Ecomom Alliance » Kimberly Pinkson

Articles by: Kimberly

Peace

January 29, 2008 – 12:19 pm

In talking about a sustainable future the economic and social issues that lead to war and other such violence on our planet must be addressed, but as with most things peace begins at home. And unfortunately, I can’t say it was present this morning when Corbin’s art project did not turn out quite the way he had planned. Let’s just just say the crayons went flying and I heard a few words I didn’t even know he knew. We talked about taking deep breaths, not being attached to outcomes and other such Buddhist type philosophy and though much of it likely went over his head - after all I’ve certainly not been able to reach this state of perpetual peace so how can I expect my 6-year old to? - we did find some tranquility and were able to start fresh with a new project.

And really, that is one of the amazing things about every new child that is born: There is the potential for that little life to bring more peace and love into the world. Which is why I love the idea behind Babies 4 Peace, a line of onesies that offer messages of hope with 5% of proceeds to benefit the international relief organization War Child. Make sure you opt for organic so that eventually, that’s the only option they’ll carry because cotton is one of the most chemically intensive of crops. You don’t want those pesticides on your baby’s skin, and none of us want those chemicals in our environment.

Posted in Babies & Kids | Comments (0)

What Is Your Dream

January 21, 2008 – 7:05 am

Happy Martin Luther King Day! No better time than today to take a
moment and reflect on what your dream is. Does it include an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable
future? Are you taking steps to get there? No matter how little or how big, they do add up. At times hero and at time pariah, King spoke out against war, poverty and racism. Above all, he was a leader. And I am excited to share that many EcoMoms have come forward sharing their desire to become EcoMom Leaders. This means growing our grassroots outreach even more and is a fantastic step toward a sustainable future.

In preparing for a talk I am giving today at the California Head Start Conference , I have been working with Ken Cook at the Environmental Working Group and in so doing, I am reminded of their 2005 study that found 287 chemicals in the umbilical cord of randomly selected newborn babies. 287 chemicals present at birth due to the unbelievable amount of toxins in our environment that their moms were exposed to in their everyday living. If you have not already, please include an environmentally healthy future in your dreams. Our children need it, we need it, our planet needs it and all species need it.

Posted in Babies & Kids | Comments (1)

Better World Shopper

January 15, 2008 – 1:15 pm

While I hope you are doing better than me on your New Year’s resolutions, heres an easy one if anything you resolved to do involved making more eco friendly choices in your life: Order the Better World Shopping Guide. Author Dr. Ellis Jones is a UC Davis professor who has dedicated his career to helping propel a sustainable future. With the book, plus ipod downloads, handy little cards that fit in your
wallet and several other options, Dr. Jones has made it very easy for
you to make choices that support the burgeoning green economy even when
you’re running in to the market for a last minute purchase. Working
with an extensive network of certifying organizations and research
bodies, the Better World Shopping Guide ranks products A to F on issues
from the environment to community involvement. Very quickly you’ll be able to say, "I’ve become a better world shopper" and one of your resolutions will be manifest. www.betterworldshopper.org

Posted in Books | Comments (0)

Desensitized: Cleansers and Lotions

December 28, 2007 – 7:43 am

Oh the travails of a family holiday in the mountains. It’s not just the entire family in one house together up at Lake Tahoe and my son the one that is always in trouble, but the smell of chemicals assaulting my "innocent" senses, made even more "vulnerable" in the high altitude dry air. Gosh I sound like such a wimp, but for the last six years I have used only non-toxic cleansers and it is amazing how intense the smell of perfumes and other toxic ingredients are once you’ve become desensitized. It feels as though one is standing in front of the perfume ladies that spray you as you walk into department stores. I finally ran out to get some Seventh Generation laundry and dish soap. Will make a note to bring up vinegar and baking soda next time as well. As for the dry skin, I am loving one of my stocking stuffers: Huile Absolue Organic Serum by French Luxury Brand Patyka. I’ve been slathering it on morning and night, relishing in the natural scent and decadent feel on my skin. As for all being in one house, it is time to get out on the mountain and breathe in the clean, crisp, purifying air.

Posted in Home | Comments (1)

School Holiday Party

December 18, 2007 – 9:18 am

I think the Green Gift Guide was on long enough and now it’s on to school festivities.
This coming Friday is the holiday party at Corbin’s kindergarten class and the pressure is on. I love to entertain during the holidays and so signed up to be "in charge" of this party, along with EcoMom Mia Pelletier, another mother in the class, who also happens to work for Marin Agricultural Land Trust. As two EcoMoms, several other mothers have commented, "Oooh, I can’t wait to see what kinds of green ideas you two come up with." Problem is, Corbin’s only request was snowflakes and glitter (a not so eco-friendly ingredient no matter how you look at it). Mia has come up with a great project for the kids to use acorns and pine boughs that we’ll collect at home and at the school on a little nature walk, but the glitter will still come. We’ll use recycled paper, natural twine, organic ingredients in the sweets we make, and do hot apple cider with organic juice so its not too bad. Oh, and of course I just picked up biodegradable cups by Preserve Products at Elephant Pharmacy. WorldCentric is another good resource for compostable serviceware. Finally, I’ll bring home food scraps to compost. Doing what we can . . . I just hope the other parents aren’t too disappointed we haven’t brought in a whole planted tree or compost bin.

Posted in Parties and Entertaining | Comments (1)

Green Gift Guide

December 11, 2007 – 9:06 pm

The spirit of the season is alive and well. I’ve noticed many people are focusing more on giving experiences this year instead of stuff. Gift certificates for favorite restaurants, spa treatments, even wine tastings. Not as many things just for the sake of a thing. It is amazing how much has shifted since An Inconvenient Truth first came out. We are on our way toward a more sustainable way of being. Gifts that help the planet such as programs through Heifer International are also quite popular. My favorite this year: Adopt a baby elephant through Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - so cute you can’t say no!

Alas, there is still something to be said for the sensory experience of giving, getting and unwrapping that special something. So if you must, here are a few of my top picks.

Shades Bud Vase by Green Glass: From the waste stream to classically redesigned glass products this bud vase looks great with candles as well as flowers - and if you’re like my family, the colors make it work for both Christmas and Hannukah. www.greenglass.com

Organic Fireside Throw by Gaiam: One can never have too many warm, cozy, luxury items and if you’re single like me, this is awfully nice to cuddle up with. www.gaiam.com

Katy Coat by Viridis Luxe: Long piece sweater coat made with eco friendly hemp. Gorgeous sexy dresses too – hemp has never looked so good. www.viridisluxe.com

Holiday Kit by Method: A delicious HollyBerry line including a treat for every room of the house with candles, incense sticks and soap. www.methodhome.com

Organic Sheets Sets by Target: Cotton is one of the most pesticide intensive crops grown so let’s give Target a big hand for helping improve farm workers’ health and shift the green economy in India where these are made. www.target.com

Voltaic Day Pack by Voltaic Systems: Give some solar power to the techie in your life and help recharge personal electronic devices on the go. www.voltaicsystems.com

Loyale Organic Cotton Jacket: An oh so yummy, luxurious, and
vegan faux fur jacket made in NY and warm enough for the Big Apple,
Aspen or Tahoe. www.thegreenloop.com

Laptop Lunch Systems by Obentec: Every child (and adult) needs one of these to make all snacks on the go waste free. www.obentec.com

Face Care Kit by Dr. Hauschka: A comprehensive set great for traveling or introducing your favorite face to the genius of Dr. H. www.saffronrouge.com

Xeko by Matter Group and Conservation International: A trading card game your kids will love and you can feel good about as they play and learn how to take care of the earth. www.xeko.com

Organic Truffles handmade by Bre’s Chocolates:
Organic Earl Grey Tea, Vanilla Bean, Caramel, and Fair Trade too. Deelish! www.breschocolates.com

Electric Scooter by Vectrix: For the one on your list who already has it all. The first high-performance electric two-wheeler. www.vectrix.com

T’s by Wildlife Works: Organic, fair trade cotton t-shirts made at the Wildlife Works Rukinga Wildlife Preserve in Kenya. Corbin loves his When Two Elephants Fight It’s the Grass That Suffers t-shirt like this one here. www.wildlifeworks.com

Tofu Bear by Soysilk Pals: Cuddle, breath in, don’t worry about petrochemicals. This one is made from the residue left over from tofu production. Cute, cozy and safe for all ages. www.tofubear.com

As for wrapping, get creative. Use dish new dish towels for kitchen items. Scarves for clothing items. Old maps. Comic books. Recycled craft paper that your kids can decorate early. Boxes and bags that can be reused are good options as are papers from Smith and Hawken, Paporganics, Of The Earth and Fish Lips Paper Designs. If you need a little more inspiration, according to the Carnegie Mellon Green Practices initiative, "If every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields."

Posted in Holiday Gift Guide | Comments (1)

Bring in the Light

December 10, 2007 – 7:41 pm

I thought I was so prepared. I had ordered LED lights for our tree this year and had a beautiful afternoon planned for my birthday. We would go get our sustainably harvested tree, share an organic hot cocoa and spend the evening singing Christmas carols, lighting Hanukkah candles and decorating the tree (we have a very multicultural house). But then the kids got hungry and grumpy on the long car ride. So we went to a local tree lot and got good old hot cocoa. At least we had the LED lights to return to, I thought, and visions of sugar plums danced in my head until Corbin shared his vision: colored lights. I had not planned on this and all of a sudden had to decide: batle with six-year old in order to put energy efficient white lights on the tree, or give in and put the regular old energy sucking, colored lights on the tree and decorate as planned? You can guess who won. The six-year old. So in our house, the LED’s will have to wait until next year, but if you can, LED’s come in both white and colored lights, in a variety of colors, and use about 90% less energy. Ledtronics and Environmental Lights both offer a good selection at competitive prices.

Posted in Holiday | Comments (0)

Choose 12

December 3, 2007 – 10:55 pm

I first began to focus more on eating organic when I found out I was pregnant. The research connecting increased toxins in our environment to birth defects and disease was just too staggering to ignore. And this was even before Environmental Working Group published their 2005 report on the over 287 chemicals found in an average newborn baby. So I have long followed the work of EWG and tonight, President Ken Cook gave a presentation at Spring (a standout among the many eco-chic shops popping up regularly now). Founded in 1993, EWG has a tremendous history of publishing research that shocks the heck out of you. Even if you have not heard of them, chances are you’ve heard about their work. In October of 2006 they released the Dirty Dozen and Clean Dozen Shoppers Guide, a reference for reducing pesticide exposure by amost 90%. Based on nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the FDA and the Department of Agriculture, their analysis found that "eating the 12 most
contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to about 15
pesticides a day, on average. Eating the 12 least contaminated will
expose a person to fewer than two pesticides a day." EWG does a phenomenal job of balancing terrifying statistics - the last toxic substances control act was passed in 1976 and over 62,000 chemicals were grandfathered in - with empowering and exciting news. In 2008 the House and Senate will be putting forth the Kid Safe Chemical Act. Europe has already banned thousands of the chemicals still allowed in our cosmetics, toys, furniture etc. so perhaps with voices such as yours, legislation such as this will soon make our world a little bit healthier place to be. As Ken pointed out, where you put your dollars is a huge first step. The next step is government action. I remain optimistic. So tomorrow, print out the Food Guide and next year, vote for folks who will get bills like this passed. For now, here’s a quick peek at the 12 produce items with the highest and lowest pesticide load.

Worst (make sure you buy organic):
Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery,Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Pears, Spinach and Potatoes.

Best (not so bad if you can’t go organic):
Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn (frozen), Pineapples, Mango, Sweet Peas (frozen), Asparagus, Kiwi, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli, Eggplant.

Posted in Health | Comments (0)

Eco Friendly, Green Holiday Cards

December 1, 2007 – 2:37 pm

Since I’ve already received oh, countless, requests for info on green holiday cards . . . first off, how about an E-Card? More than 25 million tons of waste is added to landfills every year
during the holiday season so keep your sentiments out of the trash. Shutterfly, Blue Mountain, and eCardia are all very easy and offer nice designs.

If you absolutely love the feel of paper in your hand and assume all of your friends must feel the same, here are some of my favorite options:

For the traditionalist, Holiday Classics offers beautiful recycled cards. I love the Season’s Greetings with the photo of a snowy forest.

If your child is the most fantastic on earth and you just know everyone wants to see his or her picture this year, Greener Printer let’s you design your own card, with photo! They are a fabulous printer and I highly recommend using them for all of your printing needs year round - not just during the holidays.

For the more light hearted, Doodle Greeting has everything from a Patriotic Snowman to a Reindeer Roadster.

I hope you find one you like!

Posted in Holiday | Comments (1)

Why moms?

November 29, 2007 – 9:30 pm

Several days ago I was asked to speak to a class of marketing students at San Francisco State University about the EcoMom Alliance. It was an interesting afternoon: One student left me his phone number, which I discovered in my notebook when I got home (good for an embarassed but flattered laugh when I found it!), and another asked me, “Why moms? What about the rest of us?” She was clearly a passionate and politically aware young woman, feeling that there may be some exclusionary aspect to this “movement.” It is a question I get often and the answer is this: While we are indeed focused on the mom demographic, we welcome dads, granparents, borthers, sisters, friends and dogs. Fantastically, we’ve got them all! Well maybe not dogs, but we do have dads, grandpas, young people, old people, single, married, gay, straight, black, white etc. etc. - and from a variety of socioeconomic levels as well. But we focus on moms because they are one of the most influential of market forces. Mothers pull the purse strings on billions of dollars annually and if we can get them to support sustainable businesses, the burgeoning green economy can be propelled to new heights. Moms are also role models with a vested interest in creating a healthy future. So the bigger question is, Have you joined EcoMom yet?

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