10 Rules for Conscious Eating, by Chris Keenan

Chris in action in the kitchen

• 1) Eat the colors of the rainbow. Not only is this good for your health, the more fresh fruits and vegetables you eat, the less meat and processed foods you eat, which are not as sustainable or environmentally friendly.

• 2) Plant a garden. You just can’t beat the taste of homegrown, garden fresh vegetables, but did you know having a garden is also environmentally friendly? A healthy garden is good for the soil, and it creates an environment for bees and other insects that play a huge role in our ecosystem.

Eat the Rainbow! (Photo credit: karimian @flickr)

• 3) Buy local. Organic is appealing to conscious consumers, but remember that the bulk of organic produce is grown thousands of miles away and must be flown in. Instead of buying organic, buy local, which traveled a much shorter distance.
• 4) Cook more. Preparing meals yourself is not only a great way to save money and eat healthier, it’s a great way to reduce waste. Plastic utensils, metal or paper containers, plastic bags and paper napkins can all be eliminated when you cook at home.

Rule 4: Cook More! (credit cheesy42@flickr)

• 5) Pack an eco-friendly lunch. Most brown bag lunches generate a lot of trash. The brown bag itself, plastic baggies that hold food, and the food containers themselves (i.e., yogurt). Use Tupperware containers instead of plastic bags and buy in bulk rather than buying individualized items. You can store your bulk items in the garage, just keep them away from the garage door and closer to the home. Also, keep everything sealed or you will attract bugs and rodents.
• 6) Kick your soda and bottled water habit. Recycling is good, but not having to recycle at all is even better. Say “no” to beverages that come in cans or bottles.
• 7) Participate in Meatless Mondays and eat more vegetarian meals. The less meat we eat, the greener we’ll be.
• 8) Buy green products. Whenever you have the option, chose brands that use recycled paper or are otherwise committed to environmentally safe practices. Support eco-friendly companies whenever possible.
• 9) Bake your own cookies. Instead of buying a bag of cookies, bake some. Processed foods, like cookies, are mass produced on equipment that uses a lot of energy. Then they are packaged in materials that you ultimately throw away and are then distributed all over the United States. Be green and bake.

Rule 9: Bake Cookies! (credit marshsu @flickr)

• 10) Buy free range, grass fed, and humane animal products. Factory farming is cruel and wreaks havoc on the environment.

Join in the discussion in the comments below and/or share the piece.

Chris & Rachel

About the Author: Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife Rachel and their baby boy. He works at a Mom & Pop operation.… He says “being middle middle class, living green and healthy can be difficult but we do our best. We mostly concentrate efforts on the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle; avoiding wastefulness; and keeping our energy consumption to a minimum — even if it means getting an earful from parents every time it’s cold out on why we won’t raise the thermostat higher. We run a food blog, thekeenancookbook.com.” Chris also writes for Precision Garage Door, and he maintains a personal house and garden blog.

Does this Back to School season have you thinking about freshening up your interiors? Today’s guest blogger introduces us to makeover experts in Colorado Springs for solutions on materials & finishes that make any room a great place to learn and create – at home, at school at work.

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When I was asked to write an article about interior makeovers for Practically GreenI immediately knew I wanted to talk to Allyson Buck and Sarah Heinbaugh of Interilife Sustainable Interiors.

Just think about the rooms where kids spend most of their time. Many of the design choices we make can have very serious health implications, so it’s really important to choose nontoxic products. Paint, carpets and flooring can offgas dangerous chemicals that you do not want to breathe.  Luckily, there are healthier options, so you can create a great interiorwithout compromising anyone’s health.

Since times are tough economically I asked Allyson which 3 areas would be cheapest, easiest and have the greatest impact.  All of her are amazing for both the design and the health of your interior space — and can be completed without hiring expensive professionals!

Paint – Paint is cheap, easy and covers the largest surface area.  It is the most impactful change you can make to a room.  It’s the first thing people notice when they enter – both the way it looks and the way it smells when it’s new. If you only buy one nontoxic product for your makeover project, this is the one to make.

Allyson recommends using Mythic Paint.  Mythic is a No-VOC premium paint with No-VOC pigments. People are often concerned that Mythic costs more than paint from, say, Home Depot.  However, Allyson says to make sure you are comparing paints of equal quality. Yes, Home Depot paints are about ½ the price of Mythic. But Home Depot paints aren’t premium paints and they aren’t No-VOC. They aren’t going to last as long as Mythic.  They aren’t going to hold up to crayon drawings on the walls, the rocking chair hitting the wall and all the rest of the wear and tear young children put on a wall.

If you compare the price of Mythic to a premium paint such as Benjamin Moore (still not No-VOC) Mythic is actually cheaper. And, you get the added benefit of it not releasing toxic fumes. Who can put a price tag on that!

Mythic paint is so safe you can touch it up while your baby is sleeping in the same room with no fear of toxic fumes.  A few years ago you could only get No-VOC paint in a limited pallet of earth tones.  Now Mythic comes in a wide selection of colors and it can be color-matched to your favorite color from another brand or your décor.

Flooring – The next easiest thing to change is your flooring.  Carpeting holds dust, allergens, heavy metals and anything else you track into your home.  Even the best vacuum can’t remove everything from carpet.   Babies crawl around, play and lay down right next to the particles in the carpet.  They put their hands and all their toys in their mouths exposing them to anything that’s in your carpet.  Experts often recommend hard flooring, especially with young children around.

Allyson says if you use floating, snap together Marmoleum tiles you can change the entire look of your floor very easily and with minimal tools.  They come in a wide selection of colors giving you many options.  And, when your baby grows up and wants something more grown up you can just pull them up and donate them to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore or sell them on Craigslist so they can be used again on someone else’s project.

Marmoleum is true linoleum, made from linseed oil.  It is certified asthma and allergy friendly.  The top layer of the tiles is Marmoleum and the bottom is cork.  In the middle is MDF which is free of added urea formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen.

Wool area rugs – Allyson says the next easiest & most affordable way to have a big green impact upon your room is by adding 100% wool area rugs.  The rugs they carry and recommend are made by INDI B and have a cotton backing and are naturally dyed.  Wool rugs are very durable and these come in a wide selection of colors and designs.  When you are done with them they are easy to get rid of.  You can sell them on Craigslist or donate them to a store like Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

We love this 5 x 7' rug from IndiB!

Going nontoxic in these 3 areas can have a huge impact upon the design of your nursery without negatively harming your baby’s health.  Allyson says no matter what green design products you use remember that there are no products that are perfect ecologically or socially.  Try not to get caught up in looking for perfection.  Find the best product you can that meets your design needs, lifestyle and budget.

If you are in Colorado you can visit Interilife’s store in Colorado Springs for each of these products and more.  For other parts of the country go to the individual websites for a list of distributors or to purchase online.

Danika Carter is the beauty editor for Greenwala.

One of the smartest reasons to use Practically Green is to avoid potentially dangerous ingredients in everyday products.

Triclosan is one of those ingredients.

tri·clo·san

Triclosan is … the active ingredient in many soaps and some toothpastes….  other kinds of products are impregnated with triclosan, such as plastic, clothing, underwear, shoes, toys, and other children’s products. No studies have found the estrogenic chemical triclosan to be more effective at killing germs than regular soap and water (even though it’s used in many soaps and hand sanitizers), but many have studies have uncovered scientific evidence that the chemical is contributing to the surge in life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant subergerms and severe hormone disruption in wildlife. (When it’s found in waterways, for example, male frogs literally sport female parts.)   (Rodale.com)

Yikes!

It’s easy to get scared – and confused. Why would a trusted brand like Softsoap knowingly include a chemical that might prove dangerous to its customers?! Who would ever suspect that Grandpa’s Old Spice deoderant contains something nasty? Why would the Food & Drug Association and the Environmental Protection Agency apparently dilly dally over their investigations?

We’ll leave the answers to those questions to those who are directly involved. At Practically Green, our focus is to give consumers clear information, as complete and accurate as we can make it. And, we also want to point out the numerous wonderful natural alternatives.

Susan Hunt Stevens explains, “When we founded Practically Green we adopted the precautionary principle. If an ingredient is questionable — if it may be a problem, if it is banned in another country, if it is deemed controversial or concerning — we feel that people deserve to know about that. It still shocks me that fewer than 200 out of 80,000 chemicals on the market have been tested for human health effects. The American public deserves better. The good news is that once you realize you want a chemical out of your life, there are usually really good alternatives available. Parents especially appreciate knowing how to make an informed choice for their families. So yes, we explain how to avoid triclosan and other, even more damaging substances, such as mercury, lead, and volatile organic compounds, such as those commonly found in paint.”

Practically Green has several actions to help you avoid triclosan. For example, Switch to natural facial soaps:

Right now there are 3 recommended products for natural facial soaps on Practically Green. (After all, we’re still in beta!) We know there are dozens more. Help us find them! Your ratings and product suggestions are hugely welcome.

We’re celebrating On-the-Go summer actions and can’t think of a better guide than Megan Ramey, shown here biking to work with her daughter, who gets off at the first stop for childcare…. Check out these 7 biking actions – and their points! Megan gets 150 points on Practically Green for biking to work regularly!

credit: Kyle Ramey

“We’re a car-free family. This is how I function the best: using a bike for my transportation. It gives me peace of mind.”

Peace of mind? Biking in Boston, headquarters for extreme drivers? We asked Megan to please explain.

“Bike maintenance is so easy compared to auto maintenance. It’s not like a car that breaks down. Once you buy a bike, for maybe $400, you have a dependable means of transport. You’re in the fresh air. Second, it’s a built-in gym workout. I’ve lost 25 pounds over the course of five years. Third, it’s extremely easy to get around on a bike. I go door to door, don’t have to look for a parking pace. Don’t have to look for a gas station!”

What about blizzards? Thunderstorms?

“In bad weather I take the T.”

What about attire. This can be a challenge, right? Not for Megan:

“I don’t wear special clothing. I just think about it, don’t go too fast so I don’t get sweaty. I’m careful to stay four feet from car doors, I do not use roads that busses are on, and in Massachusetts it’s legal to take the lane. Google maps has a new biking option for directions, so it’s easy to figure out a route.”

Have to say we’re getting pretty interested. Maybe biking to work one day a week is possible.

More tips from Megan:

credit: Kyle Ramey

• The bike you ride is very important. You need a rack or a front basket – you do not want to carry stuff on your back because then you will get sweaty.

credit: Mother Nature

• Make sure you have a chain guard.
• And a bell.
• I ride a three-speed Phillips, it’s easy and durable.

“Hey, if you want to include some great resources for ‘on the go’ biking with kids: www.totcycle.com and www.2wheels1baby.blogspot.com.” {this is Megan’s blog}

What about helmet hair?

“Not a problem for me. I have a Bern helmet and it even has detachable earflaps for colder weather!”

Hmmm…. this crisp white one might be perfect for summer:

Psst to Megan, submit this product idea right on the action page!!    

Why not give it a try?

Okay, I just added Bike to work one day a week to my plan!!!!

What about you? Do you bike to work? To school? To shop? For fun? What are your tips and what might encourage you to bike more?

Note: Megan is the Sustainability Programs Coordinator for A Better City, which organizes partners around the city of Boston’s vision for transportation, land development and environmental sustainability.

A Better City is a new business partner at Practically Green, with a customized PG platform created to support their member and employee programs. If you work for a company that’s interested in creating a robust interactive tool for green initiatives, RSVP to Linda Natansohn, linda@practicallygreen.com.

We love all ingenious ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling Stuff*. Especially when it comes to baby gear, which tends to be carefully chosen, gifted in sweet beloved tears, pricey — and quickly outgrown!

Daniel and Michelle Lehmann decided to make a business out of it, and here’s their story. Join their reCrib.com community on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @reCrib.

Daniel, Michelle, and their family

* Practically Green suggestions:

• Buy antique or secondhand furniture and home goods
• Get something on Freecycle, instead of buying it
• Buy something used on eBay or Craig’s list

The reCrib Story, by Founder Daniel Lehmann

Picture this – strollers, cribs, changing tables, bouncy seats, excersaucers, swings, car seats, table and chairs, toddler beds, walkers, toys, toys and more toys: all in one NYC apartment that doesn’t seem to be growing. But two kids that are.

Yes, I’m talking about the fun world of baby and kids gear, which at some point, if you are a new parent, takes over your life.  Lots of it, lots of money, and a limited time for use.

My wife and I used to think of ourselves as design junkies (and still do) but our living room was transformed into a playroom before our eyes somehow.

It was a year ago and we were moving to a new apartment. Here was our chance to de-clutter. I brought our endless collection of kid stuff into our basement and noticed that every family’s storage area in the building was filled with more kid stuff. Stroller upon stroller, bike upon bike. I thought: I’m ending this cycle, and I marched upstairs to find the best site for baby and kids gear. Except that it didn’t exist. And so we set out to create it. A website for parents to buy and sell the best (and the best-designed) baby and kids gear. A place to recycle your kid stuff, regain your space, recoup your costs.

The baby and kid gear world has changed in many ways for the better. So much of it looks so good, is well-designed, with more and more of it green. Designers caught on to the fact that parents wanted to enjoy looking at this stuff that adorns their home and followed suit with beautiful pieces that are as coveted as the must-have hybrid car or designer shoe. That’s good for the eyes.  Not so good for the wallet. These items are now often as expensive as our grown-up furniture, wheels and toys.  The worst part is that you use it for MAYBE two years.

This life phase screams for recycling. At the low end of the spectrum, a bouncy seat is used for a few months; at the high end, a changing table is used for two years. That’s it. So you spend all this money, and poof, your kids are in preschool and no longer use it all.

With reCrib, we created a place where parents who want the best brands for their kids – as well as to be environmentally responsible – can meet like-minded parents. Soon after launch, there was much abuzz about reCrib on the mom and family blogs.  People were immediately into it, and we soon saw new postings every day, and we heard story after story about this or that easy and exciting sale.

It’s been so much fun starting a business with my wife and focusing on an idea we are passionate about — and even more fun seeing how happy it actually makes people who use it.  It feels good to know that something that meant so much to your family at one time, is now being happily used by another.  It’s just as rewarding to score a great bargain, a top brand for more than half the price. And it certainly feels good to know that you are doing a very simple yet smart thing for our planet.

www.recrib.com

Our Founder/CEO Susan Hunt Stevens is a Mom. She’s also an expert on green living, energy, family environmental health, and so much more. When she talks, people listen, laugh — and they take notes.

Trust me on this one… Immediate example: note yesterday from the editor of New York Family:

Since hearing you at the Mommybites Summit, I decided that I’m going to be a great big cheerleader for Practically Green.

*  *  *  Well, thank you!  *  *  *

Every week Susan writes a special Newsletter brimming with do-able ideas and amazing facts — (She is SUCH a digger for facts! See the bit about unknowingly eating 488% of the recommended amount of mercury at dinner!)

Bottom line: the Practically Green Personalized Newsletter is a great reason to sign up! (And it is utterly free of charge.)

This week’s theme:

Top Five Healthy Summer Treats

I’m sharing my Newsletter here:

Hello, SARAH!

In our house, July and August are the months of watermelon, clam bakes, ice pops, salty chips, and lemonade. But if we’re not careful, we can also ingest all sorts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), artificial food dyes and flavors, and even toxins. I found out that my tuna steak the other night may have exposed me to a whopping 488% of the EPA recommended amount of mercury exposure!

So to help navigate to healthy and green options, here is my personal Top 5 List of Summer Treats. Isn’t it great that you can even eat your way to higher points on Practically Green?

1. Fizzy Juices and Lemonades

Yes, I’m a fan of making my own seltzer, but I also love Izze Clementine and Pear!
Replace soda with fizzy all-natural juices or sodas (10 Points)
Make your own sparkling water (10 Points)

2. Yogurt Parfait
Mix in some organic yogurt, honey, berries and granola for a delicious parfait treat, free of hormones and antibiotics.
Buy organic yogurt regularly (10 Points)
Buy organic granola regularly (10 Points)

3. Icy pops
I am a fan of Whole Foods strawberry fruit bars, which recently won a taste test from a well-respected women’s magazine and are free of HCFS and food dyes.
Find out what food you buy regularly that contains artificial colors & flavors (10 Points)

Want to make your own? Here’s a great article from Inhabitot on best ways to do that.

4. Summer Seafood
We’re in New England and nothing feels more summery than a clam bake, lobster or fish and chips on the beach. Unfortunately, seafood, health and sustainability can often be at odds between overfishing and toxins. So learn more from our team of science and editorial experts–who just added an action that rewards you for choosing safe seafood. And you can find out how much mercury was in the last fish YOU ate.
Choose Safe Seafood (40 Points)

5. Summer Salads
Our CSA is in full force so we are eating tons of salads. My favorite is tomato, basil and mozzarella and the kids are loving just picking leaves straight from the garden. However, I get in a rut so was thrilled to stumble upon the New York Times Well Blog’s article about summer salads as a main dish.
Buy organic vegetables regularly (50 Points)

If this list doesn’t provide enough inspiration, our blog was full of ideas this week from amazing people. Here are just a couple:

Fresh Local Summer Eating with Family Dinner Chef Kirstin
Snacks & Picnics for Summer Moms

Happy Fourth of July weekend!

Best,

Susan

Practically Green, Inc., One Cambridge Center, 6th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142

In case you were unplugged/on a desert island last Thursday evening, we had an amazing online event with Rodale News and Babybites via Twitter and Facebook. As the party progressed, we saw that we were launching a new online community: #SummerMoms!!

Our first recap is all about snacks and picnic food. We cannot possibly reprint ALL of the fantastic ideas in ONE blog post. Here are some highlights. We hope you’ll check out the full conversation via our Facebook page OR on Twitter with the #SummerMoms hashtag — and please join in!

This piece of the party transcript is annotated with helpful PG Tidbits!! e.g. Avoid food packaging and cling wrap containing PVC.

Enjoy! And please contribute your favorite ideas!

More #SummerMoms Ideas Coming Soon! Thank you.

^        ^        ^        ^        ^        ^

Q1: What is ur go-to packed picnic/snack during the summer?

@emjnj: I live by @bittman’s 101 Summer Salads. It was printed a couple of years ago in @nytimes. Love!  (PG: We love too! Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?scp=1&sq=bittman 101 salads&st=cse)

From "101 Salads" by Mark Bittman, nytimes.com

• Anything from my CSA/the farmers’ market   (PG: here’s PG’s CSA action: 20 points!)
• Strawberries, my son loves them!

• Rainbow fruit kabobs, veggies/dip, and crackers/cheese  (from @Eatingrainbow)
• Frozen, organic grapes!   (Why is organic important? Check the Dirty Dozen: twelve conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide levels—even after peeling and washing.)
• Lots of berries and grapes. My 2 year old loves grapes!
• Picnics aren’t picnics without blueberries! Well, really any berry will do. :)

LOVE foraging for free fruit in the neighborhood! http://t.co/A4eAjgb (From @RodaleNews)

• Watermelon!
• Sliced watermelon! Perfect for hot summer days! :)

We love the resources over at ZisBoomBah Great ideas on kid–friendly veggies http://ow.ly/5pbW0 (From @KidsCookMonday)

We LOVE Kettle Organic Chips, a must-have in our picnic basket! http://ow.ly/5m8Pa (Yay for tasty chips “without transfats [partially hydrogenated oils], artificial flavors, preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup… with USDA organic certified chips, it also means the corn, corn oil, potatoes, & soy oil found in pretty much all packaged foods won’t be genetically modified.” More here.)

• fruit kabobs, homemade pita chips & various dips; watermelon slices  (From @FamDinner)
• Picnic snack has to be fruit. Right now we’ve got cherries up here in WA. If UR lucky, you have ‘em 2. (From @CelebrateGreen)

Crisp refreshing natural/organic wine! Hello, biodynamic rose. @AlexandraZissu. (From PG: “You just want a glass of wine, but hang on…. Before you sip, there are a few things to consider for you and the environment: farming practices, how the wine is made, and the impact of transporting the resulting bottles.” For the complete action please click here.)

Wine glass from Riedel.com

• fruit fruit and more fruit! lots of cooler bags & ice packs help!
• oooh! frozen grapes are a good summer snack too!
• we love kind bars (PG: YES! We do too and we just submitted them to Practically Green as a recommended product!!)

PG Tip: “When shopping, always read ingredient lists. Snack bars have an extraordinary number of unregulated nature/natural claims on the packaging when the ingredient list reveals clearly that the products are not what they claim. This can be frustrating and challenging, but soon it becomes second nature.”

From @Famdinner: And we love @latejuly chips! have you tried them?!? They’re our new fave this summer. We’re all obsessed over here!

@Huntstevens:  We love their new chips. Super favorite! Especially Sea Salt! RT @AmyBurba: @famdinner My kids love @latejulyorganic snacks

(PG: we were all pert thrilled when @LateJuly herself arrived at the party a few minutes later!!)

• @Life360:  We love to keep it easy with fresh veggies & some peanut butter!
• @MomsCAF: Agreed! Fruit is super portable! RT @aroundtheplate Picnics aren’t picnics without blueberries! Really, any berry will do
• Nothing better than a fresh fruit salad for on-the-go munchies http://ow.ly/5m96e Some melon? Berries? No Pesticides please!  (PG: Check the Dirty Dozen! Check the Dirty Dozen!)
• Whole grain salads, basil pesto, just-picked cherry tomatoes. All family-friendly. @alexandrazissu
• So many great ideas! Carry snacks from home in WEAN CUBES http://bit.ly/k22yNJ They’re reuseable, glass, and seal tightly!  @GreenDepotLLC

• @Famdinner  And love frozen bananas on a popsicle stick – sometimes dipped and frozen with chocolate too for a real treat!
• @Amygaerlan: Fruits, frozen gogurts, and string cheese
• @MomsCAF: My grandmother used to freeze bananas that were half-dipped in dark chocolate. It was a fabulous on-the-go dessert!
• @Eatingrainbow  Here’s a pic of Rainbow fruit kabobs from my guest post @GreenHalloween http://greenhalloween.org/blog/?p=1920

• RT @babybites: @CelebrateGreen @alexandrazissu oh yes, pesto is GREAT!

FINALLY:

• @CelebrateGreen: Homemade “Gorp” – Raw mixed nuts and dehydrated fruit.

And the reply, from @MommyPosh:

@CelebrateGreen homemade “Gorp”? that sounds interesting… never heard of that combo

*   *   *       Thank You, Inspiring & Inspired Summer Moms!        *   *   *

It’s Summer, and the Living is Healthy!

Practically Green is throwing a

Summer Online Social with

Babybites and Rodale!

Thursday, June 23, 9 to 10 pm EST

Topics: Kids’ Health & Everyday Products and On-the-Go Eating

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Amazing Goodies:

Personal Q&A with PracticallyGreen’s Founder, Susan Hunt Stevens (email/phone/skype) @huntstevens

Gift certificate for brunch for 4 at L’artusi restaurant, New York  @lartusi

25%-off at Kaight NYC for 24 hrs for all participants (code TBA at party) @kaightshop

Complimentary nutrition consulting in person or online with the NYC-based @NutritionTwins

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Be there via Twitter and/or Facebook!  Your choice! Party with us on our customized chat box on the Practically Green Facebook page. If you’re partying via Twitter, please use http://ow.ly/5n2iY, hashtag #summermoms

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Special Guests

Alexandra Zissu, Author, Editorial Director of Practically Green @alexandra zissu

Laurie David’s Family Dinner team @famdinner

Susanna Schultz of Green Depot @GreenDepotLLC

Corey Colwell-Lipson of CelebrateGreen & GreenHalloween @celebrategreen

Tami O’Neill of Meatless Mondays & Monday Campaigns @MeatlessMonday

Leah Zerbe, Editor & Lifestyle Expert from Rodale.com

RSVP: Leave your Facebook name or twitter handle in the comments section below to RSVP.
Ex: Twitter- @emjnj OR Facebook- Elise J.

babybites.com, @babybites, facebook.com/Mommybites                                                                                                                                           Rodale.com, @rodalenews, facebook.com/rodalenews

PracticallyGreen.com,@practicallygrn, facebook.com/practicallygreen

Let’s face it, hot and humid is coming (okay, it has arrived), and deodorant season is upon us.

Our trusted advisor Sheila Hollender (bio here) is all over the benefits (aka imperatives) of choosing a natural deodorant. Remember, Sheila has been obsessed with healthy alternatives to mass-market cosmetics and personal-care products for about one hundred years. She tells part of the story here, and we promise to get other bits of it from her this summer on the blog! You might enjoy a peek at her PG Action Plan!

Deodorant Blog, by Sheila Hollender

It was 1987 when my first daughter was born.  My husband and I were just starting Seventh Generation and we were going to “green” the world. No one knew what to make of us and our “crazy “ ideas about selling toilet paper made from recycled paper. The only food I fed our daughter, Meika, was organic food. We made all kinds of changes – out went the sodas, the hairsprays, even the deodorants. All aerosols were banned from the home.

Hollenders bonding over deodorant and croissants

Fast forward thirteen years and two more children, and I noticed all types of banned products make it into the girls’ bathroom.  Other than the lipstick containing lead, I noticed conventional antiperspirants!

Had I failed as a mother?

I sat the kids down and explained to them that the anti-perspirants contained all types of toxic chemicals – including aluminum and parabens — and the effects that such chemicals can have on humans. By the time I was done they gave up the enemy (albeit reluctantly) and let me replace it with an all-natural deodorant.

There are many choices out there – including my favorite, Weleda Citrus deodorant.   Next up, conventional tampons.  I saved that for the next lecture!

Of all the actions on Practically Green, this one has always puzzled me. Why would bar soap be greener than a lovely bottle of all-natural shower gel?

I mentioned this to Julie Wagner and she said “Please let me write about it! I love soap!” So today Julie tackles Switch from Shower Gel to Bar Soap, a 10-point action that might just be the very last one on my list…. I love my goo! But Julie is pretty persuasive…. Read on, please, and let us know what you think!

Switch from shower gel to bar soap, by Julie Wagner

I often tell people that I have a 7 year-old boy and a 4 year-old girl who thinks she’s a 7 year-old boy.  She does her level best to keep up with her big brother!  When I say that my kids get dirty (and I mean *really* dirty) I mean both of them…so what’s a “wicked green” mama to do when it comes time to clean ‘em up?

Yes, those ARE Julie's feet on the right, her son's at left

What’s the difference between soap and detergent? Annie Bond put it simply when she stated that “Soaps are made of materials found in nature. Detergents are synthetic.”  Lately, it seems every time you turn around, there is a new scientific study sharing more information about the toxins in our homes, our foods, and in the products that we regularly use. It’s enough to give you a headache! (The barrage of information, not just the toxins.) Frighteningly, it isn’t just the new studies sharing these discoveries of toxicity… it is the fact that many of the components/ingredients in products aren’t tested at all.

In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “Cosmetics and other personal care products are an alarming example of government and industry failures to protect public health. Federal health statutes do not require companies to test products or ingredients for safety before they are sold. As a result, nearly all personal care products contain ingredients that have not been assessed for safety by any accountable agency, and that are not required to meet standards of safety.”

Are there other factors to consider?

Water. Shower gels contain water (most often the first ingredient) which means you’re paying for… water.  It also means greater amounts of packaging, additional transportation costs, and that adds up to an increased “carbon footprint” for the product.

Energy. The energy resources required both for the processing and manufacturing of the shower gel, in addition to the production of the plastic packaging, is much greater than that of a hand-poured soap in a paperboard package (if packaged at all)  The energy in transportation is also higher due to the heavy containers filled mostly with water.

So, what to choose?

I find bars of soap from my local farmer’s market fit my criteria best – few ingredients, sourced organically and/or locally, and crafted locally.  You can find many fabulous artisan soap makers across the country at local craft sales and farmer’s markets as well as online. One of my favorites is Mamas Herbal Soaps out of Portland, OR.

My plan: bar soap made from few ingredients, organic if available, minimal packaging (if any) and made locally if possible.

Julie is the Social Networking Coordinator for Holistic Moms Network, a national non-profit connecting families interested in holistic health and green living. She holds a BA in Education from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) and has a passion for helping others learn about holistic and green alternatives in their lives.  Currently living on the coast of Maine with her husband, son and daughter, she co-leads a HMN Chapter with an amazing community of women who come together to share resources and support for holistic and green living. She is not an expert on the chemical composition of soaps nor on the science of carbon footprints; however, she is an expert on getting her own kids clean!

You can find Julie

• On Twitter: @CrunchyMom
• At her blog: http://thecrunchymom.blogspot.com/

You can find the Holistic Moms Network

• On Facebook: /HolisticMomsNetwork
• On Twitter: @HolisticMomsNet
• On YouTube: HMNNational
• and at www.holisticmoms.org

Susan and Sarah led a workshop all about healthy green living at the Mommybites Summit last night. It was a packed crowd (and a sparkly cocktail party) at Columbia University’s Faculty House. Hundreds of NYC-area moms and moms-to-be convened and mingled with sponsors and authorities (LOVED the kick-off speech by Scream Free-Parenting author Hal Runkel).

The event was expertly organized by four dynamo women who we swear could solve world peace. (Including our “own” Elise Jones, whose action plan is here on our Inspiring Planners feature at Practically Green!)

Susan gave her top recommended actions, and one of them is about the dirty dozen.

Ever heard of the dirty dozen?

Healthy Child’s Rachel Sarnoff Lincoln gives this compelling recommendation. (More on this amazing organization in the author bio below.)

Enjoy – and don’t be surprised if you think twice the next time you’re at the supermarket!

Ditch the Dirty Dozen

Think “dirty dozen” and you might see a grainy picture of a gun-toting Charles Bronson in your head. Now flash-forward 40 years and update Chuck’s picture as surrounded by a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. This is today’s “dirty dozen,” the 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentrations of pesticides, as identified by the Environmental Working Group (and summarized on Practically Green).

Why should you care? Because pesticides have been linked to cancer, among other things. Because, pound for pound, your kids absorb way more dangerous pesticides than you do. And because if your family simply eats organic or avoids these 12 fruits and veggies altogether, you can reduce their overall pesticide exposure by 80 percent.

Eighty percent, people.

But unless you’re exclusively shopping organic it’s hard to remember what’s on the list. We can download shopping guides till the cows come home, but I for one can never remember where I put them. So here’s my little trick for remembering the 12 fruits and veggies that I put back on the shelf unless I’m buying organic.

The ABCs: apples, bell peppers and celery.

Fruit cup: peaches, nectarines, pears, grapes, strawberries and cherries. (Visualize those weird tin-can fruit cups you used to get in the school cafeteria.)

Lettuce and potatoes. (Visualize the veggies typically served with the fruit cup.)

When in doubt, go for things you can peel by hand. An orange over an apple. Corn over a potato. You get the picture. Then go organic for those you can’t, and save money by shopping late for bargains at the farmer’s market, or joining a CSA program.

Bon appétit!

Author Bio:

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is the Interim Executive Director/CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, the nation’s leading non-profit protecting children’s environmental health. Previously, she founded the online magazine EcoStiletto.com and MommyGreenest.com, a blog about eco-friendly parenting her three children. Rachel has appeared on “The TODAY Show,” “CNN Headline News Local Edition,” and “Good Day L.A.” among others, and is a regular speaker about leading a realistic and judgment-free sustainable life.

Please check out our post about Rachel here.

A news item buried in the Business section of The New York Times gets our attention today. Written by Pulitzer -prize winning reporter Andrew Martin, it’s about the hazards of flame retardants in baby stuff, like changing pads, car seats, nursing pillows. Stuff like that.

We all know that new parents probably aren’t getting to the Business section every day. Frankly they’re lucky to have their shoes tied.

One reason we created Practically Green is to help new parents – and all parents, and everyone else – know what to do when they read a story like this one. After all, it’s pretty scary stuff.

Headline:

Chemical Suspected in Cancer Is in Baby Products

More than 30 years after chemical flame retardants were removed from children’s pajamas because they were suspected of being carcinogens, new research into flame retardants shows that one of the chemicals is prevalent in baby’s products made with polyurethane foam, including nursing pillows, car seats and highchairs.

The chemical is called “chlorinated Tris.” It’s possibly harmful. It might be toxic. It might even cause cancer.

As usual, people in high places disagree: the Times article quotes luminary Ph.D. chemists who disagree.

Chlorinated Tris is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency… why? “Under current law it is difficult [for the EPA to ban or restrict chemicals,” the report says. “Even now, the agency has yet to ban asbestos, widely known to cause cancer and other lung diseases.”

No wonder people are so overwhelmed, frustrated, and fearful about normal stuff: stuff like pillows, mattress pads, and highchairs.

So here’s a suggestion: the next time you run into bad news like this, why not come over to Practically Green.

1) Search the actions data base:

(Screen shot: I typed in "Flame retardant")

and,

2) Find out what you can do:

Use pajamas without flame retardants

Avoid furniture made with the synthetic flame retardant PBDE

Click on the second link, and you have an informative page that begins:

Why is “Avoid furniture made with the synthetic flame retardant PBDE” green?

Avoiding furniture with flame retardants may seem like an odd idea given the fact that these additives are known to save lives and property. But, according to the EPA, a group of the most commonly used chemicals, PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ether), may have negative effects on your health and the environment. PBDEs are found in blood, breast milk, and umbilical cord blood. They accumulate wildlife, persist in the environment, and may also cause liver, thyroid, and neurological toxicity and birth defects.

(Watch carefully, because our actions team makes revisions when new information comes out. I won’t be surprised to see “chlorinated Tris” on Practically Green action plans soon.)

In closing: let the scientists and regulators dither and stall – but at least we can use Practically Green to locate these next steps, get solid advice, and act on it today!

As our esteemed advisor Dominique Browning wrote in an Op-Ed piece about BPA ten days ago, “Parents of newborns hardly have time to take showers, much less make the endless and usually fruitless calls to inquire about the chemical components of their children’s sippy cups.”

Please, recommend Practically Green — and let us know what you think, as always. Thanks.

Twitter Party Sponsor Bash

Tuesday, May 17, 9 to 10 PM EST

@practicallygrn

Healthy Green Living in all the Rooms of Your House!

TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR VALUED LAUNCH SPONSORS:

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Alexandra Zissu, Editorial Director, Practically Green; and author, most recently of Planet Home and The Butcher’s Guide to Well-Raised Meat @alexandrazissu

Please use #PracticallyGreen and #giveaway – we’ll have amazing prizes!! (see photos)

With extra special expert guests:

• Laurie David and her group from The Family Dinner: @famdinner
• 

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• Lauren Guite, EDF’s Moms Clean Air Force: @MomsCAF
• Sheila Hollender, Seventh Generation environmental health advocate: @SheilaHollender
• Franke James, author, Bothered by my Green Conscience: @frankejames
• Dr. Harvey Karp, HappiestBaby.com: @drharveykarp
• Holistic Moms Network:  Nancy Massotto, Founder: @HolisticMomsNet
• Kimberly Pinkson, Founder of EcoMom Alliance: @ecomom
• Toronto Star home columnist Vicky Sanderson: @vickysanderson
• Adria Saracino, eLocal, a national network of local resources for homeowners: @elocalusa
• Blogger Lynn Stone of SmilingGreenMom: @smilinggreenmom
  

  From Sheila Hollender & Seventh Generation: Healthy Home Starter Kit

  

  From Sheila Hollender & Seventh Generation: Fem Care Starter Kit

Applegate T-Shirts, Coloring Books, and $1 off Coupons

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Two Gallons of Mythic Paint!

Pick your color from the Mythic Paint fan deck

What would a couple of celebrity nutritionists think of Practically Green? And would they be willing to guest blog for us? Our friend Lynn Stone (aka SmilingGreenMom) introduced us to Tammy Lakatos and Lyssie Lakatos Shames, aka the Nutrition Twins, and we’re so glad she did. Affirmation is key to the twins’ deceptively serious approach: “and we found Practically Green to be so relatable … it’s like talking to your girlfriend,” they told us.

We asked them to tell us about why choosing organic is so important, and why they recommend Buying organic fruits and vegetables for the Dirty Dozen.

Here’s their answer:

The Nutrition Twins Guide to Pesticides, Cancer, & Organic Produce:

Your Questions Answered

By now we all know that the health benefits of consuming fruits and veggies are practically endless. From being packed with antioxidants which protect healthy cells and keep us youthful, to keeping us regular and lean, fruits and veggies are nutritional powerhouses. Despite knowing this, many of our clients ask us if they should avoid certain fruits and vegetables due to their pesticide content.  (Pesticides are chemicals that are used on fruits and vegetables to prevent insects from eating them).  Here’s a quick run-down…

Do pesticides cause cancer?

Multiple factors contribute to cancer.  Although it is difficult to isolate one factor, pesticides likely increase cancer risk.

Tell me more about pesticides…

Most pesticides contain several toxins.  Pesticides cause cancers in cell cultures and in animals.  They may also cause hormonal changes which can cause additional harm.  Studies also show pesticides increase the risk of cancer in humans. The National Cancer Institute in the United States found that farmers exposed to pesticides tend to have higher than expected rates of cancer of the lymph, blood, lip, stomach, skin, prostate, brain, testes and soft tissue.

Tell me about pesticides and breast cancer…

Toxins from pesticides build up in fatty tissue (breast tissue is fatty).  Some specialists estimate that more than 70% of breast cancers aren’t related to genetics and can be blamed on environmental factors.

Should we stop eating fruits and vegetables?

Absolutely not! Their benefits far outweigh their risks.  However, weigh your risks of specific fruits and vegetables.  Start by taking a look at the list of fruits and vegetables below.  The ones that we call “The Dirty Dozen” are the ones that are the most heavily sprayed with pesticides.  Try to buy organic versions.

Ask yourself…

How often do I eat heavily sprayed items?  Then, limit your exposure to the produce that is most heavily sprayed by either buying organic, or avoiding the most heavily sprayed produce.  For us, we save money by choosing nonorganic produce when it comes to bananas, corn, watermelon and kiwis because these are not highly sprayed.

What about washing fruits and veggies?

Washing will not change the rank (in the lists below) of the fruits and vegetables with the highest & lowest amount of pesticides.  The produce was washed & prepared for normal consumption prior to testing for pesticides. Washing fresh produce may help reduce pesticide residues; it clearly does not eliminate them.

What is the best thing to do?

Eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Buy These Organic:      “The Dirty Dozen”

Celery, Peaches, Strawberries, Apples, Blueberries, Nectarines, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Kale, Cherries, Potatoes, Grapes (Imported)

Below is a list of the least heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables.  If you are watching your budget, as most of us are, you don’t have to put as much emphasis on buying organic versions of these…

Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Mango, Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Watermelon

Tammy and Lyssie are the authors of Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever and The Secret to Skinny: : How Salt Makes You Fat, and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size and Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps. Check out their site, http://www.NutritionTwins.com, join them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter @NutritionTwins.

Tammy and HER twin daughters on vacation recently

“The Nutrition Twins combine their strengths to provide some of the world’s best nutritional and fitness expertise. Often the go-to for nutritional expertise for the media, the Nutrition Twins are kept busy through corporate nutrition consulting, seminars, morning shows, magazine articles, motivational speeches and authoring their nutrition books.”

Check out their media gallery for a whole slew of entertaining & great tips as seen on Good Morning America Health and other venues.  

Switch to all-natural sunscreen by Estelle Hayes

flickr

Just when I thought I could not become any more obsessive about the perils of sun damage, I went and birthed a redheaded baby. I’ve been hoarding tiny hats while frantically applying SPF to my daughter in hopes that I may prolong the health and beauty of her fair skin. I also often pray that she never worship the sun like her misguided mother. Learning the hard way that there is no activity less useful than “laying out” is a life-lesson best avoided.

In addition to worrying about skin cancer and premature aging, I’m also obsessively trying to eliminate parabens, nano-particles, synthetic fragrances and any other unnecessary toxins from my family’s life. So far, I’ve found a few sunscreens worth investing in this season.

I’ve been a big fan of all things California Baby throughout my daughter’s life. Their sunscreen is the only thing I would slather over her deliciously pink skin in those first few months. I didn’t mind that it was hard to rub in (a common complaint) and I soon started using it for myself. It’s SPF 30 and has done a great job protecting our skin on trips to the beach and daily walks around town. It can leave a slightly white and glossy film. This doesn’t really bother me but Emerson has started to fight me when I attempt to rub it in for more than 30 seconds or so. Side note: If you are a parent to a bossy toddler, than you may also be familiar with the concept of picking one’s battles.

Enter Alba Botanica’s kids’ sunscreen in SPF 45. Again, I use it for myself as well. Our skin seems to absorb this a bit easier and the coverage served my family well on a recent beach outing. i.e. no glossy white glow, no burning and no meltdowns over excessive rubbing. However, I didn’t read the ingredients closely and bought a tube that included fragrance. This always bums me out. I just don’t want to smell like anything. Period. The website shows a mineral version that is fragrance free. I’ll try this next time.

I plan on picking up Badger’s kids’ sunscreen on my next trip to Whole Foods {or buy it here at Practically Green!}. Full disclosure: I have yet to try a Badger product but I hear only good things about the company and the quality of ingredients they use in their formulations.

{Editor’s note: Personally going to grab this organic Bali Balm!! Partial ingredients list: Evoo, cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, ylang ylang – and certified organic!}

All three of these sunscreens received scores of one or two (that’s a good thing) on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Skin Deep is a great place to start investigating the safety of your personal care products. I’d love to hear if you have found an effective sunscreen. Do share.

Our guest blogger Estelle Hayes lives in Silicon Valley where she blogs at www.underapinkmoon.com. She’s also published regularly on Huffington Post.  

Confession:  I’ve never belonged to a CSA. I’ve always been a little bit mystified by them. For years I ignored them, just shopped my local farm stand instead — even though it’s not organic and I suspect it might never be. But after reading the following guest post, I had another look at our local CSA and signed up pronto. You heard me: I simply threw down for the season and made the commitment. Despite audible grumbles from my dear husband. He’ll get used to it.

Everything in my (see? it’s already MY CSA!!) CSA’s delightful brochure sounds perfect, exactly what I’ve been looking for. No matter where you live, I bet your CSA has an amazingly articulate and thoughtful intention. Something like this:

We believe that you and your family deserve the highest quality food. In an age where the chain stores almost exclusively source their produce from large corporate farms more than half-way across the country or even half-way around the world! It is clear we have become disconnected from the source of the very food that sustains us. Add to that events like (9/11), and other news about world pandemics and food disruptions, etc…. It makes one pause and asks meaningful questions about what is important and sensible in the long run. There is no clever one-line answer to the problems facing our modern world, but a first step is building relationships and trust through commitments to one another on a local basis. Wishing Stone Farm is committed to not only growing organic and biorational/IPM foods for our shareholders but educating them and engaging them in this on-going debate of about our global future.

I’ll let you know how it goes with Wishing Stone Farm. Meanwhile, here’s our delightful guest blogger Mae Hacking. She’s a savvy designer, a real New Jersey wife and mom of two, and co-founder of Here in This House. Maybe she’ll convince you to take this action too — let us know!  Sarah

☀                    ☀                    ☀                    ☀                    ☀                     ☀

Getting Started: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Now is the time of year when farms begin enrollment in Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs). These programs often have limited availability so it’s important to act early. If you’ve been eyeing the “Sign up for a CSA” energy action but have not yet pulled the trigger, read on to learn more about finding the program that’s right for you.

Living in California, we were blessed with a bounty of fresh produce all year round. Despite this, I found that I was always choosing the same fruits and vegetables for our home: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, eggplant. Ready to branch out, I signed up for an organic produce delivery service. Its pre-set boxes forced me to learn how to cook with new vegetables in a child-friendly way. We got introduced to the wonders of tuscan kale, chard, cabbages, pears and numerous varieties of apples and oranges. So when we left California and after getting settled into our new home, I set to finding a similar service. I have since met a few friends interested in taking part in these produce delivery services or other community supported agriculture. So I’ve gathered my tips on how to get started.

First off, why participate in a CSA? Through a CSA, you get a better sense of where your food comes from than when shopping at the big grocery stores. In some cases, you can actually meet the farmer and other folks who work so hard to grow your food. Another benefit is that CSAs eliminate steps in the process of getting produce from the farm to the grocery store to your table. This means fresher and more nutritious food for you. Lastly, CSAs are often local farms run by local folks. It’s a great way to support your community and local business. (These benefits are not entirely the same when you go with a produce delivery service but they can get you closer to the farm-fresh ideal when the CSAs are dormant for the winter.)

Okay, so you’re on board (right?). Now what?

●      Determine your family’s needs. Take a cold hard look at your family’s eating habits. How often do you cook with fresh vegetables? How much fruit does your family eat in a week (or two)? How selective is your family about what they eat? Will they tolerate new foods well?

●      Research local opportunities. Check out this handy the USDA National Agricultural Library as well as Local Harvest, a fabulous guide to community supported agriculture operations, [search by zip code!] to see what’s near you. CSAs can be very small local operations so it’s important to tap into the grassroots network. Talk to your neighbors, your friends, and your favorite farmer’s-market vendors for suggestions and recommendations. CSAs have been a hot topic in the news lately, so don’t forget to check out the local/regional newspapers to see if they have any recommendations.

●      Review assortment options. Having found a few potential CSAs, assess the assortment options. Do they offer just vegetables? Just fruits? A veggie/fruit mix? How big is each delivery? Is there a variety of sizes? Are you able to make substitutions? (Do you want or need to have substitutions?) What’s the payment arrangement? Hopefully one of these will be suitable for your family.

●      Find a share, if necessary. Are you really excited about the idea of a CSA but think it’s simply too much for your family to consume? Or maybe you’re not fully sold on the idea and want a less committed option? Then you need to find someone to go in on this with you. Shares can happen in a number of ways and it’s really all about the needs of your and your share family. One easy way to lessen the load is to alternate who takes each delivery, reducing the frequency of your orders. Or, you could choose to reduce the volume you receive each week by splitting each delivery with another family. The possibilities are endless.

●      Proactively participate. Once you’re in, make the most of it. One of my favorite parts of the CSA is the learning: how to store and prepare new vegetables, finding new recipes, figuring out how to get my picky three year-old to try some. It’s more fun if you fully engage. Read your farm’s newsletter. Visit the farm for pick-your-own if they offer it (a great outing for the kiddos). Hop online or scour your cookbooks for new recipes. If you’re a photographer (and I just may try this this year), try taking luscious still life photos of your produce delivery before delving in. 

So what if you’ve gotten this far but a CSA is still not the right option for you? Do the CSA-lite solution: farmer’s markets. Aside from logging CSAs, Local Harvest also maintains a database of farmer’s markets across the country. If you’ve never been, add the “Shop at a farmer’s market” action to your plan and commit to shopping there once a week in season. Walk around, smell the smells, taste the samples, talk with the vendors. If farmers are already part of your routine, spend an extra few minutes to befriend your favorite farmer. Even better, sometimes they will even pull together weekly boxes of their best produce for you, just like a CSA!

So check out your options, grab a friend and give a CSA a try. You won’t regret it!

Mae is a co-creator of Here in This House, a design blog which captures the creative and artistic pursuits we bring into our houses. She is a self described design- and fashion-enthusiast, photographer-in-training, transplanted Californian, amateur gardener, foodie and mother of two. Want to learn more about Here in This House, Mae and her path to becoming Practically Green? Check out her to-do list on the Inspiring Action Plan section!

Why is taking shoes off when you come in worth 50 big points on Practically Green? Our action page answers that question immediately:

Taking off your shoes before you enter your home is the public health equivalent of washing your hands.

Click here for more info and to join zillions of Practically Green users who’ve already added this to their Action Plans.

To celebrate Earth Month at Practically Green, our bloggers are illuminating the most popular healthy green actions — one day at a time. Today we present Action #5: Take shoes off at the door regularly. Please enjoy two approaches — we couldn’t resist either of these compelling essays!

Shoes Off, Please by Ronnie Citron-Fink

I am as neurotic as the next person about keeping my floors clean. With dogs and kids, the inevitable mess happens. The kids are trained to take their shoes off. The dogs know that if they wait on the mat while their feet get cleaned they will get a treat. And my guests are kind, gracious and accommodating – they usually offer without being asked.

The practice of taking shoes off can be found throughout Asia. It is also common in Scandinavia and in Hawaii and Alaska. In Japan, many homes have a getabako, or shoe cupboard where shoes are stored. Taking shoes off is a symbolic gesture that leaves the outer world behind. Shoes are traded for comfortable slippers and home becomes a separate sanctuary.

Recently, my husband and I stayed at my brother’s ski house in Vermont. Not only are ski and snowboarding boots clunky, it’s mud season in the Northeast and those boots make an incredible mess. My brother and his wife have a whole room dedicated to shoes/boots/ski stuff. It is a neatly organized mudroom that provides a barrier between the outside and the inside with storage for lots of stuff. Architect Susan Susanka, the author of the Not So Big House books, is a big fan of dedicated mudrooms for encouraging friends and family to take their shoes off when they enter a home. A mudroom is a perfect place to leave those shoes behind while providing all the elements for a cleaner, healthier home.

5 Reasons To Take Your Shoes Off

1. Keep your family and pets safe from outdoor pesticides and pollutants that can contaminate carpets and floors. The EPA found that pesticides on shoes are considered to be a major source of toxic exposure for children.

2. Improve the indoor air quality. (Join the Moms Clean Air Force to find out more about keeping your family safe from air pollution.)                

3. Spend less time cleaning and consume less cleaning products.

4. Keep your home quieter.

5. Save your wood floors from dirt and rocks that can create gouges.

Do you have a “No Shoes” policy at your home?

Ronnie Citron-Fink lives in Rhinebeck, New York. She blogs at Econesting and tweets @econester. She’s a member of the Environmental Defense Fund’s new Moms Clean Air Force. Just hours ago Yahoo named her a top 10 green-living tweeter! Congrats!

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Shoes Off: Just Do It! by Jan Devereux

Growing up in Florida with the beach virtually my backyard, I spent a good deal of my childhood barefoot — outside and inside — so maybe that’s why having a shoes-off policy in my own home feels completely natural. I now live in New England, where “mud season” stretches well into April and almost every house has a mudroom and a pile of boots near the door. ‘Boots off’ is the norm in my neighborhood.

But even if you’re lucky enough to live in a place where it’s flip-flop season year round, a shoes-off policy is an essential step in protecting your family from germs that can creep in on the soles of your shoes. “Dirt” tracked in endangers more than carpets. Residues from the lead in car exhaust, toxins from lawn pesticides, traces of animal waste and allergens like pollen on the ground all present a health risk, especially to small children and pets that spend time on the floor. You don’t have to be neat freak like Monica from Friends or a germaphobe like Monk, the TV detective, to care about these risks. Removing shoes at the door is simply a matter of good hygiene, like hand washing.

So why do some people resist setting a shoes-off policy, and why do those who do feel they have to tip-toe around enforcing it with recalcitrant guests?

Remember the Sex and the City episode (“A Woman’s Right to Shoes” Season 6, Episode 83) when Carrie attends a party, and the hostess (Tatum O’Neal) makes her leave her brand new $485 Manolos at the door — and another guest walks off with them? Carrie is outraged, not only by the theft and the hostess’s refusal to reimburse her the full price of the shoes, but by the imposition: “It wasn’t my choice to take them off,” she whines to Miranda.

To avoid such shoe drama in your home, why not give guests a shoes-off heads-up in advance? And greet them at the door with a basket of socks. This might even be a great way to re-purpose orphan socks from your laundry. If you have slippery floors or uncarpeted stairs, you might want to stock up on socks with rubberized treads for safety. And if you still encounter resistance…well, in my opinion, a guest who doesn’t smile when offered a pair of mismatched, borrowed socks may not be worth inviting back!                                                                                                       And speaking of humor, I stumbled on a blog dedicated to supporting people who want help enforcing a shoes-off policy. (shoesoffatthedoorplease.blogspot.com/) (I guess there’s officially a blog for everything by now!) In addition to the author’s wry posts on the subject, the sidebar lists “37 reasons why you should enforce a shoes-off policy.” Carrie Bradshaw, please take note of #29: “If you wear high-heeled shoes, your feet badly need a break.”

Jan’s product suggestions:

WJ Dennis recycled polypro boot tray (referenced on the site already under the action plan). Having a place to put your shoes means you will be more likely to remove them. This tray is made out of recycled polypropylene. It’s durable and affordable.

Traction/non slip socks in organic cotton (pictured above) from Amazon: “These non-slip low-rise socks are made from organic cotton with a reinforced and cushioned heel and toe! These socks are a a great hygienic alternative to bulky shoes — whether you are lounging around the house, traveling, or performing low-impact exercises such as Yoga or Pilates. Wear on the plane, in the hotel, or at Pilates or Yoga without fear of germs or fungus!” (Jan’s bolding)

Jan Devereux is a writer and mother of three who lives in Cambridge. She is trying hard to green her family’s lifestyle, one step at a time. This spring she plans to start composting. Favorite green actions:trading in her minivan for a compact hybrid; becoming a vegetarian; switching to paperless billing and compact fluorescent bulbs; reading on a Kindle. Least favorite green actions: managing her two cats’ litter boxes; reminding her kids to take shorter showers. {Hey, Jan, click here for a bunch of no-stress ways for minimizing shower water.}

“It seemed like an ordinary day. My oldest three gobbled up breakfast with their usual appetite. The baby was fussy, maybe tired, so I put her down for a nap. The next thing I knew, her face looked like an angry, swollen, red tomato and I had plunged into the midst of a childhood epidemic I barely even knew existed.”

So begins An Unhealthy Truth, by Robyn O’Brien. Who knew a comprehensive battle-cry for safe food could be an absolute page-turner? This beautiful mother of four is also an indefatigable leader as the founder of AllergyKids. We’ve introduced Robyn O’Brien here previously, and we were delighted to meet her in person at the Natural Products Expo West recently.

Robyn sent us the link to a fantastic presentation she gave a few weeks ago at TEDx Austin. “…. It’s 18 minutes and the response has been pretty amazing.”

Amazing as in: it’s had 8,000 views as we write, and it’s going viral with the increasing number of allergy parents in this country. If you know one, please share this clip.

Robin is getting ready for a TEDx Denver presentation on April 7, and we’ll post it as soon as we have it. Meanwhile, please consider all the ways you can be careful about the food at your house, perhaps starting with a close look at the Dirty Dozen:

The “dirty dozen” list of fruits and vegetables refers to the 12 fruits and vegetables most likely to contain higher concentrations of pesticides. The tests are done by the Environmental Working Group and updated annually. By avoiding the “dirty dozen” or only buying organic versions of these fruits and vegetables, you can reduce your exposure to pesticides by 80%.

I recently visited the Chelsea Green website and was absolutely floored! I began to browse some of their categories and ended up with a page-long list of must-reads! How did I not know about Chelsea Green before!? Luckily, we got in touch with Allison Goodwin of Chelsea Green who gave us some AWESOME suggestions for books our readers would love. Thanks Allison!

For 27 years, Chelsea Green has been the publishing leader for books on the politics and practice of sustainable living. To learn more about us, please visit www.chelseagreen.com.

Nontoxic Housecleaning

By Amy Kolb Noyes

Nontoxic Housecleaning provides a way for people to improve their immediate environment every day. Pregnant women, parents of young children, pet owners, people with health concerns, and those who simply care about a healthy environment—and a sensible budget—can all benefit from the recipes and tips in this guide.

Composting: An Easy Household Guide

By Nicky Scott

Composting is fun, easy and very satisfying! You can make compost even if you live in an apartment or don’t have access to a garden.

Energy: Use Less, Save More

By Jon Clift and Amanda Cuthbert

This book gives you 100 energy-saving tips for the home—from simple things like switching off unnecessary lights and having a shower instead of a bath, to more drastic measures such as installing a condensing boiler.

Sustainable Food: How to Buy Right and Spend Less

By Elise McDonough

Wondering whether it’s worth it to splurge on the locally raised beef? What about those organic carrots? Sustainable Food: How to Buy Right and Spend Less helps the average shopper navigate the choices, whether strolling the aisles of a modern supermarket or foraging at a local farmers market.

Cooking Close to Home: A Year of Seasonal Recipes

By Diane Imrie and Richard Jarmusz

A collection of over 150 original recipes designed to follow the seasons.

Whole Foods Companion

By Dianne Onstad

What if you could have information about more than 400 foods at your fingertips? You can find it all in the new edition of Whole Foods Companion.

The Best of Making Things: A Handbook of Creative Discovery

By Anne Sayre Wiseman

Why go to the mall when you can make things at home using materials recycled from around the house? This classic educational and creative text features 125 projects, carefully selected by the author to “develop natural curiosity and self-esteem,” and to demonstrate “simple and important concepts that have shaped the cultures of the world.”

Connected Wisdom: Living Stories for Living Systems

By Linda Booth Sweeney

Connected Wisdom: Living Stories About Living Systems gathers twelve stories from different cultures that each reveal a unique example of a “living system.”

Gaia Girls: Enter the Earth

By Lee Welles

Winner of an iParenting Media Award and a National Outdoor Book Award! What would you do if you could hear the Earth asking for help? In the Gaia Girls book series, that is what happens to four girls, each from a different region of the world.

Poisoned for Profit: How Toxins Are Making Our Children Chronically Ill – With new information on what we can do

By Philip and Alice Shabecoff

In a landmark investigation that’s been compared to Silent Spring, two veteran journalists definitively show how, why, and where industrial toxins are causing rates of birth defects, asthma, cancer, and other serious illnesses to soar in children.

The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There

By Dr. Paul Connett, James Beck, and Spedding Micklem

A thoroughly researched, scientific explanation of the dangers of water fluoridation to both human and environmental health. This book shows why we should all be fighting fluoridation in our own communities.

Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture

By Shannon Hayes

Radical Homemakers is about men and women across the U.S. who focus on home and hearth as a political and ecological act, and who have centered their lives around family and community for personal fulfillment and cultural change.

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Sarah Coyne is a young mom who lives in New York City in an apartment with her husband, a two year-old, and a baby. She works full-time and of course she wants her family and her home to be healthy and green! A while back she emailed us:

“I feel like information is abundant on almost any topic with the advent of the internet so the best companies are those that can synthesize information for people and become “go-to” resources to get information on a particular topic. That’s how I see Practically Green – a go-to for a mom who wants to go green, but doesn’t exactly know where to start/what to do and who doesn’t have the time to do the work and research to determine what makes sense.”

We were delighted to hear this – and SO excited when ABC News correspondent Lauren Glassberg produced a segment about Sarah and Practically Green.

From Lauren’s story:

NEW YORK (WABC)
Sarah Coyne is one environmentalist who takes many steps to stay green.
If you walk into Coyne’s house, you must remove your shoes first. She only serves her children organic milk and uses natural toothpaste. She also recycles everything down to her contact lens packaging.

Coyne found many of these ideas on the Practically Green website. She feels these are easy steps to take towards leading a greener life, and if she can do it, anyone can do it.

Susan Hunt Stevens created the Practically Green website after she realized how overwhelmed she was when it came to going green.
“I felt like I could start a service,” Stevens said.
The way to use this website is to begin by taking a quick quiz to see where you rank on the “green tree,” and then tips on being green will follow.
Some of the tips are as simple as buying organic coffee.
There are four hundred simple steps on the website to show you how to be green.
The “Practically Green” website encompasses a community approach, which means you may wind up becoming greener than you thought was possible.
When people view the tips from the website, it gives them the confidence to change because they feel they can do it. This is why Sarah Coyne can say she is greener than she has ever been.
To learn more, visit the website at www.practicallygreen.com

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