If you are in the Long Island area this weekend, please come bring your kiddies to the East End Green Fest in Mattituck, NY! This festival takes place on August 1st and 2nd on Strawberry Fairgrounds 10am-6pm.  Featuring live music on more than 10 solar stages, local foods, seminars, fun events, and natural and sustainable products, this is a wonderful activity for the whole gang.  Adults tickets are $3 and kids 12 and under are FREE! KIWI will be there so come by, grab a magazine and some goodies! We will see you there!

-Brittany, KIWI Staff and Green Fest fan

Many people, along with cities are making efforts for the future to be greener.  The Natural Defense Resources Council has a “Smarter Cities” project in which they choose cities based upon criteria including air quality, green space, and quality of life.  From this criteria, they have created a list of ten cities that they see putting forward social responsibility and to be leaders in the green effort.

Seattle is tackling climate change by distributing energy efficient kits to residents and have been working with local businesses to promise to lower their emissions.  San Francisco has organic gardens throughout the city as well as an active recycling and composting programs.  Portland is making their buildings “greener” and using space effectively.  Oakland is creating green training programs and has doubled the amount of farmers markets and locally grown foods.  San Jose has a Clean Teach strategy for many solar businesses as well as doubling the number of jobs in the “green” field.  They are also raising conservation efforts.  Austin is building homes in energy efficient ways and is planning to build a “smart grid” in which they can recycle energy.  Sacramento residents mainly take public transportation and have recently voted to build a high speed rail system connecting cities across the state of California.  Wind is now one of Boston’s top three fuel resources as an alternative to coal and other nonrenewable energy sources.   Boston also has a great transportation system as well as a bicycling system.  Denver practices water conservation and has succeeded in doing so by dramatically reducing their waste and the city also offers beautiful parks, mountains, and many green areas.  Finally, Chicago is a world leader in green architecture.  The city is home to the first green skyscraper and houses more LEED projects than any other city in the country.

Now you know what the future holds.  Take these examples as motivation to make your city greener!

Brittany, KIWI Staff and Chicago fan

With uses for personal care, cleaning, laundry, and of course–cooking, baking soda is the ultimate DIY multi-tasker. It’s also incredibly inexpensive, and super earth-friendly (aside from the fact that it’s a non-toxic chemical compound, using versatile baking soda to do 10 jobs rather than buying 10 different products really cuts down on waste!). Here are 10 of my favorite ways to use baking soda, what about you?

1. Face mask. This works especially well for oily skin–form a paste with 2 tsp. baking soda and 1 tsp. honey and leave on face for 10 minutes to tighten pores and banish blackheads.
2. Fabric softener. Surprise, surprise! Conventional fabric softeners can contain a multitude of harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances. To keep clothes soft, just toss 1 cup of baking soda in with the wash. Bonus: It can remove heavy stains and odors, too!
3. Shampoo. OK, maybe not all the time. But in a pinch, it works! Add 1 tbsp. of baking soda to 8 oz. of water, then work through hair. Follow with a clarifying rinse made up of 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and another 8 oz. of water.

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Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Looking for earth-friendly ways to keep pesky mosquitoes at bay? Check out Pink and Blue Avenue’s all-natural ideas.
• Gift of Green turns popsicle sticks into decorative Countdown Sticks, so your family can count down til the Next Big Thing that’s going on.
• You’ve considered cloth diapers, but what about cloth baby wipes? Read all about them at Green Baby Guide.
• EnviroMom weighs in on making climate change part of the curriculum for high schoolers.
• Looking for a summer treat to help you cool off? Try The Green Parent’s mouth-watering recipe for Blackberry Chocolate Frozen Yogurt.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Go the extra mile to be kind on Saturday, August 8th for The Great Kindness Challenge. Created by Kids for Peace, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the world through love and action, the event seeks to engage over one million children worldwide to participate in as many acts of kindness as possible throughout the day in an effort to foster a lifelong commitment of service to others and the planet.

Looking for some ways to spread the love? Here are ten of our favorite activities from The Great Kindness Challenge Checklist:

1. Take a treat to your local firefighters
2. Push someone on a swing
3. Leave a flower on someone’s doorstep
4. Feed the birds
5. Bring a teddy bear to a child in the hospital
6. Donate something to an animal shelter
7. Read a book to a younger child
8. Wash a neighbor’s car
9. Pick up ten pieces of trash on the beach
10. Compliment 5 people

What are some of your family’s favorite R.A.O.Ks?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Normally, we’re not a big fan of disposables when it comes to dish- or flat-ware. Cups or plates made from Styrofoam are difficult to recycle, and so usually end up in landfills for near-eternity. And similar paper items may biodegrade more quickly, however, they’re a big drain on resources. Since no one wants to lug a nice set of glasses, dishes, and silverware to the beach, park, or campground, this disposable dilemma can sometimes make planning a casual outdoor picnic or barbecue somewhat challening.

Enter Bare, a new line of earth-friendly disposable dishware by Solo. Many of their plates and cups are made from plant-based, renewable resources instead of plastic, and are also easily compostable. The cups that are made from plastic contain 20% post-consumer recycled material, and are easily recyclable.

And yes, when it comes to going green, Solo really means it. To demonstrate their commitment, they’ve partnered with the Keep America Beautiful campaign, whose mission is to prevent litter, reduce waste, and increase recycling. Donations from the Bare by Solo line will support helping consumers learn all about ways to keep our country–and our planet–looking great.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Here are some of our favorite places to find sustainable goods. Have an earth-friendly store or company you love? Share it with us in the comments!

• KellyGreen Way, an online, green lifestyle boutique, boasts a variety of hand-picked, planet-friendly items including body, skin, and home products. Further, everything there is recyclable, reusable, fairly traded, or handmade.
• Find reusable diapers, bedding, plus nursing accessories at Organic Caboose. All their products are cruelty-free and 100% grown and sewn in the USA.
• Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods seeks to help smart parents make better choices for their baby and better choices for the environment with a selection of organic toys and corn-based baby plates and utensils.
• Score green deals at Pristine Planet, which allows customers to compare prices on similar items plus share reviews on eanything from hemp dog leashes to earth-friendly motor oil.
• Eco-Wise calls itself the earth-friendly everything store, and for good reason: In addition to featuring the usual organic clothing, linens, or cleaning supplies, the website features tons of items devoted to home improvement, including eco flooring, paints, and tools.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

When seeking out natural, DIY options to clean and disinfect your home, the list of ingredients usually sounds pretty familiar: Lemon, baking soda, vinegar, club soda, salt, plus some herbs or essential oils to keep things smelling nice. Oh, and borax.

Borax?

It doesn’t sound quite like the others, does it? In fact, it sounds more like…Windex. Or Oxi-Clean! Or who knows what else. However, Borax is actually a naturally-occuring mineral compound can work as a cleaner, disinfectant, or deodorizer. (When the stuff is mixed with hot water, some of the H2O molecules turn into hydrogren peroxide–interesting, right?)

You can mix 2 tsp. of borax with 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 gallon of warm water for an effective all-purpose cleaner, or create a paste out of equal parts borax, salt, and vinegar for a heavy-duty carpet cleaner (just let the paste sit for a few hours in the carpet before vacuuming up.)

It’s essential to remember though that borax, while natural, isn’t safe for consumption the way lemon or vinegar is. The compound is toxic if ingested in large doses, so keep out of reach of kids and pets.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Wal-Mart, one of the nation’s largest retailers, is in the process of developing a comprehensive system to measure the level of sustainability for every product it sells. While it will take another year or two before consumers begin seeing sustainability labels on products, this is certainly an impressive step towards helping the public make informed purchasing decisions regarding earth-friendly products. What’s more, Wal-Mart’s sheer massiveness means that its green initiatives (as opposed to those undertaken by a smaller company, for instance) will likely have a direct effect on numerous mainstream companies and manufacturers, most of which need their products to comply with Wal-Mart’s standards (other ginormous companies including Proctor & Gamble, General Mills, Tyson, and Unilever have already expressed interest in partnering for the effort).

Rand Waddoups, Wal-Mart’s senior director of business strategy and sustainability, has some encouraging words, explaining that he hopes the new index will allow consumers to gain an understanding of the entire life process of a product–and determine whether or not that process is truly an earth-friendly one. Further, he voiced concern over the issue of greenwashing, and stated that it’s Wal-Mart’s hope to educate customers in seeing through such ploys to make informed decision when it comes to buying sustainable products.

I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Wal-Mart, so tell me, what do you think about this move? Will it encourage you to shop at their stores if currently, you don’t?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health as well as the environment. While a study in Washington state found that on average, people living in pedestrian-friendly areas weigh about 7 pounds less than people living in areas that aren’t so pedestrian-friendly, walking also emits zero pollution into the atmosphere. What’s more, walking is good for the community–it’s been shown to increase social interaction as well as help local businesses thrive.

How walkable is your area? Visit WalkScore.com and type in your home address to find out. The website ranks the walkability of over 2,000 U.S. neighborhood according to a number of criteria, including the existance of a discernable town center, parks and public space, pedestrian-centric design, and nearby schools and workplaces. Hopefully, your community shows up as super foot-friendly–but if not, you can take action! Click here to learn more about the 2009 Transportation Bill, which you can support in order to appropriate more government funding for safe walking streets.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

KIWI’s July/August issue is now available at newsstands! Pick up your copy today to read all about:

• Toy safety
• Green school supplies on a budget
• Easy at-home fitness for mom
• Green baby shower registry
• Volunteer vacations
• Delicious recipes including updated soul food favorites and cool, creative mocktails
• Much more!

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Did you know you can recycle drinking straws? What about envelopes with plastic windows? Change Becomes Change has a list of recycle-friendly items that may surprise you.
• Mommy’s Favorite Things helps us sort out all our eco-laundry questions.
• It’s Money-Saving Monday over at My Little Patch of Sunshine. Find out how business loyalty cards can help your budget.
• Eco Women has compiled a whole list of resources for moms looking to be greener, with links regarding everything from car seats to strollers to healthy toys.
• Read all about one mom’s experience with potty training bootcamp at Green Kiddos.

Also, we want more of your blogs! We got a great response on last week’s post, but KiwiLog is still looking for more mom blogs to feature in our blogroll. Please share your links!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

If you are in the New York area this weekend, go check out the “Let’s Get Healthy” Workshop held at Brooklyn’s Children Museum Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am-1pm. KIWI will be there handing out magazines and treats! This Play Lab series workshop focuses on children being active and healthy in their everyday life. Their new exhibit, Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action demonstrates the important of both animals and people living their lives in a healthy and happy way and eating well. Please bring your kiddies to this wonderful event and jump start their knowledge on these important subjects. Admission is $7.50 for adults and free for museum members and children under 1 year of age. The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is located at 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11213. For more information on this particular workshop or a list of summer events, please visit Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

-Brittany, KIWI Staff and healthy lifestyle advocate

Once the summer squash and zucchini start popping up, they don’t really stop–not for a while at least. (Anyone who’s ever grown either of them in a garden before will definitely be familiar with this!) While most of us could probably eat warm-weather treats like strawberries and blueberries by the bucket, however, eating plain, raw summer squash can get sort of boring after a while. Sure, its cool and crunchy, and goes well in salads or with any number of dips, but after that, you need to branch out–probably one of the reasons there are so many great recipes utilizing the veggies in all sorts of ways. If you’re looking for a way (or more than one!) to use up your summer squash and zucchini, check out some of these deliciously good-for-you recipes:

• Ditch cold cereal in favor of a savory breakfast cake loaded with eggs and summer veggies–including zucchini–courtesy of KIWI’s Food Editor, Cricket Azima.
• 101 Cookbook’s Special Zucchini Bread certainly lives up to its name, made with whole wheat pastry flour and walnuts, plus some crystallized ginger for added zing.
• With its mild flavor, zucchini works well in many raw food dishes, including a bean-free zucchini hummus and “noodle” dishes like zucchini marinara or zucchini alfredo with basil and cherry tomatoes, all whipped up by Choosing Raw.
• Thinly sliced zucchini carpaccio with grated Parmesan from the Smitten Kitchen is the perfect stand-in for your typical romaine side salad.
• Finally, you can’t forget dessert! (Albeit a super healthy one.) Try SweetSavvy’s recipe for zucchini brownies, made with whole wheat pastry flour, date sugar, yogurt, and of course–tons of zucchini.

Got a favorite way to use up all of your zucchini and summer squash? Tell us about it!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

KiwiLog is currently in the process of updating our blogroll. If you’re a mom or dad blogger, or have a blog about earth-friendly living, we’d love to know about it! Please share your links in the comments.

As a parent, you jump through hoops to find the safest cribs, carriers, strollers, and changing tables for your little bundle of joy, but unfortunately, these items don’t usually come with ingredient labels. Many child products are made with fire retardants, which contain toxic chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Exposure to PBDEs have been linked to health problems including cancer, birth defects, hyperactivity, and reproductive disorders.

Last month, the California Senate proposed a bill to ban fire retardant chemicals on kids’ products. California is currently the only state in the nation that requires these items be fire retarded. Unfortunately, the cheapest way for manufacturers to comply with this law is to make all products according to California standards. So whether that baby crib is going to New Jersey or to California, it’s going to contain fire retardants.

If the bill passes in California, it’s likely that manufacturers will stop adding the fire retardants to products, making the whole nation a bit safer.

Won’t the ban on fire retardants mean that kids will be in danger of fire? Not exactly. Even if a fire retardant product were to catch fire, it’s still not fireproof; the retardant only offers six to 12 seconds of flame resistance. Still, if you feel more comfortable buying a fireproof product, go the natural route. Many baby mattresses are made with wool, which is naturally fire retardant, and there are also products made with naturally flame resistant cotton fibers.

-Stephanie Hacker, editorial intern

Ice cream trucks are a hallmark of summer, but what about a fresh produce truck? The Veggie Van is just that, brought to the people of central Ohio through The Greener Grocer, a food market that seeks to promote local and artisanal products from small-scale farmers.

A sort of farmer’s market on wheels, The Veggie Van delivers fresh, sustainably-grown local produce to Ohio communities. In keeping with their mission to spread food justice, The Veggie Van accepts food stamps, as well as works in collaboration with Local Matters, a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing the availability of fresh, local foods to central Ohio residents.

What a cool concept! When you think about it from the angle of a ice cream truck, we love how The Veggie Van offers healthy snack options–biting into a perfectly red, ripe strawberry beats a sno-cone any day. What’s more, it’s well-known that lower-income areas often have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables, so the fact that The Veggie Van is seeking to address this issue in an innovative way is really commendable!

My only question: Does it run on veggie oil, too?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Are you (or do you know) a mom who’s made an exceptional effort to create a healthier environment for children and families? Healthy Child Healthy World, a non-profit seeking to inspire parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals, will hold their annual benefit gala this October, where the organization will recognize one enthusiastic, health-minded mom for her work.

To nominate yourself or someone you know, share the extraordinary story! Submissions will be accepted until August 15th.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Calling all crafty moms! Origami Mommy shares a tutorial for DIY baby booties.
• Confessions of a Mean Mommy discusses the pleasures of a few camp-free weeks of summer with her boys.
• With new outbreaks and recalls being announced so frequently as of late, Mindful Momma’s post on the importance of food safety couldn’t come at a better time!
• Plastic, plastic, everywhere. Learn about what drinking straws are made of, as well as some alternative options, courtesy of The Soft Landing blog.
• Renaissance Mama chronicles her family’s experience of an all-American summer activity–blueberry picking.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

One summer way back when, my best friend and I made a pledge to go barefoot for as long as possible. Granted, we were only about ten or eleven, so the extent of our travels consisted of crossing the street to go to each other’s houses, a short walk to the lake nextdoor, or at most, a bike ride to the local pool–basically, all places where being sans shoes was perfectly acceptable.

Calloused though they were, our feet  made it through summer vacation without ever wearing a pair of shoes (well, hardly ever, but we definitely considered the venture a success). When it came time to head back to school in September, however, there was no two ways about it–the shoes had to go back on. Even still, though, the weather was warm, and we decided to keep up the shoeless routine outside of the classroom for as long as possible. We’d simply grown accustomed to the feeling and the freedom, and saw no reason to stop. Unfortunately, Mother Nature eventually gave us a reason–frost. It happened in November, and even making the quick trip over to her house to watch movies after school proved painful on my feet. It had to be done. The shoes had to go back on.

As I got older, the opportunities to go barefoot shrunk considerably. School, always, then parties, job interviews, and jobs themselves. Occasionally now I’ll run from the house to get something in my car without my shoes on, and it makes me a little sad that my feet can’t take it. Sure, I was the girl that wore sandals to high school even in January, I wore a pair to my wedding and am wearing a pair right now, but none of those things really compare to going completely barefoot.

Whether it’s soft sand, hot pavement, or dewy grass, I like the feeling of the ground on my feet, and I’m renewing my commitment to experience more of it. At least, until the frost arrives.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

I’m not going to lie–on some of those sweltering summer days, air conditioning can be a great thing. However, I try to reserve my use of the AC, whether at home, work, or in the car, to times when its really necessary. It saves money on gas and energy bills, and makes a significant cut in my CO2 emissions. During the times when its hot, but not unbearably so, I try to rely on other means of cooling off. Here are some of my favorite methods–what about you? Does your family frequently choose greener alternatives to air conditioning?

• Whether preventing overheating while exercising outdoors or trying to cool off inside, try an icy wrap. Place a row of ice cubes in the center of a bandana or other cloth, roll up, and wrap around your neck. Keep the tie in the front and the ice cubes on the back of your neck.
• Essential peppermint oil is sort of like the natural version of Vick’s Vap-o-Rub in the sense that its super cooling. Dab a bit on your wrists or neck for instant heat relief.
• It might seem counterintuitive, but eating spicy food can really help you cool off. Think about very warm places like Thailand, India, and Mexico–each country’s traditional cuisine involves tons of heat in the form of different types of peppers. Spicy food increases perspiration, in turn allowing the body to cool off.
• Practice meditative breathing. Shitali pranayama is an ancient technique used by Indian yogis to cool off, but its easy enough for anyone to do. Prepare by sitting cross-legged and inhaling a few times through the nose, then roll your tongue and stick it out. Inhale through the roll of your tongue and exhale through your nose multiple times for a quick cooling effect.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

In honor of our KIWI staffer Marygrace, I decided to give the bride-to-be some tips on how to throw an eco-friendly bash. Sure planning a wedding is a lot of work and can be very time consuming and expensive but if you take the time to research you will find there are a few ways to make your wedding friendlier on the environment. First come the decorations. Opt for organic flowers instead of fresh cut ones or use lemons or limes in pretty vases for decor. Next, location. Choose a location that is within close proximity to your loved ones so they do not need to travel far distances and also bring up the option of carpooling to omit less gases into the air. When it comes to dining, choose a vegetarian dish and serve it on reusable plates. No need to waste here! Also opt for handing out homemade gifts to the guests such as granola or another baked goods instead of wasting paper or plastic product giveaways. When it comes to the cake, use organic mixes which can be found at any local grocer. Last, when choosing a honeymoon destination, research eco-tourism spots and find sustainable hotels and locations where you and your significant other can have a big impact on your lives but not the earth.

Brittany, KIWI Staff and future bridezilla

While driving down the shore, I often return home to find my car dirtier than before I left! The moist, sticky ocean air keeps all the dirt and dead bugs stuck to my white car. I always opt to wash the car myself at home until I came across this article.

While most believe they are helping preserve water by doing it themselves, it is actually better to go to a car wash. The typical do-it-yourself car wash at home is wasting almost 140 gallons of water according to the International Carwash Association while a professional car wash location wastes half of that energy. At home car washes also usually take place on non-elevated land allowing all the chemicals and toxins you use to travel into local waterways. For those who really enjoy doing it themselves, there are waterless solutions to washing your car. A few well-known brands are Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash, Eco-Touch Waterless Car Wash, Freedom Waterless Car Wash, and Dri Wash N’ Guard Waterless Car Wash. Give these options a try and help conserve!

Brittany, KIWI Staff and clean freak

Microsoft has launched a program that is geared towards home owners to see their energy stats as they fill out questions about their energy consumption. It takes your information creating your own energy profile and gives you feedback on how to reduce your energy usage as well as recommendations. A major concern with this program is that it is only geared towards homeowners and doesn’t focus on apartment owners/renters which misses out on major urban locations. Aside from this issue, the program is easy to use and available at HOHM. Check it out and see how you can reduce your carbon footprint!

Brittany, KIWI Staff and energy saver

With the weekend festivities ahead, what better time than this to introduce the latest– “green” fireworks. In order for fireworks to burn, a chemical known as potassium perchlorate is used as the oxygen. This chemical is a pollutant and can be quite hazardous to the environment. Researchers have been developing nitrogen-rich formulas that burn cleaner and with less smoke in their aftermath. These more earth-friendly fireworks have already been used at concerts, circuses, and other events. While these “green” fireworks are less pollutant and hazardous on our environment, they can be costly compared to conventional fireworks. Researchers are now facing the biggest challenge- how to market them. As we find out more on how this story progresses, we will keep our KIWI readers afloat! Have a safe holiday weekend and enjoy the fireworks (they MAY be “green!”)

Brittany, KIWI Staff and beach-goer

With such a successful first year behind them, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg along with NYC DOT Janette Sadik-Khan have decided to keep this wonderful initiative going. Last August, for three consecutive Saturdays with over 50,000 in attendance, 7 miles of the New York City area was closed down allowing families to enjoy free activities and plenty of room to ride bikes, jog, and enjoy the beautiful summer days without the usual traffic. Summer Streets 2009 promises to be even better with 13 additional locations and over 1500 free activities for all to enjoy. Join in on the fun August 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 7AM-1PM. To learn more about this initiative as well as tips and activities, check out Summer Streets 2009.

-Brittany, KIWI Staff and fitness guru