Build! Build! Build!

Before I get to blogging I figure I should introduce myself to the Baby Grows Green followers. My name is Kira but I like to refer to myself as "Kira the Intern". I am the latest addition to the Satsuma Designs team and I am really excited to be a part of this wonderful company! I will also be a contributing writer to the blog, I hope everyone is as excited about this as I am :)

I live in Seattle and I am ALWAYS looking for things to do when the weather is less than desirable. Some of my favorite rainy day activities include taking a trip to the local art museum (The Seattle Art Museum offers free admission to all on the first Thursday of each month), a local historical site (The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park is a fun learning experience for kids), or a trip to the public library (The Seattle Public Library offers storytime at most of their locations). One of my all time favorites has to be creating a funky art project. I was putzing around on the internet looking at fun crafts when I came across the Disney website. Disney provides us with a great "green" way to put our recyclables to good use, keep the kids occupied and provide them with inexpensive new toys!

This calls for:
-Boxes (Cereal, pasta, oatmeal containers etc.)
-Paper (Newspaper, wrapping paper left over from the holidays and construction paper work perfectly)
-Tape or glue (Masking tape works best but scotch tape will suffice)
-Drawing equipment (Crayons, markers, paint, it all works!)
-Toothpicks, popsicle sticks, dowels, film canisters, or other inexpensive household items

Cover the boxes in paper and decorate to your heart's desire. You can make "stone" pathways out of bits of paper or a chimney from an old paper towel roll. An old film canister could be made into a mini trash can (or recycling bin).

I love this craft idea and have every intention of using it next time I babysit or next time it rains. I'll just have to wait and see what comes first!

Photo courtesy of Disney Family Fun

Recycling Storage from Storables

I'm in love with Storables. I can always find a solution to my organizing needs; this time it was their Medium Frosted Tote Storage Basket . I needed a handsome way to stage my daily recycling and yard waste in an open kitchen shelf next to the sink/diswasher area. These handy little baskets are $3.95 each and come in a few sizes. You don't need to buy new baskets (better if you don't), but finding a pair of attractive baskets/boxes that will hold juicy food scraps and drippy recycled glass/tin items is key to any easy, green kitchen.

Plan to empty these each night to fend off fruit fly infestions (currently battling one) and you're grinning and green!

Go Green, Get Rich

Well maybe not, rich-rich, but there will be more money in the kitty at the end of each garbage, recycling and yard waste collection bill. Consider that the average person generates 4 pounds of garbage per day and what that adds up to for the environment and the family's bottom line. Now consider the alternatives.

Here's a fun Garbage Quiz from the fine folks who run King County, WA to get you thinking and acting!

We just downsized to a smaller garbage can and will save more than 50% of what we were paying. We inherited a larger can from the sellers of our home and got the wind knocked out of us on our last public utility bill about the cost of that large can. I promptly called our utility and requested a can 1/2 the size, which will be delivered after the holiday weekend. Considering we were only using 1/2 or less of the can anyway, we're home free.

But what's more is that we realized we're having an easy and profitable time sorting waste and makin great use of our yard waste/compost bin and our recycling tubs.

Recycling for Toddlers

When baby grows green it's never too early to teach ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Toddlers as young as two can begin to understand the concept of recycling and taking care of the environment with a little coaching and fun!

Here are a few things to try with your little ones to encourage life long green waste management.

1. What kind is this? Let your toddler help you sort types of recyclable materials. Whether sorting into your city's recycling bins or your own tubs, take time to show the difference between plastics, bottles, newspaper, other paper and food scraps that can either be tossed into a yard waste bin or composted.

2. Green arts and crafts time. Encourage toddlers to color, paint and draw on both sides of his/her paper or sketch pad. Try telling a story with each days new art installations. Monday through Friday should reveal some fun Mad Libs!

3. Please turn off the water, Mommy! Instill good water conservation habits by telling your toddler about the importance of turning off the water faucet when not in use. Whether brushing teeth, washing hands before meals or helping wash vegetables for meal time, show and tell your toddler to use water carefully. Listen to him/her begin to instruct you!

Good luck and enjoy!