A Green Thanksgiving

‘Tis the season to give thanks, to go green, and to eat a lot of delicious food! What are the ways you can make this Thanksgiving greener for you and your family?

To start, the simplest way to go green this Thanksgiving is to give thanks. The root of living naturally is to live with values of gratitude and compassion. Thus, Thanksgiving is perfectly in sync with going green since we sit around the dining room table and each share all that we are grateful for.

Second, if you are able to buy the produce for your delicious ingredients at your local farmers market, and that produce is organic too, you just scored major points in going green this Thanksgiving. There may not be a farmers market in your town, so look online for other nearby towns that may host them. Often a larger city near you will hold them on the weekends.

Third, when buying packaged foods at the market look for items that are easily recycled, such as cardboard containers, cans and bottles. More and more companies are also using less packaging, so you may just find that your favorite stuffing has a smaller box, but not less stuffing mix in it. We have the experience of opening large boxes that don’t need to be that big given the amount of food in it, so try to stick with those companies that are breaking that habit.

Fourth, try to reduce carbon emissions by staying at home this Thanksgiving. Perhaps it is time to get to know your neighbors better and they can just walk over rather than parents or cousins flying or driving hours to get to you. Skype offers a fabulous and free option to be with your family on Thanksgiving without the added carbon emissions of a plane or a car. This is a truly difficult step to take if you only see your family once or twice a year due to distance, so please don’t feel you need to follow all of these steps. Only choose those that fit your lifestyle and needs.

Fifth, plan ahead and know from your guests what they would like to eat and how much they will eat to estimate better how much food to make. Leftovers are great if you are sure you will actually eat them! Composting produce is another efficient way to recycle by returning produce to the earth to improve fertile soil toward the production of new vegetables or flowers. If you plan incorrectly and still end up with a whole turkey untouched, then bring it to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen where you will again be truly showing some of the greenest values of all - compassion and generosity.

A Healthy Halloween!

by the Green Granny, Carolann Stefanco



It is not just on Halloween that we consume sugars. On a daily basis, the majority of the population eats some form of sugar, whether it be fructose, lactose or sucrose, maltose, maple syrup, corn syrup or brown sugar. All of these can become problematic to your health.

Sugar can change your healthy body by feeding cancer cells, triggering weight gain, and promoting premature aging. It can create metabolic imbalances, increase cholesterol, weaken eye sight, cause food allergies, contribute to diabetes and even osteoporosis.

White sugar is physically addictive and humans have had a strong desire for sweets as far back as 327 B.C. when raw sugar was used in India. But you don't have to give up your sweetness of sugar, just replace it with better alternatives, such as stevia and xylitol, that are safe and natural.

In order to make your Halloween healthier you can enjoy and hand out the following to trick or treaters: dried fruit, trail mix, baked pretzels, nuts and seeds, raisins, sugar free gum, fig cookies, low sugar cereal bars and low fat popcorn. Some children may have food allergies to nuts, so it might be best to ask first before handing out a packet of peanuts.

You may want to consider handing out non-edible treats to trick or treaters such as stickers, spider rings, bubbles and vampire teeth. If your child receives a lot of sugary candy you can always try to recycle it by giving it away at work or donating it to charities or using it for other events.

If you are considering a Halloween party for children, serve healthier snacks and natural drinks for them to enjoy. Parents will be appreciative knowing that their youngsters will not be consuming tons of sugary sweets and coming home with a Halloween tummy ache!

At Halloween parties a fun game to play, that is also nutritious, is bobbing for organic apples. Children can also have a fun time creating a vegetable pizza, making pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread, and baking pumpkin seeds or apple pie. Craft activities can be quite fun for children, such as decorating Halloween masks for their friends, making ghosts out of old fabrics stuffed with cotton balls, or the traditional carving of pumpkins as an activity supervised by adults with safe implements.

By getting creative and finding healthier alternatives, Halloween can be a very nutritious as well as enjoyable time for adults and children.

Thinking Green

The world is all abuzz with the idea of thinking green. What exactly does this mean? For some, it means living in a home made by hand of mud and straw from the earth. For others it means recycling and reusing. No matter what you do, the most important part is simply to act. Actions come from thoughts, so let’s explore how to think green.

It seems that some people automatically look around them, whether outside or indoors, and immediately assess where and how certain things can be altered to be more environmentally friendly. For example a neighbor who sees her vegetable waste as an opportunity to start a compost pile or her children’s empty shoeboxes as a great way to store all of those sewing supplies she uses.

Then, there are those, and we have all sadly seen them, who flick their cigarette butts out of their car windows onto the roads as if the world is their trash can. Where do we begin so that we can not only incorporate green thinking into our lives, but also into the lives of others?

First, for ourselves, the best place to start is to imagine that you wear green colored glasses when you are looking at the world around you. This visual image is quite powerful at coloring your thoughts to become more eco-friendly. Every time I leave the house for work, or to go for a walk or out shopping, I imagine I am wearing these green tinted glasses. This makes it much easier for me to start to think about the world from a more eco-friendly perspective. For example, as I drive to work I notice the smoggy Southern California air and the traffic. Then, I begin to think about ways to help improve the air quality and that is when I notice the hybrid and electric cars on the road, and then the metro train whizzing by parallel to the freeway. When I get home I research the costs of hybrid and electric cars, as well as a metro commuter pass. These are all actions I can can take now because I looked at my commute with green thinking.

Second, to help improve others’ level of green thinking, simple role modeling and education goes a long way. Every time we recycle and inform our neighbors about the town recycling program, or we send our children to school with reusable lunch containers rather than plastic bags, we are modeling the idea of thinking and acting green. It doesn’t take much as evidenced by the spread of the green movement to the present day point of electric cars and mass eco-friendly behavioral change.

So, get out there with your green tinted glasses, think green as often as you can, and see how many other people you can inspire to think green too!

Natural Outdoor Activities for Kids

by Guest Author, the Green Granny

Times certainly have changed from the walks I took as a kid listening to my transistor radio that received only three stations and playing my old 45's on the record player to dance to. Technology may have surpassed those times countless times over, but I wouldn't change or trade the fun I had growing up in the times of the fifties. Obesity problems and boredom was practically non-existent. Kids were way too active and creative in so many different ways.

During the winter months long walks to the other side of town brought you to the town lake for ice skating. Sledding took place at the river's falls, where the path started near the top of the falls, and stopped just a few feet from the river itself. It took a lot of energy to climb back up that steep hill and sled down over and over again.

Springtime offered opportunities to play hide and seek with friends and neighbors as well as collecting clover flowers to make a necklace chain. A simple blade of crabgrass was thick enough to hold between your thumbs and blow a screeching sound that could be heard from a distance. The magnolia trees had seed pods filled with tiny red seeds, that of which we all were curious about and liked to find them in places on the tree. We picked red berries from the bushes and placed them in pails to count later in the day to see who had found the most. Lucky was the person who also found a four leaf clover in the lawn.

On the side street the kids gathered to play 1-2-3- red light and tag. Someone always brought a laundry rope for several of us to jump in at the same time. We brought along out roller skates and of course carried the skate key around our neck to have handy for tightening our skates. If you were lucky enough to have a pinkie ball you could organize a punch ball game for all to enjoy.

The days of summer were wonderfully long and using your imagination you could make mud pies after a summer rain as well as make "soup" with leaves and twigs and stir it up in the rain barrel. It was fun to cool off in the lawn sprinkler or just simply pick up the garden hose and run the water over your head and body to feel cool in the summer heat. Lolling in the canvas hammock in the shade and reading a good Nancy Drew mystery book certainly made the day. Running down to the corner confectionery store for a chocolate or lemon ice was all that was needed to quench our taste buds.

It was fun to sharpen our Crayola crayons and color the afternoon away and sometimes cut out the Hollywood stars paper dolls, like Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day and Debbie Reynolds. Many times we just made our own from cardboard found in the house.

Nighttime was the time to catch those lightning bugs and place them in old pickle jars with lids filled with holes, only to let them escape right back into the night.

Once Fall came around and school was back in session, the days became shorter for outside play. Late afternoon was time for a bike adventure to a nearby field, where there was always a thick rope someone hung from a tree that you could hang onto and swing yourself across a brook. Sometimes a fun walk with a friend on the deserted railroad tracks would take you right through most of the town. If you stepped on a track nail you would get an alphabet letter and you would lose the game if you spelled donkey.

Each season brought new and exciting adventures with family and friends.All the activities helped to keep us healthy physically as well as in mind, heart and spirit. It certainly was a time of good old fashioned, carefree fun and innocence, and most of all childhood happiness.

The Organic Cotton Difference

by Guest Author, The Green Granny





After raising three children in the seventies and having purchased tons of cotton clothing throughout the years for them, as well as for two grandchildren, I never gave thought as to how the fabric was made. I always thought only of the universal comfort of it, and how it is a soft and breathable fabric . Recently, I have learned of a new grandbaby on the way, and I have done some investigating about cotton as I am learning more about organic foods and other organic items. I was shocked to learn about how conventional cotton is made.

I was surprised to find that conventional cotton poses a series of health problems, as well as environmental effects, as the cotton crops are sprayed with pesticides thirty to forty times a season when brought to harvest. Some of the pesticides used are cyanide, dicofol, propargite, and triflurin, all cancer-causing chemicals. Did you know it takes 1/3 pound of pesticides in the production of just one cotton tee shirt?

Only 3% of farmland is used but the pesticides are so poisonous that the fields are barren after growth. The farmland consumes 25% chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Soil, water, wildlife and human life are harmed when aerial insecticide is sprayed on the crops’ leaves.

After that shocking information, I seriously wanted to find out how organic cotton could benefit anyone who would want to buy a cotton item, such as a tee shirt, or baby clothing, or any other wearable item or items for a bed, such as crib sheets and blankets.

Organic cotton is grown in fields where no pesticides have been for three years and the soil has been rebuilt. No synthetically produced pesticides or fertilizers are used and beneficial insects keep pests and insects in check. Weeds are controlled by tillage and a simple hoe. The organic farm of course has more intensive management.

Organic clothing is free of harmful chemicals and pesticides and is kind to the environment. There is a difference in long term health, not only to the environment but to animals and humans, and the quality of life is improved.

Anyone who would like to find organic cotton items for a child can check some of the following online websites, but as always be sure to call the company to double check that they use organic cotton and non-toxic dyes. Some helpful organic cotton product websites include: Baby Brilliant Organics, Happy Hippie, Sckoon, Organic Baby Wearhouse, Sage Creek Organics, Eco Choices, Petit Tresor, Mamas Organic Baby and Baby Earth.

Remember the meaning of organics, it is of living things, it is developed naturally. Organic products enhance our ecological balance of natural systems for optimum health and for the productivity of interdependent communities of soil, plants, animals, life and people.

Natural Baby Basics

This has been and continues to be a massive search. This hunt for natural, organic, green baby gear is seemingly endless. There are some companies that offer natural and organic products for babies, yet many of these are expensive. Deciding to go organic in the following three areas will ensure you are not spending too much on purchasing organic products for all of your baby's needs.

When it comes to you newborn baby, keep in mind that she does not do much more than eat, sleep and poop. Therefore, there is no need to surround your baby or your home with a lot of "stuff." This is the first step to raising your baby more naturally. Keep it simple, minimize your purchases, and focus on quality time with your baby as the most naturally beneficial way to raise your baby.

For organic baby feeding, the most natural way to go is of course breastfeeding. Not only is this the healthiest food for your newborn, this is also free! For some mothers breastfeeding may not be an option, which means finding a healthy formula. In looking for a natural formula for your baby, keep an eye out for ingredients to avoid such as soy, fructose, maltodextrin, and other chemical names such as BHT. The healthier options will contain milk protein and organic brown rice syrup rather than soy and corn syrup. Be sure to avoid plastic bottles made with BPA as well.

To take care of the sleep needs for your baby, an organic mattress is best to ensure that she is not exposed to lead, chlorine or other harmful chemicals often found in the plastic covering and interior stuffing of a non-organic mattress. A GOTS certified mattress makes it easier to know that you are purchasing a healthy option for your child. In addition, organic cotton sheets made with non-toxic dyes will help to keep your baby breathing in clean air in the place she will spend most of her time. Since this is the one place that your baby will be exposed to the most, put your money saved from buying countless unnecessary toys toward a good organic crib mattress.

In looking for a natural organic wood crib and rocking chair, also helpful for sleeping and feeding needs, most are incredibly pricey. Thus, the best option is to at least find a crib that is made from wood without added sprays or chemicals.

The last category is one of the most important because your baby will be going through countless diapers. The first, and most economical option for going green in this area is to use cloth diapers. There are people who have run the numbers and feel that the use of water to wash all the diapers ends up in just as much cost to the environment as tossing diapers into landfills. Whether you choose to go cloth or traditional disposable diapers, the aim here is to be sure that the material does not have any chemicals or chlorine in it. Your baby's skin is snug up against her diapers all day long, so opting for diapers with no bleach or other toxic chemicals will result in a much healthier experience for your little one. Keep this in mind for your baby wipes as well to be sure to avoid chemicals in those.

Going green for your baby can mean focusing on purchasing only those organic and healthy products in the areas of eating, sleeping and pooping. Baby gear, such as a car seat, stroller, activity gym and swing/bouncer are the next items for research. Until that article, begin to stock up on the basics and remember that the most naturally healthy baby need is her parents' arms.

Going Green Back To School

We see children each and every Fall hunched over wearing backpacks larger than they are. We hear them worry that they won't have the clothes the popular kids are wearing. And, we wonder why teachers demand such a long list of school supplies. This school year can be different when we put our green caps on and brainstorm how to simplify and help the environment at the same time.

Those large backpacks are not necessary if children don't have so many school supplies to lug back and forth each day. One way to decrease supplies is to have one binder for notes for all of your child's subjects. Or, a larger notebook with three or five dividers can do the trick. Aurora Binders are totally recycled and recyclable and available at Sam's Club for $6.00. There is no need for your child to carry five binders or large notebooks back and forth each day. In addition to saving trees and your child's posture, you will save money by purchasing only one binder or notebook instead of five or more. If your have several children this can result in an even larger savings.

Envirosax, EcoGear, ebags.com, and other companies are investing more and becoming more successful in selling their all organic, non-toxic dyed bags and backpacks for kids. If your child takes good care of these bags she can use them for several years which will warrant the cost ranging from $25 to $60. If not, then, find a few neighbors whose children are about to graduate from school and ask if you might be able to buy their backpack for a fraction of the cost. Freecycle and Craigslist are great options for finding good items for less, of course exercising caution in how and who you buy from.

Clothing can be quite a difficult issue, especially as children get older and become more interested in their appearance and popularity. This is always a good opportunity not only to teach children about the environment and ideas such as reuse and recycle, but also about core self-esteem and self image. Consignment shops and neighborhood clothing swaps offer the best option for reusing and recycling good clothing for less. Be careful to look at the clothing to see if it is made of organic cotton and non-toxic dyes. New organic clothing can still be quite expensive, but more and more consignment shops are setting aside organic clothing sections to make finding these clothes easier. If you already belong to a local parenting group of like-minded tree-huggers such as the Holistic Moms Network, then swapping organic clothing will be much easier. Hopefully your children will enjoy the various clothing options offered to them and will be proud that they are helping the environment too.

Start this school year off with ease, simplicity, less pull on your pocketbook and more love for the environment. Just think, the money saved can be tucked away into a savings account for your children's college in the future, and Earth will still be beautiful by the time your children are ready to go to college!