A New Day dawned.....

Hello world, It's been quite a while since I have sat down to post anything. I am hoping I don't disappoint any of you who subscribed in the beginning of the original adventure - but I am taking my blog in a new direction.
A lot has changed since then. For better and worse I suppose. I have learned though that this is how things are and isn't that exactly the way they are supposed to be?
I a now the mother to a baby girl Belle who was born Spring 2010.All those baby posts were put into practice there!! This summer my oldest became a teenager! I have started to see the light of God shine in my son as he became a Baptized believer in Christ this same Summer. I also seen the ugly head of commercialism and peer envy in both he and my now six-year-old daughter. Don't get me wrong there, I think it's lovely to have nice things. I just don't believe the clothes make the man or the girl for that matter.
We withdrew Addy from public school, a conflict of interest I suppose you could say was the general reasoning, and have begun homeschooling her.I am really enjoying it so far.
I became inspired by other bloggers, the Bible and a huge source of tutorials to be a mend and make due mom. I resolve to take only what I need, share what I have, make what I can, buy local and and handmade when I have to.
My Dad getting sick with cancer and realizing the his overexposure to environmental toxins caused it (also in the absence) only served to further my belief that changing the way we do things was no longer just a hobby or idea but was fundamental.
As my husband has grown closer to Christ we as a couple have experienced a conviction over haul! A lot of things have become less important. Some have become essential to who we are and what we are here for.
You know what hasn't changed much..... this desire to be as basic as possible to cut out all the fancy and just be who we were created to be.
A light was shined on us and we began to share ideas and search for answers in the Bible and in the old wisdom of the generations before us.
Dave Ramsey points out that our grandparents *(these would actually be my great grandparents) didn't go into debt for homes - they saved for them, That same generation grew most of their own food. All these women sewed, made fabric in some way, had basic health and healing knowledge, most taught their children at home for sometime anyway(in rural areas), canned what they grew and made use of all that was given to them.
That is the generation that I admire, and that is the generation I believe balk and shake their heads at my generation. My generation for the most part that wastes, rely on instant and has no idea how to do anything for themselves in most cases, including programing the technology that does everything for us!
It is my sincere hope that even though some of you may not be believers, you are concerned for our shared world, and that you will stay and continue to see where this goes. I don't seek to offend anyone,believer or non, nor those who believe and still aren't going green... just sharing my slice
So where are we now? What's all this have to do with the green life? Just you wait and see.
Crystal

Composting to improve your outdoor Life

I first learned about it via the internet through a great site called Smell Like Dirt. There are some great YouTube videos posted there, but there are tons of local resources too.I recommend watching these videos to learn the how to or attend a class- They broadcast from Charlotte. I found a link about taking a composting class, my husband and I took the class and the rest is history – we got hooked!

Composting reduces the amount of matter that goes into a landfill,according to the EPAComposting what’s the big deal right, especially if you are already recycling. Well, composting can be a huge deal for all of us.Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream.Composting at home allows it to decompose on the surface where it can be of most use! It saves the community money and energy because it isn’t having to be hauled to the landfill. Not to mention that it isn’t taking up space in a landfill. I use way less garbage bags one 20 count box lasts 2 months or more at my house. Anything that can be put into the compost goes there.
Personally it benefits you by improving the soil quality and helping to protect against drought, because it allows your soil to keep more water. This is great for you, because you pay to put the plant life in your yard. It may be that you have a garden, or just expensive landscape.
Do you have a lawn guy in your family? Did you know that compost is the best defense for your lawn too. Adding compost to your lawn in addition to grass cycling helps the lawns root system to be able to penetrate further, making it more drought tolerant. There are obvious fertilization benefits as well, because compost is nutrient rich.
It’s expensive though, right? NO! This is one of the cheapest things you can do to help you and the environment! Most everything you will need is available FREE to you and the rest can be purchased for less than fifty dollars in most cases. It costs about $5 to produce 10 cubic feet of compost vs the $25 it would cost to buy it! You don’t need to buy anything though. The basic ingredients to a good compost already exist in your yard – you just need to put them together.
I don’t have that kind of time. The beginning process of setting up the compost site takes about forty-five minutes,after that you just have to add your scraps and turn it once a month. You can turn it more often – this will speed up the process. You will have usable compost in about 6 months!
It’s fun…. Yeah I know you are thinking… messing with used foods and dirt doesn’t sound fun. It can be especially for a family. Building a bin together to maintaining it all can give an opportunity for your family to spend time together and do something that will produce benefits within a growing season, especially if you plant a small garden using your compost. I have several coffee canisters that I add my compostable to when I am cleaning the kitchen. I take it out when I take the recycling out, and add it to the compost.
Give it a try – if it isn’t for you –well at least you attempted it!Get the basics! I believe though that once you get started and find out how simple it is you too will be hooked!!

Indoor Air Quality, how clean is your air?

The air you most often breathe is inside your home. Ever wonder how clean it is?
You air is contaminated with everything that enters your home from the outdoors. That is a given. Did you know that the leading contributor isn’t the air outside though, it’s your cleaning and household products, that’s according to the EPA. You can find some of the nasty things on the labels but it is the stuff not listed that is causing you to breathe toxins. Things like synthetic fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals, or VOCs. Research has shown that these toxins lead to all kinds of health problems like generalized sensitivity skin and respiratory irritation, allergies, asthma and some experts believe maybe even autism. Other contributors can be tobacco smoke, VOC’s from, solvents, aerosol sprays, hobby supplies, and dry cleaned clothes , not to mention furniture and carpet .
It is hard to get away from these guys too, because even the mainstream natural and earth friendly cleaners use the solvents from petro chemicals (and yes these come from petroleum, oil that is… wonder why we are so reliant on petroleum?) to extract the “naturally derived” components in their products, the truth is there are better alterative but it’s cheaper to do it the dirty way.

One way to keep the toxins low in your home is to use products you know are clean. Does your cleaner contain any of the known irritants? What about the word “fragrance”, is it on the label? A lot of companies use the ability to trademark fragrances to hide all sorts of dangerous things. Check with the company or find one that discloses ALL their ingredients. Chartreuse Products are one alternative (and the best if you ask me) to conventional cleaners.
If you use a washer and then your dyer be aware that the dryers exhaust will find its way throughout your home. The detergent that you use is as guilty of being toxic as your other household cleaners. Detergent isn’t soap after all. Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are huge culprits too, causing some of the same things that cleaners do, along with other disorders associated with the central nervous system. Using a natural soap, and a dryer sheet (to reduce static cling) but skip the scented ones – will help illuminate things like Chloroform, from your household air.
Plants, nature’s air purifiers are also wonderful for improving air quality. They don’t only purify the air but they restore need oxygen and balance humidity. Bathrooms with mold problems can benefit from a peace lily. There are many plants, a complete list that was put together some time ago originally by NASA that can help in restoring air quality. The type of plant and the number of them per square foot is important in order to maximize the benefits, using the suggested plants with the ratio of one per ten square feet of your home.
Be diligent about what comes into your home, buying furniture that doesn’t contain any toxic glues or pressed woods, as well as avoiding synthetic fabrics will in the long run keep the VOC levels low. Buying paints designed to have NO VOC off gassing will not only protect you from the layers of paint already on your wall but they won’t smell so obnoxious during application and won’t further contribute to the problem.



There are even simpler things you can do too, remove your shoes when in your home. All sorts of pollen and dirt come into your home from your shoes. You can also vacuum your home frequently using a good quality vac with a HEPA filter. If you are looking to upgrade look for one of the newer energy efficient vacuums, because after reading this I expect that you will be using it more often!*( I have a Eureka light weight ,I purchased it at a home improvement store and paid less than a hundred dollars, it has a HEPA and is energy star rated.)Don’t just vacuum the floors either; remember the furniture and drapes trap all sorts of things. Along your base boards and door frames things often accumulate and as you walk are stirred up in to the air. You can change your air filter in you HVAC unit at least once a month, and keep the vents clean. On warm days it doesn’t hurt to open your windows and air out the house. Of course this is a great time to clean out those window sills too!!

Read the label, and check the internet. You can protect the air inside with a little diligence.

Greening in the New Year...A Series of articles to help you begin the green journey

I am planning on writing this month in a series of blogs about simple steps to green. Not only for the planet but for your personal environment too,
~ Indoor Air Quality , what you can do to reduce the toxins in the air you breathe inside your home?
~ How Compost can improve your outdoor life.
~ Sort that garbage and use less garbage bags!
~ Simple steps to making your home more energy efficient

Stay tuned for a new and improved GreenLifeCarolina blog.

Ain't nothing like the real thing.... Trees that is!

Oh No she is on that soap box again.... yes I guess I am. maybe it's a tree stand!!!
This time of year is bittersweet for me, while I love the holidays for the celebration of what the season is, and all the traditions and family. I am sick of all the nasty leftovers.
The wrapping paper is one thing, but I can't tell you how saddened I am every time I pass through a big box store and see the artificial forests set up in the Christmas area. All that plastic, made to look like a beautiful living forests.
Why? The common person would say that an artificial decoration would save a tree, well on the surface yes. One tree but the production of the artificial tree, the VOC off set and then the dumping it when it inevitably becomes too worn to use another year, poisons the air, the environment and takes up space in a land fill forever. Artificial trees are plastic, plastic is made from by products of petroleum. So with that said we saved 1 tree and did thousands of years worth of damage to the environment.Plastic is made of oil and is flammable so we must treat the "trees" with a flame retardant that is toxic to avoid it com busting. I know that many people fear the real tree fires but if the tree remains well watered and the lights on it are low heat and responsibly monitored this is very avoidable!
To support the view I am expressing here I offer this table from the National Christmas Tree Association
This goes deeper than just the green too. Think about the American farmers being employed by the production of real trees. Especially here in North Carolina. We are one of the biggest producers of Christmas Trees!
We are also reducing our dependency on oil but reducing the amount of plastics we use...which will by far be better for the economy and the nation!
So, I say... say no to artificial..... what are your options?
You can of course purchase a cut tree. This is a matter of preference. You can go to a lot and buy one, I would recommend finding out where the trees are grown and if pesticides or inorganic fertilizers are used.The best option is to find a farm that is sustainable across the board. Uses organic growing practices, grows a variety of native specias of trees (this helps to contribute to the native wildlife conservation), harvests the trees using minimal amounts of heavy equiptment and has a high return plant ratio,( this means that they plant more than one to one harvested trees) Often when a mature tree is harvested there is room to plant two smaller breeds) That might require a little research but there are resources available on the internet.
Another option is going to a farm and picking one out,you can see the practices first hand! I have a friend who has made this an annual tradition with her children. She loads up the van and drives to the NC mountains often staying overnight and enjoying the whole trip, she tops it off by visiting the same family owned tree farm every year, selecting a tree where it grows, harvesting it and brings it home. What a great memory her kids will have of that experience.
A potted tree is a good option too, Keeping the same tree for 5 years or so potted is safe for the tree, and good for you. As the tree grows it will eventually need to be planted but in the meantime you can enjoy it indoors for the breif holiday season and then return it to the outdoors.
One more way that we get a little more out of our real tree is, after the holidays we take our ornaments off the tree (if you use tinsel be careful to get all of it off) and lights and take the tree outside in the stand and return the favor. This is a gift to the animals (God's other creations, as my son puts it). Once the tree is clean of any artificial stuff we redecorate it. We straw twine and string popcorn and berries together and hang it on the tree. We use "imported" pine cones from my son's family on the coast and make the peanut butter birdseed feeders and hang them as ornaments on the tree. other "ornaments" include dried corn on the cob for the squirrels, various fruits and nuts...we top the tree with a filled bird feeder. It is a great tradition that the kids look forward to, and it is a great way to help the wildlife with food and shelter for a few weeks in winter. Once all the food is gone, we make sure there were no homes built in the branches and then the tree is chopped and composted.

Enjoy the sites and sounds and smells of the Winter holidays, and let me have the feed back!! What are your opinions , traditions and thoughts about the Tannenbaum?

Green Halloween Costume Contest

Hey Halloween Goers
Did you make your costumes? Did you get one second hand or just use
what you had?
Send me your pictures of your green costume, explain what makes it recycled , up cycled or green in general- then send us a picture and be entered into a drawing for Soap Nuts laundry berries packet.
Contest ends at Midnight on October 31.
Winners will be be announced on November 2!

Post your pics here in the comments section. Good Luck

Baby Green: Choosing the "better" formula for your little one

I have to say that this is one of my longest researched blogs yet. In case you haven't figured it out I am a huge advocate of breast milk, but I also recognize that there is sometime circumstances where breast feeding solely or at all isn't an option. My own daughter Addy needed formula supplements to save her life, I wasn't producing enough milk to help her rid her body of Bili Rubin during her first weeks of life. I maintained sole breast feeding and she had her levels checked nearly everyday. ultimately though James and I chose to supplement her rather than see her continue to yellow and possibly do irreparable damage to her liver.
There are also those special couples who adopt and thus mothers milk isn't really physically possible. Some mothers have their miracles born too early and their milk never comes in, and there are those moms who just can't get the hang of it try as they may, it just becomes so tiresome and frustrating for them and baby.There are a number of really GOOD reasons why we need a quality choice in formula. This became most apparent to me during what I call a "God moment" this week,when my brother in law, a bachelor, brought me an orphaned kitten he had found. I had to purchase formula for an infant, though not of my species in order to keep it sustained and alive. It was sometime during one of the midnight feedings that it dawned on me that though I advocate breast milk, it truly is important to have a safe healthy alternative to breast milk sometimes.
I was researching the topic from the perspective of not being able to breast feed. What is important to me. Well obviously as close to breast milk as possible, organic, without any additives. I began with what I knew, the main stream brands and their organic options.
What do I mean by organic? A true organic formula whether it is milk to soy based must come from organic certified source ie organic soy beans or an organic cow (no hormone injections and a strict organic vegetable based diet), all the essentials added things like carrots for the beta carotene or other vegetables for fat and vitamin content must also be certified organic before becoming part of the formula. The process by which the formula is made must also be organic, meaning that nothing can be don chemically to alter the ingredients, heat and additives are all strictly monitored.
I was surprised to find that there are a lot of things I didn't know about formula. DHA is all the rage. So what is DHA - it is "fatty acid,that occurs naturally in breast milk.These long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are powerful enough to affect brain and eye development.They work in concert with other fatty acids which make up lipid bi-layers.These lipid bi-layers are found in every cell in the human body.They regulate proteins involved with signaling.The regulation and balance of lipids in these bi-layers is critical for proper cell signaling.Cholesterol is essential for s-acylation which activates and de-activates protein signaling.Disruption of this s-acylation by increasing the amount of unsaturation will have devastating consequences. in breast milk there is a natural regulation not fully understood by scientists". However, they found DHA in breast milk so they thought to add it to formula to make it "just like breast milk"

So we are going organic? UNTIL you get to the process of adding that magic accompaniment that makes the world believe that it is just like breast milk. I have learned that the process used to derive DHA is what I would consider to be "dirty", there is a number of ways but one of the most disturbing is to use bleach - yes bleach to break down the wall on the fat cell in order to extract the DH:,C. cohnii oil (algae) & M. alpina oil (fungus) used in some organic and conventional infant formulas,are treated with hexane solvent (a suspected neurotoxin), acid, and bleach. After reading a blog by Jenn Savedge,I started checking network news sources, like the Washington Post and I FLIPPED OUT! The really disturbing thing is that the FDA knows this and still allows some organics to carry the USDA seal.
I found a few formulas that are certified organic sealed and used nothing toxic extract DHA.A few but they are out there! I have posted a link, on my facebook page and will include in my newsletter,that compares the alternatives to these, this was a great list and included prices.
If organic isn't that important to you then a conventional formula may be your choice, I would recommend avoiding the DHA/ARA additives all together, as the process isn't guaranteed in the least.
Of Course, as anything these days price is one of our biggest concerns, so I also took a look at some of the generic and store brands too. A few of the big box stores have organic options, again I would opt for not getting the DHA/ARA to avoid unnecessary chemical exposures, if you choose to use even the organic store brands.
It comes done to this for me, if I have to use formula I would choose Natures One baby's Only Organic formula... they have organic certification disclose all ingredients and offer explanations for how they get the DHA in the formula. You may be concerned that they don't offer an infant formula, well the baby's only is nutritious enough for infants, it is a labeling tactic to encourage breastfeeding moms to stick to it for the first 12 months... but they told me that on their label - how is that for truth in advertising?
My best advice for any product is to avoid the green washing, find a product that discloses ALL it's ingredients and tells you in plain language how each additive is extracted,if a product is worth your time, trust and dollars then you are worth it enough to that company to be allowed to know what they are asking you to put into your body and the bodies of your family.

Baby Green: Bottles and BPA

If you know me then you know that the whole green thing only went to the next level in the last few years. I have learned more about my impact on the environment and more , since joining Chartreuse about the impact of the unnatural environment on my family.
Nearly everything we use has some sort of toxin in it. Our dishes, our clothes, most defiantly the products we use... but that is another blog.
This one is on BPA. What is that anyway? Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a dysfunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. With an annual production of 2–3 million metric tonnes, it is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate, or plastic. I could probably bore you more about how the process takes place and how it is not really stable, I can also mention that it has been suspected since the 1930's that it may be toxic to humans but I think you are reading this to try to learn how to avoid the 'bad bottles".
I want to add, before going into the proposed safe list that this isn't something I have just rounded out to sell products as recently as Aug. 6, 2007
ABC news reported that :
"A report published online last week by the journal Reproductive Toxicology warned that a chemical used to make a wide variety of plastic goods, including most baby bottles, may not be safe. It's called bisphenol-A, or BPA.

Tests involving lab rats and mice have shown that even small amounts of exposure to BPA can lead to a range of serious ailments, says professor Frederick vom Saal, a biologist at the University of Missouri who authored the report.

"Very low doses [of BPA] — below the amounts that are present in humans — when, particularly, exposure occurs in fetuses and newborns, you end up with those babies eventually developing prostate cancer, breast cancer. They become hyperactive.
They show learning impairment. It's a poster chemical for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," vom Saal said.
And it's in most of us: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in the urine of 95 percent of people it tested. (NINETY FIVE PERCENT..)

In the last two years, state lawmakers in California, Maryland and Minnesota have tried to ban BPA, without success.

California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma introduced a bill to ban BPA and although that provision was eventually removed, she hopes to bring it back."I think it's a very serious chemical," she said. "The science is in." ".
Until there is a national ban on BPA, like Canada and the UK have already done here in America we can only stay informed, ask questions and make the best of the choices given us.
The Boston Globe published this resource and round of Q&A
The state’s warning is precise for parents of children up to age 2: Avoid transparent (clear or colored) plastic containers or baby bottles with the recycling number 7 and the letters PC (which stands for polycarbonate); use glass or stainless steel instead. If plastics are still being used, parents should avoid heating those containers because that can increase the release of the chemical. They should also wash the containers by hand with warm water and soap, instead of placing them in dishwashers.

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should also eat, or cook with, fresh or frozen products instead of canned foods that may contain BPA, to reduce fetal or infant exposure to the chemical, Condon said.

Some Answers to questions about BPA
How to avoid bisphenol A
Q. How do I know if a bottle has BPA in it?
A. Polycarbonate, the kind of plastic that contains BPA, is hard and clear. It may also be tinted. Look for a code on the bottom. If you see a number 7 recycling symbol, and the letters "PC", the bottle contains BPA. You should also avoid bottles with only the number 7; while not all contain BPA, most do.

Q. What should I use instead?
A. Glass or stainless steel bottles do not have BPA. There are also several kinds of plastic baby bottles that do not have BPA. However, studies on BPA-free products are too limited to recommend one product over another. Be sure you look at the bottom of the bottle and read the label carefully to make sure you are choosing a BPA-free bottle.

Q. What else can I do to protect my child?
A. Eat fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables instead of canned products (the lining contains BPA) if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not heat food or drinks in polycarbonate plastic containers. You would be suprised where you find BPA.
Here are some BPA FREE baby bottles:
~Born Free makes BPA free and glass bottles.
~ Medela the champion among most breast feeding moms, offers BPA FREE bottles and pu,ping accesories.
~ Dr Brown's Natural GLASS bottles
~ Play tex drop ins are BPA free (but you know I absolutely don't advocate a disposable when there is an alternative.)
All of these are avaible at Target and Babies R Us as well as over the internet. There are less main stream brands - and I LOVE those as they actually have "lead the pack" and have been green and safe before the media rallied for safer products.
~ Green To Grow
~Wee Go baby bottles - these are glass with a rubbery sleeve to protect against breakage, The whole bottle is free of BPA, phthalates, PVC and polycarbonates. The bottle and sleeve can go into the dishwasher together for easy cleaning. The cap and ring should be hand washed, though.

On a side note - if you have children past bottle age and you are wondering about BPA - the answer is Yes there are risks of BPA in "sippies" to avoid that choose glass or stainless steel. Check out the stainless steel water bottle on www.greenlifecarolina.com . It comes in 2 different sizes and the smaller one is great for Toddlers.
Some additional recommended reading:

Baby Green : Breastfeeding

So, I have to say I was really surprised at the reaction that I got about my post on disposables.
I am proud to announce that I will be breast feeding baby number three.
Why breast feed? Well to start with , it is the design I mean mom comes equipt to do it. My doctor as well as most of the world's doctors state that breastfeeding is better for baby and mother. Your natural immunity is passed to your child through your milk.Studies are showing that not only are babies given moms immunities but they are also at lower risks for ear infections and recently I read for lukemia.Not to mention that mom's recovery time is quicker!
It's convenient.Always the perfect temperature. I have to say i know both sides of the fence on this one and I liked having to roll over pick up Addy and nurse her back to sleep while a peacefully dozed versed having to get up measure and heat water, mix test , feed burp... that was the case with TJ. I also liked not having to carry bottles around. Addy did take formula - she needed supplements.
I never had the problem of eating anything that didn't agree with Addy, I made sure that I had a lot of fluids and ate a well balanced diet but I never avoided any foods for the milks sake. Although, I always avoid alcohol I know that several moms have prepared for an evening out where they planned to have an adult beverage by pumping before going out for enough until they had metabolized the alcohol, and simply "pumped and dumped' the alcohol laced milk.
There is a lot of information out there on breastfeeding, I got the most help with Addy from other moms. I also got a great deal of encouragement from those moms. I think the best advice for a nursing mom is to join a support group, like Le Leche League. There are groups of moms that meet on a regular basis to discuss feeding, naturally.
I think that one of the best things about breast feeding is that sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing you are providing your babies nutrition, the bonding that takes place during nursing is absolutely amazing. I can't describe the feeling that I had looking down at my baby as she nursed and knowing that I was giving her something that no one else could.
What makes breastfeeding green you might ask? Well a few things, primarily to start breastfeed mothers forgo bottles most of the time, so the amount of plastic being produced for bottles is reduced, especially if the "drop in" disposable liners are avoided altogether, no plastic scoops. In exclusively breastfeeding moms aren't taking advantage milk based formulas, which come from obviously cows milk, a good 20% of green house gases come for the dairy farm industry, nursing inadvertent reduce green house gases.Not to mention the energy used to "harvest" the cows milk. Breast milk, always the the perfect temp required no energy, well no outside energy. You don't have to use electricity or natural gas to heat a bottle, no water or detergent that would pollute that water is used to clean the bottles. Then there is the poop factor,the issue of a breastfed versus formula-fed and the environment. When changing a diaper especially a cloth diaper, you know the difference! Breastfed baby’s waste is much easier to wash from a cloth diaper, as well as the odor is not nearly as bad. When considering the energy and water involved in washing cloth diapers, breast is definitely best!

I plan on writing next on bottle feeding, so what is the big deal with bottles these days anyway?Since having her and using the Avent brand bottles I have learned more about the dangers of plastics and how the constant heating and washing some brands of bottles can cause petro toxins , BPA that leach into the baby's milk and digestive systems. Rest assured though there are green options!

Baby Green