Tracy Lydiatt - The Green Families Guru

Dear Valetine, it's easy being green.....

2012-02-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

Easy Ways to Green Your Traditional Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine’s Day, a romantic dinner with flowers, wine, a beautifully cooked meal and chocolates comes to mind as the typical Valentine’s Day date. Our actions are made with good intentions although many of us do not know the full implications of how our Valentine’s Day choices impact the environment and societies– including us!

No one wants to think about the potential pesticides sprayed on their food, the green house gas emissions from transporting flowers, or the child or slave labor used to harvest cocoa beans for chocolate. When viewing these impacts, Valentine’s Day is actually quite depressing!

Don’t despair! There are many choices available that don’t have such a huge impact on the environment and humans. It’s easy to impress your loved ones even more this year and show them the extra care you took in putting a new ‘eco-friendly twist’ on your Valentine’s Day celebrations by passing your efforts and gifts through a sustainability ‘lens’. Your mission is to look for choices that:

1. Reduce the use of petroleum and its by-products

2. Are non-toxic

3. Support the health of natural systems

4. Support fair wages and international labor standards

Here are some suggestions for you:

Romantic Dinner – whether it’s a night out or a home cooked meal, one of the best ways to incorporate sustainability into your meal planning is to find a restaurant that offers organic options or uses locally grown produce in their meals. Check out www.localharvest.org/restaurants to search for one near you. If you’d rather stay at home and exercise your culinary skills, focus on organic and/or locally grown foods. The benefit is you reduce your carbon footprint, are in support of local agriculture and agriculture initiatives that protect the planet and your long-term health. If you choose to splash out on seafood, look for fish varieties that are certified by sustainable seafood initiatives like Marine Stewardship Council. Finally, when choosing a bottle of wine, the perfect pairing for any meal is choosing a wine that is made as locally as possible to reduce the use of petroleum in its transport from the vineyard to your table.

Candle Lit Romance – Candles are perfect for setting the mood – at the dinner table, to lead up to a surprise or to relax in the bath! While the US Food and Drug Administration deem paraffin wax non-toxic, it is made from hydrocarbons (a byproduct of petroleum), a substance we need to shift away from. As well, some candles contain chemical based fragrances and wicks with lead wires – both a big no-no from a toxicity point of view. Your best alternatives are to look for candles made from 100% beeswax or vegetable based-wax, use cotton wicks and natural aromatherapy oils for fragrance.

Chocolates – Hmmm – many of us cannot get enough of this dark, sweet, white and dipped stuff, especially on holidays! The sad reality of the chocolate industry is that it has a reputation as dark as the sweet treat. Slave and child labor, unfair wages to farmers and pesticides used in the growth of cocoa beans for chocolate are issues that continue to plague the chocolate industry. Recently Purdy’s Chocolates committed to sustainable cocoa farming initiatives and companies such as Divine Chocolate USA, which is 45% owned by the farmers, are great options for your chocolate gifts from a sustainability perspective.

Flowers – The classic and much loved way to express your sentiments on so many occasions are to send flowers. Although beautiful, the ugly truth is hidden from view: almost 90% of the roses sold for Valentine's Day have a huge carbon-footprint and are pesticide intense in their cultivation. According to Justmeans.com, “In Colombia, flower-plantation workers are exposed to 127 types of pesticides and flower farms have polluted and depleted Bogota's streams and groundwater. 20% of these pesticides are illegal in Europe and America.” If you give flowers to your loved one this year, choose an organic bouquet if possible from one of these retailers: www.organicbouquet.com, www.californiaorganicflowers.com, or flowers sold at Whole Foods, Trader Joes or on www.flowerbud.com that are “Veriflora Certified Flowers”.

Typically these ‘alternative’ choices do not cost more than traditional ones and the added benefit is to know your choices are contributing to maintaining your health and the health of the environment. I couldn’t think of a better gift to receive on Valentine’s Day!

To your green family success!

Tracy

Green New Years Resolutions? Join My Green Your Life Online Program

2012-01-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

NEW to 2012: FLEXIBLE start dates and the choice between a 7-Day or 7-Week program. Start either anytime during the week of January 16th -20th, 2012.

This online program is specifically designed to walk you and your family one step at a time towards your sustainable living goals without going broke or crazy in the process. Going green is more than changing light bulbs and using reusable grocery bags – this succinct program brings everything together conveniently into one place for easy-breezy learning and empowerment.

Register now for the 7-Week Program($75)

Register now for the 7-Day Program ($75)

Top 4 Tips for Greening Your Holidays

2011-12-10T14:48:00.001-08:00

How many of you feel obligated to give physical gifts? How many of youhave received gifts that broke soon after and were not recyclable? How many of youhave sat and wondered at the giant pile of wrapping paper that was left over onChristmas morning? Did you knowthat in Canada, the annual waste from gift-wrap and shopping bags equals about545,000 tons which is enough paper and bags to cover 45,000 hockey rinks?

The holidays are a time of celebration, family gatherings and we createthe space to remember and celebrate the things we are grateful for. Sometimes these core focuses at holidaytime can become thoroughly overwhelmed by expectations on our time andresources. Holiday parties andgift giving can instigate feelings of guilt and overwhelm as many of us packour social schedules and feel pressured to gift give and participate. Not onlydoes it put pressure on our time, resources, health and well being it alsoaffects our efforts to green our lives and live sustainably. Thankfully thereare ways to be green that do not dampen the spirit of our favorite holidayactivities like sharing meals, meeting up with friends and exchanging gifts.

Being green during the holidays doesn’t have to be hard and canactually be a very fun and creative exercise. The following are suggestions toeasy strategies:

Tip 1:Reduce

The ol’ gift exchange between family members or within your circle offriends falls under this category and is a wonderful way to reduce the pressureto gift everyone with something and reduces the impact on our environment byconsuming less. Wrappinggifts in reusable cloth bags or colorful green shopping bags that can be usedlater is a creative way of reducing the amount of gift-wrap that is thrown inthe landfill during the holidays. If you travel during the holidays by air ormotor vehicle, you can choose to give the gift of carbon offsets and make yourtrip carbon neutral that reduces your contribution to adding extra carbondioxide to the environment.

Tip 2:Substitute

Number one on this list is the opportunity to get rid of toxins! Theycan be present in pretty much everything: that new sweater for Dad, thoseplastic toys for the kids, the pretty smelling candle for a friend, and the newbottle of perfume for Mom. Even old, fake plastic Christmas trees can containlead and phthalates contained in the PVC used to make the trees. Look for gifts that are toxin free:gifts made from natural fibers such as hemp, organic cotton, silk, bamboo; kidstoys free of BPA, phthalates, lead and sweat shop free (buy local!); vegetablebased, soy or bees wax candles scented with essential oils; and essential oilbased perfumes.

Another suggestion is to give the gift of your favorite recipes or foodproducts. Last year, I bought adozen mason jars from the thrift store and filled them with ingredients for achocolate chip cookie recipe and put the recipe with a ribbon on the jar. Thiskind of idea reuses items, nourishes the receiver, provides an opportunity tocreate a family activity in the kitchen and have some fun!

Tip 3:Give Services Not Products

Your friends and family will love this tip. Not only does it save youtime and energy running around at holiday time, battling the shopping crowds,it gifts them some of your time, energy and skills or a service they couldreally benefit from. Consider where you might be able to help someone bygifting him or her with your time, energy and skills instead of just reachingfor your wallet to buy something. Providing your loved ones with services instead of products is a greatopportunity to support their health and wellbeing. Other ideas include a gift certificate to a spa (non-toxicof course) for body-nourishing services that will help them relax is a welcomealternative to finding the right gift for that someone that “haseverything”. This could alsoinclude haircuts, massages, chiropractic or naturopathic doctor care. It’s also a great way of including thefamily: why not challenge your children to think about services they couldprovide like babysitting, mowing lawns, gardening, running errands and helpthem to create a creative gift voucher?

Tip 4:Think Outside the Box

I once had someone boldly state to me that money was only good forbuying “things”. I actuallystrongly disagree and feel there are many ways that money can be used in asupportive, non-traditional consumerism way. Even though it might seem faux pasto give cash, why not consider setting up an RESP (registered education savingsplan) for friends or family members? Another opportunity is to use your moneyto help grow local economies and contribute to education and wellbeinginitiatives provided through local non-profit organizations or charities.Likely there are thousands of organizations to choose from in your area so pickyour topic and research organizations you resonate with. The best part is youcan usually make a contribution in someone’s name. Several years ago when I wasliving in Australia, I ‘adopted’ (on paper) two koalas in my father andbrother’s names. They were excited to receive a koala for a Christmas present!

If you are more focused on supporting people in developing nations,check out KIVA.org, which provides auser-friendly portal for micro-lending. With as little as $25 you can supportsomeone in a developing nation. Oxfam Unwrapped isanother great program that allows you to support farmers in developing nationsby purchasing anything from a family of ducks, a pig, a water well, fruit treesor a pile of manure!

Including “green” in yourholidays is not a difficult and only requires a slight shift in mindset. In noway does it impact the quality of time you have or your sense of satisfactionduring the holidays. In fact, you might find it contributes to an improvedsense of connection with friends and family and a deeper sense of peace andwellbeing for yourself.

Happy Holidays!

Top 4 Tips to Green Your Holidays - Tracy's Global TV BC Interview!

2011-12-08T08:27:00.001-08:00

HR Voice Article: Sustaining A Core Competitive Culture

2011-11-13T18:13:00.001-08:00

You are here: Home » Recruit & Retain » ‘Sustaining’ a Core Competitive Culture

‘Sustaining’ a Core Competitive Culture

HRVoice.org | November 7, 2011 | no comments

By Tracy Lydiatt

Does caring about sustainability help you retain valued employees? The simple answer is yes; green matters to business.

The Harvard Business Review followed 30 large corporations over several years and found a positive correlation between an employee’s positions on their company’s sustainability initiatives and their work place happiness.

Employees who work for companies that align with their values perform better and the payoff for attracting and retaining the type of talent capable of innovating in a challenging market goes right to the bottom line. Positively affecting the organizational bottom line through talent acquisition and retention is a priority for any human resources professional.

Regardless of size, of the biggest investments companies make is in their employees. Often getting them in the door is the easy part; convincing them to stay can require consideration and effort. It also makes a convincing case for developing sustainability as a core culture.

In their February 2010 article, The Business Case for Sustainability, authors Hollander, Orgain and Nunez state that 75 per cent of entrants into today’s workforce evaluate a firm’s environmental and social responsibility records prior to choosing and employer of preference. Globe Scan (2006) reported that 83 per cent of employees in G7 countries say company’s positive corporate social responsibility (CSR) reputation increases loyalty.

The Vargas Group in 2007 published finding that showed only 24 per cent of employees report feeling “truly loyal” to their employers with plans to stay at least two years. Inversely, the report showed that 76 per cent of employees are job hunting to varying degrees, ranging from casually surfing the Internet to actively interviewing for new jobs.

What is important to these employees? How long do they typically stay and are there things that are important enough to sway their decision to leave? Important questions to ponder considering that the cost of replacing a valued employee is often 2-3 times the value of that person and comes as a burdened cost to the company.

In her book, One Foot Out the Door, Judith Bardwick summarizes employee priorities at work to be:

to keep learning;
achieve reasonable security;
be successful;
to have their work and family flourish and;
for their lives as well as work to have meaning.

This list of priorities provides a strong indication that no longer are employees happy to go to work, be committed, productive and have no sense of meaning attached to their individual contributions. Seventy per cent of employees with a favourable perception of their company’s community engagement, plan to stay for the next two years vs. 50 per cent of those with a less favorable perception. This provides an opportunity for businesses and HR professionals to connect with employees, learn what is of importance to them and support the fulfillment of these values.

So what do you do if your company does not have a strong corporate social responsibility program?
The first and important step is to approach the management of the business to share your thoughts and present the business case for emphasizing activities and programs such as:

green office team
company supported volunteerism
lunch and learns with sustainability experts
ride share board or forum
bicycling incentives etc…

Buy-in from management is an essential and key step for implementing any initiatives with staying power. If you are fortunate, your management may already be thinking about corporate social responsibility and have any number of the programs suggested above in place. In this case, it is important to involve employees and effectively disseminate information about company efforts, especially the stories which communicate wins and progress forward.

If you are in the position of starting from scratch or face a challenging future with convincing management of the value and impact sustainability initiatives can have on the bottom line, you are not alone nor without resources. Thankfully there are some amazing tools available to support you in preparing and presenting the business case for sustainability.

A recommended resource for calculating the business case are two sets of spreadsheets created by Canadian Dr. Bob Willard, designed to be used for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations. They allow you to use real company numbers and put tangible numbers to aspects such as employee productivity and loyalty that are traditionally harder to quantify. Strategic Sustainability Consulting offers some fantastic resources for both SMEs and large corporations including eight free white papers on varying employee engagement issues related to office and corporate sustainability.

Tracy Lydiatt is an award-winning sustainability advisor and author known as The Green Families Guru. She is an international expert and three-time TEDx speaker on sustainability. Her book, Your Green Family Blueprint, is a must have resource for anyone interested in easy strategies to integrate eco-friendly into their lives without going broke or crazy. Her mission is to empower people to become more sustainable and delivers her work through corporate and private training, both in person and through her online 7-Day Going Green Challenge. www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com

VLog: My Rubber Boot Dilemma

2011-09-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

I live in a rainy city - Vancouver, BC in Canada where the amount of raindrops we receive each year is enough to shift our perceptions in fashion. What do I mean? Here in this lush, green, wet city we, the women of Vancouver, wear rubber boots as a fashion item. I have heard many non-native residents comment about it saying, "only in Vancouver!" Even though I love my city and want to think we're unique, I highly doubt that it's only here as many other cities are pretty wet too. The great thing is there are many styles, colors and patterns to choose from - everything to warm a fashionistas heart!

So in gearing up for my first winter here in 3 years, I have been faced with the "green" dilemma of purchasing rubber boots. I have resisted and resisted because they are a product that most often than not, when they reach the end of their useful life, spring a leak or just go out of fashion they are thrown away. So how many pairs of rubber boots do you think are sitting in a landfill somewhere in rainy North American cities, dying a very slow death and likely contributing to the destruction of nature through needing space in the landfill or leaching man-made materials into the soil and water as they break down? Not a pretty picture.

So what is a girl to do?

1. Purchase 2nd hand boots, 100% recycled content boots or new boots from a company that will recycle them for you
Kamik Boots www.kamik.com
Fanshoe by Vanderbilt
Raven Tactical Ware - Outdoor Range

2. Find a company that will recycle your old boots:
- Smile Plastics (UK) http://www.smile-plastics.co.uk/
- 'Old Wellies' (can be sent to Dunlop Footware in the UK) Mr R Harrington, Recycling Depot, Dunlop Footwear Ltd, Hazeldene Road, Liverpool, L9 2BA
- You will find organizations in need of recycled rubber on online recycling sites such as Recycle.net or Earth911.
- Contact your local municipality and inquire if they will take rubber products for recycling

TracyLydiatt is an award-winning sustainability advisor, educator and #1 Amazon.combestselling author passionate about green/sustainability empowerment andchange. Connect with her at www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com and hop onto her free ezine or sign up for her 7-Day Going Green Challenge hosted online.

Good Reminder - Vlog from Sedona, AZ

2011-09-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

I was recently in Sedona, AZ for a leadership/personal retreat and was blown away by how beautiful it was there. As a sustainability advisor, I gain a lot of strength and inspiration from nature and it was an amazing experience to gift myself a week of being there, out on the land and really connecting back into nature. I feel rejuvenated, replenished and refreshed.

Where do you go for your connection to nature? What do you do?

Remember that no matter where you are, you can always connect into the abundance of nature and look for inspiration to how we can continue to build a sustainable society with strong social capital built within ecological constraints - bring the balance back in your daily life, connect into nature and if you would like guidance, ask for it and connect in with me - I'd be happy to help!

Spooky! Are you ready for a Green Halloween?

2011-09-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

National Costume Swap Day is Saturday, October 8.

What is it?

A costume swap can be as simple as getting together with a few neighbors or as large as a citywide event.

Either way, you'll be making a difference in your community by saving resources (and money, too!).

Costume swaps not only mean less resources are used to make new product, it also means less packaging, less transportation of the product and less waste (from products being trashed as they sadly often are!).

Swaps are also a lot of fun and can be a great way to kick off the Green Halloween® season!

A costume swap is a community building activity and of course, in these challenging times, will save families money. Visit www.CostumeSwapDay.com to find local swaps and that new swaps will be registering every day right up to Halloween.

If you'd like to set up your own Costume Swap visit www.costumeswapday.com/howto.html to learn all the tricks to hosting your own successful swap!

VLOG: Frustrated with Lip Gloss

2011-08-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Happy August! I hope you are doing well on your "going green" journey - as always, my intention is to connect with you and provide as much value and support as I can so you can create the most healthy lifestyle possible (read: green) without going broke or crazy in the process. This month, I have decided to try something new and provide you with a V-Log (short for video log) about a topic and then share some resources and links afterwards. I'd love to hear what you think so do write and let me know!

VLOG: Frustrated with Lip Gloss

There was actually a warning on the back of this product about carmine which is a food additive that is believed to be linked to hyperactivity and asthma. In addition, there were two kinds of parabens in the product which I do my best to avoid. Parabens are preservatives that keep fungus and bacteria at bay in a wide variety of cosmetics and hygiene products. The Environmental Working Group points out that research on rats has shown both chemical families [phthalates and parabens] to be carcinogens. A 2004 study published in the journal Reproductive Technology linked phthalates with reproductive anomalies, and a study published that same year in the Journal of Applied Toxicology detected parabens in breast cancer tissue (Source Environmental Working Group Article: Beauty and the Beasts, April 2007).

To check up on ingredients or what is in your products visit the following website: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

How to Green Your Summer Libations

2011-07-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Wine pairing is the process of matching food dishes with wine to enhance the dining experience. So if you’ve prepared a wonderfully sustainable meal for your friends and family, what do you serve for libations?

Organic wines and sulfate-free wines are a step in the right direction but often, the biggest eco-challenge with wine is not the wine at all, it's the bottle. A bottle of wine is heavy and if it comes from far away, the weight will incur a big carbon footprint from transportation.

For many years, box wine was for communion and grandmothers only but these days the box is rising in status. Popular wineries like French Rabbit proudly box their goods. Replacing glass with tetra pack – even though tetra-pack isn’t yet recyclable in some locations – considerably lessens the carbon footprint of your party.

Wine is best grown in warm dry climates but even so, wineries are in production across North America. Judge your local wine by your own pallet and if it doesn’t suit you, investigate local microbreweries or cider alternatives, wheat and apples are better suited to colder climates. Buying locally will not only cut down on transport but also win you Ground Rule 4 or social sustainability (see Tracy's book, Your Green Family Blueprint for further details) points by supporting your regional economy.

If you do choose to go further afield for wine, you can negotiate your impact based on region of origin. A study by National Geographic found that East Coasters are better off buying from Europe and of course West Coasters need look no further than their own Napa Valley. Both East and West can enjoy the same bottle of Chilean wine which is shipped over water, as opposed to land or air, incurring a relatively smaller carbon impact. Check out this article on Treehugger for a more detailed breakdown - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/ship-or-truck-makes-all-the-difference-in-wine-carbon-footprint.php

In addition to reducing the carbon-footprint of the wine you are drinking, look for wines that are organically grown and/or have a strong sustainbility framework that guides their operations. Having trouble seeing if the winery does these things from just the bottle or their website? Great excuse to send them an email or pick up the phone, ask questions and let them know these issues are of importance to you!

Cheers! Prost! Skål! Salud!

3 Strategies to Avoid Plastic

2011-05-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Green Article: 3 Strategies to Avoid Plastic

Plastic is a man-made compound that nature has no way of processing or 'digesting' naturally. Because of this, it exists far beyond any single human lifespan, creating an ongoing legacy for future generations to manage: it exists in our soil, in our water and its components are released into the air when it's burned or it is consumed by sea life and animals mistaking it for food.

It is a compound that exists in our daily lives in the form of car parts, food packaging, storage containers, health care apparatus, household items etc. and as our systems advance for how to capture plastic in tighter technical loops so we can completely recycle and re-use it, we also must play an active role in its use in our lives. The following are some suggestions on strategies for shifting away from plastic as much as possible at the household level.

Strategy #1: Reduce and Reuse

One of the biggest culprits are sandwich bags and cling wrap for disposable plastic in our daily lives. I do hope someone someday invents a biodegradable, green chemistry based cling wrap but until then do your best to find alternatives to using cling wrap!

Strategy #2: Substitute

One of my biggest pet peeves about plastic in the home is the disposable dinner plates, cups and cutlery used during parties. Bamboo is a great alternative: it is fast growing (sustainable) and will biodegrade in landfill or your compost. Just remember the reality is there is no 'away'! You throw plastic in the garbage but it ends up in landfill or worse, in the waterways, and slowly breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces but doesn't really go away.

Strategy #3: Just Say No!

We use so much plastic in the food industry and it gets trashed after a single use such as straws, Styrofoam take away containers, plastic cutlery to name a few. These single use items break down in size over time and are slowly clogging the planet's waterways with our plastic trash. Just say no to bottled water, Styrofoam take away, plastic straws and plastic cutlery!

Plastic is an integral part of our society so completely avoiding it is a huge challenge. Look for ways in which plastic shows up the most in your family's life and search for alternatives and apply the above strategies to begin to strategically reduce plastic use in your home!

Awards!

2011-05-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been an incredible week for me.....

Last Saturday, I was awarded the "Woman of Worth - Sustainable Living Award" for 2011. This is me with WOW founder and medical miracle, Christine Awram at the event night.

Then, my book - Your Green Family Blueprint won the following awards this past week:

2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

Winner: Best E-Book

Finalist: Current Events/Social Change

San Francisco Book Festival

Runner Up: Best "How-To" book

Green Book Festival

Honorable Mention: Best "How-To" Book

Thank you to the judges - I am so deeply honored to have my work acknowledged and celebrated!

TEDx Juan De Fuca!

2011-05-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I've been a bit quiet but it's only because it's been a busy few weeks!

On the last weekend of April, I spoke at TEDx Juan De Fuca in Victoria. Here's a fun preview....official photos and video coming soon!

Smart Green Families Telesummit Starts Today!

2011-04-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Sign up today if you haven't already - it's not too late. All calls are recorded and send to you if you cannot tune in live! Don't miss these amazing experts!

Smart Green Families Telesummit: April 4th -13th, 2011

Where: global, via your telephone
Who: Amazing leaders in sustainable living and the environment, hand picked by Tracy to present their amazing expertise and knowledge for your benefit along your “going green” journey.

Experts include:
Baljit Rayat (Lotus Destiny) – Soul Purpose expert, Akashic Records Teacher and leading edge Artist
Monday, April 4th – (4pm PST/7PM EST)
Approaching the “Do it” Factor – Removing Barriers and Creating Cooperation at Home

Mike Schade (The Center for Health, Environment & Justice) – Ethisphere Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics for 2007 and PVC Campaign Coordinator
Tuesday, April 5th – (4pm PST/7PM EST)
Greening Schools to Protect Children’s Health: Eliminating Toxic PVC Plastic in Our Nation’s Schools

Alicia Voorhies (The Soft Landing) – Retired RN and expert in toxins in the home
Wednesday, April 6th – (4pm PST/7pm EST)
In Pursuit of All Things Less Toxic – Creating a Healthy Family Home

Eric Bowers (Road to Compassion) – Nonviolent Communication Trainer
Thursday, April 7 (4pm PST/7PM EST)
Nonviolent Communication: Sustaining Family Connection

Lindsay Mardson (Little Bambino) – Mom-prenuer and expert in eco-friendly fashion for families
Friday, April 8th – (4pm PST/7pm EST)
Why You Should Buy Organic Clothing for Your Baby

Guy Dauncey (Earth Future) – Author of The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming
Monday, April 11th – (4pm PST/7pm EST)
Climate Change Solutions and Energy Efficiency At Home

Erin Minter (Minter Gardens) – Master gardeners and British Columbia’s go-to experts on gardening
Tuesday, April 12 - (4pm PST/7pm EST)
‘Growing Up’- From Vertical Gardening to Getting The Kids in the Garden

Jamie Oei & friend (Advanced Geothermal Systems Inc) – Experts in home geothermal energy systems
Wednesday, April 13 - (4pm PST/7pm EST)
Demystifying Geothermal Energy

How much: It’s F*R*E*E
Register here:

Hooking a good catch!

2011-03-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we are in danger of losing ALL of our fish stocks before the end of the century? Could you imagine your grandchildren reading a Dr.Seuss book and asking what those funny things were on the page? Imagine a world without fishing (I can hear all the men gasp!) As a family greening up your act, choosing a good fish is equal to choosing a green fish! Green in this sense meaning the health of the fish population is safe and not currently being overharvested.

I have been eating a lot of fish as part of my nutritional challenge for March and find myself having conversations with people who are surprised to learn about the ways our eating habits impact the world's fish stocks.

This is one of the fundamental ways we are continuously hurting the health of the biosphere - the biggest earth system that contains everything - the earth's surface, the atmosphere and all living systems - including YOUR FAMILY, your community and our society. We are over-fishing some stocks of fish which means we eat them faster than they can re-populate themselves. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE CANNOT EAT FISH - we just have to be wary of how fast we are doing it and taking the pressure off certain species.

At the same time we are putting pressure on the oceans through our societal actions - the results are worse water quality (killing fish), toxic algal blooms, dead zones, plastic infested patch of ocean (Pacific Garbage Gyre), invasive exotic species, beach closures and coastal floods are increasing. These floods are linked to the continual destruction of wetlands, reefs, mangroves and the plants and animals that filter out pollutants and protect our shorelines.

I love eating fish - I'm from British Columbia - home of the pacific salmon. I couldn't imagine life without ever having tasted one of these beautiful fish. My dad used to take us fishing when we were kids and I have many fond memories of doing that with him.

What actions can you and your family take? Be conscious about what kinds of fish you are eating and how they are caught. Different types of fishing methods cause greater damage to the oceans than others. REMEMBER - you CAN make a difference by VOTING WITH YOUR WALLET.

Here are some resources for you:

Environmental Defense Fund - Seafood Guide (USA)
Environmental Defense Fund - Sushi Selector (USA)
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch (USA) - A GREAT visual map of USA regions
SeaChoice - Choosing Sustainable Seafood (Canada) - has interactive database and pocket guides
Australian Marine Conservation Society - Guide to Sustainable Seafood (has free guide to download)

The End of the Line Trailer - A recent documentary about over-fishing

Here are some great books for recipes, guidance and a really cool poster.

To your green family success!
Tracy

Protein Power - Is the Grass Greener?

2011-03-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

My nutrition challenge for the month of March requires a lot of protein and since I stated in my earlier post that I know being vegetarian does not work for my body, I am now faced with finding good protein sources from two perspectives: health and environment.

My choice for beef is to purchase meat from local farmers who raise their cattle on grass, antibiotic and hormone free. Grass fed vs. corn finished (fed) beef is significantly lower in fat.

From the Frontline website of the Public Broadcasting System in the United States:

Before the second World War, all American beef was "grass-finished," meaning that cattle ate pasture grass for the duration of their lives. Today, the vast majority of cattle spend anywhere from 60-120 days in feedlots being fattened with grain before being slaughtered. Unless the consumer deliberately chooses grass-finished or "free-range" meat, the beef bought at the grocery store will be of the corn-finished variety.

Meat from a grass-fed steer has about one-half to one-third as much fat as a comparable cut from a grain-fed animal. Lower in calories, grass-fed beef is also higher in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which are thought to help reduce the risk of cancer, lower the likelihood of high blood pressure, and make people less susceptible to depression.

Beyond the health benefits of not ingesting extra fat, hormones and antibiotics the question of the environmental impacts of grass fed vs. corn fed (finished) beef is an interesting debate. In his book, Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan states:

"If the 16 million acres now being used to grow corn to feed cattle in the United States became well-managed pasture, that would remove fourteen billion pounds carbon from the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road."

He argues the industrial vs. organic methods of raising beef in his book and clearly shows the huge global impact of industrial farming methods which include fossil fuels, artificial fertilizer, pesticides, heavy machinery, feedlots, antibiotics, and processing plants. (p.149).

Grass farming beef (as well as chicken, turkey, eggs, rabbits and pigs - not to mention tons of different veggies) is an earth friendly method which is powered by solar power (to grow the grass) and uses synergies of other animals (and their byproducts) to "feed" other parts of the farm and create additional products.

For example, free range chickens in the pastures after the cows will eat grubs and larvae which cuts down on the bugs and parasites that live in cows (and often require medicine to control), their poop adds nitrogen to the soil and they produce eggs, which can be sold. This type of maintenance of the pasture allows for a diversity of grasses, deep roots which control salinity and creates healthy, rich, fertile soil.

(photo courtesy of dishragdiaries.com)

This is one of my favorite videos about the demise of small farms - The Meatrix

Many people argue that organic beef, grass fed protein, organic - free range eggs cost more and they are right...they do cost a little more but the benefits are clear for both your health as well as improving conditions on farms instead of degrading them. There are strategies to help stretch your dollar though:

1. Find Community Supported Agriculture and buy in - direct from the farm to your table
2. Approach a local farm and create a buying group of friends, family or co-workers - bulk is always cheaper!

Here are some directories to help you find a local farm near you to power up on your earth friendly protein!
USA: Local Harvest http://www.localharvest.org/
Canada: Eat Wild http://www.eatwild.com/products/canadaresources.htm
UK: Farm Shopper http://www.farmshopper.net/
Australia: Organic Food Directory http://www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/

To your green family success!

My March Nutrition Challenge

2011-02-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

For the month of March, I'm joining my training mates at my Crossfit Gym on a month long nutrition challenge. Because of this I thought I'd focus my posts in March on - you guessed it: FOOD!

I firmly believe that each of our bodies have different nutritional needs because we are each unique. I know my body well and know that I cannot be a vegetarian. It just doesn't work for me. I was vegetarian for several years so it's a well earned conclusion. Since I'm a sustainability advisor, I understand well that meat has a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions, water use and land uses. I also know that our consumption of seafood also impacts these areas too (as well as contributing to the overall decline of certain seafood species).

To put it simply, all of the food we eat in developed nations impacts water use, land use, and has issues associated with its growth, transport and disposal which include toxins, pesticides, agricultural practices that diminish soil quailty, top soil erosion, mono-cropping, genetically modified foods, and finally the social side: corporations vs. farmers. There is no escaping the impacts - they are a reality.

The key is to inform and empower yourself to make better choices that reduce the impacts. Voting with your wallet is one of the most powerful things you can do!!! Informing and empowering is what I hope to help you with this month!

I haven't watched this yet but it's on the top of my list for this weekend and suggest it's a good place for all of us to start.
To your health and your green family success!
Tracy xo

Wake up, Freak Out

2011-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.

I like this video - it's a good reminder it's not just about polar bears!

New Sustainable Living Book for Families with a “how to” twist Reaches #1 on Amazon.com

2011-02-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

Tracy Lydiatt, The Green Families Guru is excited to announce the recent success of her official book launch for her book, Your Green Family Blueprint on Amazon.com.

Ms. Lydiatt says, “On the morning of the first day of the book launch, I’m very excited to announce that my book Your Green Family Blueprint, went to #1 position in the category of Sustainable Living books on Amazon.com”

Participating in the launch were important partners that helped rocket the book to the #1 position in the Sustainable Living books category. Book launch partners included businesses, organizations and individuals from Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada. All partners were selected because they contribute through different but complimentary facets, working towards the creation of a sustainable society and added value to families and individuals interested in greening their families.

Many of the eco-friendly, green books available currently focus on the ‘what’ to do to green your family. They are an important part of the equation although many families are time-poor and become easily overwhelmed by so much information on going green. Often, they tend to give up because they do not have the time to read, digest, synthesize and apply the information to their family in an easy, practical way. Ms. Lydiatt’s book adds a new twist to the going green movement by taking the ‘what’ to do and empowering families on ‘how’ to make it work for them with easy, breezy practicality.

Your Green Family Blueprint is published by Vervante Inc. and distributed through Amazon.com

Retail Price: $21.99 USD

ISBN-10: 1450742033

ISBN-13: 978-1450742030

For more information about Your Green Family Blueprint, please visit: http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book/

To your green family success!

LAST DAY of book launch event - don't miss out on $1400 in extra goodies!

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of the launch event for the #1 Amazon Bestseller, Your Green Family Blueprint

When you purchase the book using the link below and register your purchase by the end of day Feb 21st– you will have access to over $1400 in gifts and prizes contributed by Tracy’s book launch partners!

http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book-launch-regular/

To help alleviate ‘eco-guilt’ and provide useful strategies to guide families to easily and practically incorporate eco-friendly aspects into their lives, Tracy Lydiatt, The Green Families Guru, has created an easy to understand and fun to use guide on how to green your family.

Don’t miss out on all of the extra goodies - buy now!

Big News! Your Green Family Blueprint is a #1 Amazon bestseller in Sustainable Living Books!

2011-02-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to share the news that my book, Your Green Family Blueprint reached #1 in Sustainable Living Books category on the first day of the book launch! Thank you to everyone for your support!

If you haven't picked up your copy yet - get it by the end of the day today and collect an extra $1400 in goodies! http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book-launch-regular/

To your green family success!

Don't Miss Out on This!

2011-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Easily combat eco-guilt and cut through mountains of information on going green

Today, sustainability is becoming more and more mainstream but does the general public really understand what it means? Recently even Oprah and HARPO studios committed to ‘Meatless Mondays’, a global campaign to reduce the environmental footprint of eating meat.

While climate change is just one aspect of the sustainability picture, the challenge for many families is to see the whole sustainability picture and the role they play within it.

Many families feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available about ‘going green’ and are deeply concerned about creating a healthy, prosperous lifestyle for their children but can often become lost in the details: is it eco-friendly, non-toxic, does it contribute to climate change, how much money will it cost, what are the trade offs etc. It is difficult to know where to start, how to get started and to truly integrate eco-friendly choices into their lives without going broke or a bit crazy in the process!

To help alleviate ‘eco-guilt’ and provide useful strategies to guide families to easily and practically incorporate eco-friendly aspects into their lives, Tracy Lydiatt, The Green Families Guru, has created an easy to understand and fun to use guide on how to green your family and is excited to announce the launch of her new book in a massive global-cyber event:

“Your Green Family Blueprint” Book Launch

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Online at: http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book-launch-regular/

Ms. Lydiatt, The Green Families Guru, who is an expert in sustainability for families says, “Families tend to fall into several common traps when it comes to greening their lifestyle. They are time-poor and become easily overwhelmed by so much information on going green. Often, they tend to give up because they do not have the time to read, digest, synthesize and apply the information to their family in an easy, practical way. Additionally, families tend to compare themselves with other families and become paralyzed from ‘eco-guilt’. We want to avoid the ‘all-or-nothing’ energy because we really need positive energy and momentum to create a sustainable society. It doesn’t need to be this way so one of my key messages is drop the comparison: every family is unique so do what works for you!”

“On February 2, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the book when my sustainability class examined transportation, toxins, food, and lifestyle through the lens of a green family with Tracy. I’ve seen a lot of people tackle “green” in myriad ways; making an environmental impact within the family is so powerfully simple and I hope that people reading this take a minute to examine their family’s environmental blueprint. Tracy is a powerful public speaker with unrelenting passion. Her book launch is timely.” John Horn – The Daily Gumboot (http://www.thedailygumboot.ca)

The launch event ends on Sunday, February 20, 2011.

http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book-launch-regular/

Published by Vervante Inc. and distributed through Amazon.com

Retail Price: $21.99 USD

ISBN-10: 1450742033

ISBN-13: 978-1450742030

About Tracy Lydiatt

Tracy Lydiatt is an international expert and TEDx speaker on sustainability. In 2005, Tracy had a profound moment while working in the Arctic as a geologist that changed her career trajectory forever. Because of this, she is among the first graduates of the award-winning Masters of Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability program at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden. She has lived and/or worked in Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, Sweden, Singapore and Australia, giving her insider knowledge into what sustainability looks like for different people. She is a green families guru, sustainability advisor, author and educator passionate about empowering families while on their journey to “go green”.

For more information about YOUR GREEN FAMILY BLUEPRINT, please visit http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/book-launch-regular/ or contact:

Tracy Lydiatt – B.Sc, M.Sc

The Green Families Guru

Ph: +1 (778) 931- 0483

media@howgreenismyfamilynow.com

http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com

Featured on Vancouver's Daily Gumboot!

2011-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

Shout out to Vancouver's Daily Gumboot - sending you some Valentine's Day Love!

What is The Daily Gumboot?

The Daily Gumboot is a collaborative online experience designed for people who want to learn more about building community. Or who really, really like pirates. This blog is about fresh perspectives on people, community, nature, pirates, gumboots, and gumboot-clad pirate communities in nature. We’ve got cool ideas from everywhere. And we use them to build community.

This is what they had to say about me:

My Three Favourite Things About Tracy Are…

1. Her Book Launch! This is a timely GTKYC, folks. Tracy’s book – Your Green Family Blueprint - hits the bookshelves this week. On February 2, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the book when my sustainability class eaxmined transportation, toxins, food, and lifestyle through the lens of a green family. I’ve seen a lot of people tackle “green” in myriad ways; making an environmental impact within the family is so powerfully simple and I hope that people reading this take a minute to examine their family’s environmental blueprint.

2. Powerful Public Speaker. Tracy started her presentation with the way every good presentation starts: with a story about a cariboo in the arctic. The engaging narrative set the stage for a dynamic presentation that Tracy masterfully facilitated, weaving humour, ideas, facts, data, and a passionate sense of urgency into the talk.

3. Unrelenting Passion. Tracy really, really, really, really cares about what she does. From greening families to gluten-free pancakes you can feel her energy. And it makes the people she talks to care about Environmentally Friendly Families, too. She is an uncontainable force of intelligent positivity that I feel lucky to have connected with. And you will too when you see her speak and/or read her words.

As told by John Horn…

Easy Ways to Green Your Traditional Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

1. Reduce the use of petroleum and its by-products

2. Are non-toxic

3. Support the health of natural systems

4. Support fair wages and international labor standards

Here are some suggestions for you:

To your green family success!

Tracy

Latest Green Pet Peeve

2011-02-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is to find really great, healthy, organic, non-toxic products that come in non-recyclable wrapping! I would hope that these companies would take a broader systems view instead of making an awesome product and then put it in packaging that cannot be recycled! ARGH!

Lately, my biggest beef has been with toothpaste.

One of my favorite toothpaste brands comes in a metal toothpaste tube but I have no idea how/if it can be recycled!? So I went on a recon trip to the local health food store and took a closer look at the tooth paste tubes. I would say less than 40% of the tubes I found were recyclable...actually, that's being generous! Why? We need a mind-shift in packaging!

Now that I'm back in Canada, I cannot get my favorite one from Australia which came in a recyclable container:

I will be on the prowl for natural toothpaste that comes in a recyclable container as soon as mine runs out! Any suggestions are welcome!

Official "Global-Cyber" Book Launch: FEB 16th!

2011-02-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

We are gearing up for the official global-cyber book launch of “Your Green Family Blueprint” on FEB 16th, 2011!!!

What does “global-cyber launch” mean? It’s certainly not your traditional book launch!

I am excited to have joyfully partnered with over 20 individuals, organisations and businesses for the book launch. They are doing incredible work in their areas in Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada – work she believes is of high value to families interested in sustainable living.

On the day of the launch, they will all work together to share the news about the launch – literally across the globe. That means people just like you will learn about my book, have a collection of amazing “go-to” resources all on one page and upon purchasing the book, have access to gifts and prizes totaling over $1,400!

On the day of the launch – a new page will open on this website, displaying the partners, the prizes and gifts they have contributed to the launch (all value for you!) as well as the many amazing promotional partners. Mark it on your calendar to make sure to come back on the 16th!

Sign up to the right for the book free preview and receive a reminder of the event all for free! Or check http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com on Feb 16th!

See you soon! To your green family success!

Sustainable Seafood warms my heart!

2011-01-31T13:46:00.000-08:00

I was on Commercial Drive in Vancouver doing some shopping the other day and was on the look out for a seafood store. One of the cool things about "The Drive" is instead of having one store with everything, there are shops which specialise in one thing: the butcher, bakery, green grocer for fruits and veggies, the deli for yummy sandwich and pizza meats, the seafood store etc etc.

So I stumbled onto a shop that sold seafood and walked in hoping that at minimum, they would have wild salmon so I could buy some for dinner. To my amazement and excitement, the ENTIRE store sold seafood that is in compliance with The Vancouver Aquarium's "Ocean Wise" seafood guidelines!

YES!!!!!!!

I walked out with a beautiful, fresh sockeye salmon fillet and was so excited to have found a store that matches my ethos for seafood. No more searching. No more awkward questions. No more disappointment.

I will be back! Thanks so much guys!

T-Minus 16 days until my book launches!!!

2011-01-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

I'm getting really excited to launch my book in print!

Your Green Family Blueprint

Global Launch

FEB 16th, 2011!!!

We have been working hard to gather together some amazing partners to be part of this launch! Book launch partners are in Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and Canada!

On the 16th of Feb until the 20th of Feb, when you purchase my book, you'll also receive added gifts from my amazing partners to help you in many facets of your "green" journey! Mark it on your calendar as the perfect "late" Valentines Day present to warm the little green hearts of your family!

To your green family success!
Tracy xo

Nominated for Twitter's Shorty Awards in Green Category!

2011-01-21T04:56:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I have been nominated for Twitter's Shorty Awards in the Green category (thank you to Ecofabulous for the initial nomination - please vote for them too because they are fabulous!).

If my tweets resonate with you, please vote for me before the end of January!

Vote for Tracy in Twitter's Shorty Awards by clicking here!

Keep Your Green New Year's Resolution - Jump Start Greening Your Family Once and For All!

2011-01-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

Join us for a Webinar on February 3: Jump Start Greening Your Family Once and For All!

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/646247040

Isn’t it time that you learned how to green your family without going broke or crazy? Do you want to stop procrastinating and be joyfully and gently supported while you create a healthy family and a green family plan that works for you?

Join me for my F.R.E.E teleseminar on Thursday, Feb 3rd at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern, “Jump Start Greening Your Family Once and For All!” so that you can learn how to begin to easily cut through the mountains of information about “going green” and have instant results.

This is a must-have formula for anyone who is truly ready to create a high-quality future for their family and maximize their time!

You’ll also learn about my exciting, life-changing Your Green Family Blueprint “Leader of the Pack” Program designed for the “self-starter” who’s a high achiever and wants to be ahead of the game with how they have greened up their family. Imagine instantly breaking through the time/knowledge barrier with a sustainability expert on your side!

Be sure to tune in live as I am giving away over $150 in tuition right on the call!

If you are really ready to permanently shift from overwhelm, fear and confusion about “going green”, be sure to register today to reserve your seat for this exclusive event filled with many gems of wisdom for you to apply right away!

I don’t want you to miss out on this opportunity as there are limited bridge lines available, so be sure to register today so that you can instantly reserve your spot on this high-content, high-value call.

To your green family success!
Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone and I wish you all a

Happy New Year!

2010 has been full of many changes and transitions for me.

I thank you for being along on the ride with me.

I have relocated back to Canada and excited to be building my business around sustainability for families!

2011 will be exciting and filled with love and joyful things!

I am launching my printed book, Your Green Family Blueprint in February 2011!

I am announcing an exciting service offering in late January 2011 for the "go-getters" wanting to go green with joyful support - a response to your requests!

You won't want to miss out!

Many other "new" things coming next year.....

Much love, joy and warmth to you and your families for the close of 2010.

Tracy xo

2010-11-13T00:28:00.001-08:00

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." Ralph Waldo Emerson

2010-11-09T12:22:00.001-08:00

11 new species found in the Amazon! Great slide show here http://ping.fm/M2fmK

2010-10-18T11:48:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween! Here are some organic treats to feed your kids http://ping.fm/yy3mK

Featured in Delish Mag Fall 2010!

2010-10-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

I am deeply honored to be featured in a wonderful new online magazine based in Vancouver called Delish Magazine!

Delish Magazine Fall 2010 Cover

I was asked to contribute to their feature called "Where in the world is...." and this month it's "Where in the world is Tracy Lydiatt?".

Please visit http://www.delishmag.com for an amazing issue and enjoy. This issue also features great articles about green cleaning, gardening for spring bulbs, awesome interviews with some inspiring people, as well as a focus on crafts! (including an awesome feature on how to make your own laptop cover!)

Thank you to Delish Magazine for asking me to contribute! Love you gals! Well done!

Back on Canadian Soil

2010-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to say thank you to my Australian sustainability friends for a wonderful 2 years of connections, learning, support and love!

I have moved back to Canada for now to work full time on my business, my book and promoting sustainability for families.

It has been a time of great transition for me so I've been a bit quiet. Look for more to come in the future as I settle in and get my teeth into it!

Much sustainability love!
Tracy

2010-09-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

Did you know Oct 2 is World Empathy Day? Visit here to learn more, register an event or spread the word! http://ping.fm/tXr6s

2010-09-16T18:41:00.001-07:00

World's Largest Mining Company: We must move away from coal http://ping.fm/58dfc

2010-09-13T06:27:00.001-07:00

Loved this article - shows what you can do to save $$ on energy in your family home this winter http://bit.ly/aREG2Y

2010-09-12T16:45:00.001-07:00

What do you think about the new commercial for Nissan's Leaf (all electric)? Warning: Polar Bears http://ping.fm/UaXaw

2010-09-11T02:25:00.001-07:00

Sending good vibes and light to those families who were involved in the 9/11 event. Remembering social needs is a huge part of sustainability.

2010-09-06T04:07:00.001-07:00

Guide for choosing eco-friendly, organic baby formula for your baby http://ping.fm/6qJbr

2010-09-06T04:06:00.001-07:00

New report shows baby formula contaminated with aluminum, 40 times more than breastmilk http://ping.fm/f5zjU

2010-08-31T11:24:00.001-07:00

"If the world were a village of 100 people" - great video and book here. Kid friendly http://ping.fm/ygAPN

2010-08-31T11:03:00.001-07:00

Sorry here's the link about kids toys! http://ping.fm/sDMDy

2010-08-31T11:02:00.001-07:00

Too many kids toys piled up around your home? This is a great idea to cut down the pile...pitch in with friends and create your own! http://ping.fm/hFXKD

2010-08-30T11:17:00.001-07:00

Canada will classify bisphenol-A (BPA) as toxic, making history as the first country to take such a definitive stance on the endocrine disrupting chemical. http://ping.fm/W1NMk

2010-08-26T12:24:00.001-07:00

When you watch this - you will appreciate your washing machine so much and feel abundant in your life. Love the creativity! http://ping.fm/pLrjy

2010-08-26T12:18:00.001-07:00

Ever get annoyed your ziplock bags don't make it home to be reused? Give them these bags instead http://ping.fm/4HoKy

2010-08-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

It's almost that time of year again! Eco-friendly back to school shopping list...http://ping.fm/rpNSx

2010-08-22T11:19:00.001-07:00

Worried about your kids eating modeling dough? Try these natural dyes and make your own http://ping.fm/2qc3c

2010-08-20T10:33:00.001-07:00

I love clever design! This is a good one for parents needing solutions for small spaces. Check out www.inhabitots.com/2010/08/20/espace-loggia-creates-stackable-rooms-for-space-constrained-kids/

2010-08-20T01:11:00.001-07:00

Loving the creative cardboard for kids! http://ping.fm/ah15K

2010-08-17T10:02:00.001-07:00

Ever considered running your diesel vehicle on straight veggie oil (grease)? Start here http://ping.fm/OMTH8

2010-08-17T09:30:00.001-07:00

Toronto bikers on the rise and now they will get some downtown help. I was impressed by how many people I saw biking! http://ping.fm/KPvk1

2010-08-16T10:23:00.001-07:00

Aaagh summertime - So much fruit & veggies, so little time. Here's a great book about organic cooking for children http://ping.fm/3bXIF

2010-08-12T12:11:00.001-07:00

The Bio-Bug - a car that runs on poop! Loving the closed loop thinking....http://ping.fm/gh1ao

2010-08-09T20:20:00.001-07:00

Oh the things you can do with an old cereal box! Love anything DIY http://ping.fm/WOYFV

2010-08-04T17:47:00.001-07:00

Anyone tired of constantly hearing about Lindsay Lohan? Check out a celeb doing good things for healthy families! http://ping.fm/nPlDi

2010-08-01T18:26:00.001-07:00

Yet another great reason to steer your kids away from junk food - New study in Journal of Attention Disorders shows that junk food has negative effects on kids. â€œWhen we looked at specific foods, having an ADHD diagnosis was associated with a diet high in takeaway foods, processed meats, red meat, high-fat dairy products, and confectionary,â€ says associate professor Wendy Oddy, who led the study. http://ping.fm/3cGTV

Ending the Climate WAR

2010-07-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have been watching the BP Oil Spill situation in the USA with anxiety, sadness, anger and as many good vibes as I can muster for the people and wildlife directly impacted by this disaster.

Franke James, a Canadian author/artist/activist recently let me know about her new essay about The Climate War. Read it and take action - any way you can.
Ending the Climate War

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook

How do you look at the world?

2010-06-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen in a long time! It just goes to show that one of the biggest ways to change the world is to change the way we choose to look at things. Thank you for the reminder....

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook

Super Cool Bikes!

2010-05-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

Chipsy is sick! Yes, my fat burning mobile is in the shop for awhile so I've had to get back on my bike a bit more which is great actually!

In honor of the mighty bike and my mantra - burn fat not oil, here are some of my favorites!

Bike Friday - Folding Travel bikes

New meaning to the saying, "Going Dutch"! Dutch Bikes

And finally one for the whole family! Christiania Bikes

I did see more than one of these in action while living in Sweden on a trip to Amsterdam. They are totally amazing - the woman was pregnant, had two kids, a dog, a large house plant and the groceries all in the bucket!

Woo HOO!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook

Sunday Reflection

2010-05-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

That fire of clear mind is in everyone, and to remove any obscuration of its clarity is the duty of all people in this time, that each one may remember and find our way again to the source of our being. - Dhyani Ywahoo

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook

Free DELISH Magazine is Yummy!

2010-05-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Look out world, the ladies of Delish magazine are ready to take you on....

Delish is a free-to-the-reader online publication for women. It shares a credo with the three of its creators and that’s “Live like you mean it.”

Delish is for all women who believe that smarts go really well with devastating lipstick, a hot pair of shoes, and a set of knitting needles.

I love their first issue and best of all it's FREE! Articles range from beauty tips, fashion picks, how to become a backyard gardener, book reviews, a full DIY clutch pattern, and their favorite "Found for the Family" section with "Mamma Likey" and "Papa Likey" product picks.

Check it out at DELISH magazine

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook

Non-toxic garden pest solutions

2010-05-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air in the Northern Hemisphere and spring planting has begun. Here are some tips from the website Tipnut to help you beat bugs in your garden without chemicals.

10 Organic Garden Aids For Pest & Disease Control

With a little bit of planning you can help cut down on pests and disease organically by planting natural repellents near problem plants. I have a few suggestions listed below along with a few recipes using non-harsh ingredients that can help deter pests (and some disease).

10 Organic Garden Aids

Radishes Are Not Only Tasty In Salads, They Help Repel Cucumber Beetles Too!

Epson Salt Spray: 2 ounces of salt per 2 gallons water.
Benefits: Helps with Black Spot, Mildew, Wilt and Rust

Mineral Oil Spray: 3 parts oil per 100 parts water.
Benefits: Helps with Aphids, Codling Moth, Leaf Roller, Mealybugs, Scaled Insects, White Fly

Beer: Stale or mixed with molasses
Benefits: Helps control Slugs

Tomato Leaves Spray: Crush leaves and soak in water for a couple days. Strain then spray.
Benefits: Grasshopper and White Fly control

Soap Spray: 2 TBS soap flakes dissolved in 1 quart water. *Don’t use detergents.
Benefits: Aphid control

Basil: Plant in pots and place around patio or deck
Benefits: Repels flies and mosquitoes

Rosemary, Mint, Thyme: Plant near cabbage
Benefits: Repels cabbage worms

Nasturtiums: Plant near cucumbers, melons and squashes.
Benefits: Repels squash bugs

Summer Savory: Plant near beans
Benefits: Repels bean beetles

Radishes: Plant near cucumbers
Benefits: Repels cucumber beetles

Originally Published June 5, 2007

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
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Eco-friendly art supplies

2010-05-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Very cool ideas for little coloring hands...I'm a bit distracted at the moment trying to finish off my ebook final draft so apologies for the lack of regular posts.

From Inhabitots writer Julie Knapp:

Designer Timothy Liles delivers a new twist on a toddler staple with Crayon Rings. A brilliant idea — these crayons, made locally in New Hampshire, are shaped to fit around fingers. Kids will love slipping one or five on to scribble, and they’ll literally always have their crayons on-hand for impromptu art projects.
+ Crayon Rings $50 set of 8
+ Timothy Liles

Clementine Art
Clementine Art covers all the bases with their all-natural supplies, and made history by being the first art product company to disclose every single ingredient on their packaging — you won’t find any synthetic preservatives, petroleum bases or animal byproducts in their supplies. The products are innovative beyond their eco-friendliness, too. Crayons come in two fun to hold shapes, modeling dough is fruit-scented, the washable glue is versatile enough to use on fabric, paper and wood, and both quick-drying markers and paints are colored with Mayan mineral earth pigments.
+ Clementine Art Supplies (available for purchase at Whole Foods)

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Get your FREE ebook preview HERE
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TED Tuesday: How we wrecked the ocean

2010-05-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Part of greening your family is understanding how powerful your dollar is - what kind of vote and message it gives companies selling you products and services. One of the ways we are continually damaging nature is overfishing and inflicting damage on the oceans. The oceans are a key to life on earth and are fragile and need to be protected.

This is an interesting talk about how we have wrecked the oceans.

This is a great video showing how we are all linked to the biosphere and the effects that occur in the oceans.

What can you do? When you are choosing your seafood in the grocery store, choose a fish or seafood species which is not currently overfished as a start. Here's a great link that lists many different sustainable seafood guides:
Sustainable Seafood Guides

Vote with your wallet today!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Get your FREE ebook preview HERE

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
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Got the urge to craft momma?

2010-05-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

It's Autumn (or Fall as we Canadians call it) in Australia and I've been feeling the crafting itch lately... I am knitting a wool scarf for a friend of mine with giant 12mm needles and it's been some serious fun so far! My needles are bamboo and although they cost a bit more, I know when they break, I won't feel so bad about tossing them as they will eventually biodegrade. Not sure if knitting needles ever break though....

I wanted to share this really fun and easy tutorial for making a fitted sheet for a pack and play mattress. It's a great way to use up old sheets, make a fun gift for friends with some funky fabrics (organic if possible) or make something yourself. It's always a great feeling to craft, be creative and reuse materials.

In Australia, here's a great resource for buying organic fabrics - Organic Fabrics Online

DIY Fitted Sheet for Pack 'n Play

by Jaime from Prudent Baby.com

Whatever you call it (porta crib, playpen, playard, pack n play, portable baby jail) and however you use it (travel crib, baby containment unit, toy storage), you know it gets dirty. I notice, especially when traveling, that the fabric doesn't seem that comfy for baby either. When Scarlet was just 12 weeks old we took her cross-country to visit family and she slept in an old travel crib dug up from someone's garage. The only thing we had to cover the dirty bottom of it was a big fluffy blanket that didn't seem safe for such a young one, so of course I didn't sleep the whole week worrying she was going to suffocate. Never again! Sheets for these aren't readily available, so I thought I'd show you how to make a play yard sheet. I think it's super simple, let me know if you give it a try.

Get the full DIY Pack 'n Play Sheet tutorial after the jump...

DIY Pack 'N Play Sheet Tutorial

This sheet fits my Combi
Jazz Play Yard "mattress" which is pretty standard and measures 36" X 26.5" (they're all around 30"x40"), but the sheet is forgiving so if yours is within the general ballpark this sheet should work fine.

1. Wash, dry and cut your fabric. Add 7 inches to the length and to the width of your mattress, so i cut a piece of fabric 43" X 33.5". And a piece of 3/4" elastic 60" long.

2. Fold it in half lengthwise and then widthwise so it looks like this:

On the outside corner, the one with no folds, cut a 3.5" square through all the layers.

Your item now looks like this:

3. Line up the cut edges at one corner and sew them together with right sides facing:

Repeat on all four corners.

4. Along the bottom of your sheet, fold the fabric 1/4" to the inside and iron, then 1" and iron, and pin in place.

Starting next to a corner, sew all the way around with a straight stitch, leaving a hole and backstitching and the beginning and end.

5. Thread your piece of 3/4" elastic through the hole and all the way around. It helps to pin one side of it to an ironing board or some other surface and to use a safety pin to feed it through:

Pull it out and sew both sides together with a stretch stitch or a zig zag stitch.

Close the hole by sewing across the opening with a straight stitch.

You're done!
It looks like this from the bottom:

And like this from the top:

Place your homemade playpen sheet on the mattress. Yay!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Get your FREE ebook preview HERE

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
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Sunday Reflection

2010-05-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Cool Car for a HOT Planet

2010-05-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you my eco-car choice - it's not a Prius, it's not a Smart Car and it's not electric! It's a 1979 300D Mercedes-Benz with a very tank-ish 5cyl. 2lt diesel engine with a 100L waste veggie oil tank in the back. Her name is Chipsy Queen.

I have owned her for just over six months and it's been a great learning curve so far! I don't know a lot about the mechanics of a car although this engine is very straight-forward and easy to understand so I've been able to learn quite a bit so far! I have done nothing to the engine but have had to put about $2000 in repairs to the car - items such as front brake replacement, new calipers, new ignition switch and a few new bits and bobs here and there. The engine has 339,400km on it - I've done about 4,000k on it - 80% of which as been on fat. The car was converted when I bought it for $1800.

There is a large 100L tank in the trunk (or boot) where the waste veggie oil goes. The car also has its original 60L diesel tank. The system to use the waste veggie oil is quite simple - there is a dual manual valve system under the hood with knob switches. I start the car on diesel and when the engine is warm enough, I have a set of choke cables in the interior of the car which control the valve knobs. I then switch the car over to fat (or waste veggie oil) by pulling the choke cable knobs. Because it's warm enough in Perth, I usually keep it switched onto fat all day, even if the car is sitting for a period of time. Before I park the car for the evening, I switch it back to diesel, making sure the engine doesn't have any fat left in it.

Occasionally, the car smokes a little while sitting at a stoplight and I want to hang my head out the window and say - it's okay - it's just your old french fries, spring rolls and battered fish!

The car is a tank and there is no way I'd ever get whiplash in it. Amazingly though, it gets 10L/100km both on diesel and on fat. Not bad for a 2 tonne, 31yr old car! I know it's a big car and I tried my best to find an older, diesel car that was suitable. My other option was to buy an SUV so I think the Merc is the better choice for my lifestyle. It's a step in the right direction for the times when I'm on able to use public transit, walk or bike.

Interestingly, I didn't know that Arnie runs his Hummer on Veggie oil as well. Not sure what kind of mileage that sucker gets although I commend his efforts!

If you are interested in researching this option further for your own vehicle - here are some resources for you:
Veggie Cars (Australia)
Journey to Forever (Global)
Grease Car (USA)
Golden Fuel Systems (USA)
Research paper (Australia)

Powering your restaurant on WVO

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Get your FREE ebook preview HERE

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
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Sunday Reflection - Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

If you have love you will do all things well. - Thomas Merton

Happy Mother's Day to all of you fabulous moms out there! Keep up the fantastic work!

I love you Mom!

Check your kids toys for toxins - free guide

2010-05-08T03:58:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some further research into toxins that are in our homes and am amazed at what I've found. It will be summarised in my ebook, "How to Create Your Green Family Blueprint", coming out soon!

I wanted to share this great toy database with you now though. If you are curious to know if a certain toy product has heavy metals or toxins contained in it, use this database to search:

TOY RANKINGS FROM HEALTHYSTUFF.ORG

Don't give your kids an unwanted gift of toxins and potential health issues!

TED Tuesday: Don't Eat the Marshmallow - Yet....

2010-05-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

A great short video about the link between delayed gratification and success. What does giving a 4 year old child a marshmallow but asking them not to eat it yet tell us? Watch and find out...

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Get your FREE ebook preview HERE

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
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How are you reacting to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill?

2010-05-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

“This is potentially a watershed environmental disaster,” said Wesley P. Warren, the director of programs at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This one is a gigantic wake up call on the need to move beyond oil as an energy source.”

These words were recently printed in a New York Times article dated April 30th, 2010 by Jad Mouawad.

People are mad at British Petroleum (Beyond Petroleum?) for the accident - why not? They are now they are facing a massive environmental disaster: destruction of wetlands, water pollution, death of birds, fish, mammals, and the potential ruin of many businesses that depend on nature for their income. The US President Obama is visiting the area. Volunteers, scientists and residents are gearing up for the clean up as the oil begins to hit the land. And the worst thing about it, the hole in the earth's crust from where the oil is spewing forth hasn't been plugged yet!

When talking with my friend Johanna this morning - she asked me how I felt - I expressed anger towards BP, sadness for the people, fear for the helpless animals, frustration for being trapped in a system that is dependent largely on oil for it's functioning and she commented, "I think I should drive my car less".

Her comment is the other side of the argument - we, gas consumers are the ones who create the demand. It's a very complicated problem - shifting our society away from our oil dependence to renewable energy solutions. It will take time which is why we need to start NOW!

Commonly this issue trickles down to the family level by evaluating how we use fossil fuels in our lives. Most commonly we use fossil fuels to power our cars, our homes, transport our food, clothing, consumer goods etc. As a family you can do some of the following things:

Pressure governments - have a voice about what you want to change
Look at your own life and ask yourself - is it possible to use less fossil fuels?
Is there anything you can do to shift to renewable energy in your family home - remember baby steps are okay so long as you have goal

If you want to track the location of the oil spill click here. I'll be watching closely, sending out good vibes for the people affected, avoiding BP petrol stations and doing my best to walk, bike and reduce my amount of driving where I can.

If you want to help or live in an area that will be affected, here are some resources for you:

To report injured or oiled wildlife, call 1-866-557-1401. To report spill-related damage, call 1-800,440-0858, and to inquire about volunteering, or to report oil on the shore, call 1-866-448-5816.

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board is connecting BP with fisherman looking to aid in the cleanup effort. If interested, call 281-366-5511 or e-mail, HorizonSupport@OEGLLC.com.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is looking for volunteers to “fill a variety of needs.” Pre-veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and anyone with HAZWOPER training (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard) are “strongly encouraged” to register.

The National Audubon Society is recruiting volunteers in the fight to save “ecologically sensitive areas.” Visit their website to fill out a volunteer registration form.

OilSpillVolunteers.com also provides the opportunity sign up and assist with the cleanup.
While their website says volunteers are not yet needed, Mobile Baykeeper is urging anyone who is interested to call their office at 251-433-4229or e-mail info@mobilebaykeeper.org.

The Sierra Club is mobilizing volunteers, and will connect you with opportunities to help. Please click here to sign up and for more information.

Save Our Seabirds is a Sarasota, Florida-based bird rescue group that is looking for volunteers and support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Please click here to fill out their online form or call 941-388-3010.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

Get your FREE ebook preview HERE

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
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p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Sunday Reflection

2010-05-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Don't wait for anyone to deputize you or authorize you or empower you. You have to just start out with yourself...and put one foot in front of the other.

- Hazel Henderson

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
Get your FREE ebook PREVIEW

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Wood Burning Stoves - A Sustainable Option?

2010-04-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine was over for dinner several weeks ago and our conversation turned to wood burning stoves as he and his wife were building a new house, with plans to install a wood burning stove. Apparently this topic has been a hot one with his friends and family so I thought it would be useful to discuss it further.

Is burning wood bad for the environment? NO.
When looking at how we contribute to an unsustainable society - one of the things we humans do is burn fossil fuels for transport, heating, cooling, cooking and electricity generation. The result is an increase in carbon dioxide that we emit to the environment. Burning fossil fuels uses heat energy from photosynthesis but this resource has been buried for hundreds of millions of years and is not currently part of the carbon cycle. By digging it up and burning it, we are creating excess carbon dioxide emissions which push natural cycles out of balance because essentially we are adding a NET introduction of carbon dioxide - we are overwhelming natural system's ability to absorb and store these emissions.

Wood is a renewable resource and is already part of the natural carbon cycle - therefore whether it decomposes on the forest floor or we burn it as fuel, it will release the same amount of carbon back into natural systems. The heat energy comes from photosynthesis - trees use sunlight to create food needed to grow, in combination with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When you burn wood, it releases the energy (as heat) and carbon dioxide back into the environment.

That being said, wood burning for heating your home needs a responsible approach:

Burn sustainably harvested, properly processed and seasoned fuel in an advanced combustion stove or fireplace that is vented through a chimney that runs straight up through the building. (woodheat.org)

From woodheat.org, they suggest the following for responsible wood heating:

Process properly: wood is cut to the correct length and split to the correct range of sizes for the appliance. Having wood the right length and range of size makes it easy to build good, clean burning fires.

Properly Seasoned: fuel is processed in the spring and stacked in an area open to sun and wind for the summer. You cannot burn without smoke if you are using wet wood.

Sustainable harvesting: involves selective, uneven age cutting so that an acceptable level of biomass and biodiversity is maintained permanently on the site.

Can I burn wood on an open fire in my home? Yes and... there are disadvantages like smoke, extra effort to keep fires going, less efficient burning and potential for sparks and ash to damage home interiors. Use Advanced combustion stoves and fireplaces which burn wood about 90 per cent cleaner and one-third more efficiently than older conventional appliances. That means a lot less smoke outside and lower forest impacts because less wood is used.

Wondering if wood would work for you?
Visit the following page for Wood Stove Safety Instructions and the space required to install a wood burning stove safely.

REMEMBER - NEVER BURN GARBAGE OR TREATED WOOD IN YOUR WOOD STOVE! THIS ADDS TOXINS TO THE ATMOSPHERE AND YOUR HOME.

Resources:

Jøtul (Norwegian Fireplace Maker) offers a Fuel Calculator for your use

Woodheat.org's Environmentalist's Guide to Responsible Wood Heating

FREE Guide to Residential Wood Heating (Canada)

Palazzetti Duel Combustion Studies

TED Tuesday: Greening the Urban Space

2010-04-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

An inspiring talk about greening one of the most unlikely neighborhoods - South Bronx. A very inspiring talk about courage, the human spirit and our connection to the land we live on.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Bisphenol-A in Coke Cans!

2010-04-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

According to FastCompany.com's April 21st article last week, Coke has eliminated Bisphenol-A (BPA) from their plastic bottles but the plastic used to line aluminum cans still contains BPA! Many shareholders were concerned and upset about the lack of transparency from Coke about the use of this chemical in their aluminum cans.

Bisphenol-A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins, and other products. It is most commonly used in baby bottles or any type of hard shatterproof plastic containers. It is also found in the lining of canned goods, plastic wrap and other household plastics.

So what is the big deal? Bisphenol mimics hormones in the body and has been shown through tests in animals to cause many health problems such as an increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes and obesity and neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

As a family greening up your act, this relates to one of the fundamental ground rules we cover in greater depth in my ebook. This is an example of how we are poisoning the system we live in and depend upon for our health and survival. Why would we continue to allow companies to do this??? Coke has a facebook page if you want to post your thoughts...would be interesting to see what happens to the negative posts!

Here is a link to the Environmental Work Group's page on how to avoid BPA exposure. This is also a good link to the survey they did on canned food and BPA levels. Also of interest might be a recent Food and Drug Administration report for public comment on BPA's affects on human health.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Sunday Reflection

2010-04-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself - Nelson Mandela

Behind the times or doing it differently?

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Blog Bubble Brain

2010-04-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hello followers!

I've hit a blogging wall earlier this week and have been a bit under the weather so I'll be back with new blog posts next week! My apologies!

Thank you to those of you who suggested topics to cover via facebook. I appreciate it!

Happy (belated) Earth Day. I found this cartoon and it gave me a good giggle!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

TED Tuesday: Using Embodied Energy to Build Green

2010-04-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

This one is for those of you who like the details and want to know about green energy and building. Catherine Mohr gives a short TED talk about using embodied energy to calculate the payback time of her new home.

While embodied energy does not take into account all of the sustainability aspects I cover in my ebook - it does present an easy to understand analysis of how to view your choices through a certain lens - that of how much energy goes into the production and transport of materials she's using to build her home. At the end of her presentation, she provides a payback period which is really interesting!

Enjoy!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

Wood is wonderful!

2010-04-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

I love trees! Why you might ask? Not only because they provide oxygen for us to breathe, beautiful displays of colors and a place for those cute little birds to live - they provide a renewable resource for us to use. This renewable resource is also sustainable (able to continue on forever) provided we follow good forest management practices which allow for the growth and harvest of trees in a way that doesn't degrade the forest resource as a whole.

Wood is also a wonderful material because when we are finished using it - more often than not, it's easier to return to nature than other materials such as plastic, metal or a combination of all three.

Here are some of my favorite recent picks of products made from wood that I think families going green might like....

The timbur Rattle - Each rattle is made in the USA by hand by timbur, constructed of all natural wood, filled with natural shell beads and finished with a non-toxic blend of natural oils and wax. For sale here (USA). I emailed with timbur's owner, Ezra and this is what he had to say about his wood sources:

"At timbur we take sustainability and ecologic responsibility very seriously and go to extended lengths to source our wood from lumber suppliers that share our values."

They are continuing to look for a secure source of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood - currently the gold standard for the wood industry and it sounds like they have a good lead so stay tuned!

One of things that I HATE to throw away is my toothbrush - not because I'm addicted to brushing my teeth but because you cannot recycle them (that is if you use plastic toothbrushes). So, here is a great wooden option. The picture showed here is the model for Toddlers but they make adult versions too!

•Toothbrush handles made from sustainable beechwood - safe to chew too!
•100% biodegradable
•Pure, natural bristles, medically safe, hygenically treated pig bristle
•More gentle and safer on your child's gums than plastic bristles
Link to buy this product (UK)

Concerned about BPA in plastic kids toys - I LOVE this and no worries about any kinds of chemicals getting into your little one's skin/body. This product is also made with FSC certified wood. I'll take a tomato melt to go please! For sale at Ecotoys (Australia).

If you are new to "FSC" certified wood here is some further info for you:

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

Established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation, FSC is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management worldwide.

FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.

The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

FSC is nationally represented in more than 50 countries around the world.

FSC USA - use this link to search their product database
FSC Australia - has link to search for FSC certified products

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

A bathmat you'll want to get mouldy...eventually

2010-04-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

I love products like this - made from natural sources, useful during their lifetime and then can return to natural sources - just like Nature intended!

Squishy Toes is a bathmat made by Rebecca Berrigan and Nancy Kelly in the USA. It's made from plant cellulose - the structural component of of the primary cell wall in green plants. Did you know that 33% of all plant matter is cellulose and in trees, cellulose makes up 50% of the tree's matter. It's a renewable material - one that nature grows and provides to us for free! It is used in paper, cardboard, card stock and in this case - to make a bathmat.

This bathmat is a bit different though because in addition to providing a soft mat for the shower, an anti-slip surface for inside the home/camper van shower or on a shower seat, it will biodegrade! Once your Squishy Toes bathmat wears out, instead of throwing it away in the garbage (like many bathmats which are fabric and rubber and may take years to break down), this one goes in the compost heap!

By placing it in the compost heap or in the soil, it allows microorganisms to break the mat down into humus which is the dark, organic material in soil produced b the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth.

Products like this embody the "Waste = Food" mantra of the Cradle to Cradle concept:

"using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency" and several more...

This concept has been developed by William McDonough and Michael Braungart who offer Cradle to Cradle certification as a way to label some of the greenest products available today.

One of the only baby product so far to achieve Cradle to Cradle certification has been gDiapers

These are the kinds of products we'll only see more and more of and as a family wanting to green up your act - look for other examples like these! If you find some, pass them along and I can share them on the blog.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

TED Tuesday: What Adults Can Learn from Kids

2010-04-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Loved this!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s Connect with me on Facebook- click here

The Principles of Successful Manifesting

2010-04-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Enough of the fight today - The reality is that often times, we feel completely small, overwhelmed, burnt out, confused and just plain tired of putting up a good fight in an attempt to be good green families. Thank you to Stef - a friend and coach of mine - for his always inspiring words! Enjoy your day and remember to just be.

As we travel through the imagery of life we eventually arrive at a silent place of being where we stand at the cliffs edge overlooking a vast ocean of inquisition. The power and force of rhythmic tides are enchanting enough for life to simply pause still. The warm gentle breeze of questioning takes us to a place of confusion, solitude and often pain. we question our existence, our journey, our choices, our friendships, our actions and reactions, our passions and our faiths. We then more often than not become encroached in fear; we become paralyzed when motion is required. If we move deep within ourselves and connect with the rhythm of life’s pulse we can evaluate circumstance from an extremely powerful and productive vantage point. - Stef Sifandos

The Principles of Successful Manifesting

One Fish, Two Fish, Green Fish = Good Fish

2010-04-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we are in danger of losing ALL of our fish stocks before the end of the century? Could you imagine your grandchildren reading a Dr.Seuss book and asking what those funny things were on the page? Imagine a world without fishing (I can hear all the men gasp!) As a family greening up your act, choosing a good fish is equal to choosing a green fish! Green in this sense meaning the health of the fish population is safe and not currently being overharvested.

This is one of the fundamental ways we are continuously hurting the health of the biosphere - the biggest earth system that contains everything - the earth's surface, the atomosphere and all living systems - including YOUR FAMILY, your community and our society. We are over-fishing some stocks of fish which means we eat them faster than they can re-populate themselves. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE CANNOT EAT FISH - we just have to be wary of how fast we are doing it and taking the pressure off certain species.

At the same time we are putting pressure on the oceans through our societal actions - the results are worse water quality (killing fish), toxic algal blooms, dead zones, plastic infested patch of ocean (Pacific Garbage Gyre), invasive exotic species, beach closures and coastal floods are increasing. These floods are linked to the continual destruction of wetlands, reefs, mangroves and the plants and animals that filter out pollutants and protect our shorelines.

I love eating fish - I'm from British Columbia - home of the pacific salmon. I couldn't imagine life without ever having tasted one of these beautiful fish. My dad used to take us fishing when we were kids and I have many fond memories of doing that with him.

What actions can you and your family take? Be conscious about what kinds of fish you are eating and how they are caught. Different types of fishing methods cause greater damage to the oceans than others. REMEMBER - you CAN make a difference by VOTING WITH YOUR WALLET.

Here are some resources for you:

Environmental Defense Fund - Seafood Guide (USA)
Environmental Defense Fund - Sushi Selector (USA)
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch (USA) - A GREAT visual map of USA regions
SeaChoice - Choosing Sustainable Seafood (Canada) - has interactive database and pocket guides
Australian Marine Conservation Society - Guide to Sustainable Seafood (has free guide to download)

The End of the Line Trailer - A recent documentary about over-fishing

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
http://howgreenismyfamilynow.com/index.html

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with a single step and lasts a lifetime
p.p.s. Follow me on twitter
p.p.p.s On Facebook? I am too at this link - click here

Why does it always lead to this?

2010-04-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many dinners you can get through with your family without some kind of potty humor, especially if you have boys? I grew up with a younger brother and seriously, the topic was often brought up at the dinner table - either through actions like gas, jokes or noises......can anyone relate?

Anyway, I actually think it's pretty useful stuff to talk about if you are interested in greening up your family, that is if you can get past the whole my-brother-is-being-gross stuff! I was reading some notes today on the Transition Town movement website and noticed some facts about water use in the household.

Did you know this is the average breakdown of where your household water use is?

33% gets flushed down the loo
25% is used washing ourselves
18% is spent on drinking and in preparing food
12.5% is used in our laundry
8.5% is used when we do the dishes and,
3% is used to wash the car and water our extensive vegetable gardens!

If you combine the amounts for toilet water, showers/bath, and laundry water - that accounts for a whopping 70.5% of our household water use. Have you ever wondered what you will say to your grandchildren (or even great-grandchildren) when they ask why we ever took good drinking water - about 6-9 Liters (1.6 to 2.4 gallons) PER FLUSH - pooped in it and then flushed it away!? My goodness!

So what can you do? There are a lot of different options to help and which one you are able to implement will depend a lot upon your living situation. If you are renting, then perhaps water saving tips would be most useful to you. If you own your home and are interesting in eventually doing some renovations there are a variety of options available to you from changing your entire toilet system to re-piping your house to have greywater systems (for sink/showers and laundry for example). And for the really adventurous - you can switch to composting toilet systems. I've used a few and when properly maintained they don't smell at all!

Here are some resources for you:
Water Saving Tips from Australia - one of the most water conscious countries in the world
Greywater Design Information from Oasis Design in the USA - Publish a very informative book

Humanure Handbook - A Guide to Composting Human Manure

To wrap up this text, I have to finish off with one of the coolest inventions I've seen in a long time - The LooWatt. It's a toilet made of 90% horse dung (I know! Go figure?!) where people in developing nations can take the contents to a central outdoor biodigester which provides a free source of biofuel for cooking. The LooWatt features a biodegradable lining that stores excrement in a sealed, ordor free container. The system is low-cost mechanical and the design may be useful in many developing countries where installation of sewage systems is impossible, and improper waste disposal spreads many devastating waterborne diseases. VERY COOL!

Guilt Free Ice Cream for the Green Hearted

2010-04-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has recently announced it will go completely Fairtrade Certified with its ingredients by 2013! YEAH! As recently posted in my April 3rd post about "45,000 reasons to swap your choco eggs" I talked about the benefits of fair trade for families trying to green up their act. Ben & Jerry's ice cream creating a MASSIVE goal to go completely Fairtrade by 2013 is HUGE news.

It gives families a way to support social sustainability and build community by voting with their wallet. (and it doesn't hurt that the ice cream is totally yummy!).

From the Guardian's April 4, 2010 Article:

Sold up but not sold out, Ben and Jerry are still the poster boys for fair trade

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. 'Ben & Jerry's was never Unilever,' says Cohen, 'and you know, I never had any illusions. Photograph: James D. Morgan/Rex Features

Full Article Here

From the Fairtrade Organisation's webiste:

Ben & Jerry’s has just announced its commitment to go fully Fairtrade across its entire global flavour portfolio. From Cherry Garcia to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, all of the flavours in all of the countries where Ben & Jerry’s is sold (including Australia) will be converted to Fairtrade Certified™ ingredients by the end of 2013.

Ben & Jerry’s was the first ice cream company in the world to use Fairtrade Certified™ ingredients starting in 2005, and today it’s racing ahead as the first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fairtrade across its global portfolio.

Company co-founder Jerry Greenfield said, “Fairtrade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of Fairtrade goes to the heart of our values and sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.”

Ben & Jerry’s 100% Fairtrade commitment means that every ingredient that can be sourced Fairtrade Certified™, now or in the future, is Fairtrade Certified™. Globally, this involves converting up to 121 different chunks and swirls, working across eleven different ingredients such as cocoa, banana, vanilla and other flavourings, fruits and nuts. It also means working with Fairtrade cooperatives that total a combined membership of over 27,000 farmers.

I'm so excited about this! A huge step forward for setting a great example and providing a fabulous product! I am a fossil fuel kind of girl: FOSSIL FUEL ICE CREAM that is! It's fabulous and hopefully one day, won't involve any kind of fossil fuel use in its making....

For more information on Ben and Jerry's Activism visit their website.

Bravo Ben and Jerry! My spoon is raised to you.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with one step and lasts a lifetime

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tracylydiatt
Join me on Facebook at: Tracy Lydiatt - The Green Families Guru

TED Tuesday: How food might be killing your kids

2010-04-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

Bravo to chef Jamie Oliver for ranting, his passion and helping families learn how to feed their family food for success!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Remember you can do this, it all starts with a first step and it will last a lifetime

Leading by example is a scary thing...

2010-04-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

A little inspiration from my weekend trip to Denmark, Western Australia.....sometimes we have no easy and quick numbers to justify the costs, to outline the benefits, to calm our partner's fears/doubts about making changes to the household, to answer our friend's inquiries and to quiet the critic's voice in our head!

Sometimes the only thing we can really do is lead by example and have a little faith.

This is what courage means to me.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
p.s. Remember you can do this, it begins with one step and lasts a lifetime
http://www.howgreenismyfamilynow.com

45,000 reasons to swap your choco eggs

2010-04-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone! In addition to the Christian religious significance to the Easter Holiday, many families plan easter egg hunts and fun spring related activities and crafts for their kids. Chocolate has become a large part of the North American Easter tradition.

As consumers, we are able to vote with our wallets and families interested in "greening up their act" have several essential fundamentals to consider. One of them is the social aspect of our consumer choices.

So what does this have to do with Easter? C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E!!! YUM. You can change lives by investing in buying Fair Trade chocolate this Easter. It is typically 15-30% more expensive than conventional choices but you can use it as an adult treat and focus on crafts for your kids this Easter. When I buy fair trade chocolate bars - they range in price from $4.00 to $7.00 for a 100g to 150g (3.5oz to 5.3oz). I actually find they taste better and the extra few dollars I would have in my pocket is one take out tea/coffee a day out of my life. A worthy exchange of extra change for the value it produces. If you are new to the Fairtrade idea the following is some information for you and an inspiring video!

From the Fairtrade website
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

Even though we don't intentionally mean to, sometimes our choices place barriers in the way of other people so they are unable to meet their needs. Those needs might be something so simple that we often take for granted such as clean drinking water, fair wages, and access to education for our children. It's very important to create conditions so people can meet their basic human needs. If they are unable to meet their basic needs, they will be solely focused on survival, unable to contribute any of their gifts to the world and will often have a much lower quality of life for themselves and their children.

Here's 45,000 reasons to consider switching to Fair Trade chocolate

In Australia/NZ buy your Fairtrade Easter treats at:
http://www.chocolatier.com.au/ourstores/OurStores.htm
www.lindsayandedmunds.com.au
http://www.lighthouse-ventures.com
http://www.aldi.com.au/
http://www.alterecopacific.com/wheretobuy.html
http://cocolo.com.au/stockists/
http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/retail

In USA and Canada buy your Fairtrade Easter Treats from:
http://www.fairtradefederation.org/
http://www.transfairusa.org/
http://www.equalexchange.coop/
http://www.transfair.ca/
http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=pageFairTrade1&type=store

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
p.s. Remember you can do this, it start with one step and lasts a lifetime

Help for the Diaper Conundrum

2010-04-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Did you know your little sweetheart will go through 8,000 to 10,000 diapers (nappies) before they become toilet trained?

Did you know that we throw away an average of 18 Billion disposable diapers a year in the United States alone?

That's a whole lot of waste going straight to garage dumps and how long does it take for a diaper to break down? A LONG TIME and what does it break down into? As well, the more waste we create, the more space we need to dispose of it (unless it's incinerated which just adds harmful emissions to the environment) so throwing these diapers out causes a lot of problems.

Traditional disposable diapers contain all or some of the following:

Materials such as paper, wood cellulose and cotton that have been bleached using chlorine
Absorbent material inside the diaper: Sodium Polyacrylate
Plastics found in the fasting tabs and bonded to the paper to help keep the "wetness away from baby's skin"
Chemical based perfumes and lotions

If you are a family with young children trying to green up your act, I'm sure you've spent a considerable amount of time thinking about this topic. A friend of mine, Ben Kneppers of Edge Environment in Sydney, Australia recently published an article about the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) he did comparing two kinds of diapers that I thought might be of interest to you. The full article is here.

Comparative Life Cycle Analysis for Disposable Diapers (Nappies) vs. Reusable Diapers

The three options analysed:

Disposable Nappies
Reusable Nappies with an efficient washing machine, and
Reusable Nappies with a less-efficient washing machine.

Note that other nappy options exist (e.g. compostable and alternative material nappies) but due to limitations in the scope of the study these three most common options were selected.

Within the LCA system - the more "eco-points" a product has, the higher the impact. Here were the results of the study:
3rd place: 1.52 eco-points over the 2.5 year life span (of the child using diapers) is the disposable nappy.
2nd place: 0.74 eco-points is the reusable nappy with a less efficient washing machine

1st place: 0.55 eco-points is the reusable nappy with the efficient washing machine as our most environmentally preferable option

Ben states:
The main areas responsible for impact in the life of the disposable nappies were the high material inputs, which used a significant amount of energy, water, produced a lot of waste emissions, and made a large impact on global warming. The main issue for the reusable nappy is water consumption. As previously mentioned, cotton is a water intensive crop and, in addition to the water used for washing, this led to the impact on water scarcity impact coming out much greater than the disposable nappies.

So stick to reusable cloth diapers as much as you can, line dry where possible and if you can, save up for the most energy efficient washing machine when yours kicks the bucket!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
p.s. Remember you can do this, it start with one step and it lasts a lifetime

Where have all the boys gone?

2010-04-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll lately in regards to chemicals and I think this is a short documentary EVERY parent should see. It's called "The Disappearing Male" and was produced by Canadian Broadcast Corporation for Doc Zone.

It's less than 1hr and discusses in depth our rapid evolution (by losing the male species) of our human race. Sounds like a crazy sci-fi movie? Watch and find out for yourself!

As an integral part of greening your family, it's very important to identify and eliminate the use of man-made chemicals from your home. Later posts will talk about how to do this and where these chemicals are even found. For now though, please watch and share with any concerned friends or family.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru
p.s. Remember you can do this, it all starts with a first step and it will last a lifetime

TED Tuesday: An infection you want your kids to get!

2010-03-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

A little bit of inspiration for helping our kids to catch the "I can" bug!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Remember you can do this, it all starts with a first step and it will last a lifetime

A few chemicals with your pancakes?

2010-03-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

I made pancakes the other morning for my fiancee and I. They were great and we used a Teflon coated pan from IKEA to cook them in. Several weeks ago, a friend of mine Annie Bourgault of Nurturing Motherhood asked Andreas about what kind of pan was the best to use for cooking (he's a chef) and the conversation turned into a talk about Teflon.

I stopped to reflect why I had never questioned myself before about Teflon? Was it really so bad? What kinds of chemicals did we just ingest along with our yummy pancakes?

So I have done a little research and wanted to share it with you.

This is from a study done by the Environmental Working Group about the chemical releases from heating a pan coated with Teflon. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE FULL SIZE)

Source: http://www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon

The Canadian Broadcast Corporation reported that using the Teflon coated pans didn't present a significant health risk so long as you kept the temperature down.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Teflon maker DuPont $16.5 million for two decades' worth of covering up company studies that showed it was polluting drinking water. This is in addition to settling a $107 Million class action lawsuit filed by residents living near the West Virginia plant who claimed that the chemical [PFOA - see below] had contaminated local waters.

Useful Information:

Teflon: Teflon is a brand name, it is not a single chemical. Teflon can refer to PTFE or to a fluorotelomer or to any number of perfluorochemicals. Perfluorochemicals are often termed "Teflon" chemicals or as having "Teflon" chemistry.
PTFE: Polytetrafluoroetheylene. Polymer used for cookware and other non-stick applications. Brand names include Teflon and Silverstone. A physically expanded form of PTFE is used to make Gore-Tex. PFOA is an ingredient in the manufacture of PTFE. PTFE fluoropolymer resin is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most slippery substance.
PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid. Breakdown product of fluorotelomers and backbone of many DuPont products. Also used as a surfactant to produce PTFE, the Teflon in pans. Sometimes called C8.
C8, et al: The range of chemicals that are identical to PFOA but with carbon backbones of varying length. PFOA/C8 has 8 carbons, C7 has 7, and so on. These are breakdown products of fluorotelomers.

An important consideration is the chemical PFOA used to make Teflon chemicals is considered a persistent, bio-accumulative man-made compound. This means that it NEVER breaks down because nature isn't able to "digest or metabolise" it in its own natural systems. By using chemicals like this, we are continually undermining the long-term health of the planet - including our families.

I'll let you make up your mind about how safe these pans are and if you feel you'd like to use an alternative, Planet Green has a great article that will help you with your decision making process.

Many families are opting for a different non-stick pan option such as:

Inert, Non-Reactive Cookware -- A Superior Choice
Enamel is actually a fused glass surface. Brands: Le Creuset and Chantal.
Will last a lifetime. Buy quality as once enamel is chipped the underlying metal will react with food.

Titanium is nonreactive and lightweight but a poor heat conductor. Typically labeled as aluminum cookware that has a fused ceramic-titanium, nonstick coating. This cookware is expensive, but durable and a healthful, nonreactive choice.

Glass coffee pots and casserole dishes are inert and affordable. Favor glass containers for storing food.

Bamboo steamers and paddles as well as wooden spoons, chopsticks and crockery are non-reactive and modestly priced.

Earthenware and ceramic are inert. They emit a far-infrared heat, the most effective and beneficial heat for cooking. Ceramic casseroles and pie pans are available from your local potter. (Note: antique ceramic or earthenware pots may contain lead; do not use without testing. To test for lead, purchase a lead test kit for $10 at a hardware store.)

Paper Goods are, in some applications, effective. Line reactive aluminum cookie sheets or muffin tins with parchment paper or paper muffin cups. And for food storage, as is practical, favor waxed or butcher paper over plastic wrap or bags.

Silicone cookware is inert, FDA approved and safe up to 428 degrees F. If heated above its safe range, silicone melts but doesn’t outgas toxic vapors. Silicone is a synthetic rubber now made into baking pans, baking sheets, muffin tins, spatulas, ice cube trays, molds, rolling pins and more. It is the only non-reactive, non-stick material. The advantages of silicone include heat resistance (below 428 degrees), flexibility, the fact that it can go directly from the oven or microwave into the refrigerator or freezer and that it is generally easy to clean.

Moderately Reactive Cookware -- A Good Choice
Stainless steel is the least reactive metal, and for many people, the most versatile and healthful cookware option. Of the various weights, heavy-gauge stainless or surgical steel is superior. It makes an acceptable set of basic pots, pans and bake ware. Remove food from metal as soon as it is cooked to minimize the food from developing a metallic taste. Once stainless steel has been scratched, through normal scouring, the leaching of metallic ions is more noticeable. Better yet, don't scour stainless cookware. When you've burned something onto the pot, cover the damage with baking soda or a strong detergent and let it rest for a day. The soda will "lift" off the scoarched food.

Carbon steel is inexpensive and is ideal for a wok or sauté pan because it rapidly conveys heat. To prevent rusting, carbon steel must be thoroughly dry when not in use.

Cast iron pots are good for quick breads, pancakes and crêpes and for sautéing vegetables. Do not, however, cook soups, liquids or acid foods in cast iron, as these foods leach harsh-tasting iron from the pot. Although a soup cooked in cast iron becomes iron-enriched, it’s not a bioavailable form of iron, and is therefore undesirable.
Source: Rebecca Wood

Resources for further reading:
Environmental Working Group's 4 years worth of research on Teflon chemicals
Environmental Working Group's Perfluorchemical Dictionary (reference for some facts above)
NY Times Article about EPA fining Dupont
DuPont Fluoro Products Homepage
CBC News Report on Non-Stick Cookware Largely Safe
Environmental Protection Agency Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Fluorinated Telomers

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Remember you can do this, it all starts with a first step and it will last a lifetime

Warning - Don't Watch This Video

2010-03-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

If you like to drink bottled water, refuse to take your own reuseable shopping bags to the store, and aren't bothered by Styrofoam take-away containers - this video isn't for you.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

p.s. Remember, you can have an effect, it just starts with one step and will last a lifetime.

PERTH Sun Fair - This SUNDAY (March 28)

2010-03-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday 28th March 2010, 9am-5pm on the Oak Lawn, University of Western Australia

I missed this last year and regretted it! Going in the morning this year then off to the Roots and Blues Festival in Fremantle. The festival is KID FRIENDLY and full of Kid's Crafty Fun. As well there is a roaming theatre throughout the day, and children have the chance make their own energy using exercise bikes and scale electric sets.

From their website:

The Sun Fair is aimed at introducing the people of Perth to sustainable living concepts, technology and lifestyles. Major themes of the fair include renewable energy, energy efficiency, environment conservation and natural living.

On Sunday 28th March 2010 people from all walks of life will come together on the Oak Lawn at the University of Western Australia to share information and experiences so they can return to their homes with a knowledge that they can make a difference to the future of the welfare of this planet and all its living systems.

The fair demonstrates that sustainable lifestyles are environmentally sound and cost effective and are very much an attainable reality.

Environmental change is a challenge facing all of us and will only be addressed when government, business and individuals act together to achieve a common goal of sustainable living.

See you there!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc

The Green Families Guru

Toxic Take Down for Electronics

2010-03-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

Two important aspects of "greening up" your family act are reducing the amount of fossil fuels & heavy metals used and hazardous materials - often found as chemicals or toxic compounds in household products. Electronics have been evaluated thoroughly and Greenpeace publishes a Guide to Greener Electronics which you might find useful?

So What's the Big Deal?

Part 1 - Bringing the products into your house
This is a big decision in itself as budget, space and functionality are factors that need to be considered. Sustainability aspects such as fossil fuel used in the production of the product and the chemicals and hazardous compounds the product might contain are important considerations - because the chemicals might affect your health, fossil fuel use affects climate change and your purchase sends a message - you are essentially VOTING WITH YOUR WALLET! (photo credit: The Jing - Flickr). When you purchase one product over another it sends a strong message to the manufacturer by saying, "Hey I like your product over your competitor".

Step 2 - Disposal of the product
How long will that product be in use with your family is an important consideration in your purchase. You don't want to waste your money on a product that will break before you get your money's worth of use out of it. Another important consideration is where it will go to get disposed of? Often if electronics end up in the garbage dump, crushed up they can leak heavy metals into the ground which are toxic. If hazardous chemicals are part of the make up, those will end up back in the environment as well - either as air or ground pollution. There is a social element as well - companies who do not properly recycle computers and ship them off to a developing nation to be "recycled" are contributing to conditions for workers where their health is severely impacted. Check out this video to see what I mean.

Here is Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics and how companies stack up! Use it to inform your next electronics purchase

Full details can be found here.

Also, ask yourself, "Do I really need this product?" and if you do make a purchase, responsibly dispose of your old one - for example return the equipment to a manufacture or find an electronics recycler with good ethics. Metals will only become more and more valuable as their scarcity increases so keep your eyes open for more recycling options - guaranteed they will develop..it's only a matter of when!

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru

A Sustainability Framework Explained for Kids

2010-03-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

Love this video - thank you to Thibaud Joubert (Canada) for creating it. It's a wonderful resource to share with your family as it easily explains the basics of a sustainability framework. This framework is called "The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development" and is sometimes referred to as The Natural Step Framework.

This framework is useful to families and shows us the four ways we undermine all living systems on the planet, which impact the health and long-term endurance of our society. To create a sustainable society and maintain a healthy planet to support that society, we must encourage families investigate things they are able to change and take action.

Further posts on the blog will focus in more detail on these aspects.

Tracy Lydiatt - B.Sc, M.Sc
The Green Families Guru