I get three basic kinds of hate mail or comments related to global warming:

Good hate mail: Nice smart hate mail or comments with decent arguments and respectful comments (these folks just don’t agree with me). I post these comments and try to respond to the emails.

Stupid hate mail: Idiot hate mail or comments that make no sense and offer no back up, “YOU SUCK!” or “You know why the ice is melting  - the sun dumb ass…” or “This guy says you’re wrong” then there’s a link back to some joke website by Joe Blow the unpublished scientific mind who rambles on and on about nothing. Um, ok. I don’t respond to these because it’s a waste of my time.

The people who want me dead hate mail: To be honest it’s a little startling to get an email from someone who says they’ll find me where I live and get me or that they want to hold my brain in their hands, but oddly, they don’t freak me out like the stupid hate mailers. Sometimes, low and behold the crazies actually offer up some facts to support their violence mind set. NOT that I condone violence but well, at least they’re thinking.

I find all of the above strange because one, I don’t write about global warming all that often, and two, while I do believe in global warming, my whole stance is going green for other reasons too, not just because of global warming. Lastly, hello, nice family blog! I’m not out to get anyone. Oddly, in my real world offline life, people argue with me about global warming, but not to such extremes. I’m guessing hiding behind the Internet makes one braver. Or maybe the people I know in real life just don’t care. I’m not really sure.

That said, maybe you’re not getting death threats, maybe you’re just arguing with people nicely. Still, if you have these global warming issues with folks online or in real life I know a guide that can help you out.

Grist put together an amazing guide called: How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming, that covers so many arguments and issues related to global warming it boggles the mind about how they found the time to pull this together. The guide is divided into common skeptical arguments on global warming, which include; Stages of Denial, Scientific Topics, Types of Argument, and Levels of Sophistication.

This Grist guide handles the easy - there is no proof that CO2 is causing global warming, to the misinformed - natural emissions dwarf human emissions, to non-scientific - global warming is a hoax, to naive - It’s the sun, stupid, and everything in-between. With over a hundred pieces to this guide so far (it appears to be growing) you’re sure to find one good way to debate with your questioning neighbor, mean MIL, crackpot co-worker and anyone else who comes your way.

Grist rocks all the time, and this guide just makes me love them more. Take a look today.

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Kids love arts and crafts, puttering in the garden, and helping out in the kitchen - all of it, messy business for a little one. However, you can let your tot indulge his or her inner mess maker while keeping their clothing a bit cleaner with a great organic apron choice. As shown above Under the Nile makes extra cute natural 100% organic Egyptian cotton aprons in both Denim and an adorable gardening style.

Mimi the Sardine recently transitioned to using only 100% organic cotton in their products, and they’ve got some beautiful organic apron choices for kids. These brightly colored Oeko-Tex Standard certified aprons are made with 100% organic cotton and water based dyes, sure to please both wanna get messy kiddos and green-minded parents.

Last up are the natural looking, adorable Divine 100% Organic Aprons for Kids. Made with 100% organic hemp/cotton fabric and a simple design, these aprons are picture prefect for organic cooking kid fun. Comes in two styles; Meadow Print with little bird and City Monster with little bird.

$20 - Organic Denim Apron via Under the Nile

$13.73 - Organic Gardening Apron via Atlantas Naturals

$20 - Mimi the Sardine Organic Aprons via Giggle

$28 - Divine 100% Organic Aprons for Kids via Hazel Wood Children

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What’s noteworthy at the site:

Rainforest Heros is packed with tools for adults that make teaching kids about rainforests easier. For example at the Teacher’s Lounge, you can download an awesome Kids Action Toolkit that’s designed to answer your students’/kids questions about rainforests, climate change, Indigenous land rights, animal and plant species, and the latest causes of deforestation. There’s also a neat FREE movie you can watch with your kids, Forest Family Forever!, that tells the story of a thousand year old grandfather tree who teaches his sapling grandson about the wonders of the rainforests and what kids can do to save them. Lastly are lesson plans, ideas, fact sheets and more - all created to help you pass on rainforest knowledge to the kiddos.

The kids corner is made just for the littles and has activities, action steps, news about what other kids are doing and more.

The Jungle Gym section of the site is made for fun and learning with a Kids’ Art Gallery, Crafts and Recipes, Games, Coloring Books and more.

Best of all is a heroes area that highlights what kids all over are doing to save the rainforests. Kids learn best by example, in my opinion, and when they learn from other kids it drives the point even further home.

Visit Rainforest Heroes today and get the whole family involved in rainforest action.

[image via Rainforest Action Network]

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If you’re looking for a fun summer project for the kiddos, you really can’t go wrong with Shains Recycled Fashion Accessories. Shains takes crafty fun to a whole new level with their line of recycled and recyclables bracelets, necklaces, pet collars, hair bands, key chains, and more. Each accessory is lead free certified, and designed to work with Shains colorful array of interchangeable icons and letters.

Because of the small icons, Shains is an inappropriate craft for kiddos under three years of age, but after that, kids are good to go. Shains accessories encourage kids (or adults) to make their own interchangeable and wearable statements with great elements (icons and letters). Shains not only serves up fun, but does so in a eco-friendly manner. Eco-perks of Shains’ accessories include:

• Bracelets & Cuffs made of recycled TRE (Thermoplastic Elastomer, a rubber).
• Elements are made of recycled ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).
• Packaging is made from recycled and recyclable paper.
• All of the Shains accessories are recyclable when kids are done with them.
• Shainsware, the Shains company, gives back a percentage of net profits to environmental organizations.

Prices on Shains Accessories vary; starting at $1.00 for a 4-pack of icons and $3.50 for one recycled bracelet. The best deals are on the multi-packs though. For example, your child can snag a Recycled Cuff with 60 Elements for $13. Visit the Shains shop for all accessories and prices.

+ Shains Recycled Fashion Accessories

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Corncob cake via Family Fun

This Corn on the Cobcake is WAY too adorable, and although it’s not organic, you could totally switch it up with some clever organic thinking. I.e organic jelly beans and organic cake + frosting. In any case, finding this recipe got me thinking about food that resembles veggies, flowers, fruits and other nature items. All super fun for kids, and perfect for 4th of July, or really any old summer day.

Here are some ideas, but remember to switch out conventional ingredients for organic and natural ingredients when possible.

Sherbet the Frog and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Melon also from Family Fun

Use sweet little Pocket Pie Molds from Williams-Sonoma to make all sorts of fun treats. The heart is not so nature minded, but I like the idea of lots of stars on the dinner table. Fill with cherries, organic tofu and veggies, organic peaches, organic chicken and broccoli, and more. Be creative.

All sorts of insect shaped foods!

For all sorts of nature minded cupcakes and other treats try these molds:

• Flower Silicone Baking Cups
• Bear Silicone Baking Cups
• Leaves and Acorns Nesting Metal Cutter Set
• Bug Buddies Metal Cutter Set

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There are shades of green, and the point is to not only find the shade that suits your family but the shade you’ll stick with. For example, I don’t think anyone should use disposable grocery bags. There’s plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t that make sense to most people. However, where it gets sticky is when it comes to choosing the bags you’ll be shopping with. Should you choose recycled organic cotton bags from a well known eco company (my choice) or go with reusable heavy plastic bags (reusable but still a plastic, so not perfect) or those bags from the store that don’t last as long (reusable, but not for as long as say, hemp or cotton). One green decision turns into many.

The answer to the above question is going to depend on your family. I won’t use those store made reusable bags because I think it’s lame that they’re not made to last. I do however like them a lot more than totally disposable bags. Some people only use store reusable bags and that’s still a much smarter green choice than disposable.

Another example is the water bottle issue. We all know disposable water bottles are bad news. Plenty of us have reusable water bottles. On the flip side some folks use filters (of which very few are recyclable) or have water delivered which creates energy drains. IF you’ll only use a reusable water bottle if you can fill it with filtered water it’s not as green a choice as tap water, BUT it’s so much better than buying disposable water bottles.

You have to choose a shade of green you’ll actually use. If someone is bugging you because you’re not using the sort of bags they think are the greenest, ignore them. Your shade of green is better than none especially if it works for you.

Small choices your way is a good way to start getting green. To see some small changes you might be interested in making check out:

Baby green steps that any family can do…

The small steps series here at THF

[image via stock.xchng]

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