Toxic Adult Toys too!

I had a very informative and interesting Mom's Night Out last night with a fabulous group of fellow moms. Did you know that "adult" toys and products are even less regulated than kid's toys? I didn't...b/c frankly, it never occurred to me!

Apparently though, that's the case. Products and items which may be intimately close to very sensitive body parts very often contain the same dangerous chemicals that we are concerned about in children's products, most often polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other materials that can lead to short or long-term health problems.

A FABULOUS local resource that specializes in safe and healthy adult products is the Smitten Kitten, located at 3010 Lyndale Ave S. The Smitten Kitten even has an associated non-profit organization, the Coalition Against Toxic Toys (CATT), with a mission “To demystify the adult sex toy industry and positively transform socially irresponsible, environmentally and personally hazardous sex toy manufacturing and sex toy sales practices.”

TSM has educators on staff if you are interested in learning more.

Escape to a tropical oasis...McNeeley Conservatory

The kiddos and I went to the Marjorie McNeeley Conservatory this morning looking to transport ourselves to a warm and tropical place. It worked.

I know what you're thinking...a conservatory doesn't necessarily sound like something pre-K kids would find interesting ("gee Mom, plants!"), but it is a great place for kids. They do a fabulous job of labeling fun plants (e.g., chocolate tree!, sugarcane, etc...) plus there are lots of unexpected treasures like fountains, koi pond, etc... My kids flipped out when they saw a pineapple plant, complete with a tiny pineapple! The "Tropic Experience" area showcases numerous tropical animals, including a viewable underwater habitat with turtles, fish, stingray, a GIANT anaconda, and more, plus a leaf cutter ant colony, snakes, poison dart frogs, tarantulas, and birds flying around!

There is also a small children's exhibit, with hands-on activities where they can make it rain (to demonstrate the water cycle), play zookeeper (matching the animal with its diet), find creatures hidden in a rainforest mural, as well as see some additional creatures and plants close up.

My 3-yr old son said his favorite things were seeing the "giant stingray and the fish pond," while my 5-yr old daughter say the "ladyslipper flower, pineapple plant, and blue poison frog" were her favs. Can't beat that, eh?

A perfect and welcome escape on this wintery morning!

Located in St. Paul alongside the Como Zoo, the conservatory is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is FREE, but a donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child is welcome.

New life for too-short and holey girl pants!

Do you have a little girl who is outgrowing the length of her pants, but still fits in them in the waist and legs?? I certainly do! Plus, she's a little tomboy who has holey knees in more than one pair of pants.

Check out what I did...and I am not a very crafty person. Yes, I do have a sewing machine, but it was very very easy. I simply used some scrap material to make a cute ruffle edge on the bottom on the pants, thereby extending the length several inches.

For the knee patches, I purchased a sheet of 'iron-on adhesive' (about $2.50 for a yard at Jo-Ann's). It's very simple to use. Simply iron the adhesive onto your 'patching' material, cut it out to your desired shape, and voila...you've created your very own custom patch! Then, iron it onto the pants like any other iron-on patch (but way cuter)!

I think my 5-year will get at least another year or two from these pants now, which until last night were too short (like floodwaters short!) and had holes-in-the knees and ready for the donation box or compost cart! Now, they are her new favorites!

Unfortunately, I haven't thought of a good way to extend the length/life of boy pants yet. Ideas???

TOXIC Cadmium found in Chinese-made toys

Facts on Cadmium:

• Cadmium is low cost.
• Cadmium is shiny and strong
• Cadmium is malleable at low temperatures.

That makes it the perfect raw material for inexpensive jewelry pendants, charms, and other similar items for kids. Right?? Only...

• Cadmium is more toxic than lead.
• Cadmium can contribute to cancer, weak bones, ill-functioning kidneys & learning disabilities.
• Cadmium can be breathed in or absorbed by sucking or biting on something with high-cadmium levels...not just by swallowing something with cadmium.
• Cadmium was found at levels at as high 91% in children's jewelry charms in a recent Associated Press investigation!!

Sounds bad, eh? It gets worse!! According to the AP, "a patchwork of federal consumer protection regulations does nothing to keep these nuggets of cadmium from U.S. store shelves. If the products were painted toys, they would face a recall. If there were industrial garbage, they could qualify as hazardous waste. But because there are no cadmium restrictions on jewelry, such items were sold legally."

WHAT?? These charms & pendants would qualify as HAZARDOUS WASTE, yet it is legal to sell these shiny toxic nuggets as baubles targeted to children???

In an article in today's Star-Tribune, the AP reports that Chinese manufacturers brazenly admit that they are just making what their clients want. That if distributors/consumers want low-cost goods, then Chinese manufacturers will use low-cost raw materials, regardless of the health risks or even existing export regulations, since they know that enforcement is somewhere between lax and nonexistent!

And what's even more scary to me is that the AP reported that "many Chinese manufacturers combine hazardous batches with others that comply with regulations in the destination market." Which means that the likelihood of a spot-check or random sample to identify toxic jewelry is almost nil.

So, what are we to do as consumers and parents?

• Contact our elected officials to make sure they know about the issue and put stiff regulations into effect...and provide the resources for enforcement, as well as penalties for US companies who knowingly import these 'toxic nuggets.' UPDATE: Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) just released a draft of a bill to ban cadmium. Contact Sens. Al Franken & Amy Klobuchar and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors.
  
• Until that...I am going to avoid ANYTHING made in China that could potentially be licked, breathed in, swallowed, etc... Clearly, just because it is on store shelves does not mean it is safe. Besides, most of that cheap stuff is not recyclable nor compostable, and the negative environmental impacts of its manufacture, shipping, and disposal are not palatable anyway. Yes, that may mean just throwing away treats from birthday party goodie bags, but hey...it's worth it.

Other ideas? Suggestions? Advice? Make a comment and share with all of us!

Take Me Out to the "Green" Ballpark?

Did you hear that the new Twins ballpark is installing a system to collect and use recycled rainwater?? Rainwater will drain into a 100,000 gallon 'cistern' located below the field, then be disinfected & treated, then fill into a 5,000-gallon holding tank for use in the ballpark!

The recycled (and treated) rainwater will be used to irrigate the field and wash down the lower decks. Additionally, water filtration systems will be installed in each of the Target Field suites, plus offices and training rooms, to reduce the use of plastic bottled drinking water!

According to the Twins official press release, the Rain Water Recycle System (RWRS) and water filtration systems are estimated to reduce the need for municipal water by 50% and save over 2 million gallons of water per year!

The RWRS is being furnished by local company Pentair, in exchange for becoming the "Official Sustainable Water Provider" for the hometown baseball team. It's the first major sports facility anywhere to used recycled rainwater for irrigation. Pretty cool!

Just one more reason to root for the Twins, eh? Now, if they could just get a good 2nd baseman and lock in Joe Mauer to a long-term contract...

Read more from the Star-Tribune.

Avatar Movie - an Environmental Blockbuster?

So, I actually had a little date night last night with my hubby - dinner and a movie! We went to see Avatar...about which I knew nothing except that the special effects were supposed to be amazing. Indeed, the special effects were amazing, especially the 3D, and there were several intriguing story-lines.

What was most interesting to me was that the core of the conflict was about resource scarcity and resource economics! Without giving anything away, the 'bad guys' wanted a valuable, yet limited, resource that was located beneath the village of the indigenous people.

So - the biggest blockbuster in recent history is an environmental story at its core!

Worth seeing, even if you're not a sci-fi or special effects person, but a must-see if you are! Even worth a sitter...and that's saying something, eh??

MN Zoo - a welcome escape, and green too!

I went to the Minnesota Zoo earlier this week with my 3-year old. It was the rare occasion that it was just the two of us, no big sister. It was frigid outside, which meant no monorail and no bird show (because it was too cold to transport the birds between buildings), but the Tropics Trail transported us to another climate zone for a little while!! (There is significant construction along the Tropics Trail as they are creating a couple new exhibit areas and the gibbons are on 'maternity leave', but it was still great).

And what's more, I noticed that the zoo is offering only corn-based compostable utensils instead of plastic, as well as post-consumer content recycled plates & napkins. With a handful of exceptions, everything available in their food court area is COMPOSTABLE! Way to go!

I've always thought the the zoo is a great place for kids to learn about the wider natural world, to inspire awe about animals and their environment, and to see firsthand the importance for conservation! So many of the animals in zoos are endangered in their natural home due to habitat loss or environmental degradation. It just felt 'right' to have eco-conscious options in the dining area as well!

Birch Clothing - store closing deals

Just found out that Birch Clothing is closing its store located at 50th & Penn in Southwest Minneapolis and will become a web-only retail store. Boo hoo! If you're not familiar with Birch, it's been a fabulous locally-owned store that offers fair-trade, sustainably-produced, stylish clothing and accessories, and I'm sad to see it close its doors.

But, through January 30, they are having a sale off 30-70% off regular prices! And store fixtures will be for sale as well.

I'll miss the store, but will definitely check out the store-closing sale for some deals!

While we're talking about store-closing deals...bebe babble, another stylish outpost in the hood, is closing its shop and is offering up to 60% off some of their fabulous baby & kids stuff, including floor sample furniture. So sad to lose these two great local retailers, and their stylish, eco-conscious, sensible offerings!!

Lake Harriet KiteFest THIS SATURDAY

A great annual FREE local event - Lake Harriet Kite Fest - is this Saturday, January 9th, noon-4 pm. Members of the Minnesota Kite Society will be flying their GIANT kites...or bring your own kites to fly over the frozen waters of Lake Harriet.

Free horse-drawn wagon rides, DNR ice fishing, snowshoeing, and more! Hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows also available (sponsored by Linden Hills Neighborhood Council)!

Kites will also be available for purchase!

Sponsored by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Minnesota Kite Society, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association; People for Parks and the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council.

Save $2 on "Kids East Kale" class at Linden Hills Co-op

Ever wish your kids would be interested in more than mac & cheese or chicken nuggets?? Check out this super fun sounding class at Linden Hills Co-op!

Kids Eat Kale: A "How-To" for Parents
Tuesday, January 19
7-8:30 pm
Linden Hills Co-op (2813 West 43rd Street, Mpls)

The class will be taught be Ginger Pearson, a Midwest Food Connection Educator with over 25 years experience in natural foods cooking and teaching! She claims to be able to have our kids "begging for rutabaga and clamoring for kale!"

You must pre-register for the class by calling 612-922-1159. The class is $15 for non-members and $13 for co-op members. Mention the Linden Hills EcoParents Blog and receive $2 off your class fee!!