We have a lot of people search our site for information about eco-audits, so EC decided to find out more about eco-audits and what you can expect during an eco-audit. Alexandra Henriques (AH), founder of ECO-Audit was kind enough to answer our questions.

EC: So I guess the first question is, what is an ECO-audit?

AH: An ECO-audit helps families and small businesses green their footprint, save money, but above all protect the health of their members. Why? Because almost everything in the average home is slowly poisoning us. Asthma, allergies, and cancer are rising worldwide at alarming rates. Children are the most vulnerable to this assault, but we can protect them. Through the home or business premises audits we do, we facilitate the adoption of sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective materials, products and practices.

EC: What is your background and how did you get into the business of ECO-audits?

AH: I have been a life-long environmentalist, with over 25 years of experience pursuing sustainable practices and applying them. My professional background is in education, which has come in very handy. I find there is a lot of education to do around mainstream products and practices which are no good for the environment — or us. ECO-audit also does sustainability education by providing workshops, and my experience developing learning materials for adults, and facilitating learning has been invaluable. I got into this business because I wanted to share all the environmental knowledge I had, and help others.

EC: What can I expect, when I get an ECO-audit?

AH: When you get an ECO-audit you can expect an appointment on a day and time that’s convenient for you, an interview to determine your concerns and objectives, and a thorough audit of the home or business premises. This will take from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Within a week, you will receive by email the audit report, this will include all positive actions being taken presently, problem areas with concrete suggestions, a glossary of terms used, and a list of resources relevant to your issues and area. The second scheduled appointment will then take place to discuss the report, answer any questions, and help you on your way to healthier sustainability.
Ongoing support is included in an audit, anytime you hit a roadblock; help is just a phone call or email away.

EC: What types of eco-audits do you conduct?

AH: Besides the whole home or business premises audits, we have Focus Audits, featuring the BABY-audit - “peace of mind for expecting parents”, a very similar Pet-audit, a Diet-audit, which helps you become a locavore, green your diet, and avoid contaminants, especially important for children; we also have for D.I.Y.ers the Reno-audit, the Yard-audit, and the Move-audit; finally we have a Transportation-audit that helps those who want to drive less, but are not sure how to go about it.

EC: What are some of the things you might suggest new parents look for?

AH:To new parents I would suggest less is more, and go back to basics. What we see all around in our society is excess, but not necessarily quality, often just quantity. Go for the quality and protect your baby. For example, you say organic cotton is expensive, I say the baby doesn’t need 10 teething toys, a couple will do, get something healthy you don’t have to worry about. Go back to the basic toys all children enjoy, ones made by craftspeople out of solid wood for example, with healthy finishes, not plastic whose ingredients you can’t check and mass produced by exploited workers.

EC: When I took at look at your website, I was really interested in the Yard-audit. I have always thought we should rethink our yards to focus on native plants especially the plants that attract the birds, bees, butterflies and other animals. Our yards should really be part of the natural circle of life. Is that the focus of a Yard-audit?

AH: Yes, that is definitely part of a Yard-audit, we have strayed too far away from nature, by starting with only native plants and then the value-added of drought-resistance we get on the right path again. Choosing to attract birds, butterflies or bees gives even more value. We can go even further by incorporating in the yard bird feeders, baths, or bird houses, a rain barrel, a composting bin, a dog W.C., a laundry line, or games.

EC: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

AH: Check our website for our Spring workshops, and you can also sign up for our blog.

EC: In closing, I noticed that there are gift certificates on your site. What a great idea for a house warming gift or for a shower gift for new parents. Alexandra, thank you for your time.

Health Canada has now issued an advisory for Canadian consumers regarding cadmium in jewellery. They state, “Health Canada … has concerns that cadmium, which is a carcinogen, may be increasingly substituted for lead in inexpensive jewellery.

Although there are clear guidelines on lead levels in jewellery intended for children under 15 years of age, there are no regulatory requirements for cadmium levels in children’s jewellery.

Health Canada advises that to keep children safe, parents

• discard any jewellery they suspect may contain lead or cadmium.
• do not give any adult jewellery to young children.
• do not allow children to put jewellery in their mouths.
• should ask your doctor to test your child’s blood for lead or cadmium if you believe they may be at risk due to contact with said jewellery.
• contact emergency if a child injests something you suspect of containing lead or cadmium.

For further information or to see a list of specifically recalled items, visit Health Canada Advises Consumers of Lead and Cadmium Hazard in Children’s Jewellery.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_07-eng.php

It seems that in the name of making a fast buck and keeping our little girls in cheap pretty jewelry, some manufacturers have replaced lead with cadmium. Lead is known to cause impaired intellect, memory loss, kidney and renal problems to name a few. Cadmium, on the other hand is known to cause kidney and renal problems,  respiratory and musculoskeletal system problems, and more.

Seems to me that the switch wasn’t motivated by the consumers’ best interest but rather to continue making money. Consumers are becoming much savvier though and a simple switch in toxins isn’t going to cut it anymore. We now have many organizations monitoring the marketplace and blowing the whistle when businesses make bad decisions in the name of profit.

It is true that some of the larger corporations have pulled the offending merchandise. However, maybe there is a better solution: not putting toxic products on the shelves in the first place. There are stores that strive to ensure that what they sell is fun and safe. I suggest we shop at local stores that take the time to know as much about their products as they can.

Dreampower makes costumes that can transform any little girl into a princess. Most are handmade in St. Jacob’s in Ontario. The costumes are made to be everyday dress up that can be handed down again and again. What they do not make themselves, they carefully source to ensure that what they do sell is safe and lasting.

Undine Jewellery is another Canadian success story, which sells fun, colourful jewellery for kids. Rima Macikuna ensures that the materials she works with are safe, sourcing her silver from Canada and Italy to ensure that it is not mixed with lead. She also uses glass beads for the majority of her work, as they are beautiful and safe to wear. When she does use metal, she works hard to ensure that they are safe.

In chatting with Sarah from Dreampower and Rima from Undine Jewellery, they both commented on how challenging it is to source safe materials, but with determination both of these Canadian companies are doing everything they can to bring our children safe products that are also incredibly gorgeous and lasting.

I love rummaging through closets and coming up with Halloween costumes. I love the costumes, the make up and the parties. Here are some ideas to add to your Halloween fun.

Window Decoration Crayons

Save paper and trees - decorate by drawing pumpkins and ghosts directly on the windows! Kids will love having such a big, unusual canvas. Great for mirrors too. Non-toxic. EAsy to wipe off. Pack of 10. Made in Germany.

Face Paint Pencils

Wood encased, bright colours. No water required. Non-toxic. Easy to wash off. Made in Germany. Choose from 2 different colour pacds, each contain 6 pencils. Basic pack: blue, yellow, red, green, white, black. Plus pack: pink, violet, gold, silver, brown, orange.

Plant-Based Body Paint

All natural, non-toxic. Ideal for lots of coverage, ie. white ghost, green withc, orange pumpken. Set of 7 paint pots in vivacious colours: yellow, blue, red, beige, green, white, black. Easy to apply and easy to remove with water.

Black Organic Cotton Leotard

And for dressing up your little one as the perfect black cat, etc. try black organic leotards and Canadian-made tutus.

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Helmet Covers

Dress up your red devil, lion, ladybug, pig, shark and more with a Canadian-made helmet cover (fits any sports helmet) that great for use all year round.

I have to admit, I love paying for school lunches as I don’t have to dream up what to pack for lunch that day. What I don’t always like are the choices. But over the years, I have noticed the choices getting better and better. This year, an established all Canadian company is partnering with schools to provide healthy alternatives to school lunches.

Arthur’s Fresh has created a 250ml bottle of fresh fruit smoothie - including the all important pulp - for elementary schools. This 250ml bottle is the size recommended by the Dieticians of Canada and contains 2 full servings of fruit. For secondary schools, Arthur’s Fresh Juice offers up a 325ml bottle, containing 2.5 servings of fruit. The ingredients of the fresh fruit smoothies includes fruit, fruit and fruit: no preservatives, sugar or water.

At the secondary school level, the smoothies are offered through cafeterias. Since most elementary schools don’t have cafeterias, Arthur’s Fresh is working with parents, administation and school boards to offer the fruit smoothies to complement existing milk programs. If you live in Ontario, Arthur’s Fresh has a direct-to-school program in which they work with the school to find options for delivery and cooler options to keep the smoothies cool.

With only one in eight of our kids consuming the recommended five servings or fruits and vegetables each day, it is high time that we find a way to get those all important fibre and nutrients into their systems. Arthur’s Fresh fruit smoothies delivers the nutritional benefits of the whole fruit, unlike juice options, that have removed the fibre and often much of the naturally occuring vitamins in processing.

One of my main concerns with school lunches comes with the indivually packed containers that get tossed in the trash. Arthur’s Fresh has worked hard to ensure that their containers are fully recyclable.  Not only that, in 2008/2009, they dropped their greenhouse gas footprint by eight percent. Further, they are a Canadian company!

Interested? You can email them at school@arthursjuice.com or call them at 416-233-6888. You can also join them on Facebook under Arthur’s Fresh School Smoothies.

As a mom, kids clothing is high on my list at this time of year. We don’t do a great big shop, but with the changing weather it is time to make sure the kids have what they need. The clothes that my kids wear need to pass the mom test.

They need to be durable. I also want good value for my money. I know that my kids will outgrow them (sooner rather than later) and I want the clothing to last well past my kids. I have received many fabulous hand me downs and I like to contribute to the tradition. It is a environmentally sound practice to receive and give hand me downs. So I buy clothing that can pass the test over and over again, rather than go a season and get tossed out.

I do my best to make sure my kids aren’t wearing clothing that has been made at the expense of other children. A recent U.S. Labour report (PDF) lists Argentina, China, India, Jordan, Malaysia, and Thailand and countries where children are forced to make clothing. Child labour is a big issue that can’t be dealt with in its entirety without writing a book, but suffice it to say that as parents I believe that all kids are our kids. It takes a global village.

Chemical laced clothing hurts not just our kids, but the entire planet. It is really difficult to choose healthy clothing but I do so as much as possible. Just as a pair of too tight pants can do harm so can toxins resting against the skin of a child. Harm that may not show up for years to come.

Last but not least, clothing must be functional. This includes the ability to move in them, washability as well as their willingness to put them on in the morning. If a kid can’t bend, run, climb and tumbling then the clothing won’t serve them well. Further, if getting my child into an outfit takes convincing on my part of whining on their part, it isn’t functional. Well, I’m not functional and in the morning that spells trouble.

Here are a few Canadian companies offering clothing that passes the mom test.

Pinafore from ecomum.com

Popo's ponchos

Tum Tum Tree Designs

If you know of any other great Canadian kids clothing shops, let us know.

Earlier this week, my daughter found an old metal lunchbox at a thrift shop we were checking out. It was the perfect back to school lunch kit in her eyes. Now I just have to figure out what to put in it, which I have to admit is one of my least favourite morning chores.

If you are looking for an updated lunch kit for back to school, there are some great options on the market right now. Here are a few ideas.

Reusable Snack Pouch

This is a great alternative to all those little plastic bags I see blowing around the school grounds. Pop in a sandwich, some crackers or even some apple slices and fold it up. The velcro keeps it in place. One bag is all you need, which is better than 200 small plastic bags all blowing in the wind or flowing down the river.

Neoprene Reusable Lunch Tote

No chemicals necessary in this cute lunch bag made out of wetsuit material. I really like the fact that it is machine washable, since I love to just toss things in the wash rather than clean it myself. Looks good and feels great to carry since it was made in Taiwan by fair trade workers.

EarthLust Stainless Bottles

I just send water with my kids each day. I don’t believe they need juice in their diet, much like they don’t need pop. Water only makes clean up easier and if you are looking for some non-toxic, BPA free water bottles with sweet designs, these are them.

Laptop Lunch Bundles

I do love bento boxes and these lunch boxes are mini bento boxes for kids. My youngest daughter still hates it when one food item touches another so she would fully appreciate this kit.  Better still it is lead-free, insulated and comes with a non-toxic ice pack to help keep things cool.

September is a good time to get into new lunch habits. My daughter’s school had a litterless lunch Wednesday last year, asking parents to not use any disposable containers on Wednesdays. My daughter didn’t bother telling me. When I asked why she said, every day was litterless lunch day for her. I am definitely not one of those ” together parents” but I guess everyone does at least one thing right. Now if I could only find a way to get the kids to like leftovers.

I came across a great list of back to school supplies the other day at FrogFile. There was a (PDF) list for elementary school students, high school students and post-secondary school students. Not only do they list the supplies, they suggest the most environmentally friendly alternatives on the market. Here are some of the highlights (and highlighters).

The Better Binder

This is one of my favourites as the kids get to doodle on it and make it their own. We have at least one kicking around the house and they are great. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled chipboard, it can be recycled when you are done with it. The ring can be attached to a new sleeve and a brand new binder is born.

Earthzone Pencils

These pencils are made from recycled newspaper and come in H or HB. Even the packaging itself is made from recycled paper. They have erasers on the end that don’t smudge. Look for them in packs of 12 or 144.

Faber-Castell Highlights

I haven’t bought highlighters lately, but when I do these will be the ones. I like that fact that I can refill them rather than toss them out.  Buying disposable pens and highlighters is one of my bad habits, and it is time to make a change. I am looking forward to giving these a try. I also like that fact that they use water-based inks.

Safe White Correction Fluid

I was thrilled to come across this product. My eldest daughter is always asking for correction fluid and up to now I have refused to buy any. I remember the powerfully toxic smell of the correction fluid I used as a kid. Here is the alternative. It is water-based and low odour. Now I can buy her correction fluid and not worry.

Frogfile is giving away a back-to-school package as well. Look for details on their site and enter by September 4, 2009.

Now that we’re well into July, the seemingly eternal kids’ question ‘I’m bored, what can I do?’  seems to be gaining momentum.

Here are 5 surefire ways to keep them occupied - at least for a little while! They are traditional to-do’s, tried and true. Why not write them on little pieces of paper, place them in a jar and let the kids choose what the next activity will be?

1. Play Outside
The weather’s beautiful. You grab your hats, water bottles, insect repellent and head out for a walk in the great outdoors. Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes into it - depending on their ages - up pops the ‘I’m tired/I’m bored of walking’ comments.

The Naturebag Eco-Activity Kit is a great little bag to take along on any outdoor adventure. It’s packed with loads of great activities to keep the kids engaged and includes a step-by-step guide for parents to lead them. It was created by two mompreneurs (one a former educator) with the aim of getting kids outside and exploring nature rather than watching tv/playing video games/sitting in front of the internet. It’s received a glowing endorsement from artist and naturalist, Robert Bateman.

2. Read
Find out if your local library has a summer reading club and join! Every library - definitely in BC and more than likely across the country - is offering a reading club for kids for the next two months, Summer Reading Club 2009 - Follow the Reader.

For preschoolers, there’s the Read-to-Me program where a record of books the preschooler shares is kept on a special card. You can drop in to the library for weekly stickers, stamps and reading suggestions.
For beginning readers to those in Grade 7, there’s the Summer Reading club where members are given a special registration package that includes a Reading Record. Kids are encouraged to report their readings, watch for special weekly programs and prizes. In September, certificates and medals are awarded.

3. Bake
It may take longer and it will definitely end up being messier, but baking with kids is a great way to engage them and you’ll have something yummy to show for it - usually.

Try banana bread, sugar cookies, in season blueberry/raspberry muffins, cupcakes (can’t get enough of those sprinkles) or granola bars. Sugar cookies are one of the most time consuming but - similar to playdough - kids love rolling the dough and cutting out the shapes, then either putting on sprinkles prior to baking or icing them once they’re baked. The more unusual the cutter shapes the better. This is a great set of natural cutter shapes - featuring a moon, butterfly, fish, toadstool and bird - or go for a gift set that includes a lovely wooden rolling pin too.

4. Create Art
Arts and crafts are always a hit and usually the messier, the more fun. Try modelling clay that simply requires a few days to air dry, then the kids can paint it or older ones can chisel/shape it as they wish.
Soy-based, pebble-shaped crayon rocks are great for developing the tripod grip that prepares children for writing, as are triangular coloured pencil crayons. Why not give them their own special sketchbook for Summer 2009 so they can create what essentially becomes a visual diary. Check out these super funky, recycled kids sketch books that are made in Canada.

Don’t forget face painting - a true source of hours of fun. We’ve found some great non-toxic, wooden face paint pencils from Germany that don’t require any water and they wash off easily, but not so easily that they disappear within minutes of being drawn on. And you can always focus on ‘tatooing’ hands and arms too!

5. Write Letters
Who doesn’t like receiving a real, honest-to-goodness letter in the post? Kids in particular absolutely love receiving something with their name on it. Encourage developing penpals, writing to cousins who live out of town and why not start a chain letter? A bit of work, but it has its rewards. We couldn’t believe how excited our daughter got when she received one for a sticker club last week. She wanted to write the letters and post them right then and there! She can’t wait to receive her 36 packets of stickers. Neither can we…

Here’s the text for the sticker club chain letter, it’s a good one to catch their interest because pretty much all kids love stickers.
_______________
Dear X

Welcome to the sticker club! Please send one packet of stickers to the person listed as Number 1. Move my name to the first spot and place your name in the second spot. Then send this letter to 6 of your friends.

If you cannot do this within 6 days, please let my mom know because it is not fair to those who participated. Within 2 weeks, you should receive 36 packets of stickers! It is lots of fun to see where all the stickers came from…and also nice to get some mail.

Good luck and thank you for joining the sticker club!

1. Name
Address

2. Name
Address
________________

Whatever activities you do with your kids this summer, remember it’s all about fun because a happy child = a happy parent!

Louise Campbell is co-founder of Vancouver-based online lifestyle boutique Lavish & Lime specializing in eco-friendly products for green living and giving. Find lots more ideas to kids busy in the Baby & Kids category at Lavish & Lime and join their email list for the chance to win a $100 eco shopping spree.

There are a multitude of reasons for you and your family to start eating organic foods. Organic farming and food is better for health, can prevent the onset of future disease and illness and reduces exposure to toxic elements in our environment. But… that’s not all. Read on to find out why you and your family should go organic!

1. Reduce your intake of harmful herbicides and pesticides
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of all herbicides (weed killers), 90% of all fungicides (mold killers), and 30% of all insecticides (insect killers) are potentially cancer causing. Unfortunately, the usage of herbicides and pesticides is on the rapid rise in our food sources. According to testing carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are:

·    Three to more than four times more likely on average to contain residues than organic produce;
·    Eight to 11 times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues than organic samples;
·    Shown to contain residues at levels three to 10 times higher, on average, than corresponding residues in organic samples.

2. Protect our children – Children are at higher risk to the effects of herbicides and pesticides due to their smaller body size and faster metabolism. In recent years, there has been a rise in childhood illnesses that have been linked to the increase use of herbicides and pesticides such as asthma and cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, “More than 1 million children between the ages of 1 and 5 ingest at least 15 pesticides every day from fruits and vegetables. More than 600,000 of these children eat a dose of organophosphate insecticides that the federal government considers unsafe, and 61,000 eat doses that exceed benchmark levels by a factor of 10 or more.”

3. Protection against the onset of future illness or disease
There are over 7,000 different herbicide and pesticide products currently available in Canada. Many of these were approved prior to 1960 when their long term effects were unknown. Creating a causal link between the increase of various diseases and herbicide/pesticide usage is quite difficult due to the complexities involved such as age of person, combination of chemicals and genetic pre-disposition. However, there is a strong body of evidence linking various cancers (i.e. non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), asthma and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s to the increase in usage of herbicides and pesticides. In addition, childhood cancers are also on the rise.

4. The quality of nutrition is improved
According to a review of 41 studies designed to compare the nutritional value of conventional vs. organically grown fruits, vegetables and grains, organic produce was nutritionally superior. Specifically, organic crops contained 27% more vitamin C, 21.1% more iron, 29.3% more magnesium and 13% more phosphorus. This improvement in nutritional quality is largely due to the health and richness of the soil.

In another study, disease fighting chemicals called flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables were significantly higher in organic berries and corn. Flavonoids offer powerful protection against various cancers and allergies.

5. The taste is better!
When biting into an organic fruit or vegetable, you can instantly taste the difference. Whether it is an organic banana or sweet potato, organic food bursts with flavor. To accurately measure the improvement in taste, a study was conducted by Washington State University in Pullman, measuring the taste of organic food vs. conventionally grown crops. The results confirmed that organic produce was sweeter, firmer and more intact after 6 months of storage.

6. Reduces the amount of antibiotic residue found in your meat
The usage of antibiotics in cattle and livestock has now become a commonplace practice to prevent illness and disease from occurring. Organic livestock are provided with an environment that promotes good health and the ethical treatment of animals which eliminates the need for medications. According to the Organic Trade Association, “Organic practices prohibit the use of hormones, antibiotics or other animal drugs in animal feed for the purpose of stimulating the growth or production of livestock. If an antibiotic is used to restore an animal to health, that animal cannot be used for organic production or be sold, labeled or represented as organic. Thus, organic practices avoid the abuse of antibiotics that could have profound consequences for treatment of disease in humans, including the serious dangers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”

7. Decreases soil erosion
Organic farmers act responsibly to protect the soil from future damage and depletion. In order to receive the designation of certified organic, the soil must be free of all herbicides and pesticides for a minimum of 3 years. In addition, organic farmers use various techniques to maintain the integrity of the soil such as crop rotation, composting and the elimination of any prohibited fertilizers.

8. Organic certification is strictly monitored
Organic food handlers, processors and retailers are held to the strictest of standards to maintain the quality assurances necessary to be labeled certified organic. Organic farmers are also audited 2-3 times yearly by the organic review board to ensure they are upholding the high standards.

9. Protection of our waters
Current conventional farming practices cause dangerous “spill offs” due to the usage of synthetic fertilizers. These fertilizers can cause an overabundance of nitrogen in the ground and have been linked to the development of various cancers. In contrast, organic agriculture uses natural materials in the soil that protects drinking water supplies and safeguards against water contamination.

10. Protects the environment
According to Health Canada, “Organic agriculture is a holistic system of production with a principle goal to develop productive enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment”.  In a nutshell, organic farming is much healthier for the planet by significantly reducing toxic exposure in our soil, water, air and for the prevention of illness and disease in future generations.

Dr. Joel Shulman is head nutritionist at Sweetpea Baby Food, and one of Canada’s foremost authorities on nutrition and wellness.  Reprinted with permission from Sweetpea Baby Food.