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Planet Home

Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation, has written the ultimate guide to a green home. This book stands apart from other environmentally friendly cleaning manuals with its holistic and far-reaching suggestions. 

Rather than merely suggesting chemical-free and low impact methods of cleaning and environmentally friendly alternatives for everyday disposable items, Hollender gives a broad view of the home and the myriad ways our lives are impacted by waste and chemicals. 

He suggests a comprehensive approach to greener living, one that involves community, careful carbon consumption, chemical-free living and a local economy. By using a broad approach, he suggests that we are less likely to sabotage our own efforts. For example, organic produce looses some of its value when it is stored in plastic bags, cut on a plastic cutting board that is cleaned with chemicals, and then paired with an imported wine. 

Overhauling our consumption patterns can be overwhelming, and I am not suggesting that it is possible to "green" your home in every aspect that is discussed. I do think, however, that there is tremendous value in a fresh perspective, which this book clearly provides. I tend to become detail oriented, ignoring the big picture to the detriment of the end goal of a more sustainable, healthier lifestyle. Stepping back and finding those overlooked areas can make a big difference!

http://www.jeffreyhollender.com/?page_id=686

One Makes the Difference

I first learned about Julia Butterfly Hill in high school. In 1996 she made headlines for an almost 800 day tree sit in a California Redwood tree. Her first book Legacy of Luna, describes her experience and the events in her life that lead to her becoming an environmental activist.
The thing that impressed me most all those years ago was her confidence that one young woman (she was 26 at the time) could make a difference. So often young people are discouraged from speaking out, their opinions are discounted as naive and unrealistic, and in the process we teach them that they can't change anything.
Julia Butterfly Hill is a example to the contrary. As a young woman she refused to take no for an answer and used nonviolent protest methods to raise awareness for a cause close to her heart. There were setbacks. She needed help and there were times when she thought she might not succeed, but by persevering in a way that only a young, idealistic person can, she managed to save her tree (Luna) and arguably more importantly she was able to raise national awareness for the preservation and conservation of the giant redwoods.
This, her second book, is meant to reach out to young people. Rather than accepting the world they are given or accepting feelings of disenfranchisement, she provides suggestions for making a difference. None of these suggestions are ground breaking.
The radical notion, to me, is the idea that anyone can truly change the world for the better. Regardless of age, gender, race or status, we all need to hear that message and to share it with each other. You can make a difference. I can make a difference. No excuses now, what we do does matter and you never know who may be watching and learning from you.
http://www.juliabutterfly.com/en/about-julia

Love Your Country

MoveOn.org is one of my favorite internet movements. Actually, its one of my favorite political action groups that just happens to be internet based. Grass roots lobbying on issues that matter in accessible to everyone through this easy to navigate site. Making the leap from online to real life isn't always easy, but in this book members of Move On share their real life experiences making a difference in our wonderful country. 

We often forget the power of one voice and the impact a small group can have on the greater good. If you are looking for inspiration and affirmation, this book is a great place to start.  Then, go out and love your country. Change the world!

http://front.moveon.org/

Everyone wants to save money. When you think you are doing everything you can and there is no where left to trim in your budget, a book like this one comes along and points out all the areas where padding remains. 

As with most economic theories, there are some ideas and suggestions in this book that I like better than others. It is unlikely that I would grocery shop only once a month, freezing milk to keep it on hand. However, the authors point out that the grocery budget is often the easiest to cut and the easiest to completely over spend at the same time. By planning meals and shopping only twice a month (with in between milk and egg only stops) I am able to spend much less that I was with a once or twice weekly trip. If you are looking for inspiration for your frugal habits, this book can provide a kick start in the right direction.

http://www.americascheapestfamily.com/

Living off the grid

This is not the most upbeat book I have every read, but it is a good overview of emergency preparedness and off grid survival. I'm not too paranoid, but I think there is some value in knowing how you would feed your family and provide basic needs in a time of crisis. Although this book doesn't provide detailed instructions on solar systems or hand dug wells, it does get you thinking about all the various aspects of grid-free life. There is a difference between grid-free by choice and grid-free in a disaster and I think there is value in discussing both scenarios. I'm not planning to make drastic changes, but I would like to have a back up power source for my well pump and boiler pumps. Just in case.

Get Out!

With an easy to read format and lots of kid friendly suggestions this book is a great resource for the earth conscious family. The simple ideas and projects are designed to teach ecology and environmental awareness while involving the whole family. The best feature, in my opinion, is the assumption that whole families, parents and children, will read this book and try these activities together. So often, activities are suggested that involve an in-equal level of involvement for all family members. Either the children explore and parents observe, or parents act while children look on. This book assumes real cooperation and collaboration, and the doing it in nature makes for the perfect family outing. Playing together and exploring the natural world, what could be better?

http://www.freespirit.com/catalog/item_detail.cfm?item_id=698

Simpler Living

This book is a beautiful resource for simplifying your life. Everything from household organization and cleaning to spirituality and the workplace are covered with beautiful illustrations. When we talk about simple living we don't always consider our inner lives and our time spent outside the home, but a truly simple life is extended into all areas. This book gives suggestions for changes to daily life that allow us to appreciate the simple things. When we surround ourselves with fewer items of great beauty and quality we enjoy using them, even if they are used for mundane tasks. This allows us to focus on the present and to reflect on the positives in our lives. Taking the time to do this enriches our lives much more than things or activities can ever do.

Attachment Research

So many people discount attachment parenting as permissive, ineffective and wishy-washy. I often find myself explaining why spanking, isolated time-outs and tv in the bedroom don't fit with my parenting philosophy and I wanted some research to share with the mainstream, "super-nanny", spare the rod parents who are my friends and colleagues. You would think that I would have gotten a great foundation in this research in my six years of post-secondary education; but attachment isn't encouraged in public schools, it is something that some teachers do naturally and others are baffled by.
This book was written for parents, but I think it would be a fabulous addition to child development and child psychology curriculum as well. By understanding how attachment is critical to a child's development, parents and educators can assign the appropriate value to the explicit development of secure relationships. This book clearly sites causes of disrupted attachment in addition to providing concrete methods of strengthening the bond. A securely attached child is ready to learn, grow and experience the world. Developing that attachment at home and in school allows the child to spread his or her wings and reach full potential without fear.
Positive classroom climate, minimized discipline concerns and increased higher-level thinking follow logically in an environment of secure teacher-student attachment. Building those connections helps children become confident adults who are able to build connections themselves. Shouldn't that be a skill we are explicitly teaching?
http://www.newtoncenter.net/attachment_connection.html

Chickens in your backyard

I recently met a farmer who offered to give me his laying hens in the fall when he culls for winter. I am so excited, since I have wanted to avoid razing chicks but still would like to have eggs from my own back yard. I have the summer to build a coop, and to convince my sister that she can still come over even though she hates birds of all kinds. I am more confident about the coop than the sister, but we'll see!
Since I want to keep birds, I have been looking for resources for a while. This book is a great mix of humorous anecdotes and practical suggestions for the whole life cycle of backyard chickens. Some books make it seem like a tricky project, but this one illustrates the hardiness and flexibility of typical breeds and encourages, rather than discourages a small, one household flock. I am excited to try this out, now I just need to learn to build a chicken coop....

The New Pioneer

This new magazine is just getting started, but it seems to be a little different from the rest. The pictures are beautiful and informative and the article focus on off grid living and self-sufficiency. Unlike some of the other publications I have seen, this one has something of a survivalist feel. Articles on firearms and emergency food supplies accompany gardening information and alternative building techniques. If Mother Earth News and Countryside had a baby, this magazine would be it! I hope it will become established and be published on a regular basis, the perspective given in this issue is unique.

Women's History

The effect that history has had on the lives of American women is often overlooked. Children go off to college with out a clear understanding of the women's rights movement, or the events that have attempted to level the field for our girls. We don't teach our young people about the Equal Rights Amendment that has yet to be ratified or about the Fair Pay Act which acknowledges that we are still facing gender inequality in this country today. Kids complain about Title IX and the way it had changed cheerleading and sports offerings. They don't know how hard girls had to fight to be allowed to play at all!
This book is written for a middle level reader and tells the story of American women from the founding mothers to the present day. You will be surprised how much of this information you don't remember from history class and you will want to share it with the young people in your life.

Too Much

People form emotional attachments to their stuff. We keep baby clothes that remind us of babies, dresses that remind us of proms and knick-knacks that remind us of all sorts of life events. I can be hard to separate that stuff from the memories that go with it. Tossing the stuff can feel disrespectful to the memories. So we keep it. It gathers dust. Then we find ourselves with too much stuff. This book encourages us to cherish our memories and purge the stuff that goes with them. The author reminds us that our memories can not be destroyed, and we don't need physical reminders of the truly important events.
Clearing our homes of the unimportant encourages us to clear our lives of the unimportant as well. When we surround ourselves with useful, beautiful objects that we value, we begin to place quality above quantity in all aspects of our lives. In this world of constant excess a little simplicity can be a very beautiful thing!
http://www.peterwalshdesign.com/booksTooMuch.php

Self Sufficient-ish

I am naturally self sufficient-ish. I like to do things for myself and take pride in knowing what needs to be done and how to do it. Sometimes this is called a type-A personality. Some people call it bossy. I prefer self sufficient!  This bible is the how-to manual for taking care of yourself and your environment. Written in England, it is the result of practice, research and blogging by brothers who are interested in a lifestyle that is close to the earth and allows people to rely on themselves for basic needs. Some cultural differences are evident; did you know that British zucchinis are called courgettes? From the French...
Despite the learning curve, everything from gardening, composting and cooking to cloth diapering and gray water recycling is detailed in a low-pressure manner that allows the reader to decide how far they are willing to go. Not everything suggested in this book meets codes in my area (New York is notoriously strict) but the enthusiasm and enjoyment that the authors express through their writing make this an encouraging read, regardless.
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/

The Power of Play

Elementary school classrooms are all business. Academic expectations have risen at all levels and the pressure is being felt even in kindergarten. Five year old children are routinely expected to sit for extended periods of time working on small motor tasks at the expense of their creativity and gross motor exploration. As an educator and a parent I struggle with these expectations that seem to stifle my children and discourage their innate love of learning.
It is one thing to say that I wish the children had more unstructured classroom time to explore the materials and interact with each other. It is another entirely to be able to support that desire with research and to be able to share that research in a comprehensive and unequivocal manner.
This book begins with Erikson's stages of development and describes how children, through unstructured play, learn to navigate the world around them, build empathy, and create a strong sense of self. The author sites examples of his own children, as well as children he has encountered in his clinical practice as he emphasizes the power that child-directed, creative play can have in development.
A child at play with simple blocks or scarves may seem to be learning less than one with flash cards or letter stencils but, as Maria Montessori suggested, children who are given simple materials and the freedom to explore will scaffold their own learning. By learning through play children build connections and knowledge that is authentic and real-world applicable. Playing together allows children to learn from each other and to develop empathy and an understanding of others while building mathematical, scientific and linguistic connections. Rote memorization and scripted lessons may get results on standardized tests, but the implications for creative thinking and cross curricular extrapolation leave me cold.
So, let your children play. Play with them, play simple and play often!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Elkind

Playful Parenting

What if playing with your children could decrease arguments, increase cooperation and help your child grow into a strong, independent, empathetic adult? Sound too good to be true? In Playful Parenting, the author gives specific examples of guided play that can help you to form a strong bond with your child and teach interpersonal skills in a fun playful manner. My favorite advice involves weapons and war play. With two boys  I see a lot of this kind of play and I struggle with the appropriate reaction. I don't want my children to hurt others, or to think of guns as toys, but I understand the need to play fighting and aggression. Lawrence Cohen suggests that rather than forbid this type of play, parents should join in. By joining the war, we can turn the play from me against you, to cooperative action. If your child pretends to shoot you, you can pretend it was a love ray and smother them with kisses. Or, you can pretend to be injured and ask them to be your doctor.
If he or she insists on fighting, be on his team and create a strategy. Ambush the enemy, capture the stuffed animal army, whatever it takes to be included in the game. By doing this, it becomes a shared experience, instead of solitary violent play. Children lean so much more this way than they do in time out! I wish all parents were willing to meet their children on their level (the floor), rather than ignoring or punishing undesirable behaviors. The world would be a more peaceful place!
http://www.playfulparenting.com/