Save cash and save the planet?

Time for Green Mummy to start thinking about New Year resolutions - and I've settled on one that doesn't involve any hard work on my part!

I've decided to buy all books in future - for myself, L or for presents - from charity shops and charities, wherever possible. For extra 'green brownie' points, the Friends of the Earth Shop looks like the best bet - they sell their own publications (printed on 100% post consumer waste using vegetable inks) plus their recommended choices from other publishers. For children's fiction, I reckon Barefoot Books have some gorgeous looking titles too. Now, all I need to do is decide which of my old books to donate to the charity shop to make room on the shelves...

[Pic: Friends of the Earth)

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Child Trust Fund

L's £250 from the Government arrived recently for his Child Trust Fund, so I've been looking into ethical accounts to invest it in. There's literally just a couple, including the Children's Mutual, which the Co-operative Bank have gone into partnership with. As I bank with the Co-op, it made sense to choose this one, so his money can be invested in planet-friendly initiatives, rather than guns and tobacco.

So now his pennies and pounds are being invested in green causes, it's time to invest in treating Green Mummy to something nice! I'm gonna check out Green Knickers, a website I saw mentioned in yesterday's Observer, and treat myself to something green and gorgeous for Christmas...

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An udder option?

Recent posts have been few and far between, as baby business is taking up more time than I thought possible (welcome to motherhood!) Anyway, I feel like some space is now available in my brain for things other than nappies/milk/laundry, and this happy situation has come about thanks to formula milk. Yep, like so many others, I was going to breastfeed 100% of the time - but being woken up throughout the night for feeds hasn't done my health much good, so wonderful hubbie is now taking over on the night feed front.

I've found Hipp Organic milk has been a life-saver. Just giving L a couple of formula feeds during the night means I get my sleep, and I'm fully functioning to look after him and breast feed him during the day. And I've spotted Cow & Gate have now started an organic version of their milk which is widely available. Others recommended by 'The Organic Baby Book' (Maxted-Frost, 2003) include Eco-Lac, Babynat, Holle and Nanny's Goat Milk.

So at least if L's drinking something that isn't my own milk, he's getting milk that's as good as it can be - for his health and for the planet.

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Another of my fave pressies...

I got a tree from my friends at work for L - a silver birch, which apparently is symbolic of new birth. I really like the idea of a tree as a gift. Just popped it in a pot in the garden, and it will now grow year by year as L grows up - what could be more green?! See more tree gift ideas at www.tree2mydoor.co.uk

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One of my fave pressies I've received for L! And when he wore this yesterday, he did actually stop wailing - for a while at least. If you want your little one to sport one of the Little Green Radical selection, check out www.hug.co.uk

[Pic by Hug]

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Plenty of energy

For someone with such tiny feet, L's environmental footprint is already pretty big. I'm using the washing machine far more than I thought possible, what with loads of his clothes getting soiled with poo, wee and sick. But at least we use a green electricity supplier - so that reduces his footprint a fair bit.

All this climate change coverage generated by the Stern report makes me think I really must do whatever I can as a mum to make sure L's world is one that isn't ravaged by climate change. Will try and get to the 'I-count' event in London on Saturday - more info at www.foe.co.uk

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Pain in the bum

L is now 13 days old already! I'm starting to get the hang of this nappy changing lark - and have quickly realised that although cleaning his bum with just water works fine, avoiding chemical products like baby wipes doesn't necessarily equate with avoiding nappy rash.

Luckily I received some Weleda baby products as a pressie for L, and although I don't want this to sound like an advert, the Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream has been miraculous. L is a happy bunny now, and the lovely calendula smell adds to his cute little baby smell (plus it disguises the whiff of poo!!).

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Baby's arrived!!

L arrived on Thurs 12 October, weighing 6lbs 14oz!! Here's a photo of him a few hours after he was born, saying 'hello' to the world. He's a little darling, and I'm enjoying my new role as mummy. The past week has been a roller-coaster, but I feel high as a kite, and can't wait for the joys and challenges ahead.

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Still waiting...

Still waiting for baby to arrive - it was due 8 days ago, so the doc has booked me a date for inducing labour next week if it doesn't arrive soon. Had curry last night to move things along, and raspberry tea this morning, still nothing.

Really hoping it comes naturally without having to resort to being pumped full of drugs...

[Pic by trekguy]

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Sowing my seed

My hollyhocks are on their way out, so I've collected the seeds and offered them on (you've guessed it) Freecycle. Within 5 mins, I got 7 replies - for some reason, hollyhocks seem to strike a chord with people, reminding them of their grandma's garden, or their childhood.

Apparently it's 'Seed Gathering Season' right now, which the Tree Council runs from 23 Sept - 23 Oct, so it seems kind of cool to be celebrating it by spreading my own seed to people round London. Baby is due to arrive tomorrow, but I have a feeling I'm in for a long wait...

Find out how to collect seeds on the BBC Gardening website.

[Pic by Byrdiegyrl]

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Cleaning frenzy - naturally...

Having nothing better to do than wait, I've resorted to cleaning, like a demented Kim/Aggie. Thinking more about what's in cleaning products, what with Baby about to arrive and using more 'natural' products - mostly stuff I've got in the kitchen anyway, so saves walking down to the shops, which to be honest, is a bit too much of a faff right now. Oh yes, avoiding the chemicals has saved some dosh too, which can't be bad...

Stuff I've done so far that seems to work:

• white vinegar in place of fabric conditioner - clothes did actually come out of the washing machine feeling soft!
• lemon juice to disinfect wooden chopping boards - needed to rinse well afterwards;
  
• oil burner with lavender oil as air freshener;
• water / white vinegar solution (50:50) left in kettle overnight to remove limescale - boil kettle a couple of times afterwards to remove odour (watered my plants when water had cooled);
  
• olive oil rubbed into chipped bits of woodwork; worked a treat!
• Ecover washing up liquid to clean baths/sinks etc - won't bother buying special bathroom cleaner, this stuff does the trick;
  
• damp cloth for 'dusting' - who needs furniture polish?!

Friends of the Earth's Living website has loads more tips from their best-seller 'Save cash & save the planet'

Right, I'm off for another cup of that bloody raspberry leaf tea....

[Pic by Stephen Pennells/Friends of the Earth]

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Freecycle nut?

I'm getting addicted to Freecycle. Especially since getting pregnant, I've become almost obsessive.

The Freecycle network lets you recycle your unwanted stuff, so you don't have to chuck it in the bin. It also lets you get stuff too. The 'stuff' can be almost anything. I've given away everying from a sack of cat litter to confetti. I've acquired allsorts, from a maternity support belt to a heap of houseplants. But here's the best bit - every exchange has to be free!

With Junior about to arrive, my nesting instinct has gone into overdrive, and I'm keen to pick up any 'baby kit' I can, especially if it's recycled - and free! So after a failed attempt to bargain hunt at a NCT Nearly New Sale (I left after 30 secs of queuing, when I realised I didn't fancy getting entangled with 200 other expectant mums to compete for a steriliser), I'm back to Freecycle. Here I can search for all those last minute essentials by just browsing online - and hubby can go pick them up (yes, he loves it really...)

And because babies grow out of clothes, toys etc so quickly, there's a high turnover of these items offered by parents desperate to make room for their offspring's next lot of 'kit'. So I can save a packet, AND re-recycle our baby stuff once Junior outgrows it. Recycling heaven!

[Pic by Shalf]

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Good hair day!

Getting my hair coloured today, a bit of pampering before Junior arrives. Luckily I live near a hairdresser that uses organic products - Daniel Field - so I don't have to worry about using dyes with risky chemicals, which the 'experts' advise against in pregnancy.

Apparently Sainsburys stock Daniel Field products, so might buy there next time I want to do my hair. That's once bump has gone down enough for me to lean over the bath long enough to colour my hair myself...

[Pic by Miss Pupik]

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Happy Nappies

Fantastic!!!! My local supermarket now stocks reusable nappies (the 'Motherease' brand) - plus the washable covers - plus biodegradable liners and nappy bags.

I'm going to give reusable nappies a go rather than disposables for a few reasons. To start with, the chemicals - disposables contain gels, glues, chlorine bleach, plastics, artificial perfumes and god knows what else - can't imagine these will do baby much good. Also, the waste - I read somewhere that if King James I had worn plastic disposables, his nappies would have only just decomposed! I don't want my baby's nappies still rotting in landfill in 400 years time!! And lastly, the cost - WEN reckon you can kit out your baby in real nappies for under £50 and these would last for the baby's 'nappy lifetime'. To buy enough disposables would cost £922!!! You do the maths... that saves enough dosh so that him indoors can treat me to a few romantic meals out!

I found out my local council subsidises a nappy laundry service - so if I can't face washing stinky nappies, I'll use this weekly pick up service. Or if I wash them myself, the council offers a £54 refund towards the cost of the nappies themselves. Boy, are they keen to stop me using disposables...

I found this comparison by WEN really useful. Also check out The Nappy Lady for reviews and anecdotes, and Twinkle Twinkle for a useful How to Nappy Guide.

[Pic by erzsebel ]

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So here goes....

So I've just about figured how to set up a blog - ok, well I watched while my lovely husband did it - I just chose the colours! I'm setting up this blog because it's been such a faff to find the kind of info I'm after to help me make environmentally-friendly choices about all sorts of baby-related stuff.

First off, my hospital bag - how can I 'green' that, you might well ask? Well, the checklists in mags tell you you'll need disposable knickers - why?? Why not just take some old grey ones that are on their last legs anyway? My own knickers are gonna be more comfy than rustling about in paper ones that will then be chucked anyway!

And for baby, the lists tell me to bring cotton wool pads to wipe its bum when it needs it's first pooey nappies changed - so I've bought some organic cotton wool pleats. Apparently regular tap water is fine to use with the cotton wool, so no need for toxic baby wipes on its delicate new bum.

4 weeks to go, so gotta go and finish packing the hospital bag. Better put my feet up with a cuppa and think about which reusable nappies I'm gonna give a go to get Junior off to as green a start as possible...

Til later, Green Mummy-to-be

[Pic by Lee Coursey]

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