How much food does your family throw away?
Each American throws away approximately one pound of food per day, yet food donations are down more than 9%. What gives? Take time to talk with your kids about conserving food today. Instead of tossing their leftovers into the trash, save them for the next meal. Be proactive as a family by being conscious shoppers. Plan meals in advance and only buy what you need for the week. Cook foods before they go bad and store them appropriately. And, remember the items you can compost. Then, look at how you can help your local food bank with those donations.
- Michelle Andrade (Originally Posted June 6, 2008 )
It's easy to not buy stuff.
We used to think that if something was free, then it must have something wrong with it, but that’s no longer the case. Organizations such as Freecycle(TM) seek to keep us in the mindset of reusing. You’ve heard that “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” so why not put that into action? When you’re out looking for your newest “treasure,” see if you can get it (re)used instead. When we really need something we can look for something someone else no longer needs instead of buying brand new. By doing so, we expand the life of each product.
- Michelle Andrade (Originally Posted 6/11/2008 )
Be prepared for summer emergencies.
Every year when winter rolls around, my dad lectures me about the importance of carrying around warm winter blankets and boots or other heavy shoes in my car “just in case.” And he’s right: it’s not a bad idea at all to be prepared for emergencies. So I always make sure I have a warm blanket tucked into the trunk, along with my jumper cables, canvas shopping bags and flat tire kit. (I always keep an extra pair of shoes in my trunk.
But it’s also a good idea to make sure you’re prepared for summer, too. You may not need that warm blanket in your car for awhile, but it’s a good idea to put these things in your car, just in case: a gallon or two of water, a window shade, a small cooler and extra sunscreen. I usually throw in some fun stuff, too, for non-emergencies, like a ball, a picnic blanket and a bottle of bubbles. And I try to keep some extra supplies for my young son, too, like spare clothes and shoes and snacks.
What do you keep in your car for summer emergencies?
- Jennifer Larson
Talk about road safety with your children.
One of the first things I notice once school is out is the difference in traffic around town. The ability to get to my destination faster once the school children aren’t taking up as much road is great, but I also need to keep in mind that this doesn’t mean I can relax my attention while driving.
Now the children are out and about instead of confined to classrooms. It’s important to pay close attention when driving through residential areas, adhering to the speed limit and hanging up the cell phone. Most children are impulsive and don’t have a good sense of danger. A ball rolling out into a road is likely to be chased by a playing child. Add to this a distracted driver and serious injury could result.
My children love to play outside and the older ones run the neighborhood with great abandon. Now is the time to have a talk with them about road safety and to remind them to stay out of the street unless necessary. I make sure they know to always look both ways for themselves and to not just follow others without first making sure no cars are traveling toward them. We also once again go over appropriate hand signals to use while bike riding.
Take some time this week to remind your children to be aware of their surroundings when playing outside, and be vigilant yourselves while driving through neighborhood areas.
- Amy Hamiter
Make sure you follow these summertime rules.
When the sun starts shining and the temperature begins to rise, we all inevitably head to the pool or the beach at some point. When you do, make sure to be safe and smart.
Here are some important tips to remember:
- Always wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is not just about SPF. Make sure you choose cool sunscreen that’s also good to the Earth.
- Protect their little eyes with protective eye-wear.
- Remind kids not to run.
- Never leave children alone by the pool – even it it’s only for a moment.
Let us know your safety tips.
- Michelle Andrade (Originally posted 6/9/2008 )
Make a furry friend.
Looking for a way to keep the mind limber this summer? Or just this weekend?
Introduce yourself to an animal. Maybe you’ve already got a cat or tortoise at home. Great. While we’re not asking you to take in a platypus or adopt a Vancouver Island marmot, perhaps you could plan a trip to the zoo or your local aquarium. Or, you could simply learn a new fact about an endangered species or ways to help protect wild animals. And if you committed to learning one new animal fact a day? Well, that should certainly stir up some gnus.
- Sam Davidson (Originally posted 5/29/2008 )
2009 National AMBER Ready Child Safety Tour
The 2009 National AMBER Ready Child Safety Tour is coming to Middle Tennessee on June 3, 2009.
AMBER Ready is inviting parents, caregivers, child safety advocates, local law enforcement and community leaders to attend a FREE Child Safety seminar to learn about new child safety initiatives, strategies, tools and resources available to keep your child safe in the Internet age, and see how the AMBER Ready program works.
Hear from Internet safety and child safety expert Suzanne Stanford, law enforcement, local officials and the AMBER Ready team.
Location: Franklin Marriott – Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37067
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2009
6 p.m. – Registration opens
7 to 9 p.m. – AMBER Ready Child Safety Night
(FREE dinner will be provided.)
Admission is free.
To reserve a space, please
R.S.V.P. to (866) 861-5221 by May 29.
- Malinda Moseley
Where can you create a space for your child to escape to?
If you’ve ever observed toddlers for a day, you’ll discover that they love hidden spaces. My little ones seem to gravitate toward nooks and crannies, taking their toys into these homemade “caves” and playing contently by themselves for long stretches of time. I’ve noticed when they emerge, they seem recharged and ready to join the group again.
Just like adults, children need time to themselves and a space to call their own. Look around your home and see where you can create a space for your child to escape to every once in a while. Young children still like to feel your presence and know that you aren’t far away, so this space should be easily accessible to the heart of the home, yet tucked away enough so that your child can have some much needed alone time. It doesn’t have to be large…in fact, a kitchen cabinet with the door removed might be the ideal size for your toddler’s getaway. You can make the space comfortable by adding pillows and blankets and even stocking it with some special quiet time toys like puzzles or finger puppets.
During our busy and hectic lives, keep in mind that everyone, young and old, needs a time and place to relax and recharge their batteries.
- Amy Hamiter
Support a local CSA.
Downstairs in my kitchen, I have a bowl of a variety of different lettuces waiting to be made into a giant salad. In the fridge, I have some fresh strawberries, just waiting to perk up my breakfast cereal. That fresh produce came from my new weekly CSA share, and it is good stuff.
Many of you already know that CSA stands for Community Sponsored Agriculture, and you know that people buy weekly shares from CSA farms as a way to incorporate more healthy food into your diet, while also supporting local growers. You already know all the other benefits too: fresher food, supporting sustainable agricultural practices, etc.
But maybe you just haven’t gotten around to committing to one yet. It’s mid-to-late May, and now you’re worried that it’s too late. Don’t worry. It’s not too late! Check out the blog The Future of Food in Nashville, Tennessee for a list of all the area CSAs that you can choose from. The blog also lists delivery locations and pick-up times so you can pick one that is most convenient for your household. This year, my family chose to support Avalon Acres Farms, but there are also many other great options.
You don’t have to commit to a full weekly share, either. Some farms offer you the opportunity to order a half-share. Or you can split one with a friend, if you want to just dip your toes in the water first.
- Jennifer Larson
