kudos
ecotip
Eco-Toy Story Safe, Fun Gifts for Kids
S
t. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, has recently completed implemen- tation of solar panels on its 40 acres of college-owned land. The college’s solar subscriptions, combined with the energy generated by its wind turbine, will enable them to achieve 100 per- cent carbon-free electrical power. In addition to the solar project on college land, St. Olaf is subscribing to 21 other community solar gardens in nearby communities, including Northfield, Farmington, Rosemount and Claremont. “We are one of the largest com- munity solar garden subscribers and the largest Windsource customer in the state,” says St. Olaf Assistant Vice President for Facilities, Pete Sandberg. “With all of that in play, carbon per student is 47 percent less than it was in 2001. That’s one of the lowest numbers of any campus in the country.” To further its commitment to green
energy, St. Olaf matched its community solar garden subscriptions with a com- mitment to Xcel Energy’s Windsource program, which draws 100 percent of its energy from Minnesota wind farms.
Sources:
StarTribune.com and
StOlaf.edu
During the holiday gift buy- ing season, it’s good to recall the days of old-fashioned toys. Simple, wooden toys made with non-toxic paints are far safer than those sprayed with varnishes and paints containing lead and vola- tile organic compounds. Plastics can emit unhealthy
chemicals used during manu- facturing, which also produces environmental pollution. Pieces can
break off, possibly injuring soft skin, or be consumed by toddlers with dangerous results. A recent report by Environment California, a research and policy center, found that products designed for babies and young children, such as soft plas- tic teethers, bath accessories and others, contain phthalates. Many toys require batteries containing heavy metals like mercury and cadmium.
ChasingGreen.org recommends eco-conscious makers of toys available
at
GreatGreenBaby.com, including organic cotton stuffed animals; BabyBunz. com, featuring sustainably harvested cherry wood rattles and organic Egyptian cotton animals; and
GreenToys.com, with play meal cookware and serving pieces made from bioplastic, consisting of a corn and starch resin. Here are other factors to consider. Educational toys can “enhance language, conceptual understanding and numerical and spatial cognition,” according to a study in the journal Mind, Brain and Education. Six-to-8-year-olds can gain an appreciation for archaeology play- ing with Smithsonian toys available at Barnes & Noble and
BarnesAndNoble.com.
PristinePlanet.com sells wood puzzles, solar-powered robots and board games from the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy. The Discovery Channel Store has safe toys and books for kids. Follow age guidelines in choosing gifts, advises Steve Pasierb, president and
CEO of the Toy Industry Association. “Age-grading has nothing to do with how smart a child is—it’s based on the developmental skills and abilities at a given age and the specific features of a toy.” Practice conservation while saving money by canvassing thrift and consign- ment shops for classic card and board games.
Learn How to Dowse To register:
www.ConsciousLifeResources.com/events/
Check out my website for new classes in 2017!
10 Twin Cities Edition
NaturalTwinCities.com
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Shutterstock.com
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