Eco Confessions of a "Not-So-Green" Green Parent

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!

The Great Diaper Debate

New parents are inundated with new decisions, often on topics that have never before crossed their minds; bottle or breast? paci or thumb? co-sleep or crib? Of these decisions, none is more vexing than diapers. It would seem from the great diaper debate that there is simply no eco-friendly way to diaper a child. Sure, cloth diapers are reusable and therefore lighten the landfill load. However, their need for frequent washing uses both water and energy.

Independent studies over the years have consistently come to the conclusion that there is no significant difference in the environmental impact between disposables and cloth. So what’s an eco-minded parent to do? Here are the options:

One alternative to consider is a new product called gDiapers, which combines a washable cloth pant with a biodegradable and flushable insert liner. Unlike disposable diapers, they don’t use any elemental plastics or landfill space, and they require less of the water and energy used to wash standard cloth diapers. These “hybrid” diapers are good in a pinch, but they still require paper and packaging (and midnight trips to the store for refills!)

Some parents have eschewed diapers all together and turned to a method called “elimination communication” where parents learn to “read” their baby’s cues and rush them to the potty when they appear ready to go. Inevitable messes aside, this method is unquestionably better for the environment because it doesn’t require water, energy, or landfill space. However, it is not for the faint of heart. If you can’t devote your full attention to watching your baby for “cues,” save yourself and your baby some frustration and use another method.

For those who prefer a traditional diaper, cotton diapers can take the environmental edge over disposables with some energy and water saving techniques, such as line-drying, skipping the pre-soak, and washing diapers in large loads using low temperatures. And today’s parents don’t have to go old-school with pins and plastic pants. Cotton diapers are easier to use than ever before; and, let’s face it, they are just way cuter than disposables. My pick of the bunch is Fuzzi Bunz cotton diapers...they are great looking, ridiculously soft, and a snap (literally!) to use.

Cotton diapers now come in such a wide array of styles and colors, that green parents may finally be able to put an end to the great diaper think about more important things (like sleep!).

Got Mushrooms?

Eben Bayer grew up around mushrooms, helping his father harvest fungi on their farm in Vermont. But he probably never realized he might be inspired by mushrooms to patent an invention that would take the green building movement by storm. Bayer, and his classmate Gavin McIntyre, graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., recently launched "Greensulate" a organic product they developed together that uses mushrooms as insulation. The fire-retardant board is made of water, flour, oyster mushroom spores and perlite, a mineral blend found in potting soil. While studying at Rensselear, the two grew the mushrooms under their beds. But now they are hoping to take their product wide-scale. The two inventors are hoping the invention will soon be part of the growing market for eco-friendly products.

Celebs Give Green Some Glam

Can green and glam go together? Celebrities and hot-shot clothing designers recently got together to prove that they could. Twelve fashion icons, namely, Diane von Furstenberg, Missoni, Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helena Christensen, Christy Turlington, and Sophie Albou (of Paul & Joe) recently got together to launch a fashionable environmental initiative to raise awareness about the environment. Under the brand name, L.E.N.Y (Limited Edition New York), each celebrity designed an eco-themed T-shirt interpreting an environmental theme based on their personal style. The proceeds from the sales of the shirts will benefit Al Gore's The Climate Project.

Why Go Green?

As a parent, I knew that I did not want to raise my kids in a world full of toxins. And I wanted my kids to respect the planet and the other species that share it with us. But let's face it, there are days when it is all I can do to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy and I just don't feel up to the monumental task of saving the planet. But the reasons to go green are inextricably linked with my job as a mom. After all it's hard to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy if they are exposed to polluted water, air, and food. So here are the reasons that I choose to go green.

1. Going Green Saves Green

The essence of going green is to use less…less electricity, less water, and less stuff. And guess what, the good news is that using less actually saves you money. Conserve energy and you’ll have a lower electric bill and need less fuel at the pump. Reduce waste and you’ll spend less at the store and have lower trash removal fees. And fix your leaky faucets and you’ll not only conserve water, you’ll also slash the cost of your annual water bill. Now, who couldn’t use a little more green?

2. A Clean Bill of Health

We rely on the environment for more than aesthetics and commodities. It is literally the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Air pollution, global warming, acid rain, and water pollution deteriorate the environment as well as your health. Protecting the environment means protecting these resources and ensuring that your family has access to clean water, healthy foods, and fresh air.

3. It’s For The Birds

Contrary to popular belief, we are not the only species on the planet. Every bird, mammal, fish, and tree depends upon the environment for its survival. And even if you are not an avid bird-watcher, the survival of one species is inextricably linked to the survival of the others. You may not notice when one plant or bird species becomes extinct, but as the number of species on the planet becomes threatened, the pressure on the environment builds up, affecting the survival of humans.

4. So I Can Look My Kids In The Eye

There is an old Native American adage that says, “We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children.” One of my obligations as a parent is to ensure that my children have the same access to nature that I enjoy. When I am old and gray and bouncing my grandkids on your lap, I’ll be glad that are growing up in a clean, healthy environment.

5. Raising ‘Em Right

No matter how hard I try to teach my children to do the right thing, they will inevitably learn from what I do rather than what I say. If I show my children that I care about the environment by making environmentally-friendly choices, they will (hopefully) follow my lead. Raising children who understand their connection to the environment is one of the most eco-friendly impacts you can make.

6. Give The Economy A Boost

You do not have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting the economy. Eco-friendly choices drive a free-market economy. Industries such as farming, fishing, and tourism, rely on the health of the environment. Innovative technologies and products that protect the environment create new high-paying jobs. Using the marketplace for eco-friendly products is a win-win solution for consumers and businesses. So by going green, I am helping to foster a strong economy.

Why Go Green?

Everywhere you look, things are going green. But is it really worth the bother? Here are the top 6 reasons for busy parents to save time, money, and the planet.



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