Being Green what does it mean? The old cliche “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is one of the greenest views one can have.  Thrift stores and yard sales certainly prove that theory.  It’s so important to keep this theory in mind when spring cleaning.  In this disposable world of bigger trash cans and easy access to new and better, we tend to just toss it away and find better.  One of the reason’s the landfills are so overloaded and our oceans swimming in trash is due to the instant gratification and disposable mentality we have in this country.  Keeping up with the Jones’ is a lot of work and expensive.  Instead we could really ask ourselves, if we really need to buy new.  Do you need a new phone or is it just that the newer phone makes “us” feel in-style, up to date and more socially acceptable. How would it be if being green was more the trend than having the most new, shiny, faster, hipper product on the market.  What if we ask ourselves if the new sofa is what we need or if a sofa cover might be better, what if the new blender on the market looks better, but our old one works just fine.  What would happen to our bank accounts if we stopped keeping up with the Jones’?  I’ve found that I have more money to spend on what really counts, vacations, fun time with family, camping trips, bucket lists.  Our quality of life tends to get more rich as we become greener.  Is being green a fad people ask me, my answer is; “maybe, but it also is something that is becoming a new way of life and it is also a very necessary trend”. Once our habits change our thinking about what we buy and why changes, we will begin to think more in terms of quality instead of quantity.  Being green is a state of being.  It really is Hip To Be Green.  Over usage and over buying will turn into gratitude for what we have, more realistic buying habits and more expendable money in our accounts. Its a win win situation.  This year when spring cleaning ask yourself if your trash could be someone’s treasure.

February is almost here, and the time for showing your loved ones you care. It is one of the most wasteful times of the year. Valentine’s day though very special, is a huge market for the paper and plastic industry, not to mention the floral industry.  Millions of tons of waste go in the trash after Valentines day is over. Cards, envelopes, boxes, gift wrap and bags. It’s a huge market. Second biggest wasteful holiday of the year. What can you do to show your sweetie you care and help take care of the environment too?  Eco friendly Gifts for your Valentine’s help show you have a green heart. Take an extra look when purchasing gifts for Valentine’s day! Buy gifts that are non-toxic, recycled, recyclable, or Organic products to help lessen the carbon footprint of your gift buying. It’s estimated that close to a billion cards are sent each Valentine’s day. That is a lot of paper.  Buying recycled content or tree free cards will greatly reduce the waste during Valentine’s day.  Organic products such as organic clothing, organic bedding, organic treats and organic flowers make a huge difference in gift giving.  Your loved one will appreciate your care for the environment and giving eco friendly gifts.

How about organic soy scented candles… oooo ahhahhhahhh they smell so yummy… it permeates the room… best of all it’s non toxic; it sets the tone for a romantic evening.  Your little sweetheart might love non-toxic nail polish, little girls love to paint their nails.  Silk sheets say something very special, romance and luxury.  There are so many ideas when it comes to eco friendly gifts.  Show your green heart this valentine’s day.  Give the gifts that save the planet.  For a full line of our eco friendly gifts check out our site www.mypumpkindoodle.com

My children are always a great source of constant contemplation.  My youngest loves being Green and always has questions for me to ponder and come up with an answer.  Recently we had a talk about how the world would be if it was all Green. If everything was clean and everything we disposed of was not harmful to living creatures or the planet.  She wanted me to describe what SMOG was and how it gets up in the air and why it stays there.  Why do we have SMOG mommy, she asked.  From time to time I can imagine a Greener world where cars run on water and our air is clean, the streams are clean and our children can play in them once again.  I can easily see solutions to these problems, and yet it seems as though as a society we struggle to get it done.  It gets frustrating at times to know that the solutions are there, but the bureaucracy and corporate greed seem to be the deciding factors.  That society doesn’t want to change their habits.  I can say without a doubt that changing to Greener habits isn’t that big of a deal.  I would guarantee that some people might even find it easier and more rewarding.  Lots of people ( myself included) love the fact that it saves money.  I spend hours searching the internet for the best water filters because our tap water is so toxic,  search for the healthiest mattresses and reading labels to make sure I buy the least toxic products.  It might seem as though being green is time consuming, but in reality, it is being toxic that is time consuming.  If we lived in a world where toxic products weren’t inundated on the selves of stores and water wasn’t polluted with run off from factories, I wouldn’t have to spend so much time trying to keep my family healthy.  I imagine a world that is Greener and cleaner, one without corporate greed, a world where pharma companies  weren’t so dependent on disease and was focused on the long term well being of people and the world.  That money spent was for research on cures instead of selling and commercializing drugs to make billions.

I imagine a world where my daughter doesn’t ask me why pollution stays in the air so long, a world without trash cans full of bottled water filters and pvc off gas smelling up my house and causing asthma attacks. A world where the natural system of the world wasn’t being compromised by humans.  A world where we can still have what we need and want in this world and just take the time to make it healthy instead of just pumping out products to make massive millions.

I’d like to imagine a world in my life time where seagulls don’t attack me while eating my lunch on the beach just to get human food, where beggar dolphins don’t exist and monkey’s in Africa aren’t killing people to get their food.  Where the balance of nature goes back to way it was created.

I want to believe that this world can be without oil spills in the ocean and people dying of coal mining related injuries and women in this country aren’t having defective fetus’ because of the chemicals where they work. A world where water isn’t flammable.  But mostly what I’d like to imagine, is a world where we stop being oppressed and complacent about all these issues and wake up to the reality that WE CAN have a greener world more easily, more cooperatively and more peacefully!

What a great time of year Spring is. Everything is in blossom and outdoor activities, everyone is excited.  Seems like the bugs are coming earlier this year.  My daughter says today, I don’t want to go outside because of the bugs.  It it tempting to call on the chemical sprays for warfare.  It’s quick and easy, you just go to your local home improvement store and buy it.  Sometimes the hidden toxins in products are better left unsaid, unread and disregarded some people feel.  I hear people say ” oh a little bit won’t hurt you” “you can’t avoid all chemicals”  well in truth a little bit might not hurt you and you can’t avoid all chemicals for the most part, but here is the kicker. We have so many chemicals in our daily products that we are already inundated with them without even knowing that we are. Therefore, we aren’t getting just a little bit and we already have exposed ourselves to tons of toxins already.

Pesticides are one of the most toxic things we can use.  It is this mindset that manufactures bet on.  The fact that we aren’t keeping track of all the chemicals that we consume on a daily basis.  They depend on the marketing tactics and cleaver commercials to override our sense of logic.  It can be a highly debatable subject for sure, but one thing most people agree, pesticides are harmful.

The use of pesticides can contribute to allergies, asthma, multiple chemical sensitivities, learning disabilities and even permanent damage. The EPA website stated “There are “critical periods” in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual’s biological system operates.” when writing about the dangers of pesticides.  Children are at greater risk due to being on the floor crawling or playing,  low on the grass outside, putting things in their mouth.  Their immune systems aren’t fully developed and are not capable of handling such toxins.  Pesticides are neurotoxins and therefore it can cause serious health issues.

Adults are also at risk, and most likely unless they have lived a very careful, specific lifestyle have been exposed since early childhood.  Women who have not given birth yet can be effected and these neurotoxins can cause birth defects. So the mindset of ” a little bit won’t hurt” couldn’t be further from the truth, since most of us have already been exposed to masses of pesticides.

Keeping pesticides in the home poses a great risk of poisoning and therefore another risk of having the product in or around your home.  Just a little bit of preparations can keep your children and family from more exposure to pesticides.

There are many different ways to prevent, contain and even destroy insects without the use of chemicals ( and by chemicals we mean neurotoxins).

Mice for instance there are traps, humane traps, sticky board, and electronic devices to keep them away, plus the good ole family cat or put up an owl house in your yard.

Mosquitoes is another pest we all want to get rid of. You can keep standing water out of your yard ( and if possible neighborhood) put bat houses up, swallow houses up, order praying mantis eggs to put out, buy or make a mosquito trap, use and wear  natural herbal repellent.

Fleas are one of those things that not only drive you nuts, but your pets also.  They multiply so fast.  Nematodes are great for your yard (and very easy), herbal repellents, diatomaceous earth and natural flea traps.

It might be a little extra effort than going to the corner store, but well worth it for your children’s and families health and well being. It can be fun and educational too.  Check out our line of natural pest control at www.mypumpkindoodle.com . Have a safe and fun Spring!