Green Baby Gifts

Go Green; Save Green - Part 1: Reduce

2008-10-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

REDUCE
One of the biggest impacts you can make on the Earth is to reduce the number of items you consume on a daily basis. This practice can also help you save money which, in today's economy, is really important!

First, drive less. It is quite fashionable today to drive less, given the $3+ cost-per-gallon of gas. To support this economical and Earth-friendly practice, look for easy ways to cut back on your gas bills by taking public transportation if it’s available. Carpooling is a great idea, but even if it doesn’t work every day, try to share a ride with friends or family once per week when you’re out and about. Also try to minimize your shopping trips. For example, if you currently visit the grocery store four times per week, commit to creating a shopping list, and you can cut that down to just two times per week quite easily.

Second, buy less. With the holidays right around the corner, it might be hard to imagine buying less, but a truly Green consumer weighs each purchase based on how it impacts the Earth. For example, you must consider the environmental costs involved in growing, harvesting, producing, packaging and transporting all items. From a green perspective, you need to take all of these issues into account when making a purchase, but from a budgeting perspective, you should also consider the very first question a true environmentalist should ask: do I really need to buy this item? Many things that we buy for ourselves and others end up cluttering our personal space, and then ultimately are discarded to clutter a landfill Instead of adding to this problem, double- and triple- think every purchase before making it.

Great Green Baby Gift Ideas

2008-10-21T22:16:00.001-07:00

A new baby is a great opportunity to introduce your friends and family members to the many changes, big and small, that we can make to be “Greener” consumers. Baby gifts are a wonderful way to introduce new parents to Green products, and, who knows – they might stick with them!

Giving green gifts is increasingly popular, as it provides an opportunity for your gift to stand out from the crowd and make a positive impact on the Earth.

Green gifts are constructed of organic or recycled materials, or at least have a minimum impact on the Earth. The packaging of the product should be minimal to reduce waste. Seek zero packaging when possible, but if necessary look for recycled paper packaging. The least desirable packaging is plastic, which takes significant energy to produce and is difficult to recycle. If the only option is plastic packaging, seek minimal amounts of plastic, or purchase carbon offset credits to make up for it.

Gifts for Getting Dressed
Your options in buying green baby clothes are many and increase almost daily. Today you can find organically-grown cotton clothing fairly easy. Even some of the large chain stores like Target carry certain items made of this fabric. Organic cotton is grown with natural fertilizers and is free from toxic chemicals. A field must be pesticide-free for at least three years to qualify as organic, and the cotton must be processed based on International organic standards.

Bamboo is also an excellent choice for baby clothes, as it is both eco-friendly and softer than even the softest cotton on the market. Bamboo fabrics have a natural sheen and are frequently compared to silk and cashmere. Another great benefit of using bamboo fabric for baby clothing is its naturally-occurring antibacterial properties.

Gifts for Bath Time
Avoid the commonly-available plastic bath toys and focus instead on healthy, safe and eco-friendly options for the bath. For example, if you are looking for cute towels, you can find many options in both organically-grown cotton and bamboo. Although it may sound strange, bamboo fibers make amazingly soft, silky fabrics. In fact, many people choose bamboo towels based on touch alone, without even realizing they are choosing a sustainable fabric. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that grows without pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. It does not destroy natural forests or take an undue toll on the Earth, thus making it an excellent option for eco-conscious consumers.

As for baby-washes and lotions, all those petroleum-based products can be skipped for more eco- and body-friendly options. The chemicals used in most cosmetics and toiletries range from toxic to dangerous, and everything in between. Some major things to look out for include shampoos and conditioners containing petroleum products, hair dyes with carcinogenic coal tar, deodorants containing aluminum, hairsprays and hair gels containing petroleum derivatives, formaldehyde, phthalates and synthetic fragrance.

Also look out for cosmetic and toiletry products that were not tested on animals. Not only does this mean that you are not testing your ethics, but often products with the Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS) label also happen to meet the above criteria and are therefore better choices overall.

Gifts for Playtime
Most toy aisles are filled with plastics, which are energy-intensive to create and slow to decompose in our landfills. Instead of adding to the waste, seek green alternatives to baby toys. For example, there are many super-soft and amazingly beautiful stuffed toys made from organic fabrics and stuffing. These items are often checked more thoroughly for safety than typical toys, since they are catering to a high-end market.

Also available are wooden toys created with green-certified hardwoods and fast-growing woods. They have all-natural finishes, paint and stains, making them safe for baby, and also safer for the world.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

2008-10-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

With the holidays approaching, I thought it would be a good time to start thinking about Green gifts for everyone on your list:

1. Intangible Gifts
Some of the most eco-conscious gifts are those that don’t involve any wrapping paper. These gifts provide resources that last long after the holidays are over and are an excellent way to give someone something that does good for the world. Ideas include: donating time or money to a charity that means something to the recipient; buying carbon offsets on behalf of the recipient; planting a forest in the recipient’s name; or sponsoring an endangered animal.

2. Educational Gifts
If you have people on your list who have expressed interest in being more green, but simply don’t know where to begin, you can give them something that helps them become more aware of the Green movement. A search at any bookstore for green topics will provide you with many choices, including the DVD “An Inconvenient Truth,” and books like “Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet.” If the recipient enjoys cooking, you could try one of many organic food cook books, like “The Organic Cook’s Bible,” and if he enjoys gardening, “Organic Gardening for Dummies” might be a nice choice.

3. Traditional Gifts
You don’t have to look far to get wonderful traditional gifts like toys, linens and clothing that don’t negatively impact the environment. For example, you can find clothing made of organic cotton in many major retailers today. Bamboo towels, socks and bathrobes are amazingly silky-soft, and have antibacterial properties in addition to being environmentally sound. Wooden toys built from sustainable trees are also an excellent choice for children.

What you need to know about wood furniture

2008-09-15T17:51:00.001-07:00

Next time you are in the market for wood furniture, consider the following guidelines:

1. Where does the wood come from?
You want to look for wood that has been legally harvested from responsibly-managed forests. Whenever possible, look for reclaimed or recycled woods. Also available are a number of fast-growing woods, including bamboo, which are neither threatened nor threaten other species in production.

2. Is the wood certified by a third party?
In addition to the Sustainable Furnishings Council, you can look for certification from other third-parties including the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

3. Is the manufacturer working to reduce energy use?
In addition to the actual manufacturing energy cost, consider the distance that your wood has traveled. Cargo ships have become one of the nation’s leading sources of air pollution, threatening the health of millions of people.

4. Where was the furniture made?
Look for products that were made close to your home and sourced from raw materials from within 500 miles. This will reduce the distance traveled and also support grassroots initiatives that are working to improve the sustainable furniture industry as a whole.

5. Were any high Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) finishes used to create the product?
Varnishes and lacquers are the most common offenders, but many paints also contain high levels of VOCs. Look for water-based finishes that have low or no VOCs.

Green Pets

2008-09-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some key labels to look for when you are seeking green alternatives for your pets:

- USDA Certified Organic: this is the only official certification for organic products, assuring that the food has undergone a third-party certification process. Compared to products market “natural” or “holistic,” this process validates that at least 95% of the ingredients are organic.

- Free-Range Meat: look for foods made from animals that are raised out-of-doors, without cages, and are fed grass and other natural diets.

- Cruelty-Free: look for items that feature no animal testing and can prove the animals raised for meat are treated in a humane manner.

- AAFCO Certification: this certification, provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) ensures the food is formulated to meet balanced nutritional levels and contain the micro- and macro-nutrients needed to keep your pets healthy.

There are many healthy, green options available on the market for dogs and cats, but as with any green product, it is important that you check the label and investigate the company to ensure that you fully understand the claims and certifications.

2008-08-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

Eight Easy Options For Green Gift Giving

1. Gift Certificates – require almost no transportation resources or packaging, and ensure the recipient will get exactly what he or she wants. Choose local, environmentally-conscious companies from which to secure the certificates.

2. Organic Products – are often sourced from environmentally-conscious companies that minimize their impact on the world. Consider clothing, accessories and beauty items.

3. Charity Donation - requires no transportation resources or packaging, and directly make a positive impact on the world. Check out organizations that benefit global resource initiatives, focusing on something meaningful to the recipient like water or air quality, or wildlife protection.

4. Local Home-Made Products – buying locally-made products supports the local economy and minimizes transportation impact. Look for hand-made gift items like bags, decorative boxes and children’s toys.

5. Massage – a hands-on gift requires almost no waste, and the only products required are a little bit of massage oil.

6. Eco Spa Day – while many spas use treatments that are tested on animals and contain ingredients that don’t meet the green standard, eco spas specialize in treating guests to luxury without negatively impacting the Earth.

7. Home-Made Food – if you like to cook, select the best organic and locally-grown products available and prepare a home-made meal that you can either share or drop off. Don’t live nearby? Bake organic cookies and send them in the mail.

8. Groceries for a Week – do their shopping for a week at the local farmer’s market or a responsible grocery store. Don’t forget to include a list of what you purchased and some recipes for using the food!

10 Simple Steps to Being Green

2008-07-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some simple steps that every Greenie can take to make a greater impact on the green movement:

1. Buy direct from farmers, co-ops and free-trade distributors

2. Eat minimally-processed food

3. Stick with organic and/or sustainably-grown foods and textiles whenever possible

4. Reuse any materials that you can before you buy new ones

5. Recycle paper, glass and plastics

6. Do not dispose of toxic waste (e.g. batteries, cell phones, computer electronics, light bulbs, paint, etc.) in the trash can

7. Take public transportation, carpool, walk, or ride your bike instead of driving alone in a car

8. Lower the heat in winter and raise the temperature in the summer; install fans to help better circulate the air rather than using energy to heat/cool it

9. Lower the temperature on your water heater

10. Buy only Energy Star appliances

No matter how hard-core you are, we still all make an impact on the Earth just by living in it. This is called our “Ecological Footprint.” If you’re interested in learning how big yours is, take the Ecological Footprint Quiz and compare yourself to others in the U.S. and worldwide. http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

Easy Homemade Baby Food

2008-07-03T13:58:00.001-07:00

My friend just had a baby (congratulations, Jenny!) and I sent her my three favorite baby food recipes. I thought I would share them here, too! Of course, I recommend using organic ingredients to make everything even better for your baby!

1. Smashed peas
Step 1: Take a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer
Step 2: Measure out about 1 cup into a microwaveable bowl
Step 3: Place the bowl in the microwave and cook until defrosted
Step 4: Place the defrosted peas in your blender, add a little bit of water, and blend
Step 5: Feed the peas to your baby; store the extra in the refrigerator or freeze for later

2. Extra Special Cereal
Step 1: Following the directions on the box, make about 1 cup of Cream of Wheat
Step 2: Take a 16 oz tub of sour cream or plain yogurt out of the refrigerator
Step 3: Take 2 4 oz containers of applesauce out of the pantry
Step 4: Mix everything together and feed it to your baby; store the extra in the refrigerator or freeze for later

3. Yummy Yams
Step 1: Clean one yam or sweet potato thoroughly and put it in the microwave to cook
Step 2: Once fully cooked, smash the yam with a fork or put it in the blender
Step 3: Feed the yam to your baby; store the extra in the refrigerator or freeze for later

Antibacterial and SPF!

2008-06-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

I just remembered what is so great about bamboo clothes for babies and for all of us - they are naturally antibacterial and have block SPF sun rays.

I'm just so amazed at how great of a fabric bamboo is ... I first fell in love with it for the way it feels, but now it just keeps getting better.

Not What They Seem

2008-06-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

It's so frustrating when I read about cosmetic labels and how difficult it can be to trust them. I just read this press release from Organic Consumers and feel so depressed! I naively think of Whole Foods and the products sold there as being "safe" from environmental hazards, but now it looks as if the Avalon Brand (selling the popular "Alba" products, which I have become partial to) and the Whole Foods 365 brand are both under investigation for having carcinogenic contents. Argh! It's not easy being green!

PRESS RELEASE
California Files Lawsuit Against Whole Foods, Avalon, and Others Whose Products Tested Positive for Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane in OCA Study

For immediate release

OAKLAND, CA - Reacting in part to a study released by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) in March of this year, but also based on their own testing, the Attorney General of California has filed a major lawsuit against body care household-cleaning product companies whose products recently tested highest for the carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane.

FOR MORE, GO HERE

Green Air Ducts

2008-06-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

As I write this, a service company is cleaning our air ducts. I think it really needed to be done, and hope that the result is both a cleaner indoor environment and a more efficient heating and cooling system. When I looked at the filter it was really bad - in fact, we have never cleaned our air ducts before, and we have lived here for seven years.

The service companies say that we should 1) change air filters every 4 months; 2) clean ducts every 2 years; and 3) do a massive system clean every 10 years. Since it's been so long, we're doing the massive system clean, which is expensive, but hopefully well worth it.

We're also going with a reusable air filter that we will have to wash every four months and will reduce our waste, as typical air filters are disposable.

Overboard or Normal?

2008-06-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

The deeper I get into being "green," the harder it is for me to distinguish between reasonable accommodations and overboard ones. In other words, what is "normal" for a greenie like me?

For example, I really hate getting all of those plastic produce bags at the grocery store, so I sewed some little bags out of fabric scraps to use instead. I get really funny looks at the grocery store when I use them, but it doesn't seem that strange to me!

Of course, in addition to many strange looks, I also get at least one person asking me where I got my little bags - they usually express disappointment that I made them myself and thus don't know where to buy them.

Farmer's Market

2008-06-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

We have a really great farmer's market here in Santa Monica, and I try to go every Sunday. Yesterday while my daughter was sleeping and my husband was working, I took off on my bike to pick up my favorite foods.

I always get two dozen eggs from chickens who live on a nut farm and are raised completely outdoors, eating bugs etc. I also love the grass-fed beef and pork, and an amazing hazelnut whole-grain bread. Two beautiful tomatoes and various greens rounded out my successful shopping expedition.

Five Ways to Raise a Green Baby

2008-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Environmentalism is an increasingly popular topic of conversation, and much of the reason for “Going Green” is to protect the environment for our children and grandchildren. Luckily, raising a baby “Green” is becoming easier every day, as more products and services become available to us that make it simple to make an impact on the health of your baby today and her hopes of seeing a greener world tomorrow.

There are many reasons for adopting a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, not the least of which is that it is usually healthier for you and your family because most products that are considered “green” contain less chemicals and hormones. On a larger scale, going green can have a significant impact on the health of our World. The world population continues to grow at an alarming rate: 1 billion people in 1800; 2 billion by 1922; and over 6 billion by 2000 are estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is estimated that the population will swell to over 9 billion by 2050.

That means that if we evenly distributed the Earth’s natural resources (which we don’t), the population in 2050 - when your children’s children are growing up - will have only 25% of the resources per capita that we had in 1950. There are a finite number of resources available to the human population, and we are depleting them every day. If we have any desire to leave the world in a state that can sustain our grandchildren, then we simply must preserve resources and become more ecologically-minded.

Going green doesn’t have to be a major ordeal. In fact, one of the best ways to do it is in small stages – one or two steps at a time. The deeper you get into green living the more you will see that there are infinite things that we can do, both big and small, to improve our environment. Try not to become overwhelmed – simply focus on doing as much as you reasonably can at any one time, and know that even a little bit helps!

Here are three small steps that you can take today to raise a green baby:

1. Organic Foods: Thanks to the growing popularity of organic foods, it is increasingly easy to find organic options for your baby. In many supermarkets you can find organic fruits and vegetables, organic cereals, and other baby staples.

2. Household Cleaners: When you have a baby, you start to notice the chemicals in your home. Today’s environmentally-friendly cleaners are just as good as chemical-laden options, and are far better for the Earth and your baby’s skin.

3. Diapers: There are two green options in diapers: cloth and organic/unbleached. Cloth diapers work really well and you can get a service to take care of them so that you don’t have to deal with too much mess, but they are still too much for many people. Luckily, you can now get affordable organic diapers that require fewer chemicals to produce, thus reducing overall stress on the Earth.

4. Milk: If you can, then breast feed your baby. This is the ultimate way to go in terms of environmentalism and economics. Of course, if you cannot breast feed for any reason, then you can still purchase organic baby formula, which will cut down on the chemicals and hormones in your baby's milk while reducing the impact on the environment.

5. Recycle Gift Packaging: Babies bring with them a lot of gifts! Every gift that you receive probably comes wrapped in cardboard, paper and plastic materials that can all be recycled. You can save nice gift bags and ribbons to wrap future presents, and recycle everything else.

As more people adopt a greener lifestyle, we are seeing more and more organic and environmentally-sound products in local supermarkets and even stores like Target and Wal-Mart. Keep your eyes open, and you’ll realize that raising a green baby doesn’t have to be a struggle.

Our First Press Release!

2008-06-05T14:53:00.001-07:00

Press Release: Green Baby Gifts Online Launches Website for Green Giving

Here We Go!

2008-06-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to be launching my new website this week! Green Baby Gifts is a new concept that I've been working on for a few months, and it's both a relief and really scary to be putting it out there in the market.

Yesterday I finished up all of the photography and web layout, although I have to admit that it's really hard for me to let it be "done!" Now I just have all the rest of the work to do - marketing the darn thing so that it will get out into the world and make a difference.

Here on the home front, last weekend we made the switch to partially-recycled trash bags and fully-recycled doggie-doo bags. They are both a lot more expensive that typical bags, but we're really trying hard to be as green as possible, and plastics are such a challenge for the environment. Now we're looking into a small composter for our back patio, but it's tough because we don't have any Earth (we live in a Townhouse without a yard), so we have to get the "right" type of composter with a crank handle, etc.