Although this is called “Diary of New Green Mom,” I am not completely ignorant of the green movement. Like most of us who can afford to, I try to buy organic foods, natural products, clothes made from organically grown cotton. I used an organic Boppy cover with all three kids, I swear.
But it quickly becomes overwhelming in that there are many products out there with similar claims; and it is expensive to stock our home with only products from Whole Foods and the local health food stores.
As more “natural” products enter the mainstream markets, it should be easier to happily make the “right” choice. Yet I find myself still anxiously hiding the Windex bottle under the organic eggs in my shopping cart.
For me there have been three large barriers to fully embracing a green lifestyle for my family of (four barriers if you include my general laziness, but let’s call that an “umbrella issue,” shall we?): Cost, quality, social impact. And I can’t separate these out even for my own purposes. I see pretty boxes on the grocery store shelves and I think simultaneously How much? Does it work? And is this frivolous?
While I support lifestyles that help protect our planet and peoples (obviously!), sustainable agriculture (farming based on ecological principles aiming to use renewable resources as much as possible) and organic farming (excluding or limiting the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, food additives, etc.) seem to put more expensive alternatives in the marketplace. As I educate myself for this Diary, I want to know why–and if–this is true.
I am not alone in these concerns. For many people, especially in this rocky economy, feeding our families has become more difficult. And while many, if not most, of us want to continue to put the highest quality foods on our tables and products in our homes, seeing that grocery bill go up and up is not a possibility. While I am debating the $7.99 organic toothpaste versus my chemically enhanced whitening one, I am thinking of the families in my own neighborhood for whom this would be a excessive and silly decision. Where and how milk is produced, I imagine, means little when you are counting your change to fill sippy cups with it.
A few months ago, I met the actress, mom and entrepreneur, Jessica Alba at an event launching The Honest Company. Her new venture provides monthly deliveries of all natural diapers, bath products, cleaners, etc.–all are beautifully packaged, non-toxic, and smell kind of divine. I am a fan. But I am a fan because her company gives back, through Baby2Baby, to families in the Los Angeles community struggling to afford the basics–like clothes and diapers. I am happy to support companies that recognize the disparate priorities among our communities.
Another pretty cool thing I’ve found is a new app for iPhone (and if I ever get my iPhone away from my three-year-olds, I will totally download it!). Because I called them out earlier on being very expensive, I am giving them a second chance here: Whole Foods Market’s Whole Planet Foundation and BlueAvocado, according to their press release, have launched “a ‘Make Change. Not Waste.’ mobile iPhone application that rewards Whole Foods Market® shoppers with coupons for green lifestyle actions, while raising awareness and funds for poverty alleviation.” So spend money, save money, and help fund microcredit programs in emerging economies? That caught my eye.
I am dedicated to sorting out for myself–and for you guys–affordable and effective products that contribute to “green” living. Let’s figure out where to invest time, money and loyalty by finding those companies that give the best to our families, and do the best for families like ours all over the world.
I am new at this. But I think I am finding my green groove here.
Wendy Bradford is a mama of three, wife, writer, spin instructor, ardent New Yorker and blogger at mamaonetothree.com.
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