Top 25 Eco-Friendly Moms 4 of 9

What inspired you to start blogging?

Honestly, my two main reasons for keeping this blog grew out of two things: my own need of a place to keep track of recipes and info I don't want to lose--My husband laughs at me when I have to check my own blog for my own recipes or methods for how to do something--and for friends who ask me, "how do you do that?" and I can answer them all at once in one place. So I have a lot of sort of eclectic mixture of articles and recipes and tips, which all help me to keep track of what I've done and what I plan to do. It also keeps me accountable, whether anyone reads it or not--I know that the blog is out there, and so I feel more of a commitment to following through on things. Hopefully I would follow through anyway, but this helps keep me focused.

What are 3 things you can teach other moms to make their lives more eco-friendly?

1. The biggest is simply that baby steps are the only way anything gets done. If I tried to do all the "green" things I wanted to all at once, or got upset that I wasn't as green as this other mom over here, or beat myself up that I can't pull off all the sustainable things I would like to do but haven't yet, or want to throw myself off the top of a building because I threw away a plastic baggie yesterday, I would just hang it up completely in despair.
2. Processed "convenience" foods don't really save much time at all. Or, the inverse, making "real" food consistently is way easier than I ever thought it would be. For example, instant oatmeal packets tell you proudly that that they take only 90 seconds in the microwave, and it's true, but it also has all the flavor and consistency of glue. Real "old fashioned" oatmeal takes 3-4 minutes in the microwave--and is delicious. My friends think I spend tons of time doing all this "natural" stuff--it's totally not true. I'm a complete lazybutt in the kitchen, I've just learned a lot of shortcuts.
3. Speaking of shortcuts--The slow cooker/crockpot can be your best friend. One of my favorite websites, by Stephanie the Crockpot Lady, shows you how to cook pretty much anything you can think of in the crockpot. They are fairly inexpensive and allow me to throw food into it in the morning and come home to dinner already cooked at night--it's hard to beat that! Yogurt, oatmeal, stews, soups, "baked" potatoes, applesauce/apple butter...it's probably my single most-used kitchen tool.

What are your three favorite posts?

1. Attack of the Killer Mutant Zucchinis
   
2. Simple DIY facial moisturizer
3. One Crockpot, Three Days of Dinner

What inspired you to start blogging?

Observing the toll that lifestyles based upon consumerism are having on our environment, our health, our families, our society, and our happiness, led me and my family to pursue a more sustainable and balanced lifestyle. We hope that speaking about our experiences helps generate awareness and appreciation as well as offer support to others seeking their own more sustainable lifestyle.

What are 3 things you can teach other moms to make their lives more eco-friendly?

1. How to balance your life so that you can enjoy yourself more.
2. How to work with Mother Nature to create a more rewarding, sustainable, productive home
   and lifestyle.
3. How to raise children that are well balanced, attuned with nature, accustomed to maximizing the resources and skills they have, and better prepared to be global citizens.

What are your three favorite posts?

1. I am NOT an ALL or NOTHING kind of gal
   
2. So What’s your Point, EdenFeed?
3. Let’s Get Gardening

What inspired you to start blogging?

Readers of my books. I was getting so many questions per week from readers, plus friends, family, colleagues etc. that I wanted to have a public place to answer them. I figure if one person had a question, more than one could benefit from the answer. And it snowballed from there.

What are 3 things you can teach other moms to make their lives more eco-friendly?

1. Be conscious in every decision you make. Conscious just means thoughtful, aware. Consider your health and the health of the planet as a point of departure. If you remember to do this as you go about your day, all else falls easily into place.
2. Remember that we're not alone. We share this planet with our neighbors. There is no such thing as a green bubble and any eco-choices you make ripple out and effect everyone and everything around you.
3. Everyday changes add up. Studies show that in cities like Los Angeles everyday items like cleaning products, paints, and stains are the second largest pollutants behind automobiles. Simple eco steps may feel small and inconsequential but if we all do them and take them and urge others to do the same, it really adds up. And this benefits us, our children, our neighbors, their children, and the earth we all share. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, 10 percent is better than zero percent.

What are your three favorite posts?

1. WHEN GREENING YOUR KITCHEN, DON'T FORGET TO LOOK BEYOND FOOD
   
2. THE CONSCIOUS COMMANDMENTS
3. URBAN AIR/LINE DRYING