Nancy Massotto is executive director of the Holistic Moms Network, a non-profit support and resource organization connecting parents interested in holistic health and green living. Founded by a handful of moms yearning for the support and friendship of others outside the mainstream. Today the group has 120+ chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

How do you eco?

The Holistic Moms Network is a non-profit, grassroots community-building network for parents interested in holistic health and green living. We connect parents who are passionate about natural parenting options from breastfeeding and cloth diapering, to non-toxic/green cleaning and supporting local farmers. As an organization, we Eco by educating parents about ways that they can live sustainably and by helping them to locate local resources to support their choices.

Why did you go eco?

For many of us, becoming a parent opened up a new world of awareness about sustainability. In parenthood, we become conscious of the impact of our choices including how and what we eat and its relationship to our health and well-being, the products we purchase and how they will affect our families, and the options we have to create a healthy future for our children. Understanding how these choices are connected inspires us to make informed decisions.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Living sustainably is a journey. Start with one small step – seek out organic, locally grown food, replace one cleaning product in your home with a natural solution, change a personal care item to one that is natural, or find a way to reduce your consumption. Each step creates a brighter future.

• Holistic Moms Network
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco websites

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Megan Gerst, founder of Sustainable Motherhood blog, writes for parents looking to live lighter while balancing parenthood, career, and community. Once a city mouse who grew up in New York City, Megan recently became a country mouse after moving upstate. She’s involved in the local sustainable community and runs an event management company.

How do you eco?

My family went from eco-criminal to eco-conscious, but we’re not yet eco-crusaders. We practice the four R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. We grow some of our own vegetables and buy the rest local or organic. We reduced the amount of meat we eat and have eliminated heavily processed foods. Much to my husband’s chagrin we often eat leftovers. We use fluorescent bulbs; shut off the lights when we leave a room and the water while we brush. We use reusable grocery bags, water bottles and coffee cups. We limit our use of plastic and use single serving portions in reusable containers for school lunches. We think before we buy and before we throw away.

Why did you go eco?

I grew up in New York City, a very easy place to ignore your environmental impact. When we moved to the country, I realized how our choices and actions impact the environment and the local community. It started with pocket book issues, as we looked at where we wasted money. After watching Inconvenient Truth and reading Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma things really started to connect. I realized that I worked long hours and spent time away from my son so we could buy things we really didn’t need, were wasteful and sometimes unsafe. So after doing eye-opening research on toy standards, I began to live lighter and greener in pursuit of what I call “sustainable motherhood.” Which I define as a balance between your personal well being, parenting, professional achievement, and giving back to your local and global community.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

My favorite thing by far is shopping locally at the farmers market. The vegetables and produce are so much better than than what you find at the grocery store and it is such a great way to support local community agriculture.

EcoLinks

• Sustainable Motherhood
• Chief Eco Officers
• Sustainable Warwick
• Harvest at Greenwood Lake
• Warwick Farmer’s Market
• Z recommends
• Eco Childs Play
• Safe Mama
• My Green Conscience
• Earth First
• Dianes Big Green Purse

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Anna Hackman, writer of the Green Talk blog, believes if you build it green, they will come. Anna first focused on green building products and now has expanded to green living tips, recycling and gardening.

How do you eco?

When we started building a new house five years ago, we wanted to incorporate green building products into the construction process. Our goal was to make the house as nontoxic and energy efficient as possible. The learning curve was huge. I worked as the assistant general contractor in charge of green building products. My legal background came in handy as I researched every product we used. We are still working on this house! It is never ending.

I started the blog to focus on green building products. It has now expanded into green products, green living tips, recycling and gardening. I try to approach most situations with humor since otherwise my own compulsive, overanalyzing behavior would make me crazy. I am amazed at some of the responses that I receive and have learned much from my readers. I started a green building consultancy business that uses my own personal experiences to help others.

Why did you go eco?

I have four children who all have learning issues and allergies. I am convinced that the products used in our past homes contributed to their issues. This is one of the reasons we built our new house with as many nontoxic products as possible.

Another reason is to preserve Mother Earth. Spending time in my garden watching the bees buzz and the butterflies flutter, it easy to see why Mother Earth is so important. It never ceases to amaze me how humans can impact the Earth.

We need to teach our children by example since they will inherit the earth. I remind them to always turn off the lights, recycle and don’t waste anything. I hope it will stick as they become adults.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Take your shoes off when you come into your house. You’ll avoid tracking in pesticides and other
toxic materials into your home.

EcoLinks

• Green Talk
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Jennifer Doucette, mother of three small children, writes the Mothers Going Green blog, a daily record of her implementation of green changes into her home and lifestyle.

How do you eco?

I look at everything we do each day and see if we can do things ‘greener’. We buy local and organic whenever possible. We use eco-friendly household cleaners and personal products. We grow our own vegetables and use worm composting to reduce our waste. We recycle, reuse and reduce almost everything. We conserve both energy and water; don’t use plastic bags; and minimize other use of plastics.

Why did you go eco?

I was inspired after reading, The 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating. It opened my eyes to the damage we are doing to the earth. I’m doing this mostly for my children and their children - so that they can know the same beautiful earth I have known. And if it doesn’t turn out perfectly– at least I know that I tried my hardest. I’m also doing it for ‘mother nature’ she has nurtured us for so long now and it is now time to return the favor.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

The top one would be: No plastic bags! Followed by: conserve water and energy, plant trees and eat local and organic food.

EcoLinks

• Mother’s Going Green
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Jenn Savedge writes The Green Parent blog and is author of The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living. She focuses on helping parents raise kids that care about the environment without trashing the planet.

How do you eco?

I’m a firm believer that every little change makes a difference, so I make try to make every aspect of my daily life from cleaning my home to shopping for groceries as green as possible. But I can’t do it all. It can be hard to deal with “eco-guilt.” As a green author, a lot of folks expect me to be the model of “greenness” at all times. But I’m just a regular mom who is very interested in going green and tries make a difference everyday.

Why did you go eco?

I’m a big animal fan and worked for a number of years lobbying the Congress and United Nations to ensure better protection for endangered species like elephants and tigers. When my kids came along I found it tough to fit it all in. It was hard to keep up my garden and walk everywhere with a little baby in tow. My first instinct was to set eco-matters aside and focus on my kids. I then realized that eco-matters affect my girls as much if not more than all other decisions I make to keep them happy and healthy. So now, even with my work and their many activities, I eco for my girls, for their present and for their future.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Focus on the money-savers. People seem to think that going green is only for those who can afford it. The essence of going green is to use less stuff, and to be more discriminating about the stuff we do need to use. More often than not, that translates into major savings (and who couldn’t use a little extra green?).

EcoLinks

• The Green Parent
• The Green Parent Forum
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Tabitha Liddiard, writes the Organic for Baby and Organic In Style blogs, searching out the best organic and eco-friendly products for babies, children and adults. Products of good quality, excellent craftsmanship and–a certain hip and trendy style.

How do you eco?

Be aware of my choices. It sounds simple, but it takes conscience effort. Like going back to get my tote bag rather than using more grocery bags. Being willing to pay a little more for an eco-friendly, organic product rather than choosing the cheapest item available. My husband has even gave up his beloved gas lawnmower for a push mower. He gets a good workout with it too!

Why did you go eco?

I started doing research because I was hearing a lot in the media. There are a lot of scary facts floating around so I decided to research for myself. The more I learn, the more I try to change and apply these principles to my life. I want to make a difference for me and for my family.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

There are materials other than traditional cotton that are safer and better for the environment. Materials such as bamboo, hemp and soy. (Did you know that hemp will produce 1500 pounds of fiber per acre, whereas cotton will produce only 500 pounds per acre?) And these feel great too!

EcoLinks

• Organic for Baby
• Organic In Style
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Kirstin Aadahl, new mother and a former special education teacher of 14 years, writes the Trying To Be Greener, a blog about safe, eco-living one day at a time.

How do you eco?

Everyday, I work at finding out a new way to make safer choices that will make a difference in being healthier and saving Earth’s resources. It can be as simple as learning where to take rechargeable batteries to be recycled, how to bank online to cut down on resources, and why to grab a BPA-free reusable water bottle when I head out the door. Safer, eco-living can be done one day at a time.

Why did you go eco?

After I became pregnant last year, I thought a lot about how small amounts of chemicals, whether in food, soap, or a mattress, could affect a little baby. Having a daughter inspired me to research safer soaps, toys, cleaning products, and food which also helps me to make better choices for myself. I can’t eliminate all hazards but I can try to reduce them. These changes haven’t made a huge impact on the world’s pollution or waste but it’s still progress. Small substitutions over time will have a bigger impact on our family’s health. By spreading the word on what I’ve learned, perhaps I can inspire others to want to do the same and all of us making safer choices for ourselves and the environment add up to measurable differences.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

There’ s one small, inexpensive thing we can do on a daily basis that would make an incredible difference if everyone adopted it - bring your own bag. Each year 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are produced and only 1% are recycled. Keep reusable bags in you car, under your stroller, or in your handbag. Use them often and see the great response you get from people when you pull them out to use!

EcoLinks

• Trying to Be Greener
• Grean and Clean Mom
• Safe Mama
• Tree Hugger
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Christine Escobar writes the Green Parent Chicago blog as a welcome harbor for Chicago-area parents interested in natural family living and caring for the environment. She focuses on natural birth, breastfeeding, organic and vegetarian nutrition, alternative education, non-traditional families, home schooling and environmentalism.

How do you eco?

Right now, we’re trying out vegetarian meals and it’s been successful. We recycle; bring our own bags and water bottles; avoid chemical cleaners, disposable products, paper towels and excessive packaging. Whenever we can make something by hand or from scratch we try to make the time to do that. We also try to buy recycled or used items. We donate as much as we can as there is always another family who could use things taking up space - like clothes, toys, books and furniture.

Why did you go eco?

Since our kids were babies we’ve had a philosophy of doing more with less and have embraced natural parenting practices like breastfeeding and cloth diapering. Now that they’re older, simple living and homeschooling allows us to be more creative with our resources. It seems like the right thing to do for them, our family and the environment. It made more sense to us than other ideas. It’s important for our children to consider how their actions effect others, whether it be other people, animals or plants.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

You can be happier and enjoy life more with less. We certainly have our share of toys, clothes and stuff. But now when I shop, I ask whether this something we really need, already have something similar and what purpose will it serve in our house. There are so many ways to enjoy your day when you have children. Don’t waste time maintaining and cleaning possessions which cuts into time doing more important things as a family.

EcoLinks

• Green Parent Chicago
• The Green Baby Guide
• How Can I Recycle This
• Chief Eco Officers
• HomeEco
• PlayEco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Jennifer Lance is lead writer for Eco Child’s Play, a blog about creating an organic, fun and chemical-free life for your kids. Although she and her family have lived off the grid for 15 years in Northern California’s Trinity County in a home built by themselves and friends, daily life is still packed–with teaching preschool, working towards a Master’s Degree, blogging, gardening, hiking, yoga, and raising her children and four akitas.

How do you eco?

We live off-the-grid making our own power from a micro hydro turbine in our creek. We built our own home from salvage timber, and we grow a lot of our own food. We only buy eco-friendly toys and organic food, and we have educated our families to do the same for our children. Blogging about raising a green family is my way of helping other parents learn how they can go green. We try to live simply, sustainably, and self-sufficiently.

Why did you go eco?

Early experiences in nature made me sensitive to our environment. As a teenager, I wanted to be a Rainbow Warrior. Education helped me learn more about humanity’s impact on the climate and environment, so I consciously chose to live as eco-friendly as possible as an adult. I made career choices, home choices, and family choices based upon my concerns that humans do not have dominion over the earth to do what they want without considering the impact on other humans, plants, animals, etc.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Recycle! Once you change your whole perception of what garbage is, you have made a huge difference. My children do not view recycling as garbage but as recycling. I feel confident that they will never consciously place anything recyclable in the trash can.

EcoLinks

• Eco Child’s Play
• The Green Guide
• Environmental Working Group
• Really Natural
• Grist
• Red, Green and Blue
• Chief Eco Officers
• Home Eco
• Play Eco

Part of a series featuring green moms, the new Chief Eco Officers.

Jessica Monte writes the Green Mamma blog. As a parent, lifelong artist and freelance writer her focus is rooted in desire to protect and preserve the planet’s environment for her children and future generations.

How do you eco?

Our family is making a good effort so far. We use CFLS instead of incandescent bulbs; replace heating and ac filters; choose energy efficient appliances; turn off and unplug electronic devices; run full dishwasher loads; recycle; use recycled products, buy locally grown and organic fresh foods when possible, eating vegetarian (100% for me and 75% for my husband and daughter); my husband tries to bike to work 3 times a week and I bike to local children’s events; maintain our cars and keep our tires inflated.

Why did you go eco?

My interest in eco-friendly living became a passion when my daughter Annabelle, now 19 months, entered our life and my instinct to protect my child became a need to protect and care for our planet. I believe our individual health and wellness (and our children’s) is connected to and interdependent upon the health of all else: the physical, mental, and spiritual health of families; the water supply, air, and soil; the collective health of the people in our community, the nation and larger world.

Small as we may perceive ourselves to be, our choices can truly make a difference in the grand scheme of things. What I have learned is that the best way we, as individuals, can exercise our power to protect and preserve our personal health, our families’ health, worldwide health, and the health of Mother Earth, is to reduce carbon emissions and slow down global warming.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Keep green living simple. Buy not. Reduce, re-use, repurpose, upcycle, and recycle. It’s that easy.

EcoLinks

• Green Mamma
• Chief Eco Officers
• Home Eco
• Play Eco