Favorite Blog Posts

• Climate Change Quotes: Women Speaking Out, International Women's Day
• Why a Bra Makes a Good Purse in Times of Imminent Arrest
• Asthma, Allergies and Fighting for Clean Air for My Children

What's a simple eco-friendly habit all families can start?

When my kids were young, we regularly had "family meetings." We kept minutes, took attendance, and everyone got a chance to talk about "what was important to them." Now that my kids are teens, instead of every week, our crazy schedules have reduced our family meetings to only about "once a quarter." Regardless of how often we hold our "meetings" we still make sure to include, in addition to our own individual items, one eco-friendly family habit (ie home composting, tree planting, recycling, family environment rally attending, "home energy police" enforcer etc). Over the years we have found that these family commitments we make together keep us grounded and focused as a family on making small changes that we feel make us better global citizens as well. These "habits" also make us more likely to suggest similar ideas to friends and family and to remind others about why these actions are important - not only for our family, but for our community and the bigger world that we live in too. We also make a point of adding "one new habit" to every family meeting agenda, and then we work towards making that habit a priority over the next quarter! So, if you don't currently have a "family meeting" schedule, set one up - on many levels it's a wonderful way to keep connected and find out what is important for you and your kids. And even if a family meeting is a regular part of your routine, do make sure to add "eco-friendly habit" to the meeting agenda! It's fun, rewarding and a really positive thing for the whole family to come together on!

What would you say to moms who want to be more eco-friendly, but worry it will be more expensive?

Don't worry!! Well not too much anyway..being eco-friendly DOES NOT have to mean "more expensive." On many levels, being eco-friendly is the often the most cost effective, least expensive way to go, for your family and for all of us. Our ClimateMama top 5 tips: 1. Eat "fresh" and eat "in season." Try to buy fruits and vegetables in season, they will be less expensive, fresher, more nutritious, and will have traveled "less" food miles and therefore will have a "smaller carbon footprint.' 2. Buy local, shop at farmers markets. Your favorite farmer may not be "certified organic" but when you talk to her or him, you may find that they are growing their crops and raising their livestock in very sustainable ways. This applies not only to foods we eat but other products that you may purchase as well. 3. Make your own cleaning supplies; vinegar can go along way! 4. Reuse and recycle. Have your kids "shop in their friends closets!" New clothes may be ones that currently belong to your friends or their kids. 5. Share your family's electrical bill with your kids, and then encourage them to help reduce it. Use the savings to buy something fun for your family, or consider using your "energy savings" for a special family trip. When everyone works together to conserve energy, you are not only being eco-friendly, you are also saving money. That's some of the "nitty gritty," direct ways you can be eco-friendly and spend less. Let's look at the big picture too, as it's important that we understand how looking after the environment is not only good for us all, but also can save us money too. There is a common 'media' spin that being "eco-friendly" equates with more expense, on a personal as well as a national basis. There is a "myth" that we need to choose between the "economy and the environment" particularly in difficult times. In fact, nothing could be further then the truth. The cost of "NOT" factoring in the true economic cost associated with NOT taking care of our environment is HUGE. Today, there are may people telling us to get "rid of environmental regulation" that it is a "burden on business." However, for example, by not keeping our air and water clean we are adding huge costs to health care. Also, by not working to control climate change and our greenhouse gas emissions, we all have to pay for increased insurance costs for our homes and businesses, as insurance companies pass on the costs of more severe weather related events, on to us. So, the next time you here: "It's the economy or the environment." Make sure you answer back: "It's the economy AND the environment!!"

What's one of your favorite eco-friendly brands you've discovered?

Let me share one of my new "finds" and new favorite eco-friendly "go to" for back to to school supplies : Naked Binder! I love how sustainability issues is one of the top, first tabs you see on their website. I love how they ask hard questions, and try to answer them too..