CSA

CSA is a fine acronym that is worth getting hip to. It stands for Community Supported Agriculture, but what it really translates into is good grub with a bonus.

So here is how it works:

Sniff out a local CSA by asking around or going online.

You pay up-front for a season worth of fresh produce.

Depending on bump of crop, you get pre-packaged boxes and/or bags filled with the latest harvest.

Fresh, local, delicious.

A CSA is closer than you think:
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

HAPPY EARTH DAY~

Children's Book Review

In the weeks to come, we will be posting reviews of spunky and imaginative children's books.
Potter won't be able to wave a wand at this list!

The first book, The Neddiad, is up!

We will be adding many more titles, from picture books to middle grade and young adult.

If you would like to suggest a book for review, or submit a review, please email:

OneCoolParent (at) hotmail (dot) com

 

Lawn Rolling

Horrified.  Totally. 
Twelve children -- family function -- rolled around an emerald patch of lawn. They were flanked by parents with iphones and pads, documenting the kiddies in frolic mode.

The catch: It was one day after the homeowner sprayed his lawn with toxic dust.

Part of being a cool parent is keeping your pups safe. Waving a wand of death and then asking children to play in the chemicals in uncool. Not to mention, it is unhealthy for you, your family, your pets, and the world we all share. Without going on the justified environmental rant, this particular lawn goon was spraying grass that sits directly above a drain that leads to the bay.

Which brings us to the easy fix: organic lawn care.  IT IS TIME TO "TREAT" YOUR LAWN.  The fall, with it's steady temps, is the ideal time to fertilize and seed your lawn.  That doesn't mean throwing dynamite onto dandelions or flinging freak seed all over the lot. A shire-like lawn can be accomplished with less money and more dirt on the knees.

Follow these easy steps and your kid can play on the lawn without growing a tail.

1) Set Mower Higher
We think of a nice lawn as one that shows off a nice buzz cut. Most homeowners set their blades as close to the ground as possible.  The problem with this is that you open up a weed problem and make the grass less disease and drought resistant.  The higher the grass, the more you choke out the weeds and offer protection from drought and burnt patches.

2) Water Less and More
When lawns are watered daily, the roots don't grow deep.  Why should they?  All the moisture they need is being delivered on the surface. Watering once a week, and longer, will make your grass roots search deeper for water, thereby making them stronger and healithier.

3) Weeds aren't Bad
Some weeds are a friend to you and the planet.  Nature wants them there.  Dandelions can be plucked (and even eaten as a healthy green). As for clover, keep it there.  Clover is a nitrogen fixer, which is good for the soil and our atmosphere.  It fixes the goodies that keep your lawn healthy and green.

4) This Fall
Cut your lawn on the lowest setting to give a clear working area (this is one time a buzz will be beneficial). Rake up any dead grass or leaves.  Use a stiff rake to thatch up all the brown, hayish remnants. Go around with a pitchfork or something to poke around your lawn.  Pop some holes in the soil.  This will loosen things up, allowing the soil to breathe and the grass to grow. Get some good seed, not the pre-laced chemical junk. Ask someone at your local hardware or lawn store. Fertilize with an earth friendly product. 

Some great resourses on the science and available products to make the switch from gross to green are below. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ON THE RIGHT!

SAFELAWNS.Org
A great resource by a man that spearheads the green lawn movement.

ORGANIC LAWN CARE FOR THE CHEAP AND LAZY
A user-friendly and fun site that will give the whole scoop.

Now, go roll in the grass!

Backyard Boogie

When I was just a pup, my father built me a tree-house.  Well, it was actually for me and my brother, and my father still recalls it fondly:  "Remember the tree-house we built?  I can't believe it held up."  The truth is that he built it.  My brother and I just handed off nails and screws.  So, if anything went down (like us), Dad would be at fault.  But the modest house held snug between three rugged oaks.  And it was a blast.

Where was I going with this rant?  Oh yea...

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A TREE-HOUSE?

They are like the modern day unicorn of backyard play.  So if you have seen one lately, or built one yourself, that is truly amazing.

This got me thinking about backyard play and childhood adventures -- which led to snooping.  I started peaking my beak into a few neighbors' yards.  What did I find?  Pools, territorial dogs, and a trampoline or two.  What I didn't find were swing sets or jungle gyms.

I was bummed.  Did cool parents become overprotective guardians with a need for aesthetically pleasing sprawls of unoccupied backyard grass?

Then I received an email from a fellow writer and cool parent, Crafty Cristy.  She said, "My best cool parent moment came last Christmas. We bought and assembled a jungle gym for my kids. It attracts other kids, is very unusual, and my kids love it and use it all the time."

Now THERE is a cool parent.  Bringing back the old-school jungle gym.  Not seen or played with since recess days of old. 

"I wanted a special backyard toy for my kids," she said.  "I didn’t really want a traditional swing set...I wanted something that would draw other kids to our yard to play."

And play they did.

 

This is what it looked like when it arrived.

150 screws.

My dear husband diligently working on the surprise.

Almost done!

The big reveal!!

"And by the way, it is every bit as awesome as we expected it to be. And none of our neighbors or friends have anything like it. Score! J is for jungle gym in our family."

Score, indeed.  Thumbs up to a cool parent.

To read more of Cristy's adventures in parenting and homeschooling, visit her blog:  http://craftycristy.blogspot.com/

Merry Kringle

Christmas lights bring cheer, whether you celebrate the holiday or not.  It is the only time of year being gaudy earns you street-cred.  Santa's feet popping out of a chimney?  Rooftop Rudolph blinking, with his nose so bright, leading the pack?  All classic heartwarmers. 

I looked around my neighborhood today.  White lights.  Icicles.  Inflatables.  Maybe that's your Santa bag, but not mine.  I want color.  I want bulbification.  I want a hulahoop.

Now go dip your finest china in a bowl of eggnog, and put on some Christmas Vacation.

Someone had a smart idea, and I thank them for it:

http://www.christmaslightfinder.com/


Let us know if someone is illuminating your neighborhood -- especially if it is raising money for a good cause!

$trapped For Gift Ideas

The holidays are upon us.  All is merry and bright.  Well, all except your neighborhood postal worker.  He or she is freezing their striped pants off, delivering last minute gifts.  The must-haves, the never-will-play-withs, and the I-can't-believe-I-paid-the-rush-shippings are all being humped around this very moment.

Life is not a Marvelettes song.  We can't wait for Mr. Postman, because our loved ones will never forgive us if their electric socks don't arrive on time.  There is a way, however, to avoid crowded stores and the stresses of expedited shipping.

The gift ideas below are what procrastinators' dreams are made of:

AQUARIFFIC IDEAS

Google your local  aquarium. 

Go to TICKETS link

Press, Pay, Print

Done

Cost: $13 per ticket (on average)

Here, in the NY metro area, there are a bunch of fun aquariums 

NYAQUARIUM.COM

Visit the above site, or your local one, for instant aquarium and zoo tickets.  Currently running 10% off sale.

Just purchase child's ticket if $trapped. 

You can always purchase adult's at the gate, when your bank account comes back to life.

*Theme it up!

Purchase a small freshwater aquarium kit ($30 - $50) It would made an awesome companion to the aquarium tickets.  The tank could cover a gaggle of children with one pop. 

"Each of you get to pick out a baby fish." Baby fish = small, cheap, tetra. 

When holidays die down, head to pet store and scoop up a few colorful minnows.

Not looking to make tank commitment?  Afraid the kids will have floating guppies before the ball drops?Fighting or goldfish can be purchased with bowl and food for $10-$20

COUCH POTATO FAVORITES

You are on the Internet right now.  Why not bang out a few gifts for all ages?

Upgrade your cable package

*You can cancel at a later time if the family doesn't watch.

Tell the gift receiver to turn to channel X.  You think the YULE LOG is roaring.

Subscribe to Streaming or Mail Movie/Game Service

*The evil goons at Netflix and Blockbuster will thank you, and so will the kids.

Sign up today and you can have them unwrap rentals while you explain.

Audible.com

*Have a reader or heavy commuter on the list?

Gift them the gift of an audio book subscription

Guitar Lessons

*The acoustic from Mom and Dad's career as a folk duo is sitting in the corner.

A string broke on the electric guitar that was last year's big gift, so it is rusting in the closet.

Break out the jams.  

 http://www.bestonlineguitarlessons2011.org/

Magazine Subscription

*Sign up online.  Head to store to purchase first copy as immediate gift.

Music, game, garden, food, fashion, entertainment, etc.

THE GIFT OF MUSIC

Music stores -- especially small ones -- are not jammed. You can find a sackful of cool gifts for the music lover in your family without grazing navels with another customer.

Chromatic Pitch Pipe

*Singers to musicians will dig this once they know the stars use it, too.

($10-$20)

Music Stand

*Your singer can rock lyrics on it. 

Your musician will no longer put sheet music on the lap.
($10-$20)

Music Lessons

*There are tons of promos going on now. 

 Find a local store and work out a trial period.

FREE AND COOL

Art Space

*If you can, clear out a garage or basement.  A corner, if not the whole shebang. 

Put a note in gift box "Go to Room X"

Upon arrival to the room, explain that it is now dedicated to your child's passion.

Music rehearsal, band room, art room, fashion room, you name it.

If they take to it, great.  If not, you can always reclaim it.

The idea is to give space for artistic growth.

PRE-PLANNED SMOKE SHOW!

Planned a trip?  Kids have no clue about it?  Make it theirs in the form of a gift.

Tricky, but effective.

Goggles in a box:

"Why goggles?"

"You will need them for your ski trip!"

etc.

Still undecided on wintry trip ideas?

Here a few to consider:  Snow tubing, Skiing, Ice-fishing, Grandma's Florida condo

Take a peek at your credit card.  If the black bar is grey, pitted with white, put the card back in your pocket.  You have worn it out on Santa knows what.  You can budget the cash you have left, or avoid tickling your credit limit, by using your noggin.  I hope the above ideas helped springboard your own.

Now, Get Going!

Any tips, let us know.

NY Puppet Parents

My son is too young to fully enjoy this, but I thought it was worth sharing:

As you may already know, Jim Henson's Muppets are back on the big screen.  The Muppets is set to release later this month.

Checking out the movie would be a nice treat for the kids -- sort of.

The cool part is that Jim Henson's collection is currently on display at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.  The traveling exhibition (dates below) was organized by the Smithsonian Institute and will run in NY until January 16.  It features Kermit, Big Bird and other favorites in Henson's puppet collection.  His drawings, films and numerous creations are also on display.

The Plan:

Catch an early screening of the movie, head to the museum, and spend a day of wonder and imagination with your family.  Marvel at the exhibits featuring the Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, and the Dark Crystal, while your children learn all about the puppets they just saw on the movie screen.

Who knows, you may have a future puppeteer in the family.

Anyone go already, or hear from someone who has?

http://www.jimhensonlegacy.org/


7/16/11-1/16/12
Museum of the Moving Image,
New York, NY