The good folks at Enviro Products sent over a stainless steel food container. I was a bit skeptical at first, because my son is the only one who packs a lunch and sometimes these things are too difficult to unlatch. It turns out I had no reason to worry, the latches are firm but easy enough for an elementary school boy to maneuver and there’s no metallic taste. It’s a large container, and I’d love to see one that’s sandwich sized, because that would keep the sandwiches from flailing around and falling apart. It’s perfect for pastas grains and fruits. My kids seldom want soft skin fruits like peaches or nectarines in their lunch boxes because they’re ruined (smashed) by lunchtime.

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“Spend a year tickled pink with flowers and leaves native to northern california and oregon, and sometimes found in other parts of the western u.s.“ with the the floral leaves datebook or “spend a year in the forest and the coral…lush green interior pages with 8 repeating original illustrations of all the little details found in the forest and in the tidepools.“ with the forest coral datebook!

They’re 100% recycled paper and have beautiful front and back covers in full-color printed with vegetable-based inks on reincarnation paper.

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Minimize your carbon footprint with this wonderful eco backpack for a balanced back. It is now on sale at Lands’ End! It’s:

• made of 100% recycled fabric
• equipt with a padded laptop sleeve
• made to keep things organized with panels to hold school supplies straight
• 360° reflective trim helps keep you visible in the dark
• cell phone/MP3 player pocket on shoulder strap fits your personal items
• D-ring is set to clip on lunch box
• set up with a side locking system for attaching the bottle holder from the eco-lunch pack…

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The deficiency of necessary vitamins and minerals coupled with the addition of chemical colorings, preservatives and flavorings directly relate to the increase in disease and behavioral issues. As caring parents, we all want the best for our children and that means getting these vital nutrients back into our children’s body.  Here’s some easy tricks!  Stay with us after the jump for a delicious recipe that is full of nutrition and the kids will eat it!

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These supplies remind me of my high school days when I made collages on all my binders with magazine photos and funny quotes. They were the talk of class and several friends requested that I also make collages on their binders as well. How I wish these binders and replaceable covers were around then!

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I love Stubby Pencil Studio because they have the cutest and most practical eco-art supplies for my kids.

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One thing I am dreading is school shopping. All the stores are already doing their sales. Both my school age kids need new backpacks (among other things) since theirs have fallen apart. So I’ve been researching eco-friendly backpacks. So far here’s what I have found.

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So, we ponder, how do healthy parents handle this? In our house, we decided to invest in Laptop Lunch Boxes for each of our school age children. These lunch systems allow me to pack healthy, fresh, and non-disposable lunches. My children love the lunch boxes, because they are cool and the envy of their friends.

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Y’all may or may not remember my head lice trauma. If you don’t recall, the journey begins here. Unfortunately it continued here (careful I cuss a lot). I learned a lesson, it’s a horrible lesson.

Not every mother will keep their child home when they have headlice. *sigh*

Today we did the lice wash. Not because we’re infested, but because we don’t want to be. We’re a few weeks out of any infestation, and I’d like to keep it that way. In preparation for back to school I’m washing everyone with Happy Heads, I’ll continue doing so two to three times a month ad infinitum.

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So what’s a conservation-minded student or teacher to do? Here are some suggestions:

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I’ve been obsessing about backpacks. Really, there is a lot to think about: No PVC (vinyl), lead, no or not much plastic, preferably made in the U.S. with sustainable materials. And all this for under 50 bucks.

I can tell you for preschoolers, it doesn’t exist. (Mama entrepreneurs, take note!). After searching each link on the Center for Health and Justice’s list of back to school items without PVC, I found nothing that would work. I’ve also searched some great resources posted recently on Enviroblog.

I think the search for the backpack is really a front for feeling anxious about letting her go. She is beginning that journey, up up and away, and while that is beautiful and exhilarating, it is also painful and sad for me.

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Pencils are made from wood, and although it is hard to imagine forests are clearcut for the little bit of wood in a pencil, they are.  Many pencil manufacturers buy their wood from Sierra Pacific Industries, which is notorious for irresponsible logging practices, such as clearcutting and use of herbicides on plantations.  Forturnately, Forest Ethics has rated pencil manufacturers on the amount of pre- and post-consumer recycled content in their products, whether they are made Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified lumber, and whether the lumber is purchased from Sierra Pacific Industries.  According to Josh Buswell-Charkow of Forest Ethics:

Parents don’t want their children using pencils which degrade California’s landscape, drinking water, or species, and the top companies on our report card show that there’s a better way. Those big companies that earned ‘F’s, however, are like the students in the back of the class with pencils in their ears and their heads in the clouds while the rest of the class leaves them behind.

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Well maybe.

Manufacturers and retailers of school supplies have been worried this year about how the lousy economy will impact consumer spending in the traditional back-to-school season, late July- mid September….depending on where you live. Back-to-School is the second biggest retail selling season (after Christmas) for retailers and for some manufacturers (backpacks, school supplies, etc.) the make or break time of year.

So, a recent study by the NPD group, reported in Progressive Grocer, must be sending shivers down spines across the country.

There should be much less consumer traffic in the stores aisles this back-to-school season, if the results of the NPD Group’s annual Back-to-School 2008 survey of consumers’ purchasing intentions are borne out in retailers across the country.

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/08/17/will-consumer-cutbacks-on-back-to-school-hurt-green-businesses/feed/ http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008/08/13/going-way-basics-is-way-better/ http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008/08/13/going-way-basics-is-way-better/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:25:11 +0000 Courtney Carlisle http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008/08/13/going-way-basics-is-way-better/ Way Basics, a new furniture company is bringing affordable, customizable designs made out of 99% post consumer materials right to your door. Recognizing a need for stylish, affordable eco-design, the California-based company developed a line without tools and limits.

Don’t go to the site looking for bookshelves, tables or desks though - they don’t label their products that way because they see their “z-board” basic series as building blocks. You can choose to configure your blocks any way that you want to create the pieces that work for you - add shelves, partitions, more blocks, doors and see what you can come up with. Check out their design gallery for a little inspiration.

And, no - you don’t need a tool set. Everything that you need comes with your building blocks…just a little tape, time and creativity. And, yes - they promise that they are sturdy enough to hold 200lbs.

For Related Posts on Green Design:

• Trash with Style
• Hammocks and High Tea
• Say Hello to Cisco Brothers
• Eco-Friendly Interior Design

]]> http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008/08/13/going-way-basics-is-way-better/feed/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/13/sew-juicy/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/13/sew-juicy/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:57:28 +0000 Autumn Wiggins http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/13/sew-juicy/ Today, I put my little boys on the bus for their first day of school. Their backpacks were absolutely stuffed, and  will continue to be for the next couple days. The stringent supply lists are maddening. I’m required to buy boxes of a specific, expensive brand of tissues, because it’s important that they learn how to blow their noses on old growth forests.

At least I have a say as to what goes in their lunches. I’m planning on buying Sigg bottles and adorable handmade snack sacks by gnomeclothes, but due to the back-to-school bank account drain, it’s going to be bags of chips and juice pouches till the next paycheck.

You know the old saying: When life give you Capri Sun Lemonade, sew zipper pouches! Check out this great tutorial for a recycled juice pouch pencil bag on Skip to my Lou.

]]> http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/13/sew-juicy/feed/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/08/13/how-safe-is-your-childs-playground-recycled-tire-cushioning-poses-health-concerns/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/08/13/how-safe-is-your-childs-playground-recycled-tire-cushioning-poses-health-concerns/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:32:21 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/08/13/how-safe-is-your-childs-playground-recycled-tire-cushioning-poses-health-concerns/ It is back to school time, and whether you child plays at a park or a school, you have probably been on a playground that uses recycled tires for cushioning.  In the past, I have questioned the safety of children playing with old tires; however, I remember enjoy tire swings immensely as a child.  Now, the Green Guide has reported on the safety of recycled tire cushioning found on many playgrounds.

A few years ago, we installed new playground equipment at our school.  As the teacher in charge of the project, I was encouraged by parents to explore the option of recycled tires for cushioning, which comes in either a mulch or mat.  At first, I thought this was a good idea as it involved recycling and really does provide a great cushioning, but in the end we chose pea gravel for cost, environmental, and safety concerns.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/08/13/how-safe-is-your-childs-playground-recycled-tire-cushioning-poses-health-concerns/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/12/back-to-school-shopping-madness-from-kindergarten-through-college-its-time-to-curb-the-stuff/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/12/back-to-school-shopping-madness-from-kindergarten-through-college-its-time-to-curb-the-stuff/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:14:13 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/12/back-to-school-shopping-madness-from-kindergarten-through-college-its-time-to-curb-the-stuff/ According to a recent article in USA Today, Costly College Prerequisite: Decorate Dorm, 17.6 billion dollars is expected to be spent on back to school shopping for students in kindergarten through college this year. That’s $527.08 per family - an 18% rise from last year. Back to school shopping falls right behind holiday shopping for retailer’s most profitable season.

Why?

Sure, there are some necessities that need to be bought when going back to school. My sons both have a page long list of items that they are required to have on the first day of school - pencils, composition notebooks, scissors, a box of tissues, etc. When I was a kid, schools supplied those things, but budgets are ever tightening and now families are required to buy them. I certainly won’t be buying $527.08 worth of necessary supplies, though. I don’t think anyone will be buying $527.08 of necessary supplies, unless their definition of necessary is different from mine.

I was in Target last night, and there was an entire section dedicated to the necessities for a college dorm room. This was separate from the traditional back to school section with school supplies. This section had coordinated dorm bedding, rugs, lamps, wall hangings and desk top accessories. Other items that many college kids consider necessities are computers (okay, I’ll give them that), microwaves, TV’s, DVD players, gaming consoles, mp3 players, hand held gaming systems, and stereos.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/12/back-to-school-shopping-madness-from-kindergarten-through-college-its-time-to-curb-the-stuff/feed/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/30/back-to-school-keeping-lunch-green/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/30/back-to-school-keeping-lunch-green/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:10:07 +0000 Jessica Gottlieb http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/30/back-to-school-keeping-lunch-green/ I can’t even write this post. It’s not quite August and I’m supposed to get my kids ready to go back to school. Didn’t we just finish?

I’m tired and I hate shopping so I’m online looking for solutions to the dreaded lunchbox. I love paper napkins because I can write notes to my kids:

I love you

Remember to be a good friend today

Did you tell your teacher that you like it when….?

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/30/back-to-school-keeping-lunch-green/feed/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/18/curriculum-vitae-more-makings-of-a-green-mommy-blogger/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/18/curriculum-vitae-more-makings-of-a-green-mommy-blogger/#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:07:31 +0000 Jessica Gottlieb http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/18/curriculum-vitae-more-makings-of-a-green-mommy-blogger/

Yes, that is a Women’s Lib patch (I’m sure both Glorias are kvelling). No, you cannot have it, I’m quite certain that the Smithsonian will offer me a gazillion dollars for it some day (it’s my fantasy, leave it alone…). Yes, those were my overalls, and then they were my cut off shorts, as I grew my mother sewed part of an old skirt bottom onto it and a few months later a second was added. She is awesome. Eco-couture should be renamed “Jessica’s Mom’s Idea in 1974″ stat.

For the record I am not advocating dressing your child like it’s 1974 again. I would, however, take your kids to the fabric store and see if there are any patches that catch their eye. With back to school shopping just around the corner maybe a few well placed patches could get them more excited about using last year’s backpack?

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