Raising a child in a world with fears over toxic plastics in baby bottles and children’s toys isn’t easy, just ask any mom or dad. Things get even more complicated when you start to wonder which fruits and vegetables are most important to buy organic to avoid pesticide fallout, or even choosing a chemical-free soap to wash baby with.
Those answers are part of a growing body of recommendations and solutions posted online for all to use after diligent research by a group of concerned Coastside moms. Their Web site, www.GreenMomsCoastside.com, launched last week and aims to answer questions from worried moms all over the world.
“There is a thirst for knowledge among moms. There a ton of ‘green moms’ blogs where moms are putting out questions out there for each other — how can I make my child’s future safer? How can I reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in my home?” said Melinda MacNaughton, the mom who started a discussion group, simply called the “Green Moms”, in 2005 after asking around to see whether there were any other new mothers out there with the same questions she had. Today, the group has more than 100 members, some living in places as far-flung as Canada and North Dakota. Those who live locally have met for regular outings, sometimes with their children.
Last year, the group visited a permaculture (organic, closely grown) vegetable garden south of Half Moon Bay.
At Christmas, they all made gift bags out of scraps of material, using sewing machines provided by a group member who happened to be a seamstress. Another mom did a bread-making demonstration and then gave everyone some bread starter to take home.
The Web site is a virtual community with blogs, a discussion forum and pages of links and recommendations for many aspects of “green” family lifestyle choices.
Each option is rated from “green” to “greenest”, by way of acknowledging that some moms (and dads) don’t have the time or the budget to pursue complicated or time-consuming solutions (such as buying biodegradable diapers versus potty-training an infant to avoid using diapers at all).
Image from Green Moms Coastside.
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