I mentioned a few days ago that I would be traveling a bit and I actually just got back from Detroit yesterday evening after a whirlwind trip. The last few days were spent in the Motor City enjoying the North American International Auto Show. Ford sponsored the trip so obviously most of what I experienced was viewed through Ford colored glasses. It was a spectacular experience and I learned a lot about subjects that I am woefully uneducated in. For three days I learned about auto manufacturing, sustainability innovations and plans, marketing, and of course Ford’s new pride and joy, the brand new Ford Fusion models coming out in the Fall.
Oh, and don’t tell Ford but the BEST thing about the trip was that they invited several of my friends as well. It was a great experience anyway but great experiences are always maximized when you get to experience them with people you care about right? So I cannot go without sharing those particular highlights first… namely Diane at Big Green Purse, Jenn at The Green Parent, Anna at Green Talk, and Stephanie Moram of Good Girl Gone Green. The first three I have known and spoken with for several years via a green moms group and Stephanie is a fairly new blogger that has become a fast friend.
Below is Stephanie, Mara (a Canadian Blogger), Jenn, and Anna. Love these ladies!!
Okay, so the purpose of the trip. Well, I think it differed for everyone who was invited because we all had very different backgrounds. There were 150 bloggers invited form all over the world. There were bloggers from Turkey, South Africa, France, Spain, and Canada for instance. Few of the bloggers actually write about cars though. There were fitness bloggers, fashion bloggers, design bloggers, daddy bloggers, mommy bloggers, and of course green bloggers. I think everyone had their own interests and take away from the show so I can only speak to my own.
I went into this experience knowing next to nothing about green cars. What I knew about hybrids, electric cars, and other greener car options was not enough to fill a 30 second elevator speech. Mostly this is because they are out of my price range and I have never had to do in depth comparisons as I would if I were buying some other product. I have three vehicles at the moment and the “youngest” is over 12 years old. All were bought used. I believe in buying used and not buying something that will depreciate after I drive it off the lot. I hate car payments with a passion. But for a couple years now I have toyed with the idea of getting a newer, used Ford Focus. Some family members of mine had one and I know they get good gas mileage. Of course after this trip what I REALLY want is a Ford Fusion, which was in many ways the star of the show at the NAIAS. I gravitated towards the sea foam green car as you can see but it’s not just the color that knocks this baby out of the park. This particular Ford Fusion is a plugin hybrid and it gets 100+ MPGe. Being as ‘out of the loop’ as I was, I never even knew such a thing was possible. For the record the Ford Fusion (Eco boost engine) gets 37 mpg, the Hybrid get 47 mpg. All three are great options. If you check out Ford’s web site you can see better photos of them and get more info.
Another interesting tidbit is that the chief engineer working on the Fusion stated that 90% of the car is recyclable and they are working on all the plastic components to eventually bring that to 100%.
I have had to stop and think about the idea that I may lean toward Ford BECAUSE of this experience and honestly I may. Since I knew nada about green cars I have no special place in my heart for a Prius or any other well publicized green car. It is thanks to Ford’s generosity in deciding to educate me that I now have more knowledge about this issue. I think that a used Ford Focus is still the most likely option in my future but other possibilities are now on my radar. I think the cost savings would be worth it to eventually purchase a Fusion hybrid or plugin hybrid. One of the things that helped solidify that in my ever frugal mind was the fact that these cars (hybrids/electric) hold their value, unlike most regular automobiles. This may be hyped a bit but I did hear a Ford exec saying in a conversation that he has seen some used Ford cars coming in with 300,000 miles on the original battery. That is phenomenal if it is true.
Some of the other green bloggers and I spent some time walking the show and comparing the Fusion with other hybrid and electric hybrid offerings. There were really only two that stacked equally or perhaps better in my mind. Most of the other offerings were lacking. One company in particular had a plugin hybrid for a whopping 67K price tag. Ford has yet to announce the pricing structure for these new cars but I am optimistic it will be more reasonable. Folks in my neck of the woods can buy a decent house for that earlier price. It was nice to be there with some green bloggers who knew enough about the subject matter to ask the tough questions and help us all make better comparisons.
This is Diane, firing away with her questions. She is even more amazing in person than I ever knew and I so enjoyed meeting her. She is amazing!
Of course this trip went beyond the unveiling of the new cars. All the bloggers that attended also got to speak one on one with many Ford executives, go to Ford World Headquarters, and the Ford Product Development Center. We saw how they are using digital advances to reduce costs and use fewer resources. When they have gone as far as they can with digital images and design THEN they make scale and full size models out of plasticized clay. They reuse as much of that clay as they possibly can. This is most likely about dollars and cents more than sustainability but I love how intimately connected those two things seem to be at Ford. Another example would be all the money and research spent in designing sustainable materials for the interior of their cars. They are working with coconuts, soy, corn, wood fibers, wheatgrass, and other natural materials to make plant based plastics and other car components like their soy seat cushions. This helps them get an edge in the green market of course but it also helps them reduce the weight of their cars. That translates into better fuel economy and a more attractive car for consumers.
None of the auto makers will likely appreciate this thought but the fact that money can be such a huge motivator to make them go green further proves to me that government legislation is needed. Our government needs to step up and give them incentive and/or deadlines for making gains in greater fuel economy, sustainability in materials and manufacturing, and a greener life cycle all around. But that said I still think Ford is making progress. Much of what we saw at their product development center was stuff they have been working on for many, many years. And a brief Ignite presentation by a Futerist at Ford made me more aware of how they plan for what the world and society will look like years down the road. We may not know they are working on solutions to what may impact us ecologically down the road, but they are. They want to remain profitable no matter what so they plan for every possible future. I am SURE that planning includes rising to overcome tougher Government legislation in auto making.
In addition to an appreciation of their green initiatives I also like the company. Scott Monty, the head of social media for Ford, was a really fun and likeable guy. I also met a man at the dinner on Sunday night who is a 4th generation employee of the company. He insisted that this in no way makes him unique though. I think it says something really powerful when people spend their entire careers at one company and their kids and grandkids do as well. It is also still a family business, despite its size. We saw William Ford at the press conference. This experience definitely made me more aware of Ford as a company but also as a group of really talented and interesting people.
This write-up has gotten really lengthy so I think I will wrap and post about some other aspects of the trip later. Inevitably people wonder if Ford sponsoring such a trip will influence one in their favor. I am not rushing out to buy a new car but the possibility is now on my radar more than ever. This is in large part because I actually know a little something about what is on the market now and not from a magazine article. I have seen these cars, touched them, sat in them, and spoken to people who had a hand in designing them. How can that not influence me? It does. I will still being doing research to find the best car for me if and when I am in a position to actually buy a hybrid or plugin hybrid (probably the former). I will however being comparing them with the amazing cars I saw at Ford this week.
** Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Innovation and Design Fantasy Camp event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. Opinions posted here are my own.**
I have gotten fed up with my bed. You see I have had my mattress and box spring on nothing but a metal bed frame for a couple years now and I think it time to get an actual bed again with headboard and footboard. That way the mattresses won’t keep sliding up and down and my pillows won’t end up getting stuck between the mattress and the wall and in general I just won’t have to have a wrestling match every night.
So I have been doing a bit of research on the most eco-friendly alternative. Since looking for wood beds made from “organic” trees would be an unfruitful search I decided to look at sustainable beds or eco furniture.
These products are becoming more widely available although the price is usually a bit more grand than I would want to pay a good bed will last.
One place I found that looks very promising is the Green Furniture section at Wholesale Furniture Brokers (WFB). They have a strikingly attractive line of beds and bedroom sets that are very eco friendly and not likely to bankrupt me. Their beds are designed with their mission mind to create a healthier, sustainable environment.
I am a retro person. Remember my powder blue and bubblegum pink bathrooms? Well, WFB has a retro collection that I really fell in love with.
The 4 PC Retro Cappuccino Modern Platform Bedroom Furniture Set by Lifestyle Solutions caught my eye. Other than the fact that this set looks very sixties with a modern edge I love the fact that it is reasonably priced AND healthier for the environment. The main differences that highlight Lifestyle Solutions is the manufacturing process and use of renewable sources. Their manufacturing process has been certified for compliance with International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) guidelines for sustainable management of Natural Tropical Forest. These standards bring you high quality bedroom furniture sets constructed from plantation grown imported hardwood ensuring sources that are constantly renewed.
Of course wouldn’t you know while I was checking out the beds I also happened to see the Aruba Oyster Micro Fiber Convertible Sofa. It is made according to the same guidelines as the bed so it is sustainable as well and it is a gorgeous sofa! I love the casual chic look and also the versatility of being able to use it as a bed or a sofa. This would be perfect for our basement guest room and the price is so reasonable.
Pretty much all I have in my area is Ashley Furniture and if I go there I am sure to pay a fortune and walk away with furniture that is not friendly to the environment. Wholesale Furniture Brokers is kind to the planet and the pocketbook. What a great find!
You don’t have to give up good design, style, or your budget to go green with your home furniture anymore.
A�product that I have always loved is BabyLegs. My son and daughter have many pairs of these adorable baby legwarmers. If you recall I posted my review of them and a picture of my baby sporting BabyLegs on his legs and arms. I was very excited to hear that they were coming out with a line of organic of BabyLegs AND promoting green business practices by taking a biodiesel roadtrip to bring awareness to parents about sustainable living and organic products. The adventure was referred to as the “Get Your Green Legs On” roadtrip and I interviewed Sping Courtright, one of the participats about the unique experience. So read the interview below and don’t forget to look for a special coupon code for a FREE pair of BabyLegs at the end!
NatureMom: Tell me what the Get Your Green Legs on Roadtrip was all about…
Spring: This trip was about supporting, promoting and creating conversations about organic and sustainable business practices. We wanted to share our journey towards being green and inspire other individuals and businesses to make big and small, daily decisions to positively impact the planet and our children’s future.
We�re working hard to be green here at BabyLegs, so this trip was a way for us to share our excitement that our entire fall line of BabyLegs designs will be organic with recycled paper packaging. This is something Nicole, the owner of BabyLegs, has been trying to do since the beginning of BabyLegs and we’re all really happy she’s found a good, high quality source for the organic line.
The story is this: We were attending the Junior Products and Apparel Manufacturer (JPMA) show in Orlando, and wanted to get ourselves and our product there in a sustainable manner. Driving across country on Biodeisel was the answer. We then decided to use this opportunity to do a few other things as well: check in with our retailers across the country to learn about their needs and allow them to share their thoughts, meet those retailers/customers that share our enthusiasm for the environment and those that are lacking (we aimed to change that), promote our organic line, and to support and promote other green businesses.
BabyLegs owner, Nicole Donnelly, recently bought a car that runs on biodiesel, and she loves it. So we asked our neighbor, Imperium Renewables/Seattle Biodiesel, if they would be interested in supporting a Get Your Green Legs on trip. They promptly donated 325 gallons of biodiesel, which took us all the way to Georgia, where Boswell Oil donated another 100 gallons.
We contacted other companies who are environmentally-minded and they were eager to support our mission. Clif Bar donated thousands of Luna and Z-Bars, (which Erinn and I ate every day!), and GreenCar Co, Woobie, Bellysock, Spacecraft, Fuelwerks, and many others were eager to work with us. We promoted them, our organic line and our mission throughout 15 states and over 8000 miles!
NatureMom: What kind of vehicle did you drive and what made it eco friendly?
Spring: We drove a Chevy Silverado that pulled a trailer with all our things. What made it eco-friendly was the100% biodiesel (B-100, soybean oil) we carried in tanks in the back of our truck. We used B-100 throughout the entire trip.
Very few people (especially women!) have driven across the United States with 100% biodiesel. We generated a lot of conversations with people along the way whenever we stopped to pump our fuel. This successful trip was a testament to the simplicity of using alternative fuels. There are certainly more fuel efficient cars out there, which I highly recommend using, but this was a test drive that showed it can be done safely with any diesel car or truck.
NatureMom: Tell us about some of the stops you made…
Spring: We made many stops, mostly at retail stores who carry BabyLegs. At each retail stop we set up an information table with free BabyLegs, materials from our sponsors, goodie bags for our in-store raffle (full of free organic BabyLegs, Luna and Z-bars, sponsor materials and other fun items), and our ultimate raffle item (a Vy and Elle recycled billboard handbag full of BabyLegs). On each raffle ticket parents had to write an environmental commitment to their children. It was a great to see the commitments parents are willing to make for their child(ren)’s future. We were also able to provide parents with information on the little things they can do that make huge differences.
We were greeted with so much enthusiasm–everyone who walked out of the stores had a pair of BabyLegs in their hands, on their child or on their arms!
Our stops were:
Black Wagon in Portland; Hugs and Bugs and the Global Warming Rally in Salt Lake City; Real Baby in Denver; an Earth Day event at the University of Georgia; the Junior Products and Apparel Manufacturer trade show in Orlando; A Women’s Work in Dallas; our showroom in Houston: Southern Fried Chicks; Best Fed in Phoenix; Baby Loves Disco at Aubergine in San Diego; our shipping facility in Sacramento; and finally, Bambini in Eugene.
We had so many great stops along the way at restaurants, hotels, retailers and we had great conversations with everyone we came into contact with. They were all curious about BabyLegs and Biodiesel, and all of them walked away with a pair of BabyLegs to share or wear!
NatureMom: Did you find any green parents out there?
Spring: We found MANY green parents out there! We were pleasantly surprised by all the green parents, but also shocked by the lack of recycling programs in some cities.
We asked parents to write an Environmental Commitment to thier Child(ren)’s Future, something they weren’t doing already that they would start doing that day. Some of the hundreds of responses were:
Building a worm bin with 3.5 yr old son; More walking, biking, and less driving; Less waste- more recycle; eating all organic; use powerstrips for entertainment center and unplug during the day; Encourage sustainable Development; organic gardening; I pledge to walk to work for the rest of the month and more!; Live a life that promotes sustainable development; Use earth friendly cleaning supplies;
And my favorite: To leave it better than I found it.
NatureMom: How was the response to the new organic line of Baby Legs?
Spring: People are really excited! Even though we only had pictures, the designs and colors are so gorgeous and stylish that even those who aren’t normally organic fans fell in love with them.
NatureMom: What was the highlight of the trip for you?
Spring: That’s so hard to say! The conversations with parents about environmental issues and getting their Environmental Commitments were really big for me I have a degree in Environmental Education and have spent years working with people outdoors, sharing the natural world, so hearing people’s serious commitments to keeping those natural places clean and green was a highlight.
Also, I fell in love with our country. Traveling with Erinn Hale, who is an incredible photographer with a huge heart and an eye for the interesting, made all the unique and beautiful landscapes, people and moments, even more beautiful. I lose heart sometimes, with all the talk of environmental degradation, thoughtlessness with our money and actions and such, but we live in such a breathtakingly beautiful country, with wonderful, curious people who are eager to learn and share.
This trip gave me hope and renewed my own internal pledge to be thoughtful with every action and purchase to do my part preserve all the beauty and health of the world.
NatureMom: Why do you feel this trip was important for green living and environmental awareness?
Spring: I feel the Green Legs trip was important in many ways.
For one, it brought awareness of our organic line as a reasonable and do-able choice for BabyLegs users, which alone will make an impact on the cotton industry buying organic means people all along the chain of production are safer and healthier, and less chemicals are produced and used.
The demand for our organics will hopefully show other companies that people want to make thoughtful, sustainable purchases, which I hope inspires those companies to start sourcing from healthy, thoughtful companies, which in turn will help the people who make and wear these products have healthier, happier lives.
Secondly, it showed that alternative fuels are a viable option for anyone. Here we were, two ladies with a lot of heart and green souls, but little know-how, who were able to drive 8000 miles with a truck and trailer, pumping their own 100% biodiesel! Truckers, restaurant and hotel workers, parents, store owners and customers, BabyLegs wearers, and everyone we met along the way now have seen, in the flesh, people who were able to use, and enjoy using, an alternative fuel source. I do hope to be part of a co-op which makes our own biodiesel, and use it for my diesel car soon. To me, that is the closed-loop system that makes the most sense.
I hope this trip was an inspiration for everyone we met and that it continues to inspire people to think seriously about their actions and everyday decisions. I hope they then turn these thoughts into reality and share, through example, their green experience with the people around them. This is how change happens and why this trip was important, both personally, professionally and environmentally.
Thanks Spring for a great interview!! AND for a free pair of BabyLegs when you purchase another use the secret code Celeb (with a capitol C). This was the code given to Golden Globe gifting suites and now you can use it too!
[tags]Babylegs, baby legs, environment, biodiesel, green living, travel, organic[/tags]
Welcome! Here you will find the random thoughts and experiences of a mom trying to live a more natural and green family life since 2004. Enjoy! Feel free to 
