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

Family Friday: The Fun of Family Campouts!

For June, Lucas Miller draws our attention to the fun of a family campout, whether it is in your own backyard or farther out in nature. The Great American Backyard Campout is quickly approaching so start talking with your family about how you want to participate!

On our last campout, we did not take Lucas’ advice about avoiding marshmallows, as you can see from this photo of the girls. He is right about getting them off your shoes! But the s’mores were such a hit that next time we’ll just step more carefully.

Do you have an old tent lounging on the top shelf of your garage? Some sleeping bags up there, too? Well, air ‘em out! And pull that dusty six-string out from under the bed, too, because the National Wildlife Federation is declaring June 27 the Great American Backyard Campout! Oh, yeah, and grab a couple of different kinds of kid-friendly bug repellent. Read more

Family Friday: Livin’ La Vida Croak-a

This month Lucas Miller shares a fun, inexpensive, and family-friendly activity. Our last home backed to a creek so we had the luxury of listening to the frogs’ serenades nightly there. We’ll need to take a trip to listen to their beautiful night music now but I assure you that it is well worth it. What a great way to help children experience nature!

It’s spring. Yes, the birds are singing—and so are the anurans (“frogs and toads” for those of you who didn’t study zoology). They’re out there filling the spring nights with their croaks, peeps, trills, honks, clicks ,and various other noises. If you think all frogs go “ribbit,” then think again. As Archie Carr, my zoological mentor, wrote, “Frogs do for the night what birds do for the day; they give it a voice. And the voice is varied and stirring; one that ought to be better known.” Read more

Of Milkweeds and Monarchs

Thanks to Lucas Miller’s previous post about milkweeds, we’ve had two young children very excited about spring in our house. My kids were fascinated with the idea of providing sustenance for monarch butterflies and sanctuary for their babies so, ever since we read the article, they have been asking when it would be warm enough to add milkweeds to our yard. We decided spring break would be the perfect time to do so and the countdown began.

Then, days before spring break began, the flu hit. Both girls got sick but with different strains, which allowed us to experience the full glory not once, but twice as germs were swapped. I am now ever more thankful that we own a washing machine.

By the tail end of spring break, everyone was finally feeling better. After a day of waiting to ensure no relapses would occur, we headed to the nursery. With their bright orange and yellow flowers and pointed leaves, the milkweeds were easy to identify among all the other plants. We had looked at some pictures online first, mostly because I wanted to spare the other gardeners a long search by two tired girls and their exhausted mom. Looking at the pictures definitely helped – the girls spotted the plants first. Read more

Green Chores

Today when we left my youngest daughter’s preschool, we discovered some styrofoam peanuts in the front plantings. My kids were very upset since they have heard that plastic is not good for animals. After some discussion, we picked them up to make sure no birds or rabbits, the animals we see most frequently there, would be harmed.

As we walked to the car, my oldest asked if she could have some green chores. She went on to explain that she wanted to do work that was good for the earth but wanted her dad and me to treat them like her other chores and pay her for them. I said I thought this was a great idea and that I would talk it over with her dad. Read more

(Teaching) Charity Begins at Home

I’ve written previously about the effect the book Beatrice’s Goat has had on our life but this month’s APLS Carnival topic of favorite charities got me thinking about the book’s impact from a different angle.

Beatrice’s Goat tells the true story of how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of Beatrice Biira and her family. This little Ugandan girl dearly wanted to go to school but her family was unable to afford the cost. Thanks to the gift of the goat, they were able to save up enough money for Beatrice to attend school, where she excelled. She came to the United States to continue her schooling and has now begun graduate studies in international development. Her plan is to return to Uganda upon graduation so she can expand opportunities for others.

This book led us to donate to Heifer International, a nonprofit that works with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth, and also sparked multiple conversations with our children. We’ve talked about supporting charities before but this experience was different. Since they have been old enough to choose, one of their birthday presents has been the ability to select the recipient of a charitable donation. They usually pick the local PBS station, in part because they are big fans of The Biscuit Brothers.

But those donations were very tangible for them. The Biscuit Brothers perform regularly in our area. (They even sang “Happy Birthday” to one of our girls at a local concert when they saw her wearing an “I’m the Birthday Girl” button. Biscuit Brothers, if you read this, she is still talking about it more than two years later. Thank you!) And we often watch shows on PBS so that organization is a part of our life.The majority of our other donations have been local as well so they have met the people our donations have gone to or seen their programs.

Heifer International was different. The story of Beatrice and the subsequent donation we made to Heifer International helped them understand that there are people all over the world who need help. Even when things are fine here, somewhere somebody needs help. This experience also showed them that what we do here, in our home, can make a difference.

There are many who can use a helping hand right now. How will you make a difference today?

This is my entry to the Affluent Persons Living Sustainably or APLS Carnival. March’s topic is charity. The selected entries will be hosted by Green Resolutions on March 20 so be sure to visit and learn about some worthy charities. You can learn more about this and future carnivals at APLS.

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