Comments on: Free to Be Green: 10 Steps Towards Green Living

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:56:13 +0000

Nourishing Traditions recommends starting to use it at 4 months, so I am sure you are perfectly safe to do so. Titus started around 6 months of age, only because I didn’t get my act together before then!

By: Tarah

Tarah — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:36:48 +0000

Hi Lindsay,
My vitacost order came in today! I was wondering at what age you started Titus on the ‘Children’s DHA’. Niyah is 4mos and I wasn’t sure if that is too young to start her on it. The bottle says to consult Dr prior to use of children 8mos and under. What have you done? Thanks!

By: Diana (Ladybug Limited)

Diana (Ladybug Limited) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:41:47 +0000

So if you ever have reason to come to Corvallis (a bit far, I know), I’d love to have you give this talk to our MOPS group, too!

By: amandaginn

amandaginn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:13:48 +0000

Amen, Lindsay! I have heard so many attacks on my practices because people assume it’s motivated by global warming or political beliefs.

We need to stand united in faith as brothers and sisters in Christ, a faith that leads us to action.

I am so encouraged by your bold (yet humble) professions on this topic.

Thanks!

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:59:33 +0000

I actually use homemade ones. I make them myself and sell them if you are interested in buying some from me. I do not use organic cotton ones, just cotton flannel and fleece. You can get more information on the ones I make at http://pureprovidence.blogspot.com/2009/09/mama-pads.html
I have not really done any research on the difference between the organic cotton ones vs. regular cotton ones, just that the organic ones are a little bit more expensive. I have never had any problems with using regular cotton flannel pads. Both of them are better and healthier for you than the chemically made store bought ones.
Right now I have 12 that I personally use and that lasts me about 3 days, changing them every 6-8 hours just like regular pads/tampons.

By: Katie Stanley

Katie Stanley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:49:41 +0000

Christine and Lindsay, I was looking at the gladrags site and was a bit overwhelmed by the selection. How important is it to by the organic cotton ones? Which do you use and how many did you buy? I’d love to try them out.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:58:31 +0000

Hi Lindsay! I love this article on how we can live more frugally and more environmentally friendly! I have been slowly moving towards this in my own home as well. In the past year we have switched from using disposable paper towels to reusable cloth unpaper towels and unpaper napkins. I’ve also been using cloth pads (mama pads) for over a year now and they are wonderful! They lessen my flow, lessen my cramps, and have shortened my cycle to 3 days! Moving towards using more cloth items is wonderful because they are all machine washable and dryable so you can use them over and over again, saving SO much money!

I have a sewing business where I make homemade cloth items to sell to other families to help them save money and the environment. I sell homemade mama pads, nursing pads, unpaper towels, diaper bags, cloth baby wipes for cloth diapering mamas, and much more! You can go to my website to check it out and get more information on these items! http://pureprovidence.blogspot.com/

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:31:37 +0000

Hi Carmen! I’ve been using cloth pads for over a year and they are wonderful! My cycle has been shortened to 3 days and I used to go 7 days or more. I also used to get so sick I would throw up and couldn’t even walk. Since I’ve been using cloth, I haven’t had any of that happen. It also lessens your flow so you aren’t as heavy. I started using them in July of last year and began to see my cycle drastically change for the better by November. I will never go back to disposable ones again! I’m so glad you are trying them out!

By: whitehousemom

whitehousemom — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:16:04 +0000

In responding to the issue of how to get rid of the extra stuff that the kids accumulate, I would say it depends on the children’s ages. When my son was younger, I did as Lindsay says she does. I would make things disappear when he was not aware of it, and he would never miss anything. But he is now 12 and very much aware of his ownership of his stuff, and now I would never just throw out his things. It is his responsibility to decide what he is willing to part with. I think it is important to teach our children the principles to live by, such as the ones shared by Lindsay above, and then provide opportunities to practice those principles. This way these principles will be internalized and we will eventually see our children choosing for themselves to be content with their belongings, generous to others, etc.

For example, our church recently had a clothing drive for a missions project, and I saw an opportunity to simplify our home while blessing others at the same time. My son and I went through his clothing (of which he has more than enough) and at first he didn’t want to part with anything. But after discussing how the clothing we gave away would be used to help people in an area of the world who have very little, he was more than willing to donate the extra that he had. Or last year when we had a yard sale, he added some of his things to be sold and of course he got the money from selling those items. To encourage our 4-year-old daughter to be generous as well as to simplifiy her toy collection (which contains quite a few that she outgrew long ago), we are going through her things to find items that are still in decent condition to give to my cousin who is now expecting her first child.

I agree with Lindsay that family relationships are most important, even the relationships with our children. Providing reasons for and incentives for simplification may be more effective at building character than just focusing on the “stuff” of life.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:48:13 +0000

I feel a pull towards simplicity, and an awakening towards choosing “what’s good – not what’s easy”. I’ll be honest and admit this path can seem overwhelming. I enjoyed your points and their connection to scripture. We absolutely cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible that we like but leave the others out. Great work!