Organic Nature

Going green with diapers: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:24:00 +0000

With recent news focusing on the problems with mainstream big brand diapers, many parents are looking for alternatives. Whether you are looking for chemical free options or the best way to reduce your baby's carbon footprint, here is a breakdown of the different types of diapers to try, along with some pros and cons and price breakdowns.

As a new mother myself I know I wanted to find the best option for my family. We started off using the big brand diaper only because, well, we didn't know any better. After becoming more concerned with what I was putting on my child and being a little disappointed in what I considered an under-handed way of introducing a new diaper, I went out and did my research. I looked at what other mothers had recommended, then did price comparisons, and my own on-baby-butt testing.

Disposables
Obviously the biggest issue with disposables in well, they are disposable. They come off your baby's bottom and go straight in the trash, thus landing straight in our landfills. However, they are convenient. There is no washing or drying, you just change and go. Here are a few disposables that are a bit more friendly to the environment and your baby.

Seventh Generation:
As of right now, these are the diapers we use. After having a panic attack (ie. freak out) about all the chemicals in big brand diapers, I found that these diapers worked best for us as far as cost and content. The nice thing about Seventh Generation is that they disclose the contents of the diaper. Big brand diaper companies will tell you they can't say what is in the diaper because it's proprietary. So if you are a concerned parent just wanting to know what you are putting on your baby's skin, they won't tell you.

Seventh Generation diapers are chlorine-free, latex free, fragrance free and hypoallergenic. Making these diapers chlorine-free cuts out a rather environmentally taxing process that many of the big brand diapers use. Thus making the Seventh Generation diapers brown, which for some reason, I love. The only downside I see to these diapers is that they still use Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP), which are the little absorbent gel beads found in most disposable diapers. From my experience, I think these diapers are more absorbent than the so-called super absorbent big brand.

As for a cost breakdown, compared to the big brands, these diapers will run you about 2 cents more per diaper. (Based on current prices on Amazon.com)

Tushies:
We have not personally tested this diaper but after talking to a few moms who have, they say they like them, however when the diaper gets wet it gets stiff and is a bit bulky.

Tushies say they are gel (Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP)), latex, perfume, dye, TBT (Tributylin), GMO, and chlorine free. Instead of the absorbent gel Sodium Polyacrylate, Tushies uses a Non-Chlorine bleached wood pulp mixed with cotton. If you have a baby that has sensitive skin, this may be the one to go with.

Tushies will cost you about $0.37 per diaper, about 10 cents more than the big brand diapers. Not too bad, but definitely a little bit more expensive. (Based on current prices on Amazon.com)

Earth's Best:
Again, we have not personally tested these diapers but from what other moms have said, there are mixed opinions on these. Some moms have said the sizes tend to run smaller and they are stiff. However, some moms swear by them.

Earth's Best diapers are Chlorine-free, and their website says they contain natural absorbent material such as corn and wheat, but other moms have said they actually contain the Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP) gel. I have also heard that the gel comes out of the diaper.

As for a price comparison, the Earth's Best diapers will run you $0.32 per diapers. Still a little bit more than the mainstream big brand diapers. Not bad. (Based on current prices on Amazon.com)

Nature Babycare:
These are diapers I am dying to try out. The company was founded by a Swedish mother who is "a champion of environmental causes". The diapers are said to be made out of biodegradable materials based on corn. They are chlorine-free, GM free, latex free, and TBT (Tributylin) free. I have heard pretty good things about these diapers as far as leak protection.

The Nature Babycare diapers will run you $0.35 per diaper. (Based on current prices on Amazon.com)

If you know of any other disposable diapers that are better for the environment or baby, please leave your comments. Or if you have had experience with any that I have commented on, let me know.

Going to start up again

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:54:00 +0000

I know this blog has been pretty much dead for awhile but life got in the way and I am now able to start posting again. So be on the look out and add this blog to your RSS feeds. Look for a new article later today.

Move the Green Way

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:35:00 +0000

If you are planning to move across town or across the country, keeping it "green" can be easy. Moving is always a daunting task and making the extra effort to help the environment while doing so can be confusing.

You know you are going to have to make either multiple trips between locations or hire a large gas guzzling truck to haul all your belongings. Your packing materials will consist of countless cardboard boxes, packing paper, tape and bubble wrap. All that waste can really scare someone who strives to make a real effort with the environment. Below are some tips to help ease your worries. Just a few simple ways you can make your move greener.

Having just moved myself, I was able to utilize many of these tips myself. Unfortunately I did not use all of them.

Reuse/Recycle your cardboard boxes
- I personally used this method. We ended up moving ourselves rather than hiring movers and we also were fortunate to have both homes at the same time. To reduce our use of boxes we reused them. First, all of our boxes were borrowed from friends and neighbors. We packed a set of boxes, moved it to our new place, unpacked then went and packed them again. We used less boxes, saved money by not having to buy boxes and got portions of our new home unpacked quickly.

- Once you are done with your boxes ask friends, neighbors and co-workers if they may need them. You never know and it's a great way to reuse.

- If no one has a use for the boxes and you don't want to keep them for later, recycle them. Cardboard boxes are easily recycled and most local areas have drop off locations to take your boxes.

Don't throw that couch in the dumpster
- If you are moving to a smaller dwelling and need to purge some of your clutter, don't just toss it all in a dumpster, donate. There are several organizations you can donate to. Many will take a range of items from small vases to cars. It may require a little research on your part to find a organization that you feel comfortable donating to.

- You can also list your free household items on Craigslist or The Freecycle Network. There are people out there that are not only willing to take your free items but also pick them up. Of course keep yourself safe when contacting people you don't know over the internet.

- Need some extra money for your move? Have a yard sale or sell your items on ebay.

Worried about the truck moving all your possessions not being environmentally friendly? There are several companies out there that strive to help you move green. For some information on these companies, check out Treehugger.com's tips on green moving.

What have you done to make your home more green? Leave a comment to let us know.

I know it's been quiet

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:23:00 +0000

I just wanted to post a real quick note about why there haven't been any articles lately. Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a move and haven't had the time to get on and post to the blog. I know many of you are looking for some good organic advice and I've been MIA. I promise more updates will be coming in the month of June so keep checking back. In the meantime, I'm going to try and keep at least the daily tips updated for you.

Send me any tips and product reviews you may have.

Product Review - Organic Raw Blue Agave

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:50:00 +0000

I know you have seen all the studies on how sugar is bad for you but so is NutraSweet and Splenda. And now you are completely lost and longing for a little sweetness in your coffee. My recommendation, pick up some Organic Raw Blue Agave . This product is a wonderful replacement to regular sugar and those laboratory produced sweeteners.

Wholesome Sweeteners describes their product as "a natural sweetener extracted from the core of the Blue Agave plant. Made from organically grown and processed Weber Azul, Organic Raw Blue Agave offers natural sweetness without the blood sugar spike." Their Organic Raw Blue Agave boasts a Glycemic index of 39 or less, which makes this a good sugar supplement for diabetics or those trying to watch their sugar intake. They also say the Agave in 25% sweeter than sugar, which I can attest to.

I personally find this product great in coffee since that is usually where I get most of my sugar during the day. You can also use it to replace sugar in all your cooking. The Wholesome Sweeteners website gives some recommendations on how to adjust your recipes to include their Organic Raw Blue Agave.

Another great resource on the site is their recipe collection. So not only do they offer some great Fair Trade Certified Organic products, but they offer you fabulous recipes as well.

Spring Clean Naturally – Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:05:00 +0000

With spring peaking it's warm weather around the corner, many of us are starting to get the urge to do that annual routine of Spring Cleaning. This article will be the first in a series for Spring Cleaning your house naturally. Today we start in the kitchen.

More great kitchen cleaning tips can also be found in our "Vinegar and how it can be your household friend" article.

Your dishes:

Reduce your water use while cleaning dishes by shutting off the water if you are not directly using it.

Save on your energy bill by not drying your dishes with the heat cycle on your dishwasher. Simply run the dishes then open your dishwasher door so your dishes can air dry.

Another great way to go green in your kitchen is by switching to low phosphate or phosphorus-free dish washing soap. Unfortunately, I can't recommend any because I have not fully tested them in my household.

Your sink and garbage disposal:

Does your garbage disposal smell? Next time you have an orange or lemon, throw the peels down the drain and turn on the disposal. The peels will help clean and deodorize that nasty smell.

To clean up hard water stains and soap scum, use white vinegar.

You can also polish chrome fixtures and appliances with white vinegar.

To remove rust stains on your sink, use lemon juice on a cloth and pour cream of tartar on the stain. Scrub.

Baking soda is a great natural cleaner. To clean and shine your sink, pour baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub.

Kitchen counters:

A solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water is a great everyday cleaner for kitchen counters.

For stains use a paste of baking soda. Use 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Allow it to sit for an hour or two then wipe clean.

Refrigerator:

Again your solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water can be used to wipe down the refrigerator.

Appliances:

To clean your coffee maker. Run 1 cup of white vinegar through a normal brew cycle. Follow with two pots of water to rinse the vinegar.

To clean the grease off your chrome appliances, wipe down with white vinegar.

To clean your microwave, mix a 1/2 cup vinegar and a 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe container. Then bring it to a boil in the microwave so it steams. Then just wipe down the inside of your microwave.

Many of these cleaning solutions require white vinegar. If you or members of your family can't stand the smell of vinegar, keep in mind that as the vinegar dries the smell will dissipate. You can also dilute the vinegar in water, this will cut down on it's effectiveness on some cleaning situations but will also cut down on the smell.

There are many great commercially made "Green" cleaning products. However, I have not fully tested many of these products and would not want to recommend a product I have not tried myself. In the coming weeks and months we are planning on reviewing some products to help you become better educated on the many "Green" products available. Stay Tuned and please remember to add you comments and recommendations.

Happy Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:02:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day to all the inhabitants of this beautiful planet. What are you going to do today to celebrate? Are you going to leave your car at home and walk or ride your bike to work? Perhaps take a walk or hike through a national park? My suggestion, go for that walk. Take a minute or 30 and enjoy this earth and what it has given us and reflect on what you can do to contribute to it and help make it healthy again.

For today's post I'm going to list a few fabulous sites that can help you go green and organic. Take some time to read through them and find some great tips that you can incorporate into your everyday life. These are just a few that I myself reference frequently. If you have a site you love, please send it my way. Also, let us all know what you are going to do to celebrate Earth Day. Leave us a comment.

Organic Consumers Association - This site offers wonderful information on going organic. There are articles about going organic as well as a list of organic products.

Refill Not Landfill - Help make our Earth healthier by committing to the Refill Not Landfill campaign. Stop throwing your plastic bottles on our landfills and reduce your use of plastic bottles.

Care 2 - A wonderful community site with hundreds if not thousands of articles on how you can go green and organic. I have found this site useful for years.

Treehugger - Another site with articles and tips to help you incorporate green living into your everyday life.

Go Organic – Switch Your Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:36:00 +0000

If you are looking for just one product to get you well on your way to living an organic life. Start with your milk.

In the United States, the use of rBGH, Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is still licensed by the FDA, EPA and Department of Agriculture for the use in dairy cows. rBGH is a genetically engineered, variant of the natural growth hormone Bovine somatotropin. It is used in dairy cows to increase milk production. In both Canada and Europe, rBGH is banned. In many cases this hormone is known to make cows sick. The diseases that these cows suffer from, end up in our milk as well as the antibiotics they are being treated with.

Milk contaminated with rBGH contains high levels of natural growth hormone and is thought to cause breast, colon and prostate cancer.

Genetically engineered milk is not required to be labeled as being derived from rBGH treated cows, so many Americans are not aware that they are at risk for consuming not only high levels of hormones but also pesticides and unnecessary antibiotics.

To learn more about what may be in your milk, pick up the book "What's in Your Milk" by Samuel S. Epstein M.D..

Milk labeled as organic with the USDA Organic seal are produced under strict restrictions including not being allowed to contain antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Take the time to read your milk labels and only buy organically produced products. In recent years, those products have become easier to find and prices have come down. Though some organic milk can be a bit more expensive than non-organic, it's worth it.

My family personally likes products made by Horizon Organic. Not only do they produce Organic Milk but also yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. They of course are not the only organic dairy producers out there. It's all a personal taste preference. So look in your dairy aisle and try a few products out. You may enjoy one organic milk over another.

What Does "Organic" Really Mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Do you often find yourself standing in an aisle at the market staring at products that say "Organic", "All Natural", "Made with Natural Ingredients", "Cage-Free", "Free-Roaming", etc. and wondering what it all really means? I know I do. I often wonder, are the "Cage-free" eggs the same as the "All Natural" eggs? If they say they are free of hormones and are free roaming does that also mean they are feed an organic diet? What really are the USDA organic standards?

Let's examine.

The current USDA Certified Organic standards are pretty strict. The problem that has been coming up recently in the news, is that some companies are trying to push bills that will lower the standards.

Any product carrying the USDA Certified Organic seal must contain at least 95% organic ingredients and be produced without antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

So that you are sure you are getting a certified organic product, look for the little green seal that says "USDA Organic".

So what's the difference between organic and all the rest?

All Natural or Natural - According to the USDA, products, especially food, can only be labeled "All Natural" or "Natural" if they contain no artificial ingredients or added colors and are minimally processed. However, this does not mean the product is organic and it also means that animal products that contain artificial hormones and genetically modified products can still be labeled "Natural".

Cage-free or Free-Roaming - These two titles can mean completely different things. A "Cage-Free" chicken simply means that the chickens are not kept in small wire cages. They are allowed in some cases to roam around a shed. A "Free-Roaming" or "Free-Range" chicken stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture must be allowed access to the outside. Though many feel both of these scenarios are better for the chicken, it still does not mean the chickens or the eggs they produce are organic. For an animal product to be organic it must be feed an organic diet and not be given artificial hormones, antibiotics and so forth.

I guess I could really take this article on and on, regarding what every definition means. But to be safe, if you really want to start moving towards a more organic lifestyle. Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal on the products and foods you buy. Even though something says "Organic", "All Natural" and so on, it does not mean it has met those standards unless it carries the seal. Unfortunately though, many of the smaller organic companies can not necessarily afford the USDA Certification. And many of these companies operate and produce their products to that standard and sometimes higher than the standard. That's when you need to do your research. There are countless websites on the Internet where you can find help and information.

If you want to keep up on changes to the standards or read more about what it means to be organic. Subscribe to the Organic Consumers Association newsletter. It's a great resource on all things organic including a guide to shopping.

Vinegar and how it can be your household friend

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:34:00 +0000

For years I was like many other people when it came to cleaning the house. I used those harsh chemicals that you buy in the store, that say they are the best cleaner for this and that, and every time I would clean, especially the bathrooms I would develop horrific migraines. I always felt that having to open the window while I cleaned was a good sign that these cleaners were probably harmful to me. So I searched for a better solution and I found it, right in my kitchen.

White vinegar is an excellent alternative to using harsh cleaning products. Since it is a mild acid it helps dissolve dirt, grease and soap scum but is still gentle enough to use in everyday cleaning. Now not many people may like the idea of cleaning their entire house with vinegar. I personally happen to love the smell of vinegar (however my husband does not). So for those that don't like it, the smell will dissipate as the vinegar drys.

Here are just a few great tips and ways to use vinegar to help clean your house.

Bathroom

Soak your shower head in full-strength white vinegar over night to remove soap scum and hard water deposits.

Shine your chrome fixtures.

Clean the grout of your shower. Spray full-strength vinegar on the grout and let it sit then scrub with an old tooth brush.

Use undiluted vinegar to remove mildew and soap scum from your shower and tubs.

Dish Washer & Dishes

Vinegar can be used to clean up detergent residue. Just run a cup of vinegar through a full cycle every month to keep fresh.

Use to clean up soap deposits on your sink

Clean water stains off glassware

Kitchen

Clean and deodorize the refrigerator by washing the inside with an equal mixture of white vinegar and water.

Laundry

Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing by spraying full-strength white vinegar on underarm or collar before placing in washing machine.

Microwave

My other personal favorite is cleaning the microwave. You know how gross that can get. Mix a 1/2 cup vinegar and a 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe container. Then bring it to a boil in the microwave so it steams. Then just wipe down the inside of your microwave.

Pets

I personally use vinegar every time I clean our rabbits cage. Our rabbit is litter trained and I use it to clean up urine stains. It breaks down the urine like a champ and keeps the litter boxes fresh. Great for cat boxes as well.

Walls

Vinegar works great to clean of stubborn stains on the walls including crayon without stripping the paint. I typically use full-strength vinegar for this job.

Windows & Mirrors

Dillute with water and place in a spray bottle to clean windows both inside and out as well as your mirrors.

As there are so many uses for white vinegar, we will start adding them to the site and this post with a "Tip of the Day". Please feel free to submit your tips.

Wired Science . Video: What's Inside Your Fridge? | PBS

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:39:00 +0000

Wired Science . Video: What's Inside Your Fridge? | PBS

I just had to post this. While watching Wired Science the other day, I was fascinated by their segment "What's Inside Your Fridge?" In this episode they breakdown the ingredients of store bought Cool Whip. I think you'll be amazed too.

My advice. Buy organic heavy cream and whip it yourself. It tastes great and doesn't have all the scary ingredients.

Reduce plastic bottles in our landfills

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:19:00 +0000

Sure, the whole bottled water craze has taken most of America by storm. But even though most of these Americans feel they are doing themselves good by buying crates of bottled water, in reality they are adding to their own carbon footprint and our landfills.

I cringe every time I see someone at one of those bulk food stores coming out with a crate of bottled water. I just want to scream. First off, most of that so called "filtered" water, isn't even filtered. Secondly, most if not all of those bottles in that crate won't go into the recycling bin. Not all Americans recycle. They may say they do, and many states have recycling laws, but in reality, our landfills are teaming with plastic bottles from sodas, fruit drinks, and water.

There are simple ways to reduce your use of plastic bottles.

The best way - REUSE!! Of course you won't want to reuse a typical disposable bottle. They are not dishwasher safe and bacteria and germs can gather rather fast on those bottles. Not the most sanitary container to be reusing.

If you are one of the many Americans watching this season of "The Biggest Loser" on NBC, you have most likely heard of the "Refill Not Landfill" campaign in partnership with Brita. This campaign encourages the use of reusable and washable sports water bottles as well as Brita filters. Not only are you reducing those little 20oz plastic bottles in landfills you are actually drinking filtered water, which you know is filtered unlike the water you buy in the store.

Here's my challenge for the month - Don't buy any drinks from your office vending machine and stop yourself before you buy bottled water at the store. If you already own a Brita filter, use it and just refill a glass or a sports bottle. Track how much money you would have spent on vending machine drinks and bottled water. You may be surprised how much you save.

Find out more about bottled water in our landfills at "Refill Not Landfill"

About the site

noreply@blogger.com (Chelly) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:12:00 +0000

As my first post, I just want to explain what this site will entail. I've always dreamed of starting a blog or website where I can share many of the great ways I've found to incorporate organic and green ways of living into my own life. I know there are many resources on the net, but I also know there are alot of ways to go organic/green and some seem so much harder to do than others.

This site is dedicated to the simple everyday changes you can make in your daily life to start or continue down the path to becoming more green. Some of these methods may not be ground breaking or earth shaking but they will be simple for you to implement in your own life. And a great start to reducing your carbon foot print.

Many of these tips will include recipes, new products, & alternatives to items found in your life. I always appreciate comments and suggestions, so as the site rolls on, feel free to tell me what you do in your life to be more organic and green.

I do hope you enjoy.

-Michele