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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