- a guest post by Zachary Slovin

Get ready Washington, the babies are coming (and they are angry!).  Thousands of babies are crawling towards D.C. to "say no" to toxic chemicals found in our homes.

The Million Baby Crawl is an online effort by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF) coalition, Autism Society of America, Breast Cancer Fund, the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Seventh Generation (a leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household and personal care products).

Creating a baby on the site takes only seconds and they’re trying to reach a goal of 1 million "crawlers" before January 2010.

Creating a crawler is essentially signing an online petition aimed at overhauling the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has no real authority over the TSCA and in the past 33 years, has required testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds developed for products used in the homes.

So make a crawler, tell everyone you know, and help create some safe barriers between us and the toxic chemicals in our homes.

To find out more, please visit:

Million Baby Crawl

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit The Million Baby Crawl – for Nontoxic Homes is a post from:

What’s round like an orange, textured like a porcupine and green like a lime? It’s the green wash ball. This ball works by bouncing around natural ceramics inside the ball that raise the ph level of the water. This process is much like how traditional detergent works but instead of friction they use chemicals to raise the ph level. Also the texturing on the ball helps loosen dirt and at the same time softens clothes without the use of chemical fabric softeners.

To use, simply place ball in washer without detergent or fabric softener and wash as usual. The green ball can be used 7 times per week and then refreshed by place in the sun for 1 hour. Following this pattern of use will give you enough cleaning power to last 1,000 washes or 3 years worth of laundry. The green ball safeguards clothes, activates water’s natural cleaning power, eliminates odors, cleans with an antibacterial effect, removes dirt without chemical detergents and avoids allergic reactions to clothing detergents and fabric softeners. The green ball is safe for septic tanks and in the production of gray water. Also with college starting the green ball is an easy way for students to do their laundry with one simple ball. So the next time you’re in the detergent aisle think about trying the green wash ball.

Also, while laundry is on your mind think about the art of clothes drying. While fall is quickly approaching, the art of hanging your clothes on the line to dry is liberating and nostalgic. One can hang clothes on the line and enjoy the sun and breeze of the day. This enjoyment continues when the clothes are taken down in their crispness and the scent lingers in your closet and drawers. But if you cannot hang your clothes out or, have allergies, using a dryer to dry your clothes is your only option. However, you can save money, soften your clothes naturally, and save time by using dryer balls. These balls placed as pairs in your dryer beats one’s clothes to soften and speed up drying time.

So even the art of doing laundry can be green. Green wash balls reduce the use of plastic, cut down on unplanned trips to the store when you run out unexpectedly and soften one’s clothes by the tumbling of the ball in the washer much like what has been done for centuries with beating clothes on rocks. The green wash ball can also be used in the refrigerator to help keep fruits and vegetables fresh. The final task on laundry day is drying and it can be the most enjoyable. Mother Earth has provided the most wonderful dryer for clothes, the outdoors. But if you cannot take advantage of Mother Earth’s dryer the dryer balls in the dryer are the next best thing. While this act uses energy the beating of the ball softens clothes, cuts drying time which saves energy and if nothing else creates rhythmic music that spices up a mundane task.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Laundry Day: Try Green Wash Ball is a post from:

As kids are going back to school and schedules become more hectic families are looking for inexpensive, quick, nutrional meals.  All three of these requirements can be met by using the “other white meat;”  tofu, tempeh, seitan, and textured vegetable protein.

Tofu

Tofu is the most popular as far as meat alternatives.  It is made from coagulated soy-milk curds that are pressed into blocks.  While tofu has a soft, gelatinous consistency that can never mimic meat but its limitless flavor versatility makes up for the lack of texture.  If you experiment with freezing and thawing tofu before cooking it the texture issue can be minimal and the spices used when cooking tofu can give it any flavor you choose.  As far as nutrion, tofu has nearly zero saturated fat, 100 calories, and 10 grams of protein all in a 4-ounce serving.  So when asked what’s for dinner try this recipe.

Turkey or meatloaf sandwich

1 block firm tofu

½ cup peanut butter

1-cup olive oil

¼ tamari

Drain tofu and cut into 1/3-inch slabs.  Mix peanut butter, olive oil, and tamari.  Pour mixture over tofu and marinate for 1 hour or longer.  The longer it soaks the more flavor will be absorbed.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes on each side.  Take out of oven and cover in breadcrumbs seasoned with a pinch of garlic and onion powders and bake again for 8 minutes per side.  Pour buffalo sauce or tofu and serve on a whole-wheat roll or bread.

Tempeh

Indonesia is the home of this meat alternative.  Tempeh is created by fermenting whole soybeans and forming them into cakes that have a nutty and chewy texture.  Just like tofu tempeh absorbs whatever flavor it comes in contact with and its meaty texture makes it a great substitute for hamburger or pork.  Tempeh has 22 grams of protein in a 4-ounce serving.  So when asked what’s for dinner try this recipe.

Vegetarian Chorizo

1 brick premade tempeh

Oil, onions, cayenne pepper, cumin, toasted funnel, coriander, garlic, shallots, paprika, onion and garlic powders, and parsley flakes

Take the brick of premade tempeh and crumble it like chopped chorizo sized pieces.  Sauté in remaining ingredients adding as needed for individual taste.  One may use this in any Mexican dish as a vegetarian chorizo substitute.

Seitan

This was invented allegedly by Chinese monks who were looking for other forms of protein substitutes.  Seitan is wheat gluten or in other words the protein part of wheat.  Washing the wheat until all the starch is gone and the gluten remains creates seitan.  This is then cooked in a soy sauce and seaweed stock.  Seitan’s texture is the most meat like and is used in vegetarian Asian cuisine to prepare mock meat dishes.  It works great as a mock steak due to its chewy texture, not to mention it’s fat free with twice as much protein as tofu for a 4-ounce serving.  So when asked what’s for dinner try this recipe.

• Mock Country-Fried Steak
• Unseasoned strips or cuts of seitan
• Flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper
• Oil
• Egg

Beat egg and mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper together.  Dredge strips or cuts in flour then egg and repeat in flour.  Deep-fry or panfry and serve with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and fruit.

Textured Vegetable Protein

If anyone has had Bac-O they have had TVP.  This is made from defatted soy flour, which is a by-product of making soybean oil, and shaped into flakes or chunks.  When purchasing TVP keep in mind it’s dehydrated and will need to be rehydrated before using.  Try rehydrating by mixing 1 cup of TVP with 1 cup of hot water and soak for 5 to 10 minutes.  You will need to experiment with the soaking time to meet your needs and texture.  TVP has 94 calories, 14 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and zero fat per ounce.  Due to TVP’s meaty texture it is best used as a ground beef or turkey substitute.  So when asked what’s for dinner think about the “other white meat” that provides and economical source of protein at a reasonable price.

And as a footnote if you would like to reduce your individual impact on climate change choosing an alternative meat source is a good choice in reducing your carbon footprint.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit WHAT’S FOR DINNER: Nutritional and Green Meals for Kids is a post from:

I, personally, love to clean. I love the look of a sparkling kitchen and a tidy bathroom. However, I am not as fond of the toxic smell of chemicals, which is usually a side effect of having a clean home. So, I was thrilled when I finally tried Method’s line of soaps, surface cleaners and detergents. They are ‘people against dirty’ (read, people after my own heart) and they stand for great design, sustainability, safety and good-smelling cleaning products.

Method offsets their carbon from all of their employees’ commutes and the energy it takes to run their office buildings. They also offset the energy consumed by the manufacture of products through renewable energy credits. They work to reduce their energy consumption from making, shipping and using their products. One of the ways they can do this is by manufacturing concentrated soaps and detergents. Oftentimes, soap contains a large percent of water, but Method makes more concentrated products which allow less packaging materials and less weight. This results in fewer carbon emissions during the shipping and distribution of products.

In terms of safety, Method has followed the ideas of Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, in using completely natural, biodegradable and harmless ingredients in their products. They were recognized at the ‘champions’ level of Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative, as part of the EPA’s Design for the Environment program. The program works to reduce chemical risk and improve energy efficiency to be better for both people and the planet. The EPA now has 1,034 products and counting as part of this program, which have eliminated more than 270 million pounds of harmful chemicals. Method currently has 50 products in compliance with the DfE program.

Method also prominently displays their ingredient lists on their website, breaking each product down ingredient by ingredient. You can feel good about knowing exactly what’s in every product you use. The people at Method work with Michael’s Braungart’s team at the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA) to carefully consider every material that goes into their final products, and to make sure that the products won’t pollute any of our water systems with harmful chemicals.

Method makes Cradle to Cradle certified products, which is a huge achievement in itself, but they also became endorsed as a Cradle to Cradle company recently, which means that they are environmentally sustainable not only in their products, but in all aspects of their business.

Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, the founders of Method, have also figured out how to capture the market (and my gratitude) with their sleek designs. I no longer feel the need to stuff cleaning products under the sink or put them in non-descript containers; my dish soap stands proudly out on the counter. The bottles are 100% recycled plastic and Method uses labels that won’t jam up recycling systems. And did I mention they are pretty?

I knew I loved Method’s products the moment I read the bottles and discovered scents like ‘pink grapefruit, cucumber, ginger yuzu’ among others. Thankfully, we finally have another choice for scents in the cleaning aisle besides lemon.

Method has revolutionized a market which has historically been seen as environmentally unsound. They have made effective cleaning products that can be washed down drain without the subsequent environmental guilt pains. They have made it so we can take off the rubber gloves, and we can keep our cleaning products on display. Above all, they have set a standard of sustainability.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Clean and Green: Method’s Home and Personal Care Products is a post from:

I, personally, love to clean. I love the look of a sparkling kitchen and a tidy bathroom. However, I am not as fond of the toxic smell of chemicals, which is usually a side effect of having a clean home. So, I was thrilled when I finally tried Method’s line of soaps, surface cleaners and detergents. They are ‘people against dirty’ (read, people after my own heart) and they stand for great design, sustainability, safety and good-smelling cleaning products.

Method offsets their carbon from all of their employees’ commutes and the energy it takes to run their office buildings. They also offset the energy consumed by the manufacturer of products through renewable energy credits. They work to reduce their energy consumption from making, shipping and using their products. One of the ways they can do this is by manufacturing concentrated soaps and detergents. Oftentimes, soap contains a large percent of water, but Method makes more concentrated products which allow less packaging materials and less weight. This results in fewer carbon emissions during the shipping and distribution of products.

In terms of safety, Method has followed the ideas of Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, in using completely natural, biodegradable and harmless ingredients in their products. They were recognized at the ‘champions’ level of Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative, as part of the EPA’s Design for the Environment program. The program works to reduce chemical risk and improve energy efficiency to be better for both people and the planet. The EPA now has 1,034 products and counting as part of this program, which have eliminated more than 270 million pounds of harmful chemicals. Method currently has 50 products in compliance with the DfE program.

Method also prominently displays their ingredient lists on their website, breaking each product down ingredient by ingredient. You can feel good about knowing exactly what’s in every product you use. The people at Method work with Michael Braungart’s team at the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA) to carefully consider every material that goes into their final products, and to make sure that the products won’t pollute any of our water systems with harmful chemicals.

Method makes Cradle to Cradle certified products, which is a huge achievement in itself. They also became endorsed as a Cradle to Cradle company recently, which means that they are environmentally sustainable not only in their products, but in all aspects of their business.

Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, the founders of Method, have also figured out how to capture the market (and my gratitude) with their sleek designs. I no longer feel the need to stuff cleaning products under the sink or put them in non-descript containers; my dish soap stands proudly out on the counter. The bottles are 100% recycled plastic and Method uses labels that won’t jam up recycling systems. And did I mention they are pretty?

I knew I loved Method’s products the moment I read the bottles and discovered scents like ‘pink grapefruit, cucumber, ginger yuzu’ among others. Thankfully, we finally have another choice for scents in the cleaning aisle besides lemon.

Method has revolutionized a market which has historically been seen as environmentally unsound. They have made effective cleaning products that can be washed down the drain without the subsequent environmental guilt pains. They have made it so we can take off the rubber gloves and keep our cleaning products on display. Above all, they have set a standard of sustainability.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Clean and Green : Method’s Home and Personal Care Products is a post from:

Everyone knows that kids can be really picky about what food they eat. They usually don’t choose to eat fresh fruits and vegetables on their own. So how can we get them to eat a healthier diet? Take them out to do the foraging and collecting themselves.

Growing up, many kids go to the grocery store and see the stacks upon stacks of fruits and vegetables but they have no real concept of where all that food comes from. They’re missing the joy of walking through blueberry fields early in the morning, or apple picking in the fall. Kids are much happier to run around and eat fruit directly from the tree it was grown on than to eat it when it magically appears at the dinner table.

So, whether it’s taking your child to the local CSA to pick carrots and to see the farm that their food comes from, or picking fresh blueberries and making pie, show your child the value of farms and local food. After all, there isn’t much that is better than eating a fresh strawberry in the summer, or harvesting local tomatoes. And you’ll be teaching your children how important local, organic produce is while they run around and have fun.

Whether it’s a natural return to our hunting and gathering origins, or just the simple joy of being in nature, kids are sure to love the adventure of picking fresh produce. And hey, you just might get them to appreciate where their food comes from and to actually eat their fruits and veggies.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Teaching Kids to Love Fruits and Vegetables is a post from:

Founded by then 12 year old Alec Loorz, Kids vs Global Warming was created to teach children and youth about the global problems we are facing.

Inspired by Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth, Loorz created his own program and gave 30 presentations to his peers before being invited to train with the Climate Project.   According to his blog he has been traveling the country to raise voices and to represent the voice of youth.

But Loorz isn’t alone. Slowly, elementary and secondary schools across the country are recognizing the need for student involvement in environmental affairs.  By encouraging action committees, students are taking the initiative to find ways to cut energy use and encouraging teachers to follow their example. Having children involved in environmental volunteer committees gets them vocal, and proactively thinking about changing the planet.

Sound encouraging? Check with your child and child’s teachers to see if a similar program exists at their school.  If not, encourage the teachers to start this discussion.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Environmental Movement Empowering Kids to Encourage Change is a post from:

Any new parent has probably heard about the importance of buying BPA-free baby bottles from the latest news stories, friends, or other new parents. If you haven’t heard, polycarbonate baby bottles can leach bisphenol-A and can potentially have adverse affects on a newborn’s growth and development. That’s scary enough, right? Well, now consider all the other products your baby interacts with, particularly in their room.

When furnishing the baby’s room, there are several options on the market to create a healthy environment for your baby using organic materials. Vivavi, a company selling green furniture and furnishings, offers the Oeuf Crib, made of MDF board which contains recovered wood fibers. The lacquer finish and the wood stains are non-toxic, and the crib’s simple design looks as good as it is healthy for your baby. They also offer a crib mattress made of organic cotton and wool, which help to keep dust mites away. The organic material provides optimal comfort for the baby, as it wicks away moisture so the baby does not overheat or get too cold. The mattress provides additional assurance as it meets the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s guidelines.

Vivavi also carries cute blankets and floor pillows that are inspired by nature’s flora and fauna, and are printed with non-toxic water-based inks. The pillows are made of soft organic cotton and hemp, and are filled with fibers made of recycled plastic bottles.

As the kids grow up, Vivavi carries a line of hand painted step stools and kid’s sized chairs that will give them the boost they need to reach the bathroom sink, or help in the kitchen. The fun, brightly colored furniture is made completely of reclaimed and recycled wood, and finished with paints and adhesives free of any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

In thinking about your baby’s health, it is important to think beyond the food they ingest and the toys they will play with. It is just as important to consider where your child will sleep and play and if those environments are safe and healthy. Products made of organic cotton, recycled materials, and non-toxic finishes and paints are better for your baby and for the environment.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Furnishing a Green and Healthy Baby’s Room is a post from: