@ Alana – Oi! And welcome, and thank you! =D

@ Valerie – Man, this is a tough one. I wish I could just point to a single source to address each of those questions. But I just don’t have one. The problem is that so much of this stuff is still being studied (or hasn’t really been studied yet), and the information is scattered all around and usually tied up in personal opinion. My only suggestion is to google each topic/question one at a time. You’ll get a ton of information and you’ll have to wade through the bullocks in order to reach the genuine conclusions. Of course peer-reviewed published literature is the best, well-designed websites generally indicate ‘good’ information (and the converse is true), well-written websites follow the same rule, and of course never trust someone who’s trying to sell something!

When I research an article for Bonzai, this is usually what I do. It takes a long time! I’m also just constantly reading about this stuff because it interests me, so i have about a billion bookmarks on my computer, each pointing to a website here or an article there on some particular detail of green living. The good news is, the more you learn, the more intuitive it gets. My bullsh*t detector is razor sharp these days, haha.

I understand about referencing my sources on Bonzai. I’ll try to be more diligent about that, and share the primary literature when I find it. Thanks for the reminder!

@ Courtney – Aw, thanks dear! And good luck with the kombucha-making. I quit brewing it when I got pregnant and I miss it sooo much! Looking forward to beginning again in just a few months.

@ Minna – Yes, it is such an amazing community! I consider myself lucky to have met all of you. =)

You should totally swap out your clothes! I love thrift shopping while I travel. it’s great because then you come home with little mementos from all over, and each time you wear a piece you remember where you were and what you were doing when you got it, and it brings back that amazing feeling of vacation! Good luck on your continued adventure!

@ Stephanie – Oi there! This is probably reaching you too late (sorry!), but to answer your question: yes, you can make more than one batch at a time. The first time I made it I quadrupled it, and it lasted me months and months. I just recently made my second round, a triple batch. So go for it!

@ Sara – Thanks for reminding me! I had made that connection a few months back but hten it slipped my mind. I love the idea of using depression-era recipes (I just love the romanticism of it) and it’s true, they’re often vegan and certainly cost effective. I know Colleen Patrick-Goudreau has a drop biscuit recipe based on an old depression version, and I’m sure there’s tons of others.

*off to investigate*

@ Diana – CONGRATULATIONS! Yay, that’s so exciting. I love to hear from another quasi-crunchy mama-to-be, and from across the ocean too! I’d love to share tips and thoughts if you ever want to email. Big Smooches back at you! =D

@ Kaye – Man, I get a lot of questions about this and right now i just don’t have any answers. It’s an area that I have yet to research (I wear so little that I’m still using up my old. pre-green stuff). I’m realizing, though, that it’s something I really need to investigate, and STAT. It’s going to the top of the list. Hopefully I’ll have some answers someday soon here!

@ Callie – Well hello! Thanks for saying hi, I love to know who’s out there and reading (lurkers of course are welcome as well!) A lot of my ‘green’ transitions have been slower as well, because like you I use up my old stuff before moving into the new eco version. But it sounds like you’ve got a lot of changes coming up with the beauty products and the cleaners. Let me know how it all goes for you! Luck!

@ Sunnie – I know! I always mean to write more about the hens, but something else always comes up. But yes, it’s been taken under advisement. Chicken articles to come shortly!

@ Brittany – Thanks! And welcome to the site. Another Mothering reader is an awesome addition, I say. =)

@ Gwen – Hello! I have not read anything by Jenson, but I’m sure I’ve heard of Endgame. The truth is I’m a hopeless computer junkie and the vast majority of my reading is online. The precious little time I have for book reading these days is devoted to baby books!

@ Jenny B. – Aw, thanks lady! That is the greatest thing to hear. And yes, blogging is the awesome!

@ Sarah – Thanks for the info, I’ll be checking this out as well. =)

I was just poking around the site and thought I’d respond to this. My neighbor and a friend of hers actually make their own make-up and sell on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/twinkbeauty

They’re on holiday right now (and my neighbor actually just had a baby), but their make-up is awesome! Most of their products are even vegan. They sell everything from minderal powder to eyeshadow to mascara-the old-style cake kind!

Anyway, that’s all :) I don’t even wear make-up, but they’ve gotten lots of good reviews :P I have used their lip stain, though, and I like it!

Hope you and your little baby boy are having a great day! At least we know he’s warm, right? Brrrrr!!