What can we do?

Endangered Species Day was created by the US Senate to focus attention on the importance of protecting our nation’s endangered species.  Activities, special events and fundraisers are a few of the ways that we can involve our children and help them learn that there are actions they can take everyday to help create and maintain a healthy biodiversity for our planet.  And, as we empower our children to be champions of change, we also develop in them the traits of self-confidence, caring, kindness and empathy:  the perfect recipe for a generation who will inherit an ailing planet desperate for healing.

Endangered Species 

Why does it matter?

Biodiversity is important because life on our planet is like a chain of many links.  One species depends on another to survive, whether it is for food, shelter or protection. Crush one link, and the whole chain is weakened; species all the way up AND down the line suffer. And although we may not personally feel the direct impact of the loss of a particular species or environment in our daily lives, eventually the losses will accumulate to the point where they result in increased human hardship.  Biodiversity is beneficial for you, for me, and for every living creature who calls earth their home.  Don’t be lulled into believing that because you don’t feel the effects now, there isn’t a problem.

So what to do with this overwhelmingly huge issue that has the power to make giant environmental organizations, let alone you and I, feel powerless?

End Species

1.    Start small. Check with your local zoo, arboretum or park district about planned activities. Enter your kids in one of the many art contests.  Just getting kids interested and involved is the first step in developing within them a lifelong love for nature and the outdoors.

2.    Have fun.  If you are enthusiastic and engaged, your kids will be, too.  Let them learn through play and interaction that nature is worth preserving.  Plan your own special Endandgered Species Day events!

3.    Remember that it’s about our children.  If your contribution to this cause is merely the ability to build within your children a love for the planet, you will have done more and given greater value than you ever thought possible.  Look together at this top ten list of things you can do to help Endangered Species and see how easy it is to get them excited and involved.

 Endangered Species 

What can you do today to make a difference?

We at BabyPlanet know that the best way to get the word out about great programs like this is through word of mouth. That’s where you, our fans, followers and supporters figure in.  For every new Facebook Fan you can help us generate next week leading up to Endangered Species Day, we will donate $3 ($1 for each of our featured animals) to the National Wildlife Federation.  Spread the word, tweet the word, shout it from the treetops:  every new fan helps us increase the gift.  Simply go to our Facebook Page and click on the “Suggest to Friends” link to invite your friends to be a part of building a healthy earth. 

The short answer?

Because kids matter.

          What is the most important Earth Day action you can take today?  Simple. Get yourself and your children outside.

          Encouraging our children to play outside enables them to experience  first hand why nature is worth preserving. Introducing them to the heart-swelling joy of the ocean at sunset or the breathless wonder of a night sky full of stars reinforces that this is not a throw-away world; that nature is definitely something worth fighting for.

          For anyone who is willing to give up the immediate gratification of video games for the slow materialization of a rainbow after a storm or a butterfly patiently working to emerge from its chrysalis, nature reinforces that patience and perseverance can provide a deeply rewarding experience.

          Connecting with nature is empowering. By learning that there are animals on our planet that are in danger of extinction, children understand that actions have consequences and they, as children, have the ability to influence the future with the choices they make today.

          Protecting and preserving our earth shows our children that it feels good to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Connecting with other people on a global level gives them a greater appreciation for all of our world’s inhabitants.

         And even if none of the above mattered, how can we deny our children the joy that comes from chasing a butterfly or catching frogs in the backyard creek?

Seems like some pretty good life lessons to me, and it’s literally as easy as a walk in the park.

Happy Earth Day from

          At BabyPlanet we are not content just to make great strollers.  We want to make a difference.  The company was founded because we believe that it is up to us to guarantee a better future for ourselves, our children and the planet we call home.

          We created our Endangered Species line of strollers to draw attention to the animals of our planet that are struggling to survive due to both environmental deterioration and human encroachment.  It it our hope that the sighting of one of our strollers on the street will inspire people to pause and think, children to ask questions and parents to take the opportunity to educate them on the importance of maintaining a healthy planet by protecting all its creatures.

          In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we want to share the opportunity with you to make a difference with the products that are a part of your life.  To celebrate 40 years of commitment to creating a better planet, we are giving away one of our Endangered Species Strollers and a new PVC-free raincover with the hope that at the very least, we can inspire more conversations about what it takes to create and maintain a healthy planet.

          Between now and April 21 you can enter to win by following, fanning, tweeting, commenting and blogging on the BabyPlanet pages.  Entries are unlimited, and the winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.  Check here for details.

 Meet the Giant Panda

The Monarch Butterfly

and the Lemur Leaf Frog

Who will you take home?

It may be winter, and it may be cold, but don’t let that stop you from getting out of the house!  I found Evan, 10 months, enjoying some book time in his Endangered Species Monarch Butterfly stroller at our local library. 

Evan’s Mom Beth said she loves the stroller because it’s spacious and sturdy, yet still lightweight enough for getting around easily.  And when winter gets dreary, the bright colors are a welcome sight in the snowy landscape.

Along with the Monarch Butterfly, we will have the Lemur Leaf Frog and our new Giant Panda strollers available in February.  Ask your favorite retailer if they will be carrying the Baby Planet Endangered Species line!

Organic Produce in an Organic Nutshell
The main differences between conventionally grown produce and organically grown produce are the ways in which they are grown and processed.  Organic produce is grown by farmers who work with the earth, cultivating healthy soil and therefore growing healthy offerings.

Conventional growers depend on a quicker turn around and higher yield by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides that ultimately strip the soil of it’s nutrients and render it useless.  This is one of the reasons organics cost more.  They are not chemically enhanced to make more.  With organics, the farmers let nature determine the yield.  Sometimes, it is a smaller yield, and prices go up.

Still hesitating because of the price tag?  Consider a trade-off:  Below is a list of the most highly contaminated produce, ranked by the Environmental Working Group.  If you don’t switch completely to organic, consider making the move on just these items:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Grapes (Imported)
10. Spinach
11. Lettuce
12. Potatoes
13. Carrots
14. Green Beans
15. Hot Peppers
16. Cucumbers
17. Raspberries
18. Plums
19. Grapes (Domestic)
20. Oranges

Conversely, these are the produce items with the least amount of contamination.

1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet corn (Frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas (Frozen)
8. Kiwi
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Papaya
13. Blueberries
14. Cauliflower
15. Winter Squash
16. Watermelon
17. Sweet potatoes
18. Tomatoes
19. Honeydew melon
20. Cantaloupe

Keep these lists handy on your fridge.  If anything, they can serve as a reminder that you have the power to make positive change, at least for you and your family.

I don’t know about you, but I love deals.  I especially love it when they pop up unexpectedly, and I know, know that because of my mad shopping skills no one else will ever get a deal as amazing as I just did.

If you like to be surprised, are up for a challenge and want a fun and easy way to support the planet, then read on, because the green art of resale shopping is about to rock your world.

Now, I know that a lot of people are leery about shopping for pre-owned treasure.  Their reasons usually range from the “gross” factor (someone else’s body touched this!), to the convenience factor (there is not enough time in my day to sort through rack upon rack of stuff that someone else’s body touched!) to pride (we are not so poor that we have to stoop to this level).

All interesting arguments; however, at the end of the day, shopping resale is a great way to embrace a less wasteful way of living, and get some phenomenal clothes for your baby or children at a tiny fraction of the price you would pay at retail.   And P.S.? You can find plenty of great maternity and fashionable clothing for yourself, as well.

Many specialty resale shops carry only name-brand clothing

Cleanliness? That’s what washing machines are for
I would say from my experience that 95% of resale clothing is in clean, wearable condition.  The shops do screen for junk so you don’t have to (although they’re only human and occasionally miss a spot or tear).   You wash it all when you get home anyway, so it’s like it was always yours. (As a side note, please don’t send your unwearable discards to the donations centers just because you don’t want to throw it away yourself. If you hate throwing anything away, try doing some of these activities with your used clothing.)

Time Consuming?  More like a mini vacation for my mind
I find the sifting and sorting and thumbing through the racks very meditative.  I am concentrating so deeply on my task that my head hamsters stop their wheel-running and I get some well needed mental rest.  Yes, sometimes it takes awhile before I stumble upon that practically new Eileen Fisher sweater for $5.50, or the adorable Oilily romper for $3.25.  But when I do, the fog clears and it’s high fives and champagne fountains for everyone.

Too Proud?  You can never be too proud to help the earth and her people
Here is where you have to take a step back and understand that many, many people shop resale because it reduces the waste of new purchases and keeps usable garments out of landfills.  Also, proceeds from many organizations go towards charities that support a variety of causes.  And of course, a seasoned thrift-store diva loves the satisfaction of spending her money wisely, especially on garments for babies and children that will be quickly outgrown.

So if you’ve never tried it, at least go down to one of your local resale stores (although I find best things at the more out-of-the-way places*) and just look.  After all, how can you experience the joy of the impossible find if you can’t bring yourself to at least cross the threshold?

Oh, and don’t forget your reusable bags.

Share with us:  What is your favorite resale shop?  Be sure to include your geographic region.

How can you resist the cuteness factor?

 I’m here to tell you that it is NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK, that I know you can do it, and that, in 40 years when your grand-kids are still playing in parks and forest preserves, you will know that you stepped up and made a choice that made a difference.

Here are some great references to get you started:

1. Karen’s Cloth Diapering Site
2. Cloth Diapers 101
3. The Eco Friendly Family/Cloth Diapering a Newborn
4. Cloth Diapering 101
5. Cloth Diaper Blog

As the years went buy I grew more and more conflicted.  Just because I grew up in eco-conscious California didn’t necessarily mean that I was eco-conscious by default. I talked a good talk, but when it came down to it I was not walking the walk.  Part of me felt intimidated.  To be as eco-savvy as the true environmentalists seemed to mean I would have to give up luxuries and conveniences I wasn’t yet willing to part with.

It was sort of a “don’t ask don’t tell” philosophy, where I didn’t try to really embrace in eco-conservation because I might not like the things that I would feel pressured into doing in an effort to be authentic.

I was holding myself back in several areas, and it was exhausting. I wanted to write, but I was scared of rejection.  I wanted to take a firmer stand for the earth but I was intimidated at not being able to do enough of the right things. In the end I did nothing.  I retreated into my daily life, raising my kids, working, and never really feeling satisfied that I was living the life I felt in my own mind was meant for me.

When I was offered the opportunity to write for Baby Planet, I realized that I was being presented the chance to step up.  Not only would I be forced out of my shell in terms of writing, but I would finally have the kick in the pants I needed to try and live my life like the person I wanted to be. Now I could take the time to try out the path of eco-responsibility, all while writing for a company that believes in bringing more to the table than just another product. 

Baby Planet is a company that wants to prove that they are focused on more than the bottom line, and that’s why I will enjoy being their voice.   The Baby Planet Blog is about doing what we can, taking risks and breaking out of our comfort zone in an effort to do something that benefits the greater good.  Our passion, both Baby Planet’s and mine together, to create to a safer, cleaner world for all our babies is what pushes us everyday to see what we can do better.