As a mom, the most important thing in your life is keeping your babies healthy and happy. I believe that nutrition plays a huge part in that. Helping your baby to explore new flavors and textures makes them more adaptable in their toddling years and easier to please in a bind.

I made all of my baby food for both daughters and loved doing it. It occurred to me that there may be moms out there nervous about giving it a shot and I wanted to be there to be a resource for those interested in making this choice.

If you have read my blog before you know that I try to take the anxiety out of stepping outside the commercially accepted box. It took me almost 18 months, but I took the plunge on cloth diapers and discovered how absolutely un-intimidating they are. And now I am here to say that making your baby food is not only nutritious, but really fun.

All you need is a pot, water, a stove, a blender/masher/food mill, your choice of appropriate organic fruits and veggies, ice cube trays and you are ready to go. While locally grown, organic, fresh fruits and veggies are always great, there are some things that just aren’t in season when you baby is ready for them. In that case, check out the frozen section. You can find all the organic veggies and fruits you want frozen. The freezing process retains more of the nutritional value of the food than the canning, plus there are no added preservatives, sugar or salt (always read the ingredients to make sure).

I generally boil all the food before mashing it up, but it isn’t always necessary. For instance, you will want to boil sweet potatoes, carrots, beets and butternut squash for a while just to get it soft enough to mash/blend. However, peas, green beans, apples and pears can be steamed or lightly boiled and be perfectly fine to blend. Then there are the bananas and avocados which you can just mash with a fork. Other great baby food ideas are mangos, blueberries, peaches, black beans, lentils and noodles. I usually reference http://wholesomebabyfood.com to make sure I am using age appropriate foods.

As your pediatrician will tell you, it is important to introduce new foods slowly to ensure that you can trace back what you fed them if there is an adverse reaction to something. I do my shopping and prepping on Sundays. I pick 3-4 items and cook them, blend/mash them and freeze them on Sunday and have all the food I need for the week. I usually pick two fruits and two veggies, then you can mix and match as you see fit. For example, my daughter, Lucy, loved peas and pears and Polly loved apple and butternut squash.

To freeze your baby food, simply get some ice cube trays. Most ice cubes from the trays are about 1oz. so it is easy to control portions without wasting any food. Start with 1-2 cubes then add 1 at a time as your baby’s appetite grows. Pour your blended food into the trays, freeze them and then pop them into freezer safe storage containers. Before you go to bed, simply pull out the cubes you are going to use the next day, put them into your baby’s bowls and stick them in the fridge. That way your cubes are thawed when you are ready for breakfast the next morning.

Another great thing about making your own food is that you have complete control over texture. If you think your baby is getting bored with pureed sweet potatoes, try mashing them with a fork next time for a chunkier texture. You can even pull out some to cut into small finger foods.

Also, experiment with flavor. I use cinnamon, all spice, black pepper, garlic powder, cumin, curry and anything else that I think sounds good. By doing this you are developing your baby’s taste buds early. I think it has made all the difference for my kids.

I thoroughly enjoyed making my baby food. I saved a lot of money, composted all of my scraps and didn’t have excess jars filling up my recycle bin. Plus I was supporting my local farmers by shopping at the farmer’s market. And most importantly, it was fun for me and healthy for my babies!

Is there a truly “green” diaper? I am not sure there is an answer to that question. As with a lot of things, depending on the way you look at “green” determines whether or not there is a true and meaningful answer. Let’s put the options out on the table:

• Disposable Diapers
• Biodegradable, Chlorine Free Disposable Diapers
• Cloth Diapers
• Diapers with Disposable or Cloth Inserts

Those are the choices I am familiar with - please educate me if there are others out there. Of these choices, I have tried them all and want to provide my input for anyone who might be in search of a diapering solution. Let’s start with my least favorite option:

1. Disposable Diapers. When I talk about disposable diapers, I am referring to the diapers we are all accostomed to seeing. Most disposables are made of plastic. Then they’re bleached with chlorine, which releases dioxin, a toxic byproduct and known carcinogen. Meanwhile, makers of disposable diapers use an estimated 250,000 trees a year to produce cellulose, the ingredient that draws liquid to the center of the diaper. Finally, once it’s used, each disposable diaper takes up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill. Yet 95 percent of parents use them. At an average of 5,000 to 8,000 diapers per child, the cost to future generations adds up. I am not trying to judge anyone… I am a small business owner trying to make ends meet and know that these diapers are cheap and easy to use. I am just encouraging you to think about what is really on your babie’s bottom 24/7 for 3 years of their life; to consider the quantity your ONE baby contributes to the landfill; to think about the business practices your purchases are supporting.

2. Biodegradable, Compostable, Chlorine Free Disposable Diapers. These diapers come in a few varieties. There are chlorine-free diapers which are better for baby and the environment and free of cancer causing toxins. The makers of these new biodegradable disposable diapers are on the right track, but how much of an environmental impact can they actually make? Disposable diapers, no matter how organic they may be, still end up in landfills. Landfills don’t separate biodegradable waste from the rest, so they end up mixed up with everything else, filling the garbage dumps and not decomposing properly. Landfills are not compost facilities; to properly break down the diapers they need to be taken somewhere that would compost them effectively. So, you have the ease of the disposable, you are saving your baby exposure to harsh chemicals, reducing environmental exposure to harmful chemical byproducts, and possibly reducing the lifetime of the diaper in the landfill. A definite step in the right direction.

3. Cloth Diapers. My relationship with cloth diapers is an interesting one. I am a HUGE fan of the cloth diaper because I think they are better for baby’s skin, don’t end up in the landfill, allow air circulation and look pretty darn cute. If I could, I would use cloth diapers exclusively. However, I have found that I just don’t have the time to do the laundry as frequently as I need to. The green questions there are: How much water do you use to wash the diapers? How much energy do you use to heat the water? How much energy do you use to dry the diapers? As a working mom with kids at the store, I just found it difficult to get diapers to and from work, to remember which nurseries allowed me to send cloth diapers to school, to get them into the washer to soak, then to remember to run the wash cycle, then to remember to dry them. For a more organized mom, this is not a big deal, but I typically am running around like a wild woman. I have to repeat that I love cloth diapers and think the reduction in landfill waste and chemical byproducts is a great thing, and, in complete honesty, it isn’t messy or gross to deal with. It is so easy to use the diapers and clean the diapers if you just have the desire to do it.

4. Diapers with Disposable or Cloth Inserts. This option provides parents with a flexible diapering solution. You can have the flexibility of a disposable diaper with a 100% biodegradable refill, or opt for reusability with super soft cloth liner. These diapers are plastic-free, elemental chlorine free, latex free, and perfume free.  All materials are breathable, just like sports clothing, so babies are far less likely to get diaper rash.  Home compost, toss, or flush the biodegradable liners for the smallest footprint on earth- they break down in 50-150 days. That’s my sales pitch… now the mom opinion. I love this idea, but there are still a few kinks. One is that changing out the liner isn’t a seamless process when you have  a wiggling baby on the changing table. Even if you have the liner pre-stuffed, you still have to unsnap the old one and snap in the new one. Also, one nursery my kids go to still won’t accept these as disposable diapers so I am having to switch back and forth all of the time.

There, have I confused you even more about what “green” options are available for you? I hope I have given you some options to consider. I think diapering is a huge part of family happiness, because let’s face it, you spend a tremendous amount of time dealing with diapers, and ultimately, you need to find the solution that works for your family and your views about environmental consciousness. For me, I can’t get away from disposables entirely because of my childcare needs. I opt for the biodegradable, chlorine free disposables in order to reduce my impact in that way. Then at home, I try to use the cloth diapers or interchangable diapering solutions. If you could switch to a greener option just 1 or 2 diapers a day, think of the overwhelming impact you could have on the landfills. All I say is try it, you might just be surprised what works for you and our environment.

Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary
April 22nd marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. This day was first celebrated in 1970 as a result of efforts made by Senator Gaylord Nelson to bring political awareness to environmental issues. Over 20 million protesters and demonstrators turned out for the first Earth Day proving that our country’s citizens were concerned with what was happening to our land, rivers, lakes and air and were ready to take action. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed as a direct result and led to the passage of Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.

The Greener Good celebrates and supports environmental awareness throughout the year and is especially excited to join in the national celebration on this very special day. In honor of Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary, we are offering 40% off the following items.

Earth Day Deals - 40% OFF

Reusable stainless steel       Always forgetting your         Keep your baby happy
27 oz TGG Klean Kanteen.    shopping bag? Never           and the Earth healthy!
Take refreshment on the      again with this pocket          These diapers are chlorine
road without the waste.      size bag. Holds 25 pounds!   free & biodegradable.
Regular Price: $21.75        Regular Price: $11.00        Regular Price: $12.75
Sale Price: $13.05              Sale Price: $6.60               Sale Price: $7.65

Protect yourself from the      Get composting in style.         Keep lunchrooms litter
summer sun with USDA        Beautiful kitchen compost       free with reusable lunch
certified organic sun care.    crock reduces your trash        kits. Choose from 3 fun
Great for kids, too.               with beauty and ease.            styles!
Regular Price: $10.50       Regular Price: $32.00           Regular Price: $45.00
Sale Price: $6.30               Sale Price: $19.20                Sale Price: $27.00

Super soft, cloth diapers       BioBag biodegradable          Jim’s Organic Coffee:
keep your baby dry and        waste bags keep long          Holiday Blend is a clean
keep tons of waste out         lasting plastic out of             tasting, medium blend from
of the landfill.                        landfills.                                Tanzania and Brazil.
Regular Price: $17.75        Regular Price: $6.00           Regular Price: $10.50
Sale Price: $10.65              Sale Price: $3.60                Sale Price: $6.30

We hope you take advantage of these great savings. All sale prices are good through Sunday, April 25th. All sale prices are good while supplies last.
Happy Earth Day 2010!

It’s Udderly Up To You

When I got to work this morning, it was dark and rainy and the perfect day to sit with a cup of coffee and watch the rain. Of course, I was at work and therefore hoped that it wouldn’t be slow enough for me to just sit around and watch the rain, but more importantly… I didn’t have any coffee. Then in walked Darcy with coffee for two. It was a very welcomed suprise. Now, I am a huge wuss and very new to the coffee drinking world, so I have to have ample milk and sugar (let’s be honest… at least 2 sugars). I began to fix my coffee when I realized that I would have to use the creamer in the little packet. Not my fave. Then I remembered that I had purchased some organic milk a while back that was still in the fridge. Certain that it couldn’t possibly still be good, I ran to the back to check the expiration date. To my suprise, it is still good for another week. Wow! I got to thinking, why does Organic milk stay good for so long? So Darcy and I looked into it and here is what we found out.

The Pros and Cons of Organic Milk

The USDA has 4 criteria that organic milk must meet:

1. No harmful pesticides or fertilizers are allowed on the feed the cows eat.
2. No Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) are allowed to increase milk production. There is no genetic mutation or irradiation permitted.
3. No antibiotics are allowed. If a cow does need to be treated it will not be returned to the herd for a year to make sure the antibiotics are out of its system.
4. The cows must have access to pasture which guarentees grazing time.

Of course, anyone who is watching as the price of all milk goes up, you have certainly noticed the price differences between regular milk and organic milk. This is becuase it just costs more to raise organic cows. Everything from the bedding to the grazing areas has to be organic. Organic dairy farms make sure that they are taking care of their cows and the land they use. They use organic herbacides that are non-toxic, which benefits not only the cows, but all of us, too. Workers aren’t subjected to the chemicals of commercial fertilizers and pesticides, our water systems aren’t affected by chemical runoff and the milk that is produced is chemical free.

BGH is a growth hormone that is given to cows to increase milk supply. This hormone causes an insulin like growth factor to be present in the milk. This growth factor survives pasteurization and thereby passed on to humans and absorbed directly into our bloodstream. There are a lot of health claims regarding this hormone and the debates can get pretty heated, but this has been linked to breast and colon cancer. BGH has been banned in Europe, Canada and Japan. BGH also lowers the cows’ immune system requiring increased antibiotic treatment which is passed along to humans as well.

When humans ingest antibiotics through their milk, they become more susceptible to antibiotic resistant diseases. Studies are being done right now to see if antibiotics in milk are linked to the increasing number of MRSA (antibiotic resistant staff infection) cases in the USA.

The fabulous benefit of the prolonged expiration date is due the ultra-pasteurization of organic milk. Most milk is flash pasteurized, meaning that it is exposed to high heat (140-160 degrees) for a short period then rapidly cooled. Organic milk is exposed to ultra high heat treatment (UHT), meaning that it is heated to 275 degrees for a couple of seconds. This kills ALL the bacteria in the milk and prolongs its shelf life. Also, UHT has a shorter processing time which reduces the spoiling of nutrients found in milk. UHT milk also doesn’t need to be regrigerated and so, by adopting this process across the board, greenhouse gases could be greatly reduced by removing the refrigeration component from the process.

These are the facts as I have interpretted them. I drink organic milk and try to lead a pretty organic life from produce to skin care to clothing and therefore have opinions favoring organic. In the end, the choice is udderly yours… do your research and make the best decision for you and your family.

Oh my goodness… I will never buy play dough again! Last night, as I was watching The Biggest Loser and juicing some veggies, I decided to try my hand at making play dough. My daughter has really gotten into playing with play dough and I had purchased some Happy Fun Dough from my store that we had been playing with, but I think it has reached its peak. Rather than spend more money on dough, I decided I would see how easy it was to make myself - and let me tell you - it is easier than opening a tin of prepared dough!

All you need is flour, water, salt, oil and cream of tarter:

3 cups flour
1.5 cups salt
6 tsp cream of tarter
3 tbsp oil
3 cups water

Just dissolve the salt in the water, add the rest of the ingredients, and 20 seconds later you have the most awesome play dough. It is smooth and pliable and smells natural. I used the juice from Collard Greens, Beets, Carrots and Blackberries as food coloring and it was amazing. The colors were very strong and are completely natural.

If you are going to do different colors, I recommend dividing the recipe into thirds and coloring it that way. I just added some juice to the water while I was dissolving the salt and voila… beautiful dough!

For those of you with gluten allergies, simply use rice flour. Also, I used Olive Oil to ensure that it was entirely all natural. You can use Canola Oil, but that is more industrial than natural.

Bonuses of making your own:

• Cheaper - you probably already have what it takes to make it
• Fun - your kids can help color, mix, knead and mold
• Natural - 100% natural and biodegradable
• Long-lasting - if it starts to dry out, simply add a drop or two of olive oil and it will come back to life
• Great texture & smell

***even though it is all natural, it is not meant to be eaten.

Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day!

In honor of St. Patty’s Day, we pay homage to the Green Beer… but not in the way you think. While it is fun to drink a beer colored green every once in a while, we want to introduce you to a way to enjoy green beer year round. This year, go organic… drink green!

Beer, my beverage of choice more often than not, has been on the global menu for over 5,000 years. Since chemical agricultural practices and fertilizers have only been a part of our farming practices for a short period, beer has, historically, been organic. So let’s get back to our roots… our non-GMO, chemical-free, clean tasting roots!

In 1980, the German brewery Pinkus-Mueller reintroduced organic beer to the world. Organic farming and brewing made its way to the USA after the USDA set up the National Organic Program to regulate farming practices and chemical usage in agriculture. In 1997 Wolaver’s Organic Ales were the first USDA Certified Organic beers to take center stage in the USA. Now Organic breweries are sprouting up all over the country and even include big names like Anheuser-Busch. Organic brewing now enjoys about 10% of the total USA beer production and is ever-growing. Organic brewing produces exceptional clarity and flavorful taste due to the lower protein content and clear mash.

The use of the word “organic” has been severely abused and is still mis-used by many marketers who are trying to take advantage of the health conscious, earth conscious consumer. The presence of the certifications like USDA Certified Organic and ECOCERT are your guarantee that what you are consuming is truly organic.

What are these certifications?

USDA Certified Organic: The National Organic Program (NOP) sets a strict set of rules that must be followed for any agricultural product to be labeled “certified organic.” Farmers & production facilities must apply to the program by providing detailed  accounts of the nature of their operation, production/handling processes and the products they produce. Crops must be grown in fields that have been chemical-free for at least three years. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are prohibited. Additives and other post production processes are strictly monitored. Farms and production facilities are inspected annually by third party inspectors. Certified Organic label guarantees at least 95% Organic Ingredients; Made with Organic Ingredients label guarantees at least 70% Organic Ingredients.

ECOCERT: A control and certification organization whose activities are governed accordingly by the public authorities and legislation in Europe. It builds standards that enhance the value of NGO-implemented projects and sets up partnerships with caring organizations on the basis of social and environmental goals. Its belief system is based on the fact that organic farming respects water resources, soils and biodiversity, sustains yields over the long term, offers products rich in micronutrients and does not release toxic molecules, saves energy and produces fewer greenhouse-effect gases.

Great Resources for further reading:

http://www.grist.org/article/Brewers-Dozen/

• Detailed information on the “Brewer’s Dozen” - top Organic Beer recommendations from Tom Philpott

http://koenemann.hoppress.com/2010/01/09/back-to-the-future-of-organic-beer/

• an excellent source for benefits of Organic Beer and Organic Farming

Do-it-Yourself Organic Brewing details

http://www.breworganic.com/recipes/recipes_menu.htm - Find ingredients and recipes to make your own delicious Organic Beers!

Green Beer Recommendations
Based on the Brewer’s Dozen 2010 Tasting at Carrboro Beverage Co. in Carrboro, NC

1st Place
Cru D’Or Belgian Style Ale
North Coast Brewing Co.
Fort Bragg, California
Certified organic by Oregon Tilth

2nd Place
Wildfire Extra Pale Ale
Uinta Brewing Co.
Salt Lake City, Utah
USDA Certified, 100% Wind-Powered

Tied for 3rd
Joseph Spelt Ale
Brewery Silenrieux
Silenrieux, Belgium
ECOCERT

Tied for 3rd
Eel River Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout
Eel River Brewing
Scotia, California
USA’s first Certified Organic Brewery

For a thirst inducing list of Organic Beers, check outBeer Advocate.

The Greener Guide #3:
Just Say No to Junk Mail
Does junk mail cause you stress? It does for me. I have piles and piles of mail that I don’t want or need. However, I don’t feel comfortable throwing pre-approved credit cards, mortgage insurance offers or even cable marketing info into the recycle bin without first attacking them with a pair of scissors… and thus, the piles.

More than 62 billion pieces of junk mail are delivered to US mailboxes every year. That’s 41 pounds per person, 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water annually! Over 44% of that junk mail is thrown away unopened. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t shed many tears if I stopped receiving marketing mail for services I am already subscribed to, credit cards I don’t want and catalogs that the owners from 20 years ago subscribed to. While it may seem like a hopeless situation, there are things we can do to reduce the amount of junk that is delivered to our homes and therefore reduce that water, trees and gas needed to produce this mountain of trash.

1. Stop credit card offers: www.optoutprescreen.com - The consumer credit report industry lets you opt out of receiving pre-approved and prescreened credit card offers.

2. Stop junk mail and telemarketing: www.donotcall.gov (National Do Not Call Registry)

3. Don’t let you name be sold. When you shop online or over the phone specifically state that your information is not to be lent, sold or traded. If there isn’t a check box or clear place to enter this info online, use the comment box found in most checkout carts.

4. Let Precycle take care of it for you:www.precycle.tonic.com. Precycle is an organization that will help you reduce the amount of junk delivered to your home and plant a tree on your behalf. For less than a dime a day they will get you out of the mailings you want to get out of, but still keep the catalogs you want coming. They will plant five trees on your behalf when you sign up and one tree for each of the first five catalogs you opt out of. You will also receive a Chico reusable bag and two CFL light bulbs.