8 May 2009
Enviromom.com, "a site for anyone who wants to live lightly on the planet," was founded by Renee Limon (left) Heather Hawkins (right). These two Portland, Ore. moms take the "baby-steps" approach to living a more eco-friendly life, and their website provides a supportive community for others who want to join them on the journey.
Green Hour recently asked them 5 questions about Enviromom and how they find time for outdoor play-time with their families.
Q: How did EnviroMom get started?
Heather: Renee and I both had sustainable "a-ha" moments during the summer of 2006, and we decided to start exploring ways to live more eco-friendly lifestyles. As we started taking baby steps, we realized that others were headed down the same path so we decided to start EnviroMom to document our journey and bring more people into the conversation. The site launched in March 2007 and has grown into a thriving, dynamic, national community!
Q: What is your favorite outdoor memory from childhood?
Renee: I have a very strong memory of spitting watermelon seeds at a park after a family picnic one summer. I don't remember if my brother started it or if it was friends, but I remember thinking we would get in trouble for it since spitting is usually so taboo, and when I realized none of the parents objected. It was like I was in heaven. There were also a lot of jokes about how if you swallowed watermelon seeds they would grow in your stomach which really freaked me out! I think I was 4 or 5.
Heather: Canoeing with my family on Minnesota lakes. I'd like to explore some Portland waterways with my family via canoe or kayak so my kids can have that experience. It's such a peaceful way to spend time in nature.
Q: Why do you think time in unstructured time outside in nature is important for kids?
Renee: I love spring, because it is a time of awakening. We tend to go outside more often, and the mood just changes. Gone are the petty arguments about whose turn it is to go first or what to do next because there's "nothing to do." Suddenly the kids are creative -- digging in the dirt, picking up worms, jumping and laughing. Honestly, when we go outside, my kids become their best selves.
Q: What are the biggest barriers to spending time outside? (Lack of time, green space, the lure of the TV, something else?)
Renee: We often fail to go outside because we get used to being comfortable all the time. So when the weather is inclement, it's easy to stay inside so as not to get cold, or wet or dirty. Our family ended up babysitting some free-ranging chickens last February, and let me tell you, we really had to get out of our comfort zone. And it was hard! Sometimes it was windy and rainy. We got a great deal of sympathy from the neighbors! But we also got many rewards -- seeing very tender tiny green shoots coming out of the ground probably well before anyone else. We came up with new games -- decorating barren trees with old pine cones. Of course, we also got to observe the behaviors of the chickens, scratching for worms, rolling in dirt baths -- and noting how much they look like little dinosaurs.
Q: Describe your current favorite "green space" in your neighborhood. (Backyard, local park, etc...) Why is it special?
Heather: Our neighborhood park is a favorite destination because we can walk there and it is right across from the library. We almost always run into friends and playmates at the park -- in fact Renee and I became friends at that park! A close runner-up is our backyard. It's very natural, has lots of trees, native plants and places for the kids to play and run around. They help me plant flowers and veggies, pull weeds and compost our food scraps back there. In the summertime, that's usually where you'll find us!
Renee Limon and Heather Hawkins are best friends, neighbors and run Enviromom.com together, a website that provides tips and support for living a greener lifestyle. |
