I Want to Eat Organic Food But How Can I Afford It?

January is a time for resolutions, many of which focus on health and finances. To help people get off to a good start on their goals this year, I want to discuss a topic that comes up frequently as we chat with other parents. How the heck is it possible to eat organic food when finances are tight?

We’ve been able to switch almost all of our food purchases to organic items without increasing the money we spend on food. Here is what helped us: Read more

Green Books Campaign – Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming

Leave a comment below to be registered for Greening Families’ very first Giveaway. The randomly selected winner will receive a copy of this book, as well as the honor of being our first winner! The winner will be drawn on Sunday, November 22.

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris’ website.

Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming by James Hoggan with Richard Littlemore is not an enumeration of the scientific details of research on climate change, as I thought when I first saw the title. It is instead a discussion of the efforts to hide and distort scientific findings by an extremely well-funded and -coordinated public relations blitz that is using the same game plan used successfully to protect tobacco from regulation for years.

Both of the authors are very qualified to discuss these issues. James Hoggan has more than 35 years of experience in public relations. He is the president of Hoggan & Associates, an award-winning Canadian public relations firm which he founded in 1972.  Richard Littlemore worked as a reporter for twenty years for Canadian newspapers, including the Ottawa Citizen and the Vancouver Sun, before he moved into freelance writing. He also sat as a delegate to the Canadian government’s Kyoto Implementation Process. Mr. Hoggan and Mr. Littlemore co-founded DeSmogBlog.com, for which Mr. Littlemore is the Editor-in-Chief, because they believe,

“There is a line between public relations and propaganda – or there should be. And there is a difference between using your skills, in good faith, to help rescue a battered reputation and using them to twist the truth – to sow confusion and doubt on an issue that is critical to human survival”

The book covers numerous crossings of that line, discussed in a clear and engaging manner. The information I found most enlightening and, frankly, distressing was the data shared on lobbying on the issue of climate change. Here are just a few of the facts shared:

• In 2004, the Center for Public Integrity reported that the oil-and-gas industry had spent more than $420 million on lobbying and political contributions in the preceding six years.
• More than 14% of that total – $60 million – came from one company, Exxon Mobil. (Yes, the same Exxon Mobile that has been earning record-breaking profits again and again and again.)
• Other pieces of the energy sector were equally active in purchasing lobbyists’ time. Southern Company is one of the United States’ largest generators of electricity, the great majority of which comes from burning coal, spent $25 million of lobbying between 2001 and 2004 plus another $4.4 million for political contributions.
• Between 2004 and 2009, there has been an increase of more than 300% in the number of registered lobbyists on climate change. There are now more than 4 climate lobbyists for each member of Congress.
• Spending for lobbyists has been increasing significantly. In 2007 alone, the oil-and-gas industry spent $82 million on lobbying. That increased 57% for 2008, bringing the total for lobbying in 2008 to $128.6 million.

Clearly the businesses involved believe their investment in lobbyists is worth it because they are not only maintaining this spending, even during this time of serious cost-saving measures, but also increasing it considerably. Given the articles linked above on Exxon Mobile’s record-shattering profits, I guess they are right.

The book contains much more explanation and detail about the extent of the movement to confuse, or at the very least postpone, a true dialogue on global warming and our world’s best next steps. I have to admit that PR is one of the professions for which I have not felt many positive feelings so the obvious depth of the authors’ feelings of betrayal in the first couple of chapters was initially startling. But as they laid out issue after issue and itemized common practices in manipulating the public discussion on global warming, I better understood the intensity of their outrage.

Global warming is a topic that has become incredibly politicized. The last chapter contains a piece of advice that surely everyone can agree makes sense.

“But this is not a time for easy answers. This is a time for right answers, which you will find only if you insist on the best sources, the respected journals and national science academies that have no agenda other than advancing the scope of human knowledge.”

The consequences of misunderstanding or underestimating the effects of global warming are too great. We need right answers. The information in Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming can help you discern where spin is getting in the way of the facts.

As mentioned above, Eco-Libris organized the Green Books campaign to highlight the fact that there are more eco-friendly methods available for book publishers. This book was printed on forest-friendly 100% post-consumer recycled paper, thus providing a market for all the junk mail and school worksheets we have been so diligently recycling. The paper was also processed chlorine-free. This means the publishers, Greystone Books, saved water as well as trees. As detailed on PlanetGreen.com, an 8×11 inch sheet of paper made with chlorine chemistry requires more than thirteen ounces of water (for each sheet!) while those made with chlorine-free technology require less than two ounces of water. After living through the hottest summer on record in Austin, which exacerbated our ongoing drought and pushed Lake Travis to its third lowest levels, I have a much deeper appreciation for water savings so was happy to see this! The book feels and reads exactly like our other books so the changes in the way this book was produced did not cause any loss of quality while still saving significant resources. I encourage you to check out the other books featured in the Green Book Campaign and to consider the publishing process utilized when purchasing books!

To help spread the word, Greening Families is offering its first Giveaway! To be entered to win our gently used copy of Climate Cover-Up, which we received as part of the Green Books Campaign, please leave a comment below on this post. We will announce the randomly selected winner on Sunday, November 22.

Business Review: The Common Thread

In preparation for my first sewing class, I visited the newly opened independent fabric store The Common Thread just over a week ago. What a treat!

As I mentioned when I listed my goal of learning how to sew this year, I haven’t done any real sewing since I took a home ec class in junior high. That was a few years ago (ahem!) so I felt a little nervous preparing for my sewing class. What fabrics would be best for the various projects? I checked out organic fabric online but for my first projects, I wanted to feel the fabrics. The selection of organic fabric at the chain store in my area was nonexistent so I had to find another option. Read more

Organic Fabric Sources

This may not be news to the green crafting crowd, but finding cute organic fabric can be tough!

One of my goals for this year is to learn how to sew. I’m signed up for a class that begins shortly so I’ve started looking for fabrics for the class projects. (Exciting!) I naively walked into a nearby Hancock Fabric expecting to find an organic section and found… no organic fabrics in the store. Not one. When I asked about them, the salesperson said, “We only get a few of those and they sell out quickly.” If I were working in the fabric world, I would see this as a sign that there is a strong demand being unmet!

Rather than driving from store to store, I decided to hop on the information highway to see what I could find.

My first stop was Mod Green Pod. This Austin-based company creates the organic fabrics that started me thinking about making our curtains myself. It is fair to say that I am going to learn how to sew so I can use their fabrics. Their beautiful selections are made out of 100% organic cotton, which is grown, woven and printed in the United States. They keep the fabrics free of fire retardants, wrinkle-free agents, and other toxic chemicals so they don’t off-gas. I love the bright colors and clean designs! Both of my girls and I enjoy playing with their Room Creator. Check out the Bloom fabric to the right as curtains!

The fabrics at Mod Green Pod led me to Near Sea Naturals. This site carries organic fabric from a number of companies, including Mod Green Pod and Harmony Art, which is listed below. They carry not only organic fabric but also organic lace, organic ribbons, organic sewing thread, organic stuffing and other notions so you can find everything you need in one place. They carry several out-of-production selections from Mod Green Pod, including this one called Tickled Pink that my daughters love. ( Pink ladybugs with flowers for spots, could anything be more perfect for little girls?) Their site even shares project ideas in case you need a jumpstart.

Harmony Art is another source of lovely organic fabric choices. The prints are especially compelling and I really appreciated the fact that coordinating fabrics are listed. Details for wholesale purchases of 50-yard rolls are listed. For smaller orders, retail distributors, including Near Sea Naturals, are listed on the site. I see a possible dress option for my girls here!

I recently came across Betz White’s book Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed & Organic Materials so thought to see if she carried any organic fabric on her site. It turns out that she has a very cute organic fabric line that just came out at the end of July. (Sounds like smart folks ARE paying attention to the strong demand!) These colorful fabrics made of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton are available at her Etsy shop. So far the Sprigs and Sprout on the left-hand side of this pillow is my favorite but the Lawnchair on the right-side of the pillow is growing on me as well. I have a feeling the more I look, the longer that list will grow.

Etsy is also the home of Daisy Janie. Her organic fabrics are a blend of 55% organic hemp and 45% organic cotton or 100% organic cotton sateen that are printed in the United States. Her patterns are very clean and crisp looking with lots of fun colors. I think the Parkside fabric would make a cute skirt; good thing I am going to learn how to make one!

I’m continuing my search for organic fabric so please share any sources you have found.

Benefits of Going Green – 7 and Counting

As we have been preparing for the new school year, we’ve been looking backwards as well as forward and reviewing our progress over the year to date. We have our green goals and have been tracking our progress on them but it struck me that the benefits of going green have gone far beyond meeting those goals. Here are the main benefits of going green we have experienced: Read more

Want a Green School? Check Out “Cool the Earth”

Can you tell I’m deep in preparations for the start of school? I’ve been wrestling with how to extend our efforts to green our family to helping create a green school environment. And I want to do this in a way that really is helpful to the school.

Our eldest began kindergarten last fall so I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with schools as a parent. We tried several schools before we found the right fit, which didn’t occur until the end of February, so I have even less experience with our current school. We love, love, love the school’s approach to teaching, the teachers, and the other families but are still learning how the business of the school is structured.

We received our student supply lists and my initial reactions fell into four categories. For items like pencils and notebook paper, I immediately started thinking about products that would be more eco-friendly, like pencils made from recycled wood and recycled paper. Other items came with very precise descriptions, leaving me to wonder if Fiskar scissors were really needed or if the non-Fiskar scissors we already have would suffice. A quick conversation with the teacher will resolve these issues and, since the school has encouraged folks to use items already on hand, I think I know how it will go.

Then came the items that I would prefer not to purchase but will because I understand why they are helpful in a group of small children – things like tissues are included here since I just don’t see 10 kids with hankies working out well during the winter. The last category is where I am struggling. The supply lists for both of my kids included plastic zip lock bags – one box for the youngest and two for the eldest. That means 10 boxes of plastic bags will be used one classroom and 20 boxes in another for a total of 600 plastic bags just for their classes! The very thought of that makes me feel ill. Read more

Green Grants for Schools

As kids begin to head back to school, lots of parents are thinking about eco-friendly school supplies, PVC-free backbacks, and stretching a few more months from existing clothes. There is also much that can be done to green your child’s school environment once the fervor of back-to-school has ended. Here are two recently posted grants for schools that could help your child’s school become more green. Read more

Family Friday: Nothin’ Better Than Your Own Backyard (for Wildlife)

For August, Lucas Miller discusses a great program run by the National Wildlife Federation and shows how easy it was for his family to create a certified wildlife habitat in their own backyard. (If the reference in the article’s title is unfamiliar, check out Robert Earl Keen’s song I’m Coming Home.)

Whether you have a .35 acre lot in the suburbs, a sprawling ranch in the boonies or a mere balcony in the city, you can attract wildlife that will intrigue and excite your wee ones with a minimal investment of work and money.  The National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program provides you with all the information you need to get started as well as the actual “certification.”  I don’t imagine your local bluebird’s likely to notice the certification sign that you can proudly display but, just perhaps, your human neighbors may ask you a few questions and convert their own piece of turf to a haven for native flora and fauna. Read more

Turn “I’m Bored” into “I Made it Myself!”

It finally happened. My kids, who typically are full of ideas, uttered the words that can spark dread in the heart of any busy parent. “I’m bored. What can we do?”

We thought we had planned well for this summer. We had a list! And a calendar! But then plans changed, as they tend to do, and the heat blasted day after day, which changed more plans, and we found ourselves with more time to fill than interesting projects with which to fill it. Add to that two parents with heads full of deadlines and work obligations (rather than fun ideas) and it was clear we needed some help.

Thankfully, I found the Future Craft Collective. Read more

Nature Rocks Truly Rocks

Unbelievably, we’ve hit the halfway point for my kids’ summer vacation. In the fall, our youngest moves to the “big kids’ school” so this summer feels extra precious. We are trying to use this time well but I often have a hard time taking care of the busy-ness of everyday life and work while also being creative about family activities. (For those of you who have figured out how to make that shift successfully, please feel free to share your tips. I’ll be most grateful!) We went into this summer wanting to do more outside but the soaring temperatures have soured our plans for hikes and days at the park.

Then I found exactly what I needed to make sure we have lots of nature-related fun this summer on Nature Rocks.

As they share on their website:

Nature Rocks is a national program to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature. Our mission is to make it easy for you to have fun in nature, and connect with others to do the same. We want all families in every city in America to see for themselves how much Nature Rocks. Your kids will be happier, healthier and smarter, and besides, it is generally free and a rockin’ way to create and share fun quality family time. Read more

Next Page »