Category — Eco Family

As a New Yorker, I take great pride in how green I live. I rarely drive, so I take public transportation, walk, and ride my bike instead. So eco, I should pat myself on the back!

Okay, but the truth is, this is green living at its very easiest. Having a car here is a pain, not to mention expensive. And relying on public transportation isn’t something I can tell everyone else to do. My friends in suburban areas would be stuck at home, their kids play date-less, without wheels. I’m not about to suggest that my own mom, who lives in the country, walk four miles to town and then lug back milk and dog food. And horse feed.

So, here are a few green transportation tips that you’ve probably heard before—and KIWI’s more realistic, everyday solutions:

Ideal: Take public transportation.

Real: Carpool—but think beyond the trip to school. Can you hitch a ride to the grocery store or church? Or, don’t leave home at all: Can you trade off quick trips to the store with a neighbor?

Ideal: Buy an electric car.

Real: Keep your car in good shape. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all run out and buy a new car? But that’s just not practical (besides, how green is it, really, to junk the new-ish car you’ve already got?). Until you’re ready for a hybrid or electric car, make sure the one you have gets its oil changed regularly, has the right amount of air in the tires, and you’re not driving with extra bags or a roof rack you don’t need every time. That’s not only more fuel efficient, but how you make the most of what you’ve got.

Ideal: Bike or walk everywhere.

Real: Bike or walk somewhere. And don’t just think of the bike as an alternative to the car—it’s also an alternative to watching TV, playing video games, or just sitting around with the AC and lights on. Turn off, unplug, and walk around the block. Every little bit counts.

—Sarah, editorial director

Here at KIWI, we know you’re doing your part all year long to make a positive impact on the planet, but we thought we’d celebrate Earth Day by providing eco-friendly suggestions you can use everyday to live your life greener. Today, some simple tips on cutting back on waste.

Judge a product by its cover When shopping for anything, whether it’s food, home items, or beauty supplies, seek out products that are packaged with minimal plastic or cardboard, or with recycled materials. For instance, diluting a concentrated version of your favorite dish soap will not only make it last longer, the smaller container most likely requires fewer packaging materials. Also keep an eye out for products with a post-consumer recycled seal, which indicate the packaging has been made with 100 percent post-consumer materials.

Super-size it Get the most bang for your buck with the least amount of packaging by buying the largest-sized containers available for products like laundry detergent, shampoo, and pet food. Just beware of individually wrapped items that are packaged twice to be sold as bulk, like two shrink-wrapped boxes of toothpaste tubes; you’ll wind up with more packaging than you were counting on. And when possible, take advantage of products that can serve multiple purposes: Tea tree oil is great for moisturizing hair and skin, and can also be used as a disinfectant around the house. And a few drops from a large bottle of castile soap can be used for anything from hand-washing to general household cleaning.

Beware special offers and discounts It’s easy to get lured into buying things you don’t need with two-for-one deals and other specials, but avoiding these sales is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste (unless, of course, your family really is able to eat 10 pounds’ worth of apples before they go bad!). On-sale items may seem like a great bargain, but before tossing that 3-in-1 chopper/dicing/slicing thingamajig  in your cart, ask yourself if you really need it, or if you’re only buying it because it’s 20% off.

Make a list—and stick to it To help curb impulse buys, make a list! Having one not only saves you from making multiple trips because you forgot this or that (read: less gas!), it can also make you think twice about tossing those items in your cart that you could really do without. Take inventory of what you need before you head to the store, making sure your list takes into account what you already have in your medicine cabinet or pantry.

Turn your trash into treasure Before tossing them into the recycling bin or trash can, see if you can find a way to give the used goods a new life. Use old baby food jars to hold homemade candles , or have your child make greeting cards out of old grocery bags—involving him in eco-crafting is a great way to get him into the habit of reducing, reusing and recycling at a young age. For more ideas on how to get creative with your recycling, head over to KIWI’s eco-craft page. (www.kiwimagonline.com/ecocrafts)

Try a waste-reduction challenge How many trash bags does your family usually fill each week? Challenge everyone to work to cut that amount in half by throwing fewer items in the trash. Or, challenge your child to find three toys she no longer plays with that can be donated to kids in need. Remind her that her donation not only benefits others, but that it’s environmentally-friendly too.

What about you—what are some ways your family works to make the planet a little cleaner, on Earth Day and all year around?

-Dana, KIWI Intern

How green are you? Pretty green? Impressively green? I, it turns out, am solidly green. At PracticallyGreen.com, I answered a genius yet simple questionnaire and found out that I’m doing a good job with things like eco-friendly cleaning products and avoiding plastic (yay!), but there’s still room for me to try new ways of lowering my impact. Just taking the quiz is a learning experience, but the best part is that after you’re done, you can create an action plan of large and small changes you want to make. One of the things I’m pledging to do is drive the speed limit. (I have a lead foot, what can I say?)

If you need a little inspiration, you can check out the action plans of many leaders in the green world, including KIWI’s friends from Celebrate Green, Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. (I’ll admit: The folks at Practically Green have my action plan in with these movers and shakers, and I’m very honored.)

After you take the quiz and pick out some (very doable!) ways to get greener, check out Practically Green’s blog, too. I’m always getting inspired, like how to recycle old electronics (this is one of those things I know is totally doable and yet need a push to actually do. Thanks, PG!). I appreciate that, like KIWI, Practically Green is about helping us do our best: We can all make a difference.

—Sarah, KIWI editorial director

Fourth of July weekend is just around the corner. How will you celebrate? If you’re planning on grilling out, consider these tips for an eco-friendly barbecue. You’ll know you’re taking better care of America the beautiful.

Clean Greener

Is your grill grate overdue for a scrub? Avoid putting toxic chemicals in contact with your dinner—you can make a homemade cleaner from pantry items. A mixture of baking soda and white vinegar will disinfect and loosen crud, lemons will cut grease, and you can rub the grate down with olive oil to prevent food from sticking again.  There are also several manufactured green grill cleaners, like SoyClean Non-Toxic BBQ Grill Cleaner, Simple Green Heavy Duty BBQ and Grill Cleaner, and Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Concentrated Cleaner

Fuel Greener

Gas grills certainly have a smaller carbon footprint than classic charcoal grills. But for many, it wouldn’t be a barbecue without the charcoal flavor. If you’re charcoal die-hard, consider natural, ‘lump’ charcoal. They burn more neutrally than run-of-the-mill briquettes, whose additives burn off as particulate matter and cause smog. Definitely avoid charcoal lighter fluid—it releases volatile organic compounds which cause ground level ozone. Try a chimney starter instead. The Big Green Egg grill’s unique design is engineered to conserve charcoal and has a built-in smoker.

Eat Greener

There’s no shortage of delicious grill-ables in season right now. Check out what’s in peaking at your farmer’s market. Need a little guidance? Health and Earth-conscious New York Times food writer Mark Bittman just published “101 Fast Recipes for Grilling.” They’re not fool-proof, but he points out some inspired flavor combinations (number 77: pickled red onions on top of cumin-carrot lamb burgers) and makes use of lots of seasonal ingredients (check out the fresh-from-the-garden grilled ratatouille recipe). Skip the paper plates, napkins and plastic cutlery for a truly green BBQ!

Decorate Greener

No need to buy all those red white and blue decorations, use what you already have. Look around the house for items you might have thrown into storage-possibly those Red and White holiday lights. Candles can be used as easy and quick lighting that is extremely inviting. Instead of buying three huge tubs of ice cream, buy one plain vanilla and add red and blue food coloring to make it as patriotic as you want!

-KIWI Editorial interns

We’ve all heard about the Children’s Tylenol recall by now: If you have certain Infant’s or Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, or Benadryl, you shouldn’t give them to your kids.

But then what? You can’t give them to your kids, so what do you do with the bottles on your shelves? Last time I saw KIWI’s pediatrician, Dr. Rosen (we chatted before his appearance on Good Morning America), we talked about safe ways to get rid of prescription and OTC drugs. (I just moved, and had a medicine cabinet to clean out.) 

He told me that number one, we should not flush drugs down the toilet. That’s dangerous for our water supply. Throwing them in the trash is better, but best of all is to get them to a group that can dispose of them with other hazardous waste. Dr. Rosen’s office participates in this kind of drug take-back program; call your doctor or pharmacist to find out if they do, too (or search for recycling centers for “unwanted or expired medication” at Earth911.com).

-Sarah, KIWI editorial director

Recently, I blogged here about the recent trip my daughters and I took to Puerto Rico.  The whole island is amazing – great food, great people, interesting things to do – but the island of Vieques, about an hour’s ferry ride from the main island – made our list of must-visits.  Vieques, full of cute open-air restaurants and artists selling their wares – looks like something Jimmy Buffet would invent.  It’s flip-flop casual and flippin’ fun.

During the day, the Vieques beaches are where it’s at, but nighttime is the time for the bio luminescent bay, the world’s best destination for viewing glow-in-the-dark dinoflagellates, a microscopic form of plankton.  Vieques’s bio bay has an especially high concentration of these tiny creatures.  When the organisms are agitated (how?  By your kids’ swimming among them, of course!), they throw off a bluish light.  Get them in your hair and it looks like you’ve been sprinkled with fairy dust; swim with them in the water, and it will appear that a ghost is dogpaddling along.  If your kids are anything like mine, they won’t get out until they’re pruny. 

Head to the bio bay on a night with just a sliver of a moon.  While many tour operators take tours out, be sure to look for one that offers a kayaking option, not a boat – the fun part of the bio bay is jumping right in (and don’t worry, the water’s warm)!  One note of caution: Although all tour guests wear  life vests on the bay, you’ll need at least a one adult per kid ratio.  It’s dark out there with no moon, and you’ll want to keep a close eye on your swimming kids.

—Guest blogger Lisa McElroy

April 22nd is Earth Day. I believe (and I’m sure you’ll agree!) that every day is a good day to teach children to be kind to our planet. I’ve been asked a number of times what I do to communicate this on an ongoing basis to my four-year-old son. I’d like to share an acronym that I use to help teach Ethan about the EARTH:

-E is for Experience. Since Ethan was a baby, I have tried to expose him to nature in a way that resonates with him because for kids, it’s all about experience! From taking him outside when he was a week old to feel the rain, to crawling on the grass for the first time, to hiking in the woods when he was 2 and feeling the bark on the trees and the moss on the ground and listening for birds we can identify—the exposure to colors, textures, sights, and sounds and the opportunity to experience beautiful things about the Earth is important for building an appreciation of them.

-A is for Appreciate. With every experience, I would talk to Ethan about how important it was to appreciate the things around us. I’d tell him it’s important to be kind to the creatures on the Earth and to our natural resources in order to build an appreciation for clean water, clean air, plants, and animals.

-R is for Reuse, Recycle, Reduce. Ethan and I talk a lot about R,R,R. Always carry out what you bring in when hiking. Recycle whenever possible. Use both sides of the paper to draw. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. Turn off the lights to save energy. By incorporating these messages into our days, they become “just the way we do things” and are part of our lives and who we are.

-T is for Teach. My feeling is that every day and so many moments are teaching opportunities…and I remind myself that the most powerful teaching is by example. And there are many beautiful books and stories that help to illustrate how we all can make a difference. Stories like The Lorax really resonate with children (this is one of Ethan’s favorites!).

-H is for Help make a difference. I point out to Ethan how he can help make a difference as a young child. He picks out clothes to donate to the Red Cross, toys to donate to a local thrift shop that supports the community health services, and coats to send to keep children warm. We are also building a well as part of the Born in September program of Charity Water (as Ethan was born in September). He watched the benefit for Haiti with me and is collecting change to send to Haiti.

-Kim Bloom is the founder of RosieHippo.com, an online store that sells wooden and other all-natural, eco-friendly toys.

I’ve come across some great contests for kids lately. Is your kid ready to win big?

• Got a kid who loves to cook? Don’t miss KIWI’s own Next Great Young Chef contest. You still have a few weeks left to enter his or her favorite recipe. We’ve received lots of adorable videos already–don’t miss out on showing us how cute and talented your kid is! Not only do the winning kids get featured in KIWI, but they get cash too ($2500 for the grand prize winner!).
• Is your kid great at building things? In honor of Earth Day, PBS KIDS GO!’s Design Squad recently launched the Trash to Treasure contest, which challenges kids (ages 5 to 19) to create a new invention out of—you guessed it—trash. Three winners will get to go to Boston and be on the Design Squad show. Super cool!
• Does your kid have great ideas for helping others? The Be BIG in Your Community Contest is sponsored by Scholastic (and Clifford the Big Red Dog), and encourages kids to think of big ways to help out their communities (last year’s grand prize winner wanted a playground that would work for everyone, including kids with special needs). The winning team gets $25,000 to make their big dream happen!
  

-Sarah, KIWI Editorial Director

Great iphone apps for kids! These’ll get your family outside from spring break well through summer:

• Turn the park into a wonderland. With the amazingly cool app The Hidden Park, your family will see your local park in a whole new way. You may not realize it, but there are hidden trolls and fairies in your neighborhood—you just need this app to see them. If you don’t live near one of the big-city parks already part of the app, you can use the Park Builder to create your own magical scenes.
• Go geocaching. Geocaching is like a scavenger hunt–by using GPS coordinates, you can find little treasures hidden by other geocachers. It’s a great family activity, and you can use the Geocaching app to search for more than a million stashes hidden all over the country.
• Enjoying the scenery? Find out what you’re looking at! The TreeBook app will help you identify the 100 most common trees in North America by looking closely at the leaves. Your kids will get a kick out of narrowing down the possibilities until–success!–there’s only one tree it could be.

-Sarah, KIWI editorial director

Last spring, nearly one billion people in 4,100 cities worldwide supported the fight against global warming by going dark for Earth Hour. The annual event, which asks people to turn off their lights (and TVs, and computers, and cell phone, etc!) for one hour, takes place again tomorrow, March 27th at 8:30 pm local time. Mega landmarks across the globe like the pyramids of Giza, Golden Gate Bridge, Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, Las Vegas Strip, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (just to name a few) are all participating—so join in on the planet-friendly fun! Pledge your participation and learn more at earthhour.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Planning a family movie night? Keep your kids entertained and teach them them a thing or two about caring for the planet at the same time with these green-themed flicks:

• March of the Peguins. Adorable, tuxedo-clad birds walk (and walk, and walk, and walk) to raise their babies and find food.
• Wall-E. Seven hundred years in the future, Earth has become uninhabitable. Leave it to this small but mighty robot to make the planet healthy enough for humans again.
• Bee Movie. Barry B. Benson wants to do more with his life than just make honey. His plan? To venture out of the hive and get a bee’s-eye view of the human world.
• Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. An oldy but a goodie: Fairies (and a hilarious bat voiced by Robin Williams) try to save their rain forest home from human destruction.

Does your family have a favorite eco-flick? Let us know!

Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Happy New Year! This week, we’re highlighting bloggers that are participating in One Small Change. Started by Hip Mountain Mama, the project is challenging families to adopt one planet-friendly change each month leading up to Earth Day (4/22/10). Want to participate? Learn more here.

• Hip Mountain Mama‘s first small change towards living greener? Cutting back on TP use with the family cloth.
• Plain and Joyful Living isn’t giving up coffee—but her family is saving energy by brewing the drink on a wood stove.
• Green Acres in the City shares some pretty pictures of the snow and her family’s first small change: Installing a low-flow shower head.
• Earthmonkey Mama‘s family is cutting back on their meat consumption, opting for 2-3 veg meals each week.
• Recycling isn’t yet commonplace in Gypsy Forest‘s southern Louisiana community, but it’s her family’s small change for this month.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Many families love to take advantage of their kids’ holiday breaks from school by taking a vacation. After finding your green destination and planning your itinerary of touring, dining, and relaxing (perhaps by the beach!), follow these green tips to ensure your big trip has as little impact on the planet as possible:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Try your best to follow this mantra whenever possible!
• Use public transportation like bus, train, or subway instead of taxicabs. If possible, rent bicycles—or just walk!
• Lodge at an eco-friendly hotel that’s dedicated to sustainability, and be sure to re-use your hotel linens and towels.
• Opt for a digital camera instead of a disposable one.
• Before leaving home, unplug your electrical appliances, turn your water heater down, and change your thermostat setting.
• Pack lightly.

–Brittany, KIWI marketing manager

December is a prime-time for household energy use: In addition to the usual electronic gadgets like cell phone chargers, TVs, and computers, there’s the added burden of holiday lights, plus regular lights that simply stay on longer due to fewer daylight hours. Not only does all this electricity add up to a higher energy bill, it also makes for a higher carbon footprint. But don’t worry—there’s a simple solution (and it doesn’t involve sitting in the dark!).

Believe it or not, electronic devices suck up energy from power outlets even when they aren’t in use. How to stop them? Unplug! If it sounds like a pain, try using a power strip—that way, you’ll only deal with one big plug instead of a ton of smaller ones. And if that’s not an option, at least unplug the items that aren’t used as frequently (such as a microwave, which, compared to something like a lamp or TV, is used less.) It’s an incredibly easy (not to mention incredibly effective) way to curb your energy use—so there’s really no excuse not to get in the habit!

Need more motivation? Check out this chart that illustrates the amount of standby power used by different devices and appliances.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

The calendar might not say so, but with the threat of snow in the forecast all the way down here in Austin, Texas, I’m declaring winter officially here. And since the heater in my apartment is broken, I’m having to find other ways to keep warm. The good news? I’m using less resources, and consequently saving some money on this month’s heating bill. Whether you’re looking to lower your home’s carbon footprint, cut energy costs, or just deal with a cold or drafty living space—there’s plenty of alternative means for staying toasty. Some of my tried-and-true methods:

1. Dress for the occasion. Don cold-weather staples like thick socks, thermal underwear, and plenty of flannel. For extra coziness, I like to wrap myself in a blanket, too (and pretend I’m a superhero or wizard).
2. Drink up. Now’s the time to keep the warm liquids flowing. Some of my favorites? Ginger, lemon, and honey steeped in hot water; raw hot chocolate (made with boiling water, cocoa powder, vanilla, raw almond butter, coconut oil, and agave nectar—who knew healthy could taste so good?); or for something savory, a mug of steaming veggie miso broth.
3. End the draft. The one creeping in under through your doors and windows, that is. While caulking around cracks is a great option, it’s one I can’t afford. Instead, I line edges with blankets and towels.
4. Go in reverse. The first time I heard that reversing the spin of your ceiling fan would make you warm instead of cool, I was seriously amazed. Make it turn clockwise to push warm air down.
5. Move, move, move. When you’re cold, it’s tempting to sit huddled in your favorite cozy nook under layers of blankets. But you’ll up your body temperature if you keep moving (and burn some extra calories in the process).
6. Use food. According to traditional medicine, ginger and cinnamon are warming spices. Add some to a piping hot bowl of porridge!
7. Try a hot water bottle. They conform to your body and stay warm for a while! I like to put one on my stomach and rest my hands underneath.
8. Get close! My favorite. Cuddle with your kids, your partner, or your companion animals—and keep each other warm!

Did I miss anything? What are your family’s easy, inexpensive ways for keeping warm when the mercury drops?

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

We’re not sure whether it’s the economy, a greater interest in eco-conscious living, or both, but the popularity of swapping has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Exchanging clothes, books, toys, and other goods with friends, family, or other community members is a great way to save money and reduce consumption, but specialty swapping sites are where you’re likely to find the biggest selection. Some of our favorites:

• Bookmooch.com. If the library doesn’t have the book you or your kid is looking for, try this site, which allows users to browse through tons of books that other people want to get rid of. You can also use the site to clear off some space on your bookshelf, too, by listing titles your family wants to give away.
• Dignswap.com. This site bills itself as a clothes swap mecca for fashionistas–so there’s tons of clothes, shoes, and accessories for women. But there’s also plenty of kids clothes and accessories, too!
• Toystotrade.com. We’re thinking the name of this site might be a misnomer, because there’s more here than just toys. Toys to Trade also helps families share cribs, strollers, and even movies.
• Swapitgreen.com. Swap it Green is an online, point-based yard sale. Users earn points for offering up goods ranging from watches to CDs, and spend points to grab up items from other people.

Have a favorite swapping site? Share it with us in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Last month, we discussed the importance of water conservation, plus a way for families to determine if they might be using too much water. If you took the water footprint test and found your result to be less than desirable, don’t worry! The online magazine, GOOD, has created a handy chart that shows there are plenty of tiny changes you can make that have the potential to add up to big water savings, resulting in a greener planet and a lower water bill. Some of our favorites?

• You’ll save up to 16 gallons of water by using a dishwasher instead of hand-washing dishes. (You’ll also save some time cleaning up after a meal, and save your hands from feeling too dry!)
• You’ll save about 33 gallons of water by nixing soda for…a glass of water! (You’ll also create less trash, save money on grocery bills, and save on the headache from dealing with kids on a sugar rush!)
• You’ll save about 600 gallons of water by serving salad for dinner instead of hamburgers. (You’ll also save money on grocery bills and get your family to eat a ton of vitamins and nutrients!)

How does your family save water? Let us know in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Recycling may not be super exciting, but it is super important. Getting your little ones enthusiastic about recycling their bottles, cans, and paper goods will not only reduce your family’s landfill load–it will also help them build good eco-conscious habits for life. Encourage the practice by keeping it easy and fun with some of these ideas:

• Make recycling rules clear. Keep a list of what is and isn’t recyclable in a prominent spot, such as the refrigerator or a bulletin board. You can also use different colored bins for different items, like blue for paper items and yellow for glass, to help little ones remember what goes where.
• Try some friendly competition. Encourage each family member to see how many items he or she can recycle in a week, or how few items end up in the trash. Take it a step further by creating a neighborhood recycling competition!
• Do some research. As a family, learn about the new things that are made out of recycled material, and try to identify them on your daily outings. For instance, you can point out a playground made of plastic lumber that may have come from old water bottles.
• Find incentives. Find out if RecycleBank or another similar program that rewards recyclers exists in your area. Coupons for free ice cream just from sorting your trash? Sounds like fun!
• Be a good role model. OK, it won’t make recycling more fun, but make sure to practice what you preach!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congratulations to KIWI-staffer and blog guru, Marygrace Stergakos, who was married this past weekend to Sam Taylor.

All of us at KIWI wish Mr. and Mrs. Taylor a life filled with happiness!

Looking for a fun family activity for a hot summer’s day? Make scrumptious homemade ice cream-in-a-bag with your kids. Not only will it beat the heat, it’s a great activity for a play date! All it takes is a little milk, vanilla, sugar, salt, ice and 15 minutes. Add your own twist with fresh fruit, candy, or sprinkles and whip cream on top.

Ingredients:
½ cup organic milk
½ tsp. organic vanilla extract
1 ½ tbsp. organic sugar (or to taste)
6 tbsp. rock salt
Ice

Supplies:
1 quart-sized plastic bag
1 gallon-sized plastic bag

Preparation:
1. Pour the milk, vanilla, and sugar in the quart-sized bag. Make sure it’s sealed tight, so salty water won’t get in it!
2. Fill the gallon-sized bag with ice and add the salt.
3. Place the quart bag into the gallon bag and seal tight.
4. Now for the fun part! Set a timer and tell your little tike to shake the bag as fast as he can for 10 minutes. Don’t be afraid to get creative with this part: “I combined it with a trampoline one time and asked my kids how many bounces it takes to become ice cream,” said Lynn Brunelle, kids’-science-book author and mother of two.
5. Remove the smaller bag from the ice, and wipe it down so you don’t get salt in your ice cream. Scoop out your cold treat and enjoy!

*Tip: The bag will get very cold, so wrap it in a towel or have your child wear gloves.

Serves 1

—Stephanie Hacker

Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz regarding San Francisco’s pending recycling legislation, which would make the practice (as well as composting) mandatory in the progressive California city. Today, SF mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he will be signing the bill into law, making it the first of its kind that will require residents to recycle, plus businesses to compost their food scraps. The new law is part of San Francisco’s larger goal to achieve zero-waste status by 2020.

The fine for not recycling? Up to $1,000.

While most people see recycling and composting as a good thing, some are uncomfortable with such a  law, fearing that legislation like this will only snowball. Will people start being fined if they don’t feed their children organic food, for instance? If they drive their car instead of walking, bicycling, or using public transportation? [Read more →]

In an effort to help consumers learn about the chemicals often lurking in conventionally-grown food, The Pesticide Action Network recently launched WhatsOnMyFood.com, a website that seeks to spread awareness of the harmful effects of pesticides on our health and environment.

Synthetic pesticides play a huge role in conventional farming practices, and have been implicated as a cause for range  a range of illnesses including autism and Parkinson’s disease. PAN is committed to working towards the reduction of pesticide use, as well as collaborating with partner companies to voice their collective opposition against the use of chemicals in our food.

Case in point: the average American child receives more than five “servings” of chemical residues in their food and water each day, according to WhatsOnMyFood?. Further, the website allows you to search by food or pesticide to learn what’s potentially hiding in your meal. It also offers ways for concerned parents and families to take action in the fight against the use of these hazardous materials.

As for us? We’re going organic whenever possible. What about your family?

-Brittany, KIWI Staffer

Our sun-loving crew compiled a list of the best summer-related content KIWI has to offer. Whether you’re into surfing, nature walks, gardening, or cooking, you’ll find plenty of ways to have fun all summer while being kind to the planet. Read all about it at kiwimagonline.com/summerfun.

Swimming pools are summer vacation icons. Whether it was playing Marco Polo with my eyes closed, psyching myself up to jump off the high dive, or waiting through the agony of adult swim, as soon as I get a whiff of that chlorine smell, I immediately think back to those gloriously hot, sunny days. Unfortunately, while the smell of chlorine conjures up some pretty sweet nostalgia, the stuff certainly isn’t doing anything for my health. As a chemical bleaching agent that is actually toxic in large doses, chlorine can pose a real health risk to swimmers big and small.

Although chlorine has been used since the 1920′s to keep pools clean,  chlorinated water has been found to irritate the eyes and skin, as well as trigger asthma. When the stuff interacts with the dirt and sweat on our bodies, it forms a harmful chemical called trichloramine, which a 2003 Belgian study found in high concentrations in blood samples of children who frequently swim in pools.

[Read more →]

If you (or your kids) are dreaming of sleeping in dorms, eating in cafeterias, or going to school with thousands of more students than you could imagine while in high school; then, we want to make sure your college experience is as green as can be. Sustainability on college campuses is on the rise, but how eco-friendly is your dream school? Good news: our 2008 Green College Report is available online. Even better, we just launched our online survey for colleges and universities to apply to enter our 2009 Green College Report. We’ll be featuring this report in our September/October 2009 issue of KIWI Magazine in addition to providing you with our complete online version.

Click here to join our 2009 list.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and believer that every college and university can practice sustainability

This Mother’s Day, don’t forget the mamma that takes care of us all—the earth! Give your family a nudge in the green direction to seek out a Mother’s Day gift that shows their love for you and the planet.

Go With Organic Blooms. Point your family toward local farmers’ markets for pretty daffodils, peonies, and ranunculus, which are all in season during May. They can also seek arrangements at orangicbouquet.com.

Wrap Yourself in Silk. If your trusty flannel bathrobe is starting to look shabby, a new silk one will make every night feel like an at-home spa. Check out VivaTerra’s floral, kimono-style robe.

Make it Sweet. Tell your family you’ll be willing to share if they give you a sweet treat this Mother’s Day. Try an organic chocolate sampler from Dagoba, which practices full-circle sustainability in their growing, buying, and manufacturing processes, or a handmade vegan cookie sampler from organic, fair-trade baker Liz Lovely.

Take a Spa Day. Sometimes, the best gift is a little rest and relaxation, so make sure your family knows the name of your favorite holistic spa. A soothing massage, cleansing facial, and tranquil environment will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to dive back into the crazy world of mommyhood.

Get Reading. Sharing a mom-themed bedtime story with your little ones is the perfect way to top off this family-filled day. Here are some books to get your started:

• Mama’s Kiss by Jane Yolen. If someone blows you a kiss and you don’t catch it, where does it go? Follow a little girl as she chases momma’s missed kiss all over the place and finally catches it. The illustrations are perfect, showing a fluttering, flittering, elusive kiss.
• LIFE with Mother by The Editors of Life Magazine. Honestly, some books should simply come with a complimentary box of tissues. Life Magazine has compiled a gorgeous photo tribute to moms around the world. The photos in both color and black and white are incredibly touching. They depict the intense bond of mother and child. A few famous faces appear, but this is every mom’s story.
• Mommy, Mama, and Me (board book) by Lesléa Newman (Tricycle Press). This sweet little board book takes a look at a family which has two moms and the happy style of play and love that each mother has. The illustrations are simple and perfectly accompany the text.

It took a while, but spring arrived in full force last week in the Northeast.  From Saturday to Tuesday, we had nothing but sunshine, with temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees for four straight days!  Of course, after being holed up inside for what felt like the longest winter ever, I jumped at the chance to spend endless amounts of time outside–more specifically, taking nature walks!

Nature walks are a fun, easy way to connect with your environment because its all about observation.  After strolling through the woods for a little while, your thoughts start to melt away, and you catch yourself focusing on nothing and everything at the same time.  I say nothing because all of life’s situations, concerns, dates, and deadlines simply fall off the radar while your senses become fully present in nature.  You feel the sun on your back, hear the rustle of your footsteps (and likely, of animals scurrying), smell the freshness of the forest, and see all of the wonderous plant and animal life.

This weekend, gather your family together for a walk through the woods.  Enjoy each other’s company, and enjoy the vibrancy that becomes apparent in our planet’s offerings when you are fully engaged in nature.

Marygrace, KIWI intern and nature walk enthusiast

Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) commemorates the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862 in Puebla. It is recognized around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. For dinner tonight, create an authentic Mexican dish that’s mindful of the Earth. Try our Tofu and Cheese Quesadillas. Got your own delicious recipe? Post in a comment below.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of tofu and cheese quesadillas

Living near Denver, Colorado? If so, the place to be this weekend is the Green Festival at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202) on Saturday May 2nd from 10am – 7pm and Sunday May 3rd from 11am – 6pm.

“Having just hosted the greenest national political convention ever, we think Denver is a natural site for the Green Festival in May 2009 and are excited to host this successful event. Denver is proud to be creating safe, healthy, sustainable communities and a strong local economy by raising awareness, sharing best practices and collaborating on greening initiatives. The Green Festival is a terrific place to trade success stories, brainstorm innovative new ideas and learn about the newest technologies and services.”

– Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, a geologist turned brewpub pioneer who had never run for political office, elected Mayor of Denver in 2003 and reelected in 2007.

Stop by our KIWI Magazine booth Booth #1213 to say “hi”! Green Festival is a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and green festivaling all weekend in Denver

Earth Day gives us a moment of reflection on ourselves and the environment. This year, make a green resolution. Here’s mine: I want to cook at home with lots of veggies at least 5x per week (if not more). We are joining a CSA so hopefully this will be easy (fingers crossed).

Do you have a green resolution? We want to hear so post it in a comment below. And so do our friends at Whole Foods Market. Post a comment on their blog to win a $25 gift card and a FEED 100 bag.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and celebrating Earth Day every day

The official Earth Day is fast approaching and even if you believe as we do, that the Earth should be celebrated every day, there’s nothing wrong with stopping on one particular day and considering our relationship with the planet. And what better activity on Earth Day, than to open our children’s hearts to the environment by settling in at the library or at home with a beautifully written and illustrated book. Here are some of our favorites for various ages:

Young children

• The Tree by Dana Lyons

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

• Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals by Steve Jenkins

Tweens

• A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids by Julie Hall

• Make It! by  Jane Bull

• Gaia Girls (series) by Lee Welles

Teens

• Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Silversten

• The New 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth by Sophie Javna

• What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character by Barbara Lewis

Our top pick?

• An Environmental Guide from A to Z by Tim Magner. Right now, you can get it at 25% off the cover price by entering the code, “celebrate” during checkout.

-Lynn and Corey Colwell, mother-daughter duo and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

Find lunchtime waste worrisome? This adorable, sandwich sack lets you bag the baggie habit for a more sustainable option. All you need to get started is:

1/2 yard oilcloth
4 large paper clips
1 hook and eye
2 buttons
1 thin hair elastic
Pinking shears
Ruler
Scissors
Sewing machine
Needle and thread

Click for direction to get started.

– Stephanie Singer, KIWI staff and wannabe crafter

The rain outside is another reminder that April has arrived. It’s the week of Passover and Easter and all I can think about is planning my Earth Day celebrations. Last April 22nd we celebrated Earth Day with our list of top 22 fun ways to celebrate our planet.

This year, celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at a local, organic farm or donating to an environmental organization. KIWI will be attending the 1st Annual Earth Day Festival at Carusi Middle School located at 315 Roosevelt Drive in Cherry Hill, NJ on Saturday, April 18th from 11am – 3pm. On April 22nd we’ll be digging in the dirt at Mill Creek Farm located at 49th and Brown in Philadelphia, PA.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?  Tell us by posting a comment below

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of Mother Earth

Did you get fooled today? I did. I am a frequent Whole Foods Market website reader. Today, for a limited time only, you can purchase organic air for only $6.99. Or get an exclusive recipe for toast. Very clever Whole Foods Market…you fooled me!

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and April fooled

In a few months’ time, I’ll be moving halfway across the country, so this year’s spring cleaning ritual has taken on even greater necessity.  I want to keep the clutter out of my new apartment, so that means paring down my possessions as much as possible.  More specifically, it means paring down my shoe collection.

Luckily, I can recycle my footwear by donating it to Soles4Souls, a charity that provides used shoes to people who need them.  The group has currently teamed up with Meryl Starr, an organization and motivation expert, for a nationwide Spring Cleaning program aimed at encouraging people to donate their gently-worn shoes.

According to Soles4Souls, approximately 300 million pairs of shoes were tossed in our landfills last year.  This is pretty unacceptable, not to mention entirely unnecessary!  Thousands of shoe stores across the country are accepting donations and holding shoe drives–find one to stop at on your way to the farmer’s market!

Marygrace, KIWI intern

Today is our Gotcha Day. This is the anniversary of the day, 10 years ago, that Maylee became my child. Many adoptive families celebrate their own “Gotcha Day”,  “adoption day” or “family day”. Whatever they call it, it’s an important holiday for most adoptive parents and their kids. As I tell my daughter, our first Gotcha Day was the happiest day of my life⎯it was the day I won the lottery, it was the day that all of my dreams came true.

Chinese adoption is much different now than it was 10 years ago. The regulations are stricter, with marriage, health and even certain body mass index requirements.  The wait for a Chinese baby is on average three years (for us, 13 months). A friend  of mine is expected to get her child in the year 2015⎯an almost unbearable amount of time to wait for her dreams to come true. So, my family is very, very fortunate.

Ten years later, my baby is a tween; she loves to draw and write, and wants to learn Chinese calligraphy. She’s not crazy about the Jonas Brothers, but she likes the Naked Brothers. She cherishes her Chinese heritage and gets upset when kids in her class talk about inferior Chinese-made products. She sings our national anthem with pride and jumped for joy when Obama was elected. She is American in every way. But on Gotcha Day she is, to me, still Mao Xiao Qiong, the smiling Chinese baby that was placed in my arms by a tearful nanny from the orphanage.

Happy Gotcha Day to Eric, Gwen, Perri; Kurt, Meghan, Nina, Ella; Dan, Leslie-Jean, Bethany, Miriam, Cristian, Carl; Steve, Kelly, Alex; Doug, Sara, Kailyn and most of all, to my angel, Maylee.

–Maxine Wolf, CEO & Publisher, KIWI Magazine

Tonight, Saturday March 28 at 8:30 p.m., your family can show support for the planet by participating in the third-annual Earth Hour. Last year, 50 million people turned out their lights for one hour in honor of the fight against global warming. Learn more and pledge to go dark at earthhour.org.

–  Marygrace, KIWI staff

All of us here at KIWI are excited about the launch of KIWI Community, a resource we created to help families have more fun outdoors.  In addition to tons of fun ideas for things to do in your very own backyard, KIWI Community has the lowdown on things like nature walks, green zoos and theme parks, nature centers, family gardening, local community events, green lodging options, as well as a rotating variety of fun contests and discounts on all things green-related. You can also add comments about local events happening in your area.

Daylight savings time just started and the warm spring air is beginning to settle in.  Visit KIWI Community at kiwimagonline.com/community to plan a day of outdoor fun for your family!

Marygrace, KIWI intern and lover of spring, the outdoors, and sunshine!

Change we need, indeed!  And on this first day of spring, we’re going to get it, thanks to Michelle Obama and 23 Washington DC fifth graders.  Together, they will break ground on the South Lawn for the nation’s first White House garden since that kept by Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II.

With over 55 different edibles being grown, including hearty greens, lettuces, peppers, tomatillos, berries, herbs, as well as two beehives for honey, the organic garden will be a chief source of food for the first family.  It will also provide a valuable learning experience to participating students who, along with the President, will do their part in planting, weeding, and harvesting. Even more important, the White House garden will serve to influence mainstream America on the value of local, sustainable food.  (The entire garden set up cost around $200–who says it’s too expensive to eat well?)

Michelle Obama is taking this opportunity to advocate the necessity of good food for our children.  She’s encouraging parents to get healthy with their kids by upping their fresh (locally produced, if possible) fruit and vegetable intake, limiting processed foods, and preparing more meals at home.  Interested in starting a garden of your own?  Learn all about it from Kiwi Community’s article on family gardening.

-Marygrace, KIWI intern and organic gardening supporter

With the local, sustainable food movement gaining serious momentum, you’ve probably heard the growing buzz about community supported agriculture, or CSA, over the past few years.  Joining one gives your family the opportunity to support a local farm by providing it with the investment capital necessary at the start of each growing season, well before any crops are harvested.  In much of the country, that time is right now!

Participating in a CSA is basically like paying for an entire season’s worth of farmers’ market goods without ever having to make the trip.  Pay for a share (usually enough to feed a family of four) now, then receive a box of fresh, local produce each week throughout harvesting time. While some CSAs do deliver, most drop their boxes at a central location for member pick-up.

Vegetable CSAs are the most common, but many farms also offer shares of fruit, meat, eggs or dairy, and even flowers.  No matter what type of food you receive, however, the benefits of CSAs remain: Your food supply will be healthy, as fresh as fresh gets, and have a low environmental impact, while your family will be connected to the local land and community.  To find a CSA near you, visit localharvest.org.

Marygrace, KIWI intern and local produce fanatic