How I Turned Green: Earth Day Tribute and GIVEAWAY!

I've always been a little bit ecologically-minded. With a Biologist father who has specialized in conservation with The Nature Conservancy and research for The U.S. Forest Service my entire life, and a full-blooded Native American mother, I grew up with some basic natural-lifestyle fundamentals: I was extendedly breastfed, cloth diapered, taught NEVER to litter, to compost, to try to avoid medications, to grow a garden, don't start forest fires...that type of thing. Other than that, I was raised pretty mainstream... surrounded by chemicals, preservatives, GMs, BPA, PVCs, phthalates, HFCS and all of those things that most of our parents had no idea were dangerous.
It wasn't until after BubuMan (my 2nd child) was born that I really started thinking green. I had already been practicing attachment parenting (breastfeeding, babywearing, gentle parenting), and going green seemed like the next practical step. Bubu had very sensitive skin and recurring rashes and diaper rash. When he turned a few months old, I visited a perfume boutique downtown that was going out of business, and I noticed that their entire display of Burt's Bees was on clearance. I had always been curious about the Baby Bee products, but honestly, at the time the price was kind of steep for me to risk buying it and not liking it. Well, I bought some on sale and wow! I used the wonderful-smelling diaper rash cream on Bubu (this was when he was still in sposies) and tried out the baby wash and milk bath and within a few days his skin rashes disappeared! I was also very impressed with how fast the diaper cream cleared up irritation, which he got often from sposies. I also made the switch from chemical detergents to seventh generation, and went all out buying natural soaps and cleaning products from our local health food store. When I decide I wanna go for something, I go for it all the way! Watching Woody Harrelson's documentary "Go Further" persuaded me to start eating organic and to avoid preservatives and GMOs. I got increasingly interested in recycled products (I started only buying recycled paper towels, toilet paper, copier paper, notebooks, ect).  I was venturing on the right path.
Then it occurred to me to start cloth diapering. This was about 3 years ago, and at the time, I had NEVER seen another baby cloth diapered in my life. In my mind, cloth diapering consisted of prefolds and pins. I didn't even know they needed a cover. I already had about 2 unopened packs of those Gerber 'burp cloths' that are labeled for some reason as 'cloth diapers', so I decided to give it a shot. I googled how to fold a prefold and took them right out of the package and tried it, securing the diaper with a regular large safety pin from home. I thought the fluffy butt looked so cute...but then he peed, and ultimately, it was a FAIL! I was so curious as to how people possibly kept those things from leaking, so I googled once again and learned they needed a cover! Thats when I came across more modern cloth diapers, and my research began!! I wanted to learn everything there was to know about cloth diapering before making the investment. I was already hooked on how cute new modern cloth diapers were--I was amazed by their simplicity (just adjust the velcro, or snap it on, and go!), pleasantly surprised at their versatility (one-size?? really???), and somewhat overwhelmed by all of the different types. I had decided at the time, that I only wanted natural fibers touching Bubu's skin, considering how rash-prone he was. So I ordered 3 Tiny Tush One-Size Organic Hemp fitted diapers, a Tiny Tush Organic Wool Soaker, 3 Drybee's One-Size Bamboo Fitteds, and an upcycled wool Grateful Buns Soaker. Shortly thereafter I also ordered some gDiapers to put those gerber "prefolds" to good use. And that began it all... my cloth diaper addiction. =P
Three years, one more baby, and MANY cloth diapers later, and I'm proud to say that we are a Green family! A recycling, composting, organic, chemical-free, cloth-diapering, non-medicating, breastmilk-medicine, holistic, mama-cloth-wearing, family-cloth-using, reusable-bag-bringing, herb-picking, farmer's market cruising, toxin-free, rash-free Natural family!
Needless to say, Earth Day is pretty much our holiday of choice. =)

Thats why I'm obliged to give one lucky family the chance to get started on their way to being a green family!

EARTH DAY GIVEAWAY!!
In observance of our favorite holiday that honors the protection of our planet, I've put together a little Eco-Friendly Baby Bum Basket to giveaway to one lucky winner!
The Gift Basket will include the following items:

--1 Kawaii One-Size Heavy Duty Diaper (Gender Neutral color)
--1 Travel-Size Jar sample of CJ's BUTTer (Scented)
--1 Sample of Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent (Smashing Watermelons scent)
--1 Package of Cloth Wipes/Washcloths
--1 Container of my homemade Organic Vegan Anti-Fungal Cloth Wipe Solution

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

1. Comment on my blog for one entry, telling me "Why you would like to Go Green", or "In what ways you have already Gone Green!"
2. Comment on my Facebook Page for an extra entry telling me "Why you would like to Go Green" or "In what ways you have already gone green".
3. Tag the Boheme Mom Rhapsody Facebook page, telling your friends about the giveaway, for another extra entry!
4. When your friends post to this blog and/or Facebook Page, telling us you referred them, you get an EXTRA entry!!

This contest will run through Earth Day! The winner will be drawn randomly at Midnight (Central US time) after Earth Day!

Your chances of winning depends on the amount of LOVE you show!! =)  So go ahead and enter, you could be the next winner! =)

Love,
BoheMom

ps. I <3 Giveaway time!