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A Destination for all things kids!
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The best GREEN fashion, toys, products, venues and activities
with Lindy Klim
A Tiger Tribe bumper prize pack
Welcome to the ECO issue of the Alphabet Street Mini Mag ! Well it has been a while since our last mini mag and we hope that the wait is well worth it. With the environment being a major priority in our lives we thought we would put together a dedicated Eco issue that featured the best products, activities, and events that Eco friendly. We are so excited to have a wonderful Q & A with Lindy Klim, one of the busiest mumprenuers in the business plus some wonderful articles contributed from other busy Mumpreneurs from Itty Bitty Greenie, Gardening 4 Kids, My Book Corner and Meetoo. We have to send out a big thank you to TIGER TRIBE who are giving our Mini Mag Readers the opportunity to win $500 worth of Tiger Tribe toys. You won’t want to miss out on this competition, especially with Christmas 6 months away. We hope you enjoy reading our ECO issue and hopefully you will be encouraged to do what you can to keep this wonderful planet we live on GREEN. Penny Price OWNER
3.
Alphabet Street Privacy Statement: This issue of the Alphabet Street Mini Mag may contain offers or competitions that require you to provide information about yourself if you choose to take part in. If you provide information about yourself including email address, Alphabet Street will use this information to provide you will the products and services you have requested. We will not onsell you details to a third party and will used for our publication only.
COVER: Our Model Dorian
wears Gaia Organic Cotton marley & me patch top - red
+ grey stripe with wheelbarrow
Editorial: Penny Price
All editorial and advertising enquiries
e:[email protected] ABN: 89826197104
Photography: Heart in Motion
Photography
Mini Mag
“I am a modern lifestyle portrait photographer with a passion for people and photography which really is perfect for what I do! I love capturing the soul and spirit of you and your family and creating those memories that last a lifetime. I love capturing those candid moments you never knew were taken.”Newcastle Photographer Kylie Mitchell is owner of two fabulous photography Businesses; Heart in Motion Photography for kids and families and Spice Photography for women.
Donna MacMullin is the director of Itty Bitty Greenie an online shop offering fun and functional children’s products with a safe and sustainable point of difference. A portion of every sale supports children’s and environmental charities.
Emma Perry is owner of My Book Corner, a website that reviews only the very best in children's literature, alongside live price comparison
4.
Caroline Roberts, is a mum, a primary school gardening teacher and owner of Gardening4kids.com.au , a website that specialises in providing everything you need to get your kids off the couch and into the garden.
Kate Nelson is a Melbourne mum of two and owner of Meetoo, a website where you can find personally reviewed activities, classes, events and school holiday programs around Melbourne.
5.
7. Eco Reads
11. School Holiday Fun
16. Eco Space
Why is plastic not so fantastic
18.
24 Q & A with Lindy Klim
26 10 Eco Activities
31 Worm Farming for kids
37 Eco Product Directory
42 Tiger Tribe Giveaway
37 Business Profile
Dingo‟s Tree
By Gladys Milroy and Jill
Milroy
Picture Book Suitable for
Ages 5-11
This poignant picture book
communicates an
important message about
the landscape and the
devastating impact
mining is having on key
areas in Australia. This deceptively simple, yet
incredibly powerful story in
a parable format follows
the main character Dingo
as he and his friends care
for the last remaining tree
and drop of water. The beauty of its narrative,
combined with the Milroys'
warm illustrations ensure
that Dingo's Tree will leave
a lasting impression.
The Curious Garden
By Peter Brown
Picture Book Suitable for
Ages 4-6
This is such a gorgeous
picture book - full of
inspiration, oohs and aahs.
Open the first page of The
Curious Garden to reveal
the depiction of a city -
smoke filled, grey and
gloomy. Hover over the page a little longer and
you will spy a little boy with
a brilliant flame of red hair
... turn the pages as the
book reveals how one little
boy with one little hope
can transform a city. Beautiful. Liam, with the
determination only young
person can really know,
sets about showing how
industry and nature can
live side by side, and how
nature has the power to
transform lives. The
intricate details on each
page, some not even
requiring words, capture
the imagination and
thoughts of its young (and
old) audience.
.
Kakadu Calling
By Jane Garlil
Christophersen
Chapter Book Suitable
For Ages 7-11
Bunitj writer Jane Garlil
Christophersen pens five
engaging short stories
about five different
children. Jane's passion
for the environment is so
clear, the need to respect nature is
communicated in a
manner that children will
just 'get'. The stories help
to communicate another
way of living in Kakadu,
one which relies on the environment, respect
and the teaching of
important skills to a new
generation.
.
The Lorax Dr. Seuss, a Book App
from Oceanhouse Media
Book App Suitable for
Ages 4-11 An environmental slant
that demonstrates, to a
new generation, what
happens when
businesses and greed try
to overlook and ignore
the repercussions of their actions ... with Dr Seuss
trademark wit and
humour of course!
Presented here as a
wonderful Book App the
message is certainly not
lost as readers are
encouraged to read
along and explore the
world of the Once-ler,
Thneed, Grickle-grass
and the Brown Bar-ba-
loots!
Full reviews, plus on line price comparisons can
be viewed at www.mybookcorner.com.au
Emma from My Book Corner shares her top children‟s books &
apps that will educate as well as entertain.
7.
The latest movie adaptation
of The Lorax sees a young boy Ted seeking the affection of
the girl of his dreams, Audrey
by seeking out the now
recluse Once-ler who can tell
him what happened to the
trees in Thneed-ville.
Something that Audrey longs
for more than anything. He
hears the tale of how the
Once-ler meets The Lorax, a
grumpy yet charming orange
creature who served as
guardian of the land he arrived in.
This movie shows children
how precious the earth is and
how quickly we can destroy
mother nature for consumer
needs.
"WALL-E" is a futuristic film that
depicts Earth covered with
garbage, uninhabitable
because of man's destructive
habits.
With Earth becoming a
dumping ground by mankind
and therefore being unable
to produce plant life, the
humans are forced to enter
space leaving WALL-E to
clean up the mess..
With the help from EVE, a
sleek (and dangerous)
reconnaissance robot, they search for proof that life is
once again sustainable.
More and more family movies and TV shows have an underlying
ECO message . We have found some of the best eco-
animations for the kids all with an environmental & educational
message hidden within.
Although many of us would
see the main storyline of
Happy Feet revolving around
the small penguin Mumble who has no talent for singing
but has an astute talent for tap
dancing , there is an
underlying environmental
message in the denouement
of the film.
At the end of the film we see a
group of researchers taking
video of the colony of dancing
emperor penguins, and the
footage is broadcast globally.
After many heated arguments
this publicity generates considerable pressure to stop
commercial overfishing of the
Antarctic.
Happy Feet 2 which was
released in 2011 has a similar
environmental message as we
see melting ice on snow
capped environs and melting
icebergs in the Antarctic.
8
Recycling Peppa and George are introduced to the
world of recycling as they visit Miss Rabbit‟s
recycling plant with mummy and daddy pig.
Peppa learns how to divide up the garbage
into recyclables and waste.
Look After Your Planet After Lola decides to tidy up her room, Charlie suggests that instead of throwing things out
she should recycle them. Lola learns all about
recycling and how it is extremely very
important to look after our planet. Soon she
has found an extra-specially fun way to do
more recycling - and gets lots of her
classmates to join in too.
Earth DayIt's earth day in Dirtgirlworld and it's time for
the earth day parade... a parade where all
living things in Dirtgirlworld come together to
celebrate the little things they do everyday to
help the earth survive.
Manny's Green Team Team up with Manny and his talking tools as
they protect an endangered nest of baby
turtles. Watch them tackle a tricky chandelier
repair with an inventive combination of light
and mirrors. Then, find out how solar power
works when Manny uses the sun to make a
motorized sign move.
9.
Vegecation at Centro Box Hill
Eco-Friendly School Holiday Fun There are so many wonderful activities planned for kids in the
school holidays, but they are even more wonderful when
they teach the kids about the environment we live in.
Vegecation Winter Wonderland- Centro Box Hill Explore the fun to be had in your backyard during the colder months,
with bugs, vegetables and maybe even a surprise penguin or two with
Centro Box Hill's Winter Wonderland Vegecation program. Read more..
WHEN: 9th-13th July 11am to 2pm each day, interactive play times: 11.30am and 1pm
WHERE: Centro Box Hill North Precinct (opposite the food court)
COST: FREE to attend. Every child receives a free apron to take home
Apples & Jam Drive-In Theatre Roll on up to the Apples & Jam‟s Drive-In
Theatre where kids will watch an earth-
friendly film from the comfort of their very
own designed and decorated cardboard
box cars! Children will have the
opportunity to buy a variety of healthy
snacks during the film with some of our
Kidz Cash. Come and join the fun!. Read
more..Thursday 5th July 1.30pm-4.30pm
WHERE: Apples & Jam- 217-239 Montague St, South Melbourne
COST: $40 per child Suitable for Children aged 4+ years.
11..
Junior Ranger Birdwatching-Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Learn how to use binoculars and get a close look at some of Coolart's
birds! Take a walk with the Park Ranger to Minsmere bird hide on the
wetlands where you'll learn 'What bird is that? How do they fly? Where
do they nest? What do they eat?„ Read more...
WHEN: 13th July 1pm - 2.30pm
WHERE: Coolart Wetlands and Homestead - Somers
COST: FREE
Eden Gardens-Big Tree Small Tree Get the kids out of the house and into
the garden these school holidays.
Discover the wonder of trees from big
to small, evergreen to deciduous. Look
at leaf, bark and flower features and
shape your own mini tree into a bonsai.
WHEN: Wednesday 11th of July 10am-11.30am (5-7 year olds)
Wednesday 11th of July 12.30pm-2pm
(8-12 year olds)
WHERE: Eden Gardens-Cnr Nepean Highway and Canadian Bay Rd Mt
Eliza
COST: $16 per child Bookings essential-PH 92151500
Flower Power These school holidays, bring your kids down
to your local Flower Power as you will go
back to basics with the FREE Kid's
Gardening Classes. Kids will learn about the
different parts that make up a plant, and what each of them do. They'll pot up their
very own seedling, and receive activity
sheets with a colouring picture, find-a-word
and experiment to do at home. Read
more...
WHEN: Mon 2 July ,Fri 6 July, Mon 9 July , Fri 13 July at 11am
WHERE: Flower Power Gardening Centres
COST: FREE
12.
Brainy Bird Antics- The Briars, Nepean Highway, Mt Martha Spear fishing, spoon sifting, „white air‟
rafting, skydiving and dancing, dive
bombing and handballing in the air are all
amazing bird antics. Please bring a shoe
box for the craft activity.
Don‟t forget your drink & snack for
afternoon tea in a small backpack
(nothing with nuts please) and dress
appropriately for the weather.
WHEN: 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th & 13th July 2012, 1:30 - 4pm
WHERE: The Briars- Nepean Highway, Mt Martha- Meet at the Visitors Centre
COST: $15:50 per child Bookings and pre-payment are essential Ph: 5974-3686
Rockpool Ramble/Beach Comb-Winter
by the Sea Marine & Freshwater
Discovery Centre A guided walk discovering interesting
bits and pieces that have washed up
on the shore and looking into
rockpools to find curious creatures.
Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet or
gumboots, sunscreen and a hat. No
thongs. Children under 12 must be
accompanied by an adult.
WHEN & WHERE: Mon 9 July 9.30-11.00 at Point Lonsdale
Wed 11 July 10.30-12.00 at Barwon
Heads
Thur 12 July 11.00-12.30 at Point
Lonsdale
Fri 13 July 11.30-1.00 at Barwon Heads
COST: FREE
Bookings essential- 52583344.
13.
To the Arctic-IMAX Melbourne Come with us and follow one
extraordinary polar bear mother on the
ultimate journey of love and survival. In
To The Arctic 3D captivating footage
brings moviegoers up close and personal
with this family's struggle to survive in a
frigid environment of melting ice,
immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls,
and majestic snow-bound peaks. Read
more...
WHEN: From the 21st June
WHERE: IMAX Melbourne
COST: Adult-$18, Children-$13.50, Family (2 Adults, 2 Children-$55)
Cards for Fun-Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Have fun with pressed flowers and leaves to make and decorate your
own cards and bookmarks.
Suitable for children aged 6 years and above.
WHEN: Wednesday 11 July & Thursday 12 July 10.30 – 12 noon and 1pm
– 2.30pm
WHERE: Plant Craft Cottage-Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne near H-gate.
COST: $10 per child (must be paid in advance) Bookings/enquiries: Phyl: 9885 7293 or Judy: 9741 6046
Email: [email protected]
Fungi fairy and elf craft Pot up your very own fairy and elf attracting plant to take home and plant
in your garden.
Suitable for children aged 2 – 5 years.
WHEN: Thursday 5 & 12 July, Tuesday 10 July 11.30am – 12.30pm
WHERE: Australian Garden, RBG Cranbourne
COST: $3.50 child, $3 Garden Grubs Kids‟ Club member
Bookings/enquiries: Tel: (03) 5990 2245
14.
Eco-Friendly School Holiday Fun There are so many wonderful activities planned for kids in the
school holidays, but they are even more wonderful when
they teach the kids about the environment we live in.
Guest writer Kate Nelson from Meetoo test drives
Creative Time at Apples & Jam.
ECO Space
16.
is THE space where imagination
creative passion and planet happy
principals naturally shine through all
the children's parties, programs
and activities that are scheduled.
Run by two mums whose beliefs,
ethics and love for the
environment contribute to a
sustainable venue on all levels.
Kate Nelson from Meetoo had the
extreme pleasure of visiting to
check out the Creative Time
session.
The team behind Apples & Jam could be
accused of subscribing to the Eco Chic
movement – personally I am a fan on the movement (even if purest eco warriors
deem it contradictory), because what‟s
not to admire about aspirational,
ecological coolness?
The South Melbourne Commons (Apple
& Jam‟s landlord) has a zero waste
policy and also a very strong community
focus – and these two points are key
elements of all their tenant‟s
agreements. So naturally Apples & Jam
(and their neighbours) are a business driven to ensure they uphold an eco
mindfulness to everything they do, from
their aim to achieve zero waste through
to how they decorate their space for a
birthday party.
We have been lucky enough to take
part in some of Apples & Jam‟s activities,
and these are always presented so
beautifully that both adults and children
can‟t wait to dive in with much
enthusiasm.
It‟s true we can‟t change the world
overnight, but if we subscribe to the
philosophy of the team at Apples and
Jam and “inspire small changes” – we‟ll
be on the right track.
To help you get on track with your own
small changes here are some tips from
Jess at Apples & Jam
-you don‟t need fancy craft materials for
creative time at home – recycling items
like long life milk cartons, toilet rolls, egg
cartons, tin cans etc can all be used to
make anything from awesome racing cars to chain saws
-house-hold items such as wool, pasta,
straws, patty pans, buttons also make
great creative time materials for
embellishments
-look for the green (and safe) options when it comes to paints and glues
-old newspaper makes great seedling
pots – and you can plant them, pot and
all, straight into the ground when they are
ready for planting
-vegie scraps make great worm food – start a worm farm
17.
.
Donna MacMullin from shares
with you her knowledge about plastic products.
Most of us have heard that drinking out
of plastic baby bottles can be harmful to
a child‟s health, but how much do we really know about BPA and other toxins
found in plastics – including toys, food
containers and other items we use
everyday?
There‟s plenty of research that reveals plastic isn‟t so fantastic. In a 2009 study,
the Harvard School of Public Health
found that bisphenol A, a chemical used
in the manufacture of some plastics, can
leach into humans. As BPA is an
estrogen-mimiking chemical, it has been
shown to interfere with reproductive
development, and has been linked with
cardiovascular disease, cancer and
diabetes.
As a result of this and other studies on
BPA, the toxin has been banned in
several countries including Canada, the
European Union and Malaysia, but currently there is no regulation on toxins
in plastics sold in Australia.
Phthalates and Dioxins (PVC) are also
common chemicals found in plastics
and have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders and behavioural
disorders in children.
What‟s more, studies have found that
when some plastics are heated (like
when you microwave leftovers in a plastic container or heat your child‟s
milk bottle), the amount of toxin
leached into your food can be
significantly greater.
While more research is being done
worldwide, parents are wise to choose
products that are toxin-free, and here
are a few simple alternatives to help
you reduce exposures:
18.
Food grade stainless steel – 100% food
safe and will not leach chemicals or
flavours. Get yourself a stainless steel drink
bottle and stop buying bottled water.
Ovenproof glass – baby bottles, food
containers, etc.
Glass is heavier than plastic, but much
safer if you want an easy way to reheat
leftovers straight from the fridge and into
the microwave.
Silicone – it‟s heat resistant, odourless and
non-toxic. It‟s great for storing food in the
freezer, and you can also bake with it.
Polypropylene or high-density
polyethylene – These are recyclable food-
safe plastics (#5 and #2) that do not
contain BPA, phthalates or lead.
Reusable cotton food wraps / bags –
perfect for wrapping sandwiches and
snacks, there are some great eco friendly
and toxin free alternatives on the market.
Also try to avoid using plastic cutlery, bags
and cling wrap when storing food. Not
only will you be sparing your body from
some nasty toxins, you‟ll be making better
choices for the environment as well.
Here are some more useful links with more
information on toxins and plastics:
Read the full Harvard Medical Study on
BPA
Plastics – what do those numbers mean?
More information on Phthalates
PVC: The most toxic plastic
Bottled water alliance - facts about
bottled water
Donna MacMullin is the director of Itty
Bitty Greenie an online shop offering
fun and functional children‟s products
with a safe and sustainable point of
difference. A portion of every sale
supports children‟s and environmental
charities.
19.
As parents of small children, it is a
growing concern amongst us all to hear
that childhood obesity have been rising
over the years for a number of reasons
including the fact that children are
eating more foods that are high in fat
and sugars and spending less time on
physical activity.
Well renowned Australian cook and food writer, Stephanie Alexander felt it
was largely caused by people simply not
knowing how to prepare fresh, nutritious
and delicious food. She believes the
problem begins in childhood, and that
the best way to address it is by means of
early intervention.
Enter the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen
Foundation.
The fundamental philosophy that
underpins the Stephanie Alexander
Kitchen Garden Program is that by
setting good examples and engaging
children‟s curiosity, as well as their energy
and their taste buds, we can provide
positive and memorable food
experiences that will form the basis of
positive lifelong eating habits.
In 2001 Stephanie Alexander trialled the
Kitchen Garden program at Collingwood
College in Melbourne and with an
overwhelming interest and support ,
followed on to create the Stephanie
Alexander Kitchen Foundation where
funding is sought to roll out the program
to other interested schools.
Kitchen Garden Schools commit to a
dynamic and innovative model whereby
kitchen and garden classes are run
weekly, enabling skills-based learning
that extends across the entire school
curriculum.
Children across Years 3 to 7 spend a
minimum of 45 minutes a week in an
extensive vegetable garden that they
have helped design, build and maintain
on the school grounds according to
organic gardening principles.
They also spend 1½hours each week in a
kitchen classroom preparing and sharing
a wonderful variety of meals created
from their produce. The school employs
two part-time specialist staff, a Garden
Specialist and a Kitchen Specialist, to run
these sessions.
21.
In both the kitchen and the garden the
children work together in small groups
with the assistance of community
volunteers. The finished dishes are
arranged with pride and care on tables
set with flowers from the garden, and the shared meal is a time for students,
helpers, teachers and specialists to enjoy
the meal they have prepared together.
Australian schools to establish the
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
National Program by 2012. In addition to
the Federal Government, the State
governments have also come on board
to provide much needed funding for this wonderful initiative.
In 2012, 265 schools around Australia are
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Schools, with almost 35,000 children
actively engaged in the Program each
year.
To see what schools are actively
participating in the Kitchen Garden
program click HERE.
For more information about the program
and how you and your school can jump
on board go to
www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au.
The Australian Government has provided
$12.8 million of infrastructure funding over four years, to enable up to 190 eligible
Did you know? 10 ECO facts you may not know about!
#1 Paper towels decompose quicker than banana peels
Every ton of paper that is
recycled saves 13 trees #2
#3 84 percent of all household waste can be recycled.
#4 Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy than burning it in an incinerator
#5 A disposable nappy can take 300 million years to decompose naturally
#6 An unplugged mobile phone charger
wastes 95% of the energy used doing
nothing
#7 The Styrofoam cups used every year would circle the planet at least
five times, they are not biodegradable and are rarely recycled.
#8 Mobile phones and iPods are made from metals that do not biodegrade at all
#9
#10
Once an aluminium can is recycled, it's back on the grocery shelf as another aluminium can in 60 days.
Each year, Australians use 6.9 billion plastic shopping bags. Tied together this amount of bags would stretch around the world 37 times! 23.
Lindy Klim
What was the inspiration behind the MILK BABY brand?
When my husband Michael was developing his men‟s skincare range Milk by Michael Klim I was a young mum and pregnant with my second child. I couldn't find anything
that I felt comfortable using on my young children‟s skin so I developed Milk Baby.
Can you give our readers a snapshot of the MILK BABY products you have developed
so far?
Milk Baby is an all-natural skincare range for babies and kids, made in Tasmania which
is where I grew up. The range is made from the finest ingredients and is comprised of
products that range from the perfect gift to everyday products that you just couldn't
live without.
24.
How does your product range differ to
other similar products in the market?
Baby is housed in our custom made
packaging which not only looks great in
the bathroom, is also 100% recyclable -
including the pump! This was something
that was very important to us. Milk Baby
also has three room sprays which I
developed personally due to my
children‟s needs and I know there is
nothing else like it on the market.
Can we look forward to another MILK
BABY product line being launched
sometime soon?
Yes definitely, I am always thinking up
new and exciting things that I would love
to add to the Milk Baby range. At the
moment I am focusing all my attention
on an apparel line which would have
the same ethos as our current Milk Baby range, stay tuned, very exciting times
ahead!
How does your family practice being
environmentally aware at home?
The kids and I pay a lot of attention to recycling. We are also very mindful of
water saving, I find it is little things like
turning off the taps when brushing teeth
that really helps.
What would be your one wish for the environment for the future?
Wow, there are so many; we all wish for
a perfect world and I see that as being
pollution free, if everyone did their own
little bit I think we could get close.
Other than MILK BABY is there one
Eco/Natural product you would
recommend to Alphabet Street Readers?
It‟s funny actually as I recently got sent
some „Tom Tom‟ organic tampons which
I think are an amazing idea!
What is one tip you could offer on how to
manage a business with a family?
Be very well organised! Time
management is definitely something I had
to learn when managing both a family of
three and Milk Baby.
Is there one place or is there one activity
you like doing as a family to enjoy quality
time together?
The kids, my husband and I are all very
active so whether it is going for a bike ride or just heading to the park we love to get
out and about whenever we can.
You have also been known to DJ at some
high end events in Australia. What is one
track that will always get you up on the
dance floor?
Oh dear – they change all the time
depending on where I am DJing but my
favourite song at the moment would
have to be Car Song by Spank Rock feat.
Santigold.
25.
Eco-Friendly School Holiday Fun There are so many wonderful activities planned for kids in the
school holidays, but they are even more wonderful when
they teach the kids about the environment we live in.
Top 10 Eco-Friendly Activities for Kids
Teach the kids from a young age about the environment with our top 10 Eco-friendly activities.
1. Whale watching
Best vantage points- Take a trip to the Great
Ocean Road, where you can view from
these spectacular creatures from a specially
constructed viewing platform at Logans
Beach. (Location of platform-Logans Beach
Road, off Hopkins Point Road, Warrnambool.
Head further west to Portland see blue
whales migrate to the waters to feed on the
abundant swarms of krill.
Watch these magnificent creatures as
they migrate to warmer waters from June To October each year.
2. Recycle and create Must Have
Keep the recycling aside for the
little ones to create and construct .
Cubby houses or dens are the
perfect play space to create with
recycled cardboard boxes. Have a
recycling craft challenge to see
who can come up with the most
useful recycled craft item.
If you need a little assistance or
would just like to escape the house,
head to Creative Time at Apples &
Jam in South Melbourne where
children can explore their creativity
through the various art/craft stations
that are set up using recycled
materials .
Happy Giddy Kids‟
Binoculars RRP $12.95
playsafekids.com.au
Must Have
Makedo Free Play Kit
RRP $19.95
ittybittygreenie.com.au
26
4.Visit a community garden
3. Build your own veggie patch
Not only is a child‟s very own veggie
patch a great way to develop good
eating habits but also a wonderful
way to introduce children to the
garden and the environment.
Composting, worm gardens, water
reticulation plus the harvest are all
parts of the veggie garden the kids
will love and learn from. If you need a
little assistance in setting up a veggie
patch or introducing you little one to
the garden head to the Gardening 4
Kids Blog for all your answers.
Must Have
Twigz Hand Tools
Set of Three
RRP $16.50
brightbuttontoyscom.au
With the increase of urban living in the
city, many children are without their own
gardens and therefore don‟t have the
same exposure to gardening as suburban families do. Community gardens are a
great way to educate children and get
hands on with nature and the
environment. CERES is an award winning,
not-for-profit, environment and education
centre and urban farm located by the
Merri Creek in East Brunswick. Children
can get involved in the many workshops
that are held including Cheeky Chooks
held on the first Wednesday of every
month.
There are also many community gardens
in Melbourne where you can get involved
with their DIG IN monthly working bee. To
find a local community garden click HERE. Community Garden Port Melbourne
Twigz Hand Tools
Set of Three
RRP $16.50
brightbuttontoyscom.au
Must Have
27..
7. Rock pooling
6. Butterfly House-Melbourne Zoo
5. Pick your own What a wonderful activity for children
to be involved in. Pick your own berries
allow children to see how a fruit is
grown and delivered to your table.
Cherries, blueberries, blackberries,
strawberries, raspberries, beans and
peas are all available for U-Pick across
various locations in Victoria.
U-Pick season is available across the
summer months. For more information
on pick your own farms click HERE
OOBI
Ava Pink Apple Hat
RRP $24.95
www.oobi.com.au
Step into the world of butterflies at the
Butterfly House Melbourne Zoo.
Children will love being surrounded by
hundreds of colourful butterflies and if
you‟re lucky you may even be the
landing ground for one or two.
Such an important part butterflies play
in ecology aiding in pollination, eating
aphids and rotting fruits.
Melbourne Zoo has put together a checklist of steps you can take create
your own butterfly garden.
Must Have
Must Have The Very Hungry
Caterpillar
RRP $17.95
booktopia.com.au
All kids love playing in water, especially if
there is a marine life to explore in the process. Grab your magnifying glass and
head to a beach inlet to beach comb the
marine life that is washed up on shore or
within small rockpools. Along with small fish
and small crabs, children can investigate
the sea anenomes, starfish, coral, shells, sea grass and sea sponges that sometimes
fill the small pools. Check out the
wonderful rock pools at Ricketts Point, Red
Bluff & Point Gellibrand.
Green Toys Sand Play
Set
RRP $39.95
Ecotoys.com.au
Must Have
28.
10. Become a Junior Ranger
9. Educate at the Melbourne Museum
8. Get back to Nature What better place to experience the
sounds and smells of nature than the Ian
Potter Children‟s Garden at the Royal
Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
It‟s a wonderful place where children can
dig, build, imagine, create, and hide. The
garden features plants, water, structures
and pathways that reflect Melbourne's
changing seasons. The garden has been
designed to intrigue, teach and excite
children from a very young age about the
importance of conservation and the
environment.
In addition to there regular term programs
there is a wonderful range of school holiday programs the children can book into.
The Museum is the perfect place to learn all about nature and the environment. Explore
the world of bugs, marine life, wildlife, forest
secrets and dynamic earth.
You can also found out how to reduce water
use in the home and garden with the Water
Smart Home permanent exhibition. A perfect place where children can get
interactive with the exhibits whilst learning in
the process.
Goodbyn Lunchbox
Green Apple
RRP $35.95 ittybittygreenie.com.au
Must Have
Must Have
Must Have
Junior Navigator
Compass
RRP $9.99
zanui.com.au Junior Rangers provides Ranger Walks
and Talks for families with children
aged six to twelve. Several parks
throughout Victoria deliver the
program during school holidays and on
some weekends. Junior Rangers
activities are led by a park ranger and
are designed to get children outdoors,
have fun and learn about the state‟s
wonderful parks and natural and
cultural resources.
Check out the school holiday program
these winter holidays.
Jumbo Magnifying Glass
RRP $14.95
entropy.com.au
29.
Further Afield-A sustainable theme park? It is not often that the environment is a key
ingredient to consider when building a theme
park however when an extension in Peppa
Pig World was built in the UK, the architects
brief was to put together a design that needed to be in keeping with the style of the
Peppa Pig World whilst being sustainable.
Some of these sustainable features include
an inbuilt rainwater harvesting system
allowing the roof to self-irrigate. Any excess
water drains into a man-made lake through steel columns at the edge of the roof.
Additionally any surface water surrounding
the building is drained into the lake, where it
can be stored until required.
However, the most striking feature is the
curved green roof, which adds biodiversity to the site, creating a haven for wildlife which
ticks the box for bio-diversity.
The wildflower roof is planted with native
vegetation and flowers from the surrounding
landscape and also features windcatchers for
natural ventilation and its own rainwater
harvesting irrigation system.
For more information on Peppa Pig World go to Peppapigworld.co.uk.
Worm Farming for kids
Kids love worms and setting up a
worm farm is an excellent way for them to learn about science and the
world around them.
Having a worm farm in your garden is
a great opportunity for kids to learn
first-hand about waste recycling,
reducing our environmental impact
and life cycles.
Keeping a worm farm also teaches
children about responsibility and is a
great introduction to owning pets.
A worm farm is fantastic for your garden too. Worm castings (aka worm poo) are
an excellent soil conditioner and worm
wee can be watered down and poured
on plants as a fantastic organic fertiliser
which is safe for children to use.
Cont... 31.
How to set up a
worm farm -What type of farm and where to
put it
Commercial worm farms can be bought from nurseries or be made by
drilling holes into the bottom of two out
of three styrofoam boxes (easily
obtained from a green grocer – if you
ask they will often give them to you for
free) that are stacked on top of each
other with the solid base on the bottom
of the stack and a lid placed on top
box. A box of composting worms to kick
start your farm also needs to be
purchased.
You will need to find a suitable place to
keep your worm farm. An ideal location
is cool, shady and in an area that is
easy to access. Worms do not like
extreme temperatures so we keep ours
under a deciduous tree that keeps the
farm cool during summer and allows
some warmth in winter.
-Bedding
Place approximately three layers of wet
newspaper in the bottom tray of your
worm farm then place your worms on
top. The worms will eventually eat
through this layer of paper so it will need
replacing over time. Finally add a piece
of old carpet, towel or a hessian bag to
cover the top layer of your worm farm
to keep it warm in winter and cool in
summer.
-Food
Worms can eat a variety of food
including fruit and vegie scraps
(though they don‟t really like citrus or
onion), egg shells, teabags and coffee
grounds, wet shredded paper and
cardboard, and even hair! Worms do not
have teeth so it‟s a good idea to cut up
your scraps into small pieces to help them
process them quicker. To feed your worms
simply open your worm farm, peel back
the carpet or hessian layer and empty your
scraps on top. You can bury your scraps
into the castings to help cut down on
smells.
-Using worm wee and poo
After a few weeks worm wee will begin to
collect in the bottom of your worm farm. It
is known as liquid gold in the gardening
world and is fantastic for plants. To use
worm wee it needs to be diluted until it
looks like the colour of weak tea. Kids can then use a watering can to water the
garden with the solution.
To collect worm castings (poo) to use on
your garden take the lid of your worm
farm, lift off the first layer and then scoop
out the brown solids. Create a pyramid or
cone shape out of the solids and leave for
around 10 minutes.
The worms with bury into the centre as they
do not like light. Scrape away the sides
and return the centre of your shape to your
worm farm. You can then use the
collected castings by sprinkling them over
your garden beds or mixing in with potting
mix to use in pots or planter boxes.
Cont...
Final tips for keeping your
worm farm happy and healthy •Don‟t feed your worms meat, bones or
dairy as these can lead to maggots and
bad smells.
•Bury your food scraps in the worm
castings to help prevent vinegar flies and
odours. •Flush your worm farm weekly with a
bucket of water. Collect the water as it
filters through into the bottom tray.
Flush your worm farm weekly with a
bucket of water. Collect the water as it
filters through into the bottom tray. This can then be used directly on your
garden as it will already be diluted.
Setting up and keeping a worm farm is
great activity for the whole family to
enjoy. It is a great learning experience,
reduces your carbon footprint and is
fantastic for your garden. Why not start
one today?
Caroline Roberts is a primary school
environmental education specialist, mum
to an inquisitive toddler and owner of
Gardening 4 Kids – a unique online
Australian website that sells educational
gardening products for children. The
website also features a blog full of ideas to
inspire parents, caregivers and educators
to get their little green thumbs out and
active in the garden. You can visit
Gardening 4 Kids at
www.gardening4kids.com.au
Pure Baby www.purebaby.com.au
Purebaby is an Australian
owned fashion label creating
unique, organic clothing for
babies and children.
Established in 2002, Purebaby
was born out of a desire for
beautiful and simple products
made with awareness and
care.
The best in GREEN Looking for the best Eco fashion for kids?
Check out our top picks.
Gaia www.gaiaorganiccotton.com.au
100% certified organic cotton
babywear with unique designs
that feature soft, tactile
fabrics,frills, unique gaia
designed prints, satin trims and
embroidery
Overcrawls www.overcrawls.com
Mother Overcrawls, Mary-Jo, has
created an exclusive range of
colourful, happy, fun clothes that
are not only natural friends of the
earth, they‟re also delightfully
practical. The world‟s first wipe
down babywear! Overcrawls are
made from Eco- friendly PU.
leather which is so soft and free
from harmful chemicals and
dyes and paired with an Eco-
friendly pure cotton lining.
Babyjo www.babyjo.com.au
Babyjo create a beautiful
range of bamboo and organic
cotton clothing. Bamboo not
only promotes sustainable
living, through being a quickly
renewable resource to protect
future generations - but it is also
said to be an excellent choice for babies health reducing skin
irritations such as eczema.
Cocoome cocoomeorganicsleepwear.com.au
Cocoome Organic is proud to design
100% pure organic cotton sleepwear
for your baby and child Australia.
Cocoome Organic Sleepwear print
designs are exclusive and designed in
Australia.
Kids Eco Style www.kidsecostyle.com.au
Kids Eco Style is here to provide
products that are better for
everyone, better for your children,
better for the planet and better
for the people involved in making
these gorgeous products.
34.
Get Reading.....
"Green Stuff for Kids" is the latest instalment in Tanya
Ha's bestselling
"Greeniology" series.
Aimed at children eight
years and over, is a young
readers' guide to what's up
with the planet and what
they can do to make a
difference.
If you have an inquisitive
child who is keen to learn
about the environment we
live in then this book will answer all the questions.
Jam-packed with fun
By Tanya Ha
Green stuff for kids facts, eco-activities, information and green tips,
this book covers a huge
range of environmental
issues and hot topics,
including air pollution,
biodegradability, climate
change, e-waste, litter,
natural disasters, recycling
and water conservation.
With recommendations
from DR KARL KRUSZELNICKI
it is the book that should be
a part of every Eco-Warriors to read list.
www.tanyaha.com
Eco Product Directory
Showcasing the best Recycled, Organic, Natural & Sustainable
products for kids37.
Babushka Colouring
Book RRP $10
babushkagirl.bigcartel.com
Ecosaucer
RRP $17.95
flyingpenguin.com.au
Eco Stars Crayons
RRP $19.95
ittybittygreenie.com.au
Recycled
Green Toys Skipping Rope
RRP $21.95
buxtonbaby.com.au
Smencils Gourmet Scented”
Pencils-5- coloured pencils
RRP $45.00 smencils.com.au
Calafan5 Cardboard Fire Engine
Incl. Textas RRP: $12.50
stateofgreen.com.au
Cardboard Doll House
RRP $30.00
muddkids.com.au
Flatout Frankie- Flatpack cardboard aeroplane
RRP $44.95
babysgotstyle.com.au
Dandelion Re-Play Spill
Proof Cups 2 Pack
RRP $15.95
sustainababy.com.au
Dirtgirlworld Scrapbook
RRP $39.95
leafjournals.com
38.
Organic
Everearth 53 Piece Organic Farm
RRP $64.95
treefrogtoys.com.au Duez Organic Cotton Playmat
RRP $82.90
littlefrenchy.com.au
Little Innoscents
Nappy Change
Cream
RRP $10.99
littleorganics.com.au
Organic Cotton Sneaky
Stripey Rattle RRP $29.95
flyingpenguin.com.au
Gaia Organic Cotton
j'adore wrap
RRP $22.48
gaiaorganiccotton.com.au
Green Sprouts Organic
Bath Puppet - Hippo or Pig
RRP $7.95
treefrogtoys.com.au
Cocoome Dandelion
Romper
RRP $27.95 Cocoomeorganicsleepwear.com.au
Only Organic Teething
Rusks
RRP $4.98
littleorganics.com.au
Organic Cotton
Carrot
RRP $17.95
lewlewbelle.com.au 39.
Natural
HappyMais Flower Kit Bag
RRP $16.50
flyingpenguin.com.au
Sophie Giraffe
RRP $34.95
buxtonbaby.com.au
eco-kids eco-paint
RRP $43.95
sustainababy.com.au
Milk Baby Snotty
Grotty Room Spray
RRP $24.95
milkskincare.com
Tumblemonkey Handmade
Dryerballs RRP $16.50
tumblemonkeyhandmade.com
Eco-dough
RRP $43.95
sustainababy.com.au Natursutten Rubber Teether Toy
RRP $15.95
ecotoys.com.au
Pure Poppet Natural Play Makeup
RRP $34.95
purepoppet.com.au
40.
Sustainable
Plan Toys Food and Beverage Set
RRP $37.95 ittybittygreenie.com.au
PLANKS Green
Hat Workshop
RRP $119.95 greenhatworkshop.com.au
HILO High Chair
RRP $399
kiekaboo.com.au
Bajo Wooden Police Car RRP $14.50
flyingpenguin.com.au
ECOTOYS Pretend Play
Stove oven
RRP $199.95
ecotoys.com.au
Eco Max Art Pack with 12 Oil Pastels Blue
RRP $9.95
treefrogtoys.com.au
Timber Flower Stacker
RRP $55.00
stateofgreen.com.au
BAJO Push Along
- Spinning Flower
RRP $54.95
stateofgreen.com.au
41
Tiger Tribe
7
42.
Would you like to WIN a Tiger Tribe prize pack worth approximately $500? All you have to do is simply head over to the Tiger Tribe website and email [email protected] in 50 words or less with details of your MUST HAVE product from the Tiger Tribe range and why.
14
Terms and conditions •Entrant must reside in Australia and must be over 18 years of age. •Employees and their immediate families of Tiger Tribe Pty Limited and its associated agencies and companies are not eligible to enter. •The prize includes (Boxset Train, Boxset Beach Villa, Magna Play Creatures, At the Market (magnetic playbook), Travel the World (magnetic playbook), Reward Chart Stamp Pack, Jnr Stamper Set (garden), Card Making Kit, Zing Glider, Butterfly Duffle bag, Guitar Duffle bag, Butterfly Drawstring bag, Guitar Drawstring bag, Alphabet flashcards, Makedo Kit for 1, Makedo Kit for 3, Makedo Playhouse). Prize value is in excess of $500 retail. •If any item in the prize is unavailable, for whatever reason, the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for a prize of equal or greater value, subject to State Regulation. •Competition closes Tues 31st July at 5pm and will be notified by email •Entrant must include their contact details to be eligible 43
44.
If you have not yet had the chance to
enter the world of Makedo, you are
definitely missing out.
Makedo is a connector system that
enables materials including cardboard,
plastic and fabric to easily join together
to form new objects or structures. And when you have finished
constructing, you can pull it apart and
start again.
With the sheer genius of this product and
the success it has generated, many of us would be mistaken to think that this
amazing product has come from a
European company.
Makedo is a home grown Australian
product which was created by a Melbourne Industrial Designer and father,
Paul Justin, whose frustration with a
“rigid world of prescriptive toys” lead to a
more diverse system that allowed a way
of using and reusing stuff that were lying
about into something new.
Makedoʼs multi-award-winning range has
already captured the hearts and minds
of children, parents and educators who
love the simple way its reusable
connector system enables the easy
construction of reuse-art creations - both
small and larger than life size.
Makedo makes making faster, easier,
sturdier and cleaner than using sticky
tape and glue alternatives. Not to
mention it provides a fun way to learn about recycling and reuse.
Makedo project kits are designed to
encourage open ended creativity and
play. There are many different kits to
choose from including a Find & Make Shop, Elephant, Space Pod, Robot,
Flowers, Car and dollhouse and for
those who like to come up with their own
creations you can purchase the FreePlay
kits that contain the connectors that turn
recyclables into a new creation.
To purchase from the Makedo website
go to www.mymake.com or for more
information on distribution go to
Educational Colours
http://www.edcolours.com.au/
Telephone: +61 (0)3 9729 0788
45.
Dates for the Diary JULY- National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day provide all Australians with an
opportunity to do something positive for the environment and reconnect with
nature. In 2011, thousands of Australians planted over 1 million native trees, shrub
and grasses at more than 2900 Tree Day events, and a host of other Tree Day
activities were held.
In 2012, National Tree Day will be on Sunday 29th July and Schools Tree Day will be
on Friday 27th July, although events can be held on any date during the year.
NOVEMBER-National Recycling Week Planet Ark's National Recycling Week campaign promotes the importance of
reducing, reusing and recycling! National Recycling Week 2012 runs from Monday
12 – Sunday 18 November.
Eco Warriors Who’s making a difference?
Makedo’s Find & Make Shop
has received a big green nod as
a winner in Dr Toy‟s Best Green
Toy Award program 2012 for its
ability to teach children about
upcycling and reuse in a playful
way.
Live Play Create is committed to
making kids lives simple and stylishly fun.
tike wooden balance bikes allow young
children freedom to explore and have fun
while nurturing the development of
balance and coordination. The wood
used in the bikes is sourced from
European plantation timber farms and for
every product bought, a tree is
purchased and planted through
CarbonNeutral.com
IKEA Springvale is making it easier for
you when it comes to recycling the items
you are unsure about. Instead of throwing
out your batteries and light globes into your
normal waste take them to the recycling
station where Ikea Springvale will dispose of
them safely with the correct recycling
companies. 48.
Mobile Muster is committed to
reducing the impact of mobile
phones on the environment. Since 1999 they have collected 6.34 mobile
handsets and batteries, recycled 886
tonnes of materials and saved 7,100
tonnes of CO2 equivalent
greenhouse gas emissions. Check out
where your local mobile muster drop
off zones are.
KeepCup When you hear that the 500 billion
disposable cups used in the world each
year placed end to end could
circumnavigate the earth 100 times, it‟s no
wonder that KeepCup are spreading its
global reach with great success. Read the
overwhelming facts here on how KeepCup
is contributing to a sustainable future.
Monty & Frank's Designer Toy Co. believes
in an environmentally sustainable
future. Where possible plantation timber is used to construct their
toys and furniture. To ensure that
the process is sustainable they
make sure a tree is planted for
every product that is purchased.
49.
