Mom Goes Green

Organic vs. “natural” milk: adding to the confusion

2009-07-13T14:24:57Z

As if there wasn’t enough debate (and yes, confusion) about the benefit of organic vs. non-organic milk, now “natural” milk is being introduced on grocery store shelves.

I’ve never waivered in my preference for organic milk. It is higher quality; contains more nutrients; does NOT contain high residues of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or hormones; and it comes from cows that have an overall better quality of life and receive organic feed.

Now enter: natural milk. What this essentially means is that the milk cannot contain artificial ingredients and additives like sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup, but it CANNOT make any of the claims of organic milk or the absence of all the harmful residues.

The pricing for natural milk will be somewhere between organic and non-organic. And with organic milk being high priced in comparison, some shoppers may be misled into believing that they’re buying a product that is less expensive than organic but getting all the benefits of organic milk. This simply isn’t true. The difference is simply in the processing after it comes from the cow, not in the quality of the milk itself.

There is already so much confusion about organic milk and its beneficial qualities, and now natural milk will serve only to create more confusion. But be advised that natural milk is not better than organic milk (despite how it sounds), and giving a product the term “natural” is not regulated like the use of the term “organic”.

Just like non-organic milk, natural milk is like a box of chocolates… “you never know what you’re gonna get!”

Eco-unfriendly Styrofoam coolers give me the “chills!”

2009-07-10T14:40:48Z

Summer is in full swing and sadly, to me, it feels like it’s half over. I always consider summer a brief 10 week experience (now that we have kids in school), but that’s my own issue.

Anyhow, while I’ve been out and about with my family enjoying the “first half”, one thing keeps catching my eye… Styrofoam coolers. I almost can’t believe that these things still exist. I understand that they are a matter of convenience, but with some forethought, it’s easy to be prepared and no one should ever need a ‘single use’ cooler. It pains me to see them sitting next to garbage cans and knowing that they’ve become trash. And I imagine that after purchasing a few Styrofoam versions, you could probably own a decent cooler of your very own.

My mom actually taught me the amazing insulated ability of newspaper. Layers of newspaper, wrapped around whatever you need to keep cold in transit, does an incredible job of holding the cold. This trick even works to keep items hot. I used newspaper to keep our kids’ baby food warm when we went out to dinner, so they could have their food right along with us. And the best part is that afterward, it can be recycled instead of thrown in the trash.

I just really want Styrofoam coolers to disappear! The problem is this… even if they disappear from store shelves, they still won’t disappear – they’ll live on in a landfill for about 500 years!

Raccoons & snakes & birds, oh my! A natural attraction?

2009-07-09T14:12:32Z

Over the past weeks, we’ve had a raccoon hid her babies in our yard, snakes take up residence in a bush outside our front door and two birds nest under a different bush. A raccoon even stopped by in our open garage while I was quietly doing something one evening. (That event caused me to let out a “startled scream” that sent mama running!)

All this in a suburban neighborhood, close enough to urban life that we can see downtown Cleveland from our backyard.

I truly wondered “what gives!” until my husband pointed out that we have the most natural place in the neighborhood… no chemicals, no fertilizers or pesticides, no unfriendly environments… and I think he’s right.

When my neighbor saw the snakes, she suggested we pay for an exterminator or snake wrangler to get them out of here. (Seriously? I should pay someone to evict these poor little harmless creatures?! But she is the same person {although she is a nice lady} that chopped down all of her backyard trees last year.) Then there is the other neighbor (also a “tree chopper“) that called out his OWN tree service to look at removing a tree in OUR yard because he didn’t like the leaves it was dropping in his driveway! He offered to pay half, which we politely declined.

Maybe animals really do have a sense of “someplace safe”… yea, MomGoesGreen’s yard, of course! And our kids are loving the animal park in their own yard (but yes, I do understand the dangers of raccoons, so they have been educated on safety.)

If you believe in karma, I think you’ll agree that my husband is right. There IS a natural attraction because we do let off all whole lot of “good nature karma!”

Reusable produce bags… that don’t produce trash.

2009-07-06T07:16:47Z

Every time I visit the grocery store or the local farmer’s market to pick-up some fabulously fresh organic produce, there are little environmentally un-friendly “by-products” that come home with my fruits and veggies… those flimsy plastic bags we’re often forced to use for our produce purchases.

I’ve tried to reuse them, but they’re cheap and end up tearing. I also hesitate because it’s too difficult to get them clean enough to feel safe to reuse them. So, while I’m buying healthy foods for my family, I’m left with a handful of plastic bags that wind up in the trash.

Enter: EarthSAKS! I recently talked about their compact reusable bag that our daughter confiscated, but now I’ve discovered their produce bags too, and what a relief they are! They’re made of sturdy, see-through, washable mesh with a simple drawstring closure at the top and they even store in an included canvas pouch for toting them back to the store, to use again and again.

I’ve also picked up a few little mesh laundry bags (typically for your delicates… so why not some delicate produce, right?) when I’ve found them on sale, and if you’re feeling really crafty: a rectangle of mesh fabric, some stitches and string, and voila… reusable produce bag!

Whatever you choose, join me in making sure your produce makes its way to your home without bringing unwanted (plastic) guests!

Green your drive-thru and carry-out orders.

2009-07-03T07:02:18Z

Even the greatest of moms have to occasionally rely on a drive-thru or carry-out to fill the dinner menu! While the nutritional content of the food already has us feeling guilty, a green mom often cringes at the waste and excess that accompanies the food.

Who hasn’t received an order that crushes all of our environmental rules?!

Here are a few simple ways to put at least some of the guilt at bay:

First, park the car! Truly… idling creates more emissions than actually driving your car! And contrary to belief, stopping and restarting your car does not burn more fuel.
Skip the plastic utensils and napkins. If your order is going home with you, tell them you don’t need these items (that may only get thrown away).
Take only what you need/want. Avoid that 16-year old’s full grip on 12 packets of ketchup! Tell them exactly what and how many of the condiments you need instead of accepting those you don’t.
Say no to beverage holders. If you can manage it, use your car’s cup holders for beverages instead of taking a holder… but if you do take it, recycle it!
Use your own cup. If your order will include coffee, hand over your travel mug and ask them to use it.
Take your own bag in with you. Forgo that enormous, rustley, non-recyclable plastic bag that holds your carry-out order and tell them you’ll put your order in your own bag instead.

While these ideas might help satisfy your green side, I can’t guarantee that you won’t feel slow, sluggish or that overall sense of “ick” after your order gets consumed!

Tiny tees for your little Revolutionary.

2009-07-01T04:40:56Z

Much to the occasional dismay of our kids, I am a mom who refuses to buy clothing that is a walking billboard for TV and movie characters. Call me a downer, but if my kids are going to carry a message, I don’t want them to be a free advertisement (that I paid for!).

They do however have some clothing that carries a message that I’m proud to have them sport. My daughter has a tee that says “Love Trees, Please” and another shouting “Go Green!” We are quite a pair when I’m donning my own “Go Green” tee.

Now I’ve discovered a great little clothing company and our son is getting in on the action. From Tiny Revolutionary, his tee proclaims “I’ll Change the World Someday!” (and I have no doubt that he will!)

Tiny Revolutionary is a great place for “little one’s” tees, when you want them to carry a message that has meaning. Whether it’s changing the world, recycling, driving a hybrid, or sharing some love, Tiny Revolutionary has it covered! They’re made of organic cotton, recycled polyester & rayon (mined from the cell walls of plants!) and non-toxic, water-based dyes; plus a portion of the proceeds from sales go to some fabulously worthwhile charities. Not only do these adorable tees feel good, they also make YOU feel good!

For a generous 20% discount, enter coupon code: GREENMOM (with the exception of their “Giving Tees”) or check out their facebook page for all kinds of coupons and contests.

The next time your tiny revolutionary wants to sport a princess or a superhero, consider letting them shout a message that will change the world instead!

Air conditioning vs. fresh air: 10 ways to “keep our cool”.

2009-06-29T15:04:29Z

At the start of every summer, as the temperature rises, my husband and I seem to have the same discussion… when to turn on the air conditioning!

This is never an easy discussion (okay! read: argument!) as this is the man who wears shorts and t-shirts around the house when it is 19 degrees outside in the dead of winter.

I prefer the open windows and doors, and want to breathe the fresh air. To this my husband responds “Babe, it ceases to be fresh as soon as it’s 86 degrees with 70% humidity!” Well, it’s still fresh but I guess it does cease to be RE-freshing!

Just like heating your house in the winter and whether you do or don’t choose to crank the AC, there are ways to keep your house cooler, stop some of the cool air loss and use less energy in the process:

Close blinds or curtains in various windows throughout the day to prevent the sun shining in. If it’s coming in, so is the heat.
Use ceiling fans. They circulate the cool air and don’t use a lot of energy.
Program your thermostat. No need to keep it blasting in the evening or when you aren’t even home.
When it’s cool outside at night, shut off the air, open the windows and take advantage.
74 degrees is all you need. This is a bearable temperature, and if you can tolerate it higher, do it! Each degree saves 3-4% on your cooling expenses.
Don’t worry about unused rooms. Close the windows, doors and vents in these rooms, and block the bottom of the door if they aren’t frequently occupied.
Run appliances at night. This includes dryers & dish washers that give off heat. Avoid using your oven… give it a rest and grill instead! And if you do use the stovetop, be sure to use the exhaust fan to take away the heat.
Turn off unneeded lights, TVs, computers, etc. when you aren’t using them. They all generate heat too.
Keep heat generating appliances away from the thermostat (TVs, lamps, etc.). They’ll make the thermostat think it’s hotter than it really is.
Don’t chop down trees that shade your house. They simply keep a house cooler. And even plant strategically. Shaded AC units run more efficiently, but just be sure not to block the airflow.

I do try to take my own advice. It’s not always easy (living with my husband who compensates by turning up the ceiling fans to “jet speed”) but it’s a compromise we always seem to manage when it all “boils down”!

Eco-toilet paper: Messing with my husband’s throne!

2009-06-26T06:37:25Z

Well, NOW I’ve done it! I made a change that made my husband call a foul!

I switched our cushy Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper to an eco-friendly recycled brand and he is not happy. So much that it prompted him to blog about it and tell the world that he’s putting his foot down for the first time!

I think in the back of my brain I thought I could make the switcheroo and he might not notice, but in reality, I knew this might be his limit. And alas, it is.

I picked up some Seventh Generation toilet paper, and sure, it’s definitely nowhere near as thick and soft as the popular brands, but hey… I felt like saving some trees! I recently learned that if every US household would replace just one 500-sheet roll of regular TP with one recycled roll, it would save nearly 425,000 trees annually. Seventh Generation is made from 100% recycled paper (with a minimum of 80% post-consumer) but I guess some would argue that paper “with a previous life” should never go near these “regions”.

If you have a better recommendation, PLEASE, let me know. I can feel like I am staying true to my green mission, and maybe my husband will go along… with no ifs, ands or “butts” about it!

Grab your gear and get back to nature.

2009-06-24T14:12:14Z

I’ve always been a city girl at heart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate nature. In fact, I may even appreciate it more as I see the direct effect of suburban development near my home (and the herds of deer that have taken up residence in the ravine behind my house and spent one night devouring all of my landscaping!)

And while I’m not one to ‘rough it’ either, I realize that getting back to nature doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune at the outdoor store and drive for hours to set-up camp in some remote region of the country. Your own backyard can be the ideal campsite.

This Saturday (June 27), in fact, is the Great American Backyard Campout.

Conceived by the National Wildlife Federation, this is a day they have created to invite families to reconnect with nature and the outdoors, and remind us that we can manage life “with a little less”. You can set up tents, cookout over a fire pit, explore your surroundings, play flashlight tag, star gaze and our kids’ ever-favorite… gorge on S’mores! Shut down all the lights, computers and TVs in your house and even save a little electricity while you’re at it. (Indoor latrine, via flashlight, permitted of course!)

If you want to find out who’s camping nearby, or register your own outing, check out NWFs site for more information.

I think this is a great opportunity to join families all over the country in embracing everything the great outdoors has to offer. Now the only fear I have is waking up to find Bambi staring me in the face!

Summer and the most organic produce has arrived…

2009-06-22T15:15:02Z

Summer has arrived! Yippee!

Not only does summer gift us with the best weather of the year, endless opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy every activity imaginable but also the gift of the freshest organic produce to grace our tables (”hold” the harmful and dangerous pesticides!).

In fact, this weekend while visiting my in-laws house, I was assembling a wonderful BLT (I normally steer clear of bacon, but it smelled so temptingly good, I couldn’t stop myself!), but the lettuce was fresh from my mother-in-law’s garden so it felt a little more justifiable. It was so organic that I actually had to wash off the dirt and lovingly picked off two tiny little green bugs and released them back into the yard! (My sister-in-law and niece thought I was nuts!) If the lettuce had come from the grocery store I probably would have squealed in horror, but knowing it came from a true organic garden, it just kind of felt acceptable!

Maybe you have a backyard garden (not me, unfortunately… we have far too many trees and ravenous deer… they’ve even come onto my patio to get my veggies when I’ve attempted to grow them!). If you were lucky enough to participate in a CSA, you’re probably already enjoying some amazing bounty. But if not, remember to take advantage of the season. Locate your nearest farmer’s market (check Local Harvest or the Farmer’s Market sites if you need help) and indulge in locally-grown, organic produce while you can.

Remember the dirty dozen and the clean 15 too… the necessary and unnecessary organic produce, if you feel you need to pick and choose what to buy.

Since our own garden isn’t an option in the foreseeable future, I will be visiting the local farmers markets and taking my mother-on-law up on her offer to “come by and just take what I need”… the dirt and bugs are just a part of nature’s goodness!