Tag Archives: organic

New School Garden at Alta Vista School Finds a Place in the Community

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New School Garden at Alta Vista School Finds a Place in the Community

by Melody Kasulis


On a Saturday afternoon, families from Alta Vista School could be found pushing wheel barrels, shoveling, and making signs at Alta Vista’s “Work Party in the Garden.” The independent, co-ed K-8 school in San Francisco launched their new school garden with a community work-day. Lindsey Goldberg, the Sustainability Lead at Alta Vista, and fellow garden party organizer Jane Mauchly, created a range of activities that included produce sign painting, filling planter boxes with compost, making “zero-waste” snacks and photographing the event. Lindsey is already a veteran when it comes to organizing garden parties. She helped create a rooftop garden at Glide, on Ellis Street in San Francisco. “It’s a great example of place-based transformation,” says Lindsey, and an opportunity for parents and students to come together for a day of shared learning and physical activity.

Alta Vista’s curriculum is grounded in scientific method and emphasizes science, math and technology. AVS also uses experience-based learning and incorporates social development and play into its curriculum. It makes sense that AVS would create a school garden, as the space provides a bounty of hands-on learning potential while promoting collaborative work between classmates and communities, through events like “garden work parties.” Garden classrooms are becoming increasingly popular at schools nationwide. Many initiatives such as American Heart Association’s Teaching Gardens and Let’s Move are tackling the problem of childhood obesity by providing holistic programs and resources on eating healthy, exercise, and gardening. The school garden is a space for students to learn about the environment, nutrition and can even be used to enrich other subjects such as science and math. It really sounds as good as it is- an outdoor classroom that garners a better appreciation for the environment and health while making learning more exciting.

If not for its educational benefits, Alta Vista’s school garden also allows parents to get involved and help out in a community setting. Alesha Bishop, whose son Henry attends AVS, headed over Saturday with her mom and son to volunteer. The event is part of a “service-based” activity component of AVS’s curriculum. “It was amazing to see all the people that came out to help,” says Alesha, who helped paint signs and photo document the event. “There’s art, gardening, and lots of fun.” Alesha always knew Alta Vista was special and originally chose the school because of its small size and project-based learning. It is an added bonus that the school has such a supportive community and initiatives to parents getting involved in their child’s academic space, “If you haven’t done something like this with your child I highly recommend you do. It was a wonderful time for our whole family.”

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Favorite Fall Family Activities

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Green Goes Simple: Family Footprints

Favorite Fall Family Activities

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple

This autumn, make a commitment to have more fun — family fun. Fall is the ideal season for outdoor family frolicking. Emily Anderson — author of Eco-chic Home: Rethink, Reuse & Remake Your Way to Sustainable Style, blogger at Good With Style and mother of two — suggests you try these easy autumn activities for kids and adults. Turn off the TV, throw on a sweater and experience the bounty of the season!

Become a Leaf Detective
“Fall foliage is a perfect way to experience the earth’s natural state,” says Anderson. “Head to the park and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves.” Gather leaves of different shapes and colors, and then learn more about them when you get home by checking out LeafSnap, an online app created by the University of Maryland, Columbia University, the Smithsonian Institution and FindingSpecies.org.

Pick Your Own Harvest
Head to a local farm and pick your own apples, squash or pumpkins. Once you unload your bounty at home, Anderson recommends making an easy recipe together, such as butternut squash soup or applesauce. “Spending time on a local farm is a great way to support agriculture and to teach your kids about where food really comes from,” she says. Check out PickYourOwn.org for farms near you.

Eat Seasonally

The change of seasons is a perfect time to teach your kids about eating food that’s seasonal. Check out your local farmers market for the best of in-season produce that’s been grown nearby. “Eating locally grown food is good for the planet and can be a lot more affordable than the alternative,” says Anderson. “In-season items to look for are sweet potatoes, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cranberries, eggplant, kale, leeks and zucchini.” Visit LocalHarvest.org to find farms in your area and check out FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org for fall recipes you can make with what you find.

Go Slow
Consider hosting a fall-themed dinner party that features nothing but local and in-season food. It’s a great chance to bring friends and family together and to teach your kids about cooking with seasonal foods. If you’re not up for hosting, Anderson recommends checking out Slow Food USA, a sustainable and local food nonprofit that hosts local events around the country.

Decorate Naturally
“Use the bounty of fall to get started on your holiday decorations,” suggests Anderson. Acorns, branches and leaves can all become beautiful festive items with a little paint and imagination. Collect items from your backyard or visit a local park, and this Thanksgiving you’ll have nature’s answer to the ultimate holiday table setting.

Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/ericmichaud

Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.
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Be a Green Guest

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Green Goes Simple


Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

Be a Green Guest

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple


Summer is all about weekend escapes — to the beach, to the lake, to the mountains and beyond. And while getaway accommodations can take many different forms, they often involve the hospitality of friends or family.

If you’ve ever been on the hosting end, you know that opening your home to guests is a great act of warmth and generosity. This year, try acknowledging the gift of a cozy bed and wonderful company with an eco-savvy hostess present that shows how much you appreciate being welcomed into someone’s home. Hey, think of all the money you’re saving in hotel costs!

Emily Anderson, author of Eco Chic Home, recommends giving gifts that are thoughtful — without being showy. “When I give a hostess gift, I want it to be a nice gesture of appreciation, but not something over-the-top,” she says. “I’m also sure to think of something that my hosts will put to good use.”

While a bottle of (organic) wine or a pretty (soy-based) candle are classic options, Anderson also likes exercising a bit of creativity in her gift-giving. The results are meaningful and earth-friendly:

A Home for Lonely Cups
“I’m always collecting orphan pieces of china at the thrift store,” says Anderson. “Creamers, sugar jars and, of course, teacups, which all make excellent hostess gifts.” To complete the gift, Anderson fills the piece with a small satchel of her favorite organic fair-trade tea and ties a ribbon around to hold it all together.

The Artist Within
“I happen to think that everyone could use a little more art in their lives,” says Anderson. She suggests pairing nontoxic watercolor paints with a small pad of recycled paper. Tie a ribbon around the package and you’ve got an instantly creative hostess gift.

Practical and Pretty
To assist your hosts in living green, Anderson suggests giving the practical gift of dishcloths. “You can never have enough dishcloths,” says Anderson. Make it a pretty present by rolling up three new cotton towels — bonus points if they’re organic — and tying them together with a ribbon.

Grow a Green Thumb
“Just because someone doesn’t have a green thumb doesn’t mean they can’t learn to become a gardener,” says Anderson. She suggests giving your hosts a small bucket filled with a few seed packets and a pair of gardening gloves.

Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.
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How’s does your garden grow?

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Green Goes Simple


Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

How Does Your Garden Grow?

By Elizabeth Barker for Green Goes Simple


Planting and cultivating a garden with your family can offer a bounty of benefits to you and your kids. Along with fostering your kids’ fondness for fresh fruits and veggies, gardening with your children can enhance their eco-consciousness.

“It’s so valuable for kids to see the direct effect of their taking care of the earth,” says Rose Judd-Murray, education specialist for the National Gardening Association. What’s more, working in the garden gives kids hands-on learning about hard-to-grasp concepts, like reducing pesticide use and preventing soil erosion.

Even if you’ve never picked up a trowel, starting a garden can be a snap! Here, four easy ways to build a kid-friendly plot that thrives:

1. Get Prepped
First, size up the soil quality and sunlight availability in your backyard. Choose a space that sees about six hours or more of sunshine each day. To prepare soil for planting, you can add composted matter (a great way to use the contents of your kitchen compost can, if you have one). Then, loosen the soil to give roots a place to grow, and remove any visible weeds. For more tips on prepping soil, visit Garden.org. Don’t be afraid to start small, says Judd-Murray. “You don’t need to dig up your entire lawn,” she says. “You can just begin with a couple of containers, or go to a garden center and pick up some transplants that pop right out of the plastic and into the ground.”

2. Choose Your Crops
When gardening with little ones, keep short attention spans in mind and include a few seeds that won’t take too long to sprout — think carrots and radishes for vegetable gardens, sunflowers and zinnias for flower plots. And while inspiring kids to try new veggies is a great gardening perk, focusing on foods they already love is also essential. “Children might like to plant raspberries to make their own jam, for instance, or grow the ingredients for homemade pizza sauce — such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, marjoram, garlic and basil,” says Elizabeth McCorquodale, author of Kids in the Garden.

3. Add an Eco-element
To teach your kids that plants can flourish naturally, look to eco-options for pest control. “Keeping plants healthy so they can defend themselves is key, so make sure to nourish them with homemade compost and use mulch to seal in moisture,” says McCorquodale. Building barriers from ground eggshells can also shield your plants from attack, she notes. And introducing beneficial bugs like ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies can provide natural defense against the bad bugs and stop them from chowing down on your crops.

4. Cultivate Your Kid’s Green Thumbs
As your children get gardening, take note of the tasks they most enjoy. “Some kids will love the digging and weeding and organizing, while others will get a thrill from the competition of growing the fattest, sweetest or shiniest plants,” says McCorquodale. To keep that enthusiasm from waning, she recommends dividing the more tedious gardening duties into brief blocks of time.

Setting your kids up for gardening success is also a smart move, according to McCorquodale. “Give the children their own sunny corner and fill it with the best weed-free soil,” she suggests. “When it comes to nurturing their love for gardening, remember that a little success can go a long way.”
Elizabeth Barker is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and executive editor of fashion blog NoGoodForMe.com. Her work has appeared in Body + Soul, Natural Health, Vegetarian Times, Variety and Kiwi.
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Better for Baby

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Green Goes Simple

Better for Baby

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple

Look for Natural Playthings

Babies put everything in their mouths, especially their playthings. Toys made from plastic can sometimes contain not-so-healthy chemicals. To stay safe, skip gear made with PVC and choose toys made from natural materials like wood or bamboo.


Photo: @iStockphoto.com/trait2lumiere

Go With Glass Bottles

When it comes to bottles, glass is usually safest. Just like in toys, many plastic bottles contain potentially harmful chemicals, such as BPA (bisphenol A), which can leech into your baby’s milk or formula. Glass bottles don’t contain these chemicals — plus they can be recycled, which adds to their eco-benefits.


Photo: @iStockphoto.com/burwellphotography

Wash With Cold Water

Laundry is an inevitable part of life with baby. Keep your cutie’s clothes looking fresh and new — and conserve energy! — by washing them on the delicate cycle in cold water. To get the most out of each load, look for detergents that are designed for use in cold water.


Photo: @iStockphoto.com/AndrejaD

Borrow or Buy Gently Used Items

There’s no need to invest in new, fancy furniture and accessories for your tiny new addition. Look into borrowing a crib (you’ll need to buy a new mattress), car seat and high chair from a friend or family member. Visit a secondhand store for gear that’s been gently used, or check out options on Freecyle.org or Craigslist.org. Whether you’re borrowing or buying secondhand, just be sure to check for any recent recalls on CPSC.gov.

Create a Nurturing Nursery

The air your baby breathes is just as important as the clothes he wears and the milk he drinks. When decorating your baby’s room, choose paints with low- or zero-VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and be sure that lots of natural light fills the space.


Photo: @iStockphoto.com/wakila

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Hood River – Solstice Wood Fire Café

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If you are every in Hood River you must check out Solstice Cafe!

Solstice Wood Fire Café offers fresh, local, seasonal and organic food skillfully prepared by hand at family affordable prices. Featuring an imported Italian wood fire oven, the café specializes in rustic Tuscan-style pizzas, house-grilled panini sandwiches, hearty soups and stews, crispy wood-fired chicken and local farm-to-table salads. The café also serves award winning local wines and FIVE rotating local microbrews on tap.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Suzanne Wright Baumhackl and Aaron Baumhackl, Solstice is designed to be a warm and welcoming every day community gathering place complete with private meeting space, outdoor patio seating and art by local artists. Little ones are invited to enjoy the children’s play area, HUGE chalkboard wall and kid-friendly menu where all items are priced under $4. Solstice welcomes private parties, special events and offers scrumptuous catering and lunch boxes. Open Six DAYS A WEEK, all day starting at 11:00 for lunch & dinner! Closed on Tuesdays for family day.

Solstice Wood Fire Café | Bingen, WA.

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Green Fatigue – Who Do You Trust?

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I have seen the phase “Green Fatigue” mentioned a few places and to be honest I have felt it a bit myself. Maybe it’s the economy or maybe it’s because to many brands say they are “green” and turn around and do something unethical.

After reading about what “organic” “natural” and “free range” mean in the United States I don’t know who trust.

Has being “Green” become a marketing ploy versus a real life way to live?

“There are more important things then money” – My Grandma Cherry

Who do you trust? be it Brands? Bloggers? News?

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The Planet Friendly Kitchen

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The Planet-Friendly Kitchen

By Cynthia Ramnarace for Green Goes Simple

Without a doubt, the kitchen is the most popular room in my house. From meal prep to mealtime, homework to crafts, it’s the center of our family life — and the ultimate candidate for a recent eco-makeover.

In the interest of increasing my sustainability IQ, I first took inventory of what I knew about conservation in the kitchen:

1. Don’t leave the water running. (This one’s easy — if I slip, there’s a 6-year-old water watchdog always ready to remind me.)
2. Recycle.
3. Stock up on non-disposable plates and utensils and embrace the durability of reusable shopping totes.

This is a good start, but my kitchen — and I — clearly needed professional assistance if we were going to take it to the next level. This is where green living expert Annie Bond came in. The author of Home Enlightenment: Create a Nurturing, Healthy and Toxin-Free Home shared some surprising tips for transforming everyone’s favorite room into an environmentally savvy space:

The Dishwasher is a “Do.” A full dishwasher uses less water to clean a day’s worth of dirty dishes than hand-washing them in the sink.

DIY Dishrags. “Let’s say you’ve got a pair of old, unused pajamas made from beautiful soft fabric,” says Bond. Grab a pair of scissors and give them new life as dishrags and hand towels. But get ready for a bigger laundry basket — these need to be washed daily to prevent bacterial growth.

Compost your Scraps. Vegetable peels, fruit rinds and coffee grinds make excellent garden fertilizers. If you have an in-house compost bin, you can keep unwanted odors away by cleaning it out every couple of days.

Downsize your Oven. When you can, bypass the energy-guzzling oven and stove in favor of smaller cooking appliances. Look beyond toast, and you’ll find that a toaster oven is ideal for heating up or cooking small amounts of food. Slow cookers and electric kettles are also everyday energy savers.

Use Natural Critter Control. Bond recommends trading chemical pesticides for the homemade variety. Drop a few cotton balls into a small glass jar and fill it halfway with a mixture of 1 part Borax (a natural pesticide), 1 part sugar and 3 parts water. Watch as the ants go marching one by one into the jar, where they take their final swim.

I took Bond’s suggestions for my kitchen and found an added bonus: These tips are time savers too! Filling the dishwasher is faster than washing dishes, and toaster oven cuisine is refreshingly speedy. Saving time and the earth — what’s not to love?

Cynthia Ramnarace is a freelance writer in Queens, N.Y. She is a regular contributor to iVillage.com and AARP Bulletin. Her work also appears frequently in American Baby and Kiwi magazines.

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Hemp: Not just for Hippies

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Ethical & Fair Trade Jewellery & Accessories | EcoChic Collection – Luxury Bags – Eco Chic Jewelery / Jewelery – Luxury hand made/ handmade designs.

I keep finding really cool hemp items. I live a few blocks from Haight Ashbury and the hemp items I am use to seeing aren’t this stylish. I guess Hemp isn’t just for hippies anymore!

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