Anyone that knows GreenBeanie or me knows that I’m a big fan of reducing waste, especially when it comes to kids and their lunches. I’ve blogged about it, educated school communities, sold some of the products, and some would even say ranted on occasion. So as we head back into another school year, I encourage you to take on the REUSE mantra.

The market for eco-friendly lunch products has grown exponentially over the last several years, which is fantastic. Darling patterns can be seen on lunch boxes, food containers, sandwich wrappers, water bottles and more. Bringing a “waste-free lunch” is also encouraged at many schools (if it’s not encouraged at your school, how about suggesting it?).

When you start packing those lunches again in a few weeks, try to avoid disposable items in the lunchbox. Take note of a frightening stat: 67 pounds of waste are generated annually from each child’s disposable lunch (WasteFreeLunches.org). Check out what you already have from last year and see what items in your kitchen you might be able to repurpose for lunches. Baggies? Nah…you don’t need ‘em. Plastic containers from yogurt or crème cheese can be washed and reused for apple slices, grapes, pretzels…you name it.

Looking for a simple project for your bored kids? Pick up a yard of cotton fabric at the fabric store and make your own reusable napkins by decorating squares with permanent markers.

GreenBeanie no longer sells products, but our favorite and most popular items (LunchBots, Fabkins, Wrap N Mats, Snack Taxis, GoGreenLunchBoxes, to name a few) are all available through online retailers. If you haven’t joined our GreenMyLunchbox campaign yet to eliminate lunch waste, now is a great time to do so. There are special discount codes and chances to win free products!

Let us know what your favorite reuse product is or your best tip for greening your lunchbox! Sending best wishes for a wonderful school year! – Caroline

Photo from Rick's landscape portfolio

We’re moving into the real heat of summer, a time when our lawns require a lot of water. Especially in California, where we won’t see a raindrop until Halloween, it’s important that we try to conserve water when we can.  Did you know that 50-70% of the average residential home’s water use is for landscaping*?

That’s why I called in an expert colleague to help with some ideas on how to be waterwise in our landscaping.  Rick Mosbaugh, owner of Richard L. Mosbaugh ‘Greening L.A.’, has been working in landscape design for 30 years.  He provided these tips to help us save some water and preserve our yards this summer and throughout the seasons.

Conduct an audit of your yard. Walk around and pay attention to what areas might be underwatered and stressed, and which ones might be getting too saturated (your yard should have time to dry out between waterings).  Check all of your sprinklers and make sure they are not overspraying into street or sidewalk. Do you have broken sprinkler heads?

Know your zones. Are you watering in zones and making sure that grass and flower beds are getting the proper amount of water? Is the timing working for your system and are all of the valves adjusted properly? It’s worth the money to bring in a professional to help you if repairs and adjustments are needed.

Make appropriate plant choices. Be patient with your yard – it’s not a Hollywood overnight sensation so it needs time to fill in.  Grass height should be 2-3 inches.  Cutting grass as short as a putting green requires more water and can stress the lawn.  Think about which types of grasses will do best in your climate zones.

Mulch areas with “walk-on bark” (not chunks). This type of mulch is more coarse, lasting longer and doing a better job of keeping weeds out and moisture in. It also comes in a shreaded form so that it interlocks and tends to stay where you want it (no blowing away or being dispersed by dogs or kid play). Flower beds and trees will hold moisture with mulch.  Think about planting perennials vs. annuals, because perennials have a lower carbon footprint and need less water over time.

The California Landscape Contractors Association’s (CLCA) website sites that if California could reduce its water use by 10% annually, it would save 50 billion gallons of water a year — the same amount needed to meet residential needs in a large city for a year.  One of the best resources for water conservation tips is California’s Save Our Water site (www.saveourh20.org).

And as Rick reminded me, plants don’t waste water, people do.  What are you doing to save water in your landscape? We would love to hear from you!

*  Sited from the American Water Works Association

We just completed our year-long trial of an all electric Mini Cooper. My husband sold his sedan last year to participate in Mini Cooper’s 500-car field trial in New York and LA and to justify the (rather high) cost of its lease.

our trial Mini E, #211

Overall, we had a fantastic experience with this car. It drives like no other, with pickup that would make an Indy 500 racer smile. Let’s ask Muffin what he thought of his year with the Mini E:

theGreenBeanie: So what was it like? What was the best part of the electric car?

Muffin:  This car was the most fun of any car I’ve ever driven.  With the go-kart handling of a Mini Cooper and the incredible acceleration of an electric car, it was just a blast.  And it had the charming lines of a Mini, much better than the looks of today’s hybrids.  When electric cars make it into widespread production, I think people will buy them because they’re so much more fun to drive, not just because they’re so much greener.

theGreenBeanie: What was the downside?

Muffin:  Range is, of course, the downside.  I never got more than 85 miles on a charge, and freeway driving and speedy driving consume significant charge.  The stereo and air conditioner don’t help either.

Electric car promoters talk about how the “average driver” drives just 25 miles a day, but that’s not the useful statistic.  The question is how often you need to go over 100 miles or more, because you have to have another car or rent a car for those circumstances.

And in the case of the Mini Cooper test car, it’s a two-seater with the back seats replaced by a bundle of batteries – so that isn’t practical for a family.

But even with these limitations, which I know they’ll overcome soon, this was just a great car.  I was never left by the side of the road, and I had a year of trouble free, fun e-cruising while not putting a dime into the coffers of British Petroleum.

theGreenBeanie:  Is this “robbing Peter to pay Paul” as we still use dirty energy to power our electric car?

We charged our Mini E on a 240v charger that was installed in our garage.

Muffin: Well not really. First, we have solar panels on our house so half of our energy comes from the sun anyway. Secondly, as smart meters are implemented, we’ll be able to charge our electric cars during off-peak hours therefore avoiding increasing demand on the power grid.

Muffin has been bitten by the electric car bug. He’s in the market for his next electric car and optimistic about the promise the technology holds for us all. For more photos of our Mini E experience, check out our photo album on Facebook.

What’s your take on the electric auto? Let us know here or on Twitter @thegreenbeanie.

It’s that time of year….the school year is over and we’re all spending more time outside in the sun. Maybe you already stocked up on your sunscreen for the summer but take note:  There are lots of options out there and some are better for you than others.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released their 4^th annual sunscreen review recently and a frightening “92 percent of brand name sunscreens either don’t sufficiently protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals — or both.”  That’s enough to ask yourself where your favorite sunscreen ranks on the list, right?

And, the L.A. Times ran a story this week about the confusion around SPF numbers, marketing claims, and what they deem “sunscreen gobbledygook.”

Researchers agree that covering up skin – with a big floppy hat and clothing – is the best way to protect from the sun’s harmful rays. (Of course, a little vitamin D is good for you too!)  But that’s not always possible or practical, so investing in some good lotions is key to protecting your skin.

My family’s favorite is the California Baby Sunscreen Stick. It’s so easy to apply on little faces – I keep one in the beach bag, one by the back door and one in my car. The California Baby sunscreen lotion is also effective, although it does leave a bit of a white mask until if fully soaks into the skin.

We also like the Alba Botanica Mineral Sunscreen.  My friend loves the Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm and it received high marks from the EWG, so I just ordered a tube of to try out.  My kids couldn’t stand the smell of the Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen with hemp seed oil, so that one receives poor marks from us!

What ‘s your favorite sunscreen potion? Check out how it ranks with the EWG and share it with us here!  Happy Summer, y’all!!  – caroline

Our elementary school conducted its first Walking School Bus this week and it was a big success. We had police officer escorts from our bus stops; the children were abuzz with nearly 100 kids participating; and, parents had the chance to talk to each other about walking to school.

Police Chief Schaefer escorts kids to school during our first Walking School Bus.

What’s a Walking School Bus, you ask?

It’s an organized group of children that walk to school, supervised by one or more adults. You meet at a planned “bus stop” and then walk to school. Easy peasy!

Through our school’s Green Team, I have been working with a few other moms at our school to promote walking and biking to school this year.  Despite the fact that our town is only three square miles, very few of our neighborhood kids actually walk or bike to school. I counted a mere 25 bikes in the school’s racks recently.

Why is this? Is it fear of kidnapping? Traffic safety? Time management? I admit, we rarely walk to school…but I always feel great about it on the days we do. It’s a wonderful chance to talk with your kids. You all get some needed exercise. It’s nostalgic and builds a sense of community. And of course, it reduces traffic and pollution.

We started collaborating with our local police department to create a Safe Routes to School program and we feel very lucky to have their support.  We’re working together to find out what it will take to make folks motivate to walk to school, and we’re currently conducting a survey to garner feedback from parents. We’re hoping to do more regular walking events in the fall and hope that kids fall into the habit of getting to school sans car.

Here are two resources if you are interested in creating your own Walking School Bus:

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Guide

Starting a Walking School Bus

My goal is for my kids to walk to school 3 days/week starting this fall. I have enough other moms and dads in my neighborhood that we can start a regular walking school bus and each parent will be responsible for only one day/week.

If walking to school is out of the question for your family, think about walking somewhere that you would ordinarily drive….or ride bikes!

Do you walk to school in your community or have a Walking School Bus? Tell us about it here!

Growing up, clean to me was the scent of Pine Sol. Little did I know that the fragrances and ingredients that gave it that “fresh forest scent” were also bad for my lungs and my skin. These days, there are tons of natural and green cleaning products on the market. I’m asked for green cleaning supply recommendations more than anything else.  Jillian Michaels also asked for my fave eco cleaners for her latest book, The Master Your Metabolism Calorie Counter.

Of course, our mamas got by with cleaning with just the basics – lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda – and there are many DIY recipes out there that make this a money-saving and simple option. Here are two overviews for making your own cleaners:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/assemble-a-green-cleaning-kit.html

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303

One caveat – do NOT pour boiling water down a clogged drain in a ceramic sink. I learned the hard way that you can crack a sink doing this…what a costly mistake that was!

My client, Melissa, and I making our own green cleaning supplies.

When it comes to picking a brand for cleaning supplies, it can be as personal as choosing makeup or underwear. Here are some of my recommendations, but please let me know what you like as well!

Shaklee – Basic H multi-purpose cleaner, heavy duty cleaning paste (available online).

Seventh Generation – dish soap, all purpose surface spray

Mrs. Meyers – powder surface scrub, liquid hand soap

Method – furniture polish, toilet cleaner

Earth Friendly Products – dishwasher gel

OdoBan Earth Choice – Oxy all purpose cleaner (disclaimer: I was asked by the company to review these products. I do love this Oxy cleaner!)

Ecover – dishwasher tablets, laundry detergent, laundry stain remover

Bona – hardwood floor cleaner

Skoy – cloth that replaces paper towels and sponges (available online).

Here are the basics for DIY green cleaning solutions:

Baking soda

Vinegar (distilled white)

Lemon juice

Borax

Salt

Olive oil

Hydrogen peroxide

Essential oils (lavender, tea tree, etc.)

Club soda

Spray bottles (to mix your own cleaning supplies)

What are your favorite green cleaning supplies? Have a good DIY recipe to share? Please share it with us here or tweet to @theGreenBeanie.

Did you know that Tossing Your Meds in the toilet is a big “NO NO” these days? Check out my Video Blog with tips on what to do with your old medicines, prescriptions and medicine cabinet items that you no longer need. Remember that Earth911 is a good resource if ever in doubt about where to toss an item.

Any resources you would like to share for disposing of home items? Let us know here or on Twitter @thegreenbeanie!

Today is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day and you can’t shake a stick without seeing something on the news this week about “being green.”

I was in my son’s kindergarten class yesterday and we were decorating cloth napkins to bring in our lunchboxes and reading a book about Earth Day. As we went around the table talking about ways we could celebrate Earth Day, I got the innocent and obvious question (to a 6 year old), “Shouldn’t we celebrate Earth Day, everyday?” Well of course we should!

I love what Suze Orman said in April’s O Magazine: “Act green before you buy green.” I think that sums it up. It’s all about conservation first. So make it a goal – this week – to think of one new way that you can conserve natural resources. Remember, this saves dinero too!

Click here to join us!

I’m also very, very excited to introduce you to a new campaign called “Green My Lunchbox.” GreenBeanie is a supporting company in this Earth Day to Labor Day effort to eliminate 1 million pounds of waste.  It’s a big goal to reduce our lunch trash by a million pounds, but we think it’s possible — with your help!  And critical! Join the Facebook site here and you could win a waste-free lunch goodie from one of the fabulous participating companies (did I mention daily giveaways?).  There are also discount promotions to share and many of our favorite companies are participating, including SnackTaxi, LunchSkins, LunchBots, Wrap N Mats and Fabkins. We want you to get into the habit of packing a waste-free lunch, i.e. one that doesn’t put any trash into a landfill. With reusable containers, stainless steel water bottles and cloth napkins, you can pack a lunch for you or your child that is TRASH FREE.

You’re not too late to join our GreenBeanie Giveaways for Earth Day. We’re giving away products all week at our GreenBeanie Facebook page to fans that comment on our daily discussion. Just let us know what you think about our topic and you’ll be added to our raffle. It’s easy and fun and we know that some of the best ideas are those shared by other women and moms!

If you’re in the L.A. area, we would love for you to visit us at the Pasadena Greening the Earth Day celebration at Memorial Park and the Armory Center for the Arts on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be lots of fun things for the whole family and if you stop by our GreenBeanie booth and mention this blog, we’ll give you an eco goodie to take home!

Please chime in here or on Twitter @thegreenbeanie about what you and your family are doing this week to celebrate Mother Earth. In the meantime, Happy Earth Day everyday!

Toxins in the home are a big sticking point for me, so I was excited to review a new book, Slow Death By Rubber Duck, The Secret Danger of Everyday Things. Written by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, two Canadian environmentalists, this comprehensive account exposes the toxicity of many household objects we take for granted. Their lead example itself is startling — the average rubber duck contains lead, bromine and hormone-disrupting phthalates!! If only Ernie and Bert knew!

The authors were instrumental in garnering worldwide attention for BPA (Bisphenol-A), a hazardous compound pervasive in many plastics including baby bottles. They raised awareness in the Canadian Parliament and successfully banned it in Canada. (Only recently has the FDA begun taking steps to evaluate further research on the chemical and limit its use in baby products.)

In Slow Death, the authors submerge themselves in a “chemical bath” for a weekend, definitely a whacky and attention grabbing research method. They thoroughly describe the chemical soup that surrounds and permeates everything in our lives and homes, ranging from our upholstery and food to toys and cooking utensils. What’s worse is these chemicals ultimately end up in our fatty tissues and bloodstream. They use the term “body burden” to describe the level of chemicals carried in us. In other words, the chemicals don’t just exist in your body – they are a burden!

Just in case you don’t pick this up this shocking account and go cover to cover, here are some highlights from my read:

- Babies and children have a higher risk of absorbing these chemicals and do not have the ability to get rid of them as quickly as adults
- You can make choices about what you bring into your home that can make a difference. You can lower your “body burden” quite rapidly when you avoid these chemicals. Do your research – there’s always an alternative – from natural rubber duckies to Neogreene laptop bags!
- Vote with your dollars – let your local shops, local government, national government, etc. know that you want safer standards for your products and your family.
- Learn the chemicals – and where they are found: triclosan, BPA (Bisphenol A), PBDEs, phthalates, BFRs. And, know your plastics (the numbers on the container’s bottom) too — memorize their diddie: “4,5,1 and 2; all the rest are bad for you.”

The authors’ point? Pollution isn’t something that exists solely in the air; it has invaded our homes and our bodies. It’s time to take notice about what our actions are doing to our health and the health of our planet!

Have you read it or a similar account? Please let us know!

Two school years ago, I helped start the Green Team at my children’s elementary school. As a PTA effort, we wanted to promote conservation and eco-friendly practices at school. We gathered a group of like-minded mom-volunteers and began brainstorming ways to green the school community. During our first few months in action, we learned of several other schools in Southern California that had similar programs and found they were very eager to share what they had already done.

Here are a few areas that we focused on as we got our Green Team off the ground:

Biking to school is good for everyone.

Going green at school makes sense for a variety of reasons – creative reuse and recycling lowers the school’s expenses, non-toxic cleaning supplies are better for our kids’ health, and teaching earth-friendly practices is beneficial to everyone. I am proud to say our Green Team is building a strong foundation for young eco-superheroes to take on the challenges facing our health and our environment!

Does your school have any “green” initiatives? Any ideas to share? We’d love to hear from you.