What is GreenMoms.com?

This global website is designed to be a one-stop shop for mothers to share ideas about greener living locally and globally.  The site provides a directory of member-recommended green products and services, discussion forums, blogs, a green store, the tools and support for anyone (moms or otherwise) from around the world to start their own local GreenMoms group, and other features to make it easier for living as a green family.

Our Philosophy
-  Support Group for Moms and others wanting to green their lives.
-  Attitude we embody: Positive, Inspirational, Supportive, Non-Judgemental
-  Spammers are not tolerated

Although we do not support any particular political party, we are interested in supporting initiatives which focus on, and are effective for, child safety, food safety, and non-partisan environmental issues.

Our Green Standards

The GreenMoms approach to helping families lead greener lives supports many levels of green.  However, there are a few things we require of all member-recommended submissions to our "Green Stuff" Resources database.  First we require that the product, service, or resource provide organic, fair- trade, or sustainably produced goods or information.  In general, we look to see that submitted products do not contain any harmful or toxic chemicals and that the ingredients are mostly botanically based.   In addition, we check to see that the submission is environmentally responsible.  As for Body Care Products and Cleaning Products, we look to see that they do not contain parabens, petroleum derived substances, or synthetics.  Cleaning products should also be free of phosphates, formaldehyde, and ammonia. 

The Founders

In 2005 Melinda MacNaughton began a sub-club of the Half Moon Bay Coastside's local Mom's Club and dubbed it “Green Moms”.  With her professional background in nutrition science, dietetics, and research, as well as her practical experience as a new mom, she wanted to create a support group for moms to share ideas and information about how to live greener lives.  As the group evolved, the input from members helped it become much more.  Not only did the group share green ideas and resources, but it started inviting guest speakers and organizing green events and activities both for children and adults. Melinda’s dream was to create a website to take the group idea to a global level.

Janice Solimeno joined the group in 2007 and offered her expertise in web production, software engineering and business management when Melinda explained her dream to her.  Together they Co-founded GreenMoms.  Their first project together was a concept test site, GreenMomsCoastside.com.  This site provided an easy-to-use interface which showcased all the information gathered and recorded from the email discussions and social gatherings of the HMB Coastside Green Moms club.

With encouragement from group members (and many others who found the site across the USA and beyond), they were ready to realize the dream:  to create a global website which offers people all over the world access to information, resources, support and camaraderie to take steps to make their lives greener for their family and the earth.  GreenMoms.com provides the opportunity for anyone across the globe to start their own green groups, locally and online. GreenMoms are groups and individuals connecting and sharing at International, Regional and Neighborhood levels to help each other live greener lives.

Our Staff

John Bliss:

Associate of Science - Network Administration

Quality Assurance Analyst - 12 years

Technical Support - 4 years

My participation in working with GreenMoms has been mostly technical. That being said....I am recycling more, conserving more, and eating better! I couldn't help it....it kinda just rubbed off on me! That, and my Wife has been looking over my shoulder while I worked, getting ideas and implementing them one at a time while I watched. It has been a fun and rewarding trail towards a greener life.

Theresa Francis:

Bachelor of Arts - Television and Film
Previous Careers - Film, Multimedia, Internet, Business Manager, Photographer
Currently - Mom to 6 year old twins and Davis, CA GreenMoms Leader

I worked at AOL with Janice many years ago.  We kept in touch over the years, and when she told me about GreenMoms I volunteered to start a group in Davis, CA where I live.  So with my friend Synda, we formed the Davis/Yolo  GreenMoms (and sometimes Dads). My family and I try to do what we  can to be green.  We ride our bikes, walk, and buy locally grown organic food. I try to instill a sense of "greenness" in my kids.   So my philosophy is do whatever you can, and if enough people make small changes, that will make a big impact.

Our Writers

Anni Daulter:

Anni Daulter, is an author of an upcoming book called Organically Raised; conscious cooking for babies & toddlers (www.organicallyraisedcookbook.com)  She is excited to be offering you tid bits of information every month on feeding your babies, toddlers & families while trying to stay Green and reduce our footprint on mother earth.  She will be offering recipes and unique ideas on going back to basics ways that support family connections and healthy living.  Please visit Anni at www.consciousfamilyliving.com to learn more about her and what she is up to next!

Tiffany Carboni:

Tiffany Carboni is the former senior editor of California Home & Design and Gentry Magazine. A graduate from the University of California at Irvine in the School of Humanities, Tiffany currently freelances with regular contributions appearing in NICHE, Bay Area Parent, SPACES, Oakland Magazine, Alameda Magazine, Teen Focus for Parents, and B.A.B.Y. She and her husband are raising their two young children in the San Francisco Bay Area where they are committed to living a green lifestyle that includes biking, composting, and mowing the lawn with a good old-fashioned push mower.

Laure Latham Guyot:

Margot Shave:
Margot Shave is a local mother of two with a background in journalism. She has written for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Hong Kong and Texas. As a writer and mother she could think of no better combination of work, than writing for GreenMoms.com and says,  "These days it is not enough for a mother just to nurture and love her children and hope for the best. As mothers we all have another duty, to teach our kids green values and to ensure they have a healthy planet to live on in the future and make sure they leave it in good shape for their own kids."

About our Resources and Store

Absolutely everything listed on GreenMoms.com has been recommended by a GreenMoms Community Member and is not a recommendation from an editorial staff. Of course, the founders of GreenMoms are also members so we include our personal recommendations. Some of the business resources we recommend are not 100% green but offer a green option or will do green work upon request. Feel free to share an opinion about any of our  Resources or Blog entries by writing a comment on its detailed information page. To recommend Resources, a Take Action or Recall Information , use the Submit a Resource feature.  And to ask questions or start a discussion with other moms or parents, try the various communication options in Discussions: Chats happen live with members online at the same time as you while Discussion Forums happen over time.  Don't know where or how to get started to "go green-er"?  Check out our GreenMometer(TM) tips.  We do not consider ourselves the absolute authority on all things green, so please help each other and submit your product recommendations and links or share your insights. Our site is here for everyone to share green knowledge and resources.