Dad Blogs - Useful Parenting Tips for Dads » Green

Review: Safety First “Nature Next” Bamboo Booster Seat

Eric Cooper — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:31:16 +0000

This is a rather simple review; if you are familiar with booster seats, then the Safety First “Nature Next” Bamboo Booster Seat is nothing too radically new. It works as most booster seats do, with a selling point that it is made from the renewable resource bamboo. Pros: Chair is made from a renewable resource [...]

New green gift ideas for Father’s Day

Paul Banas — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:43:54 +0000

For some dads, of course, a home improvement gift is a bit like getting a mixer for mom's day, but, just like a primo Kitchen Aid mixer is a great gift for a baking mom, these gifts can be killer choices for dads who love to tinker and save. ... Just let the worms do their work in their Worm Farm inside or outside and at the bottom you'll get worm tea, perfect for enriching the soil of your garden and create super-growing plants. ... Use discount code "sustain" in the keycode section of the checkout form for a 20% discount off everything (the discount will be confirmed in an email after the order is processed.)

Green Tips for the Holidays

Paul Banas — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:29:49 +0000

It's a time when families and friends get together to enjoy tasty treats and exchange gifts. ... Made by Jeanne McLaughlin, a graduate of the Institute for Bau-Biologie in Florida. http://www.youtube.com/v/hjCtd1qcU9M If you are seeking BPA- phthlate- and lead-free gifts, check out GoodGuide.com, a BETA-version website being developed to rank "safe, healthy & green" toys and personal care products. http://www.goodguide.com/ For some creative ideas about making your holiday season greener, check out the tips in The Mommy Files compiled by Amy Graff in her blog. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/index For San Francisco residents only: When it's time to purge the big stuff that cannot be reused or recycled, San Francisco residents can call SF Recycling / Sunset Scavenger. ... Broken furniture, appliances, old TVs -- check their website for what's allowed, or give them a call at 415 331-1300 for details. http://www.sfrecycling.com/residential/bulkyitems.php?

Green plants to clean the air at home

Paul Banas — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:51:48 +0000

His inexpensive, well-illustrated, and extremely practical book is called " How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office." These plants absorb toxic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene which are commonly used in the production of clothing, furniture, mattresses, carpets, plastics, and printing. ... Get more context with these links: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Plants/clean.htm http://www.zone10.com/tech/NASA/Fyh.htm

More on BPA or Bisphenol-A.

Paul Banas — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:19:05 +0000

2) Avoid washing plastic containers in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents, which can also cause BPA to break down and leach out more. ... To learn more about BPA and plastics: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/300/11/1353 http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/03/bpa-questions-answered.htm http://pediatrics.about.com/od/hiddendangers/a/0108_env_chmcls.htm Thanks to the French American International School in San Francisco for this information and links. ... We just got this set of Pyrex storage bowls - $29.95 at Amazon to replace all those old tupperware style plastic containers since microwaving and heating plastics appears to be the worst thing you can do.

Cloth diapers – the green choice by Alison Manes

Paul Banas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:58:15 +0000

The third largest single consumer item in landfills, they represent about 4% of solid waste.4 In a household with a child in disposable diapers, disposables comprise of at least 50% of the household waste. The instructions on disposable diaper packages advise depositing all fecal matter in the toilet before discarding the diapers, yet less than one-half of one percent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into an average sewage system. *The amount of water used to launder cloth diapers at home averages 50 - 70 gallons every two to three days –the same as an adult or child flushing the toilet five/six times daily.

The cost of cloth diapers- a choice to consider – by Alison Manes

Paul Banas — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:39:42 +0000

A variety of options now include pocket diapers (an attached diaper inner, skin layer, attached to an outer shell that can be customized with “stuffins” of choice) all in ones (which is exactly as the name implies; it has all of the components needed for diapering in one product, including an absorbent inner and waterproof outer); as well as prefolds and fitted diapers (diapering “inners” that need an outer waterproof cover or wrap). ... The initial investment may be a deterrent for some families but when you take a look at the overall savings, cloth diapers are highly cost effective. ... Compare the cost of diapering options at http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp Alison Manes is the mother of six, and the co-founder of Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC.

Sick house? Tips for cleaning the air in your house

Paul Banas — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:41:55 +0000

It might be hard to change houses, but there are things you can do to to make a house less toxic to you and your kids.... Whole house air filter systems work better than portable units, and use uilt in or window unit air-to-air-heat exchangers in rooms where people spend the most time.

Another gadget that amazes but won’t make it into our house

Paul Banas — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:33:35 +0000

It attaches to any twist open bottle turning a throwaway bottle into a pitcher or watering can.... It's not as if all the stuff you pour out of a bottle needs a holder with each new bottle.

Pop Molds from Cuisipro makes cool sailboat-shaped popsicles

Paul Banas — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:54:38 +0000

And, we make our home-made popsicles out of regular juices and yogurts, so it's cheaper and greener since there is no extra packaging, say nothing to preservative my kids definitely don't need. ...Not only does it create a cute-looking popsicle that looks like a sailboat with its keel as a popsicle stick, but the deck of the "boat" also collects the inevitable drips.