365 – Number of days we all have to make a difference each year, and yet…

137 – The amount of plants, animals and insects species we lose each day to rainforest deforestation.

147,000,000 – The gallons of gas per year that vaporize into the earth’s atmosphere due to shoddy or lost gas caps.

7 – How many trees the average American uses up in one year. Also, the number of greenwashing sins BTW.

4.6 – How many pounds of trash that the average American creates per day.

3 – Percent of folks who recycle their cell phone.

2 – Percent of “green” products (out of 2,219 in the United States and Canada) found to be actually green and NOT greenwashing.

80 – Percent of people who think toxic cleaners are safe.

55 – The percent of paper waste that Americans recycle each year. PAPER! I.e. easily recycled – just 55% – sad.

24 – The percent of disposable water bottles that are recycled in American each year. Not cool when reusable water bottles abound.

107 – number of ingredients in pesticides thought to cause cancer (so far) which makes organic food sound pretty darn good. (After Silent Spring, NRDC, 6/93)

600 – Number of plastic tampon applicators found on ONE beach during ONE beach clean up day.

10 – The number assigned to the most toxic, least safe beauty and body care products by Skin Deep. You probably have some 10s in your bathroom right now.

19,000 – How many pounds of waste the average elementary school creates annually due to lunch time.

18,000,000 – Liters of oil saved when a tax on plastic bags was introduced in Ireland (they reduced their plastic bag consumption by 90%).

1 – How many people it takes to start making a difference. Just one; and that one person today could be you.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

As they continue to grow they’ve made some changes such as recently switching to post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for their salad containers. Along with the new labels, they’re designing new labels that carry the PCR symbol AND a possible quote from your child.

In honor of the new labels, Earthbound Farm has launched a web-based contest seeking quotes from children for the inside of its clamshell salad labels. Kids can submit quotes thanking those who purchase organic.

For each child’s quote that is chosen, they have the opportunity to win:

1. A $500 US Savings Bond for education.

2. A $500 donation in your child’s name to their choice of one of these nonprofit environmental organizations:

• American Forests
• Beyond Pesticides
• Environmental Working Group
• Healthy Child Healthy World
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• Organic Farming Research Foundation
• Pesticide Action Network North America
• Union of Concerned Scientists

3. Winning quotes will appear on the back of Earthbound Farm’s new salad labels and on the Earthbound Farm website. 4 winners will be selected in July and then a new winner will be selected every month through the end of 2009!

If your child has something to say about organics click the button below to enter…

[images courtesy Earthbound Farm]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

NOTE: As always, any conventional ingredients you see can be switched out for organic.

Really adorable Earth Day Globe Cookies!

An entire Earth Day meal plan: Mushroom Kebabs, Fresh Fruit and Nut Coleslaw, Angel Hair Pasta and Asparagus, and Earth Day Dirt Cups

Four cool Earth Day meal and treat ideas from Earth Day Milkshakes to Green Juice.

Sticky Sweet Organic Vegan Green Apple Cupcakes

Fruity Frog – super duper cute!

Candied Flowers – beautiful and fun, especially for this time of the year.

Veggie Chips – good for taking along if you’re headed out to an Earth Day event.

Dirt Cake – complete with flower pot and worms!

Earth Day Bars – packed with sweet goodies, but still semi-healthy.

Cut-Out Cookies in a Flower Pot – this would make a great Earth Day gift.

The cutest Earth Day Garden Carrot Cake you will ever see – I’m not joking. I’m talking carrot patches and picket fences!

32 Unique Homemade Popsicle Recipes & Ideas

5 Green Recipes for Spring – This whole Earth Day meal slide show has amazing recipes for a mango and cashew salad; asparagus and potato soup; sugar snap pea salad with quinoa and citrus vinaigrette; artichoke risotto with garlic and sage; and old-fashioned strawberry cobbler.

BONUS: If you are headed outside on Earth Day (as you should be) you might like to read 10 tips for an easy green picnic or green potluck.

Are you cooking on Earth Day? What?

[image via Family Corner]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

For babies:

Conversation Heart Rattles – Fair Trade, eco-company, knit sweethearts for babies.

Lovebird Baby Shoes – sadly, you can’t get these in time for Valentine’s Day, because they’re made to order, but they’re so cute I have to share. Made by eco-friendly Diddle Dumpling and perfect for upcoming spring (not just Valentine’s Day).

Duck: Luvee Duck from Bud: 100% phthalates free and virtually indestructible for a long life span.

For kiddos:

Wheely Bug – Small – Ladybug – made from sustainable wood. Ages 18 months + and for littles up to 50 lbs. A large size for kids up to age five is also available.

Baker’s Dozen – fun pretend wooden cookies on baking sheet – perfect for pretend play and non-toxic.

Bamboo Collection Creative E-Racer Suzuka Red – bamboo and water based paints.

Memo Hearts Game – from eco-friendly Haba.

Mr. Ellie Pooh Paper Heart Boxes – The Mr. Ellie Pooh company sells paper made of 75% Sri Lankan elephant dung (Ellie Pooh Paper). All Ellie Pooh paper products are 100% recycled, 75% Pooh
and 100% kooky fun.

Also see:

• Eco-gift Wrap & Decor
• Green Valentine’s Day Cards
• Crafty Green Valentine’s Day Projects
• Beautiful Valentine’s Day Sweets & Treats – Organic and Fair Trade Goodies

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Any of the lovely cookies from Beautiful Sweets – Their treats are all sustainable from the baking to the packaging, and they ship their pretty Valentine’s Day organic cookies all over. Some examples…

Organic and Fair Trade certified Life is Sweet Valentine Chocolates via Organic Boutique

Really adorable and natural LOVE Letter Cookies from Dancing Deer Baking Co.

Natural Candy Store has all sorts of natural and Fair Trade Valentine’s Day treats, such as…

Dark Chocolate Hearts – Organic & Fair Trade

Vegan Heart Lollipop

Vegan Raspberry Red Licorice Hearts

Pure Fun Organic Fruit Lollipops Mix (organic, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free)

Later we’ll look at some organic treats you and the kiddos can make at home.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

• Skip diamonds (for the most part) and give eco-friendly jewelry instead.
• Serve organic treats, wine, and champagne.
• Give organic flowers.
• Green that night o’ love and recycle your unmentionables.
• Get sexy and stay green.
• Make your own cards – more special than store bought and you can reuse supplies you’ve got around the house. Or be sure to buy Valentine’s Day cards made with recycled materials.
• For romance light organic soy or beeswax candles.

Looking for kid specific green Valentine’s Day ideas?

Coming up I’ve got some specific examples of the ideas above.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Make this Valentine’s Day green – you can love on the earth and still love on your kiddos.

• Give organic and Fair Trade treats. Chocolates, lollies, punch, cupcakes and more are available in organic versions.
• Give long-term gifts like an organic stuffed friend or a game vs. little plastic toss away toys. Wrap said gifts in recycled gift wrap.
• Make homemade decorations out of recycled materials.
• Make homemade Valentines with recycled materials. If you want new, buy Valentines made with recycled content.
• Skip balloons – most can’t be recycled, and when let loose aren’t so great for the animals in your community.
• Use treat bags that are reusable instead of plastic or paper.

For more ideas read Celebrate Green.

Coming up; eco-Valentine’s Day ideas for adults and some specific examples of the above list.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

“Eat the View” is coordinated by Kitchen Gardeners International, a Maine-based 501c3 nonprofit network of 10,000 gardeners from 100 countries who are inspiring and teaching more people to grow some of their own food.”

If you want to get involved, you can sign the White House Victory Garden Petition. The petition will be delivered with a collection of heirloom seed packets to the Obamas.)

Visit Eat the View to learn about how you can plant smart, sustainable gardens in your home and community.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Animal Chips via Family Fun

FIRST: I didn’t look specifically for organic recipes. At this point, I’ll say what you’ve heard me say a million times; almost any recipe can be altered from conventional to organic. When looking for good green recipes to make with kids, look for ones that can be easily altered to make them healthier. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to cook entirely organic, but I suggest making sure you do cook organic when the recipe calls for food items known to be the most toxic.

Fun cooking with kid recipe links:

29 Gross (But Fun!) recipes – really gross, not for the faint of heart. I’m not sure I could make any of them, but then, I’m a food wimp.

Fruit Pizza

Lily Pad Cookies

The Very Tasty Caterpillar

Breakfast Rockets

Spaghetti Bolognaise Face

Zoom has all kinds of fun stuff, such as…

• Alphabet Pretzels
• Fruit Flowers
• Simple Fruit Kabobs
• Granola Bars
• And more.

And just for pure fun - edible birthday cards.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

One of the easiest places to get kids going green is in the kitchen. Kids like most kinds of cooking fun, especially the really fun stuff like baking, blending, and freezing.

If you want to introduce your kids to both green living and cooking skills, here are some easy tips you can follow…

1. Talk about organics: Kids don’t always get organic vs. conventional foods. I’ve been talking about the term organic with my son forever, and I’m pretty sure that now, at age 7, he’s just really getting it. At the store, he’ll ask for organics over non organic now.

To discuss organic choices with a child, my best advice is to keep it simple. Say something like, “Organic means healthier for your body” – “Organic foods don’t have icky chemicals or pesticides in them that can make you sick” – “Organic foods are a smart choice for the planet, like turning off the lights.” These are things that have worked with my son. To explain terms like chemicals and pesticides I’ll say something like, “They’re like really bad germs” which yeah, they’re not, but my son gets germs, so it works. As he’s gotten older, we talk about pesticides and chemicals in a more real manner.

2. Use green cooking tools: Using items like silicone muffin cups, reusable ice pop molds, and food storage containers over plastic wrap provides you with a conversation topic. My son sometimes fights against homemade ice pops, because he wants those shiny boxes of pre-wrapped store treats (badly). We just talk about why homemade is better; less waste, more flavor choices, etc.  Green is sometimes about making hard choices and with my son, homemade ice pops are a hard choice when he wants the store pops so bad, but it’s a good lesson in green.

3. Make it fun and if possible, nature based: Start with the fun green food choices, such as…

• Make some fun candied flowers
• Organic veggie & fruit shapes made with cookie cutters
• Organic smiley bread faces
• Gather non-toxic leaves and make homemade organic chocolate leaves
• Make adorable organic buggy cakes
• 32 Unique Homemade Popsicle Recipes & Ideas

4. Encourage meatless meals: Kids who are given veggies from a young age really do love them and meatless meals are better for the environment. My son was raised vegetarian and he’d rather eat a bowl full of broccoli, a red pepper, or sliced apples than cookies – and I’m seriously not kidding. Tofu is an easy ingredient to work with, and kids like to squish it around. Try some tofu recipes for kids.

5. Grab a good green kid-friendly cookbook

6. Follow basic green cooking practices: Recycle packaging, compost, use the food up, turn the oven off early, and be invested in other basic green kitchen habits. Your child is watching you carefully, make sure he’s seeing you be green.

Have any other great green cooking with kids tips? Tell me in the comments.

[image - Fruitcakes-1 via Flickr]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family