One of my favorite things to do on a summer weekend morning is take the kids to a farmer’s market.

I’m a city girl through and through, and had been doing most all of my shopping at SuperTarget and the like. The first time I tried a strawberry from a farmer’s market – Oh My Gosh! The difference between a strawberry picked and packed in a factory and trucked across the country, and a freshly picked strawberry is incredible.

Now I’m so excited for the local growing season to start and to be able to buy produce from the local farmer’s market. Prices for produce are comparable to grocery stores, with whatever is at the peak of the season being the best value.

Fresh produce is better for you too. The fresher it is, the most vitamins and nutrients it retains. If your child will only eat one bite of broccoli, they will get more nutrients if it’s a fresh floret. And they might be a little more enthusiastic about eating it, if they have fun picking it out at the farmer’s market.

Another benefit is less chemicals in your food. Family farms generally use less agricultural chemicals like insecticides and pesticides than large growers. Many farmers selling their produce at farmer’s markets are not organically certified, but are using organic methods. Farms have to use organic methods for several years before the food they grow can be certified organic produce, so it’s a great place to get nearly-organic produce for less-than-organic prices.

Supporting local farmers is also generally considered to be better for your local economy than shopping at the corporately owned supermarket. I’d rather spend my dollars and have them go to a family farm, instead of executives and shareholders.

My local market has a coffee stand, local musicians playing, and many of the vendors give out samples of produce, and cute little kids get the most!  All in all, it’s a fun morning out for all of us.

So are you planning to go to the farmer’s market this weekend? Here’s a challenge: get any of those fresh strawberries home. I bet they’ll all be eaten in the car before you know it.

My friend lives in what can only be described as a “McMansion.”  I’ve heard that term applied to huge houses that have entirely too much space and impressive features, usually including two or three SUVs parked in the spacious garage.

A couple of years ago she was an avid consumer. She would pack her baby up in the stroller and walk through the mall, buying whatever caught her eye. At the grocery store, she would buy mostly prepackaged foods that would save her time even though they were more expensive than the raw foods that she could have fashioned into meals for her family. Her family had the money, so why not enjoy it?

Nowadays things are a little different. She still lives in that same McMansion, but her SUV has been traded in for a more economical and environmentally-friendly vehicle. She grows fruits and vegetables in her spacious yard and buys groceries that are in a more original state. I don’t think she has step foot in the mall for some time and when she does go shopping she’s carrying reusable cloth bags.

It’s not like her husband lost his job or anything, but I think she saw what other people were going through and heard all the alarmist news stories about the economy and she realized that she just can’t assume that everything is always going to be okay. Combine this with the growing popularity of going green, and I think my friend has had a bona fide transformation.

I know I’ve changed the way I spend money too, both because of the recession and because of the environment. I didn’t start out with a McMansion or an SUV, but there was certainly room for improvement nonetheless. For example, when the weather starts to get warm it’s not unusual for ants to start finding their way into our dining room. Usually this elicits a panicked call to the local exterminator who comes over and sprays pesticides all over the house and in the yard. After doing a little research about the effect these chemicals can have on the environment – and on the health of my kids – I found out that there are natural ways to stop the barrage of ants. When I saw the first few ants crawling around a few days ago I staved off my urge to call an exterminator and instead did what I had read: Sprinkle some paprika where you see the ants and it will repel them.  It seemed entirely too simple, but it has been effective so far.  Not only is it much more environmentally friendly, but I saved the usual $80 I give to the bug guy.

Almost all of my friends are making similar changes that happen to be concurrently good for their finances and the environment. Most of them have started bringing canvas bags to grocery stores and hardly any of them drive gas-guzzlers anymore, or at least they certainly aren’t buying new ones. Organic fare is becoming more and more common as snacks at playdates, and the same moms who always dressed their babies in the newest designer clothes are now (gasp!) buying clothes at consignment stores for their kids.

I’m assuming it isn’t just my social circle that is going green and saving money. What have you been doing?

Which is what many moms say when they are faced with the choice of what diapers to pick. Cloth diapers are cheaper and the environmentally friendly option, but disposable diapers are so much easier and more convenient.

If you want to try cloth, or are thinking about switching to cloth, here’s some possible solutions to the “I want to cloth diaper but…” fill in the blank thoughts you might have.

…I hate laundry. Buy as many diapers as you can afford to increase the amount of time between washes. It will also save on laundry costs if you don’t have to wash as often. I started with 18 diapers and was washing every two three days which was not very fun. Now I have over 30 diapers and do a load of diaper laundry every five or six days. Remember used cloth diapers have a decent resale value – often around 50% of the new price – so you are not wasting money.

…the used diapers will stink. Yes, used cloth diapers do indeed stink. When we had a home with an attached garage, the diaper pail went in the garage. Right now I live in an apartment and I have a pail with a tightly fitting lid that goes in the bathroom. A carton of bicarbonate of soda in or near the diaper pail will absorb some of the odor. Don’t get it on the diapers though. We are about to move to another apartment but one that has a basement and yippee! the diapers are going to live in the basement. Phew.

…I don’t want to wash poop in my washing machine. Yes, cloth diapers do indeed have the ick factor. Tip out as much poop into the toilet and flush it away before putting the diaper in the pail. Another way to cut down on the ew is to buy a diaper sprayers. These attach to a toilet and are used to spray all the poop away into the toilet. Many cloth diapering moms rave about them. I didn’t want to spend the money on one but kinda wish I did. And it’s not enjoyable, but moms have to deal with poop. When your baby poops on her clothes – and she will poop on her clothes – what are you gonna do with those? You put them in the machine. Run an empty load after the diaper wash if you are grossed out by the poop.

…my mom says it’s a bad idea. Our moms often don’t understand why our generation want to cloth diaper when we have the choice to use disposables. They often had no choice and many moms remember all the laundry they had to do and boiling diapers in the kitchen and can’t believe anyone would choose cloth over disposables. Modern cloth diapers are totally different to the ones your mom would have used and are much less work.

…My husband says it’s a bad idea. Husbands can be anti cloth diaper, usually because of the dealing with poop factor. Well, cloth does have disadvantages. But the advantages of cloth diapers are many – the biggest ones are price, and the environment. Cost is usually a good one for convincing husbands. They are better for the environment, using less resources and creating much less trash.

And there are also other advantages cloth has over disposable. Babies with sensitive skin may have happier bottoms in cloth. And babies who wear cloth are usually potty trained earlier, as they feel wetter in cloth diapers so understand the link between peeing and being wet sooner than disposable diaper babies. And cloth diapers are much cuter than disposable ones. How about a multi-colored diaper, or a flower print, butterflies, or puppies? Choose your arguments, present them in your most charming manner, and you’ve got a great chance of convincing him.

This weekend my daughter and I enjoyed the springtime weather by spending some time in the garden. While she is too young to help with some tasks – such as knowing what is a weed and what is a plant that Mom intends to be there – she is good at a few things. This time around, she helped me to pick some of the asparagus that is starting to poke out of the ground.

Each stalk that was up to her knees (about a foot tall), whether as wide around as one of her markers or thin as a pencil, was ready to pick. Asparagus is easy for kids to pick because it naturally snaps where it should be picked – a few inches above the ground. So she happily stomped around the garden, snapping asparagus stalks and holding as many as she could in her hands.

Gardening is a great way to get kids involved with nature, as well as to learn about where foods come from. During one of my first outings into the garden with my own mom, I quickly learned what a ripe tomato looked like and managed to never again pick a not so ripe one. I also learned what happens when a seed is planted and watered, and what a joy it can be to grow foods that you can later eat and share with others.

Gardening can teach kids many other skills as well – math skills, such as addition, subtraction, and even fractions; colors; measurements; and more. That day, I counted with my daughter the number of asparagus stalks she has picked, and also walked around the garden and pointed out the colors of various items. It’s fun to see the garden through her eyes and experience the miracle of nature as kids do.

In these tough economic times, it pays to plant a garden – not only because you and your family can enjoy the freshness of eating fruits and vegetables only your hands have touched, but because it’s a wonderful experience for kids as well.

Empty formula cans either end up in the trash, or start stack up in the kitchen. Can you recycle formula cans? The steel cans are recyclable, with other steel food cans.

Most other cans, the kind made of cardboard, are actually made of composites of different materials, and usually can’t be recycled. So what do you do with them? Here’s some ideas to save your formula cans from the trash.

• Reuse them in the kitchen. The insides wipe clean and then they can be used to store crackers, pasta, rice, and other dry goods. Peel off the outer layer of cardboard or the label and then you can label them with the new contents. One crafty blogger made labels from the packaging of the product going in the can to customize them.

• Use them for art and craft projects. Peel off the outer label then decorate the outsides. Challenge your toddler to paint on a curved surface. Or use them to store art supplies like crayons or paintbrushes.

• Reuse them as toys. One formula can plus one wooden spoon equals a drum. Cut a hole in the lid for baby to put things through. They stack nicely too, show baby how to build a tower. Then knock it down!

• Storage containers for little toys, marbles, pacifiers, coins, screws or nails in the garage, or whatever little objects you have.

• Make something out of them. One blogger made christmas gift containers from formula cans, and here’s a storage unit made from several formula cans. This is my favorite – beautiful containers for make up brushes and other bathroom supplies.

Do you have any fun, crafty or pretty ideas for empty formula cans? Please share!

It’s finally spring, and if you’re looking for an outdoor activity that both you and your kids will enjoy, head outdoors. Whether it’s your own backyard or in a local park, go out and enjoy the spring weather. And while you’re at it, make it a learning experience for both you and the kids with the Arbor Day Foundation’s new pocket guide to tree identification.

“What Tree is That?” is a 164 page guidebook that’s small enough to fit into your pocket or bag. Written and illustrated by the Arbor Day Foundation, the guide provides a step by step approach to identify 250 common North American trees, with beautiful illustrations that kids can easily compare with the tree in question. Trees are identified by answering a series of questions, much in the same way as a choose-your-own-adventure book. Beginning with the leaves or needles, the yes or no answers to the questions walk you through the identification process. There are also various “clues” and explanations sprinkled throughout the book that help to enrich the process and teach kids about the various parts of trees. For example, did you know that the proper term for those little brown winged fruits that drop to the ground from many maple trees in the springtime are actually named samaras? We always called them spinners or helicopters, and would throw them up in the air just to watch them come fluttering back down.

If you want to check the book out first, the Web site has a free interactive “What Tree is That?” section for the Eastern, Central and Western United States. Click on your region, then answer a few easy yes or no questions to identify the trees in your neighborhood or right outside your door. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in a fun activity that everyone can take part in.

There’s also a glossary of tree terms and an animated tutorial that teaches identifying characteristics, such as leaves, seeds, and fruits – handy for the budding arborist in your family.

Arbor Day falls on April 24th this year and is an excellent excuse to go outside and enjoy nature. Why not get the kids together and plant a tree or two, whether it’s in your own backyard or part of a community tree planting project? It’s great for not only the environment but for our own health as well.

It seems the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, who ate a poisonous apple, is closer to reality than we may have realized. Apples ranked second, right behind peaches, on the Environmental Working Group’s updated “Dirty Dozen,” the list of 12 foods shown to contain the highest amounts of pesticides.

Click here to download the complete Dirty Dozen list, along with its counterpart, the “Clean 15,” fruits and vegetables found to contain the lowest amount of pesticides.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide, if you regularly eat the 12 most contaminated foods, you’ll be subjecting your body to 10 different pesticides each day. The EWG tells us we can lower our pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent by avoiding (or buying organic versions of) the top 12 most-contaminated fruits and vegetables.

I’m happy to say that for the past year-and-a-half (around the time I found out I was expecting my first child) I’ve been buying mostly organic foods. It can get expensive, though, especially if you don’t live near farm stands or a food collective, where you can get locally-grown, organic fruits and vegetables at low prices.

This list can help you decide what foods you should absolutely buy organic, and what areas you may be able to cut corners. And because pesticide amounts change frequently, the EWG’s updated list is a huge help. For instance, spinach, which ranked number one on the previous list, moved down to a modest number 14, just ahead of potatoes at 15. But where do you draw the line of when to buy organic?

It’s a personal decision, so you may want to study the entire list of 47 fruits and vegetables when you make your shopping list. For instance, if you consume a lot of a certain food that is halfway down the list, it might make sense for you to buy an organic version of that food. You can save money by looking for sales at your store, stocking up, and even freezing quantities of certain vegetables when they are on sale.

Learning about the methodology behind the study will also help you make informed decisions about buying produce. For instance, you’ll find out that pineapple, mango and avocado are largely pesticide-free, with fewer than 10 percent of the samples found with any detectable pesticides on them at all. Fewer than one percent of those fruits were found to contain residue from more than one pesticide.

Buying fruits and vegetables free of pesticides is even more important when you are feeding children. According to the EWG report, even small doses of pesticides can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Their smaller size means the amount of pesticides they ingest can do even more damage to their tiny systems.

Since I started feeding my infant daughter solid foods, mostly homemade, I buy even more organic produce. I’m happy to see two of her favorite foods, sweet potatoes and avocado, near the bottom of the list.

Even so, I’ll be printing out the EWG shopper’s guide and putting it in my OnTray (www.ontray2go.com) along with my weekly coupons, so I can refer to it as I navigate the produce aisle of my local grocery store.

My brother is moving across the country and decided not to move anything he couldn’t fit into his pick-up truck. He just gave away most of the things he isn’t taking—a big screen TV, a couch, a bed, a stereo receiver, etc. I was a little surprised at his decision, but after chatting for a while I discovered that he belongs to a group called Freecycle, dedicated to the starvation of landfills.

This coincides with an article I read last month in Sunset magazine about a group of friends that decided not to buy anything new for a year except food and healthcare items. It seems like I’ve been bombarded with this message lately, and maybe I need to soothe my conscience.

Whether or not you have enough money to buy everything you want, there is a growing number of people who don’t want to buy everything they want. In a strange way, this makes sense.

I hate throwing stuff away when it’s useful. But I am not a packrat. I’m not going to keep it around just in case I want it next year, nor am I the type to keep it around till next summer’s garage sale. So it goes into the trash most of the time. Sometimes with things like baby clothes I can give them away (but my only friend with a girl right now lives across the country). And sometimes I donate stuff if it’s too good to trash. I’ve tried selling a few things online, but it rarely seems worth the money and effort. And my local “used” mom/baby shop doesn’t pay enough to make it worth selling ($5 for a garbage sack full of excellent condition clothes and a clean booster seat?!)

But since my brother told me about freecycle.org, I can hardly wait to have something to give away. You post a message about what you have, and someone local who needs it comes and gets it. Or you can send a message looking for an item you want. There are few rules: nothing for sale, trade or barter—just free!

So my brother got rid of his things in San Francisco. Then when he sets up his home in Columbus, OH, he’ll just ask for what he needs there. What an idea!

Since babies go through a LOT of stuff in their first year, it seems like a fantastic way to get a lot of use out of something that isn’t worn out. Unless you have a lot of children, swings, bouncers, boppies, exercises and other things just don’t get used up. If you don’t have a friend who can use them, and you aren’t planning on having another little one in the next couple of years, why not give it away? Or maybe you need a highchair? You can find a local freecycle group online. Have fun!

I’ve always been concerned about finding safe toys for my children.  After seeing the many news articles this year about toxic toys and chemicals, I’m even more concerned.  Because of my concerns, I’ve been searching for companies which sell safe and environmentally friendly toys which I can give to my children for Christmas.  I’m just looking for toys, not toxins or chemicals please!

Kangarooboo sells a plethora of great toys, all of which are safe toys.  I love the toys NOT made in China section too!

My favorite line is the Kathe Kruse toy line.  Mrs. Kruse was a mother of 5 who began making toys in 1905 for her 5 children! Eventually, she started her own toy company.  Today, the toys are made in Germany and are specifically designed for infants and young children. The best part is that the toys are free of chemicals and dyes.  For older children, the company sells toys made from recycled plastic.  What a clever concept.

Another company which sells non-toxic wooden toys is Bambino Land.  When I checked out their website, I found that many of the toys are on sale right now!

Good Steward Naturals also sells non-toxic toys.  According to their website, they are offering free shipping on toy purchases until December 15th.

Hopefully, you will find wonderful non-toxic or natural toys for your little ones.

Buying used or second hand baby clothes is an easy way to go green. Not only are the clothes being used again rather than going into the landfills or stored in the attic or basement for all eternity, but they are also helping to reduce the amount of packaging being thrown away.

They’re also a great way to save some green – dollars, that is. Babies are expensive enough – why spend more than you need to on clothes they’ll soon outgrow?

My husband and I are big believers in buying second hand baby clothes. Our daughter grows so quickly, it seems like she is never in one size or one outfit for more than a few months and, now that we are expecting a boy, a large amount of her clothes won’t be handed down. What’s more, there have been times when she needed a special outfit, such as a dress for a wedding, and the store prices were exorbitant compared to the prices we found at a consignment shop, for nearly the same piece of clothing.

That said, there are a few safety precautions to take when purchasing used clothing.

• Inspect. – Look over the garment to make sure that zippers, buttons, etc., are securely fastened to the piece of clothing and work properly. In addition, any holes or tears can be a potential hazard and should either be fixed before wearing or not given to the child. The same goes for knit fabrics – make sure the knit is tight so that your child can’t get a finger or toe caught.

Also check to see that the garment is clean looking, with no spots or stains.

• No embellishments. – For infant and baby clothing, extra embellishments such as buttons or bows should be removed. Any small, decorative item can come off and be a choking hazard for your child.
• Wash first. – Just like clothing bought in the store or given by friends or family, any and all fabrics that will touch your baby’s skin should be washed. You never know if the clothing is clean or what the household conditions may have been; perhaps the family had a dog in the house and there are pet hairs on the clothes that may be an irritation or possible allergen to your infant. In addition, used clothing can sometimes carry germs or bugs that can get you or your baby sick. Or, for store-bought clothes, washing removes any excess dyes in the fabric. Most parents prefer to use gentle , dye-free detergents such as Dreft to minimize any irritation, at least for the first few washings.

When you’ve got kids, you’ve got toys. With the holidays, come more toys. While this is a busy time of year, it’s worth setting aside a few hours to sort through some of that stuff that has accumulated to make room for… more stuff!

I have given away many toys over the years, as my older boys have outgrown or lost interest in them. It feels good to recycle and give less fortunate families a brighter Christmas. For several years, I thought our family of four was complete. Fortunately for our recent addition, baby #3, I did save some of our nice, classic toys (to pass on someday to our grandchildren, or so I thought!).

We still have our train table and huge container full of Thomas and Brio trains, tracks, buildings and more. Wooden trains are classic, something to pass down to the next generation. I recommend hanging on to them even when you’re kids have outgrown them, to give to your grandkids someday. Giving or loaning them to family members is another option but if lending is what you intend to do, be clear about your intentions.

Other classic toys worth storing away include wooden blocks, shape sorters, building sets such as Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys, certain dolls, books and wood puzzles. These toys stimulate creativity and things like hand/eye coordination.

Toys with sentimental value are also worth saving. Some classics change over the years but it can be fun to store away your or your children’s editions for grandkids or future guests to enjoy. I have the Fisher Price schoolhouse that I played with as a little girl, which was fun for my older kids to inherit and play with (and will be enjoyed by our 7 month old, I hope!). I wish my mom had held onto more Fisher Price classics, like the school-bus, dollhouse and farm. Fortunately, I saved the ones we bought for our older boys, so our little guy can play with them someday, too.

Classic games like checkers, Candyland, and Chutes and Ladders are nice to keep around (their look may change but the games cross the generations).

So what do I recommend tossing or giving away? Usually the toys that quickly lose their appeal for kids, particularly the trendy things that are “in” one year and “out” the next are safe to give away. Trendy things like character-themed toys and dolls usually won’t be missed.

Of course, the really junky, “no-name” plastic stuff that was made in China can be tossed (you may have tossed them already, due to health or safety concerns).

There are definitely some toys I wish I’d held onto but didn’t, like our older boys’ elaborate Playmobil sets. We were never organized enough to keep all the pieces together. Our youngest child would definitely have enjoyed these. If we do buy him well-made, expensive toys such as these, I will try to keep them in tact for future grandkids.

As my kids have grown older, it’s become clearer just which toys stand the test of time and which are best donated to someplace, or someone, else. I’ll be steering clear of the low-quality stuff with our new baby, if he’ll let me.

The day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. This year, with the credit crisis, the shops might be a little quieter. Or maybe not, as retailers slash prices even more than usual to attempt to get the customers in their stores and spending money.

Black Friday is also national “Buy Nothing Day“, a day organized by activism and anti-consumerism group Adbusters to raise awareness of over-consumption and to encourage shoppers to be more thoughtful about what they actually buy. Do they really need that? Is it replacing something that could be repaired? Would it be cheaper to buy it second-hand?

Are you planning to go shopping on Black Friday? Toys, and electronics are often the most heavily discounted. Expectant parents need a digital camera for baby photos – and how could even the harshest anti-consumerist argue with that?

Babies are the easiest people to buy for. Stores filled with racks and racks of the most adorable baby clothes, nursery decor, toys that promise to teach baby to count and spell and speak Spanish and learn her animals, most baby stores make it super-easy to start a baby registry, and most baby websites have a checklist of things you need to buy for your baby. And then there’s the pressure to be a yummy mummy and have the latest stroller, most fashionable baby carrier, and designer baby clothes, just like the celebrity moms.

I’m preparing to move house, and I’m looking through my son’s baby stuff. I’m marveling at how little I used some of the items we bought or received. Some of his clothes have tags still on, or are pristine and barely worn. There’s so many toys he didn’t care for.

My finances have been trashed this year – I became a single mom – so initiated by necessity, I’ve had to work out what I really, truly need to buy. So now I haven’t bought a toy for my son for months. Yes, you read that right. He’s been very happy playing with random non-toy objects and it’s so neat to watch him invent new uses for things, and it’s using my grey matter thinking up ways to reuse objects like empty food pots (train garage, frog castle, bath toy) and other things that hitherto would have gone in the trash. We were playing at being bats in a cave underneath the duvet this afternoon, then I rolled him up in it like a burrito which he thought was hilarious. Adding in getting all our books from the library, the total cost of toys = $0.

I’ve bought him winter clothes, including a couple of things from a local consignment store, and new mittens for me, and that’s about it. Looking through the barely-used baby clothes reminded me how fast they grow and to just buy what he needed, not lots of cute outfits because they were cute.

And I did get a new digital camera. Well, kinda new – it was $50 second-hand from Craigslist. Craigslist is also a great source of baby bargains. When my son was a baby I got an exersaucer for $5 and a brand new swing for $20, and a great big bagful of baby Gap clothes for $15. And in keeping with the ethics of Buy Nothing Day, buying second-hand is very green, it doesn’t use any of the planet’s resources, and it saves the items from the landfill.

Black Friday is a great day to get a discount on something you really need, and many internet stores are already discounting prices and have special offers in preparation for a Thanksgiving shopping marathon. I found my son’s new winter coat 40% off and free shipping at Amazon, much cheaper than at my local mall.

But after hearing about Buy Nothing Day, I’m also resolving to be more thoughtful about what I buy, and to consider what we actually need before I buy anything.

Are you going shopping on Black Friday? What are you looking for? Or are you going to be having a “Buy Nothing Day”?

I’m notoriously frugal, but I also care deeply about the things my kids are exposed to. I was brought up as a strict vegetarian and my parents were always very careful to make sure the foods I ate were as natural as possible, but back when I was a kid there wasn’t as great a prevalence of organic food and items readily available.

Now that I’m a mom I sometimes wonder if paying extra for organic items is worth the cost. Many times I have stood in front of something like strawberries and glanced back and forth between the regular and organic strawberries, wondering if I should pay extra for the organic ones or if it’s more important to save money.

I went to a reliable source to solve this dilemma. I chatted with Rod Olaes, Director of Marketing for EcoBaby, but perhaps more importantly, father to a four year old daughter. “Traditional clothing has a lot of synthetic materials in it and they use a lot of chemicals in the clothing to keep it the way it is.” He says that organic clothing gets softer with each wash and he doesn’t even have to use fabric softener anymore.

Organic clothing items have additional benefits beyond just how nice they feel. He says that children with eczema may soon find that their skin is not as irritated when wearing organic clothing instead of traditionally manufactured items. So not only are the clothes more comfortable to wear, but they are less irritating to the skin.

Sounds great, but what about the cost?

Organic clothing and other organic items usually cost more. Why? “Keep in mind that a lot of products that are organic are made in the U.S., and because the cost of labor is higher in the U.S. that’s something that we have to pay for as opposed to something that’s made overseas and that’s a lot cheaper.” Rod also emphasizes how important it is to support the local economy and think along the lines of environmental sustainability.

So the bottom line is this: Although I may have to pay extra for organic items, overall they are better for my babies and better for the environment. I don’t take much more convincing than that.

You can find out more about the items offered through Rod’s company at his blog. Be sure to also check out a really interesting website he gave me to look at: Pedoodles, a company that offers baby shoes made out of recycled materials. Now that’s cool.

A new eco-friendly book series for children was launched in September. The goal of the creators of the Little Green Books series is to educate kids and their parents about the environment and how they can protect it.

Each book in the series focuses on improving the environment and preserving habitats. The books themselves are eco-friendly and are made from recycled materials. They are also printed with soy ink.

Currently, four titles are available in the series:

• Can Save the Earth: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This story is about a monster named Max, and how he changes from a wasteful monster to an environmentally responsible monster.
• The Polar Bears? Home: A Story about Global Warming. A parent and child learn about polar bears and how they can reduce the effects of global warming.
• Little Panda & Little Monkey. These two books in the series were created for young children and their caregivers to read together. They tell the story of Panda, his best friend Monkey, and their adventures. The books are super soft and perfect for cuddling! Both books are machine washable and are made from cotton and recycled fleece. I love baby products that are machine washable!

If your family enjoys living an eco-friendly life, or if you just want to teach your children about the environment, you may want to check out this new series. More books will be added in January 2009.

It seems that money is tight everywhere; the price of gas, groceries and so much more has sky-rocketed recently. It makes sense, then, to look for gently used items for babies and kids. Anyone who?s ever had a baby knows that she/he outgrows clothing and even toys in the blink of an eye.

This past weekend I hit the jackpot! There was a neighborhood/multi-family yard sale in our neighborhood and after my older boys? soccer games, I managed to find the few families who decided to keep their stuff out for sale well into the afternoon.

The fact that the oldest homes in our neighborhood are only about eight years old, means that the majority of families who live here are younger ones with young children. I found a few families whose kids had outgrown their baby gear and walked away with some amazing finds.

Although we already paid full price on a brand new baby swing, I could not resist the like-new portable baby swing by Fisher Price. It is easily moved from room to room, plays soothing music, and has flashing colorful lights. I got it for an entire five bucks!

It?s nice to have one swing in the family room and the other in the kitchen or wherever I happen to be.

Another purchase was a backseat toy panel for rear-facing babies. I had just been telling my husband that our poor little baby has to stare at the back of the seat for his entire first year. I kept meaning to get him some kind of backseat toy to make car rides a bit more interesting, but never got around to it. I ended up finding a cloth panel with a mirror and colorful pictures of cars on it. I have yet to put batteries in it but can?t wait to see what music/sounds it plays. The cost for this toy: $3.00!

I also found, believe it or not, a matching porta-crib and high chair by The First Years. It was in decent shape and the woman was selling both for $10 total. I took her number, thinking that my mom might be interested in these, as she now has seven grandchildren, three of who are aged 1 or under.

Sure enough, my mom was interested.

Check the classified section of your local paper for garage sales, flea markets, and ?articles for sale?. Keep in mind that newer neighborhoods often tend to be home to younger families and can be the best places to find gear for babies and little kids.

We’ve gone to cloth in our house – not only with diapers and re-usable wipes, but now in the kitchen as well. I’m talking about cloth napkins. Remember those fancy napkins they would give you at restaurants when you went out to dinner at places that didn’t have a drive-thru or a kids? menu?

Cloth napkins are great for casual dinners at home with the family and are much more environmentally friendly than their paper counterparts – just think of how many uses you can get out of them before they require laundering! What’s more, they can last for years with heavy usage, and won’t clog up the landfills or your trash can like those thin little paper napkins.

You can easily make your own cloth napkins at home with minimal effort – it’s even a great project to get the kids involved with. You don’t even need sewing skills; you can either finish the hems by sewing, or you can simply raveling the edges for a casual, fringed look.

To make cloth napkins, begin with 100% cotton fabric, which can be found at craft stores, fabric stores, or even discount stores such as Wal Mart for just $1-2 per yard.

Next, wash and iron the fabric. When it’s dry and smooth, carefully and evenly cut out 14-inch squares to make dinner-sized napkins. Fringe the fabric edges by gently pulling out the strands of string along the edges, starting at the top of the cloth. Pull about 1/2 inch of strings on all four sides for even seams.

Choose a different color or pattern design for each member of the family so everyone has their own designated napkin. Or, you can use a different napkin ring for each family member. Use the napkins over and over again until they require laundering.

To wash, simply toss the napkins into the laundry with like-colored fabrics on the gentle cycle and medium heat. Dry on low heat and remove promptly to reduce wrinkling. You can also line dry the napkins in the summertime. If they do wrinkle, iron with a warm iron to smooth out the fabric.

Yesterday I visited an amazing toy store, in search of a gift for my nephew?s first birthday. The store carries Waldorf-style toys, as well as other wood and fabric toys. While I used to ?poo-poo? people who prefer that their children play with these natural types of toys, viewing them as elitist and a bit snobby, I now ?get? what all the fuss is about.

The store features Plan toys, Imagi-Play toys and another line of adorable wooden toys from Germany, birth-country to Rudolf Steiner?s Waldorf philosophy (unfortunately, the company?s name escapes me at the moment).

While I am not one to subscribe entirely to any one philosophy, there are things which I learn and take from a number of schools of thought or philosophies. What I like about Waldorf thinking is that it is outside of the box. Waldorf schools focus on teaching the whole child: their hands and hearts as well as their minds. Learning is very hands-on, and very encouraging of children?s imaginations.

Waldorf toys reflect this thinking. The wooden toys are classic and timeless. I absolutely love the Plan wood vegetables and a wood kitchen I saw at the store. I would have loved it as a kid, just as children today would. The kitchen and/or veggies can inspire a child to play house, pretend that he?s a chef, gardener or grocer.

Many Waldorf toys are even less specific in their use. A nest of colorful wooden arches, which create a rainbow when nested together, may be put together and taken apart like a puzzle, used as a bridge or ramp for a toy car, placed in a pattern to create a design, etc. This is a Waldorf classic.

While some of the Waldorf philosophy is a bit extreme for me (ie: many followers do not give their kids any vaccinations), I really like their approach to early childhood education. I love the little green wooden car and wood Pound-A-Ball toy by Plan I got for my nephew. My baby loves his new colorful wooden teether I bought him (couldn?t resist!).

I?ll visit my new favorite toy store when it?s time to start my holiday shopping. I?ll also keep the Waldorf emphasis on nature and imagination in mind when looking for new toys and playing with baby.

A search online will reveal many discussions and articles about the dangers of dryer sheets. In today’s world where convenience is a way of life, few of us can envisage washing without using dryer sheets. However, if the dangers of dryer sheets are real then we will need to start looking for alternatives to them.

According to one of the articles, the artificial chemicals used in dryer sheets are loaded with dangerous material that can cause numerous ailments including cancer. Some of these chemicals include benzyl acetate which is believed to have links to cancer of the pancreas. Benzyl acetate is generally used to create perfumes and flavoring for food. Its odor is primarily that of jasmine which makes it a popular choice for artificial fragrances. Other negative impacts of benzyl acetate include burning eyes and coughing.

Other compounds used in dryer sheets and some fabric softeners include Camphor which can result in disorders of the nervous system, a known carcinogen – chloroform and pentane which can be dangerous if swallowed.

Symptoms from exposure to these chemicals are many and include vomiting, headaches, fatigue, breathing problems and skin irritations.

While dangerous for adults, the effect on young skin must be much worst. When used to soften and freshen clothes, the chemicals remain on the clothing and are slowly released during the day. This means that those that can be absorbed through the skin such as benzyl acetate have a longer time to do so. Like most things that enter the skin, these artificial chemicals will eventually work themselves into the bloodstream. Don’t get too comfortable because babies and children don’t wear their clothes for long periods. Some of these chemicals can enter the body as we breathe.

Luckily, there are natural alternatives to dryer sheets if you prefer to go that route. For one, placing vinegar in the rinse water can be used as a substitute or baking soda in the laundry water itself. Although I’ve never tried this one, I have read on the Internet that placing natural hair conditioner onto a small rag and putting this into the dryer works well also.

Most of the clothes my son wears are made of natural fiber, but an effort needs to be made to do the same for the rest of my family. Natural fibers minimize the need to use fabric softener which is needed mainly to reduce static cling.

It is becoming increasingly clear that being environmentally friendly and eco-aware is more than a social need. It is also a healthy choice. I would love to get feedback as to other substitutes for fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

Anyone with a baby knows that they grow faster than you ever imagined. At first, you might not believe how big certain clothes are on your little one, but before you know it they’ll be too tight to wear.

But don’t toss out those too small onesies, dresses and shirts quite yet — there are some ways to breathe new life into them and get some use out of them again. Consider these suggestions to re-use or re purpose those too-small clothes, and do good for the environment (and others!) at the same time.

• Make T-Shirts
  For onesies that are just too short to fit your baby, cut off the snaps on the bottom and dress baby in them as t-shirts.
  Baby girl dresses can make cute tops – pair them with jeans or even a skirt for a cute, casual look.
• Use Them as Smocks
  Onesies work really well as cover-ups to catch any spills when your baby starts eating solid foods – just cut off the snaps at the bottom to make into a t-shirt, then pull over baby’s head and use as a smock that he or she can’t easily remove.
• Decorate with Them
  Clean and non stained onesies or baby t-shirts can make cute decorations for baby’s room – hang them up on a clothes line along the wall and secure with clothes pins.
• Craft with Them
  If you’re crafty, you can make a memory quilt with scraps of old baby clothes. Just take the fabrics and cut them into same-sized squares, then sew them together to make a blanket, or finish it off to make a quilt. You can also find companies and individuals who will make a quilt out of the fabrics for you – ask crafty friends or family, or search online.

If your baby’s clothes are still in good condition but you won’t use them again, consider donating them to friends, family, or charity groups. Your local church or the Salvation Army will happily receive them – and you will receive a tax receipt for the donation.

When I was pregnant with my daughter (now three years old), my hubby did all of the household cleaning that used poisons and toxic cleaners as I didn’t want to inhale the fumes and potentially harm my unborn child.

Once my daughter started eating solids and using her highchair and booster seat trays, I struggled with finding a way to clean the trays without using harmful chemicals, but ensuring that they were disinfected at the same time. In the end, I used vinegar (my new best friend) by diluting it slightly and putting it into a spray bottle. I felt good knowing that her tray was being sanitized and continued to be a clean and safe surface for her food–as we all know, babies and toddlers don’t exactly love to use the dishes that their food arrives in.

As my daughter continued to grow, I decided that I would try switching to more natural cleaning products in the house, as she was always around when I was cleaning and was therefore being exposed to all of the harmful fumes from the chemicals that I was using.

I switched to using hydrogen peroxide and vinegar solutions (in individual spray bottles) to disinfect all of our counter tops, vinegar on our hardwood and ceramic tiles and baking soda sprayed with vinegar in the toilets. Baking soda also works as a great abrasive for cleaning showers and bathtubs.

I have also been experimenting with some of the natural and green lines of cleaners that are on the market, but truthfully, I am slightly skeptical as to how well some of them work or if in fact they are truly non toxic!

I do feel much better that my daughter nor I are inhaling toxic chemicals every time I clean, especially now that I am pregnant again.

Some other natural cleaning substances include lemon juice, certain essential oils and salt (as an abrasive).

Vinegar is by far my favorite, though, it has so many uses! I have even sprayed fruit with my vinegar spray bottle in order to remove germs and wax residue. Soaking lettuce in a vinegar and water mix can help clean the lettuce as well as crisp up the leaves prior to using them in a salad.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas and opinions on using natural cleaners. As well, if you do choose the natural route, what do you use?