January 2nd, 2010
Cornelia Mazzan
We wish you all a very Happy New Year! In honor of the new year and the new decade, we’ve put together the following goals that we hope will help improve the health of ourselves, our families and our planet. While some of them may be things you’re already living on a day-to-day basis, others may offer you some quiet inspiration. What are your go-green goals for this 2010? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know…
Camille’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Since I was able to make it through Christmas without using a shred of wrapping paper, I plan to continue this “zero-tolerance” practice throughout the year- birthdays, anniversaries etc…
2. Purchase a large vericomposting bin for my yard. Worms are easy to keep, help reduce food waste and their castings are amazing for your garden.
3. Be a stronger community advocate. Push hard to get organic food choices on the menu at my childrens’ school lunch program.
4. Grow more of the fruits and vegetables that we eat at home.
5. Revamp our landscaping with more drought resistant plants. California is in it’s third drought year.
Kari’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Use greener personal care products.
2. Tend to my garden better to yield more vegetables — without pesticides.
3. Eat at least one meatless meal per week since meat has a large carbon footprint.
4. Take a family hike or outdoor outing once a week.
5. In Spring, Summer, and Autumn, shop at one of the many farmer’s markets in the area for local fruits, vegetables, and other goodies.
Cornelia’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Switch from water delivery service to home filtration system to filter out chlorine, lead, prescription drugs, etc.
2. Spend more time planning and expanding our organic garden…and keep up with the weeds while they’re tiny!
3. Join a CSA for our main veggies and visit the farmers’ market more often.
4. Use reusable menstrual products (cloth pads or the Diva Cup) instead of continuing to fill the landfills each month.
5. Organize my time better so I can have the space to just be…
Kirstin’s Go-Green Goals for 2010:
1. Enjoy and be grateful for simple pleasures by slowing down and focusing on the basics of life (health, relationships, etc.).
2. Reduce waste by using leftovers to their fullest in soups, a slow cooker, or casseroles.
2. Plan trips close to home, or in conjunction with other trips, instead of taking carbon-intensive vacations.
4. Turn off the TV and other electronic devices once a week for an entire day.
5. Recognize my own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of others, to help guide activities and interactions.
Posted in General | No Comments »
November 18th, 2009
Cornelia Mazzan
Hello again! If you’re local to the Middletown, NJ area please join us on Thursday, December 17 at 7PM as we partner with the Sandy Hook Child Care Center (SHCCC), a nonprofit day care center located on Sandy Hook, and Whole Foods Market of Middletown, for a wine tasting and food pairing featuring sustainable, affordable wines and tasty bites for the upcoming holiday season. Download event PDF file.
Admission is $40 per person with the proceeds benefiting the two non-profits.
Representatives of Real Mama will share tips for families to make their holiday celebrations more environmentally friendly. The Sandy Hook Child Care Center representatives will share information on their organization and upcoming family events.
Refreshments and desserts will be served. Attendees will be able to purchase bottles or cases of featured wines in time for the holidays, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting both Real Mama and SHCCC.
Reserve your place via the Paypal button below or by sending a check made payable to “Real Mama, Inc.” to Real Mama, PO Box 222, Rumson, NJ 07760. You may also pay at the door. Tickets will not be mailed; name(s) will be at registration at Whole Foods.
For further information, download the press release or call Jennifer Smiga of SHCCC at (201) 892-9403 with any questions. To learn more about SHCCC please visit their website http://www.sandyhookchildcare.org/. Whole Foods Market of Middletown is located at 471 Route 35 North, Red Bank, NJ. Hope to see you there!
Posted in General | 7 Comments »
November 13th, 2009
Cornelia Mazzan
Happy Fall and welcome to our new site! Here at Real Mama we want to help you make simpler, greener choices for yourselves, your families and our planet. We have redesigned our website to present information and eco-actions for families in a more easily digestible format and to inspire quick action to protect kids’ and environmental health, including the ability to easily search the site for topics of interest. You will now find more concise articles, a focus on actively bringing environmentally focused educational activities into schools, and the addition of the “Real Tips” section, a weekly log of the struggles and joys Real Mama Board members face in incorporating environmental stewardship into their lives and the lives of their families.
This fall’s eNewsletter kicks off its focus on bringing environmental concerns and solutions into schools with information about a “zero waste” lunch. In addition, this edition reviews non-chemical and natural pest control at home, climate change actions and updates, and MSG as it relates to children’s health. We’ve also included some ideas for outdoor activities with kids. Articles are categorized into topics related to earth, water, air, minds, and bodies.
Thanks for your visit and please let us know what you think!
Posted in Minds | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Kirstin McPolin
All summer I tried to go camping with my family in our back yard. I thought that this would be an easy thing to achieve seeing as it was literally going to be in our back yard, but invariably something came up every weekend. It was too hot, or the kids had not slept well the night before, or my husband wasn’t going to be back in time to roast marshmallows, etc. We actually got the tent up one Friday afternoon and the three kids climbed inside (even the one year old was loving this), only to be eaten alive by mosquitoes that were trapped inside with us!
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Tags: earth-focused, environmental stewardship, kids activites, outdoor games
Posted in Minds | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Erika Neidernhofer
Special contributor to Real Mama, Inc.
Quickfacts: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a federally classified food additive that enhances flavor. While the Food and Drug Administration has generally regarded MSG as safe, they do recognize that sensitive individuals may experience many side effects that are linked to ingesting MSG. Additionally, when MSG is added to a processed food item, it must be clearly displayed on the product’s ingredients label. Read on to learn about the noted side effects and how to recognize the addition of MSG on product labels.
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Tags: excitotoxin, flavor enhancer, food additive, monosodium glutamate, MSG, MSG aliases, MSG risks, processed food, side effects
Posted in Bodies | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Camille LoFaro Sowinski
Quickfacts: A popular estimate suggests that the average child in school can create as much as 67 pounds of waste per school year. More and more schools are going green and promoting choices that encourage families to preserve our environment. Packing a waste free lunch is a perfect way that parents can reinforce these lessons and teach their children about responsible environmental stewardship. In addition to helping the planet, a zero waste lunch can save money and be more healthful.
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Tags: environmental stewardship, school lunch, waste-free lunch, zero-waste lunch
Posted in Minds | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Kari Jermansen Martin
Quickfacts: So-called “pests” are unwanted guests in many homes. Some “pests” can be unsanitary, wreak havoc on human dwellings (termites come to mind), dangerous, and plain annoying. For controlling pests, it is important to do research. Chemical treatment methods have been the norm. However, some of these methods have been found toxic and harmful to human health and the environment. Fortunately, by being more informed and by considering available natural pest control methods, one can reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals and the impact on their family’s health and the environment.
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Tags: environmental stewardship, natural pest control, natural solutions, professional help
Posted in Earth | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Kirstin McPolin
The Quick Facts: Measures must be taken both nationally and internationally to slow the pace of global warming. Domestically bills are pending in Congress to reducing global warming while the international community will meet in December to further international efforts. These actions will hopefully help curb greenhouse gas emissions but we should all do our part at home to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and teach our kids to do so as well by encouraging kids to turn off lights in the house; explaining the need to carpool; and planting trees.
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Tags: global warming, international actions, kids and global warming, legislation
Posted in Air | No Comments »
November 5th, 2009
Kirstin McPolin
The Quick Facts: We all know that eating fish is important for our health. However, when faced with the labels, claims, and prices at the seafood counter it is hard to know what to choose. Practical tips include: Choose fish that is healthy and sustainable, usually wild-caught (but not always); Avoid farm-raised finfish, especially salmon; Look for certified seafood; Buy local or domestic; Eat a variety of fish; Choose high-quality fresh or flash-frozen fish; Ask questions.
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Tags: certified seafood, farm-raised fish, sustainable seafood, wild-caught fish
Posted in Water | No Comments »
