EcoMoms: March 2008

Doing our part for a healthier planet in Janesville, Wisconsin

Did you know?

Pollutant levels in indoor air can range from two to more than 100 times higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. EPA. Indoor pollution is primarily caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate, or “offgas,” from chemical cleaning products.

What moms can do:

IDEA #1: Make your own non-toxic cleaners right at home. Assemble five basic ingredients and you’ll be ready to create an array of safe, healthy cleaning products that are also easy on the wallet. You’ll need: 1) baking soda (cleans, deodorizes, and scours), 2) borax (deodorizes and disinfects), 3) soap (non-toxic and biodegradable cleaner; look for soap without synthetic additives), 4) washing soda (cuts grease and removes stains; look for it in the laundry section of the grocery store) and 5) white vinegar or lemon juice (cuts grease and freshens.)

Recipes for Non-toxic Cleaners:

Household Cleaner
Mix 1 tsp. liquid soap, 1 tsp. borax, squeeze of lemon, and 1 qt. warm water

Window Cleaner
Mix 2 tsp. vinegar and 1 qt. warm water. Wipe with newspaper to avoid streaks.

Drain Cleaner
Pour ½ c. borax in drain followed by 2 c. boiling water

Basin, Tub, and Tile Cleaner
Mix ½ c. baking soda and 2-3 tbsp. liquid soap

Rug Cleaner
Sprinkle corn meal, baking soda, or cornstarch on dry rugs and vacuum.

Furniture Polish
Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice. Rub in and let stand for several hours. Polish with a soft dry cloth.

Fabric Softener
Add 1 c. vinegar or ¼ c. baking soda during the final rinse. (I use a Downy ball to add vinegar.)

For additional recipes, go to www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm or www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html.

IDEA #2: When choosing storebought cleaners, think non-toxic, green, and multipurpose. Purchase a mild, nonabrasive, nontoxic cleaning powder like Bon-Ami for cleaning counters, sinks, tubs, even pots and pans. Pair that with a biodegradable soap-based cleaner like Dr. Bronner’s Sals Suds and you should have nearly all your cleaning needs covered. Look for products that list all ingredients on their labels, such as Seventh Generation and Ecover.

Why it’s important:

• The following are health effects listed by the EPA for VOCs:

Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness.

• Chemical air fresheners may be wreaking havoc on our health. According to a study in New Scientist magazine in 1999, in homes where aerosols and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers experienced 25% more headaches and were 19% more likely to suffer from depression. Infants under 6 months of age had 30% more ear infections and 22% higher incidence of diarrhea. Yikes!

• The fragrances in conventional detergents and fabric softeners can contain phalates, chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive harm in animals.

• Antibacterial soaps are helping to promote growth of resistant bacteria, according to a 2000 World Health Organization report. Hand-washing with plain soap and warm water for about 2 minutes will accomplish the job just as well.



This EcoMOMs tip was brought to you by Dana Petersen Murphy, mom to Sabriel. You can contact me at dpmurphy@photokiva.com.

EcoMoms: February 2008

Doing our part for a healthier planet in Janesville, Wisconsin

Did you know?

In a 2006 report, the United Nations stated that “livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems.”

What moms can do:

IDEA #1: Go vegetarian! Incredibly, livestock production generates more greenhouse gases than all the motor vehicles in the world. A typical American meat-eater is responsible for nearly 1.5 tons more carbon dioxide per year than a vegan (one who eats no animal products.) So to help the planet, we need to look not only at the cars we drive but what food we put in our bodies! As one blogger cheekily phrased it, “Vegetarians in Hummers do more for the planet than do meat-eaters who cruise around in hybrids.” Shop Woodman’s or Basics Cooperative in Janesville for a great selection of yummy meat-substitutes.

IDEA #2: Adopt “Meatout Mondays.” If cutting out meat altogether isn’t viable for you and your family, choose one or more days of the week to commit to cooking meatless meals. You’ll not only curb your contribution to the climate crisis, but you’ll save money and enhance your health at the same time. For veggie recipes, try www.vegkitchen.com. For an information-packed pamphlet, including recipes and meal suggestions, take a look at the Vegetarian Starter Kit put together by Vegetarian Times magazine: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/2007/pdf/vegetarian_starter_kit.pdf.

Why it’s important:

•The world is being deforested at an alarming rate, and much of the deforestation is happening in order to create grazing land for livestock. Deforestation results in loss of habitat for millions of species. In addition, forests absorb the gases contributing to global warming, so fewer forests means accelerated warming and climate change.

•Al Gore’s attention-getting book, An Inconvenient Truth, tells us that fruits, vegetables, and grains require 95% less raw materials than meat to produce, saving substantial water and other natural resources.


•According to USDA figures, it takes nearly 17 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef. In a world where 1.2 billion people are underfed and malnourished, this is a wasteful way to grow food. To maximize energy efficiency, we should eat lower on the food chain whenever possible.

•The American appetite for meat is not sustainable. Our country contains only 4 percent of the world’s population, but we consume 23% of the world’s beef.



This EcoMOMs tip was brought to you by Dana Petersen Murphy, mom to Sabriel. You can contact me at dpmurphy@photokiva.com.

EcoMoms: December 2007/ January 2008

Doing our part for a healthier planet during the holidays

Did you know?

If every household reused just two feet of ribbon each year for gift wrapping, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved would be enough to tie a bow around the Earth. If each family wrapped three gifts in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Each holiday, 2.65 billion holiday cards are sold in the United States. That many cards would fill a football stadium ten stories high.

Real Christmas trees contribute beneficial oxygen to the atmosphere as they grow. Just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people, and for every tree cut down, two or three seedlings are planted. Tree farms also provide bird and wildlife habitat. Artificial trees, while reusable, are made of polyvinyl chloride- a chemical linked to cancer and birth defects- and 85% of them are made in China, where there are no restrictions against the use of lead in consumer products. The PVC they are made of could contain lead. (For an American-made Christmas tree billed as “100% Lead Free,” go to www.uschristmastree.com.)


What moms can do for a greener holiday:

REDUCE.

IDEA #1: Give gifts or memories that last. Buy fewer gifts this year, and make them count. Look for well-made, sturdy toys and presents that will last for years and can be handed down. Give gifts of your time—perhaps your friend could use your babysitting services, or a relative could use help around the house. Or give loved ones tickets to a play or concert, a state park pass, a dinner out, or gift certificates for massage, yoga, or cooking classes. (A six-class pass for yoga classes at Yoga Essentials Studio in downtown Janesville is $42. They offer a variety of classes, including a Family/Kids class for ages 4-10 and a parent. Visit www.yogaessentialsstudio.com for more information.) A charitable donation is another great gift. Gifts for time or services have no negative environmental impact and are personal and thoughtful.
Are you crafty? Give a homemade gift that shows off your talents at knitting, scrapbooking, or sewing. Or give baked goods packaged in reusable tins or baskets.

IDEA #2: Let your LED lights shine. If you’re in need of new holiday lights this year, consider LED lights. They use a whopping 90% less energy than conventional holiday lights and last 100 times longer. They cost more up front but will pay for themselves quickly.

IDEA #3: Shop early. Do your online and catalog shopping early so that you can request ground shipping. Ground shipping is 6 times more efficient than overnight air shipping, saving fuel and pollution.

REUSE.

IDEA #1: Wrap creatively. Reuse materials you already have on hand for gift wrapping. Save your child’s artwork and use it to wrap gifts for family members. (Grandma will love it!) Or use old maps, sheet music, or comics. Involve the kids in a fun project making recycled paper out of newspaper or other scrap paper, then use it for wrapping or to make holiday cards. Go to www.make-stuff.com/recycling/paper.html for details. Use gift bags, baskets, or tins that can be reused again and again instead of throwaway wrappings. Or wrap a gift in a colorful scarf or festive dishtowel, which then becomes part of the present.

IDEA #2: BYOB—Bring your own bag. Keep a compact bag in your purse for last minute shopping excursions.

RECYCLE.

IDEA #1: Look for gift wrap and cards with recycled content. Every purchase you make of recycled paper saves trees from being cut down.

IDEA #2: Entertain responsibly. Be sure to set out a receptacle for recyclables at your holiday get-togethers and alert guests about it.

IDEA #3: Give your real Christmas tree new life. Move the tree outdoors in its stand to provide shelter for wild birds. Decorate the tree with bird-friendly treats like peanut-butter and birdseed-covered cardboard “ornaments.” Or if you know someone with a deep pond, sink the tree to provide habitat for fish and aquatic insects. The City of Janesville does not have a tree-recycling program at this time. I plan to move my tree outside for the birds, and then in the spring, remove the branches and take them to the compost facility where they will be recycled.

ON ONE FINAL NOTE, A WORD ABOUT TOYS AND SAFETY

Green means healthy for the planet, but what is good for Mother Nature is usually good for people too. In light of the rash of recent recalls due to unsafe lead content in Chinese-made toys, consider having a “Made-in-China-free” holiday. Choose toys made in Europe or the United States. This won’t be an easy task: 85% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China. But if you decide to go this route, as my family has, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Visit www.oompa.com, a Madison-based internet site selling a wide variety of high-quality toys, including a separate section of European-made toys. This is one of the few sites I’ve found that tells you exactly where each item is made.

Other sites to peruse include www.usmadetoys.com for a range of American-made toys, or www.woodentrain.com for made-in-the-USA train sets with lead-free paint. Of course, you can’t go wrong with wooden wagons from the Wisconsin Wagon Company, home of the Janesville Coaster Wagon. They even offer a small Tag-a-long wagon perfect for a young child to load up with stuffed animals. Visit them at www.wisconsinwagon.com.

Popular brands to look for that are not China-made include Playmobil, a German company whose play sets can be found locally at Building Blocks for Learning, and Lego, whose building bricks are primarily made in Denmark (they also have factories in Mexico and the Czech Republic.)

Have a happy, healthy, green holiday!


This EcoMOMs tip was brought to you by Dana Petersen Murphy, mom to Sabriel. You can contact me at dpmurphy@photokiva.com.