Going Green in Tennessee

We make every attempt to live a "green" lifestyle. We recycle just about everything, yes even toilet paper rolls. We almost always take our reusable bags with us whenever / wherever we go shopping. Those bags are not just for the grocery store, use them at target, the mall, and the Farmers Market. Going green can be done in baby steps. Here are some easy changes you can make.

1) BYOB - Bring your own bag! Keep one or two in your car so their handy.
2)Phase out your light bulbs as they require replacement go to the energy efficient bulbs.
3) Ask your favorite take out place to switch to cardboard to go boxes instead of Styrofoam
4)buy one rain barrel a year. We found ours at Sam's club for $80! These are simple to install, and are perfect for watering your garden, or indoor plants.
5) Shop at your local Farmers Market. They have a great selection of fresh fruits, veggies, bread, eggs, and meats. It makes for a fun morning outing for the whole family, supports your community, and is a healthier option for you and our planet.
6) Shop local. Buying from local vendors cuts back on fuel emissions required to have items shipped when buying online, supports your local economy,and builds community ties.
7) Buy American made. This will create more jobs for our country while cutting back on fuel to have things imported.
8) I am happy to say that Franklin (and many surrounding cities) now has recycle programs in force, use them! It's easy just drop recyclable items into the blue bag, or recycle bin provided.
9) Have a clothes swap party with your friends. Invite your friends to bring their gently used clothes and make a ladies night out of it. What a great way to visit with friends while picking up some new to you outfits!
10) Use reusable snack bags.
11) Cloth diaper your babies (you saw that coming from me didn't you?). Cloth diapers are the only sustainable option in diapering our children. Reduce, reuse, cloth diaper!
12) Read labels. If it's food and you can't pronounce the ingredients don't buy it. Look for made in the USA products.
13) Buy bamboo products. Bamboo is a quickly grown and requires less water and pesticides to grow. It is friendly to our Earth.
14) Consume less. Think before you buy, do you NEED it, is it recyclable, where was it made, does it serve a true purpose? Mindful shopping will help your wallet, and our planet!

Most of all don't feel overwhelmed. Every little bit helps. If everyone made small changes to our lifestyles we can make the change our Earth needs.

Now I challenge you all to not just talk about it, be about it. Be the change you want to see in our world.

Wishing you a joy filled, green day,

Marie M. Sawyer
www.greenpixiebaby.com

Article in the Franklin Life Magazine

By LEAH DENNISON
Staff Reporter
ldennison@c-dh.net

Some women take a break from work after they have kids. When mother of four Marie Sawyer had her youngest daughter, she started her own business. Her incentive was green-but it wasn’t money.


Marie Sawyer encourages parents to go green by using cloth diapers.
Photos by Leah Dennison



Sawyer’s company Green Pixie Baby specializes in “green” parenting supplies, including cloth diapers, bamboo clothing, natural wooden toys made with toxin-free oils, cloth diaper cleaning tools, organic baby washes and bubble baths, locally handmade baby mobiles, alternative plant-based laundry detergent, and reusable multi-compartment lunchboxes-of which, Sawyer pointed out, Green Pixie Baby is the first retail carrier in Tennessee. Sawyer-who holds a full time job besides-spends her lunch breaks at The Shop Around the Corner, 117 North 3rd Avenue in Franklin, selling her products and offering consultations and demonstrations to families interested in cloth diapering.

19-month-old Lilliana, Sawyer’s youngest daughter, is “our mascot and our model,” she said. “We try everything out on her first,” before they decide whether to carry it.

Sawyer’s family had “gone green” already by recycling and reducing their water usage, so when Lilliana was born, Sawyer said they decided to incorporate their green lifestyle into caring for their family’s newest addition.

Sawyer said she tries to supply and support American and local products as much as possible. Green Pixie Baby’s products are available on their website at greenpixiebaby.com, and at their retail space in The Shop Around the Corner. Sawyer also has limited-stock locations in Murfreesboro and Spring Hill, to which she can deliver items for pickup.

Cloth diapering benefits babies, the environment, and family finances, Sawyer said.

According to the Real Diaper Association (www.realdiaperassociation.org), which Sawyer recommends as a great resource for parents, babies who are diapered in breathable cloth are much less likely to develop diaper rash, which is often caused by trapped moisture.

The RDA reports that disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and make up 50% of a family’s household waste. 92% of disposable diapers end up in a landfill, and according to the RDA, most are still there-it is estimated that they take from 250-500 years to decompose.

While cloth diapering does require an initial investment, advocates say that in the long run, it is less expensive than using disposable diapers. Sawyer suggests a “start-up kit” of 24 cloth diapers for one child.

“That will have you doing laundry every 2-3 days, instead of constantly,” she said. Cloth diapers can cost $10 to $30 apiece, but the average family spends nearly $1500 per year, per diapered baby on disposables.

Savings are even better with families who reuse the cloth diapers for multiple children. Plus, Sawyer said, used cloth diapers still have resale value on craigslist and ebay.

It might seem like a conflict of interest for Sawyer to point out her products’ reusability and resale value, but advocating cloth diapers is more about passion than a plump paycheck.

“I don’t make a whole lot of money doing this,” said Sawyer, “I do it because I want the best for my children and for our Earth.”

Green Pixie Baby will participate in the Green Living Expo, held Saturday, August 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Factory at Franklin. Their booth will feature a “take one, leave one” basket for the free exchange of gently used cloth diapers

The Living Green Expo

The Living Green Expo will be held August 28, 2010 at the Factory At Franklin, 230 Franklin Road, from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Please come visit Green Pixie Baby's booth and the many other green business leaders, learn at the workshops, and register for the many door prizes.

We will be donating a prize for the door prize drawings and we will also be drawing a name from guests who stop by our booth to win a free Knickernappies onesize diaper!

We also hope to have a leave one / take one basket set up for a free gently used diaper swap. So, bring your diapers that you want to swap.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Also if you haven't made it by our space within The Shop Around the Corner yet now is a good time to check us out. We are stocked on diapers, and green parenting items and specialize in American Made children products. We are located at 117 Third Avenue North Franklin, TN 37064.

We always appreciate your feed back so let us know what's on your mind.

Wishing you a joy filled day,

Marie M. Sawyer
www.greenpixiebaby.com