I always knew I would use cloth diapers on my baby. My parents and most of my extended family had, so I was used to the idea and saw it as a sensible choice financially and environmentally. Also, I had babysat for disposable-diapered babies and found their diapers hard to tolerate aesthetically; they just feel so … Continue reading Cloth Diapers
green alternatives
A Year of Pencils
It was around this time last year that I suddenly questioned my use of ballpoint pens. You know, those ubiquitous plastic-cased pens that--if they don't jam--keep writing until they run out of ink and have to be thrown away. They were my usual type of writing implement at work and at home, and I carried … Continue reading A Year of Pencils
Our Green Christmas Tree
"How to have an enviro-friendly Christmas" seems to be a hot topic in the media this year, so I won't bother with an extensive list. I'll just describe one idea that is, as far as I know, unique: We don't use a real tree as our Christmas tree, nor do we have one of those … Continue reading Our Green Christmas Tree
It beautifies your complexion AND scrubs your tub!
A paste made of baking soda and liquid soap, that is. It's a versatile wonder-cleaner worthy of one of those over-blown TV commercials about the many many uses and the amazing value...except that it's so basic and inexpensive that nobody would buy it as a commercial product. (Oh. Wait. People will pay $1.50 for a pint of tap water … Continue reading It beautifies your complexion AND scrubs your tub!
Handkerchief season is here!
My father uses handkerchiefs. I'd always thought of it as one of his idiosyncrasies. Normal people used paper tissues. I always found it kind of weird, though, that so many people use a tissue just briefly, to remove a few drops of watery stuff from the nose, and then throw it away. What a waste … Continue reading Handkerchief season is here!
Mothering in transit
The distance from our home to our childcare center is less than three miles. In rush-hour traffic, it's a 20-minute drive. But almost every day, Nicholas and I make the trip by public transit, taking two buses and at least 45 minutes in each direction. I could walk that distance in that time! Am I insane?! No. I'm convinced that public transit is a wonderful way to travel with a young child. The conveniences more than make up for the inconveniences, that extra time is time we spend together, and the trip is full of learning experiences for my child and me.
Household Hints
Add a slosh of white vinegar--about a tablespoon--to the sinkful of hot soapy water when washing dishes. I started doing this last spring, when we'd all been sick, because vinegar kills germs. I found out that it also cuts grease and makes the dishes really squeaky clean! (Vinegar has many other uses, too!) Here's some … Continue reading Household Hints
Organic Chocolate Made Cheap & Easy!
by Ben Stallings [Becca's brother] I've just discovered the simplest, cheapest way to make really good organic chocolate! I like chocolate a lot, but I've cut way back since I learned that most chocolate that isn't certified organic and/or fair trade is made from cocoa processed by child slaves in Cote d'Ivoire. When I asked … Continue reading Organic Chocolate Made Cheap & Easy!
Energy Independence Day
Recently, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced plans to get some environmental legislation through Congress before July 4 so that it will be "Energy Independence Day": http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0038 Of course, there's no way the United States can eliminate the need to get energy (oil, etc.) from other countries in less than two months, so her … Continue reading Energy Independence Day
The Evolution of an Environmentalist
No matter how strongly you feel you should do your part to save the planet, it can be difficult to change your lifestyle. We recommend a gradual approach: Do one new environmentally-friendly thing every few months. This gives you time to get used to each change and incorporate it into your daily life. As an example, here's a list of changes I've made in my own life.
Alternatives to Disposable Pads and Tampons
Editor's Note: Back in 1997, we set up this page in a graphical chart format as a sort of shopping mall for people interested in buying these products. As the Web evolved and searching became easier, it no longer made sense for us to keep updating the chart. In the process of converting our site … Continue reading Alternatives to Disposable Pads and Tampons
Laundry Drying Dilemmas? Pull a Solution Out of Thin Air!
Many Americans, misled by the term "labor-saving device," assume that air-drying their clothes would be a waste of time and effort. Actually, reducing or eliminating your automatic dryer usage will bring you only a little extra work and a number of benefits.
The Earthling's Handbook 