The Green Parent Pick: Go get a real tree. Sure, it means cutting down a tree. But these days nearly all Christmas trees are grown on tree farms. So deforestation is not an issue and it is really no different than harvesting corn or any other crop. From a global warming perspective, sustainable tree farms actually provide a continued “sink” for carbon dioxide emissions. And real trees are not made from PVC plastics that are harmful to the planet. Just be selective about the tree farm you choose to buy from and look for one that does not use an excess of pesticides and other chemicals.

Green Parent Tip: Get the family together and head out to your local tree farm to cut your own Christmas tree. Surf over to to see if there is an organic tree farm in your area. When the holidays are over, toss your undecorated tree in the backyard to provide wildlife habitat or in the compost bin for next year’s mulch.

Live Trees: A live, potted Christmas trees may seem like a good option for Green Parents, however, you have to make sure that you live in an area where your tree will thrive once it is planted. In addition, live trees are truly not meant to endure the warm temperatures inside your home. So it’s best to either leave it outside or bring it in for only a few days during the season.

Green Parent Tip: If you really want a live tree, your best bet would be to find a suitable tree in your backyard, and decorate it (with eco-friendly decorations, of course) right where it stands.

Artificial trees: Artificial trees require the use of a significant amount of energy and petroleum-based (PVC) resources in their manufacture. In addition, most artificial trees today are manufactured in China, and are literally shipped halfway around the world to their destinations. And there are also some new concerns about residues of lead and other chemicals on artificial trees.

However, if you are going to buy one tree that you are sure you will use and reuse year after year for the next few decades, the environmental damage caused by producing and shipping your tree would be minimal when averaged out over the lifespan of the tree. And just think of all the gas and energy you will save from year to year by not having to head out to the local Christmas tree farm.

Green Parent Tip: Purchase an artifical tree that is made in the U.S.A to minimize the pollution and resource consumption caused by shipping. (Check out and for aritificial trees that are 100% lead free and made in the U.S.A.) Reuse the same tree from year to year.

1. Teach them how to cook!
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   Children who learn how to prepare their own food are slimmer, healthier and more in tune with their bodies than their non-cooking peers. You’ll have fun cooking together and you’ll set them off on a road filled with real food and not micro-waved junk. Your children will reap the benefits of eating healthy everyday of their long lives. Green benefit: No energy intense manufacturing of franken-foods, less carbon print in shipping, less material wasted in packaging highly processed fare, and less water polluted by printing colorful packaging material. Think about it – TV dinners could be something the next generation only knows from seeing them at the Smithsonian!

2. Teach them how to hold an intelligent conversation! Talk with them – nonstop. Teach them to listen, express their views, make their voices heard. We need more intelligent people speaking up for the environment. They will inherit this planet and they will have to convince the skeptics to turn this ship around. It will also benefit your children to be able to string a sentence together without using the word “like”. I would strongly suggest we don’t leave this job up to TV – after all they “like” made Paris Hilton into a star – enough said. Green benefit: An outspoken, articulate generation, that grew up green!
3. Teach your children to embrace exercise. There have been so many studies that point to this simple lifestyle choice as being a huge factor in our quality of life. It seems to me the more outdoorsy a person is the more they care about the planet. Exercise does not have to be expensive – take a walk, a hike, a swim and have fun! Teach your children that the outdoors is their playground. Green benefit: With the pride of ownership, comes a strong urge to protect!
4. Teach them to embrace other cultures. Children who have a chance to read multi-cultural stories, or have playtime with kids of different cultures, or travel, tend to have a more realistic view of the world. The more we can show them that there are many cultures, all with different views, traditions and problems, the more prepared they will be to embrace dialog when it is their turn to make decisions. Green benefit: If there ever was such a thing as a global concern, the protection of our planet has to be it!
5. Teach them how to interpret the news. Show them how to critically examine news sources, how to read statistics and how to spot manipulated news. Introduce them to independent news sources and make sure they understand how money figures into the business of selling news. Make fact checking and research a daily routine in your house – usually if you don’t look something up right when a question arises you just blew a huge learning opportunity. Teach them to be informed consumers in general but especially in regards to the media. Green benefit: Hopefully a generation of well-informed consumers, viewers, and readers will know to treat the Earth with the respect it deserves.By Moni, Vegetarian on the Cheap

The great news is that the essence of going green is to buy less stuff. That doesn’t mean that you have to give up stuff entirely and live like a monk. But it does mean that it can pay big (for your wallet and the planet) to be more discriminating about what you buy.

Take, for example, clothing. I have written several blog posts about the eco-benefits of organic clothing. Yet, I cannot afford to fill my closet with all of the latet eco-fashions. My compromise? I only buy a few new things each season, and what I do buy has to be organic and sweat-shop free. I usually set a budget and stretch my eco-dollars to the max by looking for great green bargains. I look for end of season deals, overstocked merchandise, and most of all, COUPONS! (Try Couponers.com for some great green deals!)

My favorite great green bargain? My organic cotton cords that I got from Patagonia for $15. What’s yours?

Blog post for Parent Bloggers Network.

Cards: Around the world, approximately one billion Valentine cards are sent out each year. Save a tree and reduce waste by sending your Valentine a mushy e-card or online slide show. If you do need a paper card, make sure it’s eco-friendly like these awesome recycled paper valentine cards from Endangered Species Chocolate.

Chocolates: Show your sweet side with chocolates that are as conscientious as they are delicious. IgnaFire chocolates are grown fairly, produced expertly, and packaged responsibly. But be warned: once you’ve sucken your teeth into these tasty morsels, you may never be able to eat store-bought chocolate again!

Flowers: Flowers are always a hit…as long as they’re organic. Score double points with a Charitable Bouquet from Organic Bouquet. Your valentine will get a stunning arrangement of organic flowers and the profit from your gift will be used to support your choice of environmental or social justice organization.

Bubbly: Skip the imported bubbly that has to be shipped across the world to get to your sweetie and opt for a sparkling wine from

your closest local vineyard.

Candles: Heat up the romance with a clean-burning Natural Beeswax Heart Pillar Candle from Kate’s Caring Gifts. It’s a chemical, toxin, and paraffin free way to show you care.

Gifts That Give Back: Pledge your love with a gift that shows how big your heart really is. The ASPCA and The Humane Society are two wonderful organizations that will use your gift to spread the love. For more ideas, check out It’s Good To Share.

In a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, measured the levels of nine different phthalate breakdown products in urine from diapers of 163 infants aged 2 to 28 months. Their report found that all of the urine samples contained at least one phthalate at measurable levels; 81% of the samples had measurable amounts of seven or more phthalates.

“We found that reported use of baby lotion, baby shampoo, and baby powder was associated with increased concentrations of monethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP), and monoisobutyl phthalate (MIBP) in infant urine,” said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, the study’s author.

John Bailey, chief scientist for the Personal Care Products Council, an industry trade group, said diethyl phthalate, or DEP, is used in the fragrances of some baby lotions and other baby products. But Bailey questioned the validity of the study because the researchers did not take into account the phthalates that are found in diapers and other baby products. His point is frighteningly accurate although intentionally misleading. Should I feel better about slathering toxic chemicals on my baby’s skin because those chemicals are also found in her diapers, in her toys, and even in her sippy cup? Um, no. So, thanks for the insight Mr. Bailey, but let’s stick with the facts…

O.K., then. We have a problem. And I for one do not think it’s acceptable to adopt a “let’s wait and see what happens” attitude when it comes to my health or that of my children. For those of you who like to believe that there is some government agency or corporate standards in place to make sure that dangerous substances are not found in the products we use every day, I have just 2 words for you. Tobacco. And. Asbestos. Nothing really happened to regulate these substances until the body count grew so large it was impossible to ignore.

Now lest I be labeled an alarmist and a reactionary….let me please state for the record. I am not against progress. I love technology…and I welcome it with open arms. But when it comes to things that are going to affect my children’s health and future…I want the proof in the pudding.

Why should environmental groups have to prove that these chemicals are dangerous to our kids? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t the companies that are putting phthaltes into their products be forced to provide proof that these chemicals will NOT affect my child’s health before they are allowed to use them in my baby’s shampoo, diapers, and sippy cups?

Here’s how to avoid bathing your baby in phthalates:

Don’t Buy That Crap: Don’t buy any product that contains phthalates. Two of the most toxic phthalates, DBP and DEHP, have been banned from cosmetics products sold in Europe but remain unregulated in the US. Unfortunately, the real problem is that it is almost impossible to tell if your baby lotion or shampoo contains phthalates because personal care companies are not required to list all of their ingredients on product labels. So at the very least, look for personal care products that are labeled “fragrance-free,” as it is likely that they won’t contain phthalates. Better yet, look for products that are certified “phthalate-free.”

Support the EWG: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a small non-profit group sponsored by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics that has taken on the monumental task of testing the safety of the chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Why? Because NO ONE ELSE IS DOING IT. If it weren’t for groups like this ranting and raving and screaming about phthalates for the last several years, nobody would think twice. They are non-profit, they are independent. And they are the closest thing we have to a watchdog out there when it comes to the safety of the products we use everyday.

Rant and Rave: I make every effort to avoid preaching when it comes to green living. But this one just seriously pisses me off to the point that I can’t help but rant and rave about it…and I think you should too. I mean come on…adding chemicals that have been linked to hormone disruption to baby shampoo? That’s just taking it too far. Enough is enough. If you agree, let’s rant and rave together!

Do you work hard to raise your family without trashing the planet (or do you know someone else who does)? Register now to win your town’s Green Parent Awards. Nominate a friend and you both can win!!

Check the calendar to see when The Green Parent will be headed to a town near you and then register (or nominate a friend) to win one of these great prizes:

The Green Parent Starter Kit: A ton of great green parenting stuff (a resuable water bottle, sandwich wraps, board games, recycled paper coloring book, as well as coupons for all of your favorite green parenting stuff) all bundled together in an über-green reusable tote. Retail Value: over $50

Recycline Family Personal Care

Packs (includes Preserve toothbrushes and razors made from 100% recycled plastic.)

Resuable Tote Bags from Chico Bags and Enviro-Tote

Planet Green Dishwashing Detergent


Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Family Pastimes Board Games

And you don’t have to be a master recycler or organic farmer to win. In fact, I’ll be giving out tons of prizes to folks just for showing up.

Bottom line….if you’re a parent and you aspire to be green…we want to hear from you. The prizes and tour calendar will be updated frequently. …so be sure to register now!

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

Renewable Energy: Proposes $50 billion 10-year fund to invest in renewable energy. Aims for 25% of U.S. energy to come from renewables by 2025

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports fleetwide standard of 40 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030

Coal:

Proposes a “phased-in” requirement to require new coal plants to trap and store carbon emissions. Supports “clean-coal” technologies that produce fewer emissions than conventional.

Nuclear Energy: “Agnostic” regarding nuclear power
Barack Obama

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

Renewable Energy: Proposes $150 billion over 10-years in investments in renewable energy. Calls for 25% of U.S. energy to come from renewables by 2025 and 30% of the federal government’s electricity to come from renewables by 2020.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports standard for cars of 40 mpg and light trucks of 32 mpg by 2020.

Coal: Would consider a moratorium on new coal plants unless they trap and store carbon emissions as long as this moratorium does not slow the construction of new plants. Supports “clean-coal” technologies that produce fewer emissions than conventional.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power

John McCain

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Coauthor of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which would reduce emissions 65% by 2050. Supports a cap-and-trade system.

Renewable Energy: Supports renewables but does not have an articulated plan for investments or standards. Voted against a 10% standard in 2005 and a 20% standard in 2002.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports raising standards but has not stated a target.

Coal: Supports U.S. use of coal.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power

Mitt Romney

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Does not support a cap-and-trade system unless it is enacted globally.

Renewable Energy: Supports renewables but does not have an articulated plan for investments or standards.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Opposes raising standards and calls for “other steps” to make cars more efficient

Coal: Supports U.S. use of coal.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power.

Knowledge is Power

Need more info? Check out these sites for comprehensive info about each candidate’s environmental voting records.

League of Conservation Voters
Grist: How Green Is Your Candidate?

Need to Register?

It’s not too late! Click the link below to register and then get out and vote!

In the typical American household, 35 to 45% of all of the drinkable (or potable) water is used to flush the toilet. Older model toilets are the worst offenders, using 7-10 gallons of water with each flush. Newer models are slightly more conservative, using between 3-5 gallons. Flushing gallons of water down the toilet is not only a waste of the water itself, but also of the energy and resources used to filter that water and transport it to and from your house. It also costs you money twice: once on your water bill and again on your sewer bill.

So save yourself some money and help keep the environment from going down the toilet with these easy green parenting tips:

• Use The Can:Don’t use your toilet as a trash can. Toss tissues, dead bugs, and cigarette butts (make sure they’re out…better yet, don’t smoke!) in the garbage to avoid unnecessary flushes.
• Gotta Leak? Not sure if the toilet at your house is leaking? Drop a little food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, there is a leak.
• Dam It! You only need about 2 gallons of water to successfully flush your toilet. If your toilet uses more than that, make a toilet dam by filling a plastic water bottle with pebbles or water and place it in your toilet tank. This will reduce the overall volume of the tank and cut down on the amount of water flushed down the drain.
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  If you have an active toilet (and if you have kids it’s likely that you do), this can save you roughly 300 gallons of water each month.

Mornings in my house revolve around a frenzy of food. Between preparing breakfast for my girls (they are on a cinnamon toast kick) to packing their lunches (PB&J, carrots, and applesauce), and taking a stab at defrosting what we will have for dinner, it seems almost surreal to me that outside my home, throughout my town, my country, and certainly throughout the world, there are mothers who will not be able to feed their children today.

It is heartbreaking and it is humbling.

Lest you think that hunger is a social issue and not an environmental issue, remember, many environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, and genetically engineering livestock and crops are the direct result of our desire to feed people in need.

And it’s pointless to beg people to recycle or install a CFL lightbulb when their only thoughts are on feeding their children.

So parent to parent…let’s go green this year by making sure that other parents have the food they need for themselves and their children. Here’s how:

• Go Local: Contact your local food bank, soup kitchen, or church to find out what you can do to help. Donate non-perishable items, distribute flyers, organize pantry shelves, or volunteer to serve.

• Get Clicking: It’s easy to become jaded and think that the money you donate will simply get lost in an administrative slush pile. But there are charities out there that are really making a difference by getting food and funds into the hands of the people who need them. Here are a few worth checking out:

Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels organizations provide hot meals (either at local community centers or by delivery) to elderly, homebound, and disabled folks in need throughout the country. Check out their website to donate or find a program near you.

Target Hunger: Target Hunger aims to alleviate hunger in inner-city neighborhoods. They distribute about 3 million pounds of food each month to families in need in addition to offering courses in nutrition, self-esteem, English-As-A-Second Language, adult literacy, math and job search workshops.

Heifer International: Give a man a fish and he’ll have food for today. Teach him to fish and he’ll have food for life. That’s the idea behind the programs at Heifer, International. This organization provides farm animals to the world’s hungry so that they can have something to eat today, as well as hope for the future. Heifer’s recipients also become future donors, as they pledge to donate their animal’s offspring to another family in need.

• Get Your Kids Involved: After all, we teach our children from an early age that it’s important to share. What better way to walk the walk than to show them how sharing benefits kids in their community and in their world.

Photo of child eating corn courtesy of Radharadhya d
Photo of child and goat courtesy of Heifer International