This version contains corrected links.
Living
green isn’t always easy and living green with a growing family can be even more
of a challenge. Every parent faces a unique journey. Hearing about other
parents’ experiences, however, can offer great insight on how to be a green
parent in the modern world.
In
this edition of Living Green 365, two MPCA employees--Emily Barker, an Organics
and Recycling Specialist and an expectant mother, and Amanda Cotton, a Waste
& Toxic Pollution Prevention Specialist and a mother of two children under
3--share how their desire to be green has impacted their choices.
Making green choices
Making
green choices can be difficult with so many environmental concerns -- toxic
chemicals, carbon footprint, waste, or water usage--to consider. Decide what is
most important to your family.
For
Amanda, getting an eco-friendly crib mattress was important because “it’s one
of those things that your baby will use all the time.” She added: "My
husband and I visited a local baby store and found (chemical-free) mattresses
to be a lot of money.” Despite the price, they purchased one out of concern for
the baby's health. According to a 2014 University of Texas Austin study, new crib mattresses
release about four times as many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) as old
mattresses. The study also found that chemical emissions are strongest in a
sleeping baby's immediate breathing zone.
Emily spoke about the
importance of reducing waste. For baby food, “I’d rather have something from a
glass jar [that can be reused or easily recycled] than something that's more
difficult to recycle” like pouch-based baby foods. Food pouches are lighter and
likely use less fuel to transport but are made of materials that are not easily
recyclable.
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Can green parenting be practical?
Although both women have supportive, environmentally-aware husbands, Amanda and Emily have found that
their choices have to work with their lifestyles. For
example, Emily--a committed waste-reduction advocate and practitioner--is choosing to include disposable wipes in her nursery, because “if it’s a super big
difference in convenience, it’s a harder sell.”
Sometimes, the eco-friendly choice happens to be a frugal one. Amanda recommends the Chinook Book, a coupon book that focuses on sustainable living, as a money
saver for green products and services. Buying (or being gifted) used items
can also be an economical and environment-friendly way to reduce consumption
and waste.
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Set achievable goals
With
the Internet, doctors, and friends and family with children, there are many, sometimes
conflicting, messages that can make even the most confident parents question
whether they're making the right choices.
Emily
and Amanda agree that parents shouldn’t feel pressured to do it all when it
comes to the environment and their families. Amanda emphasized the
importance of deciding where your values lie and what matters most. “I
recommend doing some research before the kids come along and picking out your
top environmental priorities. Just remember to do your best and try not to get
stressed out.”
“Becoming
a new parent produces enough anxiety as it is”, noted Emily. "Having
a healthy level of knowledge without letting it become a stress factor is
important. Every parent must make the choices that work best for their family.
By taking the time to learn about green options, and incorporating what you
can, your family and the planet will be better off for years to come."
Babies and the 3 Rs
Babies
are sometimes referred to as stuff-magnets. New products guaranteed to simplify
the lives of parents and improve the lives of babies regularly show up in ads
and on store shelves.
With
so many new products and gadgets, it can be difficult to keep the 3 Rs –reduce,
reuse, recycle– in mind. Learning to take a more minimalist approach can save
parents money and space. Out of liability and safety concerns, items like car
seats should typically be purchased new. However, items like baby clothing are
prime candidates for reuse.
•
Encourage friends and family members to share their used baby
items and clothing. Or, organize a neighborhood swap with other parents of
small children.
•
Shop thrift stores, yard sales and consignment stores. Many
communities and organizations, such as Early Childhood Family Education in St. Louis Park, also offer periodic
consignment sales.
•
Check-out online consignment sites, such as swap.com, thredUP, and EBay.
•
Peapods in St. Paul offers
gently-used cloth diaper packages for sale. There are also a number of reusable
diaper delivery and pick-up services in the Twin Cities and other Minnesota
communities.
• Minneapolis
Toy Library, a new mobile
toy-lending venture, is launching in May.
With
any used product, it's important to check for existing safety recalls or
hazards. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission is the go-to site for product recall
information. You can also download product
safety reports at SaferProducts.gov.
Find Out More
•
Concerned about what paint or products to use, or what to avoid,
in the nursery? The U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide
provides some valuable guidance on things to consider if remodeling or building
a nursery in Creating a Safe, Healthy
Room for Your Child.
•
A variety of environmental product certifications and labels
exist, some more reliable and trustworthy than others. Consumer Reports’ Eco-Label App for iPhone and iPad
users is one tool for determining what’s legitimate and what’s not. There’s
also an online version.
• Do it Green!
Minnesota offers several thought-provoking articles on raising eco-conscious
babies and children: http://www.doitgreen.org/green-living/family.
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Minnesota GreenCorps Accepting Applications
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now
accepting applications from individuals interested in AmeriCorps service with
Minnesota GreenCorps during the 2015-2016 program year.
Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program, coordinated by the MPCA,
which places AmeriCorps members with organizations around the state to spend 11
months addressing environmental issues and building community resilience. More
information on the program is available here.
MPCA is planning to place up to 40 full-time Minnesota
GreenCorps members with local governments, nonprofit organizations and
educational institutions statewide to serve on projects in the areas of:
- Air
Quality (including Energy Conservation and Green Transportation)
- Waste
Prevention and Recycling
- Green
Infrastructure (including Local Foods, Stormwater Management, and Urban
Forestry)
- Living
Green Outreach
The member application and guidance document are available at: www.pca.state.mn.us/mngreencorps.
Completed member applications, along with a resume, must be
submitted to mgcapplication.pca@state.mn.us by the
deadline of June 12, 2015.
NOTE: Applications from organizations interested in participating as host sites for the 2015-2016 program year are being accepted until 5:00 PM CDT on Monday, May 4, 2015. Host site application packets, including a detailed guidance document
and the application, are only available by emailing your request to mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us. Please direct all questions to this email address.
National Bike to School Day
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
National Bike to School Day was started in 2012 in response to the
popular National Walk to School Day, which occurs in October. The event
celebrates safe and efficient biking to and from school. For 2015, the
National Bike to School Day has been set for May 6, 2015.
For a list of participating communities, schools, and events in Minnesota, see Bike to School MN.
ArtStarts EcoArts Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2015 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Harriet Island Grounds and Pavilion in St Paul
ArtStart's
EcoArts Fest, now in its eighth year, is a one-day, outdoor arts,
environmental and cultural celebration. A free, family-friendly event,
the EcoArts Fest is first and foremost a celebration honoring our ties
to one another and to Mother Earth. Overall, the
EcoArts Fest focuses on delivering engaging activities and experiences
that provide knowledge about an environmental issue through art making
and demonstrate ways individuals can take positive actions to make
change.
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) Solar Regatta
Saturday, May 16, 2015 10AM -2PM Riley Lake Park, 9180 Riley Lake Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
At the MRES' Solar Boat Regatta, teams demonstrate knowledge of
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to design and build
boats powered by the sun. They compete in a number of races, culminating
with a one-hour endurance race.
Solar-Powered Boats Compete in:
- Speed Races
- Slalom Races
- Endurance Races
A
solar boat makes use of the sun's radiation. The solar energy must be
received exclusively by on-board transducers (photovoltaic cells).
On-board storage and conversion into intermediate forms of energy
(electric energy storage in batteries) are permitted. The boats must not
be designed to use forms of energy other than solar - no wind, no human
power, no gas engine power, no additional batteries, and no additional
PV cells.
WaterFest 2015
"A Water Wonderland" Saturday, May 30 11 AM - 4 PM Lake Phalen in St. Paul
Sponsored by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD)
WaterFest is a free
celebration of our clean lakes and offers outdoor fun and opportunities
for hands-on learning about the water quality, wildlife, and special
ecological features of the RWMWD.
WaterFest was created in 2000 and remains an annual fun family event!
Thank you for reading Living
Green 365. This edition of the newsletter was written by Erin Barnes-Driscoll and Alexandra Ullberg.
This newsletter is a publication of the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency. Please send questions or comments about living green to the address
below.
Sincerely,
Erin Barnes-Driscoll and the Living Green Team
livinggreen365.pca@state.mn.us
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