"Silver" Fillings...Learn About those Toxic Mercury Fillings in YOUR Mouth!

Do you have "silver" fillings in your mouth? I know I do. I have considered having them removed, but this is a costly and potentially dangerous procedure if not done by a very highly-trained individual. Did you know that these amalgam/silver fillings contain mercury? Very scary stuff!

Learn more here:

You can find a mercury-free dentist who can help you remove those toxic fillings HERE. 

Let's Be Green! Please join us for a Multi-Family Yard Sale!

Well, it's been quite some time since I posted. Life has been hectic (as always)!

In the spirit of all things "green" we are hosting a multi-family yard sale on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th from 8:30 to 4:30 (each day)!  We plan to reduce and recycle over these two days and with the proceeds have some much-needed new windows installed in our home which was built in the 1850's. We have to contend with lead paint remediation due to the age of the house so it's quite an undertaking -- best left to professionals.  Our sweet little baby girl (who is currently 19 months old) has slightly elevated lead levels as a result of dust particles floating around our house due to chipping paint around the window sills.

Right before our six-year-old son was born we painted virtually every surface in the house with fresh, low-VOC paint, but apparently over time small chips have stirred up lead dust.  If  you're faced with the same issue or would like some helpful information about how to properly deal with lead paint in your home, this FAQ should help.

In the meantime, please join us at our YARD SALE and spread the word! Thanks! We hope to see you on the 18th or 19th -- let's make some deals! Please consider using Garage Sales By Map when advertising your next garage/yard sale.

Here's a preview of some of the items that will be for sale:

Cold and Flu Remedies for Infants and Children at Isthmus Acupuncture Center (12/7)

In case you missed our recent event at "Childish" in Lodi which featured a presented by Megan Dettloff-Meyer from Isthmus Acupuncture (much gratitude to her once again for all of the useful information she shared) you'll be pleased to know she will be giving a similar workshop at Isthmus Acupuncture next month!

Here are the details: 

Cold and Flu Remedies for Infants and Children at Isthmus Acupuncture Center 

Learn natural remedies to prevent the common cold and flu by boosting the immune system.

Learn holistic therapies to employ at the onset of cold or flu symptoms to naturally and effectively ward off pathogens.

Natural remedies we will cover include:

• Pediatric massage
• Acupressure
• Young Living essential oils
• Herbal remedies
• Recipes for healthy eating

Saturday, December 7th; 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Isthmus Acupuncture, 890 W. Wingra Dr., Madison, WI

Cost is $15. RSVP HERE.

RSVP for our upcoming meeting featuring a special presentation by Megan Detloff-Meyer of Isthmus Acupuncture: "Essential Oils to Boost Your Immune System this Cold and Flu Season"

Are you interested in learning more about natural ways to avoid colds and the flu this winter?  Perhaps you are concerned about having an annual flu shot? Would you like to meet new folks in the Lodi area? 

RSVP for this special event HERE!
Thank you to Childish, a new boutique and consignment shop in Lodi, for hosting this special presentation! And of course, many thanks to Megan Dettloff-Meyer of Isthmus Acupuncture for sharing her expertise!

Lots of Exciting Ideas are Percolating!!!

Wow! Lots of exciting ideas are percolating for meeting topics and collaboration in the community!  Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Jen Abangan who recently opened the shop "Childish" in downtown Lodi (formerly occupied by Smitten).  Her store sells gently used kids clothing (I found a really cool knight costume for my son) and toys, as well as new items.  She has a back room where she will host arts and crafts workshops, family game nights, etc.  The space is very kid-friendly! Adjacent to the meeting/event space is a small room all decked out with toys, a t.v. for movies and other goodies so the kiddos can have fun while the parent's engage in a workshop.  Very exciting to have a business like this in our small town!

Last Sunday I attended a workshop at the Ironstone Nest in Sun Prairie with my Mom. We learned all about Milk Paint which is an all-natural, non-toxic powdered paint that mixes with water! You can use it to paint many different finishes including giving things a distressed, old world look (that is what we learned how to do).  O.k., it's non-toxic, very economical because you only have to mix what you need for a specific project, the colors are gorgeous, oh, did I mention that you can get right in our area? You can order direct from the shop's owner, Laura, or stop by her beautiful workshop if you're in Sun Prairie.

What else?? Amy Urbanek, who lives in the area and gave a presentation on making quick, easy and healthy snacks for your family last month, coordinates shipments to the DeForest area by the online grocer, Azure Standard! Azure Standard specializes in natural, organic, earth-friendly foods and products. They deliver directly to customers, buying clubs and retailers by semi-truck and UPS.  According to Amy, most of their prices are very reasonable and some are cheaper than Whole Foods and Willy Street Co-op. The route we would use is the Q1 Windsor Route. The orders are dropped off at the Truck Wash on CV and Hwy. 19 in Windsor just off the Interstate Exit 131.  This month orders must be submitted by October 1st.  Pick up typically takes place the following week (Amy will alert all customers the specific date/time their order will be available for pick up).  I hope you will take advantage of this awesome opportunity right in our backyard! Save yourself the drive to Madison to get the groceries and household supplies you are already using.

And finally, I'm finalizing plans for several upcoming meetings of Lodi Valley Green Folks and will be posting the details shortly.

All the best to you for a wonderful week!

Welcome!

 
Greetings from Lodi--a.k.a. "the Peaceful Valley"--a small town about 30 minutes north of Madison, WI. 

My husband and I are the parents of two small children (a 5 year old son and a 9 month old daughter).  Due to various factors which I will write about in a future post, we have become increasingly concerned about the multitude of environmental and physical toxins our family is exposed to regularly -- be it from local agricultural pesticide use which releases chemicals into the air, leaches pesticides into our water supply and leaves toxic residue on produce; chemicals in bath and beauty products used on our bodies; hard-to-pronounce, synthetic ingredients in foods we consume; and the questions and concerns we face when making common parental decisions such as whether to vaccinate our children including how often, etc.  I can't imagine that life has ever been "easy", but the assault on our bodies via modern living seems to be affecting our health as a society physically, mentally and emotionally.

Through this blog I hope to share some of the products we use and businesses we frequent as a result of the knowledge I have accumulated the last few years (please see links above for more information).  Those times were frought with health concerns on my part and a great deal of my emotional and physical healing has resulted from purifying my life in many ways, i.e., through vitamins and supplements, eating as "cleanly" as possible, utilizing non-western medical practices such as a acupuncture, and beginning a daily practice of meditation.

As further support to my family's goal of finding ways to live "greener" in all facets of our lives, I applied for, and was accepted as a "Mom Ambassador" through Kiwi Magazine's "Mom's Meet" program. As an Ambassador I will organize get-togethers where other Moms (Dads and single folks--including those without children--are welcome, too!) with similar interests or those wishing to learn more about living "greener" can meet up and discuss various topics and sample FREE, full-size products from companies that manufacture natural goods! There is no cost to any of us to participate in the product sampling.

Put simply, I have been looking for a way to connect with other folks in the Lodi/greater Madison area who share similar concerns.

I plan to invite individuals to meet with us and share information that the group is interested in. I've already tapped my husband--a landscape architect--to speak about eco-friendly gardening/landscaping practices such as using rain barrels.

We had our first meeting recently and it was a resounding success! We met at Wollersheim Winery, enjoyed great company, educational conversation and some fabulous wine!

I will be posting details about upcoming meetings via this blog. If you are interested in attending a meeting, but have questions, please email me at:(lodivalleygreenfolks@gmail.com).  Children will be welcome at most, if not all, of our get-togethers.

About Moms Meet: The mission of Moms Meet is to create a space for moms to talk parenting and eco-conscious living, Moms Meet offers exciting opportunities for Mom Ambassadors and their groups to sample the latest healthy, green products. Past sampling opportunities have included EO all-natural hand sanitizer, Wallaby Organic yogurt, and Amy's Organic Pizzas.