Green Living & Sustainability

Could You Live with a Lot Less?

June 12, 2013

Until I lived in a ten-foot-wide row house, I never thought about how the size of my living space affected my consumerism. With little room for much and no storage space, B and I had to get rid of a lot of stuff when we moved in, and we got used to looking away when an awesome piece of furniture caught our attention.

Now, after nine years in this little house, I realize that while my dream house is a little wider and has more shelves and closets, I don’t ever want a huge space. I don’t have people to fill it; I don’t want to spend time cleaning it or paying for the heat and air conditioning; and I don’t need to fill it with unnecessary things. Not that you have to do any of that with a large home, but what’s that saying…nature abhors a vacuum? We seem to fill whatever space we have.

Graham Hill, a wealthy serial entrepreneur, learned this for himself. In a piece for the New York Times, he describes how, before the age of 30 and flush with cash, he bought a large home in a tony Seattle neighborhood and hired a personal shopper to help him fill it. Before long, he was plagued with the stress of so much stuff:

My life was unnecessarily complicated. There were lawns to mow, gutters to clear, floors to vacuum, roommates to manage (it seemed nuts to have such a big, empty house), a car to insure, wash, refuel, repair and register and tech to set up and keep working. To top it all off, I had to keep Seven busy. And really, a personal shopper? Who had I become? My house and my things were my new employers for a job I had never applied for.

Hill says it took 15 years of travel and falling in love to cure him of his need for stuff. Still successful, he now lives in a small studio apartment with six dress shirts, 10 bowls, and a fold-down bed. He says his space is small but his life is big:

Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn’t stuff at all, and that relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.

I like material things as much as anyone. I studied product design in school. I’m into gadgets, clothing and all kinds of things. But my experiences show that after a certain point, material objects have a tendency to crowd out the emotional needs they are meant to support.

Reading Hill’s words got me thinking again about what kind of house I want to live in next, and the kind of consumer I want to be. It also made me realize that the home we have now could be used more efficiently, and be less cluttered and better organized. So I don’t have to wait: I can learn to live better in the space I have right now.

What about you? Could you live in a much smaller space with much less stuff? Could you imagine pairing down as much as Hill did?

Image: Haus Rüscher (designed by OLKRÜF) in de zeen magazine

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Confessions of an Infrequent Coffee Drinker

April 23, 2013

I am not a coffee drinker and never have been. The sleep deprivation of motherhood hasn’t changed this, much to some peoples’ surprise. Even during my university years, I guzzled water to pull all-nighters (it really seemed to work!).

The weird thing is, though, I love the taste and smell of coffee. As a child, my favorite ice cream flavor was coffee. No other kid I knew chose coffee ice cream over chocolate or strawberry. Any chance I got, I chose coffee-flavored stuff. By any estimation, you’d think I would have turned into a big coffee drinker as an adult.

My big problem has always been the caffeine; it just doesn’t agree with me. It makes my already-fast ticker race out of my chest and gives me digestive problems. The caffeine in tea has a much milder effect, and I don’t notice anything when I eat chocolate. But coffee…it’s not a mutual love affair, unfortunately. (Decaf has never appealed to me because the process of making it usually involves chemicals.)

All that said, I’m suddenly tolerating coffee a little better in my old age, and over the past couple of months, I’ve been treating myself to a small cup or two on weekend mornings. I take it with cream and no sugar — but I like to drink it with something sweet in hand, like a pastry or even pancakes. I’m married to a big coffee drinker who’s experimented with more coffee makers and beans than anyone has a right to; his brews keep my house filled with a lovely coffee aroma, which also delights our daughters (who, true to their Ethiopian roots, love everything about coffee).

If you didn’t already know, Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. It’s the country’s pride and joy, as well as its biggest export. According to a fascinating (and gorgeously shot) travel piece in one of my favorite magazines, AFAR, Ethiopia has a greater variety of beans than anywhere in the world. By some estimates, 99% of the world’s arabica coffee can be traced to Ethiopia. When we were there, B and I drank coffee at various coffee ceremonies, which are an integral part of the culture there. He loved it — whereas I took small sips and then kept my eyes out for the bathroom.

I’d really like to try more Ethiopian beans, and luckily they aren’t hard to find (though the best stuff remains in Ethiopia). I tend to like medium, nutty, full-bodied roasts, and because it’s such a treat when I do sit down to a cup, I want the best. My favorite brand is Counter Culture, followed by a local cafe’s Mexican coffee, and the beans from another local roaster — Zeke’s. Organic, fair trade, shade-grown coffee is important to me, since beans can be heavily sprayed (which diminishes their health benefits and doesn’t help local farmers as much).

I am completely fascinated with this BulletProof coffee recipe ever since a good friend raved about it. Have you heard of it? Crazy stuff like this always calls my name. Likewise, this past weekend, I made a java quinoa smoothie. Coffee and quinoa? I know — but it was tasty. Since I still don’t know how to brew a good cup of coffee, mine was too weak, diminishing the coffee flavor in the smoothie, and I added too much quinoa. Nevertheless, it was a pretty yummy — and nutritious — alternative to a hot cup of Joe.

Are you a coffee drinker? An aficionado or just a grab-and-go person? Got any favorite coffee rituals to share?

Images: Zoe Saint-Paul

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My Green Report Card

April 22, 2013

It’s Earth Day today (though most celebrations took place over the weekend), and it got me thinking about what I’m doing well — and not so well — when it comes to being a good steward of the Earth and her resources in my everyday life. Here’s a written report card of sorts, beginning with my good grades:

I shop and eat locally as much as possible.
I repurpose glass jars and containers. I recycle. I reuse wrapping paper, regular paper, and ribbon.
I donate to and buy from thrift stores and consignment shops. I also use CraigsList and sell and buy stuff on local listservs.
I use recycled and cloth grocery bags.
Most of our cleaning products are environmentally friendly, as are most of our personal body products like soap, shampoo, etc.
We buy some of our power from “green” sources.
I usually remember to unplug small appliances when they’re not in use.
Three quarters of our household appliances are now “Energy Star” models.
I pay much more attention to where our purchases come from: clothing, furniture, household items.
I write my representatives about issues that affect the environment, like cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, preserving farmland and forests, etc.

Here’s a list of where I’m failing (or haven’t even tried):

I don’t compost. Just can’t figure out a way to make it work in our tiny kitchen and nonexistent backyard.
I go through a lot of paper towels. (Imagine a never-ending Bounty commercial.) When I try to use cloth, I end up with a heaping pile of dirty laundry, permanently stained cloths, and an empty drawer — so I go back to paper towels.
My girls insist that the lights always be on, even in the middle of the day — probably because our downstairs is so dim and they’re used to lots of sun. So I’m blaming them for the fact that I’m not great at making sure lights are only on when necessary.
I haven’t made many of my own natural cleaners yet, even though I’ve been meaning to. Not sure why…
I’ve still never tried a Diva Cup, which means I still use disposable pads and tampons.
I don’t use a clothesline. I’m tempted to hang one on our deck this summer, but I’m afraid I’ll get complaints from neighbors: We live in tight quarters here, and I fear they’ll think we’re contributing to the look of tenement living.
We don’t have solar panels on our house. We could probably install them, but I don’t know where to begin and somehow doubt we could afford it right now.
Although I pay many bills online, I have not yet taken the time to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers, so we still get too much junk mail.
We desperately need to replace our entire HVAC system to make our house more energy efficient. We also need to replace some doors and windows.
We haven’t changed most of our lightbulbs — which by law we have to do soon. I’m not keen about using bulbs that are actually toxic if broken and must be disposed of like chemicals. Some green-friendly solutions really don’t seem like solutions at all.

This list is far from complete, but I think I’d give myself a solid C: I’m doing some things well, while other things need major improvement or attention. I have to accept that some things are just not going to happen in our current house.

How about you? How are you doing when it comes to living a more sustainable, natural life?

Image: Zoe Saint-Paul

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Surprised by Frugality

March 12, 2013

by Alissa Lively

Recently, in an effort to finally eliminate our student loans, my husband Dan and I decided to buckle down in the budget department. We’ve been doing intense debt repayment for a while now, but in the last year our dedication to the cause of financial freedom has wavered a bit.

We re-resolved to pare down our expenses and return to greater economy in our household. It’s been a little bit of a challenge (apparently recreational shopping does not deserve a line item — who knew?), but it’s also been extremely galvanizing. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how a little frugality has helped us reorient our family to the slower way of life that we’re constantly aiming for. In the short time on our new budget, we’ve found a few positive aspects of thriftiness that have (almost) taken the sting out of some of our bigger changes:

Recommitment to Better Eating

One of our first alterations was to our grocery budget. Our grocery bills have been steadily increasing without a corresponding increase in the size of our family or our enjoyment of food. We realized that we could scale back, but we had to revisit some philosophical choices that we’ve made. When the only consideration is monetary, it makes it hard to justify buying a half-gallon of milk from grass-fed cows (as we’ve been doing) when a full gallon of regular milk costs less. It would be so easy to just pick up the full gallon and be happy with the lower bottom line at the checkout.

Instead, we had to sit down and reevaluate what food choices we’ve made. Discussing our reasons for purchases like grass-fed dairy, humanely raised meat, and local produce made it surprisingly easier to spend that money, since we’re not just considering the financial costs. It also made it much easier to cut out some of the junk that we’d slipped back into purchasing. As a result, our grocery bills are lower, we’re eating healthier, and we’re appreciating our food even more.

Lower Consumption of Resources

In order to lower our monthly bills, we decided to drop the temperature in our house a couple of degrees during the day and ten degrees while we’re sleeping. This might not seem like a lot to most people, but to me, it’s been a serious adjustment. I like to hang out in spring/fall-type clothing, regardless of the weather outside, and I keep my thermostat set to maintain this level of comfort year-round. However, after just a couple of weeks (I know, I’m a baby), I realized how ludicrous it is for me to walk around barefoot in the winter when a pair of socks will drastically reduce our use of the heater, not to mention save us a significant amount on our gas bill.

In addition to using less gas, we’ve started conserving energy by running our dryer as little as possible. Instead of drying every article of clothing that we own, we now reserve the dryer for socks, undies, and t-shirts only. Hanging up most of our clothes to dry was a pain at first, but now it seems silly to pay money and use electricity to do something that will occur naturally anyway. So, while we conserve electricity and save money, we’re cutting down on the wear and tear that machine drying causes, thereby extending the life of our clothes. Win, win, win!

Renewed Appreciation of Family and Personal Time

In trimming the little extras out of our budget, we’ve found happiness in unexpected places. Instead of picking up burgers on the way home after a long day, we make a quick breakfast for dinner and still have a family meal together around the table. We’ve cut down on renting movies, which translates into more family reading and game nights. And since we’ve been trying to walk more instead of driving, we’re not constantly flipping radio stations in the car. By eliminating the “time savers” and reducing some of the background noise in our lives, we’re more available to what we want to be focusing on anyway: each other.

I know we could have made all these changes without an eye toward saving money — but we didn’t. Refocusing our budget has helped us renew our commitment to some of the things that matter most to us: our family, our impact on the world around us, and our health. Definitely more than I expected from some attempted thriftiness!

What about you? Has budgeting or cutting back in other areas reaped unexpected rewards for you?

Image: Alissa Lively

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Giveaway: Artisan Clutch and Bangles via Lydali

March 11, 2013

Friends, I’ve got a fantastic giveaway to start the week!

You may recall from last Monday that I ran an interview with Ali Price of Lydali, an online boutique of one-of-a-kind curated items made by international artisans. I hope you enjoyed reading about Lydali as much as I enjoyed discovering and writing about it.

Ali and her business partner, Lydia Harter, have generously offered two beautiful items from their line to one lucky SlowMama reader: a snakeskin clutch (in a color of your choice) and a set of wood and leather bangles!

The pieces are gorgeous in their own right, of course, but they also both have a story behind them: The colorful snakeskin clutches come to Lydali through Bersatu, a social enterprise founded in Bali, Indonesia, whose mission is to provide income-generating activities for Indonesians through the creation of simple, chic, Bali-inspired jewelry and accessories. These clutches are handmade by Herman, a leatherworker in Bali employed by Bersatu. Herman’s leather-making business currently supports his family and employs three other people in his community. (Bersatu happens to be the organization that inspired Ali to start Lydali!)

Lydali also works with Raven + Lily, a U.S.-based company that works with artisans in Northern India to create these beautifully designed wood bangles. Ferdoz, who is pictured on Lydali’s product page, creates all of them herself. She’s paid fair wages, and Raven + Lily gives the proceeds from this collection to fund literacy programs for female artisans and their children in the community.

In addition to the generous giveaway, Lydali is offering 10% off to SlowMama readers who use the code “SLOWMAMA” when placing an order. Thank you, Ali and Lydia!

This is definitely one giveaway I wish I could enter myself. For everyone else: You can leave one entry per person, or enter a second time by posting another comment saying you liked Lydali on Facebook. This giveaway is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada. I’ll announce the winner on Friday. Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Winner was announced here.

Images from Ali Price

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Fighting Illness with Essential Oils

January 23, 2013

As part of my resolution to find a new equilibrium in my life as a mom, I’m determined to buck up my immune system and keep this family as healthy as I can in 2013. I plan to share some of my attempts here, especially if I see results.

One thing I’ve started to use a lot lately (at the suggestion of my sister and a local naturopath) is essential oils. I was somewhat familiar with them already — I use body products that include essential oils, and I interviewed an aromatherapist here on SlowMama before — but with the recent bouts of sickness in my household, I’ve been reminded just how much essential oils can help when respiratory illnesses hit.

We use a warm humidifier in our bedroom in the wintertime, since the air is so dry, so when the girls came home I bought one for their room, too. When we all had terrible colds and respiratory infections recently, I placed some oils in the medicine cup of the humidifiers at night and noticed a big difference. The girls’ coughing pretty much subsided as soon as the essence dispersed through the room: They could breathe through their noses better, which meant no mouth-breathing, which eradicated the constant coughing and made for a deeper sleep, helping them heal more quickly. (I noticed the same in our bedroom, too — on the nights I got to sleep there, anyway — but our humidifier has only been working on and off.)

There are so many essential oils — all used for different purposes — but a handful are particularly great for respiratory illnesses, and I now keep them in the cabinet for use in our humidifiers:

Red thyme — A fairly strong-smelling oil with a reddish color, it’s used as an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal, as well as an immune-system stimulant. Herbalists often recommend it for circulatory and nervous-system issues, as well as for digestive problems and respiratory illnesses.

Eucalyptus — Most people are familiar with this scent; it’s considered a balancing oil and a common choice for relieving coughs, sore throats, and sinus problems.

Peppermint — Peppermint is said to be an effective decongestant that helps clear the head and unblock the sinuses. It’s nice to add a couple drops of peppermint along with eucalyptus when trying to treat respiratory issues.

I keep a number of oils on hands for other purposes, too: tea tree, lavender, lemon, and ylang ylang, to name a few. You can use essential oils in all kinds of ways — topically, aromatically, and even internally — but whatever the case, make sure they’re good quality, especially when using them in or on the body. For high-quality products at reasonable prices, I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs (you can find more about them in this post from last year). In a pinch, you can find some decent oils at a place like Whole Foods, which are fine for use in humidifiers. And for more information on essential oils and 25 ways to use them, check out this post on Simple Mom from last year.

Do you use essential oils, and have you seen results? What are your favorites?

Image: Zoe Saint-Paul

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Giveaway: Homestead Emporium Products

December 12, 2012

I’ve got another giveaway for you this month, and this one might make a fun stocking stuffer for you, a sister, or a close friend.

A couple months back, Ann posted about her discovery of cloth pads (after she converted to a menstrual cup), and a friend pointed her in the direction of Homestead Emporium, a family-owned and -operated business that makes cloth products for the entire family, including washcloths, nursing pads, and “dundies” — handmade underwear that I now want. Ann’s post included an interview with Homestead Emporium’s founder, Pieternella Willard, where just about any question you might have about cloth pads was answered. (I have to admit that, after I read it, I started seriously considering making the switch.)

Pieternella is giving one lucky SlowMama reader a $20 gift certificate that’s good for any of the products in her shop. (Thank you, Pieternella!) I encourage you to check out the website: The pads are made of soft organic bamboo velour, hand-dyed, and come in many colors — and, as I mentioned, I’m totally sold on their dundies, as well as their fantastic washcloths. So even if you’re not into the pads, you (or someone you know) can still put this gift certificate to good use.

To enter, leave a comment below, and tell me this: What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

Oh, and good news: Homestead Emporium can ship internationally, so this giveaway is open to all SlowMama readers wherever you happen to be reading. I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday. Good luck!

Images: Homestead Emporium

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Slow Living for Sale

November 14, 2012

Have you seen Williams-Sonoma’s new product line Agrarian? It features beautifully made chicken coops, beehives, cheese-making kits, hammered copper jam pans, hand-crank grain mills, heirloom seeds, fruit trees, and many other things your wannabe slow-living heart might desire. Of course, it will set you back a pretty penny, but Williams-Sonoma isn’t exactly the place for discount shoppers.

Mainstream businesses who cater to consumers with disposable cash are capitalizing on a trend they can’t ignore: Whether you call it slow living, simplifying, back to basics, or something else entirely, there’s a newfound appreciation for quality craftsmanship, locally sourced products, DIY projects, and traditional ways of living. Of course, calling it a “trend” is misleading, since this impulse has been around for ages, but you know it’s hit the mainstream when Williams-Sonoma is peddling such wares.

Some people find this commercialization of slow living a bit comical, especially given that most Americans still don’t cook from scratch, claiming that they’re too busy. But my feeling is: Why not? These buyers might not be hardcore homesteaders, but every little bit helps. As an urbanite who’s had to admit she’s not cut out for the farming life, I can relate to picking and choosing what I’m going to incorporate into my routine. I experiment with things, and sometimes I fail miserably (completing a knitting project, anyone?).

So if a family in a tony suburb decides to buy a cheese-making kit from Williams-Sonoma and give it a try, more power to them. If a busy professional decides to try canning or baking something herself, I say good for her. The fact is, the tenets of slow living are still foreign to many people, but by experimenting and trying new things, it may lead to bigger lifestyle changes down the road.

Still, I’m guessing there won’t be boatloads of people buying the $1,299 chicken coop from Williams-Sonoma (though they do carry one for $399!). Those larger purchases require more commitment, so I imagine the real winners will be the canning kits, gadgets, colored twine, and seeds.

But what the heck, let’s play along: What would be on your Christmas wish list? Please tell Santa I want that hand-crank grain mill.

Image: Williams-Sonoma, via Edible Stories

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Patching New Life Into Old Clothes

November 13, 2012

by Alissa Lively

Starting before my post on disposable fashion back in September, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to update my wardrobe. I have a change-of-season disorder where, at the beginning of each new season, several key pieces from last year fall apart simultaneously, leaving me with a serious clothing deficit. Combining this with my recent disavowal of discount fashion retailers equals a pretty sparse and inflexible closet.

In order to increase the workability of my wardrobe, I finally patched some jeans that have been languishing unused for too long. They’ve had rips in the knees for a couple of years now, which finally exploded from not-really-noticeable to hey-I-miss-90s-grunge-don’t-you?!

Taking a cue from sweet finds like this one, I decided to fix them up with some heart patches. Then I found this tutorial, which definitely simplified the project. I’d originally planned on sewing those darn patches, which would have gotten pretty ludicrous, as my sewing machine comes with one setting: straight line. So, hello, fusible backing!

The red fabric I’d initially chosen for the patches started to sound a bit silly, as it dawned on me that the only other red article of clothing I own is…another pair of pants. So I cut off the too-long ends of my jeans and made my patches out of them instead. I’ve wanted to shorten these jeans forever anyway, and this seemed like the perfect reason to bite the bullet.

So, with not having to find fabric or do any sewing, this project ended up being a breeze. I did have to re-fuse one of the patches because I over-ironed: This being my first foray into fusible backing, I wasn’t aware that too much heat is a bad thing for the adhesive, which basically evaporated.

But even with the redo, these patches were a cinch to finish, and even though they’re not perfect, the reintroduction of these jeans to my wardrobe doubled my available outfit choices. Not only that, but I feel extra happy that a still-usable article of clothing hasn’t gone to waste. My wardrobe may not be 100% sustainable, but I’m making progress!

What about you? Have you mended or repurposed any clothing to extend its lifespan? Do you feel the same glow of resourcefulness that I do?

Images: 1, Alissa Lively; 2&3, Kathleen O’Beirne

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All About Cloth Pads

October 10, 2012

by Ann Waterman

When I started using a menstrual cup, it seemed only natural that I should look into cloth menstrual pads as well. If I was going to go the reusable route, why not go all the way? Prior to my menstrual-cup conversion, I had never seriously considered cloth pads, and if I did, it was only to snicker at those crunchy granola types who used them. <hangs head in shame>

With the menstrual cup, I only needed light back-up protection, so I figured that testing the waters with cloth would be fairly safe. A friend who swore by cloth pads pointed me in the direction of Homestead Emporium, a family-owned and operated business that makes cloth products for the entire family — everything from cloth pads and diapers to washcloths and “dundies,” the cutest handmade underwear you’ll ever see.

Perusing the Homestead Emporium website, I had no idea cloth pads could be so…fun. Made of soft organic bamboo velour, they’re hand-dyed and come in myriad gorgeous colors. Some have waterproof backing as well as “wings” and snaps to keep them in place. Unlike disposable pads, they don’t “crinkle” when you move, and there’s no adhesive to (ahem) get caught on. In terms of wear, I love mine — they’re so comfy and much easier to clean than I imagined. Plus, this probably sounds silly, but with all the exciting colors, it actually makes me happy to pick my pad for the day.

Since I only use my cloth pads for back-up, I can’t really speak to how well these pads work when used exclusively for monthly flow — so I asked Pieternella Willard, founder of Homestead Emporium, to tell us a bit more cloth pads and answer all of those questions you may have wondered about but never dared to ask.

Ann Waterman: It’s obvious from your products that you have a real passion for your work — and a lot of fun with it as well! How did you get in the business of making cloth pads, and what considerations go into the construction of the pad — materials, design etc.?

Pieternella Willard: I know it’s hard for some to believe, but I really do love this business! I’ve always loved sewing, and I’ve always had a great passion for fabrics, especially fabrics that just make you feel good, so this business is a great fit for me. I always tell my kids that I may have never dreamed about becoming a cloth pad maker when I was growing up, but this business has provided me the luxury of doing a lot of what I love: being creative, working with my hands, running a business, and best of all, being home to watch them grow up and to homeschool.

I first started out almost 8 years ago when our youngest — our twins — were 4 years of age and I needed to bring in some sort of income to continue staying home with them. I worked part time out of the home with the elderly as a nurse’s aid, and when that was no longer a viable option, I worked as a waitress so my husband and I could swap child and home care. By the time we had 5 children, however, this wasn’t feasible any longer, and working from home became the ideal. I just had yet to figure out exactly how I would work from home.

With five young children and only one income, I needed to be frugal, so I made the switch to cloth pads that I created from an old flannel nightgown. I started with cloth pantyliners for daily wear, and a few online friends became curious about them and asked if I could make them some, too. From that small start, I began working out trades with others, purchasing larger quantities of fabrics, and moved into organic fabrics. The business kept growing bit by bit to where it is today, almost eight years later. Last year we shipped out over 7,000 pads world wide, all sewn right here in our home and dyed right here, too. I can’t help but be passionate about it. To know women all around the world are using our products every month — some every day — just makes me smile!

Why did you first switch to cloth pads, and why do most of your customers switch to them?

To be honest, when I first heard about cloth menstrual pads, my thoughts were, “Gross! How disgusting!” Then, I heard about them again, and again, and being the curious and ever-researching person that I am, I realized that rather than judge them, perhaps I should look into the reasons why women would even use them. Once I began to research and read about the chemicals used in disposable pads and some of the serious health concerns related to those chemicals, I gave cloth pads a second thought.

Since I had an issue with light incontinence — having five children, including twins, can do that to you! — I figured I could at least give cloth pantyliners a try. I cut up an old flannel night gown into a shape I felt would be comfortable, zigzagged the edges on my sewing machine, and used a tiny safety pin to secure it to my undies. I had my first cloth liners.

And you know what happened then? I loved the feeling of wearing cloth so much better then plastic with glue, that when my cycle came along and I had to use a disposable pad, I couldn’t even stand it! Suddenly, the thought of washing cloth pads didn’t seem so disgusting when compared to how cloth felt next to my skin versus plastic. I had also battled yeast infections for years and noticed I didn’t have issues while using the cloth liners, yet when I used the plastic/paper products, suddenly I found myself with the same problems again.

I was well on my way to deciding to make the complete switch when my eldest daughter — who was almost 13 at the time — started her monthly. Then I really began to research in earnest. I had suffered from endometriosis between two miscarriages, and when I realized disposable pads could have contributed to this, I just couldn’t stand the thought of my girls using disposables. I had four girls to consider, and I decided right then and there that, if at all possible, I was going to show them that there was an alternative to disposable products.

Since then, I’ve never looked back. This week celebrated the third of my four girls beginning her cycle, and it was such an easy thing for her because she’s grown up in a home full of pads. I gave her the choice between disposables or cloth after sharing all of my research, and she was completely set on cloth. We’re now working on a nice stash just for her!

How comparable are cloth pads to disposable ones in terms of absorbency, and how often do they have to be changed?

Personally, I feel they are very comparable. I tell my customers that the 9.5-inch regular-flow selection is very similar in size and absorbency to the mainstream sizes found on the market.

Most women find they change their pads each time they use the bathroom. Of course, if their flow is very heavy, then, just as with disposables, they may find they need to change their pads more often; if their flow is lighter, they may need to change it less. It really is very dependent on each woman’s needs and flow.

What do you think are some of the greatest misconceptions about cloth menstrual products, and what do you tell prospective customers who are interested in cloth but are hesitant to take the plunge?

Well, of course the same misconception I had — that cloth pads are gross! But I think that’s a totally fair misconception. Who wants to deal with their menstrual flow anymore then they need to? Most women simply don’t want to. But let’s face it: We have to deal with it one way or the other. We can either be comfortable in something as natural as a pair of cloth underwear, or we can worry about throwing away plastic and paper products and about the chemicals we’re placing in one of the most absorbent places in our bodies. We deserve better then paper and plastic. Bamboo velour is so luxurious in comparison! And with gorgeous hand-dyed colors, it’s enough to almost make you smile when it’s time for your cycle to begin!

If someone were interested in using cloth pads exclusively, what would you recommend for a starter kit? How many pads would they need, and what kinds would you recommend? What’s the lifespan of a cloth pad?

I usually tell my customers to begin by taking a look at our pad description page and deciding which pads they feel will best suit their needs. It’s really best to just try a few at first, even though it’s tempting to jump right into a full stash. Most women are accustomed to using the same size/style for their full cycle, but with cloth pads, a lot of women, including myself, find they like a real variety according to their flow days. Most women’s flow is not the same throughout their entire cycle; a lot of women have heavier days, and lighter days, and then regular flow days. This is why I’ve created such a huge array of pads. Most women easily have 3-5 different sizes and styles in their pad stash!

The lifespan of a cloth pad varies greatly according to how they are cared for and how often they are used. Cloth liners for daily use tend to last about 18 months to 2 years, depending on just how often they are used. Washing is hard on any cloth — pads or clothing — so if you have a small stash of just 3 liners, they’ll be washed a lot more then if you’ve got a larger stash that you’re able to rotate more often.

Menstrual pads that are used just once a month typically last longer – anywhere from 3-7 years, depending on how often each individual pad is being used and washed. Again, a larger stash with pads that are only being used 2-4 times per cycle will last longer then a small stash with pads needing to be washed daily and reused several times within a cycle. Some love a large stash for this reason, but not everyone can afford a huge stash, so I usually recommend women decide how often they want to — or are able to — wash their pads and multiply that by how many days they need to use them.

To start with, I usually recommend 3-6 pads per day, times the amount of days between washings. This usually adds up to about 9-12 pads — a couple being heavy-flow pads (11 inches or longer) for nighttime use, 6-9 being regular flow pads (9.5 inch), and 1-3 liner sizes for the very beginning of the cycle when the flow is light and when it’s just about over.

Let’s talk about the nitty gritty: You have a used pad. What’s next? How do you clean it? What if you’re away from home?

To wash, some women like to rinse them out first, while others simply toss them straight into the washer. Personally, I like to wash them with other like colors. Sometimes I’ll do an extra rinse cycle first, then a regular wash. Other times, I’ll rinse them on their own first — it really just depends on how busy I am. Since we’re a family of 7 — and usually have at least one extra child/teen living at our home — I’m doing laundry pretty much on a daily basis, so it’s really no big deal to just add in a few pads to a load of like colors. Any load I’m washing my underwear with, I’ll add pads to without hesitation.

As for how to wash them, it’s just the same as you would wash a load of like-colored towels, or really almost any laundry. Wash on warm, cold, or even hot, if you’re not concerned about colors running, and you can throw them in the dryer like anything else. Some find they prefer not to use fabric softener because of the chemicals and the belief that it can affect absorbency, but if you’re a fabric-softener lover, I personally haven’t noticed any ill effects.

If you’re away from home, most women use a small wet bag — a bag that’s waterproof on the inside and usually has a pretty print on the outside. It’s a great way to keep your soiled cloth pads discreet until you can get home and wash them.

Anything else you’d like to share about cloth pads?

To women everywhere who are nervous about giving them a try, but curious enough to wonder, just take the plunge! At least try just one liner — I usually recommend one of our 7-inch TinyLiners to start. You’ll most likely find they’re a lot more comfortable then you ever imagined. Once you try cloth, it’s really hard to go back to paper and plastic. Also, if you’re still not convinced, read reviews. You’ll most likely be surprised. A lot of women were just like you — nervous about that first step into the wonderful world of cloth. And from there, let me just say, “Welcome! We’re glad you joined us, and we know you’ll be here to stay!”

Images: Homestead Emporium

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