by Terra Wellington

I changed my family’s habits to aid marine life.  You can too.

On the eve of World Oceans Day, June 8, the devastating Gulf oil spill takes front stage on every news site, program, and Twitter page.  But, even in the midst of this tragedy, you can find a silver lining.  And that is that ocean conservation is getting much-needed media and public attention. And maybe you might even think about what you can do.

What are the oceans issues and how can you help?

Overfishing is probably the most urgent issue.  The United Nations Environmental Programme just released another confirming report that if we don’t stop fishing out every last wild fish out of the sea, then fish may go the way of the buffalo – all the world’s fisheries collapsing in 40 years.  Why?  Because behind the scenes 35 million fishermen across the planet are literally drudging and combing the oceans to find every last fish available, fast freeze it, and ship it to a retailer near you.

You also have climate change’s warming of the water, mercury pollution from coal plants, floating plastic dumps, and farms’ chemical runoffs that create dead zones where there is no oxygen in the water.

But, all is not lost!  There is much we can do!  And it just takes a little adjustment in choices and habits to make a big difference for the oceans and its wildlife.

Here’s what my family and I do –

* Buy Best Choice –

we use SeafoodWatch.com and try to stay on the Best Choice list whenever we purchase seafood.  Although I used to use their print-out pocket guide, I now have a link to their easy-search database on my Blackberry, and also I know their iPhone app is very popular.

* Eat less fish – we’ve cut down our meat eating, including fish, and have moved to a semi-vegetarian diet that emphasizes plant proteins and more fruits and veggies.  It has been healthier for us and helps to release some of the pressures on our animal protein production.

* Eat sustainable food – we joined an organic-veggie CSA and also spend more money at the local farmers market.  This is in our search for organic and sustainably grown food that comes from farms that reduce their chemical run off.  The point is to not have chemicals and top soil runoff into our waterways and oceans.

* Clean your energy

– my utility has an alternative energy option, which we have opted into to support cleaner electricity – away from coal and oil.

* Reduce your utility bill – we’ve taken advantage of the many appliance rebates available to change out our appliances for less energy-hungry ones.  In one month alone, I reduced my electrical bill by $30 by swapping out my washer for an ultra-efficient one.  This immediately reduced the coal-burning part of my bill.

* Buy greener transportation – a few years ago, we bought a flex-fuel (ethanol option) car.  I wish, now, we would have bought a hybrid.  But, the next time we buy a new car, we’ll be buying the greenest we can afford — electric, hybrid, or high gas mileage – to use the least amount of oil.

* Stop the landscape chemicals – we’ve moved to a greener lawn without all the chemicals.  We use compost, mulch, and slow-release or organic fertilizers — all in moderation.  And we stay away from pesticides and herbicides.  All of this nearly eliminates our chemical runoff into waterways.  We have also changed out swaths of our landscape for more native plants, which need less water and fertilizing overall.

* Contact your government – I regularly go onto Congress.org and write my state and federal representatives about my ocean-related concerns.  I have requested they restrict fish imports and regulate domestic fishing to meet Seafood Watch guidelines, transition to alternative energy, amend the Farm Bill so that industrial farms are not given incentives to continue unsustainably, and regulate oil drilling more closely.

* Give your grocery store feedback – the best tool I have used is the online, corporate feedback form to tell my grocery store what seafood I do and don’t want.  I seem to get the most immediate results when I try to impact that way.

* Talk to your chef – Seafood Watch has given me leave-behind chef cards that I have placed alongside my bill at the restaurant to tell the chef what was good or bad about the seafood on the menu.  It has been an easy way for me to get out the message.

Terra Wellington is the author of The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home

.  This past year she introduced her family to U.S. farmed catfish, on Seafood Watch’s Best Choice list.

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“Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book.” Roman philosopher and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 B.C.

Not long after the second of my three children was born, I sat at the kitchen table late one evening talking to my dad about parental responsibility. It’s a big topic and we were covering lots of philosophical ground, but what I remember most is my pronouncement that my primary job could be boiled down quite simply and starkly: I had to keep safe these beings released into my charge. I needed to keep them alive.

These were the musings of a new parent, of course. The circumstances, too, should be considered; the first child had been born in Jerusalem during the intefadeh, and the second was born as I was reporting from Moscow during the collapse of Communism. In both situations, I repeatedly came face-to-face with life’s fragility.

But even in calmer times, even after the birth of my third child, I never lost the feeling that my main duty was to pass them on into adulthood as unscathed as possible, as healthy in every way as they could be.

It sounds pretty simple, on the face of it. We perform many jobs as parents: nurturers, playmates, cheerleaders, short-order cooks, nurses, disciplinarians, detectives, spiritual leaders. Keeping them safe should not be the hardest, not with the help of baby monitors, plastic devices to cover electrical outlets, pads for sharp corners, child-proof medicine bottles, the list goes on.

And in fact, we passed through well, with just the usual rounds of stitches, one violent dog attack, a rabies scare and a few months when my youngest fell so often and got so many bumps on his forehead that my husband and I joked someone was surely going to call child services on us.

Now, though, my youngest is 14, and as they’ve grown, I recognize my job has been transformed. It is to give them trust and space so they can develop confidence in their ability to make their own lives. And yet the two oldest, at ages 19 and 20, are in a period of time that seems almost like a parentheses in their lives. They are certainly not children, but nor are they quite adults. Meanwhile, I say and think all the usual things parents have been saying and thinking since—well, perhaps ever since Cicero, whose words I keep taped to my office wall: it’s rougher out there than it was in my time. More chaotic. More violent. More dangerous.

And everyone is writing a book.

is the author of four highly acclaimed novels, including the newly released 31 Hours, a gut–wrenching tale about a mother, her son, and a world of danger.

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]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/09/28/parenting-the-nearly-grown/feed/ 5 http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/24/green-moms-spill-their-eco-secrets/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/24/green-moms-spill-their-eco-secrets/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=2820

Rarely a day goes by that I don’t recieve some version of the following email or comment on my blog:

“I really love all of the information you provide about going green…but I just feel so GUILTY because I just can’t seem to do it all.”

To which I always wholeheartedly reply:

“OMG!  You think I actually do ALL of these things???”

I can assure you dear readers, I do not even come close to eco-perfect, nor do I want to.  I choose the things that work best for me and my family and I pass on the things that would make us crazy.  I write about a lot of different things because I find them interesting, and also because I know that even though it may not work for me, it may be great for someone else.

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To keep things real, I write the occasional post laying out my eco-confessions or even telling everyone point blank, how I trashed the planet on Earth Day.  For this month’s Green Moms Carnival, I thought it would be fun to hear the eco-confessions of the other greenies in the group.  And boy did we get some good ones.  Here goes:

Foodies: I suppose it’s not surprising that a LOT of the eco-confessions of green moms have to do with food. Organic Needle confesses her love of fine wine and cheese.

Perhaps being a vegan, tee-totaling, locovore would, in fact, be much greener…but so would being dead. (Organic Needle)

And Katy from Non-Toxic Kids reveals her love of coffee, bananas, and sodas.  Oh, and speaking of soda…it seems this eco-nightmare-of-a-beverage has more than one green mom in it’s grasp, including myself, Sommer from Green and Clean Mom,  and Tiffany from Mommy Goes Green.  Another killer for a number of us is fast food, as commented by many, and confessed by Ruchira of Arduous Blog.  Even Beth from Fake Plastic Fish admitted to fast food cravings, although she does a much better job of resisting than the rest of us!

And here’s where the rest of us tend to get tripped up:

• Plastic and Plastic Bags: Lisa from Retro Housewife and Micaela from Mindful Momma
• Vacations: Lynn from Organic Mania
• Fleece and Painted Toes:

  Lisa from Condo Blues

• Newspapers and Magazines

  : Deanna from Crunchy Chicken and Diane from Big Green Purse

• Laundry: Deborah from Pure Mothers
• Moving : Karen from Mother Earth (although, as I said to Karen, just as calories don’t count when you’re on vacation, green doesn’t count when you’re moving!)
• Sick kids: Michelle from Green Phone Booth (this one doesn’t really count either.  Green hits the fan at my house when the kids are sick!!)
• Gas guzzling: Leslie from Recycle Your Day

So what’s your eco-confession?  Go on, spill it…you’re in good company!  Oh, and if you liked what all of these cool green moms had to say, why not join us for next month’s Green Mom’s Carnival as we all chat about “Food Matters?”  Hmm, after today’s confessions, that should be pretty interesting!

Photo by bigdodaddy

]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/24/green-moms-spill-their-eco-secrets/feed/ 22 http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/16/go-green-and-do-more-with-less/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/16/go-green-and-do-more-with-less/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:35 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=2808 Going green is all the rage these days and there is now an eco-savvy alternative for just about any purchase you need to make. Sure, most green products claim to reduce pollution and waste and conserve resources.   But let’s face it: Most of us can’t afford to buy the organic and recycled-content versions of everything we need.

So how do you decide which products will really make a difference?  It turns out that you don’t need to buy green to go green after all.  In fact, the essence of going green is to simply use a little less…and that actually saves you money.  But that doesn’t mean you have to do without either.  Here are 5 great ways to go green, and do more, by using just a little less.

Energy: You don’t need solar panels to go green.  Simply adjust your thermostat by a few degrees “greener” and you could save big bucks and make a substantial difference when it comes to protecting the planet.   Aim for 78 degrees during the summer months and 68 degrees in the winter.

Water:

Do more with less water by multi-tasking.  Use the same water more than once while grooming, cleaning, washing dishes, and playing.  (eg, let your kids play in the sprinkler while you water the lawn.)

Beauty:

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The average adult uses approximately 9 personal care products each day, for a total of 126 unique chemical ingredients. That’s a lot of chemicals that wind up in your body and down the drain.  The good news is that you don’t have to give up washing your hair or smelling good in order to go green.  Do more with less by revaluating your beauty regimen.  For each product you eliminat

e, you’ll save money and reduce the chemicals in your body and in the environment

.

Fashion:

Want to go green?  Don’t worry about replacing your entire wardrobe with organic blends.  In fact, the greenest stuff  is the stuff that’s already in your closet.  Get the most green from your wardrobe and your wallet byfixing or re-tailoring the clothes you already own. Learn how to sew a button or stitch a hem (or make friends with someone who can) to increase the lifespan of your family’s clothing. Too boring? Give new life to old clothes by re-tailoring worn out duds. For a fraction of the cost of new, you can turn worn out pants into shorts or a pre-pregnancy dress into a shirt or skirt.

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Driving: Want to get great fuel economy?  Don’t drive!

Take public transportation, walk, or bike whenever possible. When you do need the car, pair up with a friend or a colleague and share rides to work, school, and even the grocery store.   Even if you only do it once in a while, you will save money, decrease the wear and tear on your car, and reduce pollution.

This post is my entry for the

TROP50™ Be a Guest on The Juice contest running over at Blogher.

Photo by karenr

]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/16/go-green-and-do-more-with-less/feed/ 22 http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/10/how-to-get-your-kids-recycling/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/10/how-to-get-your-kids-recycling/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:58:46 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=2775

MNN’s Keri Greenwald shares her tips on teaching kids to recycle and actually getting them excited about it too!

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]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/10/how-to-get-your-kids-recycling/feed/ 22 http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/01/going-green-in-northern-california/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/06/01/going-green-in-northern-california/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:30:54 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=2752

Deborah Hladecek, California's Green Parent

by Deborah Hladecek, California’s Green Parent

Northern California has an abundance of farms and a variety of local, organic produce just waiting to be selected and tucked into your reusable bag or basket on any day of the week in any given city.  We are fortunate to live here. This is one of the primary reasons we moved to Marin County. The Bay Area has a strong green movement and I found a fast fit here in my new home.  We strive to make the best green choices in our daily lives, sometimes learning, that what is good for us, isn’t always good for the environment.  I am on a mission to reconcile the two. When I am not trying new recipes, gardening or chasing after my very active toddler, I am blogging about natural parenting, environmentalism and living with less plastic at

Forums:

Food/Co-ops:

Locations throughout Northern California

1745 Folsom Street

San Francisco, CA

(415) 863-0620

AK Meats (Organic butcher shop)

2346 Clement Street

San Francisco, CA

(415) 933-6328

3930 Judah Street

San Francisco, CA 94122

(415) 661-7475

local, organic produce, organic milk & cheese, vegan deli, all organic wine selection

2020 Oregon Street

Berkeley, CA 94703

(510) 843-6929

great selection of bulk bin foods

1336 Gilman Street

Berkeley, CA 94706

(510) 526-2456

100% organic produce

Nature’s Best Foods

1431 Jackson Street

Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 451-4505

organic and fair trade grocery, bulk bin items

1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Fairfax, CA 94930

(415) 454-0123

95% organic produce, organic deli & organic juice bar

1900 Alhambra Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 455-2667

all organic produce and commitment to buying locally

2351 Mission Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 426-1306

5 locations throughout Santa Cruz County

organic bulk bin items, organic deli

135 Argall Way

Nevada City, CA 95959

(530) 265-9392

100% organic meat and deli in their county

2040 Dunlap Drive

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

(530) 541-7788

University of California

Santa Cruz, CA

student run cooperative health food store

For more selections go to the directory 

Farmer’s Markets:

Directory of CA farmer’s markets

Another link for farmer’s markets in SF & Greater Bay Area

CSA’s:

522 Haight Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

I love this decentralized urban farm!  They grow gardens in backyards throughout the Bay Area. If you have a backyard they will install and maintain a vegetable garden. You get a basket on your own doorstep and the rest is available for CSA members who don’t have space for gardens.

3739 Balboa Street PMB 157

San Francisco, CA 94121

(831) 245-8125

5835 Sievers Road

Dixon, CA 95620

(866) 627-2465

A 65 acre organic farm in Sacramento Valley. They grow for CSA and SF Ferry Plaza farmer’s market.

6140 Alhambra Valley Road

Martinez, CA 94553

(925) 366-8463

755 Tomales Road

Petaluma, CA 94952

(707) 766-7171

serving Marin county and southern Sonoma county

For more CSA, farmer’s market, farm, co-op and restaurant listings check out .

Restaurants:

Green My Cuisine

475 Sansome St. Ste. 100S

San Francisco, CA 94111

M-F 10:30am – 3:00pm

Majita taqueria

1 Ferry Building. Ste. 44

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 399-0814

environmentally friendly building materials and some organic ingredients when possible

1653 Market Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 552-2522

organic food. They have a wonderful bread salad.

Building 983, Presidio

San Francisco, CA 94129

(415) 561-3042

hours of operation: Daily 9am – 5pm 

1715 Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94709

(510) 548-5525

locally grown, organic ingredients

1922 Oak Park Blvd.

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

(925) 944-0402

biodynamic, organic, sustainable and local food sources

15466 Los Gatos Blvd.

Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408) 358-0175

serving ingredients from local, organic farms and fish from Hawaiian islands

Heartland Market and Kitchen

152 Pierre Rd. Suite D

Walnut, CA 91789

(909) 468-5155

Buddhist-run, non-profit, vegetarian/vegan Chinese restaurant. organic, seasonal produce from locally grown farmers.

*closed on Mondays

(creating environmentally sustainable restaurant industry) -

Festivals, Expos & Events:

Halvorsen Park

Eureka, CA

Sunday, August 30^th, 2009 10:30am – 7:30pm

Monterey Conference Center

Monterey, CA

May 31^st – June 4^th, 2009

November 13, 14 & 15th, 2009  

Laytonville, CA

September 25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 2009

3 day camp out celebration for world peace and unity, set amidst a beautiful old growth of oak trees. Features 5 stages of entertainment in addition to focus of spiritual consciousness and environmentalism and awareness.

1301 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94709

June 13^th & 14^th, 2009 10:00am – 6:00pm

free event supports local artisans

Big Sur, CA

July 3^rd – 5^th, 2009

Celebration of Art, Culture & Spirit

San Francisco

4^th Tuesday of each month for green business leader networking

 
World’s Largest DIY Festival
May 30th & 31st 2009
San Mateo, CA

San Mateo County Expo Center

Parks & Recreation:

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Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch
(Lafranchi Pumpkin Patch)


5300 Nicasio Valley Rd.

Nicasio, CA


(415) 662-9100


Open September 27
Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.



A real pick-it-off-the-vine pumpkin patch in Marin County, Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch at Nicasio Valley Farms offers organic pumpkins, hay rides, farm animals, jumpy houses, a farm stand, and BBQ on the weekends.

Ryan O’Shannan Farms Certified Organic Pumpkin Patch and Farm Days
& Clover Organic Dairy

5360 Bodega Ave


Petaluma, CA

(707) 762-4895


Open September 26 through October 31
Thursday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm



Pick your own certified organic pumpkin in their 15-acre pumpkin field. See how Clover organic milk is produced, make your own butter, and enjoy a hayride. Located 5 miles west of Petaluma. This is one of our favorite pumpkin patches!

Peterson’s Farm
www.petersonsfarm.com

636 Gossage Ave (off Petaluma Blvd N)


Petaluma, CA

(707) 765-4582
 


Daily in October, 10 am–6 pm



Voted Best Local Farm in 2006 by Petaluma Magazine. Pumpkins, tomatoes, honey, farm animals, picnic area, school and group tours by appointment. All farm products are pesticide and herbicide free.

Andersen’s Organic Fruit Stand and Pumpkin Patch


4588 Bodega Ave


Petaluma, CA


(707) 529-1279
Daily, noon–6 pm



Pumpkins, gourds, corn maze, hayrides, and other activities for children. They have a large variety of organic vegetables.



Grossi Farms


6652 Petaluma Hill Rd


Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (across the street from Sonoma State University)


(707) 664-1602
Daily, 9 am–4:30 pm


Pumpkins, apples, apple juice and sauce. Certified organic fruits and vegetables.
 

Accommodations:

Guide to  

Big Sur, CA

Retreat, workshops, massage & bodywork

“Esalen is a place with a global reach. It is a place, as Thomas Wolfe said about America, where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.” 

Big Sur Lodge

47225 Highway One

Big Sur, CA 93920

(800) 424-4787

Riverside Campgrounds & Cabins

47020 Highway One

Big Sur, CA 93920

(831) 667-2932

For the past 7 years, I have been reading and writing – living and breathing – everything I could about green parenting.  And I’ve loved every minute of it.  Going green is more than just a slogan for me.  It’s the way I do things.  It’s the way I wash my hair, feed my kids, make dinner, and and find fun stuff to do as a family.  I’m not saying I’m eco-perfect…actually, I’m far from it.  But I try, I really do, every day to lighten my family’s impact on the environment.    And lately, I have to admit, I’ve been in a slump.  I think  my eco-batteries need a charge.  

You may have noticed that I didn’t post much last week.  It wasn’t that I couldn’t think of anything to write about.  I’ve got TONS of stuff I want to research and post about.  But I just couldn’t get past the overdose of eco-unfriendlieness that has been hitting me in the face as of late.  You know what I’m talking about…single serving food products labeled as “eco-friendly” because they come in a slightly smaller throw away package.  The neighbor who spends more time dousing their lawn with chemicals than it would to pull the weeds.  The parents who allow their cars to idle in the school pickup line for 30 minutes now that the price of gas has come down (the very same parents who were so eco-conscious a few months ago when the price of gas was higher.)  

Normally, I just take all of these things with a grain of salt and go about making my day as green as possible.  I think I had somehow convinced myself that these things happened…but they were rare.  Lately, I’m not so sure.  

As a greenie, I tend to surround myself with eco-news and info.  The websites on my Google Reader are all green sites, my Twitter followers and Facebook friends, are all (for the most part) fellow-greenies.  And I dare say that 90% of the comments I get on this blog are from folks that are trying to go green.  It’s easy to believe that we are the majority.  That most of the people on this planet are at least making an effort to minimize their impact.  But is that really the case?  Or am I just living in an eco-bubble?  What do you think?

Is modern society going green or is it just greenwashed?

Photo by fotdmike

In case you missed it, last Wednesday was Earth Day…a day to learn about, protect, and celebrate the planet. And to be very honest, I really blew it.  For better or for worse, my schedule is bordeline frantic for the entire month of April with interviews, speaking engagements, and planning preparations surrounding Earth Day. Ironically, for someone who earns all of that fame as a “green parent,” I often fall short of both marks as I struggle to keep up with everything in April. And this year, my worst infractions actually occured on Earth Day itself.  Here’s the roundup:

 
Strike 1

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12:00AM:  My daughter’s kindergarten teacher had asked me to come in on Earth Day and talk to her class about going green.  I was all set with my presentation but I needed some supplies at the store.  It was midnight and offically Earth Day proper.  I blearly headed to the store with my supply list, but in my stupor I forgot my reusable bags.  My heart sunk as I realized that all of my “going green” supplies would be packaged in plastic bags.

Strike 2

8:00am I had fully intended to ditch the car and travel by foot for all of Earth Day.  The weather was pretty enough and my errands and chores were close enough that it shouldn’t have even been a problem to walk from place to place…BUT…my 3 year old had different plans for the day.  She awoke in the morning absolutely heartbroken that she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to her daddy before he left for work.  And being 3, that broken heart quickly turned in to a nightmare of a temper tantrum.  I felt sorry for her, and it seemed silly to stick to a “no driving” edict when my little one just wanted to see her daddy.  So we piled in the car and drove the 10 or so miles to my husband’s office so that she could give her dad a kiss.

Strike 3

10:00am: Well, the good news is that when my daughter and I got to the National Park where my husband works, we all decided to go on an impromptu walk to enjoy the beautiful day.  We got fresh air and exercise while appreciating the beauty of nature.  Like I said, that’s the good news.  The bad news is that as I was not expecting to go on this walk, I was now rushed to get to the school for my Earth Day presentation.   Also, my 3 year old hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.  Forced to choose between a hunger-induced tantrum and missing the kindergarten presentation, I opted to do something I try to avoid doing…drive thru.  

So there you have it, before the clock even struck noon on Earth Day, I had forgotten my reusable bags, wasted gas with a frivilous trip in the car, and generated a heap of trash on dubious drive-thru fare.  All in all, not an Earth Day to really be proud of.  So hey, it’s a good thing for me that I really try

to make my best effort at going green every day…not just one day a year.  That way, when I flub up (even if I flub up on Earth Day) I can just pick up where I left off the next day.  And I’m happy to report that the day after Earth Day was pretty darn green indeed!

Photo by ginosphoto

Samantha Harnack, Illinois' Green Parent

As a live long Illinoisan I know that Illinois is as diverse as the Midwest itself. Chicago offers some of the best farmers markets and green businesses around but for those of us who live down state it’s not so easy being green. I’m trying to combat that by giving resources that will help even the most southern counties go a darker shade of green. If I’m missing something that you know of please let me know.

Forums

Green Home and Garden Links, Alphabetized by City

• Davis Caves Construction, Inc. - Builders & developers of earth-sheltered homes since 1977…worldwide (Armington)

• Prairierth Farm - Certified organic grains, forages, vegetables, and meats in central Illinois (Atlanta)

• Rare Earth Diversified Services Inc. - Organic Compost (Barrington)

• Barco Products - Barco Products – Commercial Site Furnishings (Batavia)

• Karen platt books - suppliers of non-gmo seed in book form (Batavia)

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• SoySafe Products, Inc. - All Natural Non-Toxic Cleaning Products (Batavia)

• G.A.I.M. Engineering, Inc.

   - Durable products, 100% industrial scrap, made in usa (Bensenville, Il.)

• GreenStarfish Inc - 100% Biodegradable dinnerware (Bloomington)

• By the Book Co. - Sustainable Living Sytem (Cabery)

•  – East Central Illinois largest upscale consignment shop. (Champaign and Bloomington, IL)

• Global Energy Designs of Illinois - Renewable Energy – PV, Wind, Hot Water, Hot Air (Cherry Valley)

• A Cooler Planet - An eco lifestyle store from morning to night. Organic mattresses, linens, baby, kids. (Chicago)

• Archimage Architects, Ltd. - Archimage Architects, Ltd. (Chicago)

• Attachment Parenting products from Natural Family Boutique - Attachment Parenting products from Natural Family Boutique (Chicago)

• Bean Products, Inc. - Organic Furniture, Yoga, Meditation, Home, Sustainable Manufacturer. (Chicago)

• Bower Natural Bedding - Organic mattress and bedding store (Chicago)

• Ecopia Painting, Llc - Eco-friendly painting and decorating (Chicago)

• FiltraPro - FiltraPro.com – #1 Home Water Purification Sales & Service: Countertop, Undercountertop water filter (Chicago)

• Global Organic Designs Lifestyle Services (GOD-DESS) - Live Better, Live More, Be More! Earth-Friendly Lifestyle Management (Chicago)

• Green Home Chicago - The Midwest’s preeminent destination for uncommonly beautiful, eco-friendly interior design products (Chicago)

• Green Market Fundraising

   - Green Market Fundraising helps students fundraise with eco-friendly products. (Chicago)

• Greener People - An online community focused on helping people live greener lives through making better choices. (Chicago)

• Greenmaker Supply Company - Eco-friendly building supplies. (Chicago)

• GreenWerks- Chicago’s Green Contractor - GreenWerks- Chicago’s Green Contractor (Chicago)

• Heavenfresh.com - Air and Water Purification systems (Chicago)

• InterfaceFLOR - Modular floor covering; recycled products. (Chicago)

• Jvon Services - Green Water Softner (Chicago)

• Organic-Composter.com - Compost Tumbler (CHICAGO)

• Printable Promotions - Printable Promotions – Eco-Friendly Promotional Products (Chicago)

• ReusableBags.com

   - High-quality, innovative reusable shopping bags and related accessories (Chicago)

• Rightsize Facility Performance - We are a nationwide provider of pre-owned, refurbished, new and used office furniture. (Chicago)

• Shades of Color Eco Painting for Chicago - Eco Painting and General Construction for Chicagoland Area (Chicago)

• The Greener Cleaner, Inc. - Wet cleaning for clothes. (Chicago)

• The Pollution Solution - Air and water purifiers, environmental consultation (Chicago)

• Wolbrink Architects Chartered - Green Design Build & Sustainable Architecture (Chicago)

• www.World-Shoppe.com - Fair trade gifts and home accents (Chicago)

• envirox LLC - Environmentally friendly non-toxic cleaner employs the power of hydrogen peroxide (Danville)

• My Green Genes - My Green Genes (Dowenrs Grove)

• Globallypure - Raw Milk for pick up – Chicago Western Suburbs (Downers Grove)

• Sun Ovens International - Global sun oven the ultimate solar appliance! bake, boil or steam food naturally with the sun (Elburn)

• Bill Kreitzer - Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoon (eggs) (Elliott)

• E. L. Foust Co., Inc. - Mfr of safe air purifiers and many safe products for home, office, & schools. (Elmhurst)

• Blissful Home, Inc. - Non-Toxic home-caring products formulated with pure essential oils for efficacy and aromatherapy (Evanston)

• Healthy Green Goods - Organic bedding and clothing; bamboo furniture; eco-friendly cleaners. (Evanston)

• Vitality Plus - Vitality Plus (Heyworth)

• Cleaning Green Maids - We Do Details! (Hinsdale)

• Deal Hippie - Green Living Products, Eco-Friendly Shops, Spa & Beauty, Organic Clothes, Natural Skincare, Yoga (Hoffman Estates)

• GreenSpirational Interiors - Eco-friendly, beautiful and responsible interiors (Joliet)

• Midwest Enterprises - Organic Fertilizer for all your growing needs (Lake in the Hills)

• Nature Maid HouseKeeping Service TM - Because We Care! (Lake Villa)

• Cleencups, LLC - The World’s First Anti-Bacterial Disposable Drinking Cups (Matteson)

• Good-Natured Landscapes LLC - Earth friendly landscape design specializing in native plants. (Naperville)

• Eco Achievers - Eco Achievers – enriching education for the sustainable living community (Oak Park)

• Pure Artisan - Artisan Gifts – Stylish and Eco-Friendly (Orland Park)

• Markay Homes Inc. - Building homes using environmentally-friendly materials. (Park Ridge)

• Montalbano Farms - Montalbano Farms grows premium, certified organic produce in the Chicago area (Plano)

• Greentone - Green Design….For your sustainable lifestyle. (Rockford)

• Green Products, LLC - 100% BioBased Cleaners and Degreasers (Romeoville)

• Good Steward Incorporated - Naturally Better (Saint Charles)

• MySolarStop.com - Your #1 source fo solar energy products.Solar landscape lights,solar fountains,solar charger,kites (Saint Charles)

• BioLawn - how green do you want to bee? natural lawn, tree, and landscape solutions (Sandwich)

• Tribal Life, Inc. - environmentally-friendly, vegan, fair-labor, high quality products (Savoy)

• Solarcone, Inc. - Environmentally Friendly Household Food Waste Disposal (Seward)

• New Leaf Interiors - Environmentally Conscious Commercial and Interior Design (Skokie)

• Plus Natural Solutions Worldwide, Inc. - Insect Elimination Naturally (Skokie)

• Solay Wellness Inc./ Natural -Salt- Lamps.com - Solay Health and Wellness Products (Skokie)

•  – Whole foods, rganic produce, vitamins, supplements and natural body care products as well as an in-house bakery, coffee bar, cafe and catering services.

• Conscious Balance - Solar and Eco-Friendly Products for every-day living (Wheaton)

• Summer Hill Seeds

   - Summer Hill Seeds – Rare Flower Seeds For Your Garden (Whittington)

• Earth Friendly Products - NOP Certified Organic Essential Oils; cleaning supplies; personal care. (Winnetka)

• W&M Land Corp Organic Nursery and Market Garden - Certified organic seedlings, fresh picked vegetables, fruits and herbs (Woodstock)

Farmers’ Markets

Illinois Farmers Markets can be found at: 

and for anyone in the country, find your local farmers and artisans markets. Go to

 and search with your zip code or by product.

Green Events

May 16-17, 2009
Saturday – 10am – 7pm
Sunday – 11am – 6pm

Navy Pier

600 E Grand Avenue, Chicago

sign up for daily “bites” of general green info or opt for the Chicago “Chibite” for those in Chicagoland.