By Allison Wolff •
October 16, 2009
Halloween, like many other holidays, is a love-hate day for me. I love the tradition, the fun of dressing up as someone or something completely different from myself, the excitement of walking the streets in the dark, leaves blowing, trying to figure out who is hiding under each costume, and, of course, gorging on piles of candy just before bedtime (of course I only did that as a kid). As I’ve become a concerned “greenie” mother, however, I am growing to hate holidays that fuel the consumption of toxic materials and goodies that ain’t so good for the planet or our bodies.
That said, I am the mother of a 15 month old girl and, in an effort to not be a complete curmudgeon, I thought I would do some research to find eco-acceptable costumes and planet- and body-better goodies. Here are a few good finds:
By Jamie Ervin •
February 13, 2009
So, you are thinking about adding a splash of color, maybe you are getting a room ready for a new child or repairing some old walls. Being the mindful person you are, you’re probably considering one of the many Low/No VOC paints we see on the market today. I’m here to help you weed through the labels and find the truth regarding these paint options.
Typical household paint may contain upwards of 300 known toxic chemicals (half of which have been linked to cancer) and a total of more than 10,000 total chemicals. Yikes. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are the worst offenders in the paint chemical category. VOCs continue to seep out into the air we breath for many years after being placed on a surface. How’s that for “new nursery smell”? (Image by Napalm Filled Tires on Flickr under CreativeCommons.)
By Tiffany Washko •
January 17, 2009
Many homeowners love do-it-yourself home projects, but are the products we use such as paint and wallpaper, non-toxic and safe? We all want our homes to be free of cancer-causing toxins, especially when it comes to the decor we choose. Not only is it important for adults, it is critical to use sustainable and green products around any area where children and pets play. Do we really want to decorate a nursery room or a recreation room with potentially toxic substances? I think not. But, how do you choose the right kind of non-toxic paint and wallpaper?
Fortunately we can now buy paints that low in or free of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. This is so important because the paints that do contain VOCs still release toxins years after they have dried. One hasty decision at the home improvement store can have very long lasting effects. Non-toxic paints have significantly less odor that can spark allergic reactions, headaches and, nausea. Make sure you are buying paint that is low on the VOCs or free of VOCs entirely. Do this by reading the labels or asking your paint retailer. I have used C2 LoVo myself with wonderful results. The paint fume smell was non-existent. I was a very happy, green customer.
By Leslie Richard •
October 17, 2008
One of the things about being an artist that has always bothered me is it’s a hobby (or life) which is geared towards social & political change, yet is entirely toxic to the artist and the earth. Which is an oxymoron that really hit home for me when I became chemically sensitive from the overuse of unsafe materials in unventilated areas. For years after I contemplated what art really meant to me if I could not use the toxic oils, acrylics, stains and glue I was accustomed to- all the beautiful bright colors & goop I had based my entire style on.
I love the idea of making vibrant meaningful art from materials that are locally, organically, and safely sourced- and was shocked to find that we have things in our back yard and grocery that create quality art that’s sure to make your heart thump and hands clap. These videos are of the painting process using poke berry & turmeric paints, made easily by boiling each with some kosher salt for about 45 minutes. I started 
experimenting with these paints a few months ago and the color has not faded at all- plus you can mix these organic colors together to get more variations. The paint brushes I used are made with human hair (mine and my neighbor’s), a stick and a rubber band to hold the hair in place (you can shape it perfectly with scissors!). The “canvas” is paper sewn together and hung in a tapestry fashion with locally woven organic cotton scraps.
