As the resident green enthusiast at my church and son’s school, I am excited to help organize this year’s Halloween “Trunk or Treat” for White Rock UMC and the Discovery Center.  This year we’re adding a dose of earth-friendly education to make our mission even more relevant.  I signed us up for Green Halloween®, a non-profit, grassroots initiative created by the fabulous mother-daughter team Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson. 

When I told everyone that we were going to make our Halloween healthier and more earth-friendly, they didn’t take it as hard as I had feared.  In fact, they were pretty excited, but had questions.  How exactly do we “green” our Halloween?  I explained that we’re already following the basics of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” but a healthy planet doesn’t mean much without healthy kids to enjoy it.  Here are a few of the spooky statistics that are fueling my desire to improve the way we celebrate Halloween:

• This generation of kids has a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
• 1 in 3 children born today will develop diabetes.
• One-third of America’s children are overweight; 17% are considered obese.
• Over 6,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the processed-food industry.
• A 2004 study found that children’s behavior measurably improved after a one-week diet without preservatives and artificial colors and dramatically worsened on the weeks they were given preservatives and artificial colors.

We are what we eat (I guess Grandma was right after all).  But how do we stop the madness without putting a damper on our kids’ Halloween?  Objectively speaking, our kids follow the traditions that we create for them, so the great news is that simple behavioral changes on our parts can help us easily reframe the way they experience the fun.  The folks at Green Halloween suggest this strategy: Fill a bowl with a variety of great choices, whether sweets or "treasures" like sparkly stones, feathers (yes, kids love these), hair decorations, temporary tatoos, stickers etc.  Cover the bowl with a cloth. When the children come to the door, get down to their level and whisper, "At our house, we have some very, very special treats and treasures.  You may now choose your favorite."  Then with a flourish, whip off the cloth and let them sift.  Compliment them on their choice afterwards.

With fall coming, I'm getting the itch to get back to gardening. I say this like I am good at it (I'm not).  I cherish the beauty of nature, but I'm not that outdoorsy. I dislike dirt and insects - except spiders, only because they remind me of Charlotte's Web.   So take it from me: you don't need a green thumb to enjoy delicious homegrown produce.  Now is the time to start planning for your fall or winter vegetable garden. 

With the help of Tom Henderson, owner of Downing Hill, I've compiled five fuss-free tips to help get you started:

Has the sport of kings finally come down to earth? Long considered a pastime for elites, the centuries-old game of polo is made accessible and fun at Prestonwood Polo & Country Club.  In tribute to mother Earth, the club hosted its 2^nd annual Polo for the Planet on June 5^th, a family-friendly, picnic-style community celebration.   Judging by this event’s popularity, polo’s panache seems to add just the sort of luster that the green movement has been longing for.

The brainchild of polo club owners Dena and Vaughn Miller, Polo for the Planet gives green business owners, aka “ecopreneurs”, a way to sell their wares and spread the green gospel against a backdrop of grassy fields and galloping horses. The Green Market was assembled by this year’s event chair Debora Annino, the creative director of dNh Do No Harm medical scrubs: high-quality, sustainable apparel for use in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and spas.  Green Market vendors in attendance and/or donating to the gift bags included: Anna Sova home, Avon Liv Botanicals, A.L.A.R.M women’s products, dNH Do No Harm, Dixie Piece Goods, EarthPeople, Earth on a Shoestring, GreenPet, Make Love Not Trash, Moss Gatherers, Nordstrom Galleria Beauty, Pure Dental, Rehoboth Ranch, Sila’s Soup, Susan’s Soaps & More, Texas Discovery Gardens, and The Spa at The Whole Foods Market.

Meet my new best friend.  No, it’s not Evan Wyly, the Chairman of the Board of Green Mountain Energy (although he’s a very nice guy).  It’s his car: the incomparable Tesla Roadster.  Although my affair with this car was short-lived, I still can’t shake the memory (alas, my ’98 Toyota 4-Runner just doesn’t look the same).  But don’t go thinking I’m shallow.  Let me assure you, this isn’t about looks; it’s what inside that counts.  Or in this case, what’s under the hood: an all-electric motor. 

I’ve been looking at EVs for the past year.  Thanks to my client Evatran, the manufacturers of Plugless Power, the world’s first cordless electric vehicle charging infrastructure, I was treated to a ride in BMW’s Electric Mini-E.  No golf cart, this chic battery-powered, 2-seater sports car has helped advance the technology and build a market capable of taking the electric vehicle mainstream.  Indeed, Nissan’s Leaf and GM’s Volt wouldn’t be possible without the pioneers that came before them. But the Tesla is in a league of its own.  Driven by the likes of George Clooney, the Roadster is the electric car of the stars. 

Influence. It’s the secret that sets the leaders apart from the doers. It’s the ingredient that turns ideas into action. It’s that je ne sais quoi that separates the tastemakers from the followers. And it’s the reason why you may not be making the difference you could be.

Do you want to create a sea change but find yourself stuck in the shallow end? Do you have a big vision but keep falling down on execution? Getting heard requires more than high ideals, good ideas or even cold hard cash. It requires influence. Here’s the good news. Influence can be learned. This I know from experience. When I started the trek from eco-activist to ecopreneur and author, I had to start from scratch. I had no platform, no environmentally-based education, no sustainability-specific experience, no green credentials and no real contacts to speak of. Or so I thought. Only after spending the past four years studying the most successful leaders in the world did I come to realize that I had everything I needed to make a unique contribution. And so do you. 

Here are six simple steps that I’ve observed for gaining the influence to get your green plan off the ground. But “simple” doesn’t always mean easy. Then again, who ever said that changing the world would be?

Last weekend I went shopping for a new dress.  Having taken a break from buying clothes for a few years while sharpening my eco-intelligence, I had a reasonable (or so I thought) expectation that my first shopping spree of 2010 would yield some great green finds.  Imagining the perfect garment, I set out for something sewn from organic fiber, preferably “Made in the USA” in an energy efficient factory (or if made elsewhere, then at least by happy, well-paid employees). I wanted a sophisticated silhouette with a timeless design and quality construction – all at an affordable price.  After scouring on foot and online, I’m here to report that this idealized ensemble does not exist, at least not anywhere I've found.   

Thanks to directories like EcoFashionWorld.com, you can find loads of talented designers whose fabulous creations are ethical or sustainable. Still, even in 2010, shopping for eco-friendly fashion is a challenge unless you have a lot of money to spend, an adventurous spirit and/or a taste for the relaxed or unusual styles typically created from eco-conscious designers. 

Can green living save you money and make you healthy?  Absolutely.  Without a doubt, I can vouch that living a little lighter on the planet can be easy, fun and fruitful.  But there are still times when it feels like sacrifice.  For example, I was dining at a favorite restaurant last week.  I considered the lasagna but went for the eggplant parmigiana instead. Pleased with myself for selecting a vegetarian option, I proudly announced to my dining companions, "Did you know that if we Americans ate just 10 percent less meat, there would be enough grain left over to feed 60 million people?" Julie and Nancy sort of looked at me like, "Where did THAT come from?" I continued, "And look at you two eating your salads. Way to make a difference!"  This was apparently too big a leap for Julie. "Are you actually saying," she exclaimed, "that by not eating meat today, we are helping solve world hunger?"  Laughing, I said, "Well, it's a bit idealistic, but sure."  The whole thing launched a pretty interesting exploration of the different perspectives that liberals and conservatives (I hate those labels) have on the green movement.  We made pretty good progress though. By the end of our lunch, Nancy said, "Anna, the way you describe 'green' sounds like nothing more than the Golden Rule.  Share your resources with others as you would want them to share with you."  I think Nancy really nailed it. 

By eating salads instead of steak, whether intended or not, you are "thinking globally and acting locally."  In short, you may be greener than you think.  I don't know how many small acts it takes to reach a tipping point, but change has to start somewhere. I can't go to Africa tomorrow with a bagful of food, but today I can make the choice to eat a little less meat to save a little more grain so that somebody, somewhere might benefit.  If enough of us did that, we could feed the world.  I was thinking about this when a friend from church sent me this story:

I can’t believe the most wonderful time of year is already back again. Déjà vu came over me yesterday as we unpacked our Christmas decorations and loaded the kids in the car to go tree shopping. It’s now been a full day since we put up the tree and I’m only now pondering the “greenness” of our shopping spree. Why didn’t I stop to think of the environmental sensibility (if any) of buying a fake tree instead? The truth? I really wanted a real one. And when it comes to Christmas, tradition trumps change.

Thinking about it now, if I had to weigh the environmental benefits of the genuine fir over the artificial tree, I recognize that buying a real tree supports American agriculture, boosts the local economy each year, and saves emissions in transportation, as Michigan is much closer to Texas than China. Besides, real trees just smell so good. Much better than breathing in PVC fumes from plastic. Am I kidding myself, or is there some environmental benefit to artificial trees that I’m not aware of? I did a bit of research to find out. According to an independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, an artificial tree is much harder on the planet.  It would need to be kept for at least 20 years to be equivalent in environmental impact to the natural tree (or in this case 20 natural trees).  Most people keep their artificial trees for only six years.  Environmental concerns regarding artificial trees include health and manufacturing issues such as:

Writing for different outlets can be like carrying on a one-sided conversation. Don't get me wrong, I like what I have to say, especially when I'm being optimistic and cheery about the beauty of green living. But let's face it, green living (as with life) is not always an easy road.  It's a lot more fun to travel it with some companions.  

This blog is a rallying point for companionship and sharing as we experience the ups and downs of life in the green lane. Are you struggling to find your voice or to help make the earth a healthier, happier place?  Are you looking for a way to contribute to your kids or community?  Are you looking for a way to get quiet enough to hear or see the spiritual side of life?  I was, and still am.  So far, the ticket for me has been sustainability.