teensygreen's story links

Local Harvest is probably the most comprehensive site for ‘real food, real farmers, real community’. Local Harvest serves many purposes.

Trunkt, or “The Buyer’s Guide to Independent Art and Design,” is the best of the best of Etsy, laid out in a simplified, sophisticated way. Categories include Clothing, Accessories, Wellness, Papergoods, and Jewelry.

Had some less then welcome trickers leaving their mark?

Mod Green Pod is a wonderful find for green homes!

Drug resistant staph infections are as nasty and scary as they sound, and they’ve unfortunately popped up in schools dotting the US. And remember those scary articles over the summer about kids passing out due to alcohol intake from antibacterial hand gel? Studies have shown that using antibacterial products are no more effective at killing germs than regular soap and water. Here are some suggestions for natural ways to keep your hands, home, and health germ-free...

Helping the environment also means taking care of the people who are affected by it as well. Today, the group Save the Children, “a humanitarian agency that responds to disasters and works to improve the lives of children around the world,” announced they are sending a group of crises experts to San Diego to help families in need of support.

TreeHugger's blogs they've checked out this week - and so should you! An eclectic mix...

YummyEarth lollipops were invented by two dads who were college buddies first, then concerned dads when their kids started to become of treat age. But mainly, they were lollipop fans. The decided to ditch the fructose and create their own favorite candy, and YummyEarth was born!

What bothers me a lot about Halloween is how much money people spend on outfits that are uncomfortable, and can really only be worn once.

Seattle/Bellevue Washington-area mom Corey Colwell-Lipson started a movement this year that many parents are applauding. While out trick-or-treating with her daughters last year, she found herself cheering the people giving out stickers and bubbles instead of candy. It sparked something, and Green Halloween was born.

I'm loving these Kapla Blocks, an open-ended, totally unique blocks set for kids and adults. “Kapla” is short for the phrase “Kabouter Plankjes,” which means “pixie planks” in Dutch, and that’s exactly what you get with each set of Kapla Blocks. Made from renewable forests in France, Kapla Blocks are non-toxic, free of magnets, with no little screws or tiny extra pieces to worry you. They come in seven different colors, and include directions and lesson plans based on a child’s building abilities.

Granola Yarn is a collection of organic, recycled, sustainable, and artisan yarn, perfect for cozy-weather crafting projects! I’m no yarn expert, but to find all of this in one place - organic merino wool, soysilk (a vegan alternative to silk), and my fav, Peace Fleece, a company who supports independent shepherds in Russia, Israel, and the US - is like a knit one, purl two jackpot. Granola Yarn also sponsors an amazing charity project - knit or crochet a 12″square from your old yarn, send it to them, and they’ll make a blanket to donate to various charities.

When I found the Preserve Junior toothbrush by Recycline, I realized it was time for a change of toothbrush. The Preserve Junior is ergonomic, with soft bristles, and made from 100% recycled plastic - specifically, Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups. The toothbrushes come in packs of four, but if you order through them, you can have one mailed to you every two, three, or four months, so you can actually remember to change your child’s toothbrush. Plus, mail it back to them in a postage-paid recycled mailer (of course) when you’re finished, and they’ll recycle it again for you!

Nowadays, it’s tough to be gender neutral with most baby items. Husband and wife team Evoke Baby has fortunately stepped up with a series of “color-theory” onesies and shirts that are meant to focus on a child’s emotions rather than gender. Their organic line of onesies and t-shirts are based on earth and flower designs, not who is a rock star or princess. The images and especially vibrant colors of nature are refreshing and inspiring. Hey, I guess it works!

Your kids may not eat their veggies, but they’ll be all over Celery Furniture. And no wonder. Their Lullaboo Rocking Pony requires minimal assembly and has NO metal hardware. Made from bamboo (celery/bamboo = large stalks that grow fast, get it?) and/or formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard, and with low or no-VOC paint, this is a fun and funky addition to your playroom.

Get your mind out of the gutter and meet Trashy, a multi-purpose, garbage can/recycling sorter/butcher block on wheels. If you have a small kitchen, or can’t commit to an island, this is a perfect solution. Made of 100% post-industrial recycled formaldehyde-free MDF board from Sierra Pine, each Trashy contains three compartments for a garbage bin; recycling bin; and storage for garbage bags or other trash needs, which can all be removed and washed.

Yoga mats are made from chemicals and nasty PVC, giving them their needed stickiness but odd smell. Who knew? The mom behind Lotuspad EcoKids yoga mats really took this to heart, and developed a yoga mat for kids that is hygienic, non-toxic, non-slippy, PVC-free, comfy, lightweight, and totally biodegradable! And adorable, of course. Your kids will be Balasana-ing (child’s pose) in eco-style before they know it! They also carry equally funky mat straps, so your little ones can carry their meditation spaces around easily.

You gotta love a mom who shows off her love for coffee as much as her children. Born from the satisfying (and challenging) pleasure of taking time for coffee, Chicago-based Baby Blend Tees organic cotton onesies and shirts are simple and comforting - like that first cup of java that you can actually enjoy in the morning. Bonus on the coffee-bag packaging that you can reuse for your favorite organic coffee beans!

The family behind Argington modern children’s furniture want to take you on a world tour, without leaving your well-designed home. The beds, cribs, seating, and storage of their “Wonders Collection” are named for different Wonders of the Ancient and Modern World - from Giza to the Sahara, Paris to Ayres Rock, each piece is made almost entirely of wood from managed renewable forests, with non-toxic finishes. My kids are all over this table - literally.

You already know about the amazing SIGG kid’s bottles…SIGGs are cleaner and safer than plastic sippies, made from a single piece of aluminum, totally recyclable, taste-neutral (meaning, that milky smell on your cups won’t stand a chance), dishwasher safe, hygenic…it’s the perfect alternative to plastic water bottles and sippy cups. Reusablebags.com has all the new SIGGs for preorder, AND some on sale. Stock up now!

This classic-looking, rechargeable Sun Jar gives me a warm, summery feeling of being outside in the glow of evening. It’s an excellent way to teach kids about solar energy and give them something to look forward to at night besides brushing their teeth! The small solar cell powers LED lights inside, which automatically light up when it senses darkness. Put the jar in a sunny area during the day, and you’ll have a few hours of soft light when the lights go down. Perfect as a nightlight or garden decoration.

The NY Times is reporting today that independent lab testing for various vinyl bibs, including Winnie the Pooh and from brandmakers Especially for Baby and Koala Baby are contaminated with lead and may provide a health hazard if children chew on damaged or cracked bibs. The bibs have been sold at Toys “R” US around the country, but there has been no widespread recall. This is not part of the latest lead-toy recall from China, although the bib are made there as well.

In 2004, the CEH (Center for Environmental Health) began testing those adorable vinyl lunchbags we’ve bought, borrowed, and gotten for free as promo items for harmful substances such as lead. They found that even small exposures can cause behavioral and hearing problems, and advised people to buy lead-free lunchbags. The problem - um, where are they?

I used to use a lot of paper goods to make clean-up easier, and my kids especially love straws. For everything. Drinking, painting, magic wands…anyway, aside from chucking straws altogether, there are now much better alternatives for plastic and paperware. Browse around Green Home - it’s an amazing site, but I am particularly fond of their Kitchen section for a papergoods makeover. Can’t let go of brown bag lunches? Buy unbleached, recyclable ones! Do you go through plastic cups like the water that’s in them?

These ingenious “American style” Bento Boxes from Laptop Lunches really opened my eyes to a whole, well, lunchbox of ideas about lunchtime. The containers are lead-free, reusable, dishwasher safe, and totally recyclable. They come in tons of colors (you can order just the interior containers to mix and match as well as the whole Laptop system), AND you get the Laptop Lunch User’s Guide, filled with clever ways to make lunch fun and eco-friendly. The website itself also has a wealth of information about nutrition, meal ideas, and recycling/lunch programs in schools, so look around!

You’ve hunted down your favorite organic, essential oil-based, hypoallergenic products for your kids. Yet you still have old standbys you love. Do you know the differences between the two? The hardworking people at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group have an ingenious “Skin Deep” database and survey for you (to take before August 17th) to give you the best recommendations and suggestions for the safest and most ethically tested products on the market.

These plastic-y, funky looking things are a little, well, funky. What do they want with you? Are they taunting you? Look closer…these are Plant-Me Pets, a latex, compostable, fully growable series of characters with seeds for eyes. Comes in cantaloupe, tomato, or pumpkin plant varieties. This is great for kids, and I think adults might secretly like it too. I always get a laugh looking at those little legs sticking out of the dirt. Makes a great gift for kids, hard to shop people, or design freaks who love the, well, funky.

San Francisco moms Victoria and Kelley blended their love for the earth with keeping their kids organic to form Little Green Star. By using organic cotton and water-based inks, and with sweet designs such as “Ladies Don’t Litter” (ladybug-style), and my fav, “My Other Ride is a Hybrid,” Little Green Star helps kids show off their eco-friendliness in a gentle, approachable way. Plus, they come in sizes 3-6 months through 6T, so you can keep your kids in these tees for years!

We love Smencils for so many reasons (besides the fact that they sound so nerdy and back-to-school!) These SMElly peNCILS are made out of recycled newspapers, biodegradable erasers, and recyclable packaging - they wrap newspaper around a standard #2 core (so yes, you can take the SATs with them), and are dipped in wonderful flavors. The pre-scented Smencils come in flavors like bubble gum, cherry, orange, and watermelon, and their smelly-ness is guaranteed for two years!

For older kids, notebooks are a necessity, but if you’re a paper lover like me, your kids probably have a stack of their own as well. Notebooks all over the house means the ability to draw, write, doodle, and sketch whenever necessary. These paper products will help your kids start the school year off right, and hopefully inspire them!