” 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 »
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!
Today, the Grist’s Ask Umbra weighed on the subject with neutrality claiming cloth and disposable are on equal footing when it comes to environmental impact.
Have you ever dreamed of working side by side with scientists in the field, studying diverse and beautiful ecosystems? Do you lust for adventure?
Yeah, me too. For years I have wanted to join an Earthwatch expedition. They are the largest environmental volunteer nonprofit organization in the world. Earthwatch sends volunteers all over the world to work with scientists to solve environmental problems.
For years I’ve also paged through Earthwatch’s catalogs, eagerly reading about helping sea turtles on the beach all night in Mexico, surveying coral reef systems in the Caribbean, and tagging wildlife in foreign ecosystems.
Luckily, I received an Earthwatch Fellowship to join a team of teachers and scientists in Louisiana. I just returned from New Orleans, and the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area where we went into the field to collect, catalog, and research caterpillars of the southeastern Mississippi River Plain. Caterpillar species are more prolific in areas more affected by climate change, and the hurricanes Rita and Katrina that damaged the area so heavily. Our lead scientist has been researching the biodiversity of caterpillars all over the world, specifically their relationship to certain parasitoids. Read the rest of this entry »
Let’s talk about energy. Been there, done that you say. We all know to turn lights off when we leave the room, to unplug all cords when not in use (tv, cell phone charges, computer, etc…) and to replace every light bulb in the house with a CFL. Hopefully, we’ve all taken these tips to heart.
Our family is a single income family. This is harder to do in todays economy than it used to be. With increasing costs of feeding and clothing our clan (of which there are SEVEN) and the higher gas prices, we really have to watch our spending. There are areas I can save in (groceries, household supplies, utility costs) and areas that are fixed (mortgage, student loan payments, medical insurance). A favorite way for our family to think about being greener and saving money is to have family discussions. I love to watch and listen as the kiddos brainstorm on things we can do to help our environment (these are some smart kids) and to hear their ideas on good stewardship (of our Earth and finances). Here are some fun and easy ways to save energy (which is way good for Mother Earth and will result in a lower power bill for you). Read the rest of this entry »
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has instructed civil servants not to publicise the conclusions of the £50,000 nappy research project and to adopt a “defensive” stance towards its conclusions.
The report found that using washable nappies, hailed by councils throughout Britain as a key way of saving the planet, have a higher carbon footprint than their disposable equivalents unless parents adopt an extreme approach to laundering them.
To reduce the impact of cloth nappies on climate change parents would have to hang wet nappies out to dry all year round, keep them for years for use on younger children, and make sure the water in their washing machines does not exceed 60C.
Right now, times are tight for most families. Gasoline and food costs are cutting into our budgets in a drastic manner. If you are one of the many who owns plunging stock, you are probably worried about the future.
So you may wonder, how can I be greener when I can’t afford the basics. This is the best time to learn to live simpler. Go back to the basics. This is the first in a series of simple steps to be greener and save green.
by Linda Sivertsen and her teen son, Tosh, is a great guide to help teens go green. It offers practical advice in an easy to read manner that doesn’t preach or talk down. This is a great way to get your teen on board about going green . 
