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Monday's Mompreneur
Jennifer Taggart, author of Smart Mama's Green Guide by Carrie Robertson  Somewhere between "Career Girl", "Super Mom", "Little Holly Homemaker", and "Object of Desire", we're also supposed to save the planet, right? Feel a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility? So do I! With the burden of that green responsibility weighing on my shoulders, I arrived Sunday at the "Ultimate Healthy Parenting Party" at the Pump Station in Santa Monica. Hosted by Jennifer Taggart, author of the new book "Smart Mama's Green Guide", the event gave local businesses and non-profits a chance to share their expertise and products with families. Performing her signature beats, Birdie Mendoza kept kids busy with "green" instruments: re-purposed plastic bottle shakers filled with dry pasta on a carpet of green sod. The event also gave me the chance to pick up a swag bag stuffed full with $150 worth of products and coupons...that YOU were able to win (more on that later!). In an interview this morning, Jennifer and I spent some more time talking about her new book and what "regular" parents can do to go green...or greener. Taggart's book is a thorough, straightforward collection of information. It breaks down some of the major areas of environmental concern in our lives into manageable chapters. The book also features a simple to follow list of non-toxic home cleaning product "recipes" and an appendix feature called "Smart Mama's Daycare Questions". Chapters include "Pat-A-Cake, Pat-A-Cake: the Kitchen" and "Cleanliness and the Pursuit of Perfection". One of my biggest concerns, after quickly reading through the thorough text, was...where to start! "It really depends on where you are, and the age of your child", said Taggart. "An easy way to get started with older kids is by simply choosing alternative products. You can go to the same store you're going to anyway, Target or Walmart, and replace your usual products with more green or non-toxic alternatives. Although I don't encourage it all the time, "buying your way green" is certainly an easy way to get started. Then, the next time, maybe you'll choose another green or non-toxic product or mix up your own at home." For parents with babies, she had a slightly different recommendation. New parents, or parents of young children, often find themselves buying a slew of products. It's easy to substitute conventional products and find supplies and storage that are environmentally sound and non-toxic from the beginning. Again, she emphasized that it's important to make one decision at a time, and not feel as if we must clear out the house and start from scratch. Taggart started her "Smart Mama" project several years ago. Professionally, Taggart is an engineer and attorney, with a practice that specializes in consumer labeling. (Yes, she's the one that tells you to use products in a "well ventilated area" and not to put them in your eyes!) About seven years ago, when her oldest child was a baby, she attended classes at the Pump Station. When moms in class would ask about issues related to the environment and toxins, she found herself the resident expert. With encouragement from The Pump Station's Corky Harvey, she began teaching classes at the store and at local schools about how parents could take "simple steps" to make their lives less toxic, and began a blog, also titled "The Smart Mama". I confessed to Taggart that I often felt a bit overwhelmed by the information and choices, and asked what her overall message to harried parents would be. Taggart said, "Do one thing at a time. Try a green cleaner, make the choices slowly. You don't have to feel like you need to rush out and buy everything. No one can do it all; at least you've started the journey. Everything you're doing will help." She also emphasized that there is a misconception that "going green" is more expensive, when actually it's about going "back to basics". Taggart lists an extensive list of "make it yourself" cleaning products in her book. "That's how our grandmas used to clean", said Taggart. "Some of it requires a bit more elbow grease, but the ingredients are simple to use and easy to find" Taggart also recommended three organizations for more information: the Cosmetic Safety Database from the Environmental Working Group, the website of nonprofit Healthy Child, Healthy World, and the Green Home program from the Sierra Club (who Taggart writes for on occasion). We're sure that her message of making simple, actionable choices to create a big impact will resonate with every mom who feels intimidated or overwhelmed by environmental issues and their impact on families. Simple steps for big results. Our swag bag giveaway was open to our newsletter recipients! Want to be eligible for the next giveaway? Sing up below for our weekly newsletter! Email Marketing by iContact  Site and Contents (c) Mommy Adventure Club 2007-2009. All rights reserved. blog comments powered by Disqus |
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