We are now 90% moved into our new place in the city. Of course our old place won’t be going on the market for months so we have our garden to tend to still. It is already overflowing with lettuce and cilantro ready to eat and the first tomatoes will be here before we know it.

Of course we still wanted to do a small garden at our new place… tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, etc. We love our salsa. So before we even have unpacked very many boxes we got started on the new garden. I would guesstimate it is 12 by 6 feet and we put the kids to work immediately. … muhawaahaw. ;)

Doesn’t his hair cut make him look ornery?

At one point I saw  a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old was hiding behind a parked car watching us in the garden. When I spotted her she scampered inside her house. Obviously since we are new here she was curious. OR it could have been this she was looking at. I am guessing it was the latter. No boy should be that pretty…there should be a law.

Pretty soon my youngest found some worms and you couldn’t drag him away from the garden at that point. Every single morning now he wakes up and grabs my hand and says “Mom, let’s go get a worm!”

And our garden adventures and food freedom quest continue even though we are in a new place. Stay tuned for more!

One of the small details I have long overlooked was getting a greener kitchen scrubber for the dishes and counter tops. I have just always bought the spongy ones with a scrubbing pad on the top that you buy in packs of 10. I usually went through them pretty fast because they got stinky and gross looking pretty fast. But I felt guilty every time I tossed one because there was a lot left and I doubt they biodegrade very fast… if they do at all. Not sure what they are made of but I highly doubt they are planet friendly.

A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon yet another great etsy store called Laksaware. The artisan sells some completely awesome crocheted dishcloths. I bought 3 and I have been using them every day and these babies will last a looooong time. Every 2-3 days I toss the dishcloth I have been using in the wash and grab a clean one. No more buying scrubbing sponges!

So do they work? Yep! They are abrasive enough to scrub dishes and yet soft enough to not causes scratches. They also get into tight places quite nicely. I can stuff one down a Popsicle mold and get it clean no problem. They are also made of 100% cotton so they are naturally made and completely biodegradable.

Another eco scrubber I have been using is the Loofah-Art Scrubber from EcoBags. The loofah is actually a plant so you can’t get more green that that! I have a watermelon shaped one and these are perfect for tougher scrubbing jobs and cleaning the kitchen or bath.  You can also use them on your body if you would rather too. From the earth they come and to the earth they return… they are 100% biodegradable. They are a bit pricey though at $3.99 so I reserve this for when I really need it and use the crocheted dischcloths for most stuff.

My new place has NO dishwasher… well except for me. :) So far I am pleased as punch with these new eco scrubbers. I don’t miss my old scrubby sponges at all.

For almost 2 years now I have written on this blog about the dangers of BPA from polycarbonate plastic leaching into our food and drink. I have written several posts that highlight BPA free sippys, cups, teethers, and eating utensils. Many other bloggers have done the same and as a group… MOMS have altered public perception and dealt a big blow to an industry that did not apparently care one iota about the adverse health effects of their products.

In response there have been several baby bottle manufacturers that have promised they will no longer us BPA. There are also several US cities and states that have banned BPA in children’s products or plan to do so soon. It seems only logical that the next on the guillotine would be cans and food containers that use BPA in their liners. Connecticut is poised to do just that… ban BPA in all food containers.

But while moms all over the country can pat themselves on the back for influencing legislation to make our children safer they also need to be aware that the BPA industry is going to tussle.

A reporter at The Washington Post recently got internal notes from a private meeting held by companies who stand to lose a lot money if BPA bans get passed… aka food and drink companies. According to the reporter they huddled together for hours ”trying to figure out how to tamp down public concerns over the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA”.

To me that means they are trying to figure out a way to fool us into thinking BPA is safe OR fool us into thinking it is a necessary evil that me must accept. Among the topics discussed was how they can use ” fear tactics as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging,” the notes said.

They also discussed spending $500,000 to craft a campaign that would help their cause and use “a ‘holy grail’ spokesperson, a ‘pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA,’ “. Of course this pretty commonplace for all companies peddling crappy products.

Some people will always be smarter than that so they have to break out the big guns:

Those in attendance said the mainstream media are ignoring their side of the controversy, and attendees talked about how the group is focusing on “legislative battles and befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process,” the document said.

Ugh. Instead of trying to come up with safe ways to serve food they would rather spend money on pulling the wool over our eyes or using the political system give us no choice in the matter.

Moms everywhere need to be prepared for a battle over BPA. We need to continue to let our legislators know that human safety comes BEFORE profit.

In the midst of loading a Uhaul truck to move 65 miles south of our current home, my daughter had a birthday party to attend. She insisted that she had to wear her favorite party dress and I must say she looked smashing. She is a living doll.

She is so smart and contemplative. Here she looks like she is listening to the trees and receiving the knowledge of the ancients. Always listening, always learning.

But unlike her introverted mother she is adores being the Belle of the ball. She has a flair for the dramatic and constantly has the rest of us watching to see what she will do next.

After the party she look very different of course. Her party dress was ripped and she was hopped up on candy. Must have been one FUN party! Oh the life of a five year old… can it be any sweeter?

I asked her if I needed to sew her dress for another birthday party she will attend next weekend. She rolled her eyes and told me she can’t wear the same dress… everyone has already seen it!