The Truly Sustainable Gift: Non-Giving

Wow! My family has made the unthinkable shift this year, to cut back on gift-giving between family members. It feels emotional for me to witness this change in tradition come to pass...a tradition of gift-giving which was years in the making, a tradition which goes back years-deep into my childhood between my siblings. We mustered up the jubilant courage, however, and it is now a new beginning. I talked over the phone today to my brother and sister about this idea. It felt like sacrilege to bring it up, but once spoken it just seemed like common sense, and we all immediately agreed to the change. Between my siblings and I there are now multiple nieces and nephews, and also additional extended families-in-law. That's a lot of gift-giving to be done! And stress - to find just the appropriate special item for each individual, and cash - these gifts can really add up. This year, with the economy in the doldrums, it seems the perfect time to introduce this new tradition. So, starting this year, we will only give gifts to the kids. My siblings and I, as we all got off the phone together, breathed a mutual sigh of relief, and laughed at what a great gift we had given to ourselves. More time to enjoy this beautiful, joyful season, and less time spending unneeded money, time, and energy on things someone may or may not actually need. For me, making these changes towards wasting less and wanting less, ultimately makes much more sense, is less wasteful, and is the most truly sustainable gift you can give to yourself, your family and to the planet.

Natural Doll Bed

natural, sustainable doll bed from Urth Child

My daughters received American Girl dolls for their birthdays, and their top ask for Christmas is an American Girl bed. I don't want to succumb to the plastics found in these products...so I found the beautiful, natural wood bed above, at Urth Child. This bed is not only beautiful, but it is also environmentally sustainable (natural, sustainably farmed wood), non-toxic, has low-impact packaging, and is durable for a long lifetime. Urth Child has a beautiful selection of natural toys and gifts for children, none of which contain any BPA, phathalates, or PVC. Enjoy!

Beautful Handmade Christmas Gifts - Indigenous Designs

Last night I went to a festive holiday party from a pioneering eco-fashion leader based in Santa Rosa - Indigenous Design.

100% organic cotton baby sweater, scarf and hat

I scored on a few really beautiful items that were marked down for Christmas. Indigenous Design is a wonderful company in all respects...they work directly with artisans from South America, who work with 100% organic and sustainable fibers. They have transformed the villages where their artisans work, and have provided sustainable, joyful income for the villagers. Win for people, win for the environment and win for fashion!

my new 100% organic cotton sweater

Paddle Wheel Boat for Christmas

Paddle Wheel Boat

Here is a great little toy for Christmas - the paddle wheel boat from Natural Pod. As I have cleaned out all the old, most probably toxic toys from my children's bath, I would certainly add this pure little wooden boat to their Christmas list. They could use a few toys in there beyond a couple of washcloths! Poor things. I can just see them entering a new phase in bathing which would be founded on this little boat - little captains commandeering vessels and fighting off pirates! This boat is tested and certified for safety and for non-toxic materials. 'Please Santa, flow this little boat downstream into our stockings this year.'

Green your Live Christmas Tree

If you made the decision this year to go with a real Christmas tree like we have, here are a few ways to make your choice as sustainable as possible.1. buy or rent a living tree if you can. The most sustainable option is to purchase a living tree, which you then plant after the season is over. In San Francisco, San Diego and Portland, you can rent a tree that will be delivered to you, picked up after New Year's, and planted.

• in Portland, $60, www.livingchristmastrees.org
• in San Francisco, for $90 Friends of the Urban Forest rents you a living tree - after the holidays they pick it up and plant it on San Francisco's streets. www.fuf.net
• in San Diego Adopt a Christmas Tree will deliver a potted living tree to you via singing elves. They set up the tree for you, then pick it up and replant the tree in areas devastated by California fires.

2. find a tree lot that supports non-profits. With a bit of luck, you may be able to find a beatiful tree that supports a worthy cause. This year, Jacques, the girls and I are volunteering at a local lot that gives 100% of the proceeds to our local schools. Win Win!
3. buy organic if you can. Ask where the trees came from and whether pesticides were used. According to Paul McRandle, deputy editor of National Geographic's the Green Guide, non-organic monocrop tree farms use pesticides such as glyphosate (Roundup), organophosphates di-syston 15-G, and dimethoate, which all cause a host of nasty health issues. Luckily, there are better choices this year.
4. use LED lights on the tree. According to the US Department of Energy, LED Christmas lights create 10 times less CO2 than traditional Christmas lights.
5. ornament wisely. either make your ornaments, or purchase sustainable ornaments like these ornaments from eco-artware.com. All of their ornaments are made from reused/recycled materials.

6. recycle your tree after the holidays. Trees can be recycled and turned into mulch for gardening, or chipped for use on trails. Use earth911.com to find local Christmas tree recycling programs.

If you go for a live tree, you can do so guilt free. Enjoy the scent, enjoy the bounty, enjoy the season. I'm sitting here by the fire loving my real tree!

The Christmas Tree Debate: to go real or not?

our Christmas tree - a real tree for the first time in a long time!

Is anybody out there confused about whether live trees are eco-friendly or not? I have personally struggled with this question for years. A number of years ago, we purchased a plastic tree (ick) because we thought it was 'greener' than buying a cut tree. Now my perspective has changed and I think the most ecologically friendly thing to do is to purchase a real, organic tree (preferably live, but cut is OK as well), that hopefully is sold to benefit a non-profit organization. Here are a few things to consider:

1. plastic is bad, bad, bad. before deciding on buying an artificial tree, remember that most fake trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (aka PVC), which contains harmful chemicals. Also, plastic trees are non bio-degradable, and will eventually end up in the land-fill. Hmm.

these will eventually end up in the landfill....

2. plastic trees are unsustainable. Plastic trees are primarily made from oil, a non-renewable resource. When you look at a plastic tree, think of the extracted fossil fuels used to make it - the tree is merely a transformed version of these non-renewable resources. A few more things to think about:

• Most plastic trees are manufactured in China, Taiwan, and South Korea, which have less stringent environmental regulations, poorer working conditions, and lower wages.
• Most manufactured trees will travel thousands of miles before reaching the US, thereby creating a large carbon footprint from the 'grey energy' required to ship these products to us.

transporting fake trees requires fossil fuel and creates pollution

• Energy from fossil fuel is required for manufacturing. Burning fossil fuel causes environmental damage.
• Buying products manufactured outside the US does not support our economy.

3. i think cutting trees is 'greener' than creating plastic trees. here's why:

• Because they are very hardy, Christmas trees are often planted where few other plants grow. Therefore, thousands of acres of land is being farmed that would otherwise not be farmed.
• Trees are a wildlife habitat. If you can buy your tree from a grower that cuts only a portion of each area per year, you can ensure that the wildlife habitat is preserved.
• Trees consume CO2 and create oxygen throughout their lifetime. Each acre of Christmas trees grown provides daily oxygen for 18 people. Additionally, trees remove up to 13,000 kg of airborne pollutants per acre per year.
• Organic trees create a sustainable income for growers. Because organic tree farmers are able to make a living by selling us their trees, they can maintain their farmland as a farm. without demand for cut trees, they might sell their land to a developer.
• Real Christmas trees are biodegradable and recycable.

If you chose to go with a real Christmas tree like we have, stay tuned for tomorrow's post on how to be as sustainable as possible.

I am Grateful

Today I experienced deeply enlightened food. This food was completely 'green' 'local' 'sustainable' and 'organic'. But it was also so much more than that. This was truly soulfood, the kindof food that fills your body with energy and good vibes. Food that is made with love, from only the most exceptional ingredients, 100% vegan, alive food, hand-crafted with care. WOW, I am feeling the positive energy coursing through my body right now!San Francisco-based Cafe Gratitude recently opened in Healdsburg. For those of you who have never experienced Cafe Gratitude, this gem of a restaurant serves 100% vegan, raw, alive food that is prepared with love and great care. Cafe Gratitude embodies everything that sustainability is about ... healthy people, healthy planet, smart business, happy people, good vibes and positive energy. I had the daily special (called 'I am Celebrating') - a succulent chile stuffed with almond paste, cashew sour cream and a bunch of other goodies, that was dehydrated (alive, not cooked), and that came with quinoa and red cabbage. I have never tasted food like this before - you can literally taste the positive, healthy energy inside of the delicious flavors & textures.

cafe gratitude house salad

Cafe Gratitude also asks a question of the day. Today's question was: 'What divine quality have you mastered?' yesterday's question was: 'What brings you joy?'. These type of questions not only make you stop and reflect, but they are also a great conversation starter. My husband and I talked for 20 minutes or so on our divine qualities! This was truly a lunch like no other - divine conversation, soulfood and the happiest wait-staff I have ever seen in a restaurant.

the original cafe gratitude in San Francisco

So if you live in Healdburg, San Rafael, Berkeley or San Francisco (or travel to these cities), I highly recommend enjoying Cafe Gratitude.

You can also buy the recipe book which is chock full of surprising, delightful, live food recipes.

Cafe Gratitude recipe book

From their website - the embodiment of sustainability: Café Gratitude is our expression of a world of plenty. Our food and people are a celebration of our aliveness. We select the finest organic ingredients to honor the earth and ourselves, as we are one and the same. We support local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products. Our food is prepared with love. We invite you to step inside and enjoy being someone that chooses: loving your life, adoring yourself, accepting the world, being generous and grateful every day, and experiencing being provided for. Have fun and enjoy being nourished. Welcome to Café Gratitude!

WOW - I am Grateful for Cafe Gratitude!

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Ho Ho Ho....the Christmas season has arrived! I am desperately in love with Christmas. My beautiful tree is already up (purchased from a local non-profit, more on that in my next post), my house is decorated, we've been making cookies and crafting...and listening non-stop to cheesy Christmas songs. Yep I'm an unabashed over-the-top Christmas junkie. So given that I have the Christmas bug, I've been thinking a lot about how to create a magical family moment without being a crazy over-consumer.

bit by the Christmas bug...the girls perform a Christmas play for us

With a little planning and creativity, I think that this Christmas will be more special than ever. Here's my family plan for a special Green Christmas:
1. Make gifts: the girls and I are sewing their grandparents Christmas pillows, Sienna is sewing her dad a cozy quilt, and we are making soap for gifts. We feel so connected and old-fashioned working on our gifts. You can get most supplies from local crafts stores, or there are a number of good resources online - here are a few:

• Teachsoap.com: An incredible site that provides tons of recipes and education on soapmaking. If you want to get fancy it also has tons of fun ideas like bath bombs, lotions, and lip balms which are all pretty simple.
• Natural soap supplies
• Organic soap supplies from Botanie
• Natural candle supplies
• Candletech.com: Ideas and instruction for candle-making

homemade natural soap makes a beautiful gift

2. Buy local: I am going to shop in my home town for anything I need to buy this year, with a special focus on local artisans and hand-crafted items.my little downtown where I plan to shop local

3. Buy sustainable: there are a number of fabulous green gift guides this year. Instead of going to your usual spots, have more fun being eco this year:

• Ecofabulous Holiday Gift Guide
• Yahoo Green Holiday Gift Guide
• Treehugger Holiday Gift Guide
• MSN Green Gift Guide

4. Buy hand-made: I LOVE Etsy.com. You can find such unique and beautiful gifts on Etsy, and help fuel a global phenomenon of creativity and entrepreneurship. Check out their stocking stuffer showcase - so fun! I found these inexpensive, festive pony tail holders from seller heatherknitz5. Make decorations: the girls and I have been making our tree decorations, and we are also going to make our table decorations for Christmas from our yard.
A few ways to reuse old stuff for decorations
Winter craft ideas

How to make Christmas ornaments and other crafts

Tessie's hand-made snowflake ornament

6. Eat local & organic: this tenant of sustainable living is an everyday part of our lifestyle. Organic, local, free-range, grass-fed, heritage, sustainable options have become much more prevalent. Shop at your local farmer's market, local farmers, or at a local store that offers organic sustainable choices. Check out localharvest.org to find solutions near you.

Most of all - enjoy your family this year and spread peace, love and sustainability!

Turning Garbage into Cash for Kids

Tessie's fabulous 3rd grade teacher is always finding new ways to enrich their classroom experience. A few weeks ago, she asked me to be in charge of their recycling for cash program, so that they can earn money to go to the Chabot Space Center in Oakland. I have never recycled for cash before, and am finding that it actually quickly adds up! It is a lovely way to be kind to the earth while making a few extra bucks. So far we've made over $140.00 in just 5 weeks - enough to significantly reduce the cost for each child for the field trip. Aluminum claims the highest price - at $1.20 per pound here in Windsor. It's super easy and fun - all you have to do is find a recycling center that pays you for bringing your bottles & cans....check out the Recycling Center website to find a location near you.

And, in other news....what the heck do these crazy hot sandals have to do with recycling?

In a great example of fashion dovetailing with environmental justice - I recently came across a novel idea - recycled aluminum shoes! check em out - from Georgina Goodman - I've never worn them or seen them in person - but they sure look hot in the photo, and what a great concept! (they are admittedly slightly out of my shoe budget, but hey a girl can dream)

Recycling...good for the planet, good for $$ and even good for fashion!

Eco-Husbands Are Hot

"Eco-Sneaks" from Simple

"Peace Tee" from Lost

A while back my husband picked up some sustainable bags for us. As he sauntered in and out of the house carrying these new harbingers of eco-ness in our home, I was surprised at how extra attractive he looked. I told him "why don't you walk around with those sustainable bags some more," and I said (in a shocked voice) "you know, you look hot with those bags!" So he took note of the positive appeal of going green, purchasing some super cute "eco-SNEAKS" from "Simple" made with eco-friendly materials, including recycled car tires, and a "Peace Tee", from "Lost" which is part of Lost's organic line. Yes, these are superficial changes, but they are part of a general trend. He is also starting to steal away my eco books off my bedside table. (Sneaky guy.) So if you wives need an incentive for your husbands, for them to become more green, tell them how attractive it is. You might be shocked at how quickly they are willing to make earth-friendly and sustainable changes to your lives.