Non-Toxic Kids: Eco-Friendly Back to School 2010: Green Backpacks, Lunches, and Gear!

The Daily Green: Back to School Green Shopping Guide

Blisstree: Ten Green Back-to-School Supplies

Care2: Green Lunchboxes

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice: The 2010 Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies

Inhabitots: Organic Nap Mats for Toddlers

Know of any other helpful posts about greening back-to-school time? Share them in the comments!

PS: Check back for a fabulous non-toxic back-to-school giveaway on Friday 8/20!!!

When we bought our first home, many moons ago, I was very keen on the idea of having a lush green lawn and I’m ashamed to admit I used pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers with impunity. You see, I’d grown up in the suburbs, where having good grass is paramount. Additionally, as a new homeowner, I was slightly intimidated by the nastygrams from our HOA (home owners association)—they were sent immediately should one’s grass fall to the wayside and practically insisted we use chemicals on our property lest we be in “violation” of the sacred HOA rules.

In my ignorance, I believed the home improvement superstore employees who insisted those products were fine—that once you watered it in and it dried, your grass was safe. In reality, nothing could have been further from the truth. Read the rest of this entry »

America’s toxic chemicals laws are totally broken. Every American from newborn babies to senior citizens is exposed, without their consent, to hundreds of dangerous chemicals in everyday household products.

Some of these chemicals are linked to prostate and breast cancers, diabetes, heart disease, lowered sperm counts, early puberty, birth defects and other diseases and disorders. For tens of thousands more chemicals, we simply don’t have the data we need to know whether they are safe or not because they have not been required to be tested, which is the crux of the problem. Read the rest of this entry »

What: Company that will pay for cardboard milk and juice cartons

Green Factor: MilkMuny keeps milk and juice cartons out of landfills. Considering that we throw away about 510,000 TONS of them away each year, anything that can lower that number is a big fat WIN in our book.

Bonus: Schools and non-profits can collect them and get 25¢ per carton PLUS prepaid shipping. You can also help support MilkMuny’s efforts by buying a nifty wallet made from those very same cartons.

Find it Here: MilkMuny

On June 2 and June 3 CNN is airing a two part special with Dr. Sanjay Gupta called “Toxic America“.

Wednesday night covers “Toxic Towns” and will delve into the environmental health and justice problems plaguing the community of Mossville, Louisiana—a sad example of our broken chemical safety system. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m so pleased to announce that I am now a Parent Ambassador for Healthy Child Healthy World! If you’re not already familiar with them from the many times we have linked to Healthy Child, they are a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to help parents protect children from harmful chemicals found in the environment and in the products we all use every day.

Healthy Child Healthy World exists because more than 125 million Americans, especially children, now face a historically unprecedented rise in cancer, autism, asthma, birth defects, ADD/ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities. Credible scientific evidence increasingly points to environmental hazards and household chemicals as causing and contributing to many of these diseases.

If you haven’t already seen it, I urge you to take 3 minutes and watch Healthy Child’s short but very informative video, A Wake Up Story. It will help you and your family and also illustrate what Healthy Child Healthy World is all about!

And to show you how much we appreciate our readers and your interest in creating a safer world for children everywhere, we’re giving away a copy of their awesome book, Healthy Child, Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home along with their DVD and pocket shopping guides.

Win It: Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter HC06 as the giveaway name and then name three of the chapters in the Healthy Child, Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner,  Greener, Safer Home book we’re giving away . Giveaway ends  6/14/10; $17 value. Open to US residents only. Official Rules.

How You Can Help Clean Up the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster  by The Big Green Purse — Diane has put together an excellent article detailing things you can do to help with the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As a Gulf Coast resident, this is of special interest to me and I hope even if you are nowhere near the region affected, that you will consider helping somehow. One way is to donate hair, pantyhose and pet fur. No, I’m not kidding!

Recycled Artwork by Oooh Baby Green Living and Parenting Ideas — J. Claire wrote a post about using art from old children’s storybooks that aren’t in readable condition. I love storybook illustrations and think this is a super cool way to honor an old book that would otherwise go to the landfill.

Ecological Footprint by The Curious Case of Mommyhood — Bridget wrote an interesting post about knowing your ecological footprint, the importance of buying local and consumerism in the industrialized world. You may think you’re doing everything right but the devil’s in the details!

Kids Cook Monday: Strawberry Cream Tart by FoodieTots — Check out this yum-azing looking strawberry cream tart recipe, complete with photos and video, that FoodieTots and her son are making for Meatless Monday.

Taking the Stairs by The Not Quite Crunchy Parent — Maryanne talks about how a move to the suburbs has changed her family’s habits from walking and taking public transportation to driving everywhere. This summer, they’re going to change all that!

Also Check Out: Surf Sweets candy giveaway

What: Meat Free Mondays

Features: The “Meat Free Mondays” campaign is getting worldwide attention as people become more committed to protecting the environment. Taking meat out of one day’s worth of meals is a simple way that we can help save the planet and adopt healthier eating habits, all at the same time

Green Factor: The UN has said that the meat industry dominates one-fifth of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Ouch! Going veggie one day a week or more would dramatically reduce those harmful emissions, and would save gallons upon gallons of water and gasoline

Bonus: The Meat Free Mondays web site is full of good stuff–there’s all sorts of information and recipes, including tips on which wine will best compliment your meal. Deee-lish!

Find It Here: Meat Free Mondays

On Our Blog: You Owe It to Your Kids to Care

What: BorrowMe

Features: BorrowMe lets you borrow, lend or rent anything from anybody in your area. Make the most out of what you’ve got, whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent or lend. Joining is easy; create a quick profile and you’re ready to go!

Green Factor: The benefits are obvious! Not only is recycling and re-circulating the stuff we don’t want cheaper, it reduces consumption. And less consumption = less waste

Bonus: This site’s got something for everyone, with emphasis put on the Frugal Folks, Young Moms and Students communities

Find It Here: BorrowMe.com

Also Check Out: Manny & Simon Wheelie Toy giveaway (ends April 14)

We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for a couple of really nice nods we’ve gotten recently.

In December, Eco-Office Gals named The Green Mom Review as one of the top 10 green sites of 2009, along with the fabulous Big Green Purse  and Green & Clean Mom! Thanks ladies! We appreciate it :)

And more recently, Viewpoints named The Green Mom Review as one of the top mom blogs of 2010 alongside such notable sites as Cool Mom Picks, Dooce and  The Mommy Blog. Thank you for such a lovely honor!

Did you know that even if it’s marked “pure and gentle,” baby shampoo might contain contaminants linked to cancer. That’s what the Breast Cancer Fund’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found nearly a year ago, when product tests revealed formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in children’s shampoos, bubble baths and other cosmetics.

Yet because U.S. cosmetics are almost completely unregulated and the FDA has no authority to issue recalls on dangerous products, our government has taken no action.

Please support the Safe Baby Products Act, which would require the FDA to test kids’ products for contaminants and work to prevent contamination in the first place.

Find It Here:  Safe Baby Products Act

On Our Blog: We’re Blushing!

What: Food, Inc.

Features: Want to learn more about what you’re eating? Food, Inc., an award-winning documentary that takes a hard look at the nation’s food industry, is now out on DVD

Green Factor: Since its release, Food, Inc. has prompted thousands of people to re-think their eating habits, like eating more local and sustainably-grown food

Cool Factor: Check the web site for lots of cool features – watch the movie trailer, find out how to get involved, and sign a petition to support healthy food choices in schools across the country

Find It Here: Food Inc. movie