George asks…
Where can I find a good “green” gift without the heavy price?
I’m looking for some good eco–friendly gift ideas that don’t break the bank… like a lot do.
The Expert answers:
Try World Vision or Oxfam Alternative Catalogue – very eco-friendly and with several price ranges.
James asks…
Suggestions of Friendly Wording for Baby Shower?
I am having an insert card made to go along with the invite for baby shower. I want it to touch on all the points listed below. How can it be written so it doesn’t come off sounding ‘picky’ or just rude? I don’t want anyone to take it the wrong way. Being ‘green’ isn’t a very common thing around here, so a lot of people just don’t get it, which is why the insert cards were suggested, just to put parents-to-be’s wishes out there since it is important to them. Try to think of how it would come across if you received this in an invitation sent to you:
In an effort to be eco–friendly, Casey has requested:
1. Suggest that gifts be wrapped in recycled paper or even baby blankets.
2. Encourage guests to purchase eco friendly baby gifts. These are items made from organic cotton, wool, or silk, furniture and toys made from sustainable products.
3. An alternative to new gifts can include gently used baby items found at a local consignment store, perhaps from the guest’s own child, or even a yard sale. If the guest of honor really is as environmentally conscious to want an eco friendly baby shower, then she will more than appreciate these gifts.
4. Mommy-to-be is registered at A, B &C
Thank you all for your suggestions!
The Expert answers:
This insert card says:
Casey wants you to:
1. Bring gifts.
2. Bring expensive gifts.
3. Bring cheaper gifts that may no longer be to code or rated “safe” for babies, or may not meet my personal requirements for “gently used.”
4. Buy gifts, here, there, and everywhere!!
First, I would make it less about the gifts. Second, if you really want to be “green,” how about an e-vite? Will you be recycling and composting trash items accumulated during the shower? Using real dishes and cups? Not using inexpensive decorations that are not ethically sourced? What about ethically sourced food items?
By all means, register for the items you need at the stores you like. Regardless of those choices, some will follow it and some won’t. Let it go.
Carol asks…
I need some advice on eco-friendly parenting?
This is our first pregnancy and we are trying to be a “green” household. I’ve found some baby bottle companies that I would love to purchase from (Green to Grow, thinkbaby, and BornFree) but I live in a somewhat rural area so I don’t have access to a lot retailers. I’ve considered ordering online but we are on a tight budget so I don’t want to have to pay extra for shipping in handling. Do you know of any brands that are reasonably priced and are available at stores like Target, Wal-Mart, or Babies R Us? I know some bigger brands like Huggies and Johnsons offer a Naturals line but just how “natural” are they? Since I’m new at this I’m not really sure what to look for other than BPA free bottles. I’m looking for bottles, baby wipes, shampoos, lotions, really any natural baby product. Any suggestions, insight, or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I know there’s a good chance that I will receive many products that are not natural as gifts at my baby shower. I will be extremely grateful for any and all gifts that I receive but is there any way that I can go about requesting only natural products without seeming ungrateful or snobby? I know natural baby products can be a bit costlier and I don’t want to be inconsiderate of guests’ limited budgets. And since we live in a more rural area I’m concerned that some extended family will view my requests as “better than thou” since a lot of them probably didn’t grow up in eco–friendly households. Please help! Thank you!
I am planning on breastfeeding but I will be needing bottles for the milk that I pump. I will be needing to go back to work and when I do my mom will be watching the baby so I’ll need plenty of bottles for pre-pumped breast milk.
The Expert answers:
Breastfeed – no bottles needed 🙂 Most every bottle out there, or at least most that I’ve seen, all say BPA free.
Use cloth diapers and cloth wipes – cloth wipes are the best thing. I never thought I would say that, but they work loads better than disposables. I have 50, and I keep them folded in a huggies container, with a squirt bottle of water next to them. I have a 7 month old daughter, and haven’t bought wipes since December! I never thought I would love cloth diapers either. But they hold explosions far better then any disposable diaper out there. They’re also loads better for baby’s bottom
I wouldn’t trust huggies to have all natural anything. Method, California baby, Burts Bees, etc. Most places have these brands. The best place to go looking is your local health food store.
As far as gifts go – register for whatever you would like. And realize it’s not the end of the world if someone gives you a bottle of Johnson and Johnson soap. Accept it with thanks – and save it. It all comes in handy 🙂
David asks…
Any ideas for an eco-friendly wedding?
Still very much on early planning stages, but it’s something to think about. Got all the basics covered – email invitations, honeymoon in the UK etc, but was wondering if anyone had any ideas that are a bit more quirky/unusual? We’d like to do something different!
Mainly looking for reception/gift ideas etc, and not that high a budget.
The Expert answers:
Oh, awesome!! I’m trying to have a green wedding too, so here are some ideas I’m using that I wanted to share with you:
Skip the monogrammed paper napkins in favor of reusable cloth napkins, available through a party rental company or restaurant
For centerpieces, have beautiful potted flowers, such as hydrangeas or a mini rosebush, instead of cut flowers. Have a guest at each table take the centerpiece home so they can plant it in their yard. That way, no flowers have to die unnecessarily!
Instead of throwing rice, throw birdseed.
Look for invitations made from 100% recycled paper. They’re all over the place these days!!
If your ceremony and reception venues are close enough together, organize a Euro-style “wedding parade,” in which the bridal party and guests follow the bride and groom on foot to the spot where the party’s going to be. Not only does it cut down on emissions from the cars of all the guests, but it also looks cool and causes a bit of a stir in the street!
Give packets of easy-to-grow flower seeds as favors, rather than other things that may be discarded after the event. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
If the bride is into it, she could buy her wedding gown from a vintage shop or secondhand dress shop rather than buy a new one. It is such a waste of fabrics and human labor to buy a dress that is only going to be worn once! The bridesmaid dresses and suits for the groom and groomsmen could be bought at similar stores.
Recycle the flowers for the ceremony by reusing them to decorate the reception area. It is such a waste to buy separate flowers for both locations, especially since flowers can easily be stripped from the arch and other areas to be brought to the reception venue for table decorations, etc.
Instead of driving off into the sunset in a traditional limo with a “Just Married” sign, hire a pedi-cab, horse-drawn carriage, bicycle built for two, rickshaw, or some other quirky mode of transportation that doesn’t emit any pollutants. You’ll still get to make a grand exit, but you won’t be hurting the environment while doing so.
In lieu of wedding gifts, ask for charitable donations to an environmental organization such as the EPA or the National Wildlife Federation.
Ask guests to carpool if possible, or better yet, arrange for a charter bus to pick up guests for transportation to and from the wedding. Not only will this reduce pollution from all the cars, but it is also a great way to make sure slightly inebriated guests get home safely.
Good for you, wanting to be environmentally conscious on your big day. Hope my suggenstions helped!
Ruth asks…
Trying to get school to go eco-friendly?
I’ve been doing some research at a local college about solar panels and it’s gotten me thinking about trying to get my high school to go eco–friendly. Since this is my last year, I figure it could be my gift to the school. My high school is public and it doesn’t have a huge budget, so I was thinking of sugesting small things to the super rather than going balls out with solar panels and wind turbines (like someone else I know at my old HS. Anway…)
Switching all computers hibernate after 10 minutes of being unused.
Recycling containers in the cafeteria
Have students in in-school suspension sort through recycling containers as a way to get time off of their punishments or to excuse dress code infraction for that day. (we get in big trouble for not wearing proper uniforms to school)
Install rain water tanks
At the end of the year, students and teachers save (some) paperwork to recycle.
Offer a collection for fully used/unwanted notebooks, folders, papers, empty ink cartridges , cell phones, batteries and other electronic devices.
Use napkins made from recycled paper
Used recycled notebook paper (they give us paper at the beginning of the year)
Recycle oil from cafeteria fryers
Print on both sides of the paper as much as possible.
Use recycled toilet paper and seat covers
Have electric hand dryers installed
Institute a no idle zone in parking lot for parents picking up their children or students goofing around.
Instead of turning in essays and research papers etc., offer the alternative of e-mailing them and replying back by e-mail with grade and corrections
Encourage car pools.
That’s what I have so far. Small changes that could have a big impact and not expensive.
Are there any other ways to go about it? I plan on e-mailing my superintendent a list of small changes about it. If she ignores it, then I’m thinking of starting a petition to show her people at the school really care.
The Expert answers:
It’s too bad there’s not more people like you.I just recently built my own Solar Panels and 2 Wind Generators very easily and very inexpensively.The only help I needed was from an Electrician.All he did was hook up my Solar Panels & Wind Generators to the power grid on my house.The Electric company now pays me.I am now 100% free of electric bills and even make extra money every month.Just imagine what your High School could do with all that extra money.Like I said earlier,The Electric company would actually pay the School every month on top of the money they would be saving by not having any more electric bills.I wish you the best of luck with your project !!! I hope this information helps you and others alike.It’s helped me out tremendously.
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