their products.  Thus, my opinion of big companies is less than favorable, generally speaking.

I took my concerns to some friends and was somewhat shocked at what I would find out.  General Mills is not alone - by far.  I would like to thank Lili's Landing for her insight and help with the information below.  If you buy organic foods, I encourage you to browse this list.  I'm not suggesting that you boycott these brands, but I do believe that your purchases should be informed.  Consumers have a right to know where their money is going.

Before we get started, please note that the information on why some of these companies were acquired is hard to know.  A lot of sources state that details will not be released.  Financial issues for the smaller companies seems to be the general thought, as was the case with Gardenburger, which went bankrupt in 2005 and was acquired by Kellogg in 2007.  Some companies, however, seemed to welcome a larger company and believed that the larger company would keep the ideals that the brand started out with and help expand organic as a whole.

Kraft: Boca, Back to Nature.
- Boca: Acquired in February 2000. (1) (2)
- Back to Nature: Acquired in September 2003. (1)

Brynwood Partners VI L.P.: Balance Bar
- Balance Bar: Acquired by Kraft in January 2000, then acquired by Brynwood in December 2009 because it did not make enough money for Kraft. (1) (2)

Osem Group[parent company of Nestle]: Tribe Mediterranean
- Tribe Mediterranean: Acquired in September 2008. (1)

Coca Cola: Odwalla, Honest Tea
- Odwalla: Acquired in October 2001. (1) (2)
- Honest Tea: Acquired in February 2008. "Honest Tea's own acceptance of Coke's investment comes from a desire to reach a broader audience, according to CEO Goldman -- to go from being simply 'important' to acting as a 'agent of change' by leading 'a national shift toward healthier diets.' " (1)

Kellogg: Kashi, MorningStar Farms, Bear Naked, Gardenburger.
- Kashi: Acquired in June 2000. (1)
- Morningstar Farms: Acquired in October 1999. (1)
- Bear Naked: Acquired in December 2007. (1)
- Gardenburger: Acquired in December 2007. (1) (2)

Hershey's: Dagoba.
- Dagoba: Acquired in October 2006. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Dagoba," said Frederick Schilling, Dagoba's founder and CEO. "Hershey's deep commitment to quality and sustainability throughout its supply chain will help Dagoba improve and expand its mission of improving cacao farmers' livelihoods and expanding organic farming methods. This partnership will enable us to continue creating the world's most exquisite chocolate and make it available to a much broader consumer base." (1)

Dean Foods: Silk, Horizon.
- Silk: Acquired in 2001. "We are more committed than ever to our original mission of creatively leading the full integration of soy foods into the American diet," said Steve Demos, founder and president of White Wave. "By joining forces with Dean Foods, we will have more resources available to innovate, extend our brand and expand our distribution. Additionally, we believe that our principles rooted in sustainable, environmentally sensible practices have the opportunity to succeed on an even larger scale. We are anxious to move on to the next phase of our growth cycle." (1) (2)
- Horizon: Acquired in July 2003. "Chuck Marcy, president and CEO of Horizon Organic, said: 'With Dean Foods' substantial processing, distribution and marketing resources, we look forward to accelerating our growth and strengthening the leadership position of the Horizon Organic brands.' " (1) (2)

Pepsi: Naked.
- Naked: Acquired in December 2006. (1)

Smuckers: R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic.
- R.W. Knudsen: Acquired in 1984 (according to Wikipedia - Cannot find any other information about it).
- Santa Cruz Organic: Cannot find any information on when it was acquired, just that Smuckers owns it.

General Mills: Small Planet [Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen], LaraBar.
- Small Planet [Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen]: Acquired in December 1999. "Kahn [founder of Small Planet] said yesterday he is 'overjoyed' with the General Mills deal, not just for what it brings his company ('We'll be able to choose from a menu of resources, not just financial') but for the organic foods category as a whole. 'Organics have a huge opportunity, provided we bring a more mainstream consumer proposition forward,' Kahn said. 'Becoming a part of mainstream companies like General Mills will help lift organic foods beyond a niche product and toward the industry's goal of accounting for 7 to 10 percent of total food sales in 10 years, compared with about 1.5 percent now.' " (1)
- Larabar: Acquired in June 2008. (1)

Heinz: Hain Celestial [Westsoy, Earth's Best, Westbrae, Little Bear, Arrow Head Mills, Garden of Eatin', Nile Spice, Terra Chips, MaraNatha, Yves, Veggie Cuisine, Celestial Seasonings, Health Valley, JASON, Avalon Organics, Alba Botanica, Rice Dream, Spectrum Organics]
- Hain Celestial: Acquired in September 1999 - Heinz then allowed Hain to acquire Earth's Best as part of the deal. " 'This alliance is a strategic fit with our expanding product line, and we have some of the strongest names in the natural and organic food industry with great growth opportunities internationally and domestically,' noted Irwin Simon, president and CEO of Hain."
"Additionally, Hain will acquire from Heinz the trademark and name for Earth's Best organic baby foods." (1)

M&M/Mars: Seeds of Change.
- Seeds of Change: Acquired in 1997. The founder of the company willingly sold his company and seems to still be involved with it. However, he has definitely compromised the integrity of the name - he was given a 3.5 out of 20 score from Ethical Consumer magazine, which did an article on companies who had been sold to corporations. The score before he sold? 15 out of 20.
"In 1997, Seeds of Change wanted to expand into now popular foods such as pasta and sauce. It looked around for a commercial partner and sold itself to Mars. Shapiro says what was important was Mars’ “five principles”: quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom — that is, freedom from public ownership."
"Mars bought Seeds of Change because it saw a future in ethical production, Shapiro says. Crucially, however, Mars had the might to put those principles into practice on a much bigger scale. 'If you’re interested in the future, scale is one of the things that’s critical,' Shapiro says. 'I’m interested in not having any hungry people in the world. I’m interested in changing the lives of as many people as possible.' (1)

Tyson: Nature's Farm.
- Nature's Farm. I can't find any articles about when/if it was acquired. I think it might just be a brand that Tyson has. Regardless, here's some information on what type of company Tyson is (and it doesn't look good). (1)

Con Agra: Alexia Foods, Lightlife Foods [Smart Dogs].
- Alexia Foods - Acquired in 2007. "Alex Dzieduszycki, Alexia Foods' president and chief executive officer, said, 'This agreement is a milestone for the Alexia brand in being able to continue our commitment to deliver premium, natural and organic products to consumers while drawing on the resources ConAgra Foods brings as a leader in the food industry.' "
- Lightlife Foods - Acquired in 2000. "Terms of the transaction were not disclosed."
"According to Chia Collins, Lightlife's co-founder and president, the merger with ConAgra 'allows us to fully expand the growth potential of our products and our people.' " (1)

Cadbury: Green and Black's.
- Green and Black's - Acquired in 2005. "Cadbury Schweppes, which acquired a minority 5% stake in the company in 2002, is to run Green & Black's as a standalone business with the same management team in place. Green & Black's founder, Craig Sams, will continue his role as president and the management team, led by CEO William Kendall and finance director Nick Beart, who acquired the majority of the business from Sams in 1999, will remain unchanged. Green & Black's commented that the deal will allow it to grow further in international markets." (1)

Danone: Stoneyfield Farms [Brown Cow].
- Stoneyfield Farms - Acquired in 2001. This statement makes it seem as though it was a deal that was sought out by the founder of Stoneyfield: "Danone's investment in fact stemmed from a failed takeover bid for the company by Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group, which was not seen as a good fit by Stonyfield's chairman and founder Gary Hirshberg."  (1)
"Sometime soon a portion of the milk used to make that organic yogurt may be taken from a chemical-free cow in New Zealand, powdered and then shipped to the U.S. True, Stoneyfield still cleaves to its organic heritage. For Chairman and CEO Gary Hirshberg, though, shipping milk powder 9,000 miles across the planet is the price you pay to conquer the supermarket dairy aisle. 'It would be great to get all of our food within a 10-mile radius of our house,' he says. 'But once you're organic, you have to source globally.' " Ouch. I hope that all organic companies don't think like this. (1)
- Brown Cow - Acquired by Stoneyfield in 2003.  (1)

Small companies not bought out by food giants.
Eden Foods is still going strong as its own company and refuses to sell out, as is Nature's Path (family owned). Organic Valley has gotten larger, but it is still a cooperative of family farms and is not owned by a massive company. There are others that are still on their own too, as far as I know - Amy's, AppleGate Farms, Columbia Gorge & Nature's Path (EnviroKidz).

Eco Conscious Shopping

“In other environmental issues we tell people to stop something, reduce their impact, reduce their damage,” states US Ecologist Gary Nabhan in a recent interview. Nabhan is a ethnobotanist/gardener whose promotion of biodiversity has caught the attention of many over the years. He is known for his work in biodiversity as an ethnobotanist.

Since Coming Home to Eat was published in 2001, the local food movement has ignited, causing a worldwide green epidemic. Over the past few years there has been a dramatic rise in the number of organizations and businesses that have contributed to the promotion of sustainability through conservation. The Earth Day Network has been playing a large part in bringing conservationist and green enthusiasts together to share ideas and discuss new ways to support the planet. Other large organizations and non-profits like Doug Band and the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) have been working on successful emission reduction projects in the San Francisco Bay area. As climate control has continued to worsen, collaborative and individual acts are vital for any successful green campaign. As human beings, we’re constantly told to reduce our carbon footprint, consume less unhealthy foods, and air dry clothes instead of using a dryer! But let’s take a minute to step back and look at this from a different perspective; one that Gary Nabhan (author of Coming Home to Eat) strongly suggests.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization confirms, only about a quarter of crop diversity is left and that a dozen species now give 90% of the animal protein eaten globally. In accordance, just 4 crop species supply half of plant based calories in the human diet.

Nabhan suggests that eating foods that are home-grown will have a greater impact on sustainability for our planet as a whole. Otherwise known as “eat what you conserve,” is a well-established theory in that by eating the fruits and vegetables that we are attempting to conserve/save, we’re promoting the granular dissemination of various plant species.

Agriculturist Marco Contiero also mentions that “biodiversity is an essential characteristic of any sustainable agricultural system, especially in the context of climate change.”[1] According to Conterio’s theory, this would suggest that as individuals we tend our own crops/plants, and should make sure to purchase localized farm products at supermarkets and groceries. In the end, this condenses export/import reliance, thus reducing our carbon footprint.

Both Nabhan and Contiero’s theories rely profoundly on an action oriented approach at conservation and sustainability. With an abundance of green movements following Earth Day 2010, organizations and individuals have taken a stronger following to expert opinions like the ones demonstrated by both of these highly influential agriculturalists. So remember be sure to visit your local farmers markets and apple orchids to purchase your fresh fruits and vegetables. Promoting biodiversity and localized farming is a crucial piece of the conservation puzzle.

Article Submitted by Kori Bubnack
Image from Cubit's Organics

Want to try the Activeion?

Now is your chance.

I reviewed the Ionator HOM for you back in January and have been using and loving it since.  I am consistently pleased with it's performance and when I was offered the chance to work with them again I was more than happy to.

Because of the great response to them here on The Eco-Friendly Family, Activeion is offering you, our readers, an $10 discount on the Ionator HOM.  If you've wanted to own the HOM but weren't sure it would work for you, no fear, Activeion offers a 30 day money back guarantee.  I can't tell you how great this product is.  It truly breaks up messes for easy wiping better than most of my homemade and commercial cleaners (all eco-friendly of course!)

To take advantage of this opportunity, head over to Activeion by October 31, 2010 and use code:

blog2010

Five Eco-Friendly Ways to Green Your Pickup Truck

Contributed by Summer K. Sellers (thank you!)

When people think of hybrid vehicles, they think of tiny cars. But what happens if you need a pickup truck and still want to be considerate of the environment? If you work in construction, or work or live on a farm, a pickup is the only practical vehicle you'll consider buying. You wouldn't be able to do half of what you do every day without one. Here are five ways to have the best of both worlds.

Buy a hybrid pickup truck. If you can afford to do so, purchase a hybrid Chevrolet Silverado or a hybrid GMC Sierra, which are currently delivering an estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. That's pretty good compared to their regular counterparts, which are getting approximately 12-15 miles per gallon in the city and 18-20 on the highway.

Convert your current truck to run on an alternative fuel. One alternative fuel to consider switching to is bioalcohol fuel, the most popular form being E85. This ethanol fuel is produced by fermenting sugars, which result in high octane ratings. Its tailpipe emissions-reducing base substance is most abundantly available in the Midwest because of large access to local corn crops, and is a less expensive option than people think, usually starting around $200-300. Another alternative fuel to consider is biodiesel fuel, which is made of oil extracts from animal fats, and plants such as soybeans and peanuts.

Purchase eco-friendly spark plugs. These green spark plugs work by using more efficient surface air gap firing technology, which produces a longer, more powerful spark arcing toward the ground electrode for maximum firing performance instead of a conventional air gap spark plug, which generates a short spark that travels in a direct path. In addition to reducing tailpipe emissions, these environmentally-friendly spark plugs maximize your fuel efficiency and improve your vehicle's performance.

Purchase eco-friendly motor oil. Green motor oil is made of tallow, which is saturated cow fat. When converted into unsaturated oil, it's less likely to clog up engine parts. It's non-toxic and can be disposed of at home if broken down into smaller molecules by using a second reacting agent. The molecules are eaten by microorganisms in the soil.

Install LED Lights in your truck. Consuming less energy, these long-lasting, light-emitting diodes, (LED lights)a, are commonly used for brake lamps, turn signals, and indicators. They're smaller in size, resulting in less material waste, and switch on faster than regular incandescent bulbs. These relatively inexpensive lights are very durable and reliable.

By implementing these five green ways, you'll know you've done your part to be eco-friendly in the automotive world, even if you have a pickup truck.

What are some other green suggestions you may have for improving your pickup truck? Is there one certain tip that has worked well for you energy- and dollar-wise?

Summer K. Sellers is a writer for the aftermarket auto accessories industry and editor of Torque, the TruckChamp.com blog. TruckChamp.com, a subsidiary of LOF, Inc., is a leading online retailer of discount aftermarket truck accessories. From towing mirrors to nerf bars, TruckChamp.com offers a wide selection of great products at low prices and is committed to providing incredible customer service.