Green Enough
Disclaimers: I received a copy of the book Green Enough for review purposes. I am a former writer for the Mamavation website.
Adopting a greener lifestyle has been one of the most intimidating things I have ever set out to accomplish, but yet it can be comprised of many simple steps.
Everyone wants to have a safe and clean home for their children. However, when you fall into that cycle of educating yourself of a green topic (we’ll say GMOs, for example) it becomes this pitfall of information that is overwhelming, scary, and leaves you both deflated and confused.
I spent over a year writing for the Mamavation website, and in that time I had to research some pretty big topics. For example, the effects of strawberry pesticides on the families of the workers living close to the fields, or the manufacturing process of Teflon’s waste product and the battle against it by the people who drink the poisoned water.
‘For anyone who has though themself ‘green’ because they used their city’s recycle bin and tried to go to the farmer’s market more often than not, it is deflating to see how deep the green can go and how much is unregulated and untested in our food and manufacturing industries.
Early on I adopted the same philosophy as Leah of that any green is a good green. Coming from an online world where shaming comes quickly behind computer screens, it is reassuring to find a community that will be straight forward and information but still congratulate you for switching to stainless steel water bottle instead of a plastic one, or for choosing a sustainably harvested tuna in a can instead of some Chicken of the Sea, or skipping a plastic straw at restaurants.
Now, my editor-in-chief and owder of Mamavation, Leah, has written a book.
Green Enough has a LOT of information.
A LOT.
And it’s detailed, and supported by expert commentary. There’s a lot of long words, and if you don’t know the dangers of glyphosate or parabens, you will by the end of this book. As well as many other things.
Some of it is basics, like understanding that little code at the bottom of recyclable containers. Graphics like the one below are accompanied by a lot of well-researched information that will allow you to make decisions to benefit your family.
Reprinted from Green Enough by Leah Segedie. Copyright ©2018 by Leah Segedie. By permission of Rodale Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Available wherever books are sold.
And some of it is deep, going into the chemicals used in cosmetics.
Personally I was astounded by some of the green washing I found -for instance, I cannot handle the PTFE (the main ingredient in Teflon) in some eyeshadows, or the lack of labeling in some cleaning products.
The amount of information in the book allows you to educate yourself a quickly or thoroughly as you want. You can pick the topics most important to you and start there, or use the book as a manual for a huge overhaul – whatever your family is ready for.
The biggest thing that’s there is list after list of products sorted by bad, better and best that allows you to start educating yourself about safer choices and gives recommendations that you can find – or ask for at your local market.
The brand listings are really useful.
As a parent, I find it’s easier to learn what brands are better or best for my kids so when I have one flailing under my arm and the one one complaining of hunger I can grab and go and know I’m still making an informed choice.
I get it – its hard enough with all of the choices and decisions involved in parenting. Choosing to avoid toxins in the home and adapting a greener lifestyle is not only good for you and your kids now, but your kids AND the Earth’s future.
Green Enough is on sale the 20th, but there is still preordering available from several merchants, click below for a list!
PS in honor of the book’s release that day, there is a Twitter happening March 20th beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific WITH loads of prizes. More info here… Hash is #greenenough!
