Plant It And It Will Grow... 09/22/2009
 Strike a "rose" with this fun garden assistant. Tear out a matchstick, plant it tip first in soil and you'll soon have a flower or herb garden growing. On the tip of each "match" are seeds, already mixed to grow either herbs or wildflowers. You don't have to choose between flowers or herbs either, you get both. The Mixed Herb Matchstick Garden contains Basil, Chives, Parsley, and Thyme. The Wildflower Matchstick Garden contains Cornflower, Shasta, Daisy, Corn Marigold, and Field Poppy. Only $5 for both at www.perpetualkid.com Nyokki Green 09/22/2009
 Nyokki! means green in Japanese and that's what these cheerful pet plants do. Wherever they're perched, smiles surface on the faces around them. Even their swingy-looking fabric legs reflect their "care-free" outlook. Nyokkis are hand-made in Japan from glazed ceramic and they are all shaped like an egg. Filled with a growing media and rye grass seed, Nyokkis are easy to grow. Seeds germinate and grass grows to full height in less than two weeks. Such friendly, accommodating little guys, you can style Nyokkis hair... give them a haircut... and watch it grow back again! Bring them home for about $10.00 from www.popduluxe.net Grab Your Spork 09/21/2009
 A spork is a hybrid of cutlery. these eating tools have a spoon on one end, and feature a four-tine fork and knife - with a sawtooth blade - on the other. Super lightweight and extremely durable, they're ideal for back packing, picnicking, lunchbox, briefcase or boat. Made of heat-resistant (won't melt in boiling water) polycarbonate material, they are machine washable and friendly to non sticking surfaces. Comes in small and medium for eating and large for cooking, stirring, and serving. They are available at www.backpackinglight.com Most styles are less then $10.00. Party Perfection - The Conscious Balloon 09/16/2009
 The balloon is the universal sign for a party. It hangs on the mailbox or over the front door, but wherever you see them, you know that fun is on the way. Much as we love them, most balloons are a menace to the environment, being essentially a disposable product that doesn't stay in one place for long: they pop, they either end up in landfill, or float off into the environment at large where they can do damage to wildlife. But that doesn't mean that you can't still party like a "responsible" rock star; you just need to know the following facts. LATEX There is some debate about just how biodegradable the latex balloon is. Latex balloons are sometimes confused with plastic items and lumped in with the plastic litter problem. Latex is not plastic. It's organic, made from the sap of rubber trees collected through an absolutely harmless tapping process very simple to that used for collecting the maple sap used for making maple syrup. It is widely understood that a full latex balloon biodegrades in about the same time as an oak leaf. MYLAR A mylar balloon is recyclable but not biodegradable. Mylar is synthetic, metalized plastic/nylon material that can be deflated and put directly into your recycle container. The metal in the balloon is the reason that a mylar balloon filled with helium can become a danger. As it floats up it touches wires and creates a hazard. Use mylar balloons indoors and that way there an not be any mishaps or runaway environmental dangers. RIBBON You might not have realized it but the ribbon that holds your balloon can be the most dangerous part. A metallic ribbon also conducts electricity and may come in contact with power lines when released. A better choice is to use a string or do not use helium balloons. Your outside balloons should be air inflated so they cannot go up-up-and-away. ETHICAL BALLOONS Available in Europe, and coming to us shortly, are Ethical Balloons. These large, extra-strong balloons - the first to be ethically and environmentally sound - are made in India, and are designed to decompose in an ecologically - sound way. They are not only fairly traded, but 100% biodegradable and made from rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Barbie jumps on the bandwagon 07/28/2009
 Last month Barbie introduced a collection of eco-friendly accessories for girls with the debut of Barbie BCause. The collection repourposes excess fabric and trimmings from other Barbie doll fashions and products which would otherwise be discarded, offering eco-conscious girls a way to make an environmentally-friendly fashion statement. Sold at Toys-R-Us the collection includes handbags, coin purses, hats, tote bags, pillows, dairies and more, each featuring it's own unique variations and kitschy patchwork details. Toys Have Come A Long Way 07/28/2009
 Green has come a long way from being just another color in the crayon box. Green is now synonymous with all that is safe with our children and the environment. A green factory is dedicated to using only green materials from initial toy design, through development and ultimately into distribution. All manufacturing operations should reflect sensiitvity to the environment and respect for natural resources. Recycled or recyclable paper should be used for packing, promotional materials, and business documents. Vitool Viraponsavan Founder and President of Plan Toys, Inc. (www.plantoys.com), can brag that in his green toy factory in Thailand, eco-friendly is just a way of being. "Environmental planning and conservation are part of our corporate culture. Employees conserve energy, recycle and are aware that each individual action affects the environment. We even have a reforestation program where the employees plant new trees in he forest each year. It's up to you to scrutinize the manufacturer's labels on toy boxes. Look for the language of true green toy materials such as: * 100% recycled woods; preservative-free and chemical free * Non-formaldehyde glue * Nontoxic, water-based paints * Soy based inks; Vegetable dyes * Organic cottons for clothing or accessories * Pure wol stuffing in plush toys * Phthalate-free vinyl * Recyclable packing ecoSNEAKS Sneakers 07/16/2009
 These sustainable kids' sneakers come in Skippies, Innertube, and Macaroon versions. Looking closely at one style, the Macaroon shoe is vegan friendly, made with no animal byproducts at all. It has uppers made from hemp and certified 100% organic cotton liners. Other styles of ecoSNEAKS feature eco-friendly components like laces made from recycled PET and Ollie pads and heel caps made from recycled inner tubes from old bicycle tires. Green Piggies infants' Weebits shoes 07/16/2009
 These eco-friendly alternatives to Robeez, Pedipeds, or other popular brands of baby shoes are made with certified 100% organic cotton uppers and knit linings. Certified organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or any toxic chemicals. The elastic band to hold the shoe to a baby's ankle is made from latex (a natural rubber) and recycled plastic bottles (recycled PET). The cute piffie head applique is made from felt collected from the wool left over after a sheep is sheared.Weebits patterns include multi plaid, trees, and hearts. A knit solid brown version is also available, as are solid color woven hemp weebit shoes. Try Organic Toys 05/12/2009
 Organic in the toy world is easy to understand - Sustainably- made toys that inspire your child to imagine the countless possibilities for that toy. They are often made of natural materials, including wood and organic cotton. Natural toys and products are not battery-operated or plastic toys. Playing "Green" House 05/05/2009
 All children love to mimic what is around them. They watch you cleaning, driving, and cooking. Kitchen play is definitely one of the activities that children of all ages enjoy the most. | AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesSeptember 2009 CategoriesAll |
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