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.

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

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

Cameron Mora, mother of four, writes the GreenGoody blog. She teaches her children the importance of their impact on this planet. Cameron has a soft spot for great design, pretty things, good photography, and anything eco-friendly.

How do you eco?

I am not an extremist, I simply try to do at least one simple thing a day. I want to instill in my children a respect for our environment-that we’re not radical; just responsible. We recycle, eat organic, use cloth napkins, unplug our appliances. Sometimes the environmental movement can make people feel guilty that they are not doing enough. I say that doing one thing is a start, doing two is even better.

Why did you go eco?

It started with food. When I was ten years old, my father got a book called Fit For Life. I read it and have never looked at food the same way again. That book sparked my desire to dig deeper and learn more. By middle school I was a member of PETA and Greenpeace. It’s a natural progression for me. I hope to instill the same passion in my children.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Know your beauty products! I’m passionate about the cosmetic industry and the dangerous chemicals and toxins that women are slathering on their faces and bodies. According to the EWG’s Cosmetic Safety Database, only 11% of 10,500 ingredients in beauty products have been tested for safety.

EcoLinks

• GreenGoody
• EWG Cosmetic Safety Database
• Chief Eco Officers

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

Doreen Kukral’s Mom Goes Green is a window into one mom’s journey to green living, from trying to recycle on vacation to what her kids should snack on.

How do you eco?

I simply try to be aware and conscious of the decisions I make and how they affect both my family and our environment. I don’t do anything that’s unrealistic. We recycle and eat organic foods as much as possible. I choose products that are biodegradable, eco-friendly and naturally derived for the good of the earth and my family. I’ve incorporated reusable bags into shopping and try to maintain a zero-waste approach to everything possible. I also simply remember the r’s: reuse, reduce, recycle… and make the right choice.

Why did you go eco?

I have children that will have to live with the effects of my decisions. Why wouldn’t I want the very best for them in terms of their health and the condition of their world? I want them to learn a better way. I want to give them the tools to make the best decisions. And long after I’m gone, I hope they will continue that legacy and respect the world we live in and make good choices for themselves.

One of the wisest things I ever heard is “We don’t raise children; we raise adults.” Children already know how to be children. We need to teach them to be conscious adults. I’m sure they will embrace it…at 3- and 6-years old they’ve already shown me that they want to learn.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Just start somewhere and take baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Make gradual changes and it doesn’t seem so daunting. Begin with recycling. Next, buy reusable bags. Then, try organic foods and bio-degradable products. There are so many choices available to us, so take advantage of that. You don’t have to sacrifice anything and I think that’s a misconception of going green. Do what’s best for you, your children and your family.

EcoLinks

• Mom Goes Green
• Chief Eco Officers

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

Christine Gardner’s “Mothering Earth” highlights tips on simple mothering for a healthy earth. Like she says “If momma’s happy, we’re all happy.”

How do you eco?

Being green doesn’t mean being super trendy or spending a ton of money. In fact, it can mean saving a substantial amount of cash. My road to green started as an experiment to drive less, a life-changing decision that saves my family thousands of dollars each year. In addition, I line-dry about half the laundry and make my own cleaning products using lots of vinegar and baking soda. I buy used clothes and furniture whenever possible. Almost all our family meals are prepared at home. All those changes might seem like a lot, but the end result is actually a much slower pace of life, even in suburbia.

Why did you go eco?

Initially, I just wanted to drive less. It seemed moms spend just a huge bulk of their days in the car/minivan/SUV. It’s craziness. But after selling my car, buying a bike and learning to ride the bus, I began reading just a ton of stuff about the climate crisis. This led me to the conclusion that I not only needed to do my part, but I was obligated to teach my children alternatives to using excessive amounts of energy.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) can be a mom’s best friend. Not only does it provide the freshest produce available from a local farmer, but also the season dictates the week’s bounty. It takes the decision work out of whether to buy carrots or lettuce. Also, it forces members to try veggies they might otherwise disregard. It’s how I started my love affair with arugula. Oh, and start driving less. Way less.

EcoLinks

• Mothering Earth
• Chief Eco Officers

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

Sommer Poquette’s Green & Clean Mom blog, where “going green is sexy, sassy and fun,” is for the average mom doing her best to be some shade of green everyday.

How do you eco?

I try to help moms and companies go green. I offer suggestions, tips, product reviews and features to help people learn about how going green can be fun. I write from mom’s points of view but it applies to any person wanting to go eco. I lend marketing and consulting support to companies and individuals who want to go green My idea is to motivate, inspire, encourage and learn from one another.

Why did you go eco?

One day, I realized that every time I sprayed a cleaner my children were breathing toxic chemicals. I had a light bulb moment and never turned back. It started with going eco in my home and that led to being eco for the environment. My family is healthier and so is the environment. Researching, reading, trying new products and a desire to green my home in and out and be a role model for my children is what led me to what I do.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

Start somewhere, anywhere. Don’t overwhelm yourself but decide you’re going to do something today. Maybe it’s using reusable bags today. Then tomorrow you add something else. Everyone wins the race when people go eco and start somewhere.

EcoLinks

• Green & Clean Mom
• Chief Eco Officers

Are moms the new CEOs?

Moms are taking charge on cleaning the planet and know what’s good for Mother Earth is good for their babies. More and more eco-moms, or Chief Eco Officers, are taking what they learn and spreading the green through blogs of their own.

Who’s your favorite green mom blogger? Here’s just a few:

• Eco Child’s Play
  Advice for an organic, fun and chemical-free life for your kids. Reviews and suggestions for toys, education, nutritional foods and family activities.
• Mom Goes Green
  A mom’s journey to green living.
• Green & Clean Mom
  Blog about making green sexy, sassy and fun. A source for parents trying to be some shade of green each day.
• Sustainable Motherhood
  For those who know less is more and having it all is a bunch of bull.
• GreenMom
  Ideas, inspiration and information on green family living. Because moms naturally take care of everything.
• Green Mom Finds
  Products and services that are kinder to the earth and better for our children and families.
• EnviroMom
  Raising kids green in Portland, Oregon.
• Organic for Baby
  Finds the best organic products for your baby
• Green Parent Chicago
  Covers eco-friendly and off the mainstream news, events and stories of parents and kids living green in Chicago and the suburbs.