Green Parent Chicago™

Talking with Ruby Roth, Vegan Children's Book Author

Ruby Roth, a former elementary school art teacher, has published a children's book about the suffering animals face in factory farm operations for the sake of our food supply.

Endorsed by Jane Goodall, "That's Why We Don't Eat Animals" (NorthAtlantic/RandomHouse) has been described as the first children's book to address the emotional lives of animals, factory farming, the environment, and endangered species. Roth says she was inspired to write and illustrate the book after noticing the interest her students took in animal welfare.

 Roth recently answered a few questions for Green Parent Chicago about her book and reader reaction to it:

GPC: You've done some readings and events with children since publication of the book. How do kids initially react when you begin reading "That's Why We Don't Eat Animals" or talking with them about the animals in the book?

Roth: Children show incredible interest and insight. They ask questions and relate the information to their own lives-their pets, their gardens, one 4th grader told me that factory farms reminded her of what her class was learning about slavery! And I have never experienced one child who was overwhelmed or freaked out by the book. I think they enjoy being let in on what seemed to have been a “secret” kept from them. They feel empowered by the truth. I’ve received a bunch of emails from parents whose kids were inspired to do things in their communities to help animals. I say in the book that each day, we have the freedom to change our lives. I think this is a very important concept for any child or adult to absorb—and one to emphasize when you read the book to a kid: we never have to fear things that we have the power to change. They get it!

GPC: You described in your website video how children often go with their instinct and how adults could learn from their example. Could you explain this statement briefly?

Roth: Children are entirely more open and receptive to the idea of sparing the lives of animals. And it’s not because they are merely influenced by the “cuteness” of animals. It’s that they haven’t been on earth long enough to develop deep-seated emotional attachments to meat or to be so shaped by the moral tyranny of the majority. By the time we are grown, we’ve learned to disconnect to a lot of feelings. We become desensitized to everything from violence to knowing how to heal ourselves, to the way cooked, dead, junk food makes us feel. But kids function from a much more instinctual and thus responsive place. Their gut feelings are not filtered through what others might think or what the food-pyramid dictates from one year to the next. And we adults are entirely capable of tapping in to that wisdom at any point, too.

GPC: Have you faced any controversy since it's publication this past May? How do you deal with controversy regarding your book ?

Roth: A lot of people have knee-jerk reactions to veganism because most of us are set from birth on a program that normalizes meat–from KFC slogans (the latest is:“Unthink!”) to our food pyramid which is created under the influence of food industry lobbyists like those from Atkins. The terms “brainwashing” and “propaganda” have been thrown around in reviews because the mainstream believes that meat-eating is a neutral choice while veganism is political. Well, neither is neutral. Both are political choices. You are either voting for or against a system that is destructive to our bodies, to animals, and the planet. Whenever I see an attack on my book, I’m reminded that people are confronting what, in classical yogic philosophy, are called our “samscaras,” the patterns that cause suffering to ourselves and others. When we’re faced with the reality of the destructiveness of our patterns, it is very common to become defensive. For me, those types of emotional reactions only further my belief that we are in need of serious change.

For more information on Roth and her book see her website: http://www.wedonteatanimals.com/

Home Grown Liberation

I’m in one of life’s many transitions right now, planning to move soon and staying in a house that I won’t be in for very long. In my previous house, I found a small patch in the yard and was able to grow a few tomatoes, but I didn’t even attempt much more. I am definitely a gardening novice. Because I have such little knowledge and experience and because I won’t be here for very long, I planned to skip gardening this summer and try again next year.  I thought I would be content with farmer’s markets for now.

Well, I wasn’t. The loud, insistent, greenie voice in me wouldn’t let me give up on growing it myself. You can’t wait until next summer, it yelled. That’s too long! You don’t have to rip up the lawn---just throw together a few pots!

So, that’s what I did. I planted some zucchini, tomatoes and strawberries in a couple of big planters and gave it a whirl. I’ve never gardened in containers before, so I have no idea how it will turn out. But so far the plants are getting big and green and they are giving me a lot of still-green fruit. I planted them late and it’s been a cool, wet summer, so I don’t know when I’ll be eating.

But my hopes were up when I walked onto the deck the other day and found one deep-red strawberry hanging off the plant.

I’m happy I decided to do something under these less than perfect circumstances, even if my experiment doesn’t get me any more than that one strawberry. It’s all trial and error right now, which is liberating because every piece of fruit I eat from my own “garden” will be an unexpected bounty.

-Lisa Soare is a freelance writer and a mom. She lives in the ‘burbs with her husband and daughter. You can read more about her efforts to craft a more sustainable life at her blog www.diygreener.blogspot.com.

Ask the Green Mama: Finding a Truly Green Printer

Dear Green Mama: I am interested in being more green at work and want to get green business cards, however I've heard that even a "green" printer might still use toxic chemicals.  Do you know a truly green printer? --Bob "Green"

Dear Mr. Green: Funny you should ask, I just went through a very similar process. I finally decided to invest in postcards and new business cards and I decided that recycled paper and soy ink wasn't enough.

I must admit, however, I didn't know much about what enough would be. Many printers now offer recycled papers and soy inks (although many still do not), however few printers are going the extra mile and also reducing the overall VOCs in their inks, solvents, and finishes. 

Even fewer are providing a healthy working environment for their employees, paying a living wage, and doing the printing on American soil. I did find a local printer, however, that does all of this and more. In fact, they are so green that I was encouraged to bring along my two-year-old daughter for the tour. I was amazed. 

Continue reading

---Do you have a question about green parenting you'd like The Green Mama to answer? Submit your question here. Look for your answer in an upcoming installment of "Ask The Green Mama"  Fridays on Green Parent Chicago.---

Five Easy Ways to Green Your Family and You

As a mother, I know all too well the difficulties of trying to save the earth and cash at the same time.  It shouldn’t be so expensive for the entire family to be eco-friendly.  So here are five helpful hints to keep in mind that will assist you in learning how to live green without spending so much of it.

1. So it is almost back to school time, and kids are excited to go back to school shopping. This year try something different. Prior to shopping, go through all the kids' wardrobes. Do a family purge. Sometimes we buy multiple items because we think the kids have outgrown their things or we forget that they actually already own something similar.

After you remove the items that are too small, damaged or unwanted, take them to Goodwill, Salvation Army or your local thrift store. Afterwards, instead of a costly trip to the mall, encourage your kids to find items in the thrift store that fit them and their style too. Thrift store items are extremely affordable with current styles. Even if your kid wears uniforms, more than likely a thrift store that stocks childrenwear has something your child can use. This way you aren’t buying more new clothes and contributing to the overwhelming amount of wasted material.

2. Eating fresh and local is one of the easiest ways to go green. Visiting the farmers market weekly gives you options that some grocery stores don’t carry. Instead of buying in bulk, buy just enough for a few days of meals. Learning how to eat seasonally saves loads of cash and can be really tasty too.

3. If you have an area in your yard that is prone to flooding, consider a rain garden. These gardens are a perfect and essential way to beautify your yard and relieve problem flood areas. Rain gardens have wildflowers that are common to your area and are not only water tolerant but drought tolerant too, requiring less watering. When your yard floods the rain garden retains that water and slowly releases it back into the soil. This also means mo more standing water with mosquitoes and mud.

4. Practice meditation and natural remedies. Going green isn’t just about products and services, it is also a state of mind. Being able to connect to your inner self is essential in being able to connect your family to this new way of life. Slow down your days, and focus on your well being and place in life.  Find those dreams and fulfill yourself. If you feel as though you are following your path in life it is much easier to be open to trying new and different things. Recreate yourself, find that friendly you and shake those city blues off. Smile.

5. Work from home if at all possible. Cars and our dependence on fossil fuels are a major contributor to global warming. If you and your co-workers are dedicated to saving the earth, create a work from home initiative that encourages employees to have access to remote work. Some people are more productive in a familiar and comfortable environment. Some people enjoy petting their dogs while working. Others like the flexibility of enjoying their families without the rush of commuting. Take the initiative and discuss it with management. Everyone is trying to go green and it is important that we encourage companies to allow employees the flexibility of saving gas, energy and resources and saving the environment.

-Kellen Marshall-Gillespie

Bikes on Public Transit: Options Around Town

Wondering what you'll do with your bike when you hop on the train or bus? Do you know what the rules are for taking the bus and train with your bike around town and the suburbs? Or are you curious about taking your child's bike along or wondering if your teen can bring his or her bike on board?

We at Green Parent Chicago were curious too, so we rounded up the answers to those questions from the CTA, Pace and Metra's posted rules online. Here's what we found:

CTA buses: Folding bikes allowed at all times. Other bikes may be carried on CTA buses at all times in bus bike racks, every day, all year.

All CTA buses are equipped with bike racks, located on the front of the bus. Most regular, two-wheeled bikes fit into these racks.

Motor powered bikes are not allowed at any time. Ages 14 and up are allowed to bring bikes on trains and rack-equipped buses. Children ages 12 and 13 must be accompanied by adult when bringing their bike on CTA buses and trains. Children 12 and under are not allowed to bring bikes on CTA buses or trains.

CTA trains: Bicycles are permitted on CTA trains every day, except during weekday rush periods (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). Up to two regular bicycles are allowed inside each car. Bicycles are not allowed when trains are full.

Note: Certain rail cars on the Blue Line have doors that swing inward and cannot accommodate bicycles. Only enter cars with green decals that show that bicycles are allowed inside.

-Check out the CTA's Bike & Ride Guide online for more helpful tips on boarding buses and trains with your bike.

Pace buses: Each bus carries two bikes on its front rack. Bikes are never allowed inside the bus. Motorized and tandem bikes are not allowed on bus bike racks.

Metra trains:Individual cyclists must be 16 or older. Ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult to bring bikes on board train. Children under age 12 not permitted to bring bikes on board. Bikes are allowed during weekday off-peak hours (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on weekends, see their website for exceptions on certain festival weekends in the summer. 3 bikes are allowed on each accessible diesel car, two on each equivalent electric car.

Having ridden public transit, we know sometimes there are exceptions to those rules, and seasonal events, special service hours, etc. can all impact whether bikes are allowed on board too. Keep these in mind when planning your trip.

***Have more tips for our readers on bringing your bike on the bus or train? Special considerations, insider tips? Please share them with us in the comments below!***

-photo credit: jochemberends, flickr

Baby Carriers: Slings to Wraps and Everything In Between

**Editor's note: Please welcome guest columnist Giselle Baturay. Babywearing has been proven to reduce baby's fussiness, enhance mental and emotional development of infants and benefits moms (and dads) physically, while helping to form secure bonds between parent and child. Not to mention, it's a green parenting essential that allows for easy nursing, effortless comforting and a simpler way to care for babies and toddlers reducing the amount of gear needed!**

So, you’ve decided you want to babywear, but when you begin looking for a carrier, you are overwhelmed by the many type of baby carriers there are. What’s a wrap? What is a buckle carrier? What’s the difference between a pouch and a ring sling? All these questions and more become so much clearer once you know the basic carrier types. There are six basic types of carriers. They are woven wraps, stretchy wraps, ring slings, pouches, mei tais and buckle carriers.

A woven wrap is a long piece of fabric used to carry a child in various positions, including hip carry, back and front carry. It's often chosen for its versatility, as well as support and weight distribution on the wearer. The lengths vary from short to long and choosing the length for you is determined by your body size and the carries you'd like to do with the wrap. A woven wrap is the most versatile baby carrier and it can be used from newborn through toddlerhood.

Stretchy wraps are a long piece of fabric (usually comes in one size fits most) that, unlike a woven wrap, has stretch to it. It's similar to t-shirt material and is often used with newborns and young babies. It is used mostly as a front carrier, and while there may be instructions on using it as a back carrier, it is not recommended, as there's not enough support in the stretchy fabric to do a back carry safely. Stretchy wraps are a favorite for newborn babies and may be used through toddlerhood if wrapped tightly.

Ring slings are one shoulder slings made of a long piece of fabric that is attached to a pair of rings. They may be padded, lightly padded or unpadded. They are adjustable and can be worn by multiple caregivers. Ring slings can be used from newborn stage through toddlerhood. For newborns, these work well in either a cradle style carry or upright. Ring slings are particular great during the stage when a child wants up and down often, because it's easy and quick to put on and take out a child as needed. Ring slings can be used as a front carrier, a hip carrier and also a back carrier (recommended with a child that has good head support). In an unpadded or lightly padded ring sling, the tail of the sling comes in very handy as a burb cloth, a nursing cover and a sun protection cover for child.

Pouches are one shoulder baby carriers that can be used from newborn through toddlerhood. They are very easy to use, as you basically put them on and then slip baby in without the need to adjust. But, because they are not adjustable, it's important to purchase the right size for your weight, height and measurements. Pouches are compact in design, small enough to fold into a diaper bag quite easily, and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

Mei tais are Asian-inspired carriers that consist of a rectangular (sometimes square) body and have four straps attached as shoulder and waist straps. It is used as a hip, front and back carrier and provides two shoulder support. Mei tais can be used from newborn stage through toddlerhood. Mei tais with headrest give the head support needed by newborns and toddlers who fall asleep in carriers. The learning curve of a mei tai is shorter than using a woven wrap and mei tais provide similar support and comfort. Because they are easy to adjust (just tie as tight as needed for your shape), they're a good choice when used by more than one caregiver.

Buckle carriers are soft structured carriers inspired by mei tais but with side release buckle closures. They have a main supportive panel, padded shoulder straps and can be used on the front, hip and back. These are very easy to learn to use, since you simply just buckle on, adjust and go! They can also be used for a wide range of ages as well and some have a special padded insert for very small babies.

Now that you know the basic baby carriers, you can narrow down which one(s) would work for your particular babywearing needs. And you can do that so much easier now that you understand what each one is. Happy babywearing!

-Giselle Baturay lives in Naperville with her three children and husband. She owns Slings I Love (www.slingsilove.com), an online babywearing store and also co-leads DuPage Slingers (www.dupageslingers.com) an active babywearing group that meets monthly in Lombard.

-photo credit: shoothead, Flickr

Earth Talk: High Speed Rail On The Horizon

Dear EarthTalk: If train travel is so much less polluting than driving or flying, why are passenger rail options in the U.S. so limited compared to Europe? And is anything being done to shift more travelers over to American rail lines from cars and planes?-- Jeffrey Orenstein, Bradenton, FL

It’s true that train travel is one of the lowest impact ways to get from point to point short of walking, jogging or bicycling. In the early part of the 20th century, with car and air travel both in their infancies, taking the train was really the only practical way for Americans to get from city to city. And take the train they did: By 1929 the U.S. boasted one of the largest and most used rail networks in the world, with some 65,000 railroad passenger cars in operation across some 265,000 miles of track.

But a concerted campaign by U.S. carmakers to acquire rail lines and close them, along with a major push in Congress to build the world’s most extensive interstate highway system, combined to shift Americans’ tastes away from rail travel and toward cars. As a result, while Europe focused on building its own rail networks, the U.S. became the ultimate auto nation, with more cars per capita than anywhere else in the world. By 1965 only 10,000 rail passenger cars were in operation across just 75,000 miles of track.

Eden Place Nature Center: An Urban Oasis

You don’t have to look too far around Chicago to see that we are serious about sustainability and the environment with all of the green roofs and adding of trees to the expressway. The Museum of Science and Industry, The Shedd Aquarium, The Peggy Notebaert Museum, both Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos and lastly the Garfield Park Conservatory are all gems of Chicago; they represent the knowledge and effort of our residents in understanding the flora and fauna of this world.

However with little access to Chicago’s amenities some communities don’t have a genuine opportunity to take advantage of them. So what happens when entire communities lack the time, financial resources or transportation to enjoy and learn?

A most inconspicuous nature center on the south side of Chicago is located in the Fuller Park community: 3.5 acres of open space dedicated to environmental education for the residents on the south side of Chicago. Eden Place Nature Center hasn’t received lots of press primarily because it is a non-profit organization and it is not a public place managed by the Chicago Park District.

Eden Place is an urban oasis on 44th and Stewart, its beauty is only surpassed by the spirits of its director Michael Howard, the Howard family, Education Coordinator Shelly Hope and the community members that support the center's mission.

Although Eden Place is located in one of the poorest communities of Chicago, you can easily forget where you are because of all the biodiversity and wonderful natural things around you. It is now an official habitat for Monarch butterflies with the help of former Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. It boasts a handmade gazebo, prairie garden, wetland area, vegetable garden, hiking trail, wigwam, bird pond, butterfly garden and a few farm animals as well.

Eden Place is special as an environmental education center in an African American community, and while all are welcome, it engages families, schools, and churches from those communities that lack the aforementioned resources to go to places like the museum and the zoo. Free to the public, Eden Place is open during the early spring and all summer.  For more information regarding opportunities for class field trips, volunteering, interning, events, or facilities rental visit the center's website at www.edenplacenaturecenter.com.  

-photo credit: Eden Place

-Kellen Marshall-Gillespie mom of 3 is an entrepreneur, author, aspiring film maker and pursuing her Ph.D in ecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a native Chicagoan she is dedicated to not only her family but to educating and empowering the urban communities on the wonders of the earth and the environment.

"My Best Birth" Helps Women Learn About and Discuss Informed Birth Choices

Actress Ricki Lake and documentary filmmaker Abby Epstein have already received plenty of praise for their work in detailing the state of birth in the U.S. in their 2008 film, "The Business of Being Born". In May, they published the book "Your Best Birth", billed as "a practical pregnancy guide" the authors hope will equip women with much needed information on current birthing options.

The book is already becoming popular among natural birth advocates. Expanding on this success, Lake and Epstein the same month launched an accompanying natural birthing forum for women: "My Best Birth". The forum provides "a community for people to share experiences and explore options about pregnancy, natural birth and holistic parenting," according to a description on the homepage.

Lake and Epstein are quick to point out in an interview posted on their publisher's website, that they are not anti- hospital birth, but instead want to highlight the midwifery model of care and the difference in care a midwife attended birth offers women whether in hospital, a birthing center or at home. In addition, they seek to inform women of the risks of elective c-sections in a non-judgmental way.

Get Your Children Out In Nature – Study Cabbage Caterpillars In The Garden

We discovered cabbage worms in our broccoli. Ick. Gross. Blech. Nasty. Then my eight year old and I discovered that the Cabbage Worm Butterfly (known as the “Cabbage White”) is what the Cabbage Worm Caterpillar develops into. What a fantastic way to get your children out in the garden to learn about nature! You can see our discovery in the video above. 

In hopes of seeing the butterflies in our own front yard, we are now rescuing wayward cabbage worms and placing them on all our broccoli. The idea is to save the cabbage, kale, cauliflower, but to use the brocooli as a breeding ground for the little green caterpillars.

We are already finding chrysalis’s around the garden filled with the sleeping babies and cannot wait to see the butterflies emerge.

Get your children out in nature – it is a very green and healthy thing to do and they will love the time you spend together learning. Happily, the front yard veggie garden has turned into a wonderful experiment for our family.

-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.