April 6, 2011
In the lead up to Earth Day (April 22nd), the website Circle of Moms is holding a vote for the top eco-friendly moms.
It is an interesting list of bloggers, many of whom you may not know. Our good friend Alexandra Zissu is near the top. You can go to this page to view and vote. Voting will end April 17th.
February 28, 2011
Perhaps you heard the recent news that the EPA has decided to lower the recommended levels of fluoride added to tap water. What does it mean to you and your family?
The quick takeaway is that research is suggesting that the average levels of fluoride in our water should be reduced for optimal health. Some health advocates, including Environmental Working Group (EWG), call for the elimination of added fluoride for infants and pregnant women (citing research by National Academy of Sciences, release found here and link to EWG’s blog here). Fluoride has been added to drinking water for decades in an effort to reduce tooth decay.
What it means?
- Tap water is still better than bottled water
- Water filtered with a carbon filter (brita, etc) is better than unfiltered tap water (but a carbon filter cannot remove fluoride)
- Water filtered with a full reverse osmosis (RO) system is purer than water filtered with a carbon filter.
helpful resources to learn more on this topic:
- Check the quality of your local water: http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/home
- webMD article: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20110107/us-wants-to-reduce-fluoride-in-drinking-water
February 8, 2011
My wife and I refound a very helpful resource this past weekend. Our 8 month old son had a high temperature. We were thinking through places to look online that would have quick & trusted advice.
Dr Alan Greene’s website has just that. He is a recognized pediatrician and author of several books (we have blogged about him before here). His approach to medicine is premised on a holistic, preventative approach that is likely to resonate with readers of this blog.
Specifically he focuses on:
To learn more about Dr Greene and his helpful website: http://www.drgreene.com/about
His blog can be found here: http://www.drgreene.com/blog/conversations
January 18, 2011
I’m always looking (and so many people ask us) for quick answers on how to create a greener, healthier nursery. Lots of environmental nonprofits have added “green shopping” guides to their sites. Here are some of Q Collection Junior‘s faves. Are we missing any that you love? Add them to comments and build on our list!
5 Basic Steps to a greener nursery (Healthy Child)
Seafood Guide (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Healthy School Lunches (Healthy Child)
Organic Vegetables (Organic Center)
Pacifiers and teething (Healthy Child)
Healthy Baby Food (Healthy Child)
Healthy Formula Guide (Healthy Child)
January 5, 2011
In what has become an annual tradition, I am posting 2010′s R’igloo (the igloo my oldest son, Reeve, and I build every year over the holidays). Hope everyone had a happy holiday and a great start to the new year.
Last year’s igloo in this previous post: http://green-nursery.blogs.giggle.com/2009/12/23/happy-holidays/
More soon,
jesse
December 15, 2010
I was asked this recently by my 4 year old. It is amazing what he comes back with from school.
I set off to explain extinction – how there used to be animals and plants that are no longer here. Cats, birds, insects, flowers (for those of us who are not up on our extinction history: the Dodo was a flightless, large bird that lived on Mauirtius in the Indian Ocean. It never needed to fly as it had no natural predators….until humans came along). Read more…
November 29, 2010
With the holiday season just around the corner, we turn to one of the best gifts for kids….books.
I know for my son Reeve (just about to turn 4) his first glimpse into the natural world was through books – he was so excited by things like shooting stars, beavers building houses, a bear hibernating, the sound of wolves at night, a caterpillar changing into a butterfly….
I often think about what would make my ‘best of’ list… so I polled some friends including Lexy Zissu, author of The Complete Organic Pregnancy & The Conscious Kitchen. Feel free to post some of your favorites to comments. No doubt we missed some great ones. Read more…
November 9, 2010
The Ecology Center is a trusted voice in the search to find the healthiest / greenest products for your home and family. Past reports exist on:
Their latest report was just added….on home improvement materials. They look at flooring, wallpaper, carpet cushioning and much more.
For detailed information:
Thanks to The Ecology Center for their great work!
October 27, 2010
We are just catching our breathe here.
We just returned from the ABC Kids Expo, the premier trade show from children’s products. What was once a wasteland for greener, healthier products now has ‘greener’ options o’ plenty. Greenguard has increasingly become the standard for certifying a product for the absence of toxic chemicals. Below is a sneak peak at our booth and some of our new items for 2011. We are excited to have them out in the world!
The backdrop was hand-made from 100% natural materials – ash veneer wood, natural wool, jute twine. Doing our part to make the trade show environment a more beautiful place…
October 14, 2010
Looking for a simple way to quickly locate the healthiest infant and children’s products on the market?
The best resource is the “Healthy Stuff” database, run by the Michigan based non profit The Ecology Center. It is a great shopping tool that includes product reviews on over 5,000 items, screening for chemicals of concern to human health & our environment.
Here are some of the key links from their site:
Jesse Johnson is the co-founder of Q Collection & Q Collection Junior – leaders in designing adult and children’s furniture and textiles that are PEOPLE SAFE and PLANET SAFE... Bio »
