Something stinks in my yard

Chuck and I have been composting for about a year now. We just throw all our raw veggie and fruit scraps and eggshells into a plastic bin with a lid.

Now that it's been consistently hot for several months, our compost stinks.

We can't use worms because it's too hot. I threw a "compostable" diaper insert in there a few months ago and I wonder if that is the cause of our smell, or maybe it's the new paper plates that you can supposedly compost. (Someone brought them over with food already on them, I NEVER buy paper plates) It could be that we don't know what we are doing and plastic bins are a bad choice.

Whatever the cause, I now have compost soup and it stinks.

Chuck and the kids planted last month. Chuck is not one to waste anything, so he took our compost soup and added it to the soil and planted herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Our yard smelled like a sewage plant for days.

Imagine my surprise today when I looked at these poor plants planted in soupy slime and they are not only thriving, they are overcrowded and need to be thinned out.

I really don't know how or why, but for some reason, our backyard plants love compost soup.

There has got to be a less smelly way to grow plants.

Why Made in the USA?

When Melissa and I started Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, one of our most important values was that all our products are made in the USA. Not only do want to support our stagnant economy but we believe that in order to be truly eco-friendly, we have to do our best to conserve resources. Even though it is significantly less expensive to manufacture overseas, the waste of fuel is considerable.

I wonder why it is that our laws promote economic growth for other countries and leave the USA in the dust. According to a 2006 government report, many U.S. companies, cloth diaper companies included, employ hundreds of workers overseas which obviously means more economic growth for other countries and less for the USA. Companies have nearly $500 billion stashed abroad that can be taxed here at home. That blows my mind.

While politicians would have you believe that they are going to do something about American companies producing overseas, our tax code actually rewards overseas companies.

““The U.S. tax code is set up so that if I am a U.S. corporation trying to create jobs in Ohio or Ireland, it will point me towards Ireland.”

Says Martin Sullivan, a contributing editor at Tax Analysts.

This is so frustrating for companies like ours who are trying to make an exceptional product domestically. I assume, (yes I know what happens when you assume things), that it is also troublesome for other U.S. manufacturers who cannot compete financially with foreign manufacturers.

Melissa and I are dedicated to producing LolliDoo® Diapers, and product lines entirely in the USA. That means that the fabrics, sewing, labels and notions are made in the USA. Even the PET bottles that are recycled and used in the Ecospun® are domestic.

What does that mean for the consumer?

It means that LolliDoo® will never be a bargain brand. It means that they can be confident in the knowledge that no human rights were violated in the production of their diaper; all contractors are paid a fair wage. It also means that there is less fuel wasted on the transport of LolliDoo® Diapers, so they are helping conserve virgin resources.

Purchasing a LolliDoo® Diaper and accessories means that the consumer can feel confident that they are investing in an environmentally friendly, economically stimulating product that surpasses the average in that it’s handcrafted, made in the USA, recycled and recyclable.

LolliDoo® Be part of the solution, right from the very beginning.

Melissa's well articlualted take on Vegas

If you want full details of the LolliDoo(R) launch, read Melissa's blog:

http://earthlovindiapermama.blogspot.com/

Photos from the ABC Kids EXPO

Mel and I entertaining the babies out in the hall while the guys set up our booth.

Time for Miss Melody to nurse

Talia showing off her Peace~Love~LolliDoo shirt

Still waiting for our husbands to finish setting the booth up. It seems like we did a lot of waiting that day.
Here is Melissa sewing the labels on the diapers the night before the Expo, while we watched Baby Mama. The guys were getting in some grown up time before they had baby duty for the next week straight.

Finishing a few last minute things.

WOOHOO! Here we are at our first day of the LolliDoo launch. We were very well received and met so many wonderful people. It's so nice to be able to put a face to a name. The cloth diapering mama's went gaga over the laundry loops and the environmentalists loved that LolliDoo is a sustainable diaper.

While we were at the launch, the husbands took the babies all over Las Vegas.

This is Melissa's husband, Carl. I think they are at the Mirage.

Melody and Talia played so well together. Here they are waiting for us to finish the Read Diaper Industry Association meeting. How cool is it that the cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers are banning together to form an association? I have chills.

Melissa and Carl's 3 year old son Skylar needed them to come home, so off they went. Here we all are saying goodbye. Carl, Me, Talia, Melissa slinging Melody and Chuck. I held my tears until we got in the car. Chuck really missed Carl too.

The last day of the show Talia and Chuck helped me.

But she was tired and decided to nap on Daddy.

The show is over, we are here at 10pm tearing down the booth. Yawn...

We are back

The launch was amazingly well recieved! After I finish checking my 1986 emails, I will post details and photos.

Loves!

And we're off!

I can't believe that it's September 5th already! We are going to Vegas today for our LolliDoo launch! We will hear if we won the JPMA Innovation Award on Sunday. Cross your fingers for us!

I won't have my computer, so check Melissa's blog for updates. http://earthlovindiapermama.blogspot.com/


Thanks for all your support!

I put my kid in chemical clothes

Zoe, my 3 year old, is in love with the Jonas Brothers. Too young for a crush, I agree, but it is what it is. We were at Target today picking up some last minute things for our Vegas trip on Friday. I told Zoe she could pick out some new pajamas. Miss Nudie Booty normally doesn't wear any but it's going to be getting colder soon. This story has a point, stick with me for another minute.

So, Zoe spots Camp Rock pajamas. For anyone who doesn't know, Camp Rock is the latest Disney musical. Of course Zoe wants the Camp Rock Pajamas and after looking at the price tag I said, "Sure honey".

So I get home and Chuck asks me what the pajamas were made of, der, I didn't even think to look; 100% polyester, made in China and flame retardant.

Of course I had to do some research on flame resistant sleepwear. Apparently
nylon or acetate treated with fire retardants top the list of toxic sleepwear according to the National Geographics's Green Guide but Polyester is second.

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

Then I found this at parents.berkley.edu:

The Environment Working Group has done a comprehensive study of flame retardants and their toxicity including cancer, info of on-going litigation, and pending restricted use policy by US EPA. See their website for full details: www.ewg.org/reports/PFCworld/ Calpirg, or now called Environment California also has good info at: www.environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalif.asp?id2=8875 In summary, US EPA announced that it will be studying a chemical ubiquitous in consumer products, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA to assess the toxicity in people (now found in surprising levels of over 90% of population in the U.S and found to have contaminated wildlife at almost every site tested even thousands of miles from industry due to drift) and develop restrictions.

I wonder if I can hide them, maybe she'll forget about it. Doubtful.

How can I model healthy behavior and habits for my children when I am more concerned with a price tag?

Ick.

I am not happy with myself.