Leo Goes Grr

Cardboard moving boxes is so 2009!

2010-10-06T11:15:00.004-04:00

If you live on the west coast and are moving, you are in luck! Spencer Brown saw a problem in Southern California - the millions of cardboard boxes we use every year for moving and then throw away. Responding to this need Brown created Rent a Green Box, providing durable plastic boxes to rent for moving, saving 50% on the cost of moving as well as reducing waste and helping the planet. The boxes, also called Recopacks, are made from recycled plastic bottles, further reducing landfill waste. It's a simple idea that makes so much sense that they have kept on growing right through the recession and are targeting national growth in the years ahead.

Page 1239 of the health care bill promotes on keeping things natural

2010-04-09T14:58:00.005-04:00

We have a new found respect for the Obama team. They are getting some things right. And they have our salute on the page 1239 of the health care bill. For anyone that knows that health of our kids starts right from start and with their parents also knows its impact on the society as a whole.

Nursing mothers will now get additional support, thanks to page 1239 of the health care bill that President Obama recently signed into law. It requires employers to provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk." Only companies with less than 50 employees can claim it's an undue hardship.

A recent study in the journal Pediatrics showed breastfeeding a child for the first six months of life would save nearly 1,000 lives and billions of dollars each year. That's because breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain illnesses such as pneumonia, according to the study. Much of the cost comes from excess premature deaths, the study authors said.

Major medical and health organizations agree that breast milk by itself is sufficient for newborns and infants until they are 6 months old. But a 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that while 74 percent of women start breastfeeding, only 33 percent of mothers relied on breastfeeding only at three months. At six months, the numbers go down to 14 percent.

The very green Muir Woods

2010-04-09T13:12:00.003-04:00

Our recent family trip to San Francisco was very refreshing and inspiring. Our trip to Muir Woods, just 12 miles north of SF was a real delight coming from the East Coast.

Muir Woods National Monument is a haven in the San Francisco Bay Area. You'll find redwoods, Douglas firs, maples, oaks and bay laurels in a peaceful setting about 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Watch butterflies and Steller's jays flying from tree to tree.

We took in a lot of fresh air and also literally inhaled the delicious food and goodies in their Cafe. Unlike most cafes at touristy locations that serve greasy pizza and hot dogs, it was a great treat to see a small menu with organic and local food options served in biodegradable and compostable ecotainers. It rounded up our visit of the glorious red wood trees perfectly.

Defending Food!

2010-03-24T14:48:00.003-04:00

"Tell me what you eat, and I shall tell you what you are."
Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

If we are what we eat then we are a group of genetically modified and hormone fed animals. A long time ago, before the McDonalds, Burger King and KFC age was the age of healthy home-made balanced cooking. Food didn't travel the distances it does today, fast food was not a concept and processed foods were non-existent. It seems as if we have come a full circle. Our defense should begin at the table with Slow Food. Old was good, in fact golden!
"In the name of productivity, Fast Life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes. So Slow Food is now the only truly progressive answer."
- Taken from the Slow Food Manifesto

Slow Food is Good Food. What Can You and Your Kids Do?

Grow some of your own food. Start a garden, or if space is tight, fill a few pots with herbs, radishes, peas, or tomatoes. Pick and enjoy food fresh from your garden — and if there is any left, bring it into the kitchen and add it to your meal. Children will appreciate the fresh and delicious flavors of foods picked at the peak of freshness. Point out the benefits of eating foods right out of the garden instead of purchasing items from the grocery story that have traveled from other countries.

In the upcoming weeks we will focus on easy slow food recipes, stay tuned!

Make recycled gift bows with that leftover wrapping paper

2009-12-17T12:46:00.004-05:00

We know it is almost impossible to avoid wrapping paper during the holiday season! I found this great craft activity to do with kids while the kids are off from school next week!

Wrapping Paper Bow

Supplies:

left over wrapping paper
invisible tape such as Scotch Tape
small piece of cardboard
scissors
ruler
optional: small piece of double-sided tape for each bow

How to Make a Paper Bow from Wrapping Paper

Instructions:

1. Cut the wrapping paper into strips that are approximately four inches long and 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch wide. There's no need to use a ruler to cut each strip, but try to make them all roughly the same.

2. Cut a 1½ inch square of thin cardboard (cereal box or food box cardboard works well for this).

3. Take a cut strip of wrapping paper and fold it over into a curled loop, with the plain sides together. Bring one end about an 1/8 inch away from the other end and hold in place with a small piece of invisible tape, allowing the tape to extend past both ends about 1/8 inch.

4. Stick the first loop down on the cardboard square, centered at the edge of one side. Repeat with three more paper loops, so you have a loop in the middle of each side.

5. Take four more loops and stick them down at the corners of the square. At this point, your bow should look like the photo, shown above, at right.

6. Continue making paper loops, sticking each one down just in front of, and between two loops from the previous row. The bow will begin to fill in, as shown in the photo, lower right.

7. When you get to center of the small square, make a single loop and stick this down right in the middle. Fluff the bow gently with your fingers and it should look like the completed bow shown in our large photo at the top of the page. It is now ready to decorate your next gift package.

8. Stick the bow onto a wrapped gift by making a loop of invisible tape with the sticky side out or, if you wish, use a small tab of double-sided tape instead.

School's in Session: Get Involved

2009-09-16T10:36:00.003-04:00

Kids are back in school. School forms need to be completed, Back to School Night is coming up. Everyone is gung ho about the new school year. It is also a new year for the Home and School Association/PTA. HSAs offer a unique opportunity to parents to get involved in the extra curricular activities offered by the schools. This cannot happen without volunteer parents. So a simple resolve to volunteer 2 hours of your time to any activity in your child's school can be tremendous. Join a committee that is closest to your heart and take part. Leo Goes Grr is doing its part this year by offering a fundraiser to schools interested in conducting Grreen Fundraisers. our highlights are:
"Buy Locally Made in America Products" result Take Care of Small to Mid-Size Businesses in America.
"Buy products made from materials that are safe for our children".
"Buy products made from recycled materials which would otherwise get discarded and end up in our landfills"
"Buy products made from properly managed resources to minimize impacts to the environment".

Fundraisers are great but Grreen Fundraisers are even better because they help raise money "with a sense of pride for American businesses and Respect for healthy living and the environment".

Back to School Time

2009-08-10T21:38:00.004-04:00

As much as we don't want to admit it, summer is nearing its end and that means school's around the corner. Here's a typical list for Kindergarteners:

1. A lightweight backpack. Try to stay away from rolling backpacks.
2. A healthy snack packed a reusable containers instead of disposable packaging and reduce waste.
3. An art smock for use in the classroom as well as during art class. (An oversized t-shirt works best because it can be slipped on easily. Try to stay away from smocks with buttons and ties, as they can be challenging to get on and off. Please label your child's smock on the front with his or her full name.)
4. A 2-pocket folder. Please label the right side "Homework" and the left side "Take Home". Try to use a sturdy folder such as a heavy cardboard folder.

Here are some consumer tips from the USEPA on how to reduce wastes at your school:
http://www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/funfacts/school3.htm

Farmers Markets Season has Begun

2009-04-30T23:03:00.002-04:00

Many of you may be aware of the beginning of your local farmer's market. There are several reasons to shop and support your local farmer market: supporting your local economy, reducing transportation impacts from miles your food has travelled, eating fresh produce and thereby eating less preservatives. Sounds like common sense.

Mother Nature Network recently posted some neat tips on how to shop at a Farmer's Market near you. http://www.mnn.com/food/markets-groceries/stories/cornering-the-market

Here's a website where you can search for farms in your area:
http://www.localharvest.org/

A History of Earth Day

2009-04-20T23:35:00.003-04:00

This week the US celebrates the 37th Earth Day. How will you celebrate? Here are some simple effective ways:

1. Thick about which habit can I change that will make my being less burdensome?

2. Pay it forward: Talk to a friend about your resolve and inspire them to make a change.

3. Talk to your children and learn from them. They will be coming home with a wealth of knowledge.

4. Take action. Actions speak louder than words.

My family opted for a hybrid sedan vehicle instead of a larger SUV type car. This purchase will require us to change our vehicle use habits. Your resolve may not involve a large purchase, but if it makes a difference, thats what matters. Take a ceramic cup to work;

Stop using the disposables;

Use one napkin instead of the usual 20 odd napkins,

Use a cotton washable rag for cleaning and dusting instead of paper towels,

Use cleaning products that are gentler to produce and use,

Compost your yard waste instead of throwing it in the trash and

I can go on and on.

While you are in the mode check out the history of Earth Day

http://www.america.gov/st/env-english/2008/April/20070420114325jtnworb0.9966699.html

A Present for Mother Earth!

2009-04-09T21:29:00.008-04:00

Spring is here! Forsythias, daffodils, snowdrops, magnolias, crocus (or is it croci) blooming everywhere! Earth day is fast approaching. So what's your present to Mother Earth this year? How about something that truly helps improve the Earth as in soil? Here are my suggestions and I welcome yours:

Stop applying pesticides to your garden. Although these treat pests in your garden, they also are harmful for pets, other wildlife and to our children and us. Ever wonder why you should not get on your lawn for at least 24 hours after a pesticide application? Pesticides are designed to attack biological systems which includes you and me.

Stop using fertilizer without the appropriate knowledge of how much to add and when to add. Lack of this knowledge, can result in over fertilizer. The big picture: you kill your lawn, you let rain water carry excess fertilizer to our streams and rivers which results in "eutrophication" of the water body. Eutrophication is a fancy term for availability of excess nutrients leading to increased algal growth and uptake of oxygen in the water body, killing the fish and other fauna.
Change the type of weedkillers. Let move from RoundUp like products to more natural biodegradable weedkillers like BurnOut, a concoction of clove oil and citric acid, http://www.planetnatural.com/site/burnout-weed-killer.html. Even vinegar and lemon juice work fantastically.

We took this step last year. Our landscaper was adding fertilizer and pesticides to areas which were devoid of grass! We found Organic Dutchman, an organic lawn treatment outfit at http://www.organicdutchman.com/. The bald patch in our lawn has re-grown, the grass is healthier (the deer are enjoying it) and my kids can run around bare footed. My neighbor got a new puppy and switched to Organic Dutchman. I am sure there are other such
vendors. Spread the word folks!!
You and I can Green It for Mother Earth this year!

Four Conference Chairs-Three Pink and One Burgundy

2009-03-29T23:13:00.007-04:00

With the down turn in the economy, my workplace is also experiencing cuts. Offices are being closed in an effort to consolidate services. So a couple of my colleagues drove out of town to clean out the Boston office. They came back with among other things three pink and one burgundy conference chairs. Now who in a business setting would want a pink chair in their conference room. My guess: someone who cannot afford a chair! Folks at work thought that perfectly fine chairs should be disposed in the dumpster. The "GrreenMomster" in me would not permit me to be silent at such a suggestion particularly, since I work in the environmental field. Now it takes money, time, courage and sometimes a combination of these to deliver solutions to save four chairs from ending up in the landfill. Four such chairs that have a lot of life left in them. So I called the Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, the Jerry Lewis Charity for Multiple Sclerosis ...... Nobody accepted the chairs or they did not have a need for them. Then I discovered Freecycle.org and a local group at Rutgers University and greatnonprofits.org. I join the groups, posted my four chairs and waited. In 24 hours I had one request for photographs of the chairs from a non-profit group. It turns out to be an orphanage which has a conference room but no furniture and hence no use for the room. They like the chairs. The main question "how will the chairs get to them?" I should know more tomorrow, but I am glad that such online tools are putting people in touch, helping keep objects out of landfills, and providing opportunities to make a change. One such opportunity is Leo Goes Grr's Grrecycle Room. Post to it, buy from it and grab your opportunity....

What can your house and the White House have in common?....An organic garden

2009-03-23T22:00:00.010-04:00

Last week the White House broke ground on its South Lawn to raise an organic garden. The idea was to motivate people to grown their own food and promote healthy eating habits.

It certainly motivated my family. As soon as my husband heard the NPR report about the White House organic garden, he texted: "Add create organic garden to our to do list". Actually last year, my husband's aunt Sulbha, who lives in NJ, had fantastically green foliage on her patio. She has always had a green thumb but last year she used it to grow vegetables in containers. It was such a hit that she plans on continuing this year and this year she is not alone. My friend Ritu has started her seedlings already. And I? I have started the planning process. My issue like many in NJ is deer grazing. So I will contain my vegetable garden to my deck. I have wood slats in my basement which will be nailed together. The wood will be treated for water proofing (I need to find a green way to do this...any ideas?). By the time, we get around to doing this, it will be mid-April. So why not wait a bit and have a "plant a garden" birthday party for my 51/2 year old.

So what make a garden organic: the soil and the fertilizer. For planters, I would recommend large bags of organic soil and a couple of bags of compost from the local nursery or Coop. If you are planting in the ground, an organic compost will help turn over your garden in three years to be qualified as organic. Go the extra mile by harvesting rain water in a rain barrel available from http://www.aquabarrel.com/ and use it to water your garden. Remember to place it at a higher elevation than the area intended to be watered. Here are few more ideas http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/kitchen-plants-container-gardens.html.

Choose a sunny spot, water regularly and enjoy!!

My New Dryer!!

2009-03-16T20:57:00.007-04:00

Here's my new dryer! It dries clothes and is free.. well not free. It costs $19.99 + tax and is available at http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50095091. It can hold one standard laundry load. It can conveniently be folded for storage when not in use. It will lower your utility bill guaranteed. Now for the added benefits:

1. Slows me down since I can only dry one load at a time. The pressure is off!

2. My 5.5 year old daughter loves to empty the washer for me.

3. Many household members want to help me put the clothes out to dry.

So all in all, use alternate sources of energy-solar and wind and now laundry is a feel good activity.

Grreen Fundraisers for Your School

2009-03-02T11:46:00.001-05:00

As parents of school-going children, we are eternally asked to contribute to our children's school. I remember the first day back from school and my kids came home with a fundraiser. My first thought was "Are they going to school to learn or to raise funds?". As the year progressed, I saw more such requests. As a parent, I was over-whelmed, not only with the number of fundraisers, but also requests for additional funds needed for small projects - class parties, extra-activities planned by the teachers, school trips etc.

When the school year began, I checked with several parents about participating in the Home and School Association. Many of them were of the opinion that once you attend you get pressurized to participate and of course you volunteer, taking on one more responsibility when you are already stretched thin. Nonetheless, I had made up my mind to find out for myself. I decided to make it a priority to play an active role in the school's Home and School Association equivalent to a Parent Teacher Association. Mind you "active" for me at this time does not mean serve on a committee, it meant, merely, attend a monthly meeting.

Contrary to the feedback I received from many parents, the HSA was an extremely welcoming and warm group of parents. These parents are just as strecthed out as I. But they have chosen to prioritize their children's school experience over some other activity. There were no pressures, only opportunities..... Ultimately it is my choice to either participate or not. One HSA meeting and I realized how important it is for parents to support a group of individuals whose only objective is to make the school experience as educational, fun and memorable as possible. To me thats a selfless cause.

And thats how the idea of Grreen Fundraisers was born! Check out Grreen Year-Round Fundraisers on www.leogoesgrr homepage. Leo Goes Grr kicked off its first Grreen Fundraiser at Woodfern Elementary School in Hillsborough NJ. A lucky patron will be awarded an Imagination Box from Leo Goes Grr Grreen Shop!

No Waste Lunches..

2009-02-22T23:09:00.000-05:00

Last blog I wrote about I love the thermos container to pack a warm lunch for my kids. So here's a few more reasons why a container sent from home helps the environment and therefore us.

Did you know that if you send a lunch in disposable packaging you are generating atleast 4-8 ounces of garbage every week. This adds up to as much as 100 pounds per year (Source:http://www.recycleworks.org/schools/lunch.html)

Ok so everyone who reads the newspaper and has even a slight bit of eco-awareness knows how important it is to reduce waste - the first of the three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). So here's a few ways to reduce waste when packing a lunch:

1. Use a lunch box or reusable sack.
2. Pack a cloth napkin and reusable utensils.
3. Put food in reusable food and drink containers.

Its that simple. Here's a some definite NOs:

1. Boycott styrofoam. Styrofoam is forever. It is not biodegradable.
2. Paper Towels: Most people around the world do not use paper towels. Use dish towels or rags - thesecan be recycled in a textile recycling program.
3. Plastic forks and spoons are not recylable in most recycling programs. Carry utensils from home.

For tips check out: http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/shopunshop/unshopping/neverbuy.cfm

Just imagine what a change you and I can make moving forward with these simple acts. Thanks to our children for providing us with this opportunity. It a choice we need to make...

Leo Goes Grr encourages you to send in your child's No Waste Lunch artwork. Send in your entries by March 10 to win a 20% off coupon from our Green Shop. All entries will be posted on our blog and the artwork with the highest votes wins!

Get to work...we got a landfill to save!

And the winner is...

2009-02-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

Jyoti R from New Jersey who said "Weather proof your home, turn down the thermostat setting & don a sweater to cut down on utility bills"

Congratulations Jyoti. Happy Shopping.
Stay tuned for more grreat contests on Leo Goes Grr!!

Save Green by Going Grreen!

2009-01-23T13:47:00.000-05:00

Yes, the down economy is on everyone's minds and more and more we are looking for ways to save some money to protect our families until things take a u-turn. I would like to compile a list together of some of the green ways we can all implement to cut corners. Send in your ideas and we will pick the best one. The winner will be rewarded a $25 gift certificate from Leo Goes Grr's Grreen Shop!
Hurry! this contest ends on Feb 5, 2009 at midnight.

Warm Lunch for School

2008-12-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

While working at the Holiday Market at Columbus Circle, my sis-in-law packed a warm home-made lunch for me. I love taking lunch from home for several reasons - the most obvious one is it is designed for my palate. Home made meals can help maintain healthy eating habits at a lower cost. So anyway, she packed the lunch in a Thermos Foogo container, which, to my delight, kept the food warm for up to 5 hours. Nothing like having a warm meal while you are working outdoors in the winter months or keeping a salad cool in the summertime.

Now my issue has been providing my two, ever so picky, elementarians (if thats a word), with warm home-cooked nutritious and tasty lunches. Sandwiches are the default choice only because the school did not have food warming provisions. The oher choice was buy lunch in school. In the case of the latter option, being vegetarians, my kids are limited to cheese quesadillas, bagel with cream cheese, garden burgers, raw vegetables and fruit. Sounds like a balanced lunch to me.... so whats the problem? The picky eaters....they will not touch the vegetables and fruit. So the Thermos Foogo is my answer. Now I can pack soups and pastas and relax knowing that my kids are enjoying their warm lunch!

Adavantages of using such a product:
*Thermos Foogo is made from BPA free plastic and stainless steel materials. *Maintaining the desired temperature reduces the risk of contaminating the food.
*Reduce use of disposable lunch bags and plastic containers
*Reduce the need to re-heat and save energy.

Check out detailed features at:

http://www.thermos.com/SubCategoriesCatalog.aspx?CatCode=Foog&SubmenuId=0

Thermos Foogo is easily available at most retail stores.

Remeber baby steps ..... one at a time......

Indoor Compost

2008-12-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

I spent the last month visiting several preschools for my little guy. While I was impressed with some of them, they were cute etc etc as all kiddie schools are, I came across a wonderful school, Corlears (in NYC). What really impressed me about the school was that they have a compost in their backyard. The kids in the school manage it, use it to plant trees in nearby parks as well as in their own backyard and it is 100% organic. It is managed from daily food scraps that the school generates. While I am sure it is a common concept on the west coast, I was quite impressed by this concept enforced in a preschool. Got me thinking that perhaps parents who want to make their kids schools green can propose this concept to the board and start a food compost/recycling program. I found this great indoor compost for those of you who might want to try it at home.
http://www.planetnatural.com/cgi-bin/planetnatural/indoor-composter

Come see us at Columbus Circle, NY

2008-12-04T17:20:00.000-05:00

You can find us at the Columbus Circle holiday market in New York. We will be here weathering the cold but in great holiday spirits from Dec 3 - Dec 24.
Surprise surprise we are the only "green" toy booth here.
Some of the things are customers said about our stuff:
"really, there are toy makers in USA"
"berries and shoots in stuffed animals..how delicious!"
"these are european quality toys"
"what a novel idea..such imaginative toys"

How we started Leo Goes Grr, Grreen!

2008-12-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Between the 2 of us we have 3 kids, ages 2, 5 and 6. We remember going to large toy stores (not going to name them) and looking at some of the toys and going "ugh"! They are not cute, they are not intelligent and they are loud (ugh!) and they are not safe!. Like all parents we care for safety first and foremost. Not sure why these large retailers dont! Anyways, we have always loved wooden items, especially for kids. And those toys that come from Europe and India and Thailand are just beautifully crafted. As we started to dig deeper, we found that wait there are amazing toy makers in USA - Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maryland etc. How about that?
Hence Leo Goes Grr came about.
We learnt a lot of things about raising our kids green as we built this company -
- plastic is bad, no matter how you look at it
- not all wooden toys are safe. be aware of non-toxic paints
- let the kids use their imagination to power the toys. batteries are not recyclable and end up in landfill
- there is no need to waste energy resources in shipping toys from all over the world when you can find lovely, safe toys in USA. "think global, buy local" remember?
- we admit, recycled items, quality toys are more expensive. but less is always more. these toys will last generations. and we only have one planet..let us respect it.