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After the Holidays are over-How to be Green!

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Trees are decorated, gifts are wrapped and holiday plans made, shew glad that is done. But what do you do with all the waste when its done?  In the past we just gathered it all up and tossed it in the garbage, not even giving a thought to what happens next.  Out of site out of mind… so the saying goes. Yet decades have gone by with that mindset and where has it gotten us?  To the place where we are now with too much waste –  mounds of trash and toxic air and water.  So what can you do to reduce this impact on the planet and still enjoy your holidays? Changing habits isn’t easy but it can be fun!  After awhile you will find that it isn’t so much a hassle anymore, it will just become your new habit. Here are some great suggestions on what to do when the holidays are over:

  • Re-use wrapping papers and gift bags and bows if you can, if not recycle them
  • Use cardboard boxes for kids to be creative with and make pretend toys
  • Recycle cardboard boxes or save to use for storage
  • Recycle your live Christmas Tree by mulching it or setting out for the city to mulch- let it compost on it’s own – wild animals love it
  • Recycle plastic bags or re-use them – some people make decorations from them
  • Clean out old items clothing, coats, toys and gift them to Goodwill or Freecycle
  • Re-gift  it is the Eco thing to do!  It’s hip to be green so go for it
  • Compost your uneaten food and scraps.  Remember to eat leftovers- it saves money and the environment
  • Re-use decorations, ornaments, trimmings
  • Donate the packing peanuts to the nearby UPS Store they like them
  • Donate used Holiday cards to your local school or daycare- they make crafts from them next season
  • Save un-savable gift wrap and bows for your home craft projects, it save on buying them later – kids love it!

It is estimated that 3 Million tons of waste is created during the holiday season- that’s a lot of trash. The Religious Holiday season is the most wasteful time of the year and even more of a reason to begin with new habits of disposing of waste. This is the time of year most people put recycling on hold – and also a time when it is needed more than ever!  It really can be fun and educational and a great way to teach your children how to be Green. Even the little steps we make will add up if we all take action. Happy Holidays! www.mypumpkindoodle.com

Green Your Kids Holiday Gifts

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Black Friday is here and consumerism at it’s highest.  Huge sales and irresistible promotions. How do you shake the holiday spending drive?  I have to say it is very tempting all the commercials, sales and the rush you feel when you’ve got all your shopping done and saved money.  Part of being in the Green mindset is to realize that this is the very issue we are trying to change.  The ad’s the marketing gimmicks and the way they work on your desire to have more and more. The credit card companies and stores depend on the money they make during holiday season as it is the biggest spending time of the year.  Kids learn very early on these marketing ploys to draw us in to buy.  Commercials get to kids advertising plastic and disposable  toys that will end up in the landfill in no time, rarely are they ever passed down to another child. Children grow up more aware of the environment when they are given toys and play supplies that are more environmentally friendly.  They grow up healthier when given toys that are free from PVC and phthalates, which off gas. Some toys despite regulations, still have toxic paint on them. Children spend long hours playing with these toxic toys.

Our commitment is to the environment, and we sell toys that are not only non-toxic, but quality made and ethical, they have a lighter footprint on the environment.  Some of our toys have replacement parts.  Replacement parts are rare in the toy industry where disposable is the norm. Our Maple Landmark Toys uses sustainable wood in its handmade toys and uses non-toxic paints and finishes. They offer repair and replacements for their toys. When you buy Maple Landmark Toys you are paying for quality that can be passed down for years of use. When comparing pricing, I think you will find our Toys are very comparable to toys made of plastic that are not ethical made and are toxic.  You know the old saying” you get what you pay for”.  I think that is so true in some respects.

Name Train Set
Maple Landmark Name Train Set

Little Colorado Company is also a Green company that not only produces Green Toys in the USA but also ships it’s toys with recycled packaging inside and out. They also use only wood harvested from ethical resources and any MDF used is certified Green.  The quality of these two companies is unsurpassed.  Their commitment to children’s safety and the environment is not compromised by the quality and value you receive with these toys.  Children’s imagination is developed with pretend play and with these ethical Green Toys, you can allow your child to develop naturally without all the electronic plastic on the market that doesn’t allow for much imagination.

Little Colorado Playhouse Kit
Little Colorado Playhouse kit

Remember the cost of plastic toys on the environment and you child’s health when you purchase a gift for a child. Our toys are ethical, well made, non-toxic and affordable.  Check out our complete selection of Green Toys at www.mypumpkindoodle.com

Climate Change isn’t Happening?

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I was in a debate with someone this week ( which is totally rare for me to do) and I was told that she thought that Climate Change was happening because of solar activity and polar changes.  Ok, no one can be 100% sure what the cause is and it could be more than one thing causing it. I’ll give her that.  However, the fact is, we have a huge problem other than climate changes. We have toxic water, toxic air, toxic food and toxic chemicals in just about everything we use.  We have mountains of trash in our land and oceans, we have oil spilling out in our oceans and we have cruise lines dumping sewage in our oceans.  If that isn’t enough to consider this a problem, we have disease and birth defects because of all the chemicals we use. No one is including this into the “Climate Change” definition.  I call it Ecological deterioration because it is so much more than climate changes. We can’t even grow true “Organic” food due to aluminum in the air.  So if climate change was caused by the polar shifts and solar activity, then does that mean we just continue with our habits as they are?  Does that mean we vote different because someone has said that climate change isn’t caused by our polluting the air?  I fail to see how just that reason minimizes the major issues we have on this planet.  Clean Energy is more than just climate change. Clean Energy keeps people out of dangerous mines, it keeps oil from spilling out in our oceans and deterioration of our natural resources and wildlife.  Alternative technology keep trees in the Amazon rain forest from being cut down, it cleans the air, helps with erosion  and protects waterways and sea life.  It helps us grow healthier food and keeps chemicals out of our bodies.

Whatever name you want to give it. We have an enormous issue to deal with and so will our future generations.  We have to act now climate change or not! I hope that economics and future debt issues don’t get in the way of our future survival on this planet and the health of the next generations.

Mothers all over the world making a difference

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Mothers all over the world making a difference

September 30, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

This year has been a difficult one in many ways.  It has been a year of economic changes, challenges and discord among the parties.  It has been a year of devastation to many due to the Gulf Oil Spill and the many lives it has effected or killed; human, plant and animal.  It has been a year of record heat in some areas and devastating cold and flooding in others.  One thing I’ve noticed about myself and other Mothers around the world,  we are getting more outspoken about our children’s health and future on this planet.  I feel a deep passion within me, that just has to speak out, about the issues that have been procrastinated to the point of ridiculous proportions and do something about it.  It saddens me that all this procrastination on laws being hung up in government quick sand just may cause us to not make the changes in time to prevent major irreversible climate devastation..  I see it everywhere, Mom’s taking the stance to do something to make some kind of noise loud enough to be heard.  Some have radio talk shows, some t.v shows, some blogs and some get into government and me, I write letters to the White House, my local and state government.  This is the time that women around the world feel compelled to stand up and be heard.  For so many centuries women had the back seat, and then the passengers seat in matters such as this.  I’ve seen decades go by where women’s rights have been fought for and won. I’ve seen women get stronger and more powerful over the years. Still we have not been heard enough and haven’t stood up and said ” I’m not going to let you ignore me”, but now we are!  But, this isn’t a battle over women’s rights this is a fight for our children’s future. This is a great time for women all over the world to unite and say ” I want to see change now so that my children will have a future!”. One thing about Mom’s, we will fight for our children’s safety. Now is the time. I hope that the clean energy bills will be passed and I hope that everyone goes out and votes this November, this is a very important election.  Vote for the change that we need to get the world cleaner air and safer food for everyone, but especially for our children.

Women are responsible for 85% of the purchases made in households. With that much buying power we have the ability to make changes based on our purchases.  This is why, as a Mom, what we buy for our children and our families has a huge impact on the changes that occur in the marketplace.  By buying Green, Non-toxic, chemical free products, we are speaking out with our buying power and the manufacturers are following suit.  We can also call manufacturers and tell them we want Greener products.  Ask them why they are not producing a more eco friendly product.  I have called manufacturers to tell them they need to offer replacement parts , use Greener plastics and I’ve written HP and told them they could do better in the Green department.  If a company gets enough calls they will listen.

On the other side of purchasing, Women also have power by refusing non essential items when purchasing.  I refuse plastic bags ( and they really try hard to get me to take one), I refuse plastic eating utensils, I refuse plastic toys at fast food restaurants, and I refuse to have my bed sheets changed everyday when I travel.  Mom’s, we have the power to make a huge difference in our children’s lives now and in the future.  Let’s take advantage of the power and be heard!

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Using What is in Abundance

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Using what is in abundance

August 26, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

Riding down a sunny road the other day I passed this huge patch of Kudzu and it made me think about all the great products that are coming out of Kudzu nowadays.  We can eat it, make baskets from it, make paper from it, use it for medicine and so much more.  Bamboo is much like Kudzu in its usefulness and that it is as invasive and grows at the same rapid rate.  Weeds also considered invasive, are becoming more popular as people begin to see the beneficial benefits of weeds for eating  or  for medicinal uses.  So, as usual, my mind keeps rolling around ideas and I just couldn’t keep from wondering how things might be different , on this planet, if we had chosen to use the natural resources we have that grows the fastest and most abundantly instead of using the resources that take decades to grow.  We spend so much money and effort on developing chemicals that will kill invasive plants, chemicals that turn our soil toxic, it seems like if we could take advantage of the invasive plants we would be saving the environment and our own health as well as contain invasive plants.

One of the most widely used herbicides is Atrazine and it is estimated that 76 million pounds of this chemical is used each year on crops such as corn in the US each year.  This chemical has been found in our rivers, streams and drinking water.  There is much debate over the its link to cancer, birth defects, and hormonal imbalance.   It has been reported that higher than federally allowable levels have been found in drinking water in several US States and the EPA has not warmed the public of this health hazard.

So, next time you reach for the weed killer, remember that there is no such thing as an un-useful plant, weeds are just plants we don’t understand their benefit and usefulness. There is a useful purpose for every living thing on this planet and in our attempts to discard the undesirable, we have caused havoc on our planet and our own environment.

If I need to get rid of a “weed”  I use boiling water or pull it.  I’ve taken a different perspective on weeds… they’re now just part of my yard and I don’t feel the compulsion to run out and get weed killer anymore. Hopefully one day we will change our perspective on the usefulness of natural resources and begin to work with nature instead of against it, and use the most abundant ones instead of the resources that are the most difficult to replace. As a mother, I not only care about the environment now, but also for the future for my children.  I feel that being a Green Mom isn’t just keeping toxins out of your children’s food and environment, it is taking proactive steps towards a more peaceful, clean and thriving planet.

Back to School Lots of Waste-How do you deal?

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Back to School means lots of waste – how do you deal?

August 5, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

Back to school means notebook paper, notebooks, post it notes, pens and pencils, and printer cartridges that all has to go somewhere right?  How can you teach your children to use wisely and dispose of the used school supplies properly? Buying sustainable school products is also a wonderful way of teaching your children to be more Green.  Even with using sustainable products disposal is still an issue.  Here are a few suggestions:

  • Buy post consumer content or sustainable fiber paper.  Banana paper notebook paper and stationary is a great substitute for wood paper.  You can also buy 100% recycled paper for your printer and copier. Also, don’t forget to use both sides when possible and recycle when done.
  • If possible buy Green printer cartridges and if not you can recycle your used cartridge either by mail or  at a local store such as Best Buy.
  • Pencils and pens can also be purchased made from recycled or sustainable materials.
  • Post it notes now have recycled content and` you can purchase  100% recycled content.  This is a great way to Green, as post it notes are used in mass quantities.  And you can recycle them when done.
  • Notebooks can now be purchased that are made from post consumer content and fully recyclable.
  • For art supplies you an also buy sustainable paper  and non-toxic paint.  Especially for smaller children that put their fingers in the paint or mouth it is very important
  • When using printer paper choose the gray scale to use less ink.
  • Computers are great for filing electronically. Less paper and file folders to use.
  • File folders and hanging folders can also be purchased in post consumer content.
  • Highlighter pens are another school item that is toxic.  You can purchase highlighter pencils in eco-friendly lead instead of ink based. There are also ink highlighter pens that are non-toxic and Xylene-Free (non-toxic and non-flammable)
  • Students now have to have a flash drive usually for school.  You can also purchase these in sustainable materials such as bamboo.
  • Turn off computers, printer, calculators and lights when done to save energy
  • If buying a computer is on your list of school supplies, try to find the most energy efficient one. Also, some computers now come in eco friendly casing.

It may seem overwhelming at first, but not too bad once you learn what to look for, as most stores now carry some type of Eco friendly supplies.  Remember It’s Hip To Be Green even at school.  Check out our eco school supplies at www.mypumpkindoodle.com

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BP Oil Spill Breaks my Heart

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BP Oil Spill Breaks My Heart

July 22, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

I know this is a tough topic, but one I feel very compelled to write about.  Just visiting the Gulf of Mexico ( luckily the Oil has not arrived to this area yet) I just couldn’t help but think that by next year that beautiful area might all be brown and gooey with oil.  My daughter and I ,while swimming in the ocean one morning, saw a Dolphin and it put on quite a show for us, jumping high out of the water and turning as if we were at Sea World. It was amazing to say the least.  I felt so blessed to witness this rare display.  It breaks my heart to think about the millions of gallons of oil pumping into the ocean daily and for months.  It also breaks my heart to know that so many people are down there trying with all their might to clean up such a massive spill and it has to feel hopeless.  Predictions are that it will make it’s way to Europe eventually.

I think most of us just can’t fathom it and therefore, feel as if it is a distant issue that can’t be helped.  Every voice does make a difference, one person’s buying power can be contagious and if enough people stand together to be heard, it will be loud enough to make a difference.  As consumers we hold all the power to make change.  Oil is not only used for gas and fuel for heating and equipment, it is also used in cosmetics, ointments, plastics, carpets, fabrics, chemical cleaning solutions, and so much more. Bottled water  produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. It takes 47 million gallons of Petroleum to produce that plastic.  Of that 1.5 million tons of plastic for bottles 80% ends up in landfills instead of being recycled.  If we stop buying plastic bottles, it can save millions of gallons of oil and we can reduce our dependency on Oil and clean up the landfills of plastic drink bottles.   If enough of us speak up and ask manufacturers to find alternative to petroleum plastic they will follow the demand for cleaner and healthier products.  It takes us, as consumers, to stand our ground and demand it happen.  We can make huge steps in the petroleum industry just from avoiding using plastic drinking bottles.  Writing our politicians and signing petitions to let them know how we stand is of utmost importance as clean energy is on the agenda.  Speak out! We can make a difference.

Spring is in the air

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Spring is here! Time for Gardening

March 20, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

Spring is here!  Time to start thinking of outside activities and gardening, if you haven’t already started your garden.  Composting your leftover food is a great way to get compost ready for your garden. There are many ways to compost. You can buy a composter, they range from simple and inexpensive to expensive, just throw your food in and it does the work for you or build one yourself.  You may ask how does that help the environment?  Well it helps your garden grow better by providing nutrients to the soil.  It keeps rotting food out of plastic bags which end up in the landfill which leech methane gases.  Ordering beneficial insects to keep those pesty insects away is another great way to green your garden. There is a beneficial insect for every pest insect, and the great thing about beneficial insects is that they help your garden, but also can help you.   A Praying Mantis, for instance, eats mosquitoes, flies and moths along with the pests that eat your garden.  They are an all purpose pest control.  They are very easy to hatch; place your order and when they arrive you attach them to a tree branch and nature does the rest. If you don’t like the thought of using insects to rid your garden and yard of pests, there are many types of natural and organic pest control methods.  There are even natural and organic weed control products.  I use corn gluten in the early spring to prevent the weeds from taking root.  It saves me time by not having to spray weed killer and it is very easy to use, just spread it like grass seed.  We’ve become so accustomed to using chemicals that for many people they have a false idea that going Green with your gardening and yard care is more time consuming and expensive.  Some products may be more expensive, but I find that many are very reasonably priced.  Many you can make yourself.  I’ve used boiling water to kill weeds before – works great!   It really can be easy to Green your garden and yard.  I, for one, like not having to breathe those smelly chemicals. Here are a few more tips for Greening your yard and garden :

  • Buy non treated grass seed or organic grass seed
  • Use compost for your top soil for your garden
  • Use newspaper/cardboard to prevent weeding in your garden
  • Use beneficial plants to help rid your garden of pests
  • Use compost tea ( juice from your composter) as liquid fertilizer

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Pumpkin Doodle On WFMJ’s Eco Mom Green Holiday Gifts!

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Pumpkin Doodle on WFMJ’s Eco Mom Green Holiday Gifts!

December 2, 2009
| by itshiptobegreen

Pumpkin Doodle’s was featured on NBC’s Eco Mom segment on Cyber Monday!  We were thrilled to have our wonderful children’s products displayed for green holiday gifts on the Eco Mom morning show on WFMJ 21 in Youngstown Ohio.

Featured products  Maple Landmark Toys the Montgomery Schoolhouse bus and the ABC blocks. We love these products. Maple Landmark toys uses sustainable practices to harvest and grow the maple they use for their toys.  They really take being green seriously.  They even recycle and donate wood scraps.  They use non toxic dye ( when possible) and also offer a product line that is all natural with no dye.  And for us the thing that sets them apart from other wooden toy manufacturers is they will repair or replace parts. This is a huge concern for us.  We see many items going in the land fill that could be used and only because manufacturers don’t replace or repair.  These toys as Stacey say’s are meant to be passed down generation to generation they really do last.

Sama Baby Organic clothing line. We truly love this new product line.  They offer hard to find sizes for older kids in their spring collection ( coming soon) as well as wonderful infants and toddlers sizes.  This clothing line is quality made and very stylish so you don’t compromise your style when going green with these products.  Extremely soft!  We love their concept and their name Sama means balance, calmness, and serenity.

Organic Fun Dough- this product I just fell in love with.  Brittany really knows how to package her wonderful creation. From the soy ink,  down to the plastic containers that are biodegradable, made from corn plastic.  My daughter loved this set. It has bright colors and I don’t have to worry about it being toxic. It  truly is a Green product!

We hope you will check us out!

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What Bamboo Charcoal?

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What Bamboo Charcoal?
October 8, 2009

Bamboo Charcoal, you may say, what is that? Most people are very familiar with Charcoal for grilling. Wood charcoal has long been used for air purification, water purification and medicinal uses. In Korea it was called “Cham Soot”. Wood charcoal is not a sustainable product in that it takes trees much longer to grow than Bamboo. Activated Bamboo Charcoal has the ability to absorb toxins much more so than any other charcoal. The process for which Activated Bamboo Charcoal is created is unique and patented secret which gives it much more absorption abilities than ordinary wood charcoal or non activated bamboo charcoal. Our Bamboo Charcoal is created from a unique species of Bamboo indigenous to South Korea and is sustainably harvested at the age of 3 years to allow for calcium, magnesium and potassium to be absorbed. Bamboo Charcoal is not only more sustainable, more absorbent it is more decorative. I love it because there is always something else you can do with it when you are done. When all your uses have been worn out then you can use it on your plants. Bamboo itself is a pretty amazing plant, it grows as much as a 12 inches a day and some types even more. Its fast growth makes it a very sustainable resource. I think you will be amazed at all it’s uses.

  • Place one box of Activated Bamboo Charcoal in a vase or basket in each high traffic room of your house to clean and deodorize the air, regulate humidity, and relieve tension.
  • Place one pouch of Activated Bamboo Charcoal in closets, laundry rooms, under the sink, near waste baskets, kitty litter boxes, and other areas that tend to attract mal-odors.
  • Replace your boxes of baking soda in the fridge and freezer with a box of Activated Bamboo Charcoal.  You’ll notice that odors are alleviated much faster than with baking soda.
  • To remove germs, bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful substances from fresh fruit and vegetables, add 1 – 2 teaspoons of Activated Bamboo Charcoal powder to a bowl of water.  Soak your fruit and vegetables for 10 – 15 minutes.
  • Keep your fruits and vegetables fresh longer by placing them in a bag with a few stalks of Activated Bamboo Charcoal.  The Bamboo Charcoal will absorb the ethylene gases released by the fruits and vegetables as they ripen, allowing them to stay fresh longer.
  • Drinking water filtering – place 2-3 stalks of Activated Bamboo Charcoal in 1 liter of water.  After 10-15 minutes the water will be filtered to remove harmful, distasteful substances, its PH level will be balanced, and the water will be slightly mineralized with minerals like those found in fancy mineral water.
  • Nourish your plants by fertilizing them with Bamboo Charcoal.  You can use exhausted stalks or leftover powder that has been dissolved in water to feed your house plants and garden plants.
  • When moving into new home, the fresh paint and construction materials can cause air quality to become very poor.  This is called Sick House Syndrome (SHS) and is caused by the out-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.  It turns out that new paint smell (similar to the new car smell) isn’t that good for you.  A few boxes of Activated Bamboo Charcoal around the house can absorb these gases and toxins.
  • Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.  It is an odorless, colorless gas that is emitted as naturally occurring radium decays.  It is becoming a huge problem in houses all across America.  Activated Bamboo Charcoal in the basement can help to mitigate radon gas concentration levels.  Radon gas is a serious matter and you should always consult a professional to have your house tested for radon gas.   The amount of needed charcoal varies depending on the size of the house, level of contamination, amount of new furniture, and ventilation. Approximately 500g per every 3.3m² is recommended.
  • When used in Black Therapy 9 soap or Bath Powder, Activated Bamboo Charcoal can absorb minerals, toxins, impurities, and other harmful substances from your skin, leaving you with stronger, healthier skin.
  • Bamboo Charcoal can also act as a natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells.
  • When used in bath water, Activated Bamboo Charcoal releases many beneficial minerals, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium into the water.  This creates a soothing, relaxing hot spring-water like effect.
  • Activated Bamboo Charcoal works great to regulate humidity, which is important for the health of your hair and body.  Place one box of Activated Bamboo Charcoal in a vase or basket in each high traffic room of your house.  During periods of high humidity, excess moisture will be absorbed by the bamboo charcoal.  During periods of low humidity, the moisture will be released, thus regulating humidity to a neutral, beneficial level.

Buy now www.mypumpkindoodle.com