by Jennifer Lance on February 12, 2010 · 2 comments
I could not survive motherhood without coffee! In fact today, I treated myself to a rare afternoon cup. Green Mountain Coffee is one of my favorite brewers. We were sent a fair trade sampler that included:
The Ethiopian is my favorite, as I have grown to appreciate a lighter roast as I age. Purchasing fair trade coffee is really important, especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere where it cannot be grown. Coffee is something that causes me to break my locavore commitments.
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This updated version for kids of the classic 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth is a handy reference for any child looking for small steps they can take to live a greener life. The layout is user friendly and appealing, and it is a great resource for the classroom and home. Not only does this book include tips, such as “plant a tree” but it includes “eco-experiments”, such as making your own recycled paper. As you would expect, this book is printed on “certified chain of custody” recycled paper with soy inks.
Would I buy this product? Probably not. My experience with these sort of books is they sit on shelves, good ideas or not, without much use. Besides, most of the information can be found on the 50 Simple Kids website for free.
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by Jennifer Lance on September 7, 2009 · 0 comments
This is actually the second time we have had the pleasure of reviewing Inca Kids‘ products, and we are pleased to see their fair trade, Peruvian line expanding. My son and I are in love with the super soft, uber adorable scarf from “Casa Betania”. Adorned with cars, this scarf is sure to please any little one and fair trade discerning parent. Made from alpaca and acrylic yarns, this scarf is not itchy and carefully crafted by women in Peru. Casa Betania:
Started as a way to assist women with lack of emotional and financial support in some of the most unprivileged areas in Lima.
On December 4, 1990 they started making jute cartridge pouches, then they learned to embroider and sew, some women brought their tools, also fixed the schedule from 2 to 7 p.m. and wages. The group that started with 7 women, grew into a group of 23 women selling their products to churches. Cáritas of France donated 2 sewing machines and libraries as well a provided some financial support.
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Indigenous Designs is a fair trade, organic clothing company with apparel for the whole family! I personally love the double layered skirt, but for my son, the organic Havanna shirt is super cool! Made in Guatemala, this fair trade organic shirt is just like the grown up version, making your little boy look like a little man. My son will be wearing his Havanna shirt to his fifth birthday party this weekend!
Indigenous Designs is committed to:
- Supporting and preserving fair trade wages and artisan cooperatives
- Investing in natural and organic fibers and environmentally-friendly dyes
- Spreading the beauty of handmade, eco fashion
Many people eat organically grown food, but when it comes to their clothing, they forget natural and organic fibers clothing is just as important for our planet as it is for our health. [read the full article...]
Our life is a series of contradictions.
We strive to be eco-conscious in all things, to live in harmony with nature and each other. We endeavour to nourish our bodies with whole foods, locally grown, rich in the nutrients nature gave them, clear of artificial processing and toxic additives. We aim to nourish our children with strong family bonds, freedom, integrity and perceptive discretion, away from the influence of rampant consumerism, peer-orientation and pressure, the wastefulness and shallowness of contemporary western society.
We don’t always quite live up to these ideals.
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by Jennifer Lance on March 21, 2009 · 1 comment
I’ve long been a fan of Maggie’s Organics, and I lived in their tights when I was pregnant. Now Maggie’s is venturing into stuffed animals. Like their sock monkey, Maggie’s Organics Penguin is made from excess fabric and slight irregulars, including the hat made from tie dyed socks! Unlike Mattel, that claimed Barbie was going green by making accessories from fabric scraps, I trust Maggie’s because they have always been a Fair Trade and organic company.
CONTENTS: Outside: made with 100% Organic Cotton. Filling: Post-industrial Polyester fiber (from mill scraps)
DESCRIPTION: The second stuffed animal in the Maggie’s Menagerie collection has come to life! Typically Penguins don classic black and white attire… but our Penguin has taken a walk on the wild side, sporting a colorful stocking cap made from our incredibly popular tie dye socks and legwarmers.
The animals are made from excess fabric and irregulars and stuffed with reclaimed polyester mill scrap. The Penguin’s embroidered eyes and securely sewn on hat make it safe for all ages.
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As a family, we love to cook together, it is a wonderful time to have fun and bond as a family. Cooking with your children has numerous benefits: It teaches your children mathematics, gives your child a sense of pride and accomplishment, will help your children try new things and they are also more likely to eat what they help make. In our home we have a silly tradition of “dolling” ourselves up for cooking together. We wear fun bright aprons, put on our favorite lip gloss and dance around to our favorite music.
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1. Organic, Fair Trade Green Mountain Coffee
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