Eco Child’s Play

” We need to respect the environment because it’s the only thing we have that’s close to magic”

This quote came from an 8th grader after I asked the class to tell me why it is important that we respect the environment. I’ve learned to appreciate moments like this as a teacher.  This one, however, was particularly satisfying as it came in the first weeks of our first school year at Green School.

Aptly named, Green School (www.greenschool.org) is an ambitious new international school on the island of Bali, Indonesia.  Its aim is to produce students who not only respect, but also understand the environment along with the challenges we face in regards to its health.  The classrooms have no walls, and the roofs are made from bamboo, our most renewable of trees.  The children read and write under natural light, and are cooled by breezes instead of air-conditioners. They tend gardens with the guidance of a permaculturist as part of a hands-on and holistic curriculum. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to carry a Co-Op America Seal of Approval on your website, your company and products must meet strict criteria regarding the environment, humanitarian efforts, be cruelty free and a vehicle for social change (among other screening criteria).

SimplyNeutral received the Co-Op America Seal of Approval because they are a company dedicated to these philosophies. The company was founded by Maggie and later joined by Sara. Together, this dynamic duo created natural cleaning products that really work.

My favorite product on the website are the Biodegradable Wipes. These wipes can be used on people (think baby wipe replacement) or for cleaning purposes. They are gentle, non-toxic, biodegradable, bleach free, durable and 100% natural. To expand the little disc, simply add a tablespoon of water. These are great to carry in handbags, diaper bags, the glove box, etc… The company carries a select few products (like these wipes) which are produced by other companies and filled a needed niche). Read the rest of this entry »

I have taken a sabbatical from writing to focus on raising my little bean and trying to be a better mother to my daughter. During my leave, I had the fortunate opportunity to reach out to some Work at Home Mothers who are Eco-conscious and also saavy business women. Starting with this post, I am going to highlight some of the WAHMs I was happy to come across. I would like to support their endeavor because they are working from home to raise their children who gets the best of both worlds by having a stay at home mother who also has the ability to earn an income. (Not to knock on working mothers because I am sure it’s hard to leave your little ones behind) but also because in most instances; WAHMs suppport local economy by employeeing their community and offering them fair wages.

Erika from Naturally Nursling offers natural and green products for Eco-conscious parenting. But futhermore, she offers Hemp Tai Baby carriers that is made with Eco wonder fiber hemp  and Organic cotton which is well touted for its sustainable and renewable characteristics. The Hemp Tais are comfortable, well-made, and a must have for baby wearing parents. I have written about the virtues of baby wearing, and encourage any parent to start this wonderful endeavor. It’s a way to keep your baby close to you while going on with your daily activities. The Hemp Tais are a variation of mei tai which is considered an Asian Inspired baby carriers. Used extensively in China; it has a waist, panel, and long straps that tie around the baby’s back and bum. Read the rest of this entry »

For parents committed to green living and environmental concsiousness, the greatest gift we can bestow upon our children — and to the world in which we live — is the spirit, passion and commitment to keeping our planet flourishing. 

We all want to ensure that our children are safe, happy and protected, and what better way to do that than by helping them preserve the earth, freeing the air from harmful contaminents and pollution, decreasing our dependence on — and wastefulness of – fuel and finding eco-friendly alternative energy sources.

Between in-home teaching and associations and resources committed to educating children about environmental protection and conservation, it’s easy get your kids out of diapers and off the grid!

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Whenever I talk about all natural or home made cleaning products the response is always, “does it work?”. The short answer is ABSOLUTELY.

Somewhere along the way we have been brainwashed to believe we must KILL KILL KILL bacteria and viruses by using toxic substances like chlorine bleach, triclosan and fancy “antibacterial” products. Thanks to mass marketing ploys such as Clorox’s “Essential to a Healthy Home” advertisement.

The truth is simple. Yes we need to keep things clean, no we don’t need super antibacterial products to do that. In reality, over use of bacteria killing products can be counter productive. Clean well, clean naturally, clean often.

A wonderful cleaning solution is the Vinegar of Four Thieves recipe. We’ve been using this for years. It does have a vinegar smell (add more herbs to help counteract), but it works beautifully. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot eco designer/architect Oliver Heath is offering a chance to receive his design and style advice for free!

Got a question about converting an eco home?

Decorating on a budget?

Sustainable interior design?

Submit your home style design question by November 12th on the EcoCentric website to win a personal email response from Oliver, and get some professional advice to sort out your eco design problems.

This is an incredible chance to put a little eco style into your life for free!

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Many parents feed their children healthy organic food, but they often neglect to consider their child’s main environment, their bedroom or nursery, for ecological consideration. Tiny Decor is a company commited to helping families chose eco-friendly products for interior design without sacrificing style. Tiny Décor products are handmade in the USA and feature:

• 100% organic cotton

• Ecospun® Felt made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles

• Bamboo fiber pillow inserts and batting

• PLA-fiber pillow inserts made from corn

My daughter likes Tiny Decor’s felt buckets. These soft felt buckets are great for storage. My daughter keeps her Only Hearts Club dolls in her felt bucket, which may not be the most eco-friendly doll, but at least they minimize the plastic and look like girls instead Playboy models. Each bucket is made from: Read the rest of this entry »

For years now I have been thinking about ways to lessen the excess and mass marketing culture that has been a trademark of the American Christmas season. Last Christmas, I wrote about ways to green your Christmas, and buy less stuff. When you think about the facts, it is truly appalling: Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans produce an extra 2 billion pounds of garbage PER WEEK. And how about this one (I am guilty as charged-) enough holiday cards are sold every Christmas season to fill a ten story football stadium. And one of my favorite ones, which lets me know how important purchasing natural, U.S. made wooden toys is: If every child under six received a quality wood toy instead of a plastic one, 17 million tons of plastic in the landfill would be spared.

You’ll find those facts in the new book, Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season by Jennifer Basye Sander and Peter Sander with Anne Basye. This little book is packed with ideas for how to have a less stressful, more meaningful and altogether greener holiday this year.
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Often times the easiest way to lessen the impact on our Earth and our wallets is simply to use LESS. The third part to our series on being green when budgets are tight.

Use the correct amount of product. For laundry soap, this is usually 2 ounces or about HALF the cap. Many of us naturally fill the cap, isn’t that what it’s for? Shampoo and conditioner usually require only a teaspoon or two. Better yet, if you can, switch to a shampoo bar. Store your soap out of the water spray, otherwise it will be shrinking while not in use. Ration your children’s shampoo and body wash supply by giving them small portions (use a shot glass size container) of products at bath time. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s interesting that Medela has never had a product that comes in contact with Mother’s Milk which contains BPA.

It’s exciting that they have a line of Nursing Camisoles.

It’s delightful that they’re pretty.

It’s thrilling that they’re giving one away to one EcoChildsPlay reader. Just thrilling.

As you probably know, bamboo fabric provides enhanced breathability, natural anti-bacterial properties as well as the ability to quickly absorb moisture. Additionally, many moms appreciate bamboo’s eco-friendly qualities — recognized as one of the fastest growing plants in the world, bamboo is extremely renewable and doesn’t require pesticides.  It also helps replenish fresh air, producing more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Additionally, the bamboo used in the Medela Nursing Camisole is Oeko-Tex certified ensuring environmentally-friendly practices.

“A mom who is just learning to breastfeed worries frequently about how she can breastfeed or pump easily and discreetly,” said Anne Ng’ang’a product manager of intimate apparel from Medela  “Nursing camisoles are a great option for these moms.  They make nearly any outfit breastfeeding-friendly and make it easy to express breastmilk without exposing the tummy.” Let me tell you something ladies, my “baby” is 7 years old, keeping my tummy covered is still a priority. This cami is cut long so that there’s no exposure between jeans and shirt.

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