Jack, Greg and I were interviewed by Columbus 10tv about raising our baby Green. Click to watch! Look for “Green Baby Products” on the left.
Archive for June, 2009
Getting Started with Cloth Diapers
I love using cloth diapers on Jack. I first started contemplating cloth diapers before I became pregnant, when I heard a statistic about disposable diapers taking up an astounding about of landfills. Aproximately 18 billion diapers are added to landfills yearly. Dirty diapers make up 2- 5 percent of landfills depending on the source. According to the EPA, it takes the average disposable diaper 500 years to decompose! No wonder you can smell a landfill from miles away!
The Green Way to Go
I think cloth diapering is definitely the GREEN way to go. They are better for the environment by not contributing to landfills, where the chemicals in disposables will be absorbed into the ground and eventually water (after 500 years), not to mention the energy costs to produce the large quantity of disposables used in the world today. You will have to make an initial investment but ultimately they will save you money in the long run, especially if you re-use them on multiple children. I often here moms complain about having to buy 100’s of dollars in diapers at the grocery on a regular basis. With cloth you can forget about that weekly expense!
Better for Baby
Babies using cloth diapers are less likely to get a diaper rash. This is because they are changed more often. Disposable diapers can hold many urination’s therefore little ones are often sitting, lying, playing, crawling, and walking around in their own urine much longer. The wetness increases the chances of a diaper rash. In addition, most disposable diapers are loaded with chlorine and other irritating chemicals which are part of the absorbent gel. Harsh chemicals such as chlorine shouldn’t be touching your baby’s skin. There are some companies who make disposable diapers that are chlorine free such as seventh generation and Tushies. One more tid bit: cloth diaper babies typially potty train earlier than disposable diaeper babies. This is in part due to coth diapers being less comfortable for little ones to remain wet. They learn that it is more comfortable to not sit in a wet diaper.
Getting Daddy on Board
Some moms have a challenge when mommy wants to use cloth and daddy doesn’t. Fortunately I didn’t have that problem. Neither Greg nor I mind going a little out of our way for the environment or to save money. Using cloth diapers on you baby really is easy. For those dad’s who are protesting, cloth diapers now aren’t what they used to be. Gone are the day’s of pins and prefolds. Don’t get me wrong, there are many people who absolutely love using prefolds out there. But for those picky dads (or moms) there has been great strides in the improvement of cloth diapers. Many brands look just like disposables and have velcro or snap tabs that close as easily as disposables.
So Many Options – where do I start?
After I became pregnant I began looking into different cloth diaper types. I used several resources including: Cloth Diaper Diva, The Diaper Pin and Diaper Jungle. You can also buy, sell and trade at Diaper Swappers. Check out Cloth Diaper Blog for cloth diaper sales around the web. For local shopping in the Columbus, New Albany, and Gahanna area, try out Sprout Soup. I was a little intimidated by the many different cloth diapers. I had no idea what a prefold was, or a fitted vs. AIO. I’m here ease your pain and explain what these different types are, pros and con’s and Jack’s experience with different types. I also suggest checking out additional cloth diaper reviews online.
ALL IN ONE
These diapers are just like the name,
all-in-one. One diaper with an inner absorbing layer and outer waterproof covering with velcro or snap closures. The inner layer is often of fleece or which helps wick the wetness away from baby’s skin. The outer layer is typically made of PUL (PolyUrethane Laminate), a waterproof material. An absorbant soaker sewn into the diaper. AIO’s and AIT’s (below) adjust as the baby grows so you don’t have to buy an entire new inventory of cloth diapers at each stage. They are the closest to disposables you can get. Brands: BumGenius, Bumkins, Swadlebees, DryBees
Pros: Extremely easy to use
Cons: Somewhat expensive, difficult to get clean and dry
ALL IN TWOs
Just like the all-in-ones but in two pieces. The absorbent soaker insert is not attached for easier cleaning. This is nice in case the soaker needs replaced. Brands: Bumkins, Swaddelbees, Rainforest Baby
Pro: Easier to wash and dry than AIO’s
Con: More pricey than other cloth diapers
CONTOUR
A fitted diaper (see description below) without the fasteners or elastic at the legs or waist. A simple design. Add a doubler for extra absorption and don’t forget the cover! Brands: kissaluv
Pros: Versatility to get the right fit for your baby
Cons: Tough with a squirmy baby, potential for leakage problems
FITTED
Fitted diapers are made of an absorbent cloth, shaped like an hour glass with gathers by the legs. They typically snap closed. These diapers need a cover. A doubler can be used to increase absorbency at night. Brands: Kissaluv, Happy Heiny’s, Tiny Birds Organic, Mother-Ease
Pro: Less expensive than AIO’s and AIT’s
Con: Take a long time to dry, they require a cover, and do not adjust as the baby grows, therefor need a new inventory of diapers. In the long run, an expensive option.
FLATS
Exactly like the name, they are a flat square, intended to be folded to fit the baby, usually origami style and fastened with a snappie or pins. They are single layer, 100% cotton material. They also require a cover. These are likely the diapers your grandma used. Brands: Wildflower Diapers, Green Mountain Diapers
Pro: inexpensive, versatile, easy to wash and dry
Con: Need folded and require a cover.
POCKET
These are similar to AIO’s and AIT’s. They have a pocket for the absorbent material so that mom and dad (we don’t discriminate) can customize the amount of absorbent material needed for their little one. Brands: BumGenius, Bumwear, Happy Heiny’s, Fuzzibunz, wonderoos
Pros: Easy to wash, dry, customize your adsorbent material,
Cons: Can be bulky, requires a stuffer, doesn’t adjust as baby grows.
PREFOLDs
Prefolds consist of a rectangular piece with a middle panel thicker (typically 6-8 layers) and outer thin layers. They are often made of gauze or birdseye, however there are DSQ diaper service quality also called Chinese Prefolds often made of hemp which are better quality. Prefolds are intended to be folded and fastened with a snappie (triangular shaped piece with sharp ends to hold diaper in place) or pins. A cover is needed. They are easy to wash and fast to dry. But may be hard with a squirmy baby due to the folding time. Check out How to Fold a Prefold At Diaper Jungle. Brands: Cloth-eez, gerber
Pros: Inexpensive, easy to wash and dry
Cons: May be intimidating at first, require a cover, might be tough with a squirmy baby.
ONE SIZE
One Size diapers grow with the baby by having extenders. Several AIO’s and Pocket diapers are One Size. Brands: BumGenius, Haute Pocket, Happy Heiny, Tiny Tush
Pros: This diaper will get your child from infancy to potty trained without needing to buy a larger size. Economical
Cons: May look bulky on newborns, can be more expensive than some diapers such as prefolds.
COVERS
Covers are needed for fitted, flat, and prefold diapers. They are usually contoured with elastic at the legs and snap or velcro closed. They are made of Polyurethane laminates (PUL), waterproof nylon, fleece or wool. Brands: Bummis, Happy Heiny, Imse Vimse
Jack Tested Diapers
These descriptions are Jack’s experience with each diaper, it may not be the same for all babies.
(I love the names of all the diapers, so cute and funny!)
AIO
Homemade by a woman’s friend whom I purchased off of craigs list. These diapers were a go-to diaper if all others were dirty or running small. Jack tended to pee through them, to his clothes, the second time if we didn’t recognize that he went, but when we were more diligent about observing those things the diapers held up well. This diaper did not work for bed time. Just not absorbent enough. They fit him for a fairly lengthy period, about 3 months to 10 months. But they were too big when he was younger and he did outgrow them before he turned one. They were easy to launder except that they took a very long time to dry. Cost: $12
Ease of use: 5/5
Comfort: 3/5
Bulkiness: 3/5
Maintenance ease: 4/5
Night Time Absorption: 1/5
Value: 4/5
BumGenius
Love these diapers! These are what we settled on. We found them to be the easiest to use. They have a fleece liner that wicks the wetness away from his bottom. The cloth insert soaks up all of the liquid very well, and you can add as many as needed (it will become progressively bulkier though). Jack does well with one insert during the day and used 2 at night when he got up more often and we changed him and 3 inserts now that he is sleeping longer (some nights anyway). The waterproof cover works well. I love the Velcro because Jack is very squirmy on the changing table so snaps just don’t work for us, although snaps are supposed to last longer than the Velcro. I hope I am able to replace the velcro myself if it begins to wear. I like that these diapers dry faster than others. The liners take a little more time but the diaper itself drys in no time. Most importantly I like how these diapers adjust (with snaps that let out more material) as Jack grows so we don’t have to purchase an entire new diaper supply at each growth spurt. They also make an AIO and fitted diaper. Cost: $17.95
Ease of use: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Bulkiness: 4/5
Maintenance ease: 4/5
Night Time Absorption: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Bumwear
Jack tried out one Bumwear diaper. I like that they are similar to the BumGenius in that they are a pocket diaper with a fleece liner. I’m not a fan of the snaps. I feel like these didn’t fit Jack as well. The way it snaps, to get it snug at the waist it makes this pouch and gaps at this legs. We had some issues with leakage. Also this one does not grow with the baby as well, it has elastic to grow a bit but no extenders. Also this diaper is very pricey - Cost:$27 (I got it on craigslist for much less)
Ease of use: 4/5
Comfort: 3/5
Bulkiness: 4/5
Maintenance ease: 4/5
Night Time Absorption: 3/5
Value: 2/5
Earthwise Baby
We tried a few of these diapers when Jack was a little older, maybe 6/9 months. They are a fitted, one-size with a snap on extra absorbent doubler and gathers around the legs. They velcro closed. They fit nicely, looked comfortable. It works pretty well with the cover. I’d probably saw this is my favorite fitted. I really think the one-size is the best value of all cloth diapers. I like the velcro, easy to use. They require a cover and take longer to dry. Earthwise baby don’t have the fleece liner like the pocket’s so again when wet, stays wet. These diapers I got from the ChoiceParent Resource Center (a donate and take room). I have searched online and haven’t found a photo or website to view information except for a few reviews. I wish I could tell you where to get these and how much. If I find out, I’ll post an update!
Ease of use: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Bulkiness: 3/5
Maintenance ease: 3/5
Night Time Absorption: 2/5
Value: 4/5
Happy Heiny’s
I loved this diaper when Jack was little, we had a newborn size. It looked very comfortable for him. It is a pocket, very well made, velcro is nice and thick and Lay’s nicely in the front. Also has the fleece liner. I wasn’t a big fan of the insert, it was a different type of cloth that didn’t seem to hold the liquid as well. Jack would saturate it to the max after one potty. My biggest beef with this diaper is that it didn’t grow with baby, and there were so many sized that I would have had to spend a fortune to use these exclusively. They now make one-size diaper which i think is a much better value, and they carry fitted diapers as well. Cost: $17.95
Ease of use: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Bulkiness: 4/5
Maintenance ease: 3/5
Night Time Absorption: 3/5
Value: 1/5 (their one-size would be a better value)
Haute Pocket
I would put this diaper somewear between the BumGenius and Bumwear. It too is a pocket diaper with fleece lining. I like the shape of this diaper, the “wings” on either end make it fit nicely when snapped – but it does has snap’s which becomes an issue with squirmy wormy babies. This diaper also has snap extenders to grow with baby. It has a little of that same pouch problem but not as much as the Bumwear. Overall, not too bad. Cost $17.95
Ease of use: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Bulkiness: 3/5
Maintenance ease: 4/5
Night Time Absorption: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Kussaluvs
We used a number of these diapers when Jack was first born. I liked that they were small and looked comfortable on him. They are a fitted diaper with snaps and needed a cover so that is another lengthy and challenging diaper change for Mr. Squirmy pants as daddy liked to say. My biggest issue with this diaper is that Jack would pee through the diaper, cover, and his clothes every time he wore one of these diapers, so lots of leakage. There is no fleece liner like the pocket’s so when they are wet, they are very wet and stay wet. Overall thought Jack had issues peeing out of diapers through his clothes but these were probably the worst. I know not all boys and most girls don’t have this issue so these might be a nice option for other babies. They aren’t as bulky as some of the pocket and AIO diapers. They are less expensive but after you add in the cost of a good cover they are nearly the same price as other diapers. They also take a really long time to dry (in a dryer sometimes over 90 min). They might be better with a line dry, which we didn’t have available at the time. Cost: $12.95
Ease of use: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Bulkiness: 5/5
Maintenance ease: 3/5
Night Time Absorption: 1/5
Value: 3/5
Mommy’s Touch
This is a pocket, one-size cloth diaper. It has a waterproof outer layer and fleece lining with a cloth absorbent removable soaker inside. This diaper is snap which again, many moms love but didn’t work for our wiggly baby. Mommy’s Touch does make diapers with velcro. This diaper has variations to enlarge your baby grows however I found them confusing. And Jack has nearly outgrown his Mommy’s Touch at 25lbs. Cost: $18.95
Ease of use: 2/5
Comfort: 3/5
Bulkiness: 3/5
Maintenance ease: 3/5
Night Time Absorption: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Mother-ease
These are a One Size diaper with snaps and require a cover. They are also a one size so they grow with baby. It has nice “wings” on both sides so it clothes nicely, but again, the slow snappes. I didn’t like how there was not elastic at the legs so Jack had leakage issues with this one. One insert can snap into this diaper which works well for the daytime , but that was not enough for Jack at night. They are low cost but after adding in a good cover, price is similar to other diapers. Cost $12 (they also make an AIO and Fitted)
Ease of use: 2/5
Comfort: 2/5
Bulkiness: 3/5
Maintenance ease: 3/5
Night Time Absorption: 1/5
Value: 3/5
Make Your Own Wipe Solution
Why not use cloth wipes; you will be laundering the diapers anyway so it’s no problem to throw in the wipes too! This is so incredibly easy, and think about the money you will save and the chemicals you will spare you little ones skin. All you need is:
1 Cup water
1 TBS baby bath soap
8-15 drops of tea tree essential oil
(for scent and to prevent fungus/mold)
If you have a diaper warmer, try adding the solution into the warmer, however any container will due. For cloths, I use wash cloths or receiving blankets cut into small squares. I received enough receiving blankets for an army at my baby shower. Simply dip the cloth in the solution and you’re ready to go.
Cloth Diaper Ready
I hope you now feel confidant to try out cloth diapering. This basic information can help your family choose a diaper that every family member is comfortable with. Cloth diapering is simple, eco-friendly and great for your baby. I hope my basic info and reviews were helpful. If you have any questions let me know drhprenger@gmail.com
Please comment: tell me how you got started with cloth diapers?
Stay tuned for upcoming posts on Laundering your cloth diapers and another on Natural Remedy’s for itchy bug bites and bee stings and choosing a good repelant.
Hocking Hills and Homemade Salsa
Hocking hills was beautiful last weekend. I was worried the weather wouldn’t be on our side, all week storms were predicted. However it was sunny and warm with a gorgeous blue sky. We hiked 5.5-6 miles, the OFSC staff and several patients. It was great exercise and loved going somewhere new. There is so much to see at Hocking Hills that I’ll have to go back. We enjoyed lunch after the hike at a patients lakehouse. It was relaxing and fun.
Also, recently, Greg, Jack and I checked out the Worthington Farmer’s Market. Doted the largest in Columbus. There were vendors lining both sides of High Street. The food vendors had very long lines, it was definatelly a popular place. I saw strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, peas, green beans, asparagus, lettice, apples, cheese, free range chicken and beef, and more. I purchased a few tomtoes to make a homemade salsa. I also picked up a few plants, 2 tomatoes, a basil and a parsley. I know we have a huge organic garden, but those plants were very behind and I wanted a garentee abundant plant! As you can tell, I can be a little impatient, which isn’t a good trait of a gardener. But the plants were well priced at the market. I was impressed with how many flower and plant vendors we saw. They had a little bit of everything in Worthington. It is definately worth checking out if you live in columbus and enjoy fresh produce. It wasn’t a bad hike even from New Albany. We were a little rushed the morning that we went so I hope to go back again. I think the produce selection will continue to grow as we get further into the summer.
Sheryl’s Salsa
2 Tomatoes, diced
1 red onion
1 Can white corn
1 can black beans
Italian dressing
Dr. Heather’s variation: Add the following
1 choped Mango
1/2 C choped green onion
Succulent Summer Smoothie
Today it is supposed to have temperatures near 90 degrees in Columbus, Ohio. I’m sure those of you living in Florida have already had a dose of hot humid temperatures this year. So here is a yummy, anti-oxidant refreshing smoothie to try out, great for breakfast, lunch or snack anytime of year.
2 Cups frozen berries
2 Bananas
1 Cup Kefir
1/4 – 1/2 Can Coconut Milk
Blend all ingredients and serve. Makes 2-4 servings depending on how hungry you are.
Benefits of the ingredients:
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Berries & Cherries- they are loaded with anti-oxidants, which protect cells from dist ruction and abnormal growth. This is great for preventing cancer, heart disease, arthritis and other chronic inflammatory illness. Check out the benefits of Blueberries, Cherries, Raspberries, and strawberries.
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Bananas- an excellent source of fiber (about 4 g) and potassium (about 400 mg). They also have 20% DV of vitamin B6, 15% DV of vitamin C, and 1g of protein.
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Kefir - If you aren’t familiar with kefir, it
is similar to yogurt but more runny, thicker than milk. It has a tangy taste and comes in many flavors and organic. Kefir is loaded with probiotics. Most yogurts have 1-3 probiotics in them, even ones such as “DanActive” which market its probiotic and immune properties. However Kefire has 10 probiotics in them. Probiotics promote healthy intestinal flora which builds the immune system and helps the body protect against bad bacteria, viruses and fungal/yeast infections. Kefir can be found in most grocery stores in the milk or yogurt isle.
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Coconut Milk- This is full of healthy natural saturated fats. Coconut sometimes gets a bad rap for its high saturated fat content. But not all saturated fat is created equal. It is true that some saturated fats clog arteries such as that in animal and dairy products. But the saturated fat in coconut is actually anti-inflammatory and helps prevent the clogging of arteries. Read more about the benefits of coconut at the Coconut Research Center
Do you have a favorite summer smoothie recipe you would like to share? Please comment!
STAY TUNED MONDAY FOR MY EXTENSIVE POSTING ON “GETTING STARTED WITH CLOTH DIAPERS”
Greener Future Friday: Household Waste Disposal
This one is for you JamieLee! So what do you do with those household chemicals, pesticides, old paint, florescent light bulbs, medication, and more that you want to discard? Throwing them in the trash is a big no-no! Don’t try dumping down the toiled either. You don’t want that hazardous waste to go into landfills, seep into the ground and eventually make it back into your drinking water. We already have a problem with prescription medication in our water. Check out this news story. Was your city tested? What was found? Below I have listed some information on identifying hazardous chemicals and where to dispose of them. This may be a great time to clean out your closets of toxic chemicals. I will be posting in the future on how to make you own homemade cleaners. One of which I already posted HERE.
How do you know it is hazardous?
Read the label! Look for words like Poison, Danger, Warning, and Caution
Hazardous products have at least one of these properties:
Toxic:
Poisonous, chemical including pesticides, paint thinners, auto products and some cleaners.
Look for words like “Harmful or fatal of swallowed” and “use only in a well-ventilated area”
Flammable:
Chemicals that burn easily such as paint thinners, solvents, and auto products.
Look for words like “Combustible” and “Do not use near heat or flame.”
Corrosive:
These products eat through materials such as oven cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and car batteries.
Look for words like “causes severe burns on contact” and “Can burn eyes, skin, throat”.
Reactive:
These chemicals can spontaneously ignite or create poisonous vapors when mixed with other products. Also some products can explode when exposed to air, heat, water, or shock.
Chemicals to use proper disposal site:
- Aerasol cleaners
- Batteries
- Bug spray
- Cleaners
- Electronics
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Furniture stripper
- Glue
- Lighter fluid
- Mercury thermometer
- Nail polish and remover
- Oil and oil based chemicals
- Paint and Thinner
- Pesticides
- Polish with solvents
- Pool chemicals
- Spot removers
- Stain/varnish
- Wood polish
- Wood preservation
Where to Dispose
In Columbus, Ohio you can dispose of your hazardous chemicals HERE:
Where: 1249 Essex Ave, Columbus 43201, near the Ohio State Fair Grounds
When: April-October: Wed. 2pm-7pm, Thurs 9am-5pm &
November-March: Wed 2pm-6pm, Thurs 9am-5pm
Find YOUR local drop site HERE
Check our more resources at: www.epa.gov
Please comment on what household cleaner recipe you would like me to provide in the future!
Wigs, Hops & Shower
We had a busy, interesting, and fun weekend. It started off on Saturday with Daddy and Jack playing at home while JamieLee and I went to an event 
for work, Relay for Life, sponsored by The American Cancer Society in Newark, Ohio, about 30 min. from New Albany. It was a perfect sunny, warm afternoon. I was glad to be outside. The event was for a great cause, raising money for Cancer Research. JamieLee and I were there to offer stretching and myofascial treatment to the participants and to meet people and get Ohio Family & Sports Chiropractic out in the community. 
Wigs for Women
The vendor next to us was a Newark hair salon offering free hair cuts and donations to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths, a program to donate your hair for wigs made for cancer patients. Pantene partnered with several sponsors to offer “ Wigs Helping Women,” free wigs for cancer patients. They need 8″ for a ponytail and 6 ponytails make a wig. Find out how to donate here. I saw many women of all ages throughoutut the afternoon visiting the hair salon table and donating. It was moving and inspiring to see young teenagers scared to death to get their hair chopped but doing it proudly. This reminded me of my OSU Rowing teammate Amanda who used to do this regularly with Locks of Love(which I learned charges for their wigs). I also kept looking down at my very long ponytail and felt pretty embarrassed standing there while so many others donated with much shorter hair than me. I contemplated throughout the event “should I? Shouldn’t I? Should I?” In the end I thought, why not! I thought it’s probably something I should do sometime in my life, especially with my family history of cancer, and I really did need a hair cut. Afterwards I felt good that I contributed to a wig that will hopefully make someones day!
Here goes nothin...
That's a lot of hair!
Still plenty of hair left
Hopin’ Gallery Hop
Saturday evening JamieLee and I went to the Gallery Hop in the Short North. I told JamieLee about the monthly Gallery Hop a while ago, thinking it was a fun event to represent a little bit of Columbus to this California native. Finally the scheduling worked out and we made it to the hop! This was only my second time, my first being my freshman year at Ohio State. We grabbed dinner at one of my favorites, The Northstar Cafe, then headed downtown. We saw many beautiful gallery’s and jewelry stands. There was a cool store called Tiger Tree which sells many products made by recycled children’s books. I really liked their blue polka dot shoes! I also liked their reusable shopping bags which could be folded into a pock-sized pouch. I enjoyed the numerous ethnic stores, the girl on stilts, a wine tasting, and the plethora of local bands, including a drum-line. JamieLee really liked the LARGE girl belly dancing who fortunately I did not see, and the toothpick girl. Check out her take on the night at her blog Calie and Me .
Shower Baby Shower
Sunday I went to my good rowing friend Heather (aka Feldmann) Strang’s baby shower. I am really excited for my friend, who with her husband, helped Greg and I meet for the first time back in college. Heather was looking beautiful and I hope she has a wonderful birthing experience. 
I also visited with a few other college friends who were there. At the shower there were some tasty treats and a few traditional baby shower games, which I am never good at.
After the shower I picked up Greg and Jack to head to the Prenger homestead for a multi-birthday Celebration. Most of Greg’s family have their birthdays in June (and February). Grandma and the kids thought it would be fun to ride around in the wheel barrel.
It was a tireing but fun and fulfilling weekend.
Great Green Giveaways in June
- Frugal Plus is giving away a Green Toy product – made from recycled products, BPA, Phthalate, and PVC Free
- Traveling with Baby is running an awesome giveaway for a UVskinz products – great way to stay protected in the sun this season for mom and baby – go there!
- Spots on My Apples presents this interesting giveaway for a wellness salt lamp by Solay- check it out
- A working blogging mommy – is hosting a green giveaway for an organic reversible hoodie by Happy Green Bee – check it out!
UV Skinz Giveaway
Traveling with Baby is running an awesome giveaway for a UVskinz products. A great way to stay protected in the sun this season for mom and baby. Check out the post for an aboundance of information on the truth about sunscreen and it’s claimed protection.
Greener Future Fridays: Composting 101
There are a number of ways to compost at home. There is worm composting, composte bins and what I all bare bones composting which I will explain today.
Why Compost
Really we should ask: Why purchase chemical laden fertilizer when you can make your own 100% natural version? Composting is great to supplement your garden naturally while reducing landfill waste. About 20%-30% of household
waste can be compost. Compost returns organic matter to the soil. This will provide helpful microorganisms to aerate the soil, provide essential nutrients, loosen clay soils, help sandy soils hold moisture, and enhance root penetration. You will have healthier plants and therefore cleaner air!
What can be composted
- Kitchen Scraps – fruit and veggie scraps, egg shells, corn cobs, coffee grind
- Yard Trimmings – leaves, grass clippings, twigs, shrub trimmings, hay, straw
- Use Sparingly – sawdust and ashes – they are very high in carbon
- Avoid – meet, bones, dairy, cooking oil, and diseased or pesticide coated plants.
How to get started:
- Start your compost on the bare earth to help the materials decompose. I recommend doing this in the back of your yard. You can put a fence or covering around the area to keep animals out if you like.
- An area of 3-5 cubic feet is best – smaller will not stay warm enough in the winter and larger will not allow enough air in.
- First lay down twigs and/or straw, which will help water drain and air filter through the pile.
- Next layer your food scraps, and continues alternating twigs/leaves/ashes (brown materials) with fruit, veggie, and other food scraps (green materials). This will help maintain the critical carbon/nitrogen ratio. Compost should consist of mostly carbon, about 2/3 carbon, 1/3 nitrogen. If you have too much nitrogen your compost may begin to take on a not so pleasant odor.
- Finally turn and mix up your compost regularly and make sure it gets water if it has not rained lately. Your compost will be ready for the garden in 3-4 months.
For more details on composting try visiting Earth Easy
Farmer’s Market Weekend
Greg and I decided we want to tour all of the farmer’s markets in the Columbus area this summer. I fell in love with Farmer’s Market’s after spending a summer in Madison, Wisconsin with the US National Rowing Development Camp, while in College. We checked out the Madison farmer’s market one Saturday and it was Amazing, the largest one I’ve ever been to. It took up a huge block in the center of town with live bands, and so many vendors from fresh veggies to cheese, flowers, honey, and so much more. From then on I have loved farmer’s market’s. I love the idea of buying items that are fresh and local and homemade. On Friday I compiled a preliminary list of all the Columbus area farmer’s markets I could find, and then they are open.
This weekend was the beginning of our tour. Only a handful are open this early. We chose Clintonville’s Farmer’s Market as our first. It was a reasonable size, not quite as big as the one we used to go to in Daytona Beach but it had a nice variety of vendors, from fresh produce to veggie and herb plants, hand-made candles, meet and cheese, baked goods, reusable grocery bags and more. 
Most of the vendors sold organic, all-natural products!
We purchased some grass-fed beef, free range chicken, and organic cheese. I found the largest green onion I’ve ever seen! We also picked up fresh asparagus, cherry tomatoes and green beans.
When we got home I through the veggies in a bowl with some cooked pasta, home-made vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese for a yummy summer pasta salad, while Greg threw some chicken and burgers on the grill. It made for a nice afternoon and yummy dinner on the patio. If you would like a complete list of all vendors and produce offered at the Clintonville Farmer’s Market check out their website here.
I can’t wait for next weekend on the farmer’s market columbus tour! Althougth not all are on the weekend. We may hit up the downtown, pearl Ally market on tuesday which I’ve heard is pretty good!
Columbus Area Farm Market List
Canal Winchester
Saturday 9am-1pm @ High St. in historic downtown
Clintonville
Saturday 9am-noon @ High St. just north of N Broadway, Starts May 30th
Delaware County Fairgrounds
Sat. 10am-noon @ 236 pennsylvania Ave.
Delaware
Sat 9am-noon & Wed. 3pm-6pm @ downtown Deleware
Gahanna
Wed. 4pm-7pm @ Creekside Plaza on Mill St., July 8-Oct. 28
Grove City/Circle S Farm
Sat 8am-noon @ 9015 london Groveport Rd., July 5-Sept. 6
Jefferson (Blacklick)
Sat. 9am-noon @ 7494 Clark State Rd
Pearl Ally Growers (Bexly)
Sat. 10-1pm @ 224 E. Main St., July 12-Oct 25
Pearl Ally Growers (Columbus Square)
Tues. 4pm-6pm @ Cleveland Ave and 161, July 8-Oct 28
Pearl Ally Growers (Grandview)
Sat. 10am-1pm @ Grandview Ave and 2nd, July 12-end of Sept.
Pearl Ally Growers (Upper Arlington)
Wed 4pm-6pm @ The Mallway, 2100 Arlington Ave. June9-Oct29
Pearl Market
Tues&Fri. 10:30-2 @ Pearl Ally 1 block North of State House, May19- Oct30
Powell
Thurs. 3pm-6pm @ 47 Hall St. Downtown Powell, June 11-Oct 1
Westerville
Sat. 9am-noon & Wed. 3pm-6pm @ Downtown, June 6-Sept. 26
Worthington
Sat. – 9am-noon @ High St., 1 block South of 161, mid May-Oct.
