Top 5 ways to Green your Sprout-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras (shrove Tuesday, fat Tuesday, pancake Tuesday) is today, the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Parties and parades (as well as pancakes) have long been associated with this celebration; so what's a eco-parent to do? Celebrate of course!

1. Start the day off with organic, local pancakes (if your in the greater Columbia area check out Anson Mills!)
2. Create your own mardi gras beads by stringing colorful bottle caps on a string or get fancy with this recycled silk scarf necklace
3. Raid the recycling bin for a cereal box or two. Cut out mask shapes (be creative!) and let your sprout have a blast with paint, markers and any random craft items you may have (be sure to let these dry in time for #5!)
4. Cook and enjoy vegetarian gumbo & rice with your little sprouts (yummy recipe here)
5. End your day with a King cake (hide a berry or bit of chocolate in the cake instead of a plastic baby to avoid BPA, phthalates and neurontoxins)...the sprout with the surprise gets to lead the "parade of masks" to bed!

Enjoy your Fat Tuesday... and consider doing a carbon fast for Lent (check out this calender for information!)

Green around town

Today I was at our local zoo and saw many green projects that they have put into place. The automatic sinks and soap dispensers, the air hand dryers, the map recycling bins but most amazing of all... they are selling compost made from the animal waste at the zoo! (Not to mention they have paper made of the elephant waste in the gift shop) I love the fact they are being proactive in the disposable of the animal's waste and at the same time educating the visitors about the benefits of compost use and composting. (search Gardening Renaissance on facebook for more information on composting and sustainable gardening methods; also if you are in the Columbia SC area take one of the informative courses they will be offering!)

Have you seen any greening taking place around you and your community? If so, what was it? If not, what would you like to see?