alphabet street eco mini mag newcastle
DESCRIPTION
A destination for all things kidsTRANSCRIPT
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 Little Eco Footprints. 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.
Tricia Hogbin is an eco conscious mum who lives on an urban block in Newcastle but dreams of living closer to nature. She is also owner and editor of Little Eco Footprints- an online blog about living with minimal impact on the environment. .
5.
7. Eco Reads
11. School Holiday Fun
14. Eco Party
Why is plastic not so fantastic
16.
22 Q & A with Lindy Klim
24 10 Eco Activities
29 Worm Farming for kids
35 Eco Product Directory
40 Tiger Tribe Giveaway
42 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.
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.
Nature is Fun –Hunter Region Botanic Gardens A program for children from 4 to 12 years of age. Come an see what
lives in our Garden! Explore the bush, collect specimens, make a craft
item to take home, learn and have fun during the school holidays. Join
our guides for a fun morning exploring the Hunter Region Botanic
Gardens. Collect great specimens, learn about nature and make a craft
item to take home.. Read more..
WHEN: 11th July
WHERE: Hunter Region Botanic Gardens-Pacific Highway Heatherbrae
COST: FREE
Blackbutt Reserve Junior Rangers The Newcastle Permanent / Blackbutt
Reserve Junior Ranger Program runs every
school holidays and is a great opportunity
to have a fun learning experience in the
great outdoors. This holidays theme will be
„Rapt in Reptiles‟ where children (aged 6-
10 years) will have the opportunity to have
a close encounter with a reptile resident,
hunt around the reserve for
animals, and get creative with craft and
games.Read more..
WHEN: 9th-13th July 9.30am-11.30am
WHERE: Blackbutt Reserve Richley Reserve
COST: $17 per child & $3 for photo/placemat Morning tea, take home
activity pack and participation certificate.
Bookings essential PH: 4904 3344
11..
Hunter Wetlands-Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies (4-7 years) Getting out and about in the Wetlands,
walk through our Bush tucker Garden, do
some dip netting and crafts.
Please be sure to wear closed in shoes &
bring a hat, morning tea & a bottle of
water. Read more..
WHEN: 11th July 9am-12.30pm
WHERE: Hunter Wetlands-Sandgate Rd Shortland
COST: $20 per person
WilderQuest Warriors (Urban) –Blue Gum Hills Regional Park Calling all WilderQuest Warriors, come
visit Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, near
Newcastle. It is a great place to
explore the environment, with plenty of
animals and plants to discover.
Take a walk along some of the tracks
and see who lives in the park, who
knows you might spot the local lace
monitors, swamp wallabies or yellow-
tailed black glossy cockatoos! Read
more....
WHEN: Friday 6th July 10am-12pm
WHERE: BGHRP NPWS carpark, off Minmi Road, Minmi
COST: $15 for one child, discounts for more (adults free)
Bookings essential-PH 02 4946 4112
Hunter Wetlands-Wacky Wetland Tour (4-8 years) Get wild and wacky and take a peek behind the scenes. Learn more
about wildlife on site, with hands on demonstrations with our wacky
professor. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, protective footwear, insect
repellent, morning tea, lunch and a bottle of water.. Read more...
WHEN: Thurs 12th July 10.30am-12pm
WHERE Hunter Wetlands-Sandgate Rd Shortland
COST: $10 per person
12.
Winter Whale Tales -Glenrock Rediscover your favourite stretches of
coastline and share the epic adventure
of Australia‟s largest long distance
swimmers as these amazing creatures
make their next appearance off the
shores of Glenrock. Read more...
WHEN: Thursday 12 July, 10:00AM to 12:00PM
WHERE: Meeting Place- Leggy Point carpark, Glenrock
COST: $8 per person Bookings 02 4946 4100
WilderQuest Warriors (Aboriginal)-Glenrock
State Conservation Area Calling all WilderQuest Warriors, come visit
Glenrock State Conservation Area. It is a
great place to explore the environment, with
plenty of animals and plants to discover.
Take a walk along along the rocky shoreline,
who knows you might spot ... a crazy crab or
a whale out to sea.
For children aged 5 to 8 years. Read more...
WHEN: Friday 13 July, 10:00AM to 12:00PM
WHERE: Meeting Place- Merewether Baths/Beach
COST: $15 for one child, discounts for more (adults free)
Bookings essential; call 02 49446 4112 13.
Junior Ranger - Winter Whale Tales Want to know more about whales? Come along on our fantastic whale
tour, designed especially for kids. Have lots of fun, play whale games
and listen to whale tales about their lives and whale journeys up and
down the coast. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and
binoculars (if you have them). Please wear fully enclosed footwear.
Read more...
WHEN: Sun 8th July 2pm-4pm
WHERE Meeting Place- Zenith beach carpark, end of Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay Bookings-PH: 02 4984 8200
COST: $10 per child, accompanying adult free
If commercial paruy ventes aren’u yotr thing, Organic Farm parties are a
great alternative.
14.
Tricia Hogbin from Little Eco Footprints shares her
Organic Farm party experience at
Purple Pear Organic Farm.
Looking for a unique, eco-friendly and
educational venue for your little one‟s
next birthday party? Purple Pear
Organics in Anambah, just outside
Maitland NSW provide natural food and
natural fun in a wonderful natural
environment giving children everything
they need for a memorable birthday
party experience.
After the farm tour guests enjoy a
seasonal story and receive party favours
related to the story. For example guests
at a Summer party listened to a
delightful story about sunflowers and
bees and took home a small jar of
honey and a packet of sunflower seeds.
Guests at my daughters recent Autumn
party listened to a story about bulbs
and got to take home their very own
baby bulb to plant and nurture.
My daughters bulb was planted in a pot
and recently sprouted from the ground.
Each time she waters it she mentions her
„farm party‟ and the fun she had.
15
Does the amount of effort, waste, chaos
and sugar that‟s associated with kids
birthday parties concern you? Thankfully,
Purple Pear Organic Farm in the lower
Hunter Valley has started hosting simple,
waste-free, natural, preservative-free
birthday parties.
My daughter recently celebrated her 5th
birthday at Purple Pear Farm. I love that I
could outsource party organisation
without compromising on any of my ideals
regarding waste, food and play. More
importantly, my daughter and her friends
thought it was the „best party ever!‟
These sweet parties each follow a similar
structure, but are customised to the
season and the birthday child‟s age and
interests.
Party food is seasonal and preservative-
free. Celebrations start with a healthy
snack of fruit kebabs, popcorn and a
natural cordial. Later, the birthday cake is
enjoyed with seasonal smoothies.
The highlight of the parties is tour of the
farm. Guests feed the ducks and
chickens, collect eggs, munch on
produce straight from the garden, nurse
guinea pigs and feed the pony.
For more information and to book your
own organic farm birthday party
contact Kate from Purple Pear Organic
Farm at [email protected]. Find
out more about Purple Pear Organic
Farm at www.purplepear.net.au
Tricia Hogbin is an eco conscious
mum who lives on an urban block in
Newcastle but dreams of living closer
to nature. She is also owner and editor
of Little Eco Footprints- an online blog
about living with minimal impact on
the environment.
.
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:
16.
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.
17.
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.
19..
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! 21.
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.
22.
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.
23
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
There are plenty of guided tours run by whale
watching companies available in the area or
sign up to one of the national parks school
holiday tours at Glenrock or Tomaree (see
school holidays section). If you want to take
your chance on sightings without assistance,
head to Strzelecki lookout for the best
vantage points across the Newcastle
coastline. For more info on best sighting locations go to Wild About Whales website
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.
Happy Giddy Kids‟
Binoculars RRP $12.95
playsafekids.com.au
Must Have
Makedo Free Play Kit
RRP $19.95
ittybittygreenie.com.au
24
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.
There are plenty of community gardens in
the Newcastle area that you can get
involved in.
Regular working bees are planned each
month, where members and non members of the garden are invited to
assist in general maintenance of the
gardens. Kids will love learning about how
To find your local community garden click
HERE.
Twigz Hand Tools
Set of Three
RRP $16.50
brightbuttontoyscom.au
Must Have
25..
7. Rock pooling
6. Spotlight Tours
5. Pick your own What a wonderful activity for
children to be involved in. Jump in
the car and take a drive to the
Central Coast where families are
invited to pick their own fruit.
Children will love seeing how a fruit is
grown and delivered to your table.
Pick your own farms are located in
Wisemans Ferry where you can
currently pick mandarins at Fords
Farm and mandarins and mushrooms
at Watkins Farm.
OOBI
Ava Pink Apple Hat
RRP $24.95
www.oobi.com.au
There is no better way to learn about
nocturnal animals than to attend a
spotlight tour/adventure. Blackbutt
Reserve‟s Spotlight Adventures are
guided spotlight tours of the Reserve
conducted from May-October. You will encounter a range of nocturnal animals
and then relax by the campfire after the
walk with some traditional bush tucker.
Bookings for September are now open.
Hunter Wetlands spotlight prowl returns
around the third weekend in October
when the warmer weather returns.
Must Have
Must Have Hand powered Penguin
flashlight
RRP $17.95
greengiftsaustralia.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 rock pools. 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 the rock platforms
at Bar beach, Merewether beach, Caves
beach and Swansea Heads. An all year
round activity.
Green Toys Sand Play
Set
RRP $39.95
Ecotoys.com.au
Must Have
26.
10. Become a Junior Ranger
9. Learn about Wetlands
8. Get up close to Nature What better place to experience the
sounds and smells of nature than Blackbutt
Reserve.
In addition to the multi award winning
wildlife exhibits where visitors can observe
the fauna and learn about each species,
children can get up close and personal
with the wildlife with a daily koala encounter. Learn interesting facts about
their behaviour, physiology and habitats by
the trained staff and volunteers.
Private animal encounters can also be
booked where children can get up close
to Koalas, Wombats, Diamond Pythons
and Blue Tongue Lizards. For more
information click HERE.
Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia is
recognised as a hub of leading practice in
wetlands conservation, education, tourism
and management.
Take a wander around the walking trails
either with an experienced guide or take
a self-guided ecotour.
There is always something happening to
learn about the role wetlands play in the
environment. Book into a school holiday
program or visit on weekdays or weekends
when you can have breakfast with the
birds, dipnet or canoe on the amazing
ironbark creek.
Goodbyn Lunchbox
Green Apple
RRP $35.95
ittybittygreenie.com.au
Must Have
Must Have
Junior Navigator
Compass
RRP $9.99
zanui.com.au
Each school holidays children are invited to
join the Junior Ranger program , an
environmental education program for
children (aged 6-10 years) at Blackbutt
Reserve.
Children are educated about the
environment and wildlife in a naturalistic
setting. The programs are based on
environmental themes that support
Blackbutt Reserve‟s mission of preserving the
past, protecting the present and ensuring
the future. For information click HERE.
Jumbo Magnifying Glass
RRP $14.95
entropy.com.au
27.
Must Have
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... 29.
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.
32.
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 kids35.
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
36.
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 37
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
38.
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
39
Tiger Tribe
7
40
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 41
42.
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
43.
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.
If you want to attract new wildlife to your
garden creating a backyard haven for birds and insects, you will need to plant
particular plants that will provide a habitat and
food for the local wildlife.
Did you know that plants sales and giveaways
are now held at Blackbutt Reserve, at the
Settlers Cottage, Carnley Avenue entrance and
are held daily between 10am & 3pm.
And now for the free stuff......as a Newcastle
City Council rate payer, all you need to do is
bring your rates notice and you will receive two
free native tubestock plants.
Plants that are endemic to Newcastle are also
available to purchase for $2.50 which will
improve biodiversity if planted in your garden.
44.
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.
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
46.
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.
47.
