that GREEN blog

“Treat the Earth well:  it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.”  This is an ancient Kenyan proverb that really hits home these days as we are becoming more aware of how our past and current actions are affecting our world.  As parents, we all want the very best for our children now and in the future.  And we certainly want to ensure that our beautiful planet is still flourishing well beyond our children’s lifetime.

Most of us now realize that the future of our planet as well as the health of our children depends greatly on changes we need to make in our everyday lives.  However, it can be quite overwhelming and even scary when you begin learning about all of the environmental toxins in the world today.  From food, to bath products, to toys, etc.  Where do you begin?

There is an exceptional non-profit organization called Healthy Child Healthy World that is one of the best resources out there for parents.  It was founded by James & Nancy Chuda in 1991 when they decided to turn their sad story into something positive.  The effects of harmful environmental exposures, unfortunately, became very real to them when their 5 year old daughter, Collette, died of a rare form of cancer.  Years later they learned that her tumor may have been caused by maternal exposure to pesticides before pregnancy.  In honor of their daughter’s bravery, they began the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund, now Healthy Child Healthy World (HCHW), to educate families about the relationship between children’s health and the environment.

HCHW purpose and goals as outlined on their website are to:

•Expand awareness and understanding of environmental hazards to children’s health
•Help the public learn about healthier practices, solutions, and products in the marketplace
•Encourage daily action and informed lifestyle choices
•Create standards and policies for safer products, foods, materials, and chemicals used in the home – promoting safer options and new alternatives
•Advocate for and support corporate policies and governmental legislation that protect children from environmental risks
•Engage communities to make wise choices and responsible decisions so families can flourish

The HCHW website contains a wealth of information to help you in creating an environmentally friendly home for your family.  There are numerous programs outlined for you to follow such as 5 Easy Steps and Healthy Home Parties.  They actually provide you with all the tools necessary to host a Healthy Home Party for your family and friends to educate them about protecting children’s health and development from common contaminants we are exposed to every day.  You can also sign up for a monthly email newsletter that provides age-specific environmental health lessons throughout pregnancy and the first 2 years of your child’s life.

In addition to the programs the site also includes a vast array of environmental resources for you to use.  For example, there are numerous 1-page checklists for almost anything you can imagine, such as, cloth diapering, keeping your child lead-free and feeding children safe food.  There is also a very informative ingredients profile that describes chemicals encountered in our daily lives.  Instead of simply describing the health effects of these chemicals, they also empower you with solutions to exposure.

Another really great area of the site is the marketplace.  It is filled with information on companies that offer products and services for your home and children that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.  There is a wide variety of green products included such as baby bottles, crib mattresses, organic foods, children’s furniture and paints and stains. No need for you to spend time researching all the eco-friendly product options out there because HCHW only recommends products from companies that have passed their screening.  You can check out the details of their quality standards on the site.

HCHW is definitely an organization that is leading the environmental movement and has children as their top priority.  The amount of information that they have compiled in an easy to navigate website is really impressive.  Visit them today and instead of feeling overwhelmed by the green trend, you may just feel inspired to get involved and begin making changes in your life for the future of your children.

Michele Dupper is Mom to her almost 2 year old son and the owner of Truly Organic Beauty She lives in sunny FL and has been transitioning to a green lifestyle since starting a family. Michele enjoys educating others about living a more natural lifestyle that is beneficial for the health of our bodies as well as our planet.

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Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is right in the world!  So you’ve diligently joined the other millions of people in a spot of spring cleaning and starting to feel better about life in general?  I don’t mean to put a spanner in the works but you may be slowly poisoning yourself.  Don’t worry though as I have some practical advice for you.

Count up which cleaning products you would need just to tackle a couple of rooms in your house – bathroom and kitchen for instance.  You probably have a multi-surface cleaner, a more powerful cleaner for the nasty bits (yuk!), a floor cleaner maybe, air freshener, brightly coloured liquid that resembles alien slime that makes your toilet smell nice.  The list goes on but you get the idea.

The manufacturers have been educating us for years now (and it is working) on how brilliant their products are.  How we would all die of terrible diseases if we were to stop using their latest product, (which is better than their last one they always add).  They tell us how we would be neglecting our duty as a good citizen if we didn’t de-contaminate our house so it becomes sterile and un-lived in.  Some of these products are so strong that they make your eyes water.  You are advised to wear gloves, keep away from your eyes and seek medical attention if it comes into contact with your skin AND you still trust them when it comes to coating all the surfaces in your house with these industrial strength toxic products.

Enough moaning, I could go on and tell you more but I think you get the idea.  The good news is that there are alternatives.  You may have to experiment with the right recipe or product that suits your needs but once you’ve got that you’ll be well away.  It’s just about changing the way that you think and act from now on, and ridding your home of those nasty chemicals!

I’ve done some homework for you to get you started

Use soapnuts.  You can use them in the washing machine.  I use them all the time for light-normal washes and I can honestly say that our clothes are always clean and fresh.  I add a couple of splashes of clear vinegar to the drawer to soften the clothes and to remove stains.  I also add a couple of drops of essential oil to make it smell nice.

There is a great company that I use, their prices are good and they also ship worldwide.  http://www.gogreen.cellande.co.uk/shop/products/soapnuts/soapnuts.php and I’ve not had any problems.  There is a list of other great things you can use soapnuts for too, including cleaners, soap and dishwasher solution.

If this isn’t enough for you try this link to uses for vinegar.  Vinegar is strong stuff as you may already know.  It’s no surprise that it’s good for cleaning, and much healthier than the industrial alien slime too.  Follow these tips and your house will be gleaming in no time http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

So there you have it.  You don’t have to compromise your health for heavenly cleanliness in your home.  You’ll save money, improve your own health and help the environment too.

Just one more tip, don’t wear yourself out going mad on the cleaning this week!

Kate Would Holistic Practitioner publishes her weekly newsletter for ‘normal’ and busy people like you.  If you’re tired of living a life that seems to revolve around other people and leaves you feeling washed out and lifeless, you can subscribe by clicking the link below.  You can also claim your FREE therapy session here too. http://www.shakethedisease.com

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