Blog entries from jandm

Back to School with Organic Eco-Lunches

Administrator — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:24:21 +0100

By Annie Daulter

Author of Organically Raised; conscious cooking for babies & toddlers

Founder of Conscious Family Living

For most of us with kids, September means back to schoRead More...

Happy Birthday the Natural Way - cake recipe

Administrator — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:04:52 +0100

By: Anni Daulter

Author of Organically Raised

www.organicallyraisedcookbook.com

In honor of the fact that I just gave birth to my 4th baby River Love, three weeks ago, and we are in the middle celebrating birth, I thought I would write this month’s article on enjoying birthdays the natural wRead More...

Manu's Green Trigger.....A way of life

Administrator — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:04:55 +0100

by Manuela Seitz-Hipkins

I was born and raised in Germany. My parents were both born in the last
years of World War II and both learned to live very frugally. My father grew
up eating pretty much only potatoes. My mom had it better. She grew up in a
family of farmers, which had to flee from Eastern Europe and settled iRead More...

Meet the Founders of Playa Viva: Why an Eco-Resort and How?

Administrator — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:28:48 +0100

David and Sandra, Founders of Playa Viva

By Melinda

Sandra Kahn, Community Relations Director, and David Leventhal, Principal, are founders and owners of Playa Viva Sustainable Resort and Residence Community which Read More...

The Ultimate Eco-Resort! Playa Viva

Administrator — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:27:09 +0100

The Resort Offerings

Playa Viva design and spaces are built based on social architecture. There are private rooms and common areas where people can get to know each other while they stay. This is also a very kid and family friendly resort. There is a saline pool, yoga, cooking workshops Read More...

Summer Activities In Your Own Backyard

Administrator — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:44:09 +0100

When planning travels and activities this summer, try to make it eco-friendly and don't forget what great resources you may have in your own backyard.

Your Local Sustainable Farms

Look around your town. What farms are nearby? Are they sustainable or organic farms? If so, you might want to get a group of frRead More...

Organically Raised: Book Launch

Administrator — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:40:55 +0100

Anni Daulter's book launch took place on June 4th. She has written Organically Raised; conscious cooking for babies & toddlers. Check out her website for more info.

GreenMoms.com was a supporter of this event that took place in Southern California. Brook Langton and Mario Di DiantRead More...

What Is the Biggest Thing We Can Do to Save the Planet?

Administrator — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:07:52 +0100

Here is what GreenMom Leader, Lara Eventide, of Durham, North Carolina has to say. I think she has a great answer!

Raise a child who genuinely cares about the earth. It is the same idea as either giving a man a fish or teaching a man to fish. It is perpetual. Setting a good example isRead More...

Local Community Garden Gets Help from Kids

Administrator — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:35:17 +0100

In El Granada, California, local GreenMoms with kids, Girl Scout Troop, and members of Kids Healthy Choices plant fun areas for kids.

In these photos, they are putting in some gopher wire baskets and planting sunflowers for our future sunflower house. They also filled in a rustic planter and planted strRead More...

Book Review: Organically Raised- Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers

Administrator — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:31:54 +0100

By Melinda

I really like this cookbook: Organically Raised by Anni Daulter. It covers all the areas I need to think about when cooking for my family. For beginners who don't know much about nutrition, it starts with the basics of childrens everyday nutrition needs so we can be aware of how Read More...

Investing The Time To Cook For Your Baby

Administrator — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:44:42 +0100

By: Anni Daulter, Author of Organically Raised

People always ask me for the quickest recipes and the fastest solutions to cooking for the their families because our lives are busy. I get that, but plain and simple, it does take time to cook for your baby! I know its hard to makRead More...

Davis/Yolo - GreenMoms Event Update

Administrator — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:37:12 +0100

An after school field trip to CETA animal Foundation

By Theresa co-leader of the Davis/Yolo GreenMoms

Our local Davis GreenMoms group has been very busy the last few months and
the next fewRead More...

GreenMoms (GreenMums) - Torquay, Australia To Ban Plastic Bags

Administrator — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:59:43 +0100

photos: courtesy of Lisa Bauerle.

Photos are of a display some SCEG (Surf Coast Energy
Group) members put together. It included plastic that one member had found
along a 3 km strecth of our coastline.

By Stacie Bobele, leader of GreenMoms- GreenMums Torquay, Australia

Green Garden: Part II - Variables and Space

Administrator — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:14:42 +0100

Trellis Idea

By Susan Osofsky, Permaculture Mentor at Earth Action Mentor

Variables to Consider

Here's a list of variRead More...

No Homemade Food Allowed at Daycare Centers in U.S.?

Administrator — Sat, 08 May 2010 21:37:11 +0100

Apparently, there is a new law being suggested that would require daycare centers in the U.S. to require parents to send only factory sealed containers of food with their children to daycare. This, to prevent microbial contamination in transport. Yes, this means you can't make hRead More...

GreenMoms - GreenMums - Torquay, Australia Project Report

Administrator — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:39:57 +0100

GreenMums Torquay reports on a project they have sponsored to get their local community involved in an organic food swap that saves everyone money and gardening time.

By Stacie Bobele

It all started on 9 January at DanawhRead More...

Baby Joy’s Peach-Raspberry-Açai Yogurt

Administrator — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:38:06 +0100

By Anni Daulter

Author: Organically Raised; conscious cooking for babies & toddlers

Here is a bright and fun rainbow inspired recipe for you to enjoy!

baby joy’s peach-raspberry-açai yogurt

Makes 3 servings

Ingredients:

Earth Day Photo Collage - What did you do?

Administrator — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:13:32 +0100

Submitted by Manu of Moss Beach, CA

We sold lunch boxes to reduce waste at our school in Menlo Park. Thanks to the efforts of our Action Club, 96 more children are using waste free lunch containers at the German American International SchoolJ

We also brought reusable lRead More...

The Unveiling of Little Miss Earth Day

Administrator — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:32:04 +0100

By Christy at Kids Konserve

9 year old, Margaret has captured the attention of the President, her peers and organizations across the U.S. A nine year old might be small compared to the big politicians lobbying for environmental change, but she has shown that SmalRead More...

Top Eight Green Things I Want for Mother's Day

Administrator — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:08:02 +0100

By Melinda

Why top eight? Because I could not think of ten things. Ok, here is my list:

-happy, healthy children and husband

-a world where we all live sustainably and green.....

Yes, of course we all want these things for the most part, but here is my actual list in Read More...

Green Earth Day Crafts and Activities for Kids

Administrator — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:30:25 +0100

By Melinda

Here is a list of a few projects your kids can do for Earth Day to get them in the spirit! Take pictures of what you do and share them with us. We want to see what you did for Earth Day! We will post them to our blog. Send photos to info@GreenMoms.com.

Make art with re-usable materials:

Rainbow Eating for Babies

Administrator — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:33:41 +0100

By Anni Daulter

Author: Organically Raised; conscious cooking for babies & toddlers

When feeding your babies and toddlers, keep color in mind. In my book, Organically Raised, I call this rainbow eating. As a new parent, it’s often difficult to manage all of theRead More...

Earth Day is turning 40! Earth Day Facts...

Administrator — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Adapted by Manu

Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22nd.

In spring of 1962 Rachel Carson published Silent Spring; an influential book on chemical pesticides that eventually led to the ban of DDT (from its trivial name, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane- is one of the most well-known synthetic pesticides).

In 1969 a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Read More...

Is it Possible to Live GMO free?

Administrator — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:10:07 +0100

By Melinda

A few recent articles are saying GMO foods have been shown to cause cancer in rats. If this is true, how do we plan to escape those foods and keep them away from our families? And more importantly, is there a way to boycott GMO completely? GMO foods are mass produced these days and the biggest offenders are corn, soy, and sugaRead More...

Water to Wonder Cleaner

Administrator — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:39:45 +0100

By NicerNews • on April 1, 2010

Original Source: http://www.ecofabulous.com
Original Publication Date: March 31, 2010

One of the most vital ingredients for life, water has long been revered as an incredible compound (changing from a liquid to solid to gas is pretty impressive if you ask us), but what if water could also replace conRead More...

Green Garden - Part 1: Observation and Location

Administrator — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 06:13:08 +0100

By Susan Osofsky, Permaculture Mentor at Earth Action Mentor

For those who want to start a spring or summer garden, it's time to start planning and planting. Observation is your friend!

Observation

Observation is a key element in planning a garden. Read More...

DYI Fix Its: Part 2: The Garbage Disposal

Administrator — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:58:16 +0100

By The GreenDad

Where have you been GreenDad? I've been busy repairing my house and household items during my 'free' time. I've found that Do It Yourself is easier and more rewarding than I remember. By rewarding, I mean financially, emotionally and environmentally rewarding. Here is a recent project that shows how you can save mRead More...

KidsHealthyChoices™: Dining Out that's good for kids

Administrator — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

By Manu

One restaurant at a time… KidsHealthyChoices™ DINING OUT that's good for kids

Michelle Obama has pledged to put an end to food related illnesses in children; the media has put America’s Parents on alert status. Daily, we hear reports about the need to turn Kid’s eating habits around, to look at food labels and to buy nRead More...

TOP SEVEN GREENEST DIAPER OPTIONS: Cloth vs Compostable revisited

Administrator — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

I have researched diapers quite a bit since I just had a baby. I determined that a compostable service would be the most ideal especially if the compostable diapers were made from sustainably sourced materials. I found a few brands that use Forest Stewardship Certified wood pulp from the after production of wood products and some type of corn maise polymeRead More...

SWAP-A-PALOOZA! Clothes swap tips for the beginner

Administrator — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:16:52 +0100

By Janice

A couple of weeks ago I participated in what started out to be a standard, basic, clothes swap evening: a few women bring wine and munchies to someone's house, lay out their few clothes to swap organized by type (jeans, shorts, shirts, skirts, dresses, acRead More...

Ready, Set....Start Your Garden!

Administrator — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:49:28 +0100

By Melinda

Wouldn't it be great to have a garden that produced all the food your family needs for the entire year? This would be great if we ever have any disasters...including peak oil or climate change impacts on agriculture that limit the production and/or transport of food. I have not figured out how to do this with my limited time as a Read More...

St. Patrick’s Day – Time for Green Beer!

Administrator — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By The GreenDad

Not the type that turns your teeth green and makes you look like the Grinch, but Organic Beer. The GreenDad has once again undertaken a stressful and challenging mission in order to educate and entertain the GreenMoms.com readers – Organic Beer Tasting!!

The hardships I must endure.

Not surprisinglRead More...

Smell Pollution: cleaners, fabric softners, deoderants

Administrator — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

When you eliminate all synthetic smells from your daily routine and body care products, you really start to smell other people's. Has anyone noticed this or is it just me? I don't think I have that sensitive of a nose, but maybe my nose was just too overwhelmed with smell before I went green. It really makes you notice how Read More...

Non-Toxic Intimacy on Valentines Day

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

Valentine's Day is about celebrating your true love. And, since many of us will be celebrating with our partners and likely getting a little closer, let's consider some non-toxic ways to get intimate. Did you know that there are several eco-friendly and non-toxic personal lubricants available? Most mainstream personal lubricants contain petroleum bi-products. ThaRead More...

Happy Green Valentines!

Administrator — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

Valentines Day is coming up and if you plan on celebrating it, here are a few ideas for gifts and activities:

Chocolates: If you like to give chocolate, check out our list of recommended chocolate. Since our dollars are like our votes, vote against child slave labor and pollution of the rain forests by purchasing fair tradeRead More...

Eco-Thrifty Food and Prep Ideas

Administrator — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Contributed by RubbingNickels.com

Did you know that when you store, freeze and/or microwave food in your kitchen, you may be releasing toxic chemicals into your food? There are a lot of food storage products available but the best are recyclable, reusable and non-toxic when you use them in the microwave. When an item saRead More...

What You Need to Know About BPAs and Plastic

Administrator — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

-Tiffany Carboni

While plastic sippy cups, reusable sports bottles, baby bottles, and spring water bottles make on-the-go life more convenient they are also posing a serious threat to our environment as well as our bodies.

The evidence is clear that when not properly recycled these pesky plastics become a landfill nightmare and litter ouRead More...

My Five Green Resolutions

Administrator — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By Laure Latham

Item # 1. This year I vow that we will go hiking once a month as a family. Once a month doesn’t seem like a lot but you’ve got to make it happen. Each year I decide that we’ll go outdoors regularly, blocking off one Sunday per month, starting at the crack of dawn, ending mid-afternoon after a rewarding hike and picnRead More...

Wild or Farmed? Which is Greener?

Administrator — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

By Laure Latham

Q&A on Fish farming with Geoff Shester, Senior Science Manager at Seafood Watch

Q: Tell us about fish farming

A: In 2009 for the first time, humans ate more farmed seafood than wild-caught seafood. Seafood farming includes shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters) as well as fin-fish farming (salmonRead More...

Holiday Gifts in Review: A Poem

Administrator — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

by One Frustrated green mom who says, "How do we get through to our relatives?"

We requested only two gifts for our kids,

Instead you gave them 5 and that just blows our lids!

We requested eco-friendly gifts; nothing too fantastic,

Instead you give them unsustainable toys of plastic.

We try to teach them the holRead More...

Don't Buy a New Appliance, Just Fix It: DIY

Administrator — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Project #1

By The Green Dad

Where have you been GreenDad? I've been busy repairing my house and household items during my 'free' time. I've found that Do It Yourself is easier and more rewarding than I remember. By rewarding, I mean financially, emotionally and environmentally rewarding. Here a recent project that shows how you can Read More...

How to be Green (or even Chartreuse)

Administrator — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Amy Fothergill, visit her website at: The Family Chef

When I first moved to California over 10 years ago, I barely knew about recycling. One of the reasons I stayed was that I felt connected to the people; they seemed to be more laid back and cared about the environment. I hadn't found that to be the case on the East coast. So, I started with recycliRead More...

Solstice Lanterns- Handmade

Administrator — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

Winter Solstice is somewhat of a forgotten celebration in our culture. Ancient people used to celebrate Winter Solstice as a way to help bring the sun back (the longer daylight hours of spring). As most of you know, Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest sun hours, then, the days start to get longer again until wRead More...

Make Your Home Clean and Green for the Holidays

Administrator — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:10:21 +0100

By Darcy Ratner of Rubbing Nickels

For me, feeling that something is clean is closely related to its smell. Take the leading name-brand laundry detergent, for example. I LOVE the smell that it gives to the clothes. Unfortunately, my son and I are severely allergic to the perfumes that give it its fragraRead More...

The Great Christmas Tree Debate

Administrator — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Tiffany Carboni

Real or fake? It’s the question that haunts many eco-minded families in their quest for the perfect Christmas tree. Although going fake may seem greener because of its long-term use, most artificial Christmas trees are made of lead-containing PVC plastic, which disintegrates into lead-laced dust. &nbsRead More...

Green Gifts and Green Holiday

Administrator — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Melinda

This year, make less of an impact by giving less but more! How? Gift less stuff, but more love, ideas, and inspiration. Why give less stuff? American consumer habits use most of the world's precious resources and put tremendous amounts of garbage in the landfills. The Holiday season is the worst oRead More...

Greening Our Schools

Administrator — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Tiffany Carboni

Former teacher Robin Organ of Massachusetts suffered from allergies so severe she almost died due to repeated anaphylaxis and toxic overload. Later her two daughters were afflicted with similar allergies prompting Organ to investigate their cause, which was determined to be primarily due to environmental toxins and weakened immune systems. WhilRead More...

Davis GreenMoms Go to the Farmer's Market

Administrator — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Theresa Francis

A couple of weeks ago my co-leader Synda and I set up a table at the Saturday Davis Farmers to get out the word out about our local GreenMoms group. It was fun! We got there about 8:00 am on a what turned out to be an uber spectacular fall day. We set up a table with fliers containing information on our past and future eveRead More...

America Recycles!

Administrator — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

By Tiffany Carboni

November 15 is America Recycles Day. In honor of those who avidly recycle (and to help motivate those who need a boost), RecycleBank is Read More...

SproutBaby.com Takes care of Babies and Parents

Administrator — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:48:43 +0100

By Jeanette

Often times new babies come into our lives and we're not sure what to get for them and their parents that will be useful AND ecological. SproutBaby.com seems to take care of both of those concerns. As part of their FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, SproutBaby.com is offering discounts and customer referral incentives to give their terrific products and seRead More...