I'm sad to say that I developed an unkeen, ungreen habit in 2011. Sometime after my son's first birthday, he went from eating almost everything served to him to being the type of kid who would prefer to exist off yogurt, mac and cheese, and crackers. Sigh.
Frustrated, I'd wander the supermarket aisles trying to think of what I could possibly feed my picky son. Then at my local Trader Joe's, I noticed these:
Pouches of applesauce - some plain, some with carrots, some with bananas. To my surprise, my son loved them. These pouches (and also the GoGo Squeez which I could buy in bulk at Costco - and a few other brands like Peter Rabbit Organics) quickly became my son's favorite snack while out and about. Healthy, mess-free, portable...I could stuff a bunch in my purse for a quick snack on the go. Genius, right?... read more
In an ideal world, everyone would use cloth diapers and these cloth diapers would be self-washing! There are many reasons why an eco-friendly parent might opt not to use cloth diapers - poor laundry facilities, a daycare that doesn't accept cloth diapers, a low threshold for cleaning poop, whatever. There can be many different reasons why.
That said, even for parents who aren't willing to make the commitment to cloth diaper, there are many ways to make your diaper usage a little greener.
Compromise
Buy a few cloth diapers. For a low-maintence type, go for a one-size or all-in-one diaper, like a Rumparooz or Easy Fit. Commit to using one cloth diaper a day instead of a disposable. It's totally doable and it will keep 365 diapers out of the landfill a year. ... read more
Does that picture look like a familiar scene to anybody else? Trick or treating was awesome, but now we've got all these little pieces of candy...and little wrappers, too. So wasteful! It's time to think of some ways to upcycle those wrappers.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been seeing the term upcycling all over the place lately, despite not being quite sure why the new trendy word.In fact, it wasn’t until just recently when I finally searched the definition that it started to make sense, and I kinda got really excited about it!(And since we’re talking upcycling pumpkins here, I thought you might like to know what it is too…)Upcycling, at its basic core: is to reuse something in a way that cretes something of higher value or quality than what it started as.Oooh!Snazzy!Instead of getting rid of something in a better way (recyling), here’s to a creating a whole new and improved item!Love it.So, since it’s October and we here in the U.S. are about to burn through approximately 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin, I thought it only appropriate to offer you some UPcycling ideas.(Otherwise that’s a whole lotta pumpkin sitting in landfills…)... read more
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Can't go wrong with pumpkins, candy, costumes, and ghost stories...especially if you go the eco-friendly way.
Costumes: Get creative! Instead of going to the party store and spending $35 on a costume that will probably rip by the end of the day isn't worth your while. Scour a thrift shop. Some of the best costumes I've ever seen were the result of a little trip to a local Goodwill. You can find all sorts of interesting stuff from there that can be made into a cool costume. If you're crafty with a needle and thread, make something from scratch. Hand-me-down costumes are another green way to go. For kids, finding a costume that would also be good year-round as some dress up clothes is a fun idea.
Decorations: What's the greenest way to decorate your house for Halloween? Why, jack-o-lanterns of course! Scoop out the pumpkin pulp, cook the seeds, make some pie, carve a spooky face, then once the pumpkin begins to decay, toss it in your compost bin. Can't get much more eco-friendly than that. As far as store bought decorations go, go for stuff that costs a few more dollars but that is durable so you can store it and take it out year after year. ... read more
When I was a kid, my mom would always get me those cheap, flimsy Halloween costumes. You know the kind -- the plastic smock, a plastic mask with a rubber band. They'd usually fall apart halfway through trick-or-treating and when the grown-ups would ask, "What are you dressed up as?" I'd have to explain that I was dressed as Barbie...until my mask broke. I don't even think they make those kinds of costumes anymore, and thank goodness for that, because what a WASTE. All that difficult to recycle plastic, inhaling PVC with that mask on, and only to be thrown out after just a few hours of use. ... read more
Today we have a guest blog post by Lindsay Rubin of Arcanatura natural pet products about the importance of going green with your pets! Thanks for an excellent guest blog post, Lindsay!
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If you already live an active, green lifestyle, going green for your pet may be easier than you think. Most traditional pet products have endless lists of chemicals that are hard to pronounce and harder on your pet’s body. These chemicals build up in our environment, polluting its sensitive waters while also causing greater problems for your pet like itching, paw licking, or overall sensitive skin. ... read more
Calling all Keen For Green fans in Greater Boston! On September 16 from 4-7 PM, Keen For Green will be taking part in A Green Carpet Event at Whole Foods Market in Newton, MA. (the 916 Walnut St location)
There will be 10 awesome local vendors sampling delicious food, Keys For Hope will be there to recycle your keys, Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, will be signing books, there will be a rain barrel making workshop...and more! ... read more
Say good-bye to brown-bagged lunches, Ziplocs, and other single-use lunchtime products and get on board with the Lunchopolis! The Lunchopolis contains an insulated lunch box, a beverage container, and 4 snack/sandwich containers.
3) Comment on New Wave Enviro's FB page telling them what your favorite product is on their website. Go to New Wave Enviro's website to see their products.
4) Email [email protected] to let us know that you've become a fan of both and commented on New Wave's FB page. ... read more
How important is green in your life? Keen For Green is conducting a poll to learn about people's green habits and what is important to you. Click here to take our brief survey!
In an ideal world, everyone would use cloth diapers and these cloth diapers would be self-washing! There are many reasons why an eco-friendly parent might opt not to use cloth diapers - poor laundry facilities, a daycare that doesn't accept cloth diapers, a low threshold for cleaning poop, whatever. There can be many different reasons why.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Can't go wrong with pumpkins, candy, costumes, and ghost stories...especially if you go the eco-friendly way.
How important is green in your life? Keen For Green is conducting a poll to learn about people's green habits and what is important to you.