Eco-Libris collaborates with Green Mom Finds in a giveaway of green books

We're always happy to take part in giveaways of green books. This week we're collaborating with the great website 'Green Mom Finds' in a giveaway that is in celebration of the upcoming father's day (June 15).

Green Mom Finds presents their readers with our green books guide for father's day as a source for ideas for green-themed books. We also helped to arrange a giveaway of two great books that are included in the book: The Green Parent and Hey, Mr. Green. In both cases, the publishers (Kedzie Press and Sierra Club respectively) generously donated two copies of each book. We also added another prize of 20 trees/stickers and of course, a tree is planted for each copy given here.

What you need to do to take part in the giveaway? All you need to do is look for the answer to the question: answer to this question: What’s the carbon footprint of the book publishing industry and what’s the biggest contributor to this footprint? the answer can be found on our website! For more details check out the post on Green Mom Finds - http://greenmomfinds.com/2008/06/11/for-the-earth-lovin-bookworm-dad/. Don't forget you can enter the giveaway by 6/18/08.

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Want a free copy of 'The Green Parent'? teensygreen has a giveaway!

teensygreen has great giveaways of green books and this week it offers you the chance to win a free copy of 'The Green Parent' by Jenn Savedge.

'The Green Parent' is an extensive guide for parents who would like to green up their family's life style and teach their children about living green.

This is an offer you cannot refuse: all you have to do is to leave a comment on this post with an answer to this question - what do you think is the most important eco-tip to share with your children (or grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc.)? and that's it - you're in the contest. Kedzie Press generously gave away 10 copies of the book so don't miss this chance to win this wonderful book.

We're also taking part in the giveaway - firstly, 'The Green Parent' is the first book on the Kedzie Million Tree-A-Thon, where we plant a tree for every book published by Kedzie Press with the goal of planting a million trees by the end of 2009 (our logo will also appear on all titles published by Kedzie Press). We will match each copy given on this giveaway with another new tree, so altogether 20 trees will be planted for the ten copies given on this giveaway.

You can find more details on teensygreen at http://www.teensygreen.com/2008/05/11/505/. This contest will be open until midnight, PST on Friday, May 16th.

Enjoy!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

An interview with Jenn Savedge, the author of 'The Green Parent'

Three weeks ago I reviewed here the new book 'The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living' by Jenn Savedge, which is also the first book to be published under the Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon initiative.

Since I'm going to become a parent myself in few weeks, I wanted to learn more about green parenting and the book. Luckily, Jenn Savedge agreed to answer my questions and I enjoyed learning how green parenting is so much cooler now than it used to be and how being a green parent actually helps you saving money.

How did you come up with the idea of writing a green guide for parents?

Before my daughters were born, I was living a pretty eco-friendly lifestyle. I have always been interested in taking care of the environment, and I had the time, money, and energy to devote to this interest. So I was kind of thrown for a loop after my children were born and I was thrown into a world of disposable, plastic, battery-operated, planet-trashing stuff. And on top of all that, I suddenly had no time, no energy, and a whole lot less money than I had before to devote to making sure I made the most environmentally responsible choices. I went to the bookstore looking for a book that would show me how to raise my kids without trashing the planet and how to get them involved in taking care of the environment. When I couldn't find it…I wrote it.

What was the most interesting part of the work on the book?

I thoroughly enjoyed researching and writing this book. This was exactly the information that I had been searching for, and I was thrilled to finally have it all together in one place and in a format that would be useful and accessible to other parents. My favorite aspect of the research was conducting interviews with green parents around the country. Bill McKibben, my long-time hero, was gracious enough to allow me to interview him, as were other green leaders such as Alan Durning, Timberly Whitfield, Leslie Garrett, and Colin Beavan. It was fascinating to talk with these folks and hear their anecdotes and advice from a green parent’s perspective.

If it makes so much sense to go green and be green parents, how come we don't see more green parents around? is it awareness, time, money or people just don't care enough?

I think there’s a misconception that green parenting is difficult to put into practice, and let’s face it, most parents are not really interested in adding extra work to their already busy schedules. The great news is that most parents I meet really want to go green; they just aren’t sure how to fit it in. So once they realize how simple it is, they are excited to get started.

What's the ability of parents to influence their children green attitudes, when the kids get different signals from their school, community, and other social circles that are probably still far behind?

The kids growing up today hear more about environmental issues, in their music, movies, and even in their video games, than any generation before them. And while not all kids are interested in going green, parents can help their own kids make eco-friendly choices by listening to their kids’ ideas and empowering them to protect their planet. In that sense, green living is not just something that children are being told to do; it is a pathway they are carving for themselves.

Have you noticed any change in green parenting in the last couple of years? are there any specific areas in particular?

Green parenting is so much cooler now than it used to be! When my first daughter was born, I could barely find any information about cloth diapering, and people thought I was a lunatic for wanting to make my own baby food. Now that information is everywhere as green parenting has hit the mainstream. I would say that organic foods and eco-friendly cleaning products have seen the biggest boom in sales because they address parents’ concerns about the health of their families and their planet.

How common is the myth that going green, and especially when it comes to children, is only for wealthy people? do you hope that your book will contribute to change that perception?

I think a lot of parents feel that if they can’t afford to put solar panels on their home or buy the latest model hybrid car, they shouldn’t bother going green. But the beauty of green parenting is that it essentially means using less stuff and being more particular about the stuff we do use. More often than not, that translates into spending less money. Green parenting can save parents a ton of cash on their energy, water, trash and shopping bills each month. And my hope is that parents who are on a budget will read The Green Parent and realize that going green is a very simple way to save money.

What's the most difficult practice to implement as a green parent? what's the easiest one?
That answer will be different for every parent. For instance, I have the hardest time remembering to turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth. I was never taught to do that growing up and so it wasn’t until I was an adult that it even dawned on me how much water I was wasting. Now, even though it is an incredibly simple thing to do, I still forget sometimes because I am distracted or exhausted. So I have to leave myself a little note in the bathroom! What’s easy for one parent may be difficult for another…and vice versa.

I enjoyed very much the interviews in the book, many with known figures whom we know less about their green side as parents (at least I didn't..). Is there any story you've heard during these interviews that made a special impression on you?

Each of the green parents I interviewed for the book made a lasting impression on me and inspired me to be a deeper shade of green. But I think the story that inspired me the most was Alan Durning’s year of living “car-lessly” with his wife and three children. The level of commitment that his whole family showed to the project was outstanding and his honesty and optimism about his car-less way of life was both refreshing and encouraging.

What's the feedback you receive from your daughters on your personal efforts to practice green parenting?

My daughters are still young (they are 5 and 2 years old) so I am fortunate in that they are learning about going green and caring for the planet at a very young age. It’s great because they are very accustomed to things like recycling, turning off the lights, and walking instead of driving whenever possible. In fact, they remind me to do things like grab my cloth tote bag or fill up a reusable water bottle before I leave the house!

But in all honesty, they are still very normal little girls who love all things pink and sparkly and sometimes fawn over these types of products in the stores. Still, they listen when I tell them that these products are not good for them, nor are the good for the birds, bears, squirrels, and dolphins with whom we share the planet. They not always thrilled about it, but they know that if they can’t convince me it’s good for the environment, it’s not coming home with us!

The green world is changing very quickly with new developments coming every day - what would you recommend parents who read the book and would like to stay updated?

My website (www.thegreenparent.com) is a good start. The book gives parents all the information they need to go green and get their kids involved, and the website complements that by providing up-to-date news and information on green living. Another good way to stay informed about environmental issues is to keep track of what is going on in your locally community in regards to things like recycling, public transportation, and pollution.

Thank you, Jenn! The book is definitely recommended to all the parents out who wish to go green, or those who already taken steps in the green direction and want to learn more about green parenting.

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Monday's green books series: The Green Parent

Today on our Monday's green books series, I'm reviewing a book that may look like it is aimed only at parents who are green or want to go green, but actually is relevant to all the parents who care about the quality of life of their children, both now and in the future. In other words, it's a book that will be of interest to (almost) every parent out there.

Our book for today is:

The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living

Author: Jenn Savedge

Jennifer Savedge's articles have appeared in ePregnancy, iParenting.com, Carolina Parent, Healthy Living, as well as children's publications such as Appleseeds, Cobblestone, and Odyssey. Jenn lives with her husband and two daughters in Luray, VA. 'The Green Parent' is her first book.

Publisher: Kedzie Press

Published in: April 2008

What it is about:
'The Green Parent' is an extensive guide for parents who would like to green up their family's life style and teach their children about living green. 'The Green Parent' covers a variety of subjects that have environmental impacts - energy, water, garbage, pets, transportation, work, shopping and many more.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different subject and includes useful tips (how to make your own cleaning agents from natural ingredients), recommendations how to use your money wisely while going green (buy ENERGY STAR appliances), suggestions how to get your kids involved in the process of greening up (light patrol to help you remember to turn off the lights), information on relevant issues such as green labels and interview with green parents. Both parents and kids will learn ways to make the biggest impact, save the most money, and discover how making even the smallest of changes can make a big difference.

Why you should get it:

It sometimes not easy find the right ways to go green. It might be even harder as a parent. 'The Green Parent' is definitely a good guide to make this green journey easier.

One of the things I liked mostly about the book are the interviews, as Savedge conducted interviews with some very interesting green parents who talk about their personal experiences with their children. You can find in the book interviews with Kathleen Ridihalgh, who write the blog 'Great Green Tips', Leslie Garret, a journalist and author ('The Virtuous Consumer'), Corey Colwell-Lipson, founder of the organization 'Green Halloween', Bill McKibben, Colin Beaven ('No Man Impact') and others.

I'm not a parent yet, so I cannot relate yet to many of the parents-children issues that are brought up in the book, but I'm going to be a father very soon, so I am starting my journey into green parenthood. For me, one of the book's main strengths is that it shows new parents that being a green parent is not only for rich people with spare time. Many times it's just the opposite - buying less, buying used items, generating less waste, saving energy and water, recycling - all of these practices will save your family money and can be done even by parents with the busiest schedule. And the book is full of examples how to do it and great resources to receive further information.

And maybe most important part - the book tries to help parents with the million dollar question - how you promote environmental stewardship that does not sound like "eco-naggin" in the ears of the children? from the stories of the green parents in the interviews and tips of fun activities that will make green more understandable and attractive for kids to great suggestions on how to incorporate green into the kids' daily activities (how to make their lunch waste-free).

Last word - this book is my fave also because not only that it's printed on 100% PCW recycled paper (processed chlorine free, FSC-certified and manufactured using biogas), but it is also the first book to be published under the Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon initiative: for each book sold, Kedzie Press will plant one tree, in collaboration with Eco-Libris, with the goal of planting one million trees by December 2009. So we're very proud to plant a tree for each copy of 'The Green Parent' and to have our logo on the cover of the book.

What others say about it:
“In The Green Parent, author Jenn Savedge guides us through how to live "green" and pass that love and respect for the earth on to our children…Savedge writes with an infectious optimism that motivates us to change our ways and change the world in the process.” Leslie Garrett, journalist and author of The Virtuous Consumer, mother of three

"A great resource for updated details on green living - especially useful for parents who no longer have the time to stay in the loop on best practices." Sara Prout, Development Officer, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, mother of three

“This thoughtful must-have book for parents reminds us of the old Native American saying: We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." Doug Farr, Author of Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature

“The Green Parent is a fabulous read for parents who are trying to improve the health of the children, household, communities and planet!” Lee Welles, author of the Gaia Girls Book Series.

Want to learn more about the book? check out Jenn Savedge's blog: http://thegreenparent.blogspot.com/ and also watch her on NBC 4, Virginia: http://video.nbc4.com/player/?id=235603.

And if you're looking for other interesting green books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

The first book on Million Tree-A-Thon is out there!

Many green books for kids are going to be published this month (well, Earth Day is coming), but the only one that not only will be printed on 100% recycled post-consumer waste paper, but will also have a new tree planted (see our logo on the cover?) for every copy of it, is 'The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living' by Jenn Savedge.

And today, April 1, is the official publication date of 'The Green Parent', which is the first book to be published under the Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon initiative. Just a short reminder - in collaboration with Eco-Libris, Kedzie Press has launched last February the Kedzie Million Tree-A-Thon. For each book sold, Kedzie Press will plant one tree, with the goal of planting one million trees by December 2009.

We will review the book next Monday on our Monday's green books series, but in the meantime here's a short description of the book (from Kedzie Press' website):

The Green Parent is the perfect book for parents who would like to teach their children about living green. From how to save energy, to how to reuse and recycle everything, this resource offers advice for getting children involved in conservation, as well as products and services that can help parents raise more environmentally conscious children. Through a series of fun activities such as how to start a “light patrol,” how to make a “waste-free” school lunch, and how to build a “green” bird house—parents and kids will learn ways to make the biggest impact, save the most money, and discover how making even the smallest of changes can make a big difference.

Want to learn more? check out Jenn Savedge's blog: http://thegreenparent.blogspot.com/ and also watch her on NBC 4, Virginia: http://video.nbc4.com/player/?id=235603.

If you want to order the book, you can do it online at Kedzie Press website.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon: planting one million trees for one million books with Eco-Libris

We're very happy to update you with a new partnership - Kedzie Press, an independent publishing house based in Seattle, Washington is collaborating with Eco-Libris in a new initiative called Million Tree-A-Thon.

The goal: planting one million trees for one million books to be sold by Kedzie Press until the end of 2009.

Kedzie Press is already a green publisher - it publishes books with socially conscious and or environmentally friendly messages, as well as the occasional work of fiction. It strives to help its readers lead better lives and all of our titles are printed on 100% recycled, 100% post-consumer waste paper (FSC certified), and processed chlorine free. It means that by pledging to plant one tree for every book sold, Kedzie Press actually maximize the positive impact it already has on the environment.

Million Tree-A-Thon will start with a new book, The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living by Jenn Savedge, which is jam packed with information, interviews, and inspiration to help parents become Green Parents. Eco-Libris logo will appear on every printed copy of the book, signifying that one tree is being planted for each and one of these copies. The book will be available at local and online booksellers nationwide on April, 2008 and and can be pre-ordered already from the Kedzie Press website.

Kedzie Press is looking to make a difference in their conservation efforts and inspire others to do the same. We are very excited and proud to be part of these efforts and look forward to meeting the goal: planting one million trees for one million Kedzie Press books. I'm positive that with the support of all the eco-conscious readers out there we can do it!

So buy any Kedzie Press title from Kedzie Press website (check it out, they've got really interesting green books..) and join the Kedzie Million Tree-A-Thon.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!