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Get out your address book, it's time to send out your holiday greeting cards. If you are like most Americans, this is the one time of year where you send out cards to family and friends both near and far. In fact, Americans send out almost 3 billion greeting cards over the winter holidays (that's enough cards to fill a football field ten stories high!) But holiday cards generate a mountain of wasted paper in addition to heaps of environmental pollution in their production and shipping. So this year, why not save the planet while saving yourself a fortune in time and cash and spread a little eco-cheer instead. Here's how:
- Choose from one of the 25,000 free e-cards available from Care2. Customize one for each person on your list or send one card to everyone. Each free card you send generates donations to environmental organizations.
- Set up a holiday slideshow (complete with music or falling snowflakes) at Photobucket and email the link to family and friends. Photobucket has preset templates for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa.
- If you simply must go with paper, look for cards printed on recycled paper (try PaperCards.com, Rossetti Designs, or KidBean.)
- Enlist your kids' help in making cards from scratch using newspapers, magazines, and recycled holiday cards that you have around the house.
“The competition for kids’ mind share is intense…
Everything from Disney Princess to That’s So Raven
to Pirates of the Caribbean we position as a lifestyle brand,
and we are able to drive that lifestyle message through product.”
— Jim Fielding, executive vice president of global retail, sales, and marketing,
Disney Consumer Products*
With Thanksgiving over, the winter holiday season has officially begun. Tis the season for caroling, holiday parties, decorations, gingerbread houses, dreidel games, and of course, lots and lots of shopping. My last post, The Green Parent's 2007 Holiday Gift Guide, was aimed at helping you spread the holiday cheer without selling your soul. I hope this list gives you plenty of ideas to get you started on your shopping list. But I also felt it was necessary to mention the deeper issue here, which is whether or not you even need to buy new things in the first place...to spend or not to spend.
 As a Green Parent, you may be hoping to curb the consumerism a bit and celebrate the holidays without mounds upon mounds of presents. With the latest toy recall scares, you may also want to steer your children away from certain brands and/or styles of toys that are produced under questionable conditions.
But this can be difficult to do when your child is clamoring for the toys they see advertised on TV, in stores, on their friends, and even in their schools. Because each year, in an effort to grab your attention and earn your dollars, retailers and manufacturers usher in a seemingly endless bombardment of advertising aimed at you (of course) and also at your children. So kids at a younger and younger age are "branded", and drawn to the logos and characters they see on everything from their diapers to their utensils.
Conscious consumerism is the focus of a non-profit agency called The Center For the New American Dream. This year, they have launched a holiday blog called Holiday Parenting Tips in an effort to help parents "navigate the highly commercial holiday season as responsibly as possible." This is a great place to start if you are looking for ways to have a great holiday season without breaking the bank or wreaking havoc on the planet.
You can also check out their brochure, "Tips For Parenting In A Commercial Culture", to better understand the minds of the markerters who are targeting your children and to find tips for teaching your children the ABCs of advertising. (I found the quote at the top of this post, along with many others, in this brochure.)
I don't like to be stressed at the holidays. Nor do I like to feel guilty. I plan to buy both of my children a number of presents this season, but I also vow to start teaching them both the true meaning of the holidays and the true meaning of all of those holiday ads!
*“License! 2005 Industry Annual Report,” (Advanstar Communications, October 2005), 45, www.licensemag.com/licensemag/data/articlestandard/licensemag/ 412005/184293/article.pdf.
Are you worried about your holiday gift list this year? With all of the news about global warming and environmental degradation, let alone sweatshop labor and toxic toys, what's a Green Parent to do? Never fear, there are tons of gifts that you can give to show your spirit without selling your soul. Here, without further ado, is The 2007 Green Parent Holiday Gift List...a list of gifts you can feel good about:
Give The Gift That Gives Back
Charities: Check out The Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) to find a charitable organization to match the interests of anyone on your list. The independent site lists charities by category and gives detailed information about the mission, efficiency, and capacity of thousands of organizations.
For The Little Idealist: Even the youngest recipient will be delighted with a charitable gift that piques her interest. Does the kid on your list love books? Donate her favorite title to the local library. Does he love the outdoors? Give him a gift membership to the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) or the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org). Or adopt-an-animal from the World Wildlife Fund and your recipient will receive info about the animal as well as a plush version to cuddle. For more ideas check out Idealist.org (www.idealist.org) for a listing of charitable groups that were founded by kids.
Offsets: Help friends and family offset their carbon footprint with a gift of renewable energy credits (RECs) or greentags. The money you spend on carbon offsets will be used to support projects that reduce or sequester carbon emissions. Check out Carbon Neutral (www.carbonneutral.com) or Green Tags USA (www.greentagsusa.org) to calculate carbon emissions and purchase greentags.
No-Waste Gifts
Flowers: Send your loved ones a bouquet you can feel good about from Organic Bouquet (www.organicbouquet.com.) For something unique, try the Fresh Myrtle Wreath Frame; a beautifully lush wreath made from domestically grown myrtle. It can be used as a frame, a wreath, or a centerpiece. $64.95
Chocolates: The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without chocolate. Dagoba Organic Chocolate ( www.dagobachocolate.com), Green & Black’s ( www.greenandblacks.com), and Newman’s Own Organic Chocolate ( www.newmansownorganics.com) all make deliciously decadent organic chocolate selections. For something extra fancy, try Art Bite Chocolates made from organic Costa Rican chocolates. These hand decorated treats come in four delectable flavors: Whole Pistachios, Dried Ranier Cherries, a local specialty, Organic Cocoa Nibs and Chipotle Pepper, $29.95 (for 1 dozen).
Eco-Friendly Sweets: If your child has a sweet tooth (and what child doesn’t!) he will love making his own treats with a Glee Kit. Choose between the Chewing Gum Kit, the Gummy Candy Kit, and the Chocolate Kit. Each one comes with all of the ingredients necessary to make the treat as well as fun stories and info about the origins of the candy.
Toys You Can Trust
Roy Toy Building Sets: Roy Toy Classic building Sets, such as the Log Cabin and the Fort are Made in the U.S.A. from solid wood and non-toxic finishes. Each set contains over 140 all-wood pieces and a complete set of building instructions so kids can use to get down to building. $29.95
The Power House Kit: from Gaiam gives kids the supplies they need to build a model house complete with PV solar panels, wind turbine, greenhouse, and desalination system. The kit comes with an illustrated manual that includes 70 experiments and 20 building activities. $175.00
Organic Cotton Stuffed Animals: Look for a stuff animal, like this puppy or bear from Gaiam, that contains nothing but pure 100% organic cotton and low eco-impact dyes. $12.99
Puppets: Sequoia Wildlife Finger Puppet Playset: This beautiful playset contains six wildlife puppets (owl, bear, blue jay, squirrel, hare and fox) and a 17-inch plush sequoia tree. Older kids can put on puppet shows for little ones (and vice versa) to learn about animals, nature, and communication. Net proceeds of the sale of this toy benefit the Sierra Club. $39.95. Cool Eco-Friendly Stuff
Gifts To Pamper: Does someone you know need a little pampering? Try the Feel Amazemint gift set from Aveda with all-natural products that cool, refresh, and protect the skin from environmental damage. $29.99. Or try the Angelica Gift Set from Aubrey Organics, a light citrus parfum and bath powder (made from rice and tapioca…not talc) set made from organic ingredients that are certified cruelty-free and vegan. $21.95
Eco Gadgets: Boys can’t resist their toys, so gadgets such as a hand-crank flashlight for the car or a solar-powered radio for the boat are sure to be a hit. Check out Sundance Solar (http://store.sundancesolar.com) for a number of eco-gadget selections.
Recycled Gadgets: Motherboard Business Card Case: This sleek case has a circuit board cover which fits snugly over a brass-colored metal base. Holds up to a dozen cards. No two patterns are exactly alike. $25.00 or Record Label Holiday Ornaments Laser cut from vintage 45 rpm records, these zero waste ornaments come packaged in sets of three different records in a clear, recyclable box. $18 for a set of three.
Books For All Ages
Hoot by Carl Haissen Nature’s Art Box by Laura C. Martin and David Cain The Lorax by Dr. Seuss The Magic Schoolbus: At The WaterWorks by Joanna Cole, The Gaia Girl Series by Lee Welles WoodsWalk by Henry W. Art and Michael W. Robbins Worms Eat My Garbage: How To Set Up & Maintain A Worm Composting System by Mary Appelholf
More Americans travel over Thanksgiving than any other holiday. According to AAA, 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, up 3.1 percent from last year. And while all of that travel is great for family bonding, it's not so great for the environment. Here's how to keep it green and still see your loved ones this Thanksgiving.
1. Take The Train: Traveling by train causes less environmental pollution than traveling by car or by plane. And just think…you won’t have to strap the kids into a car seat, worry about traffic, or have to navigate your little ones through airline security. 2. Get A Tune Up: If you are planning to drive, make sure your car is in tip-top condition so that you can maximize gas mileage (and make fewer painful trips to the pump). Make sure your tires are properly inflated to improve your fuel efficiency by another three percent. Click here and here for more info about driving green. 3. Offset It: No matter how you decide to travel, offset your carbon emissions with companies such as GreenTags or Green-e. Carbon "offsets" invest in projects that absorb or prevent the release of carbon dioxide. Photo courtesy of Elvis Santana
What's your Trash Can I.Q? Do you know how long it takes each of these items to break down in the waste stream? Take this quiz to test your knowledge and find out why recycling is so important!
http://quibblo.com/trackback/iA-3K4
A subscriber recently wrote to ask if it is possible to find flame retardant clothing that is also eco-friendly. Good question!! So I did a little research and here's what I came up with:
It is possible for find fibers, such as recycled polyester or natural wool, that are eco-friendly and flame retardant. According to Michael Lackman, owner of Lotus Organics and author of the comprehensive blog on sustainable and organic clothing, "The composition of wool naturally endows it with high performance qualities such as warmth, water-repellent, odor-resistance, flame-retardant, durability, anti-static, and UV protection." Of course, wool can be a little scratchy to wear...so it may seem an odd choice for babies and children. However, merino wool is exceptionally soft and makes wonderfully luxurious (and naturally flame-retardant) clothing for kids and adults. You can also find a lot of products made from organic merino wool for an even deeper shade of green, but it is definitely on the pricey side. If you're interested, check out the offerings from these companies:
The Clean Bedroom
Nordic Woolens
For more info about flame-retardants and clothing, check out these articles:
www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/ea...
www.associatedcontent.com/article/4...
I also found this one on Care2 about making your own flame-retardant solution. Sounds like a lot of work...but if you want to try it, here's the link:
Care 2
If you know of any more companies that offer children's clothing made from merino wool, please drop me a line!
I usually make it a rule in my house that we don't talk, shop, or decorate for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. Any sooner than that and we risk an all-encompassing holiday burn-out. This year, however, I am making an exception, so that I can thoroughly research all of the eco-savvy new games/books/toys/and gizmos out there and have my Green Parent Holiday Gift List ready before you hit the stores. So, I'm making my list and I'll be checking it twice. If you know of a cool green something or other (product, gift card, charity, etc.) that you think should make the list, drop me a line. And be sure to check back here on Green Friday (formerly known as Black Friday) for a list of earth-friendly gifts that will please everyone on your shopping list.
I recently heard from one of my subscribers who was thrilled with the info she found in The Green Parent but felt overwhelmed with guilt because she simply could not do all of the things she thought she should be doing to help protect the planet. So I thought it was high time for a few Green Parent "eco-confessions." Here goes:
1. We live 3 blocks away from a perfectly fine public school. However, I drive my daughter 35 minutes (each way) to a private school in another town because I feel it is a better fit for her.
2. I eat meat and lots of it. I used to be a vegetarian (no meat, poultry, or fish) for twelve years and although I would like to someday get back to a veggie diet, I currently eat any and all kinds of meat. In fact, about the same time that I wrote Hold The Beef! I was literally filling my freezer with a large shipment of beef that my husband and I had ordered. Granted, the cow was raised as organically as possible on a small farm, and I do try to limit the amount of beef I consume each week, but the fact remains that I am not even close to vegetarian.
3. I use disposable diapers. My eldest child was raised almost exclusively on cotton diapers. However, when my second child came along, I became a little more lax. I now use a pretty even mixture of cotton diapers, disposables, and gdiapers.
4. I do not collect my kitchen scraps for the compost pile, despite my almost daily pledge to do so. I'm working on it...who knows, maybe today will be the day that I finally organize a system to do it!
And these are just my "eco-confessions" for today! Got an eco-confession you'd like to share? Post it here. And please, please, please remember that nobody is perfect....every little bit you do each day makes a HUGE difference...so don't even worry about doing it all. Find the little eco-friendly things that work for you and your family and make them a part of your daily routine. And like everything else you do as a parent...if you flub up, just make sure your kids aren't watching!
O.K. Green Parents...It's election day, and although it's not the BIG one, it's still a good time to stretch out your green finger and put your ballot where your mouth is. The choice you make in today's local and state elections could bring improvements in your town's recycling initiatives, support for the environment at your local schools, access to green parenting resources, and more support for environmental agendas that hit Washington D.C. So grab your kids and go make a difference by voting green at the polls today!
- Click here if you need any info about contacting your elected officials, registering to vote, voting rights, or how to volunteer at the polls.
- Want to teach your kids more about the voting process? Check out Kids Voting USA, for voting info, sample ballots, and classroom voting activities.
This past Saturday marked another historic Step It Up 2007 event with hundreds of demonstrations going on across the country to raise awareness about climate change and the steps needed to reverse it. Across the nation, tens of thousands of Green Parents and Eco Kids of all ages gathered to learn more about climate change, how we can halt it, and what we can and should expect our elected officials to do about it. Click here to see a list of elected officials who attended a Step It Up event.
I was fortunate enough to attend the D.C. event held in front of the Lincoln Memorial where I was entertained by rapping polar bears, informed about climate change by advisers such as David Donegan and Dr. Beverly White, and motivated to make a difference by inspirational speakers like Van Jones, founder of Green For All. All of the afternoon's speakers were phenomenal.. Van Jones, in particular, gave an incredible speech, as he spoke about the "green pathway out of poverty," through which we should focus on the development of green collar jobs f  or those who are in most need of work. Here's an excerpt:
"In this society, we believe that we have throwaway stuff, throwaway resources, and throwaway materials. We also believe that we have throwaway children and throwaway neighborhoods. If we are going to truly make a difference, we can't just stop throwing away resources, we have to stop throwing away people."
Today, (Monday, Nov 5th) leaders from each of the weekend's events will be taking their case to Congress, meeting with their elected officials to discuss Step It Up's plan to increase the number of green jobs in the U.S. and decrease the level of carbon emission by 80 % by 2050. So, if you missed an event but still want to be part of history, pick up your phone and call your Congressperson (Click here to find phone numbers) and let them know you are concerned about climate change.
Special thanks to my polar bear models...Alexis Bayden-Mayer and Arundhati Baden-Mayer Eidinger
Are you going to be a part of this weekend's historic Step It Up 2007 events? The Step It Up 2007 campaign was launched on April 14th of this year in an effort to draw national and international attention to climate change; calling on Congress to enact legislation that will cut carbon emissions by 80 % by the year 2050. Click here to learn more about the Step It Up initiatives.
In April, tens of thousands of Americans "Stepped Up" to attend the 1,400 events held in each of the 50 U.S. states. The collective event was dubbed "the largest environmental movment since Earth Day 1970." The people spoke...and now the elected officials are listening. So now, while we have their attention, comes the next phase of the event. This Saturday (November 3rd) Americans will once again "Step It Up" to demand leadership and action from our elected officials with respect to climate change. Family-friendly Step It Up 2007 events will once again be held all over the nation, bringing speakers, activists, and elected officials together to call attention to climate change. Click here to find an event near you. Will you be part of this historic event? I'll be attending the D.C. event and I hope to see you there!
Ahhh...the Halloween festivities are over. And as your kids crash down from their sugar high, it's time for you to wipe off the smudged face paint, take apart the costumes, put away the candy corn, and get rid of those wilted pumpkins. Here's how to clean up after your Green Halloween:
Pumpkins: Pumpkins are 100% compostable, so chop 'em up and toss them in the pile or bury them in the backyard. Don't have a compost pile? Click here to learn how to start one. In some areas, you may be able to throw your pumpkins in with other compostable yard waste for the city or county to pick up.
Costumes: Just because Halloween is over doesn't mean that your child has to give up his favorite costume. Put it in the dress-up box for playtime around the house. If you do want to get rid of it, pass it on to your local thrift shop or sell it on eBay.
Candy: If you've hit your limit on Halloween candy, pare down your supply and donate the rest to a local nursing home, Boys and Girls club, or women's shelter.
Photo courtesy of Thad Zajdowicz
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