A few years ago, my eldest daughter and I made a solar oven out of a pizza box, tin foil, some black paper and a number of odds and ends that we put together. Although it wouldn’t have safely roasted a chicken we were able to warm some soup and melt some cheese on toast. I remember having great fun experimenting with  the angles of the oven and trying to find a solution that created the hottest temperature possible.

This is a great activity and can be done using a cardboard box other than a pizza box. Different boxes will lend to different angles and hence different temperatures. It is a great idea to have a thermometer on hand to test the temperature as you experiment.

There are quite a few sites with instructions on how to make a pizza box solar oven but I liked Solar Now’s pizza box solar oven the best as it had images to let you know you are on the right track.

Maybe you could even reheat yesterdays’ pizza?

Summer is well under way now and if your kids are like mine, they are always looking for ways to cool down.  Sometimes we buy freezies, ice cream and popsicles, but often we make our own.

A great way to start is with plastic-free non toxic popsicle molds like those at Nayla Natural Care.

Once you have safe molds you can start to experiment with your favourite juices. Gwen from Nayla Natural Care suggests the pomegranate/cherry blend from Kiju as well as the other juice combinations that they make.

My kids like Happy Planet’s Tropical Tango with its hint of coconut. I think it would go well blended with yogurt as well so that is on my list of things to try.

Kids love to dig in and make their own. One simple Popsicle recipe includes chopping up watermelon and tossing it in the blender with some apple juice.  From there let the kids choose their favourite fruit and juices and come up with their own popsicle recipes. Even the youngest child can make his or her own popsicle recipes, which keeps them away from the high sugared and artificially coloured popsicles found in most grocery stores.

Here is another great recipe from Silk Road Tea

Earl Pink Tea Popsicle

A tart & revitalizing popsicle that looks as good as it tastes.

2 tbsp. Earl Green tea, 2 cups water
1 cup grapefruit juice, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1 tbsp. sugar

Bring water to just before the boil. Pour 2 cups water over 2 tbsp. loose tea. Steep for 3 minutes. Strain tea into a heatproof jug (plastic or stainless steel) and stir in sugar to dissolve. Refrigerate until completely chilled. Combine chilled tea with juices (*Tip: Never combine hot tea with grapefruit juice.)

Pour mixture into popsicle molds, and freeze. Wait until popsicles are completely frozen before serving. To transform this into an adult popsicle, add up to 1/4 cup of gin or vodka to the recipe.

There are so many fabulous popsicles to be made. Tell us about your favourites!

Most local libraries have great reading clubs, many of which are sponsored by TD Canada and offer a easy way to track your child’s reading throughout the summer. My kids always join the summer reading club and it is always a fun way to motivate them to read. One of the best prizes we received was a ticket to a baseball game. We went and ate peanuts and cracker jacks and had a blast.

The Lorax

This year the theme is ‘Destination Jungle’ which is a timely theme offering the opportunity to learn about the importance of rain forests and the plants and animals that call them home. Canada has rain forests so this is also a great opportunity to learn more about Canada as well.

Check out the Toronto Public Library’s online version of the reading club to get a list of Jungle books appropriate to your child’s reading level. Your child can also join the book club online; post the books she has read; comment for others to read; play games and send ecards.

Exploring your library and borrowing books is an environmentally friendly way to get your reading fix. We all have an extensive collection of books at our finger tips to enjoy.

Does your family go through 4 litres of milk in a flash? An amazing number of milk jugs land up in Canadian landfills. What’s worse is that in most places, plastic milk jugs are recyclable. If you do put them in the blue bin, they won’t be used for food again but will be down-cycled into furniture or plant pots, non food packaging, toys just to name a few.

There are an indefinite amount of projects on the Internet to reuse milk jugs in a number of creative ways. My favourite is to turn a 4L plastic milk jug into an upside down tomato or strawberry planter.

Here’s how:

1. Clean and rinse the plastic milk jug and allow to dry completely.
2. Cut off the top half to one third of the milk jug.
3. Cut or punch holes in each of the four corners of the open side of the milk jug.
4. Thread wire or string through all four holes and create a look from which to hang the planter.
5. Take a small tomato or strawberry plant and feed it through the small opening of the milk jug with the roots on the inside of the jug and the plant poking out the small opening.
6. Fill the planter with rich soil while holding the small plant in place.
7. Water the plant from the top until moist but not soggy.
8. Hang in a sunny place, watering regularly.
9. Enjoy your tomatoes or strawberries.

This planter can be used outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. Your kids will love eating the fruits of their own labour!

We have a bit of a strange tradition in our family. Each summer we choose one of the many long steep hills in Vancouver and we challenge ourselves to make it up the hill, on two wheels. At the beginning of each summer, our first trip up the hill usually consists of us pushing our bikes up most of the way. We keep at it though and as much as it might sound like cruel and unusual punishment, the sense of achievement when we finally complete the hill is enormous.

Checking out the turtles

Recently I read an article on CBC, Active play eludes kids in summer: survey, which stated that kids are not getting enough physical activity during the summer months. About 50% of kids spend most of their time with parents while another 20% spend time at day camps. It turns out that the kids in day camp are more active than the kids who spend their time with their parents. This summer, we are all taking the month of July and hanging out as a family and since reading that article I have been thinking more and more about what we are going to do with this time.

The truth of the matter is that both of my kids are far more fit than I am. They regularly engage in unstructured active play as well as structured athletics, whereas I spend a great deal of time on my rear looking at a computer screen. If I shift my perspective and think of my kids as my personal trainers and engage in active play with them, I may regain some of my fitness level. I know I can’t keep up with them but I can certainly try and along the way I bet we will all have tons of fun.

According to Active Health Kids Canada only 12% of Canadian children and youth get the 90 minutes of recommended physical activity. I am willing to bet that adults get even less exercise. So I am nominating my kids as my personal trainers for the summer. My exercise will no doubt consist of skipping, tag, hide & seek, chase, swimming, nature hikes, bug hunting, running up the stairs to the top of the water slides, ropes courses and whatever else my kids can come up with. It may not be the traditional exercise program but I think I will enjoy it.

And if it doesn’t kill me, it will get me in shape.

Bug Hunting

Today is the first day of summer and what better way to start baby’s first summer than by getting some great summer threads. Green Bean Baby’s products are made from 100% certified organic cotton to address growing concerns about the environment, health and safety in the textile and apparel industries. All Green Bean Baby products are quality made in Vancouver.

Here is some great ways to dress baby this summer.

100% Organic Cotton Kimono Top. Dressing baby is a breeze with this light knit kimono top. Fabric manufactured in Canada. Sewn in Canada. size 0-6m (photo by Bopomo Pictures)

100% Organic Cotton Pants. These functional pants match the kimono top and are great for a day at the beach. Fabric Manufactured in Canada. Sewn in Canada. size 0-6m (photo by Bopomo Pictures)

100% Organic Cotton Hooded Jacket. (photo by Bopomo Pictures) This cozy, fleece jacket is an everyday essential. Fabric manufactured in the US. Sewn in Canada. sizes 6-12m, 12-18m

100% Organic Cotton Dress. (photo by Bopomo Pictures) This adorable dress is made from a beautiful, soft, textured knit that is manufactured in Canada. Sewn in Canada. sizes 6-12m, 12-18m

100% Organic Cotton Nightgown. (photo by Bopomo Pictures) This nightgown is made from buttery soft interlock. Fabric is manufactured in the US. Sewn in Canada. size 0-3m

Today is Active Healthy Kids Day. This year’s active health kids report card is startling. Here are some of the facts.

• Only 36% or 2-3 year-olds and 44% of 4-5 year-olds regularly engage in unorganized sport and physical activity each week.
• More than 90% of kids start watching TV before the age of two, with 27% of those aged 2-3 and 22% of those aged 4-5 watching more than 2 hours of TV per day.
• 8-11% of 2-5 year-olds are obese in Canada.
• Children who become obese before the age of 6 are likely (25% - 50%) to be obese as adults.
• Canadian youth are accumulating 6 hours of screen time on weekdays, and 7 hours on weekend days. That is 44 hours a week!

Obesity affects every part of our lives, from mental health to physical health to academic performance.

The problem is multifaceted, including government, industry, schools, communities, and families. What can parents do?

• Take the TV out of the bedroom and limit screen time. Turning off the TV and moving to the computer does nothing. Screen time includes TV, computer, TV and computer based video games, and hand held video games and devices.
• Have regular family meal times with healthy food and good conversation about the day.
• Create opportunities for physical activity for the kids and as a family.
• Walk, bike or take transit to school.
• Encourage participation in school sports at school or in the community.
• Buy healthy active toys for your kids.
• Check out your local community centre.
• If your child is in day care or after school care, tell them you expect your child to have active play opportunities and time to play outside. Supply the right clothing.

Life is so busy and it can be really difficult to get it all done. Our kids are worth the time and effort it takes to create a recipe for their success.

Toxins seep into our lives and our bodies in the most inconspicuous ways. The little things we do every day could be leading us down a toxic super highway: washing our face, brushing our teeth, or taking a shower. All of these have the potential of polluting our bodies and our entire environment. Why? Because of the chemicals contained in the products we use and how industry produces these products.

The air we breathe, the products we use and even the food we eat, all contain traces of toxins. Although Canada has strict guidelines on how much pollution a company is allowed to pump into the air and water and how much and what types chemicals farmers are allowed to use, there is not a total ban. This means pollutants still seep through and into our bodies.

Toxic Nation did a very interesting study of how much toxins the human body contains. They sampled different families from different parts of the country. Read more about the study and the findings, maybe find a family close to where you live.

One interesting point in the BC family is that the teenage daughter has more toxins than her mother and her brother, and both children had more than the mother. This could be because of the priming and primping teenage girls do – putting more chemicals in and on their bodies. Young women are developing rapidly and keeping them away from toxins will make a difference to them and our world now and in the future.

It is virtually impossible to keep every toxin out of our body and our system, but watching what you eat and what kinds of soaps, deodorants and shampoos you use is a good start. As consumers we can choose to live in a way that limits our exposure to toxins as well as limits the amount of toxins we send into the environment.

As we refuse to purchase toxic products, companies will cease to manufacture them and real change will happen.

In an increasingly fast-paced world, sometimes the most important things are set aside. Commuting and multi-tasking have replaced playtime and family dinners. So why not pause – at least one night a week – and get your loved ones ‘round the table for a fun family game night. To get you started, here are some eco-friendly game ideas that are sure to please.

Toronto’s Grassroots is a wealth of fun, original and informative games with an environmental twist, including several of Professor Noggin’s Card Games. Based in Victoria, this educational company makes card games in French and English, covering a range of instructional topics such as science, history, geography, the human body and creatures of myth and legend. Although several of their products are available at Grassroots, further details can be found on their website, www.professornoggin.com.

At Grassroots, you will also find several board games with a communal, cooperative emphasis – you are playing together, not against one another. In Community, players work together to build a happy and complete village, with joys and hardships along the way. If successful, all players win. (2-6 players, ages 9+) In Harvest Time, a garden is planted then everyone takes turns harvesting. All must help each other to get the harvesting done before winter comes (two or more players - the more, the better – ages 3-7). Both games are handmade in Canada from recycled and natural products, and are forest-friendly.

A final game from Grassroots is the Bamboo Pandabo Game. Players roll the dice then add different-sized sticks to a wobbly panda until they all fall down. If you make the sticks fall, you are out; the goal is to be the last man standing. Great for developing fine motor and problem-solving skills, the game is made of bamboo and kid-friendly water-based paint.

Are you tired of board games? Mix it up by painting some family portraits on handcrafted birch wood boards. You can find these at Natural Pod. While you’re there, pick up some handmade water colour brushes, made from natural materials and sustainable resources, as well as some paint. If you like painting but would like an alternative to the boards, Natural Pod also sells handcrafted, uncoloured wood gnomes, ready to be decorated by your imagination.

For a free night of family fun, get the deck of cards out of the drawer and go online to find the rules for Go Fish, Crazy Eights or Old Maid.

If you are still looking for inspiration, Toronto’s Little Footprints Toys sells co-op games manuals that are full of family-friendly ideas. From parlour games to marbles, even learn how to build your own wooden table games, the guides all sell for less than five dollars.

“Time flies”… we hear it all the time. Why not slow down enough to catch it as it passes by. Make a date with the ones you love – and keep it!

Our final interview is with Lili Meier who runs My Little Green Shop. with her husband Jim Walmsley. My Little Green Shop is an online eco-friendly store which features a wide range of products. She has a son, Sebastian, 15-months old and soon (May) they’ll be welcoming their second child into the world. In addition to operating the store, Lili teaches English in Vancouver.

EC: When did you first become an ethical consumer and why did it become important at that time?

Lili: I’ve been an ethical consumer for more than 10 years. What brought on my decision to shop ethically in the first place was when I started to understand how bad sweatshop working conditions are in developing countries and how much multinational companies were profiting from them.

EC: What are the three most important things you do - that others could do as well - to live your values as an eco-mom?

Lili: 1) We rarely buy anything new for our little ones or ourselves and we pass on whatever can still be used to others. We shop at consignment stores when we get the urge to shop and I fully acknowledge that we’re extremely lucky because we have good friends who quite often pass on items no longer of use to them.
2) We only use non-toxic cleaning/laundry and bath/body products (ie vinegar and water is a great combo for cleaning windows and glass).
3) We support farmers’ markets and buy locally produced food items as much as we can.

EC: What are your eco-weaknesses? Is there something you buy or do that maybe you shouldn’t?

Lili: While most of the produce items we buy are organic and the meat is usually either organic and/or free range, my husband and I (unfortunately) have sugar cravings way too often which we cave into.

EC: In a world full of consumerism and mass advertising, how do you pass on your values to your children?

Lili: My oldest child is 15-months old right now, so I haven’t been able to try to pass on my values just yet. I can say though that they haven’t watched any tv yet and our plan is to strictly limit the amount they watch in the future. Besides that, I plan to try to teach them that the role of advertising is largely to make people think they need things and that common sense can help them resist that message.

EC: Finally, what would you like for Mother’s Day?

Lili: A good conversation with my mom. She’s in another province and we don’t talk nearly as much as we should. I know she’s got a lot of wisdom she can impart to me…

I hope you all enjoyed hearing from other Canadian eco-moms as much as I did. I really like the different perspectives we have and paths each of us have taken.

Just a few days remain to enter our Mother’s Day giveaway.