Green Parent Chicago™

Come See Us at the 2009 Chicago Garden and Flower Show

There's only a few more weeks until spring makes its lovely appearance around Chicago. If you're gearing up for springtime gardening with the family, check out the 2009 Chicago Garden and Flower Show coming to Navy Pier March 7 to 15.

Kids activities will be available in the "A World of Adventure" Kids Activity Garden each day of the show. Green Parent Chicago will lead the fun on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with green crafts and more.

There will also be eco-friendly shopping at the marketplace, themed garden exhibits, gardening demonstrations, potting parties and culinary demos taking place. Tickets are available online and at the show. A flat rate parking fee of $14 is available per vehicle per day.

Tickets for the show may be purchased online or at the event. A $2 discount is offered on weekdays off the adult ticket price of $14. Kids tickets are $5 for both weekend and weekdays. Children 3 and under are free.

-Christine

Drs. Newman, Sears to Speak At IL Breastfeeding Conference

The Illinois chapter of La Leche League will host its annual conference for nursing parents, children and health care professionals March 20 to 22 in downstate Urbana at the University of Illinois campus.

Katie Field, area coordinator of events for LLL of Illinois said the conference, "Breast for Baby, Best for Mom" is open to all health care professionals, La Leche League Leaders, mothers, fathers and children.

Well known breastfeeding advocates, Dr. Jack Newman and Dr. Bob Sears, will speak at the conference, as will Marian Thompson, one of the seven founders of the international breastfeeding organization.

Newman will give a series of presentations on topics concerning new nursing babies. Sears is scheduled to deliver a keynote address Friday evening titled "Vaccines: Making An Educated Decision for Your Family." Thompson will lead workshops on child rearing, at-home motherhood and deliver the closing address on Sunday.

Registration for the conference is available online. Health care professionals may earn continuing education credits for attending. A small sample of the workshops available are: adoption and re-lactating, babywearing, living on one income, green living and a father's perspective. For families bringing kids, children's workshops are also available. Lunch and breakfast may be selected for an additional cost. On-campus overnight accomodations are available at the Illini Union. Attendees may also register for the keynote address only for a cost of $10.

EarthTalk™: Debunking Global Warming Skepticism

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t all these huge snow and ice storms across the country mean that the globe isn’t really warming? I've never seen such a winter!-- Mark Franklin, Helena, MT

On the surface it certainly can appear that way. But just because some of us are suffering through a particularly cold and snowy winter doesn’t refute the fact that the globe is warming as we continue to pump carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1997. And the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration (NOAA) reports that recent decades have been the warmest since at least around 1000 AD, and that the warming we’ve seen since the late 19th century is unprecedented over the last 1,000 years.

“You can’t tell much about the climate or where it’s headed by focusing on a particularly frigid day, or season, or year, even,” writes Eoin O’Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor. “It’s all in the long-term trends,” concurs Dr. Gavin Schmidt, a climatologist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Most scientists agree that we need to differentiate between weather and climate. The NOAA defines climate as the average of weather over at least a 30-year period. So periodic aberrations—like the harsh winter storms ravaging the Southeast and other parts of the country this winter—do not call the science of human-induced global warming into question.

Did You Know Today is Darwin Day?

We didn't either, but it is. In celebration of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday this year, annual Darwin Day celebrations will be held around the world to celebrate science and humanity. This year, there are 670 events planned in 45 countries around the world.

Here in Illinois, events are planned in Grayslake and at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

You can learn more about Charles Darwin's life, work and impact on science and our understanding of our origins on the Darwin Day website through audio files, analysis and excerpts of his work.

Dr. Rabiah Mayas, writes about Darwin Day at the Science Chicago blog and other events planned around the country this week. Read her discussion about recent misleading headlines proclaiming Darwin was wrong and how these could further reinforce the false ideas of anti-evolutionists.

-photo credit, angel johnson, nowpublic

Spread Peace And Love On Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, you can spread a little peace along with the loving wishes you'll be giving to each of your Valentines.

The Valentine Peace Project, is a community project for all ages that encourages people to spread the message of peace to others. Poems on peace and love are wrapped around different flowers to be given away to love ones, friends and neighbors. The project was founded by performance artist Federico Hewson.

Hewson said the idea for the event was based on his work as a performance artist in Chicago and Los Angeles. Hewson is a originally from the U.S. but now resides in Amsterdam.

"I was a performance artist and attracted to public art expressions so I wanted to create something fun anyone could do and generate a dialogue about peace - whether through poetry, public statements, street art or through the internet," he said.

The first Valentine's Peace Project was held in 2005 in Los Angeles. Hewson's idea formed the basis for the current organization and subsequently drew the participation of about a "half a dozen schools and programs as well as dozens of volunteers." In 2007, the project spread to New York and in 2008 to Europe.

EarthTalk™: Microfinance: Good for the Planet and Its People

Dear EarthTalk: What is “microfinance” and how does it help poor countries and preserve the environment? -- Eliza Clark, Seattle, WA

The brainchild of Grameen Foundation founder Muhammad Yunus, microfinance is a form of banking whereby financial institutions offer small loans to the poor. The idea behind the concept, which originated in Bangladesh in the mid 1970s, is that motivated and disciplined poor people could climb out of poverty if they had access to funding—even small amounts—that help get businesses off the ground. With access to revolving loan funds, these “micro-entrepreneurs” can build businesses, pay back the borrowed money, and continue to provide for themselves and their families in a sustainable manner.

A classic example would be a woman who borrows $50 to buy chickens so she can sell eggs to other members of her community. As her chickens multiply, she can sell more eggs, and eventually she can sell chicks as well. She pays back the money and has climbed out of a perhaps desperate situation financially—and the community benefits from having a new source of nutritious food.

“Having access to money to start a small business isn’t about fulfilling a dream, it’s literally about keeping their families one step ahead of starvation and putting a roof over their heads,” says Tracey Turner, founder of MicroPlace, an online “microfinance marketplace” launched by eBay in 2007.

Do Preschoolers Need to Know How To Text?

This new toy coming to stores in spring makes us wonder is it really an achievement to be computer literate as a 3 year old? What's wrong with reading books to learn the alphabet, shapes and colors?

The product's manufacturers say it can aid children's learning skills for letter recognition, following directions and getting familiar with the Qwerty keyboard. 

Looking for some common sense advice on kids and technology use? See these links:

Tech Tips for Tots

Techmamas

Common Sense Media

Green Parent Chicago Editor Christine Escobar at The In Home Conference

The In Home Conference, one of the largest homeschooling conferences in Illinois will be held March 5 through 7 at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles.

The non-sectarian conference includes workshops for children, teens, adults and families. Typically drawing well over 1,000 attendees, the event also features family dances, exhibitions, performances, a talent show, a children's flea and craft fair and a traveling science center. There will also be a special "Romp and Play" room for children ages 2 to 5.

Green Parent Chicago Founder and Editor Christine Escobar will speak at a panel discussion on blogging basics Saturday Feb. 7 led by Andrea Rennick of the popular HomeschoolJournal.net.

In addition to the various workshops for kids and teens, adult workshops will help parents explore homeschooling and unschooling philosophies, methods and techniques and are appropriate for both beginning homeschooling parents as well as seasoned veterans.

This year, several green living workshops will be also be featured on gardening, composting, children and outdoor playtime, Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots organization, bicycle maintenance, recycled clothing, and more.

Registration has already begun, however registration is currently being accepted at the regular rate through the conference website and by mail or fax until Feb. 20.  Registration will also be available on site, as workshop space is available.

Recycled Crafting Fun With Shawna: A Necklace Out of Headphones

Most teens and college aged music lovers go through headphones like they're going out of style. While there are several things I use the old headphones for - including garden ties and ties to organize extension cords - my favorite by far was taught to me by my seventeen year old daughter.

Here she is modeling her recycled craft idea - she reuses the old headphones creatively as a choker necklace. What an awesome idea!

HOW TO MAKE A NECKLACE FROM AN OLD SET OF EARBUDS OR HEADPHONES

Supplies:

One set of old earbuds or headphones, a charm (if you prefer)

Steps:

Step One -  Tear the two cords apart to the base (the part that plugs into something)

Step Two - Start knotting the way you start to tie a shoe (left over right and pull it from under).

Step Three - Repeat knotting. It helps to switch left over right then right over left because it evens out the ear buds.

Step Four - Leave enough room to be able to knot the ear buds over the plug.

Step Five - Tie on with the earbuds worn in the front. For a more creative look add a large stone or charm on the necklace and wear the earbuds towards the back with the charm on the front of the choker. Very cute! 

Finished!

Shawna Lee Coronado is an author, locally syndicated newspaper columnist, health, and greening expert focused on teaching and living a green lifestyle. She blogs on conservation, greening and health tips at www.gardeningnude.com. Information on her books and other media can be found at www.thecasualgardener.com.

Not to Miss Green Events and Exhibits at MSI

February is the final month to see Green Revolution, the new temporary exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry on green technology and the innovation of African American architects, designers, engineers and business leaders.

Green Revolution, runs now until March 1 as part of the museum's annual "Black Creativity" celebration, a six-week program that highlights the achievements and heritage of African Americans in science, technology and the arts.

Events related to the exhibit include a juried art exhibition, a family day, educational workshops and more. The exhibit is free with general admission to the museum. A full listing of exhibit related events is available on the museum's website.

Coming March 19, the popular "Smart Home Green + Wired" exhibit returns to the museum and will run until Jan. 3 of next year. 

The three-story modular and sustainable green home was designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs™ and built by All-American Homes™ and will focus on what the future may bring to consumers of green living.

Discover the new Smart Home interior, reinterpreted with the help of Chicago Home + Garden magazine, and featuring bold colors, fresh green stories, products and furniture.

New and unique home technologies are on display, courtesy of WIRED magazine. Visitors can also explore the home’s updated landscape, which offers techniques for urban gardening, including vertical gardens and EarthBox planting.

This exhibit requires an additional ticket purchase with a specified entry time.

-Smart Home photo courtesy of Janet Laban for Apartment Therapy