We wish you all a very Happy New Year! In honor of the new year and the new decade, we’ve put together the following goals that we hope will help improve the health of ourselves, our families and our planet. While some of them may be things you’re already living on a day-to-day basis, others may offer you some quiet inspiration. What are your go-green goals for this 2010? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know…

Camille’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Since I was able to make it through Christmas without using a shred of wrapping paper, I plan to continue this “zero-tolerance” practice throughout the year- birthdays, anniversaries etc…
2. Purchase a large vericomposting bin for my yard. Worms are easy to keep, help reduce food waste and their castings are amazing for your garden.
3. Be a stronger community advocate. Push hard to get organic food choices on the menu at my childrens’ school lunch program.
4. Grow more of the fruits and vegetables that we eat at home.
5. Revamp our landscaping with more drought resistant plants.  California is in it’s third drought year.

Kari’s Go-Green Goals:
1.  Use greener personal care products.
2.  Tend to my garden better to yield more vegetables — without pesticides.
3.  Eat at least one meatless meal per week since meat has a large carbon footprint.
4.  Take a family hike or outdoor outing once a week.
5.  In Spring, Summer, and Autumn, shop at one of the many farmer’s markets in the area for local fruits, vegetables, and other goodies.

Cornelia’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Switch from water delivery service to home filtration system to filter out chlorine, lead, prescription drugs, etc.
2. Spend more time planning and expanding our organic garden…and keep up with the weeds while they’re tiny!
3. Join a CSA for our main veggies and visit the farmers’ market more often.
4. Use reusable menstrual products (cloth pads or the Diva Cup) instead of continuing to fill the landfills each month.
5. Organize my time better so I can have the space to just be…

Kirstin’s Go-Green Goals for 2010:

1.  Enjoy and be grateful for simple pleasures by slowing down and focusing on the basics of life (health, relationships, etc.).
2.  Reduce waste by using leftovers to their fullest in soups, a slow cooker, or casseroles.
2.  Plan trips close to home, or in conjunction with other trips, instead of taking carbon-intensive vacations.
4.  Turn off the TV and other electronic devices once a week for an entire day.
5.  Recognize my own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of others, to help guide activities and interactions.

Hello again! If you’re local to the Middletown, NJ area please join us on Thursday, December 17 at 7PM as we partner with the Sandy Hook Child Care Center (SHCCC), a nonprofit day care center located on Sandy Hook, and Whole Foods Market of Middletown, for a wine tasting and food pairing featuring sustainable, affordable wines and tasty bites for the upcoming holiday season. Download event PDF file.

Admission is $40 per person with the proceeds benefiting the two non-profits.

Representatives of Real Mama will share tips for families to make their holiday celebrations more environmentally friendly. The Sandy Hook Child Care Center representatives will share information on their organization and upcoming family events.

Refreshments and desserts will be served. Attendees will be able to purchase bottles or cases of featured wines in time for the holidays, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting both Real Mama and SHCCC.

Reserve your place via the Paypal button below or by sending a check made payable to “Real Mama, Inc.” to Real Mama, PO Box 222, Rumson, NJ 07760.  You may also pay at the door. Tickets will not be mailed; name(s) will be at registration at Whole Foods.

Select Number of Reservations

1 Reservation $40.00 2 Reservations $80.00 3 Reservations $120.00 4 Reservations $160.00

For further information, download the press release or call Jennifer Smiga of SHCCC at (201) 892-9403 with any questions. To learn more about SHCCC please visit their website http://www.sandyhookchildcare.org/. Whole Foods Market of Middletown is located at 471 Route 35 North, Red Bank, NJ. Hope to see you there!

Happy Fall and welcome to our new site! Here at Real Mama we want to help you make simpler, greener choices for yourselves, your families and our planet. We have redesigned our website to present information and eco-actions for families in a more easily digestible format and to inspire quick action to protect kids’ and environmental health, including the ability to easily search the site for topics of interest. You will now find more concise articles, a focus on actively bringing environmentally focused educational activities into schools, and the addition of the “Real Tips” section, a weekly log of the struggles and joys Real Mama Board members face in incorporating environmental stewardship into their lives and the lives of their families.

This fall’s eNewsletter kicks off its focus on bringing environmental concerns and solutions into schools with information about a “zero waste” lunch. In addition, this edition reviews non-chemical and natural pest control at home, climate change actions and updates, and MSG as it relates to children’s health. We’ve also included some ideas for outdoor activities with kids. Articles are categorized into topics related to earth, water, air, minds, and bodies.

Thanks for your visit and please let us know what you think!