Green Daily

Thanks to a new certification program, consumers now have greater access to fresh cut flowers and potted plants that are guaranteed organic, according to www.thedailygreen.com.

When you see the "VeriFlora™ Certified Sustainably Grown" label on a bouquet, that means its contents been produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

There may be a tendency to buy organic only when we plan to ingest the product. But chemicals commonly used in flower production have been linked to health problems for workers who handle them.

VeriFlora standards also demand that flower growers conserve water, protect local ecosystems, recycle and comply with labor standards. And on a practical level, it establishes guidelines for retailers, shippers and growers to ensure the quality of the flowers - and a longer lifespan in the vase.

Could mean good business for retailers, too; the demand for blossoms is soaring, growing by 50% between 2004 and 2005.

[via www.thedailygreen.com]

Shocking article on CNN regarding the levels of chemicals accumulating in children's bodies, as measured by "body burden" testing.

In 2004, the Hollands were the first entire family in the U.S. to undergo body burden testing. The Holland family underwent this test for flame retardants knowns as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) and found that their 18-month-old son had levels two to three times higher than the level that is known to cause thyroid dysfunction in rats. Michelle Holland has since become an activist on the issue, testifying twice in the California legislature in support of a statewide body burden testing program. The bill passed last year.

Many countries have already banned PDBEs included Sweden, followed by most of the European Union. In the U.S., the sole manufacturer voluntarily stopped producing two types of PBDEs but a third type is still used in many products including mattresses.

Scary, scary stuff.

I can speak from experience when I say that becoming pregnant and giving birth makes a woman re-think everything that passes her lips. This does not mean that this pregnant woman did not eat entirely too many Pringles yesterday but I did try to balance them out with some rBGH-free milk and an organic apple.

Since having my first child, I've become more concerned about the foods that come into our home. Not only am I thinking about our health but also what I hope to teach my children about living well.