Wonderment...wonderFUL! Save 15% this Friday!

Wonderment is a fabulous local source for non-toxic and responsibly-sourced toys & gifts for kids. Located right in the heart of Linden Hills (4306 Upton Ave S), this mother-owned store offers natural toys & games that will spark imaginations of all ages.

THIS FRIDAY (Dec 10) is their Friends Party, where you are invited to bring a friend to shop (adults only!) with wine & nibbles...and save 15% on all your purchases! Friends, wine, food AND savings?!? Oh, expert toy advice and free gift wrap too.

Wonderment Friend Party
Fri, Dec 10
7-9 pm
both locations, 4306 Upton Ave S, Mpls; 949 Grand Ave, St. Paul)

You might just finish your kid-related holiday shopping, and feel good about supporting a locally-owned business, while buying quality responsible toys from the Twin Cities Best Toy Store (according to CityPages)! Oh...and did I mention the wine?? ;-)

'green' movie watching at home??

So, my gadget-minded husband just signed us up for Netflix through our Wii. Yes...the Wii! We tried Netflix a few years ago, but the mailing of DVDs back & forth - with no late fees (meaning no incentive to watch it) - just didn't work for us. Now, we pay one monthly fee, and have access to a large number of movies, TV shows, and documentaries downloaded through our Wii directly to our TV.

After watching a movie of my choosing one evening, without leaving the house and on the spur of the moment, it occurred to me that these services have a green component. Seriously! (For the time being, let's forget about the energy consumption issues.)

Direct viewing eliminates the fuel-associated impacts & costs of delivery of DVDs, not to mention the environmental impacts associated with their production & disposal! So, don't feel like a couch potato. Grab a glass a wine, stream a movie or TV show, and feel good about it!

There are lots of pay-per-view or video-on-demand services through cable, satellite or other devices. Even watching shows on the internet or other downloadable device like an iPad has those benefits!

Tuna Consumption Revisited

A recent investigation by Consumer Reports found that canned tuna occasionally contains much higher levels of mercury than previously thought. Their findings confirmed that white (albacore) tuna typically contains much higher levels of mercury than light tuna.

The form of mercury accumulated in tuna, methylmercury, is especially toxic. Even low-level mercury exposure in children & expectant women has been linked to delays & impairments in hearing, hand-eye coordination & learning abilities, as well as neurologic, cardiovascular & immune system effects.

Based on their findings, Consumer Reports recommends consumption guidelines that are stricter than the FDA or EPA's recommendation of 12 oz per week wk of light tuna or 6 oz per week of white tuna, for women of childbearing age and young children. Instead, Consumer Reports recommends that:

• Children less than 45 lbs limit consumption to 4 oz of light tuna or 1.5 oz of white tuna
• Pregnant women avoid canned tuna altogether.
• Women of childbearing age limit consumption to 12.5 oz of light tuna or 4 oz of white tuna

Low-mercury, sustainably harvested fish include Alaska salmon, farmed clams, pink shrimp from Oregon, sardines from the US Pacific, and tilapia farmed in the US. These are good alternatives that provide the benefits of fish (protein, vitamin D & omega-3 fatty acids) without toxicity or environmental concerns.

For the full article by Consumer Reports, click here.

regreet - FUN way to reuse greeting cards

You know all those greeting cards you receive? Birthdays, Thank Yous, Thinking of Yous, and all those holiday cards? Yes, many of them are recyclable (although not the photo paper cards). And yes, there are lots of ways to resuse cards, but none as FUN as regreet!

How does regreet work?

1. Start by purchasing a "regreet greeting kit," which contains materials to repurpose 4 greeting cards.
2. Apply a signature label (included in the kit) over the original senders message.
3. Apply a journey label (also included) on the back of the card, which will allow you to follow your card on it's journey! The journey label includes a unique code so you can track your card's path online. (That's the super-fun part, especially for kids, I think!!)
4. Include a 'hop along kit' (also included) so that the recipient can do the same and keep the original card on its journey (and out of the waste or recycle can).
5. Send it to a recipient who will think you are the absolute coolest!

Confused? Check out this video to see more about how regreet works.

I met the founder, Christy Eichers, at the Green Gifts Fair this weekend. Christy is a dynamic and passionate LOCAL WOMAN who took a leave from her corporate job to start regreet. Not only is she creative, but she continues to give back...even with a start-up! They donate a portion of their profits to selected nonprofits, including 4-H, Susan Komen for the Cure, and Nature Conservancy. You can even help her decide the portion that goes to each organization through their 'direct the donation' feature!

The greeting card kit retails for $12 and includes materials for repurposing 4 greeting cards, including the hopalong kit, so it actually saves EIGHT cards! Granted, it may not be the best fit for typical holiday photo cards (I mean, it's hard to re-send a photo with someone else's lovely kiddos...), but it's a great idea for most other greeting cards!

I plan to use my kit to send re-used greeting cards to my far-away friends & family, so my kids & I can see how many miles our cards travel!

Recycle Your Holidays

You can recycle your old holiday lights through the "Recycle Your Holidays" program, sponsored by the Recycling Association of MN, in partnership with the Clean Energy Resource Teams, WCCO TV, Xcel Energy, and Ace Hardware Stores in MN.

Just bring your old holiday lights to any Ace Hardware store or other drop-off location, and every part of the light string will be recycled by program partners...FOR FREE! Did you know that recycling the copper in the old light strings reduces 85-90% of the energy versus extracting virgin copper!! Yes...85-90% energy savings! So, even if your old lights are tangled and no longer work, be sure to recycle them.

Additionally, switching to LED lights will reduce home energy usage associated with your holidays. Reduce energy costs, recycle copper, recycle glass...Win-win-win!

Linden Tree Grand Opening - local local local!!

The fantastically cute Linden Tree Shop is having their Grand Opening Celebration this weekend!

Located at 44th St & Beard Ave (next to Browne & Green Floral), this locally owned shop features handicrafts by local artisans, primarily (if not all) women. The Linden Tree also offers a charming selection of specialty fabrics for you to hand-craft your own one-of-a-kind creations.

Their Grand Opening celebration is Sat, Nov 20 10:30am - 4 pm, and Sunday, Nov 21 from noon - 4 pm. They will have refreshments & prize drawings...and 15% off any one item when you sign up for the email list!

The Linden Tree has unique gifts for children & adults, all charming and handcrafted. And it doesn't get much more local than this! Plus...EcoParent Kendra is one of the featured artists at the Linden Tree! Be sure to check out her fabulous crochet creations! I personally have my eye on one of her owl hats...

Lead found in reusable bags

A number of recent studies have found that some of the reusable store bags that are made in China contain lead. The revelation was concerning enough to prompt Senator Charles Schummer (D-NY) to ask the FDA to investigate further.

One such study study, released by TEI Analytical, found unhealthy levels of lead in half of the "non-woven polypropylene (NWPP)" bags they tested. Some of the bags tested were found to contain more than 100 parts per million of toxic heavy metals! (The CPSC's limit for paint on consumer products is 90 ppm). The chains tested in the TEI study included Walgreens, Harris Teeter, Rite-Aid & CVS. An investigation in Florida by the Tampa Tribune found lead in reusable bags for many supermarket & discount stores, including Target & Walmart.

Does the lead in these bags pose an immediate risk? Clearly, in the manufacture of these bags, workers & the environment is exposed to lead...which is no good. Should you stop using these bags?? The paint on the bags could potentially flake off and pose a danger if consumed. If food is carried in these bags, there is the potential for the lead to be absorbed by the food, especially fresh food that comes in direct contact with the flaking paint or frayed threads, and then for whoever consumes the food would be exposed to the lead.

And of course, if the bag is disposed, the lead in the bag would seep into the environment (and into our water, soil, etc...). No good indeed.

Personally, I prefer to use cloth bags rather than the 'non-woven poly propylene' ones because cloth bags can be washed easily if anything gnarly (or especially meat-related) happens to spill in the bag. (Such spills can be a risk of E.coli or other cross-contamination.) My fav, of course, is my EcoParents organic canvas tote!

Want to read more? Check out these links to recent news articles:

• USA Today article, 11/15/10
• New York Times article, 11/14/10
• Tampa Tribune article, republished 11/14/10
• Daily Caller Article, 11/12/10

What are YOU going to do with your reusable plastic bags?

Uncommon Goods indeed!

One of my favorite online boutiques for interesting gift items is Uncommon Goods. They offer a fantastic selection of creative products, including many made from recycled materials. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Glasses made from recycled wine bottles, wi th an earth-friendly message etched in 4 languages, English, Spanish, Afrikaans & French on each. You get to choose "Protect Our Earth" or Wildlife or Air or Water. And an added bonus - $4 per set will go to World Wildlife Fund! Only $40 for a set of four glasses!

Bottle-opener from real 'road used' bike gear and chain. I bought this a few years ago for my brother-in-law who is an avid bicyclist, and have benefitted from its use on more than one occasion. They also offer other products from recycled bike parts, including a wallet, belt, keychain, photo frame & clocks (which I gave as a wedding present to some biker friends). Handmade in USA.

Okay...now for something that's NOT related to booze??

How cute is this Goodbyn lunch box? Made from BPA/Lead/Phlatlate-free material,

this lunch box will save you and Mother Earth! No more plastic baggies or juice box trash.

Even the littlest hands will be able to open this clever lunch box

with 5 sealing comparments and its own drink bottle that fits into it's own compartmnet! It even comes with stickers for your little one to make it his/her very own!

Their commitment to sustainability goes beyond the products they offer. Their catalog is printed on recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifed paper, and they donate a portion of their proceeds (including $1 per order) to various nonprofit organizations, inclduing American Forests, The National Wildlife Federation, and World Wildlife Fund, among others.

Green Gifts Fair - Sat, Nov 20

Want to kick off your holiday shopping in an uber-green way? (or wrap it up, if you are one of 'those' types of people...which I, most definitely, am not!)

Don't miss the 2010 Green Gifts Fair! Held annually at the Midtown Global Market, the Green Gifts Fair is a fabulous collection of vendors - mostly local - offering unique, green, recycled, upcycled, fair-trade and organic gift ideas. With over 70 vendors, you're sure to find something for everyone on your list.

Green Gifts Fair
Sat, Nov 20, 10 am-5 pm
Midtown Global Market
Lake & Chicago Aves.

But there's more!

• Educational activities & demos on reducing your impact over the holidays
• Recycle your old holiday lights and receive a raffle tickets (one per string) for $50 in Green Gift Fair bucks! (Then upgrade to energy efficient LED lights.)
  
• Come by bus - for free. Click here for details. Parking is also free.
  

The Green Gifts Fair is brought to you by Do It Green and Midtown Global Market, along with their sponsors including Red Stag Supper Club, Xcel Energy, Hennepin County, MetroTransit, CityPages, yelp!, KFAI, Recycling Assn of MN, and Otogawa-Anschel architects.

The blog is back!

The blog is back!

Just in time for the holidays, the EcoParents blog is back online! After an extended hiatus through the summer and early fall (due to crazy schedules & such), we are BACK to provide some fun ideas, tips, resources, products, etc... to get us all through the holiday season in an eco-friendly and non-toxic way.

So, check back often. We're aiming for a new post every other day. If you have ideas or blog suggestions, please please email me!

If you haven't already, join Ecoparents on Facebook as well...and be clued into new blog posts.

moss envy - new green store - OPEN!

Moss Envy - an eco home & life store - is now open!

Owners of the now-closed Twin Cities Green, Ryan & Tina Noth, relocated & rebranded into Moss Envy, located next to Homemade Pizza Company in the Calhoun Commons shopping center (near Whole Foods) on Excelsior Ave.

As stated on their website, "Moss Envy - will incorporate the best of what worked at Twin Cities Green while adding several new categories and a refined, more coiffed look. Tina North will add eco-conscious clothing, building materials, and vintage items to her home and life collection with a stronger emphasis on sourcing locally, made-in-Minnesota products. This expansion represents the most comprehensive collection of "better for you" products in the Twin Cities. The creative re-do of the shop's design was led by local eco-designer and HGTV star Joshua Foss."

Take a minute to check them out in person or on the web. These guys are fabulous local eco-entrepreneur and have a ton of TRUSTED information on true eco-friendly products (no greenwashing here!).

Clear your head with VOC-free paint

So, with my kiddos at the grandparents for a few days and my hubby away on business, I have the house completely to myself. And what do I choose to do with this oh-so-precious gift of peace and quiet? Why, paint the kitchen of course! What IS my problem??

Anyway, I chose a paint with no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are what make the 'stinky' (and irritating) paint smell. The 'volatile' part means that at room temperature, theses compounds are easily evaporated into the air, and 'organic' simply means that they are carbon-based. VOCs greatly contribute to reduced indoor air quality, can inflame allergies, as well as contribute to urban smog. VOCs can also continue to be emitted into the air long after you complete actually painting, emitting nasty chemicals into your household air.

Due to their developing bodies & brains, children are especially susceptible to off-gassing from VOCs over time. Additionally, children breathe in a greater volume of air than adults relative to their body size and since kids tend to breathe through their mouths (rather than their noses which would filter some of the particulates out).

There are many different brands of no or low-VOC paints on the market now, but the one I used was Freshaire Choice, which has both the Good Housekeeping Seal and is certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute. Freshaire boasts that it is truly a no-VOC paint since they have no VOCs in their colorant, in addition to no VOCs in the actual paint.

It was a noticeable difference while painting...no stinky odors, no chemical smells, no headaches, no needing to take a break to clear my head, including when I was painting the stairwell with no real airflow! Seriously. Essentially no smell! Even though the Freshaire literature says there is "no compromise in product quality" - it did seem that the paint did not go on as smoothly or as evenly as traditional paint. (I've done a lot of painting over the years...) I had to do more touch-ups than usual and it definitely required 2 coats. It's in the kitchen, so there is bound to be lots of wall scrubbing over the years.

Bottom line - even with perhaps slightly reduced quality and slightly more expensive than basic paint, I would definitely use no-VOC paint again (perhaps trying another brand). It made the experience so much more pleasant...well, as pleasant as painting the kitchen can be! Most paint supply stores offer at least one option for low or no VOCs, so give it a try.

Do you have experience with low or no VOC paint? Post a comment and let us know about it.

Lead found in 85% of tested children's drinks & snacks

Recent testing of many popular children's foods found LEAD in sufficient levels to be in violation of California's Prop 65 (CA Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986). Yes - LEAD!

The testing was done by the California-based Environmental Law Foundation (ELF), a non-profit public interest organization. ELF tested 146 different products in four specific food categories: apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears & peaches (including baby food), and fruit cocktail. All samples were purchased in California, but many tested brands are available nationally.

Of the 146 products tested, 125 contained levels of lead higher than the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms per serving in at least one of the samples tested! Yes - 125 out of 146 products tested...and 'organic' and 'natural' products were among those with unacceptable levels of lead, including Trader Joe's, Whole Foods' 365 brand, R.W. Knudsen and more!

Lead is a known carcinogen and can cause both physical and mental developmental problems. Children and pregnant women are especially susceptible to lead. Lead is a persistent and cumulative toxin. As stated in the ELF press release and previously by the American Academy of Pediatrics, "there is no safe level of exposure to lead."

ELF has filed "notices of violation" with the state of California and the manufacturers, retailers & distributors of the affected products.

------------------

"The bad"- tested children's foods containing lead (listed in alphabetical order):

1 365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Juice Concord Grapes

2 Beech Nut 100% Apple Juice

3 Best Yet Bartlett Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

4 Best Yet Chunky Mixed Fruit in Pear Juice

5 Best Yet Yellow Cling Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup

6 Chef's Review Fruit Cocktail

7 Del Monte 100% Juice Fruit Cocktail

8 Del Monte Chunky Mixed Fruit in 100 % Juice (peach, pear, grape, etc.)

9 Del Monte Diced Pears in Light Syrup

10 Del Monte Freestone Peach Slices in 100 % Juice

11 Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peach, pear, grapes)

12 Del Monte Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added

13 Del Monte Lite Fruit Cocktail in Extra Light Syrup

14 Del Monte Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

15 Del Monte Pear Halves, Bartlett Pears in 100% real fruit juice from concentrate

16 Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in 100 % Juice

17 Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup

18 Dole Diced Peaches, Yellow Cling in light syrup

19 Dole Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup

20 Dole Pear Halves in Juice

21 Earth's Best Organics Apple Juice

22 Eating Right Fruit Cocktail packed in Sucralose

23 Eating Right No Sugar Fruit Cocktail

24 First Street 100% Apple Cider from concentrate

25 First Street Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice

26 First Street Diced Pears

27 First Street Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup

28 First Street Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice

29 First Street Sliced Bartlett

30 First Street Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup

31 Full Circle Organic Apple Juice

32 Full Circle Organic Bartlett Pear Slices

33 Gerber 100% Juice - White Grape Juice

34 Gerber 100% Juice Apple Juice

35 Gerber 3rd Foods Peaches

36 Gerber 3rd Foods Pears

37 Golden Star Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup (peach, pineapple, pears)

38 Golden Star Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup

39 Great Value 100% Grape Juice

40 Great Value 100% No Sugar Added Apple Juice

41 Great Value Bartlett Pear Halves in 100% Juice

42 Great Value Bartlett Sliced Pears in Heavy Syrup

43 Great Value No Sugar Added Fruit Cocktail

44 Great Value Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches

45 Hansen's Natural Apple Juice

46 Kedem Concord Grape Juice 100% pure grape juice

47 Kroger 100% Juice Apple Juice

48 Kroger Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

49 Kroger Grape Juice 100% Juice

50 Kroger Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice

51 Kroger Value Fruit Mix (Peaches, pears, grapes)

52 Langers Apple Juice 100% Juice

53 Langers Grape Juice (Concord)

54 Langers Red Grape Juice

55 Libby's Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)

56 Libby's Yellow Cling Peach Slices No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)

57 Market Pantry Diced Peaches in light syrup

58 Market Pantry Diced Pears in light syrup

59 Market Pantry Mixed Fruit in light syrup

60 Maxx Value Fruit Mix in Light Syrup (peach, pear, grape)

61 Maxx Value Pear Pieces in Light Syrup

62 Minute Maid Juice Apple - 100% Apple Juice

63 Motts 100% Apple Juice

64 Mrs. Brown's Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peaches, pears, grapes)

65 O Organics Organic Grape Juice from concentrate

66 O Organics Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice Not From Concentrate

67 Old Orchard 100% Apple Juice

68 Parade 100% Juice Apple

69 Polar Mixed Fruit

70 Polar Peach Slices

71 Polar Pear Halves in light syrup

72 R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice

73 R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Concord

74 Raley's 100% Grape Juice

75 Raley's Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

76 Raley's Premium 100% Apple Juice not from Concentrate

77 Raley's Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in Heavy Syrup

78 S&W Natural Style Fruit Cocktail in Lightly Sweetened Juice

79 S&W Natural Style Pear Slices in Juice

80 S&W Natural Style Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Lightly Sweetened Juice

81 S&W Premium Peach Halves Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup

82 S&W Sun Pears Premium

83 Safeway 100% Juice Apple Cider

84 Safeway 100% Juice Apple Juice

85 Safeway 100% Juice Grape Juice

86 Safeway Diced Peaches in Light Syrup

87 Safeway Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

88 Safeway Light Sugar Fruit Cocktail

89 Safeway Lite Bartlett Pear Halves in Pear Juice

90 Safeway Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice

91 Safeway Organic Grape Juice

92 Safeway Pear Halves in Light Juice

93 Safeway Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Pear Juice

94 Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice

95 Simple Value Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup

96 Stater Bros. 100% Juice Apple Juice

97 Stater Bros. 100% Juice Grape Juice

98 Stater Bros. 100% Juice White Grape Juice

99 Stater Bros. Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

100 Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Peach Halves

101 Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in heavy syrup

102 Sunny Select 100% Apple Juice

103 Sunny Select 100% Grape Juice

104 Sunny Select Fruit Cocktail in Juice

105 Sunny Select Pear Halves in Pear Juice

106 Sunny Select Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in Pear Juice

107 Trader Joe's Certified Organic Apple Juice, pasteurized

108 Trader Joe's Concord Grape Juice made from fress pressed organic concord grapes

109 Trader Joe's Pear Halves in white grape juice

110 Trader Joe's Yellow Cling Peach Halves in while grape juice

111 Tree Top 100% Juice Apple Cider

112 Tree Top 100% Juice, Grape

113 Truitt Brothers Pacific NorthWest Bartlett Pear Halves, in pear juice from concentrate

114 Valu Time Grape Drink from Concentrate

115 Valu Time Irregular Bartlett Pear Slices

116 Valu Time Yellow Cling Peach Slices

117 Walgreens Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice

118 Walgreens Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice

119 Walnut Acres Organic Concord Grape

120 Walnut Grove Market 100% Apple Juice

121 Walnut Grove Market Grape Juice

122 Walnut Grove Market Natural Peaches Sliced Yellow Cling in Light Syrup

123 Walnut Grove Market Natural Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

124 Welch's 100% Grape Juice (from Welch's Concord Grapes)

125 Welch's 100% Red Grape Juice from Concentrate

"The Good" - tested products which had zero samples that exceed Prop 65 limits (You'll notice that some manufacturers have products on both the 'good' and 'bad' lists):

• Del Monte Mixed Fruit
• Dole Diced Peaches, Cling in Light Syrup
• Dole Diced Peaches, Freestone in Light Syrup
• Dole Sliced Peaches
• Eating Right Kids Diced Peaches in Extra Light Syrup
• Eating Right Kids Diced Pears Fruit Cups
• Great Value 100% Apple Juice not from concentrate
• Harvest Day 100% Apple Juice from Concentrate
• Kirkland Fresh Pressed Apple Juice Pasteurized
• Martinelli's Gold Medal Apple Juice 100% pure from US grown fresh apples
• Old Orchard Healthy Balance Grape
• R.W. Knudsen Organic Apple Juice unfiltered
• Raley's Everyday 100% Apple Juice
• Stater Bros. Diced Pears Snack Bowl
• Stater Bros. Diced Peaches Snack Bowl
• Sunny Select 100% Unfiltered Apple Juice
• Trader Joe's Fresh Pressed Apple Juice all natural pasteurized, 100% juice
• Tree Top 100% Apple Juice
• Tree Top Three Apple Blend 100% Fresh Pressed Juice

Read a related post from inhabitots here.

Scratch, scratch...repel those bugs safely!

With all this rain, it's bound to bring out mosquitoes and other annoying flying things, eh? How to safely protect our little ones, or ourselves?

• Avoid dusk - this is when bugs are the most active
• Blow 'em down - if you are going to be sitting outside, consider setting up a fan. The gentle breeze of a basic fan can be sufficient to keep bugs away.
• No frilly smells - avoid floral scented lotions, laundry soap, perfumes, etc... as they can attract mosquitoes (and are usually made from synthetic chemicals anyway!).
• Use repellents thoughtfully - Oil of lemon eucalyptus and the amino acid IR3535 are two naturally derived active ingredients recommended by the Denter for Disease Control as effective insect repellents. Avoid using insect repellent-sunscreen combinations, as reapplication for sufficient sun protection could result in overexposure to the repellent ingredients. Other plant oils which may provide some repellent action include: citronella, cinnamon, castor oil, rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, clove, geranium, verbena, pennyroyal, lavender, pine, cajeput, basil, thyme, allspice, soybean and garlic.
  
• Make your own repellent! To make your own repellent, mix 10-25 drops of essential oil (or a combination of oils) with about 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil or alcohol such as olive oil, witch hazel, any cooking oil, or even vodka! Rub or spray your natural insect repellent onto skin or clothing, keeping in mind that some oils may stain clothing.
• Avoid applying DEET directly to skin. If you must use a repellent containing DEET (e.g., in you're exploring areas with high tick populations), dress in lightcolored long clothing and spray the clothing with a repellent containing less than 30% DEET. Products with more DEET do not repel better, but may repel bugs longer (reducing reapplications) than products with lower DEET concentrations. So, if you are only going out for a short hike or something, consider a product with only 5% DEET.

Curious about active ingredients licensed in Minnesota (or other states)? Visit the National Pesticide Retrieval System for state-by-state information. You can search by active ingredient, targeted pest, site of application, product or manufacturer name. It's a little cumbersome...not exceedingly user-friendly, but the database does contain a lot of interesting information.

another sign of summer - CSA deliveries!

What signals the beginning of summer for you? The end of school? Memorial Day parades? NBA Finals? Yes, yes & yes! But another sure sign that summer is here...first CSA pickup of the season (That's Community Supported Agriculture, in case you forgot!). Beautiful spinach, arugula, rhubarb, lettuce, pea shoots, & herbs. Mmmmmm! What a treat to be able to walk to the pickup site...and walk home with a bounty of fresh seasonal produce. The whole kitchen smells fresh from putting it away.

The lettuce will be used tonight for fish taco night! My mouth is watering already.

Want to learn more about CSAs? Check out a previous EcoParents blog post here for a full article.

McDonald's Shrek Glasses recalled due to cadmium

McDonald's and the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced a recall of 'Shrek Forever After'-themed glasses due to cadmium levels in the enamel pigment on the exterior of the glasses. Unlike earlier cadmiun-related recalls, these glasses were manufactured in the United States. However, the origin of the enamel in question has not been released.

The concern is not that cadmium could leach into the drink inside the glass, but rather that the cadmium could get onto the hands of the drinker - then into his/her mouth. As discussed in previous posts, cadmium is more toxic than lead and can contribute to cancer and weak bones, as well as kidney and learning problems.

The recall only covers Shrek glasses, not Happy Meal toys, at this point. BUT, this recall was initiated by a private tipster who tested the glasses and provided the alarming results to a California Congresswoman who in turn kicked off an investigation. The manufacturing process for these glasses met federal safety guidelines...so it's kinda by LUCK and not due to stringent safeguards that this danger came to light!

More information about the recall is available from the Consumer Products Safety Commission or McDonald's.

Free Green Double Feature - June 8

The final installment of the Green Film Series is next Tuesday, June 8. This series is sponsored by the Linden Hills Environment Committee and Linden Hills Power & Light. FREE FREE FREE.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7PM

Linden Hills Park Building
3100 43rd St. W. Minneapolis, MN 55410

Gimme Green

Synopsis: Gimme Green is a humorous look at the American obsession with the residential lawn and the effects it has on our environment, our wallets and our outlook on life. From the limitless subdivisions of Florida to sod farms in the arid southwest, Gimme Green peers behind the curtain of the $40-billion industry that fuels our nation's largest irrigated crop -the lawn. http://www.gimmegreen.com/

The Power Of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

Synopsis: When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half - and food by 80 percent - people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. http://www.powerofcommunity.org

(Click on movie posters to view trailers!)

East Harriet, Kenny & Armatage Neigborhood Sales this Saturday!

Another great opportunity for re-use and re-purposing...aka NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALES!

East Harriet Sale-O-Rama

Saturday, May 29

9 am - 3 pm

Sale locations include: 919 W 36th St;Aldrich Ave S: Blocks 3800-4800;Bryant Ave S: Blocks 4000-4500;Colfax Ave S: Blocks 3600-4500;4545 Dupont Ave S;4322/4336 Lyndale Ave S

Maps with more info at each sale location, Guse Grocer at W 46th St & Bryant Ave S & Amelia's Flower Shoppe @ W 36th St & Bryant Ave S.

Kenny & Armatage Neighborhood Garage Sales

Saturday, May 29

9 am - 4 pm

For a complete list of locations - click here.

2010 Sunscreen Guide from EWG

The 2010 Sunscreen Guide from Environmental Working Group is out!

Their top rated beach & sport sunscreens include products by (listed in alphabetical order) All Terrain, Badger, Beyond Coastal, California Baby, Caribbean Solutions, Desert Essence, Episencial, Estion, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Kabana Skin Care, L'uvalla Certified Organic, LaRoche-Posay, Little Forest, Loving Naturals, Miessence, Purple Prairie Botanicals, Soleo Organics, thinkbaby & thinksport, Trukid, UV Natural, and Vanicream.

Their top rated non-mineral sunscreens include products by Beyond Coastal, Bullfrog, Coppertone, Glytone, & LaRoche-Posay.

Bottom line advice about sun safety:

• Avoid Oxybenzone, Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), and added insect repellent. Opt for Zinc, Titanium Oxide, Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX instead
• Avoid sprays, powders & SPFs over 50. Look for creams, broad-based spectrum, water-resistant, SPF 30-50
• Don't forget to cover-up & seek shade. Avoid the midday sun. Wear sunglasses.

The full 2010 sunscreen guide is available online here, or download a printable guide with facts & tips here.

Curious about how your favorite rates? Check out their "Find Your Sunscreen" feature!

We just returned from a beach trip to NC and used California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance (for faces), California Baby Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance, and Burt's Bees Chemical Free Sunscreen with Hemp Seed Oil. The California Baby products are among the highest rated. The Burt's Bees are a bit lower rated because they contain a fragrance, but it is a natural fragrance so that is ok with me. They rub in fairly well. The California Baby rubs in a bit smoother, but neither are as easy to rub in as 'conventional' sunscreens. They are a bit pricey, but are widely available, including Target among other places.

We were in the sun all day, in and out of the ocean, and we had good protection. We tried to stay indoors between noon-2:30, for lunch & naps anyway, so we avoided the both direct rays too!

For more info on sunscreen safety, check out a previous EcoParents blog post (prior to release of 2010 guide)!

LH Festival Zero Waste featured in the Star-Tribune!

The Zero Waste initiative of the Linden Hills Festival will be featured in Gail Rosenblum's column in tomorrow's Star-Tribune, including a picture of yours truly INSIDE a compost cart! Read the full column here

So how'd we do???

• an estimated 3,5000-4,000 attendees
• 616 ears of corn
• 1160 old fashioned hot dogs
• 100 all-beef hot dogs
• 456 brats
• 105 pizzas
• plus a yet to be calculated amounts of ice cream, cotton candy, popcorn, soda, water, and more!

For the first time ever, we weighed everything at the end...and here's what we ended up with:

• 448.86 pounds of organic material for composting
• 13.16 pounds of plastic bottles for recycling
• 20.78 pounds of recyclable cardboard
• 31.38 pounds of aluminum cans
• 13.12 pounds of glass recycling
• 12.36 pounds of plastic bags and plastic wrap (i.e., these are not recycled through the city of Minneapolis, but through the "It's in the Bag" program)
• 7.08 pounds of other recyclable plastics (i.e., plastics that are recyclable, but not collected by the city - such as plastic caps, coffee cup lids, etc... There are misc programs that collect & recycle these items...Aveda accepts & recycles plastic lids, for example.)

and...drumroll...39.22 pounds of trash. YES...LESS THAN ONE BAG OF TRASH! Seriously!!

A huge thanks to all the disposal station monitors, and especially to super volunteer & true waste warrior, Nancy Lo. She's a rock star.