Author Archives: Donna DeForbes

Guilt-Free Green Tip #8: Pick Up Your Dog Poop

  By Donna DeForbes | May 26, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
Leave a comment
Reasons for Picking Up Your Dog Poop | Eco-Mothering.com

After working eight years for my local environmental organization, Save The Bay, I learned quite a bit about marine pollution and its causes. And while some causes (like stormwater runoff) are out of our hands, there are others completely in our control. One of those is picking up dog poop. In 1991, the EPA labeled dog waste as a non-point source of pollution (alongside insecticides, oil, grease and acid drainage). Which means it’s a serious thing. Poop contaminates the ground around it and can also get washed into local storm drains and waterways when it rains. Benefits of Picking Up Dog Poop Healthier Pups and People Diseases such as E. Coli, roundworms, giardia and salmonella can be transmitted through dog feces to other dogs, cats or even people. (According to Stephan Budiansky in his book, “The Truth About Dogs,” there are 65 diseases that dogs can transmit to humans — … Continue reading →

Beauty Inside and Out: Goddess Garden Safe Sunscreen Review

  By Donna DeForbes | May 19, 2015 - 9:00 am | , ,
8 Comments
safesunscreen

This post is sponsored by Green Sisterhood but, as always, the opinion is my own. The recent beautiful New England weather has my family spending more time outdoors, which means it’s time to lather ourselves with Goddess Garden’s safe sunscreen. I learned about Goddess Garden last year, and it’s been our family’s go-to sunscreen ever since. (Scroll to bottom for details on 20% off Goddess Garden products!) As a forty-something woman who knows about the increased importance of skin protection, I want to avoid sun damage. I don’t want wrinkles and pigmentation to keep me from feeling beautiful on the outside. And I’ve learned how external beauty is often affected by what’s inside our personal care products. In the same way you want to fuel your body with healthy foods, you only want healthy products to soak into your skin—both have a direct impact on how you feel and how … Continue reading →

Generation Gap (In Defense of Gen Xers)

  By Donna DeForbes | May 12, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
Leave a comment
In Defense of Gen Xers | Eco-Mothering.com

Like it or not, my daughter is growing up a part of Generation Z being defined as the most entrepreneurial, collaborative, and socially conscious group of people yet. It seems like a good thing. Studies say Gen Z are more educated, make healthier choices and are cautious in their spending—the results, perhaps, of growing up in a world defined by digital media, global connection and depleting resources. I can’t help but feel a little bit jealous and, even defensive, of my own Generation X (roughly, those born between 1965 and 1980). The Baby Boomers labeled us as such due to the challenge of identifying the “X” factor that represented us. They called us cynical, anxious, unfocused slackers. Really, we are the children of the 70’s and 80’s, a group sandwiched between two larger and flashier generations. We got lost in the shuffle. We started out in safe, idyllic childhoods but … Continue reading →

Creating a Safe and Eco-Friendly Backyard for Your Children

  By Donna DeForbes | May 8, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
Leave a comment
Creating Eco and Child-Friendly Outdoor Spaces | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Patricia Dimick Children have an innate desire to be outside to burn off extra energy and experience nature. Yet it can be difficult to send children outside if there is not a safe place for them to play. With these helpful hints, some planning and thrifty purchases, you can create your own safe and eco-friendly backyard using recycled and repurposed materials. Creating a Safe Space When your tiny little bundles of joy get their feet under command, they are impossible to keep up with, and a fence may be necessary. Enclose the entire area with no more than five inches between slats. The open/close or locking mechanisms of the doors should be installed out of the reach of tiny “Houdini” hands. All parts of the fencing should be checked for holes or sharp areas. Look into sustainable fence options. You should get down to … Continue reading →

Safe Living with Ava Anderson Non Toxic Personal Care Products

  By Donna DeForbes | May 5, 2015 - 5:00 am | , ,
39 Comments
Ava Anderson Non Toxic Products | Eco-Mothering.com

A typical fourteen-year-old likely spends her time shopping, sleeping in and socializing with friends, both in person and digitally. Ava Anderson was not your typical fourteen-year-old. At that age, horrified by an EWG report that discovered dangerous chemicals in teen urine, she began researching the health effects of the chemicals found in personal care products. She tossed her family’s supply of lotions, shampoos and makeup since they were not up to her newfound standards of safety. Unable to find products that were safe enough, Ava and her mom Kim founded Ava Anderson Non Toxic in 2009. The focus: Quality products WITHOUT harmful chemicals. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a $100 giveaway! What does that mean? It means NO parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, phthalates, formaldehyde, glycol, sodium laureth sulfate or petroleum byproducts. Why are these chemicals bad for you? Ava’s done the research. Learn what each chemical means, and … Continue reading →

Unique, Wacky and Gently Green Holidays to Celebrate in MAY

  By Donna DeForbes | May 1, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
Leave a comment
Unique and Gently Green Holidays in May | Eco-Mothering.com

Some people only think about an eco lifestyle on Earth Day, April 22. However, a little research showed me that every month has a few unique and earth-friendly holidays that can be cause for celebration. Pick whichever ones appeal to you, then get out there and celebrate! May is National Bike Month. Since 1956 National Bike Month has given Americans the chance to celebrate this two-wheeled and eco-friendly mode of transportation. And from 2000 to 2013, bike commuters in the U.S. rose 62% - how awesome is that? Bike to Work Day is May 15 this year. May is also Barbecue Month, Get Caught Reading Month, National Photo Month and Date Your Mate Month. May’s Celebrations by Date: May 1 – May Day Whether it’s fertility dances, political protests or spring celebrations, May Day is honored around the world. One of the most common activities is maypole dancing, which really … Continue reading →

Guilt-Free Green Tip #123: Use a Rain Barrel

  By Donna DeForbes | April 28, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
1 Comment
Benefits of Rain Barrels | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to a regular blog feature called Guilt-Free Green Tips. These will be easy action steps you can take to be a little greener, and each mini post will feature one tip. Choose the ones that appeal to you, and learn what eco benefits a single, simple step can make. Rainwater collection dates back to ancient civilizations, from simple clay pots in Southeast Asia to complicated cistern systems of the Roman Empire. Only in the last decade, with the expansion of the green movement, has collecting rainwater become a more common practice in the U.S. And what exactly does a rain barrel do? Placed under a shortened downspout, rain barrels capture water from your roof and gutters. Whether you purchase one ready-made or make your own, a rain barrel is an easy, sustainable way to reuse water that would otherwise just sink into the ground. Use it to water your … Continue reading →

Product Review: Adopt a Healthy, Sweeter-Smelling Herban Lifestyle

  By Donna DeForbes | April 21, 2015 - 9:00 am | , ,
3 Comments
Herban Lifestyle Body Butter | Eco-Mothering.com

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Green Sisterhood. I received products to review but was not compensated for publishing the review. Opinions are all my own. One of the best things about being a blogger is forging relationships with small, natural living companies that I may never otherwise have discovered. Herban Lifestyle is one such company that makes it easy for us to balance our urban lifestyles with herbal habits. Owner Mary Kearns grew up in an ecologically conscious family and began making herbal bath and beauty products in 1999, selling them at local farmers markets. Her interest in the healing properties of herbs led her to found Herban Lifestyle in 2008 and share her products with a larger audience. Mary has also served as a wellness consultant on the scientific review of cancer prevention programs. With a mission to “make the world a happier, healthier, better-smelling place,” Herban Lifestyle creates products of … Continue reading →