Real (not fake) Organics & Naturals

This just goes to show you... never believe everything you read on the front of your products.  For those of you seeking to choose organic or natural products for you and your family, you will want to read this.  I just stumbled upon an article posted by Organic Gal on Nesting.com about body care products that use the label "organic" or "natural" without really being so.  (She didn't actually write it, either; she got it from another site.)  Apparently, you can put anything on the front of your package, so be sure to read your ingredient lists!  If you want to see the article, it's at nesting.com.  The article is a little hard to read, because it's in one continuous paragraph instead of a list, so here's a list of the brands that are true to their organic or natural label.  *Disclaimer: I have not personally checked any of these yet, but as some of the fakers are in my home, I will be making some personal adjustments.*

The following paragraph is taking directly from the Organic Gal posting:
Body care is not a regulated industry.  The USDA Organic regulations/laws only extend to food items or body care items that are food grade.  Because of lax regulations a body care company can use the word "Natural" any way they want, regardless of if they threw in chemicals and synthetics to the final product. A company can only use the word Organic (as in the product name, etc) on the front of their packaging if the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients.  For a company to display a label that reads "Made with Organic ingredients" the product must carry 70% or more organics with no restrictions on the other ingredients.  For a company to display the USDA organic label, it must have 95% or higher organic ingredients with the other 5% being from an approved list.  To carry the new Natural Products Association Label the natural product must only contain pre-approved naturally derived ingredients.  The Eco-Cert label has fallen under scrutiny lately, for allowing synthetics in products (which is against its own rules) with many interest groups now not trusting the integrity of the EcoCert logo.

Real Organic: no synthetics, never ever
Badger Balm
Bottled Earth Company
Dr. Bronners
Earth Mama
Angel Baby
Eco-Beauty Organics
Eminence
Essensa
Gratefulbody Organics
iLike
Intelligent Nutrients Le FP
Green body Care
Miessence Organics (food grade, carries USDA label)
Nature's Baby Organics
Nourish (food grade, carries USDA label)
Oracle Organics
Organic Essence
Pangea Organics
Perfect Organics
Sun Dog
Trillium

Real Natural: Though they might not use all organic ingredients, their finished product has NO added synthetics.
Alaffia (*Fair Trade)
Aubrey Organics, (they are not on the organic list because not all products are fully organic, though they never use chemicals or synthetics in finished product)
Bon Vital's natural line
Devita
Dr. Bronners
Earth Mama
Angel Baby
Mexitan
Mychelle
Rare 2 B
Suki
Weleda
Zum

Organic Gal posts a lengthy list of fakers, as well as a list of companies who are "hit or miss."  The "hit or miss" companies have some great products that would be considered true to their labels, but they also have some products that use synthetics.  If you want me to post the list of fakers here, I will, but I figured the list of real companies made this post long enough.  :)

Another great website to check this stuff out at is that of the Organic Consumers Association.  I highly recommend checking out your products.  This site also includes a spreadsheet that gives the Skin Deep hazard rankings to each brand's products.  You definitely want to look at this!

Fluff Friday Giveaway

Visit The Cloth Diaper Whisperer to enter her giveaway for a Knickernappies One-Size Diaper with two Loopy-Do inserts and a Knickernappies Hanging Door Pail Liner at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2010/02/fluff-friday-67.html.  Enter through Thursday, February 25th at 7 p.m.

Moby Wrap Giveaway

Another great website for all you moms out there -- http://givemeneither.com/.  Any of you expecting or with wee ones or know someone that falls into those categories?  Check out the Moby Wrap giveaway at http://givemeneither.com/moby-baby-wrap-giveaway/.  Enter and share with your friends!

The Disappearing Male

Do you have children?  Or grandchildren?  Do you want to?  You NEED to make 40 minutes in your schedule to watch this video, The Disappearing Male.  It is frightening.

When I started my journey toward green, some of my decisions and choices were based on my feeling that all these man-made chemicals couldn't be great for our God-created human bodies more than facts (and some were definitely based on fact), but this documentary provides some frightening and specific effects of all these chemicals.  I fear for our children's generation, but perhaps even moreso, for their children.  What will their world be like???  We can make a change, but we have to do it now, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month...  You don't need to go "cold turkey" or do it all, but choose today to make one small, green change for your family.  One small step at a time to change the world.

Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's Giveaway

So, I just discovered The $30 Weekly Grocery Challenge!  You really need to check this blog out.  What a great resource!!!  Anyway, she has tons of great giveaways, including this one for a copy of the book Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's.  Check it out today and regularly (I've added a button on my blog page), because her giveaways usually are only 48 hours.  Good luck!

Kids Eat Free 2/13-15 @ IKEA

Save some green, right?  This weekend, February 13-15, kids can get a free lunch at participating IKEA stores.  No purchase necessary.  Free lunch is for kids 12 and under, and you get to choose 3 kid-sized items to make a meal (including five meatballs, mac and cheese, PB&J sandwich, kids yogurt, two cookies, chocolate milk and more)!  Call your local IKEA store to make sure they are participating.


From the IKEA website: "Our Restaurants welcome you with a relaxing atmosphere and menu offers that satisfy most every taste at a price that satisfies every budget. Of course we’re famous for our Swedish meatballs and Lingonberry drink, but there’s so much more, you’re guaranteed not to go home hungry! And to show we’re concerned for your well being and satisfaction, we want you to know that IKEA is committed to sourcing food for our menu items from companies that are committed to the highest food safety standards as well as being environmentally and socially responsible. We take every measure to insure our suppliers comply with all international and national food legislation. We make strict demands concerning animal welfare and the non use of antibiotics or hormones to stimulate growth. We support ecological farming and prefer organically grown products. It’s our commitment, to make it Tasty, Uncomplicated and Good for You!"

A Review of Six Green Laundry Detergents

Someone just shared this link with me, and I wanted to pass it on to you.  I think our laundry detergent is a big place we need to "go green," a good first thing to replace with something greener when you run out of whatever you've been using.  It goes into our water, it goes into our clothes, which come in constant, close contact with our family's skin, etc.  Anyway, the site is http://www.grist.org/ (A Beacon in the Smog), and the article is at http://www.grist.org/article/its-a-wash.  Check it out.

Organic Rising

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends.  I also hope that you will make just one small change to your lifestyle in 2010 to take better care of your family and our planet.  Whether you switch to cloth napkins or purchase "green" cleaners when whatever you are using now runs out, or maybe you're expecting a new baby and you're going to use gDiapers or cloth or even just chlorine-free disposables...  each single small step makes a difference.  What will your small step be?

Need some ideas related to the food you eat?  Check out Organic Rising, a site I just discovered and a wealth of information about organic foods.  This site, sponsored by the Organic Valley Family of Farms offers information about just what "organic" means, recipes, and more.

Another thing I'm excited about, regarding food, is my newest cookbook I received for Christmas --Simply in Season.  For those of us trying to do better about eating locally and in season, this book is wonderful!  The recipes are broken down into sections based on the four seasons and the foods that are available at those different times.  I can't wait to start trying some out this week.  Lots of soups this time of year -- yummy!

Remember, reader, I'd love to hear your responses and additions to my thoughts, so please comment.

Deals and Steals

I'm going to try to post some handy coupon codes now and then for some of my favorite green things. 

Here's Round #1:

gDiapers: Use code GoodFriend for an additional $30 off the sale price of the everyday g's pack...  that's 6 little g pants for just $40!!!  Valid through December 11th.

ReusableBags.com: Use code FRND10 at checkout to receive 10% off you entire order.  BTW, if you've never shopped this site, they have more than just bags.  One use per customer through December 14th at midnight (CST).  Coupon valid on sale items, too

You'll find great deals we landed from our suppliers - passing huge savings on to you (combined with this coupon, you can save over 50% on select items)! Plus, save on overstocked customer favorites & best sellers and special introductory prices on new items. Outstanding reusables at great prices. If you see something you like, don't wait - popular items tend to sell out.

We've lowered our shipping prices:  Reminder for the holidays - we're offering flat rate shipping for $5.95 & FREE shipping on orders over $75. (Domestic orders only, etc. details).

Seventh Generation: Lots of great green products for your home, from diapers to cleaning products, etc.
Save 15% on Seventh Generation Product Kits

Give the gift of Seventh Generation this holiday season, and help your friends and family protect their environments. Now through January 15, you can save 15% on our Healthy Home, Free & Clear, and Green Baby kits, which come with a free tote bag. Click here for more information and to purchase. Use code SGKITS15 at checkout. Helping someone switch to a natural clean is a gift you can feel good about.

ebates: I can't forget my favorite site for online shopping!  I've saved over $200 since I joined ebates simply by visiting this site before I shop at all my favorite online stores!  It's so easy.  Sign up today!

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas...

OK, not really, I love the snow!  But I also love to save some green ($) and try to minimize the environmental impact of our celebration, too.

I've mentioned this before... buy reusable bags to use for gift bags.  I stocked up on some really cute ones at the Disney Store (good for the young 'uns and the young-at-heart), but everyone seems to have them now, so grab the cute ones when you see them.  I've noticed Christmas and Hannukah themed bags at Wegman's, but I'm thinking,"Who's actually going to use these after December???" so I don't know if going with a holiday-themed bag is best.  But have fun!  Even if you use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, chances are that they can be re-used over and over again before they're too beat up.  I know it works in our family!

I'm also thinking... Live Tree.  If you're not allergic.  I know, you might be thinking, "What's wrong with a fake tree?  You re-use it year after year."  Fake trees are made from the dreaded petroleum-derived plastic, polyvinyl chloride (or PVC), whose production produces all kinds of carcinogens.  Many of our fake trees also contain lead and other fun ingredients, which are combined to make your tree, not in the USA, but in China.  Of course.  My favorite solution to the real tree thing is to buy one with its roots still intact and re-plant it in your yard after the holidays.  There's a win-win!  I remember my family doing that a number of times when I was a kid.  I also read (in an ad, so...) that young trees are more efficient at oxygen production, so by purchasing a live tree and creating more room to plant new ones, you are actually helping the environment.  I didn't research this last statement, but it sounds good to me!  :)

Since I've had children, I don't have hours to roam the malls looking for the perfect gift for each person on my list.  They don't have the patience for shopping that I do.  But the Internet is my friend!  Use the Internet to plan your shopping trips to cut down on repeated trips or running all over town.  Research the best deals ahead of time.  Also, the Internet is a great tool for finding green toys and clothing that aren't always readily available at the brick-and-mortar stores yet.  Now I know, if you do all your shopping online, you are requiring the FedEx or UPS truck to make stops at your house, but...  I think it all comes down to planning.

OK, the children are requiring my attention, so any further thoughts I have on this subject will need to wait.  Please comment if you have other ideas!