green living
links and articles about natural parenting topics... and other things
 

Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum Resources
  • Kansas City Resources
  • Online
    • The Bradley Method - Natural Childbirth Preparation Classes
    • The Birth Survey - Bring transparency to maternity care! Take the survey, view survey results, and view local hospital intervention rates.
    • DONA, Intl. - Largest doula certifying organization in the world. Learn about doulas and find one in your area.
  • Recommended Reading:
    • Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
    • The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
    • The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu - One of my favorite books to reference for safety information about everything from food to nail polish. Contains a lot of references and resources.

Breastfeeding
Parenting Resources

Green in Kansas City

Cloth Diapering

Vaccinations

Babywearing

Cosleeping and Bedsharing

Safe Skin Care Products

Organic Food/Organic Gardening

  • Kansas City
    • Organic Farmer's Markets
    • Skyview Farm - Weekly deliveries of organic, affordable, humanely raised animal products to North Overland Park. Sign up for their weekly email for more information.
    • Kansas City Food Circle
    • 100 Mile Diet in Kansas City
    • Organic/Local Restaurants
      • Eden Alley - Country Club Plaza, KCMO - Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw, and Gluten-Free options. Variety of organic and local ingredients.
      • Cafe Seed - 29th & Cherry, KCMO - Organic vegan menu with local ingredients.
      • Blue Bird Bistro - 17th & Summit, KCMO - Upscale organic and local menu.
      • Pizza Fusion - 135th & Roe, Leawood, KS - Organic, vegetarian, vegan, eco-friendly decor, and a Prius for deliveries.
      • Local Burger - 7th & Vermont, Lawrence, KS - Organic and local "healthy fast food."
  • Online
    • Sustainable Table: The Issues - 33 "Issues" with our factory farming and mass food production, ranging from genetic engineering to pesticide use. Learn why so many people are shopping "local."
    • Slow Food - An organization dedicated to good, clean and fair food. Slow down your life and enjoy a real meal!
    • Local Harvest - Find a CSA (community supported agriculture program), farm, market or co-op near you.
    • Weston A. Price Foundation - A LOT of great articles, recipes, science and research on eating REAL food!
  • Reading Recommendations:
    • Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall
    • Omnivore's Dilemma:The Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)

Safety of Plastics (BPA, PVC, pthalates)

  • BPA (Bisphenol A) - A hormone disruptor found in many baby products, plastic water bottles and canned food linings.
  • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - PVC contains softeners called phthalates  that interfere with hormonal development, and its manufacture and incineration release dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor.
    • PVC Guide - An amazing 52 page document including research on the dangers of PVC, lists of items that commonly contain PVC, and resources for finding PVC-free products.
    • PVC: The Poison Plastic The Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products
    • My House Is Your House - Blue Vinyl, a film that explores and exposes the toxic lifecycle of PVC plastic.
  • Phthalates - A group of "plasticizers" that are commonly added to make plastics flexible or to stabilize fragrances in skin care products. They have been shown to cause endocrine disruption, cancer, and other major health problems.
    • Phthalates - Environmental Working Group article with links to current research and news.
    • Babies Absorb Pthalates From Baby Products - A new study suggests that baby lotion, baby powder, and baby shampoo may be exposing babies to potentially harmful chemicals called phthalates.

Consumerism

  • Story of Stuff - From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Herbs for Pregnancy/Nursing/Babies

  • Recommended Reading:
    • Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal by Rosemary Gladstar - One of my favorite herbals. Very simple  and safe recipes with common herbs for everyone from babies to adults. 
    • The Nursing Mother's Herbal by Sheila Humphrey - The most extensive list of herbs and their safety for breastfeeding.

Homemade Baby Food

  • Wholesome Baby Food - Lots of information on making your own baby food, introducing foods, solids and weaning. Wonderful free recipes.

Recommended DVD's

  • The Business of Being Born - A documentary by Ricki Lake on the birthing business in the U.S.
  • Food, Inc. - 2009 - A very well done film covering all the major issues regarding our mass food production in the U.S. A must see!
  • The Future of Food - An in-depth look at the controversy over genetically modified food.
  • Shoot 'Em Up - A documentary on vaccinations.
  • Blue Vinyl - A film that explores and exposes the toxic lifecycle of PVC plastic.
  • Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World - This documentary attempts to look at what is definitively known about aspartame and aspartame toxicity.

 

 Topics Coming...

Fire Retardant Chemicals (PBDEs)

  • "Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns" - A benchmark investigation of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides in umbilical cord blood.


  • Recommended Books

    All links, articles and recommendations are for the sole purpose of providing information. This is by no means a comprehensive list of resources.

    Please do your own "research" on topics of interest to you, and make your own decisions about your family, health care, nutrition and lifestyle.

    Cheers for informed parenting!