Side yard garden
I haven’t blogged in over a year. I started working part time, gardening more, and trying to keep up with four children in various stages of life. But I need to write again. Because there are others like me doing your best to get through the challenges life throws your way and it’s just nice to know some frazzled mom is out there struggling as well. And making it! Maybe, not all that gracefully. But making it!
I never said my garden is pretty! Or that my mornings getting my children off to school are pretty! Or that my house or lawn or hair is pretty. But I find the food from my garden miraculous! And my children are pretty amazing. I love my new part time job that gets me out of my house and connects me with other very human and very awesome human beings. And I’ve discovered all sorts of wonderful things on this journey with food and kids and life and getting older.
Life isn’t always pretty. But there are some beautiful moments out there. Like praying with a family whose loved one is dying and learning stories of how that individual impacted their lives. Like losing all the pumpkins I planted, but having volunteer pumpkins grow all around my yard and having plenty for muffins, pies and smoothies even into the winter. Like seeing my youngest daughter play flute in district honor band, my oldest lead in worship, my college student in really amazing shows, my son about to cross over from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts. Like watching my soil grow more fertile even as I garden and take food from it! Who knew?
Thanks to a makeshift compost pile, my friends’ leaves, and my husband’s friends at Starbucks who send him home with coffee grounds, I have more fertile garden spaces. Now, I’m reading about what kind of chicken coop to build before spring!
Time flies when you’re living life! So I’m seeking to take what comes and add it to make fertilizer for the future (my future, the family’s future and the earth’s future).
Five years ago, I could not imagine a busier, more frazzled life… until Greg spoke with a case worker to see if it was even an option for our great niece and nephew to live with us! The caseworker informed us circumstances were different this time around. The children were in a group home for assessment. They spoke, she asked some questions, took our names, social security numbers and filled out some forms.
My stunned husband got off the phone and said, “I think she started the ICPC process.” (An ICPC is the process for approval to move children in custody of one state into a foster home in another state.) In most cases, that process takes at least a year. And many things could block its approval.
No decisions had been made. The caseworker merely was beginning a process, checking out her options for two children in her custody. However, I was beginning to imagine a very much more frazzled life.
Five Years ago, I was a frazzled mom of two daughters, a freshman and senior in high school. Our senior had scholarship interviews, college visits and auditions, and decisions to make. Both girls were in one act plays and the musical at school. They had orchestra, vocal and youth symphony practices and concerts. There were dance, violin, and piano lessons, worship band and youth group. My husband and I were co-pastors in a congregation as we prepared for Thanksgiving and Advent. My mom was getting married the coming weekend and we were preparing for the celebration.
I couldn’t imagine life getting any more frazzled than it already was… when my mother-in-law called asking for prayers for our six-year-old great niece and four-year-old great nephew. They needed a home. Fast. She told us their story and asked us to pray.
My husband, Greg, and I talked and prayed. We had asked six years prior if our niece could live with us the first time she entered protective custody. The standard goal of foster care is reunification with biological parents, and it was not possible for us to arrange weekly visits from half way across the country, so protective services declined our offer.
Be careful what you pray for! Our freshman had been in fourth grade at the time and had prayed and prayed and prayed that little baby could come live with us. It was not quite the time line she had in mind, but that baby was now six and she had a four year old brother!
My frazzled summer didn’t include blogging! Sorry I didn’t share my frazzling stories!
We rented a plot in a community garden only to have it tilled under by a “garden cop” about the time our produce really started coming on. Sigh. We lost beans, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, pumpkins, popcorn, calendula. That doubled my efforts to move gardening to my own back yard (and front and sides).
Our oldest graduated from college, traveled to Asia, returned home for a month and then set off to her first “real” job. Daughter number two was in Legally Blonde. We took our family of six plus our dog to Florida before daughter #1 set off to her new job, daughter #2 headed back to college, daughter #3 started middle school and son started 4th grade. Oh, and I started a part-time ministry this summer.
I learned a great deal this summer. I learned that I could hang out clothes before work and have them dry when I got home. I learned my kids’ clothes stretched when they didn’t go through the dryer and that I need to add some essential oils to my homemade laundry soap to get a better smell in my clean clothes! I learned I could survive without a dryer but that I really prefer having the option.
I learned that my four kids and dog can make it to Florida without killing one another and that we can still have a fun family vacation even with all the different ages. I learned that having a Whole Foods around the corner from my hotel helps a great deal when in a hotel with only a microwave and mini fridge for a week. I learned that Universal Studios is generous in allowing parents to bring in special foods for special dietary needs and that they have some not-all-that-bad food options in the park(although not GMO-free). We discovered a really cool dog beach.
I learned that I can stick seeds in the ground and things really do grow! I learned to make kale chips. I learned I love fresh spinach in lots of things. I learned that most people in a community garden are lovely and generous and kind. And, I learned that one person can do a lot of damage. I gained some confidence to move my garden home.
I learned that my family is willing to pitch in because they like to see me happy. I’m thankful for my oldest daughters’ help with younger siblings this summer. I’m thankful for my youngest children’s help with gardening this summer. I’m impressed by my family’s adaptability as we continue on this frazzled journey that reaches into every aspect of our lives.
I learned that it’s hard to keep a blog, garden, job and have four kids and a dog at home. But I’m feeling reflective as we come upon the fifth anniversary of our frazzled journey as a family of six. And I feel the urge to write. Five years ago today, I was a frazzled mom of two. That was all about to change! I could not have imagined the frazzled journey we were about to take!
On this frazzled food journey, some days I feel like a super hero! Other days, I feel like a frazzled failure.
Last Monday was one of those frazzled failure kind of days. I even made blueberry pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes using my sour dough starter with butter and real maple syrup to top them off. All four kiddos were home. I had beans soaking for 12 hours for tacos that night, oats soaking for 24 hours to try yet another soaked granola/ granola bar recipe in search for the elusive “right one,” almonds soaking for 24 hours since I learned that maybe eight hours wasn’t enough. It was all a bit overwhelming. I wasn’t getting the results I wanted from my sourdough bread recipes. My kitchen was one big science experiment, trying out new ways of soaking and preparing foods. And I wasn’t feeling very successful in the process.
Experiments from my science lab (aka, the kitchen).
Unfortunately, my oldest daughters are only home a short time, and they think Mom’s gone off the deep end with the healthy food. They are grateful, however, that I still buy ice cream, chips from time to time, and cook meat.
Tuesday afternoon, my granola was still drying at 150 degrees and I needed to kick it out of the oven to make room to roast the chicken for supper. After a day of experimenting and discovering what DIDN’T work, I needed a little success.
So, here’s my reminder to myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed at food experiments:
Grandma knew what she was doing! Meat, potatoes and veggies are my friends!
On this frazzled food journey, meat can be an easy meal! Roast or Barbecue some organic or grass fed, pastured meat, add sides of potatoes and veggies and we’re good to go!
My Grandma didn’t eat chicken; but she fixed it for her family back in the day. Tuesday morning, I rinsed off an organic chicken from Azure Standard (I’m still looking for a local farmer with non-gmo supplemental feed), cut up carrots, potatoes and onions from our local market, put some onions, garlic cloves and spices in the cavity and rubbed the chicken with coconut oil (butter is good, too) and spices on the outside and stuck it in the refrigerator. Daughter number two had an afternoon appointment, so I stuck it in the oven before we left. I made gravy when we got home (which made my oldest, youngest and spouse very happy). I had lettuce cut up from tacos the day before and homemade ranch dressing in the refrigerator. When we got home, I didn’t have much to do to finish supper. It was a lovely meal to rebound from feeling like a frazzled failure in the science lab!
While we ate our chicken, the bones were boiling to make broth. It was a little warm for chicken noodle soup, so I made chicken fettuccini Wednesday with the leftover chicken and some of the broth. I froze the leftover broth for another meal.
When I was growing up, my dad and uncle split a cow from my grandparents and we always had a side of beef. When Greg and I served a church in Indiana, the farmers generously shared pork, sausage, and steaks! We often joked that when the budget got tight, we’d pull out a steak from the freezer for supper the next day!
For my Birthday last month, my mom and dad went in together for a side of organic beef for me. Happy Birthday to me! The farm is just over an hour from my home and I’ll have a variety of cuts of meat to use throughout the year. My little carnivores should be quite happy when it arrives later this month! And so will I! We don’t need meat every night, but it can make a relatively easy meal.
A roast is easy to cook in the oven or crock pot. The grill comes in handy when it’s too hot to cook inside. Add a side of rice, potatoes, bread or pasta, and salad or fresh veggies from garden or market, and supper is ready. It makes this frazzled food journey feel a little easier!
I know! I know! It costs more for grass fed or organic meat! Unless you’re like me and don’t eat out often, consider how much you spend on a dinner out. It helps put things in perspective. I also figure it’s cheaper to eat healthy food now than to pay medical bills in the future for eating from an unhealthy food supply. In addition, I have kiddos with behavior issues. Our menu helps eliminate the need for medications which would also cost money! How many kids needed meds when they were working on the farm, climbing trees, swinging on tire and rope swings (built in sensory diet!) and eating real food?
It takes some planning and investigation to find good organic meat. I’m still looking for local non-GMO fed chickens, eggs, pork and dairy. And I’m still tweaking the budget to fit it in.
Well, the granola turned out better than I expected. The easiest way turned out the best but the granola bars will take another experiment before they’re a “go”. Friday, I set aside the sourdough starter and used white flour (it’s still organic) for our pizza dough. My eighteen year old thanked me. (She’s named after my Grandma.)
Add Candles and the Dragon breathes fire! Take the picture fast before it consumes the wood table!!!
On “The Boy’s Very Bad Day” I was working part time, had four kids: one in college with no access to truly healthy food, one in high school who loved her artificially flavored foods and soft drinks, and two in elementary school with some strong needs for attention. I discovered that petroleum based products had infiltrated my home and my grocery store. When my Feingold list came, I frantically searched for replacements for everything! When I realized how “tainted” with artificial everything our home was, I was really frazzled!
What would I do with Easter and The Boy’s birthday coming up? Thankfully, I had my organic, fair trade chocolates from Equal Exchange . And our amazing woman at church had discovered fair trade chocolate chips! I was able to melt, flavor (with REAL flavorings) and mold the Sweet Earth Chocolate Chips. I also discovered that a Wacky Cake was as good as a cake mix any day and could be cut and shaped just like any other cake. (The recipe is at the end of this post!)
On my first trip to Whole Foods (which is three hours away), we ate with my Dad at T Rex Café. We tried to order somewhat acceptable foods and had to say “no” to the awesome dessert they served – a volcano brownie with smoke coming out of it. It looked awesome! I wondered if I could make one for The Boy’s birthday that was coming up!
I like birthdays, science experiments, and fun! So, I took on the challenge to come up with a no artificials Birthday Party. The theme was: Dinosaur Train! (I love that PBS show!)
I made a Train Cake (idea from Family Fun) magazine with Wacky Cake recipe, India Tree natural food coloring – (I have found it best to order directly from them and keep refrigerated. Natural food coloring isn’t as stable. And yes, it is quite expensive, but did I mention, I like Birthdays?! At this point in our journey, I probably need to make my own to keep it organic.) I made the volcano out of Breyer’s ice cream (acceptable at the time, but now that I’m staying away from GMO’s – another frazzled story – I use Alden’s, because I can get it at Kroger and Azure Standard… but that has soy lecithin …soooo I’m looking for something else, but we’re limited in our town so it probably means making my own, but that’s another twist because I want cream without carrageenan – link to help avoid carrageenan at Cornucopia – or a local cow that doesn’t get supplemented with GMO feed. Can you tell this journey has many frazzled twists and turns to it that can be difficult to follow?! Whew!) and Greg brought home dry ice to put in a plastic cup in middle of it. Fun Birthday Party without the artificials! Woohoo!
We found “acceptable” foods at the time to create our Dinosaur Train!
I learned I could scrap the artificial junk and still keep it fun! We all decided the cake tasted awesome. And Family Fun had such a great design. We used 365 Organic Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Sunspire Chocolate candies, marshmallows without artificial flavors, and I found cute dinosaur candles to ride the train! Since then, I have some GMO issues with the marshmallows (I learned to make my own!) and the sunspire candies, but I still revert to them for decorations in a pinch.
Here are some pictures of some of the other Birthday Cakes we’ve tried!
Beach Scene Ice Cream Cake
This was an ice cream cake with Feingold approved graham cracker “sand” and real whipping cream with confectioner’s sugar and real vanilla. The gummy bears also were Feingold approved.
I love to make this one! It’s one of my favorites, Frosting a lucky match with India Tree mix. fair trade Milk Chocolate drop ridges from “Sweet Earth.”
Fair Trade Chocolate Chips decorated this cake. The flames are swirly candles from behind!
Sweet Earth Fair Trade Milk Chocolate drop craters. Cake baked in a bowl. Buzz Light Year candle topper.
Chocolate and Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting with Sweet Earth Chocolate Chips and, of course, Family Fun Magazine Birthday Cake Ideas helped out yet again!
I used Whole Food’s 365 sandwich cookies, chocolate and vanilla ice creams and whipping cream with confectioner’s sugar and vanilla to imitate the popular ice cream cake.
As you can see our food journey has taken many twists and sharp turns over the past two years. What was acceptable at one time on one cake, required a replacement on the next. I’m still looking for improved fun foods to use. I just made a sourdough chocolate cake this week to test out. If you’re on a frazzled food journey, just know that any step you take toward healthy eating and living is good for your family. Be sure to celebrate any progress you make and give yourself a break!
This is a reminder that even on a long journey, you can have some fun (of course, this is from the crazy woman who packed 6 family members and her dog in the van to visit family in California for Spring Break!). You may not be as insane as I am with Birthday cakes (although Family Fun and Parent Magazines make it relatively easy to be insane ;)); but you can find ways to add fun to your own real food trek! Maybe my frazzled journey can save yours some of the frazzle!
I’ve had this Wacky Cake recipe from Junior High Home Economics Class (they don’t call it that anymore!) so I’m thinking it’s safe to share it with you.
No mixing bowl needed for a basic square pan! Easy! This is my “go to” recipe for an easy dessert.
Mix in ungreased square cake pan:
*1 1/2 cups flour (I use white whole grain. I’m experimenting with some sourdough cake recipes since I’m learning about soaking and fermenting grains.)
*1 cup sugar (I only use organic whole cane sugar since sugar is one of the big genetically modified foods. You can experiment with honey as well.)
*1 tsp baking soda
*1 tsp salt (I always read labels, even with salt! One salt I thought was healthier listed sugar – GMO alert! – as an ingredient.)
*3 Tblsp cocoa. (I like Equal Exchange Fair Trade Cocoa.)
Make 3 holes in the mix.
*Into one put, 1 tsp vanilla. (I make sure this is organic, real vanilla. It costs more but the artificial stuff is really bad for my kiddo. I won’t be going back!)
*Into another put 1 Tblsp vinegar. (I use organic for baking, regular for cleaning.)
*Into the other put 5 Tblsp oil. (I use melted coconut oil which is liquid around 75 degrees. I avoid canola, corn and vegetable unless they’re organic, and still use them rarely. Melted butter also is a good real food option. Sometimes, I use organic canola because it’s what some folks are used to.)
*Pour 1 cup water over all.
Mix well in pan
Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees
If making a Birthday cake, you need to double the recipe, mix in a bowl and pour into the shape of pans called for. The Panda Cake used 2 round cake pans. The Dragon used a regular long cake pan. I make a butter cream frosting from Betty Crocker using organic ingredients that is always a hit around here.
To begin with, you may want to try some of your favorite treats with organic substitutes. It makes the transition to real foods a little easier for the kids (and adult kids) in your family. My kiddos are discovering that real food tastes better than artificial and genetically modified foods. They recognize the efforts I make and they appreciate that I don’t serve foods with petroleum or allow them to be used in the GMO food experiment! Here’s to having fun on this frazzled journey!
I’d love to hear some of your Birthday ideas! Right now, I’m planning a spa party for daughter number three! I’m looking forward to sharing my homemade lotions and lip balm recipes!
Why did I choose the name “Diary of a Frazzled Mom” for my blog? I would prefer a blog name that draws people in by the peacefulness of the title. I read blogs at Shalom Mama, Sanoma Garden, and Deliciously Organic. I get updates from The Organic Mom, Thank Your Body, The Village Green and others who guide me along my way. They sound so peaceful and inviting. I love The Hobbit and wondered about: “There and Back Again.” But with each try, my name was taken at Word Press. I settled on “Get Real”. Taken. “Keep it real”? Nope. Any variation thereof? Not a chance! “Diary of a Frazzled Mom.” Ding! Ding! Ding! No one had taken that one!
To be real, I am frazzled. And I imagine that many others are as well. So, “Diary of a Frazzled Mom” it is. And my facebook page: Frazzled Mom.
I have four amazing kids, ages nine to twenty-two! This month, our oldest graduated from college and went to Jakarta, Singapore and Malaysia for a tour; daughter number two completed her freshman year of college, moved home for the summer and is in Legally Blonde the Musical at our community theatre; daughter number three finished up elementary school and prepares for middle school; and our youngest finished third grade. We’ve been to concerts, musicals, plays, field trips, muffins with mom and doughnuts with dad (where I make our own muffins to take), Cub Scout crossover and graduations. I made lunches every day, sent substitute treats for all the parties and activities (and there are many at the end of year), and made the two plus hour trip for concerts and shows at the college. It’s been a frazzling month! And now, school is out, and it’s about to get even more frazzling!
In the past four and a half years (that’s how long we’ve been family of six), we’ve taken cross country vacations to New York (NJ, IN, St. Louis, KC), California (twice), Seattle (with a stop at the Tetons for a swim in Jenny Lake and a hike), New Mexico, and Colorado with other shorter trips to visit grandparents. Six of us in a van. The latest trips to Colorado, New Mexico and California with a dog! We’ve had two graduations from high school, one from preschool, one from kindergarten, one from college and one from elementary school. In addition to numerous symphony, vocal, orchestra, strings and band concerts and plays, musicals, volleyball games, swim lessons and more. That might give some insight to reasons for my frazzled nature!
In the past two years we have abandoned all artificial flavors, dyes, fragrances. (I explain why we started the journey in The Boy’s Very Bad Day.) I have learned to make my own toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, lip balm, blush and bronzer. (I can’t wait to share my favorite recipes with you!) We planted a garden this spring. I’m also learning about soaking and fermenting grains to make them more easily digestible, so I’m making sourdough bread on a regular basis now as well. All of these journeys are a bit frazzling!
I wish I could say I’m in a routine and it’s getting easier. But I just keep discovering new things to add to our life style. What can I say? I’m frazzled.
How do I survive this frazzling life? By the grace of God! Daily time to read, journal, reflect and pray. Sabbath time with my spouse to connect with God and each other and to remember why we like each other. Supportive family and friends who lift us up in prayer. Walks with my children and my dog. Stories with my kids. Listening to the birds and to music. Enjoying the tastes and smells of the new real food that I make. I get excited when I find a new DIY recipe that I’ve been looking for, or solutions to a gardening problem I’ve been wondering about. I’m eager to lend a hand, a recipe, a discovery to another frazzled one along the journey. I like the results… the increasing sustainability of our lifestyle… the increased gentleness with God’s creation… the improved behavior and health in my family. In the end, this frazzled life does bring increased peace.
Mother’s Day was peaceful. The following day, with only four days left in the school year, I had clothes hanging out to dry, walked kids to school, struggled with sourdough recipes, sewed on patches for the Cub Scout crossover, needed to shower and prepare supper before fifth grade honor night, with only a few days left to make lotion, lip balm, laundry detergent and deodorant while they were still in school. Frazzling!
I also paused for coffee with my 18 year old and husband, looked at pictures posted from Jakarta, Indonesia and Malaysia from my 22 year old, threw sticks for the dog while hanging clothes, watched some YouTube musicals with my daughter and teared up in gratitude at the Cub Scout cross over and Fifth Grade Honor Night thinking of how far my four kiddos have come. In spite of, and in the midst of, my frazzled-ness, God is working miracles. I’m ever so grateful!
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
The Boys Very Bad Day
I usually received daily reports from his teacher just to touch base and make sure things were going along ok… to see if we needed to tweak the routine or sensory diet or work on anything in particular. This day, he’d been unusually wired (you have to understand, he USUALLY was wired!). He’d jumped from unreasonably high places on the playground, had less self control in class, and my husband noticed our son shaking uncontrollably as he laid on the floor that evening after his shower.
When the children were in bed, Greg and I reviewed the day and what led up to this very bad day. We noted a holiday, a big weekend at Grandma and Papa’s, and took a look at his diet over the past few days. We recalled all the red foods on the menu and remembered a classmate of our youngest daughter who avoided red dyes. (His mom told me that even vanilla frosting and marshmallows could have red dye! Whodathunk?!) Greg “googled” “red dye” and discovered Feingold Association.
We discovered that many children with ADD/ ADHD symptoms sometimes have sensitivities to artificial colors and other petroleum-based ingredients in foods. That includes synthetic food dyes (i.e., red dye 40, Yellow No. 5), artificial vanilla – also called vanillin, other artificial flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives, like BHA, BHT, TBHQ and more. I went to the cabinet and found these lovely ingredients in my cereals, all the Valentine’s Candies, the strawberry milk mix, artificial vanilla flavoring, chocolate milk mix, and more, unlikely, sources. The tossing began. Talk about a frazzled mom! What was I going to feed my family?!
One day as we were transitioning to the “Feingold Diet”, Grandparents took the kids out to eat. When we met them at the restaurant, the boy seemed like he was on drugs (uncontrolled laughing, not able to carry on a conversation, unable to regulate his own behavior). I discovered “vanillin” on the list of ingredients on the cookie wrapper. Got my attention!
Then the Feingold list came in the mail. It didn’t stop at foods! It included artificial fragrances in soaps, lotions, detergents, scented candles, other cleaning and health care items. If my kiddo was sensitive to this stuff, he had a steady dose of it everywhere he went. My eyes were open… wide… deer-in-headlights wide! I was beyond frazzled!
Feingold Association has a list of acceptable foods and items for its members. And I believe it’s well worth supporting. It was my first step in discovering how synthetic our food and health supply has become. They helped me realize I cannot simply rely on an “organic” sticker to stay away from things like BPA linings in cans or MSG. Feingold does a great deal of research with individual companies to confirm that it is ok for their members to partake. Feingold Association helps get rid of the biggest triggers for many children. They have amazing success stories of parents “getting their children back” after eliminating these ingredients from their children’s lives. And many parents discover personal health symptoms went away as well!
When I started, I spent A LOT of money on so-called “natural” cleaners, shampoos, lotions and soaps that were approved on my Feingold list, only to find questionable ingredients lingering. The fewer the ingredients on the list, the more expensive the items seemed to get (due to lack of shelf life and low demand). So, over time, I have found I can make my own for much less! (I will share some of those recipes with you on another frazzled day!)
Our lives improved. A fog seemed to lift from our son’s little brain. But we discovered a new problem in our food system in GMOs (genetically modified organisms) that would change our habits and help the fog clear even more! (That’s another frazzled story for another day!)
We were never under the illusion that there would be one single miracle change that would bring about the healing our son needs. For him, some occupational therapy and a “diet” of sensory activities scheduled throughout the day help him to focus, each new year of living in the same place with the same family (even if it is frazzled!), other helpful people and resources in his life, and removing artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and fragrances all work together to help our little guy learn and grow in ways no one could have predicted!
It was frazzling to throw out most of our foods and search for acceptable replacements, switching brands a number of times. It was hard on our oldest kiddos. It was challenging for me to find recipes that everyone would eat. But I told one of our daughters that since I tend to be a “canary” (foods, environment, chemicals tend to affect me before others), this change might very well save my life. I’m thankful for this frazzling journey. I’m grateful to the Feingold Association and others who have helped this frazzled mama make significant changes for the life and well being of one special young man and the rest of my family.
Life often will be a challenge for our little guy. But even if you proved to me that the foods contribute NOTHING to his behavior (which I believe they DO, significantly), I still would not put those artificial ingredients back into our bodies. I look forward to sharing more resources that we have discovered along this frazzled journey.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
When I was a frazzled mom of four, and daughter number two was attending an International Affairs Seminar with the topic of the Modern Slave Trade, I read the book Not for Sale. (It also can be found at Amazon.) It tells success stories of people who have gotten out of the slave trade! It broke my heart, informed me, and gave me hope all at the same time!
You might have noticed that learning new information motivates me to change what I purchase and from where I purchase it. Coffee, Chocolate, now clothes! I was moved by stories of women gaining new opportunities in life when given a micro loan or making jewelry or clothing for a small company that pays them a living wage. I wanted to be part of the solution to this awful reality that exists in the twenty-first century! I went to sites recommended in the book. I looked up fair trade clothes online. I desperately wanted to know what I could do. My first find was Fair Indigo, one of my all time favorites!
I determined I had enough clothes in my closet to last until I could replace them with fairly traded clothing. I made the commitment to myself not to purchase any new clothes unless they were designated fair trade. I spend more on an item of clothing but I buy less often. And I watch for sales. I have to save up for my clothes and have to have patience. But they feel so good! Often, I receive the name of a person who made my shirt or dress attached when it’s delivered. I feel connected. When the garment factory fires occurred, it broke my heart and strengthened my resolve. (The most recent one was in Bangladesh. You can read about it in the New York Times).
Unfortunately, it is taking longer to switch all of my kids’ clothing over, so I am aware that I am still contributing to the problem. I am finding more fair trade sites with children’s clothes as I continue along this journey (and my kids keep growing! Daughter number three can wear some adult extra smalls from my favorite sites!)
When I discovered the poor treatment of workers in the garment industry, I wanted to change immediately. Over the past two years, I have discovered other fairly traded and organic clothing sites that I would love to share! These companies started with the goal to provide products that are made from sustainable practices that consider the people who made them and the earth on which we all live. I believe that we do vote with our wallets. With each purchase, we vote on the kind of world we want to live in. These companies make it a little easier to vote for a world where workers are paid a living wage and treated with respect, where life and creation are regarded as gifts rather than things to be used up and tossed aside.
So here they are!
Of course, my first find was Fair Indigo!
Threads for Thought (I found some great clothes for my husband here. My oldest daughters love their tanks. I bought some nice cottony dresses that I can layer with a turtleneck or camisole.)
Soul Flower (I discovered some great earrings and found Organic MukLuks for Greg! He has a thing for mukluks!)
Gaiam designates some of their clothing as fairly traded, but they’ve been on the cutting edge of eco clothing for a long time and they had Tennis Shoes! I’ve had trouble finding shoes!
I’m grateful that Tom’s gives a pair away for each pair I buy. I’m not sure about all the materials, but it’s a simple shoe that gives back. And they’re on Zulily! All three daughters, Greg and I each have a pair!
With the simplicity of the styles, I’m starting to think even I might be able to make some of my own dresses, leggings, shirts, p.j.’s, etc. So, I’m looking for dealers of organic, fairly traded cloth! (That will be another frazzled adventure! Right now, I have a daughter graduating from college, school programs to attend, two daughters to move home for the summer, and daughter number three graduating from elementary school, a garden to check on, a dog to walk, a checkbook to balance, supper to fix and kids to pick up from school!)
I’d love to hear your favorite fair trade sites!
Diary of a Frazzled Mom 