This weekend my son is at a lake house in Wisconsin.  As a green mum my first request was that my son not be washed in or exposed to the well water at said house. Especially since the State of Wisconsin informed me of the dangers of such. Needless to say, the well in question hasn’t been tested since Reagan was lucid – so a mum worries.

My second request was that my boy not so much as touch the actual lake.  Again, it was Wisconsin itself that informed me of the dangers of this lake – in particular – of Atrazine. Not to mention sulphur, blue/green algae, etc.  The poor Wisconsin legislator who wanted to ban Atrazine in Wisconsin, withdrew his Bill. As have other midwestern legislators. I won’t go into it here – but it all comes down to powerful chemical companies and nervous farmers. Shocker.

What is Atrazine?  The most widely used pesticide in US agriculture. (Banned in all of Europe, of course.) And I’m in the midwest. Nice.

So. I can keep my sons from the water at a lake house – and I’d rather stab myself with a rusty knife than ever allow them in Lake Michigan (or any other “Great” Lake), or even take them down to beautiful, asbestos ridden Oak Street beach – but what does that really have to do with my day to day life?  Or yours.

I am married to a man. And men, genetically, love lawns. They are obsessed with lawns. And for some strange reason, as much as I believe that a rich and “happy childhood” is tied to the proximity to wonderful museums (which we are blessed with in Chicago), a zoo, (yup) and a vibrant city with an ever changing cityscape (ditto), and loads of theatre, sport, etc.; my husband believes that children “need a big lawn”. (Keep in mind I live within walking distance of Lincoln Park. Where polar bears and hippos live). This lawn obsession leads to one, inevitable conversation: The Move To The Suburbs.

Now. I know that many of my readers live in The Suburbs. I know, as they send me pictures of their lovely untreated wood play sets and organic victory gardens – but I have absolutely no interest in moving to John Hughs country – and not for the reasons you may think (or have for yourself). Ya’ll. The suburbs are full of lawns. And those big, vast, beautiful, technicolor green lawns are doused, soused and otherwise dripping in toxic pesticides and herbicides.

So, don’t uses them, you might advise (if you were the same chick who once counselled me to “wash the formaldehyde out” of clothes in the washing machine). Yes. I can have removed what is no doubt lead laden lawn earth (at the cost of about 20-40k), and lay down organic sod (for about 10-20k), and use all the wonderful resources listed on the invaluable SafeLawn site – but kids. I can’t make my neighbors do the same. And, sadly, just like second hand smoke – second hand pesticides still elevate my children’s risks of asthma, cancer, learning disorders and the list drags on….

And though some counties and schools have banned the use of these toxic chemicals – and there is a chance that they will be banned on playgrounds – (poor Monsanto) – they aren’t banned on the North Shore. Where my husband thinks the happy childhood lawns are.

(For a list of a few articles on the dangers of pesticides to children – please click here or for preggy mums, here.)

What is my move again, but within the city strategy? I am hoping that I can get my husband to watch A Chemical Reaction – an award winning documentary about the safe lawn care movement here and in Canada. I am hoping that it will send chills up his spine – and as a good a loving father (which he is), he will realize – as we all should – that our impossibly beautiful and magical childs health is far more important than the greenest, most vast lawn. And that a few weeds are a sign our commitment to their health and life.

As soon as one of these North Shore ‘burbs bans these pest/herbicides – I’ll pack our bags.

Sidenote: The highest selling consumer toxic concoction in this country is RoundUp (created by Monsanto – then sold to Scotts). Read this before you expose another person that you love – even your pets – to this evil rubbish.

Happy Spring!

After buying an off-gassed car (it takes three years), and installing the least toxic carseat, and perhaps even getting a mac daddy auto air filter – the last thing you want to do is put a chemical laden car seat cover in your car, to spew formaldehyde, bromine and heavens else knows what in that confined air space.

Luckily, you can protect your seats from Fido with a lovely organic car seat cover, available from Calliope Boutique. Nicest of all, is that the organic seat covers cost LESS than the dreadful toxic ones! Now THAT deserves a treat!

I attended GreenFest this weekend, and though I was slightly disappointed in the number of products that were available ( I wanted there to be so many more…), I was thrilled to find, on the day that my puppy was on her way up to the “country”, non-toxic flea/tick killer !

Plus Natural Enzymes is a local (Chicago based) company that specializes in non-toxic pest elimination systems. Okay. Despite my rather extensive collection of BBC Costume Dramas, and the glassy eyed romanticism that belies, I am aware that nothing will “work” as well as the poison that we have all used on our pet’s in the past. But. If something natural can work even half as well, whilst keeping neurotoxins out of my puppy and sons bodies – it will be good enough for me.

So. Molly, who I just left up in Wisconsin this weekend, is now slathered up in Sampsons’ Flea and Tick control repellant, which is at least safe enough that the fast talking c0-owner of the company that introduced me to the product at the Green Fest, sprayed his own face with it. I was less bold, and sprayed the magical enzymes on my arms – which when I didn’t break out in boils, or become rashy, felt it was safe enough to give it a go.

I’ll report back in a week, and see how my darling girl has fared in them there woods….

Happy Monday!

My puppy and son have decided to share. Toys, that is. Needless to say I am horrified – but glad that I bought Molly organic toys when she first came home, for the same reasons we buy organic toys for Alden.

However, generous friends have sent toys to Molly over time, that are not organic, that I now – sadly, will have to donate – as I can’t have them in my sons eager mouth.

So. Molly will now need a few new toys, to replace the ones I am taking away – and organic they shall be.

Olive Green Dog makes these lovely naturally dyed wool bones (above), that are have the added advantage of helping an orphanage in Nepal, as a portion of the proceeds are donated.

They also make these ring things, that our little Shih Tzu loves to play tug of war with.

Simply Fido has an extensive collection of dog toys that are simply gorgeous. (Careful not to buy your puppy toys that are too similar to your babys, as you want to limit toy confusion.)

And Sckoon makes outfits that are lovely and organic – (as I am sure Alden will end up drooling all over her outfits as well.)

Remember, if it ends up in your fur babies mouth, it will end up in the mouth of your babe.

Woof!

My son loves his dog. He is constantly trying to “pet” her, which so far involves grabbing a tuft of her hair and pulling.  (Fortunately, Molly is the sweetest Shih Tzu ever, and has thus allowed this – no doubt hoping that Alden one day will have access to the treat jar and remember her patience.)

After Alden pets Molly, (or does anything else), his hands, inevitably, end up in his mouth.  Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about this Molly/Alden interaction – except for the fact that in two weeks we are going to “the country” for Memorial Day, which means that Molly is going to need flea & tick prevention – and whatever treatment we choose, will end up in my 6 month old.

Needless to say, as you can learn about in heart breaking detail at GreenPaws.org, most flea/tick protection is not only toxic to pets – but most cruelly to children. I would never give my son an apple covered in organophosphates – (which is poison) – so it would be silly to cover my dog in them, (even on a collar), and then allow them to play together. (Scary article for the brave amongst you from WebMD here.)

So. What to do up in the country, where all the fleas and ticks will also spend their Memorial Day….

At first I thought that any natural option would be better than the traditional ones, but according to Green Paws:

Not all essential oils used to treat pet pests are safe for animals or people. Herbal or natural products containing citrus, cinnamon, clove, d-limonene, geranium, tea tree, lavender, linalool, bay, eucalyptus and rue oils should be used sparingly because they can cause allergic reactions in people—and severe reactions in cats and dogs have been reported. Avoid the use of any flea or tick product containing pennyroyal oil. It can cause seizures, coma, and even death in animals. Herbal or natural products that contain cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary and thyme are probably safer.

As I’m a coward, I am too wary to trust something that I can buy…so. I am taking natural thyme, grinding it down to it’s oil – adding organic olive oil, and putting it into a spray bottle, to which I will add water. My poor puppy will then be doused in it in the mornings, and given a full bath at night. I may even cut up a lemon (which fleas detest), rub the juice and peel oil on my own hands, and then rub her down.

It’s not perfect – but it will ensure that my puppy and baby are safe.

To check whatever treatment you currently use, you may want to refer to the Green Paws pocket guide.

(Please send me any natural DIY flea/tick treatments that you have used! Thank you!)

Sometimes, the answers are just not as black and white (or green), as a mum would like.

Happy Hump Day!

When we first brought home the worlds most adorable puppy, we bought her, as all the new furbaby manuals suggested, an ugly wire crate. 

Look at that face.

Anyway.  Miss Molly MacDonald is celebrating her first birthday at the end of November, so for an early birthday gift, we are taking away the Gulag crate, and upgrading her to a “DenHaus” (first image), which, most importantly has a finish that  is non-toxic and free of mercury, lead, cadium and chromium. (Remember, your baby will breathe this air.)

If you are slightly more modern, and wear funny, impossibly small framed glasses, they make this “BowHaus” for you…

(My grandmother had a Boston Terrier named “Macho Man” – what a piece of work he was.)

Let’s all look at Molly again….

And if you have a real or fake Noguchi lamp, you’ll appreciate the “ZenHaus“….

DenHaus makes pet crates that blend into your spaces without screaming “HEY! I HAVE A DOG!”  Which is perfect, right before holiday/guest season.

Last Molly shot, since you asked…

Seriously. Look at this FACE!

Woof.

My husband and I would be DEVESTATED if anything happened to our Molly (in White, Brown and Black)  - as would be our niece (in perpetual pink.)

My best friend, who is in veterinary medicine, just sent me this article from the New York Times, which touts a new vaccine (no doubt the only time I’ll ever post about a vaccine), that may save smaller puppies – especially Shih Tzus and Pugs – from a terrible flu. This was all I needed to read:

“When Dr. Crawford began studying it in January 2004, it had come to her notice as a mysterious cough and pneumonia that killed a third of the greyhounds at a Florida dog track. By the next year, she had found it in seven states and had shown that it could be passed by dogs who just rubbed noses on the street or shared a water dish, and that humans could carry it on their clothes. There was a brief flurry of fear that it would kill 1 percent to 10 percent of the country’s 70 million dogs.

It has proved about as deadly as Dr. Crawford predicted. She estimates that by itself, it kills 5 percent of the dogs that catch it.”

If you are lucky enough to have a small, snorting, furry creature run your home, please ask your vet about this new vaccine.

Woof!