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.

In celebration of Earth Day, we have a special contest running on our bookworms section. Enter to win either From BBC Video comes Planet Earth – The Complete Series (DVD) or Planet Earth DVD Game. All you have to do is go to our bookworms section and add a comment telling us the one change you are making to help the earth this year. Enter no later than May 10th. Click this link to get started. 

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.

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

What do Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, conservationist Jane Goodall and the founder of Burt’s Bees, Roxanne Quimby, all have in common? Each one of these women has significantly contributed to making Mother Earth a greener, healthier and safer place. Following in these footsteps, the theme of this year’s National Women’s History Month is Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.

What began in California in 1978 with just a single week dedicated to recognizing the history of women has since grown to encompass the entire month of March. Whether you’re teaching your child about the founding mothers of our country or telling stories about your own mother, we encourage you to help make National Women’s History Month last all year!

– Sara, KIWI intern and writer of herstory