Category Archives: Top 5 Fridays

Top 5 Lesser Known Green Charities

  By Donna DeForbes | December 28, 2012 - 7:00 am | ,
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Some people don’t get around to making charitable donations until the end of the year when they’re in the spirit of holiday giving. Others think of it as a write-off during tax season. Whenever you do it, charitable giving is a wonderful habit to adopt. So here are my top 5 organizations that focus on environmental or sustainable work. There are many great charities out there, but I opted for mentioning some of the lesser known ones who could also use some financial support. Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families This coalition of organizations and individuals works to inform and protect families from toxic chemicals. They’re working with legislators to pass the Safe Chemicals Act and create smarter limits on the things that go into the everyday products we use. DONATE. Earth Day Network Developed out of Earth Day, the EDN works with 192 countries to “broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement.” Earning a … Continue reading →

Top 5 Reasons to Celebrate the Winter Solstice

  By Donna DeForbes | December 21, 2012 - 7:00 am | ,
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The days are getting longer. Really. Although it may not seem like it on this longest night of the year, when, in Rhode Island, the sun sets at 4:15 p.m. and doesn’t rise until after 7:00, daylight incrementally increases after the Winter Solstice. Midwinter festivals are meant to celebrate the return of the sun. So sleep well tonight and enjoy that extra few minutes of sunshine tomorrow. A chance to reconnect with nature. Winter Solstice celebrates the seasons and the return of the sun. It is the perfect time to enjoy a family hike in the woods or a visit to your local zoo or wildlife reserve. Alternatively, you could create a bird feeder with the kids to welcome furry creatures in your backyard. Eating, drinking and role reversals. At least that was the rampant kind of fun ancient Romans had when celebrating the Winter Solstice with a festival known as Saturnalia. … Continue reading →

Top 5 Easy-to-Make Recycled Holiday Crafts

  By Donna DeForbes | December 14, 2012 - 7:00 am | ,
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Cardboard Christmas Choir. This adorable trio adorns a mantel or windowsill and is simply made with recycled toilet paper and paper towel tubes and kids’ socks. (Finally! A use for those singles that mysteriously lose their other half in the dryer.) Recycled Fishy Ornament. This ornament requires a few more items from the craft store, but it repurposes old tuna or sardine cans as well as those landfill-clogging Styrofoam packing peanuts. Milk Carton Dreidel. All you need for this cute Hanukkah craft is a small milk carton and a pencil. Kids decorate the dreidel and then play the game. The site even has downloadable activities. Yule Potpourri. With spices and fruits from your kitchen, simmer a batch of homemade potpourri to warm the house in this time of darkness. Make an extra big batch, and you can fill mason jars with potpourri for simple holiday gifts. Gift Box Advent Calendar. I … Continue reading →

Top 5 Ads for Buy Nothing Day: November 23

  By Donna DeForbes | November 22, 2012 - 5:00 pm | , ,
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Buy Nothing Day (BND) was founded in the early 1990s by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by Adbusters magazine until it grew into a global event. In North America, it’s celebrated on Black Friday – one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Around the world, it’s celebrated on the last Saturday in November. The movement is a response to the gluttony of consumerism. For one day each year, BND suggests people detox from shopping and really live those 24 hours instead. That could mean hiking, meditating, reading, partying or spending time with family. It also encourages people to think about the effects of our impulsive and compulsive shopping habits. Buy Nothing Day UK According to Buy Nothing Day UK, “…only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth. As … Continue reading →

Top 5 Reuses for a Cardboard Box

  By Donna DeForbes | November 16, 2012 - 8:30 am | ,
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I’ve been de-cluttering the house—slowly—kickstarted by an autumn clearing group at the beginning of the month. My mistake, in hindsight, was tackling the largest problem area, the basement, first. Our basement is a dwelling area for gardening supplies, tools, tubs of clothing, paper files, art supplies, seasonal items, sports equipment, and a large category of items I’d label as Things That Might Become Useful One Day. I was excited to empty a box of items that had been down there since we moved in three and a half years ago. The large box was immediately confiscated by Sofie, who saw it and yelled, “My boat!” We dragged it upstairs and it kept her entertained for three days before being abandoned…back in the basement, of courses. However, it did inspire this week’s top 5 reuses for a cardboard box. Boat (or car or other vehicle). Large boxes entice kids to climb … Continue reading →

Eco Mom’s Top 5 Eco-Friendly Deals This Week

  By Donna DeForbes | November 9, 2012 - 9:23 am | ,
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Harmony Organic Green Tea at Big Lots: $4.00. I’m a daily green tea drinker. Coffee is a bit harsh on my system, and I find a morning cup of green tea wakes me up without any body jitters or dashes to the bathroom. Check out the health benefits of green tea. My favorite green tea comes in a large bag of loose leaves my friend brings back from China. But we run out of that fairly quickly, and so when I stumbled upon this deal at our local Big Lots, I snatched it up. Organic tea in non-bleached bags – yay! My one gripe: I wish they’d taken a page from Celestial Seasonings’ book and put the bags in loose instead of enclosing them in individual packaging. Harmony also makes white, oolong and jasmine teas. Boiron Arnicare® Arnica Gel from Vitacost.com: $8.99. I love homeopathic arnica (from the plant Arnica Montana) … Continue reading →

Top 5 Things to Love About Autumn

  By Donna DeForbes | November 2, 2012 - 7:47 am | ,
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Pumpkin patches and apple orchards. What could be a more fun, nature-oriented family activity than this? We have a fall tradition of visiting our local Schartner Farms to buy mums, gourds, and pumpkins for the season. And in New England, we have our pick of happy apple orchards—although we have not yet gone this year. Both activities get us outside, tramping through fields and trees, selecting from nature’s bounty. We love the colors (yellow-gold, burnt orange, fiery red), the smells (fresh cider, fresh baked pies, fresh-cut red potato fries from Schartners) and the lessons from nature (read 9 lessons kids can learn at the pumpkin patch). Perfect weather. No need for air conditioners, fans or heat. It’s the most eco-friendly time of year in that respect. Although my husband tends to disagree, I relish fresh air breezing through open windows. I love snuggling into flannel sheets at night. Whereas during … Continue reading →

Top 5 American Animals to Save

  By Donna DeForbes | October 19, 2012 - 7:26 am | ,
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I had this idea to incorporate regular Top 5 lists into my blog posts, as people seem to love information condensed like that. Sofie wanted me to begin with animals. Coming off the heels of her Save The Wild Animals birthday party last weekend, it seemed fitting. According to Defenders of Wildlife, there are more than 1800 plant and animal species currently protected by the Endangered Species Act. One of the biggest factors threatening these animals is habitat loss due to pollution or development. My top 5 below are found in America and are not necessarily the most threatened. They are just five species that Sofie and her friends showed an interest in learning about. I’ve included links on protecting them—kids enjoy knowing they have the power to help animals in need. Jaguar. Not your typical kitty, the jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. The tail alone can … Continue reading →