About
OrganicMania™ is Your Guide to Making Sense of Healthy Green Living.™ It’s a blog devoted to cutting through the hype and figuring out when it makes sense to lay out the big bucks for organic and green purchases, and a place to find out how to save money while going green. It’s where you can share stories about the trials and tribulations of trying to live a greener lifestyle, and trade tips on How to Raise Green Kids Without Going Crazy!™
This blog has changed my life. Who could have imagined that putting my ideas about organics and green living out on the web would lead to new friendships, all kinds of opportunities, and a career change? And then there’s the pure unadulterated joy and fulfillment I get from blogging and tweeting!
In 2007, a former boss advised me to add a social media practice to my technology marketing consultancy. Back then, I was devoting nearly all my free time to trying to figure out when it made sense to go green and organic. I had a new baby and a young son, and like many Moms, was becoming more conscious of how my purchasing decisions impacted my family’s health and the environment. My husband encouraged me to blog about my passion – organics and green living – and to share my research, trials and tribulations online. I launched OrganicMania.com in October, 2007.
By the spring of ’08, I took a leap and focused my consulting practice on environmentally aware companies. My first clients were green entrepreneurs whom I met through OrganicMania and through my volunteer work with a local sustainability initiative, Bethesda Green.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the success of OrganicMania – both the blog and the Twitter stream. Thousands of men and women have left interesting and encouraging comments here. Hundreds of wonderful bloggers have linked to my posts and included me on their blog rolls and on their “recommended” lists. Some OrganicMania posts have been linked to articles appearing in major media outlets such as The New York Times, posts have served as rallying points for campaigns like this one from The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and I’ve appeared in major media including CNN.com, The Washington Post, ( twice ), The Washington Business Journal, and community radio station KVMR’s See Jane Do program, which highlights “Everyday Women Doing Extraordinary Things for the Planet.” Most recently, in May of ’09 I was one of 50 women named to the Nielsen Online “Power Mom 50″ list. I call this my “Oprah-esque” journey. This journey has been so far out of character for me - so removed from my experience in Corporate America - that the whole story of OrganicMania makes me laugh with wonder.
The thing that amazes me most about all of this attention is that I think anyone can do this. The press is hungry for stories about real people with real passions. If there is something you’re passionate about, start blogging, start doing, and go for it! But don’t just blog, do. Blogging about life can get in the way of real life, which is why you’ll find that sometimes there are gaps in this blog. Like all parents of young children, I’m insanely busy. I have my own business, which consumes most of my time, along with my family, of course! Increasingly, I am trying to spend more time on online green activism and community volunteer work, even prioritizing it over this blog, which frankly, wasn’t always the case.
I’d like to respond to all of the many comments and emails I receive, but it’s become impossible to do so. I do read every email and comment, and they mean a lot to me. Please bear with me if it takes a while for me to get back to you. Remember: this is a labor of love.
Thanks for your time here at OrganicMania! I hope you find something worth your time. Please leave a comment and share!
Lynn
Want to get in touch? You can reach me at organicmania at gmail dot com.
Here to learn about the Green Moms Carnival? Go here.
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Lynn,
Just saw your post on DCUrbanmoms and decided to check out your blog. I love it. My dd is only 6 months old, but I know we’ll be fighting cheap plastic crap, goodie bags, etc. before too long. Right now I’m trying not to get too depressed about the ubiquity of all things for baby made anywhere but the USA.
I’m doing the organic thing for her food, and moving that way along for our purchases as well. Thanks for the Safeway tip. I’ll check it out this week.
Erica
Erica, thanks so much for writing! You are wise to start thinking about these things now while your DD is so young. I remember thinking the big issue from an environmental perspective was diapers. HA! That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps you can get a group of like-minded friends together and pledge not to go the goody bag route. Good luck fighting popular parenting conventions! — Lynn
I just saw your post on the NYT — re Michael Pollan’s new book
We have a 4 year old who has been raised without any [ok, without much] junky food. Now as we enter the mainstream I am worried about how to maintain our standards. Would like to start a dialog about this.
Hi M.A., thanks for stopping by and commenting on OrganicMania! I think one of the best ways to maintain standards is to talk to people upfront. Ie, talk to your child care providers, talk to your friends and your child’s friends parents and see if you can agree to certain standards. That said, there is A LOT to discuss about this, so a dialog is a great idea. I’ll plan a post about this - please check back and share your thoughts! Best, Lynn
Great information, good idea I’ll let all the newly branded mothers know. Now keep up the good research.
Thanks, Brad! — Lynn
I love this site! What folks need to know, though, is that “organic” doesn’t mean what it used to. And there’s really nothing healthy about Organic Twinkies–that’s mostly marketing (no, I haven’t actually seen this, but I wouldn’t be surprised). Please check my article “Organic: What Does It Mean?” at http://www.wildsuccess.us/organic_what_does_it_mean.htm to learn the differences between Organic, 100% Organic, Made with Organic Indgredients.
Be aware that terms like “All Natural” and “Raw” are COMPLETELY marketing and unregulated. I know several “raw” snack bars that are NOT raw. Neither are the nuts that come from the bin marked “raw almonds” and “raw cashews”…..pasteurized and heated. But FDA rules allow them to be marketed as “raw.”
50 is the new 40
Biodynamic is the new Organic
knowledge is power
I’m glad you like the site, Sharon! Yes, I agree with what you say…I have so much more to write about on this blog…a zillion ideas for much content to come! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! — Lynn
Thanks Lynn for the great comment you left on my blog. I am just discovering you blog. What a great idea! People are hungry for information about what they eat.
marguerite
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com
You’re welcome, Marguerite! Thanks so much for stopping by! — Lynn
Hi Lynn … I, too, saw your comments on the Michael Pollan interview, and it led me to Organic Mania. I’m so glsd to see another blogger out there in this brave (and hopefully growing) world of all things organic and eco-friendly. Keep up the good work … er, blog!
Thanks so much, Marcia! And good luck with your new blog - healthandwellness.net! — Lynn
Thanks for being motivated enough to do this. I do so much research on healthy options (food, clothes, toys, home products, etc, etc, etc) and I try to send out the relevant bits to friends and family that might be interested (okay, okay…I send it to everyone whether they’re interested or not), but it’s really nice to have this wealth of information all in one place. Saving me a few steps…gotta love that! And less time on the computer is better for the environment.
You’re welcome, and thanks for the nice compliment, Christine! — Lynn
Hi Lynn,
I found your site and just wanted to let you know about an organization you might be interested in. The Holistic Moms Network is a national non-profit connecting parents who are passionate about holistic health and green living. We’ve just released a neat cookbook called “Growing Healthy Families: Cooking With Holistic Moms” which contains 300 recipes based on different nutritional philosophies (vegetarian, vegan, raw food, gluten-free, ethnic and meat-based). But the best part of the book is the last part which contains recipes for homemade baby food and formula, non-toxic household cleaners, wipes, play doh, and holistic remedies for everything from allergies to flu symptoms and insect stings. The book is reasonably priced at $15 and can be ordered from the HMN website: http://www.holisticmoms.org. Please take a look! Thanks!
Hi Emily, thanks for all the info! — Lynn
Hi, Lynn,
I just saw your post about green Bethesda. I live in Takoma Park, so I’m definitely going to check this out! Also, I love your overall message. We’re definitely on the same path about sharing information. I also focus on urging women to use their consumer clout to protect the environment. Let’s stay in touch! Diane MacEachern, http://www.biggreenpurse.com
Folks - check out Diane’s website…she just wrote a book about how women can use their economic clout to force marketers to clean up the planet! Diane, thanks for stopping by! — Lynn
I live about an hour north of Bethesda (and lived in the DC area for several years) - I am looking forward to learning more about their Green Initiatives - thanks for the information. Our community is similar in size and could benefit from what Bethesda’s doing. I’ve been spending time lately trying to put an end to the rumors that our recycling program is bogus . . . it’s exhausting.
Alana, would love to catch up with you about this once you recover from the birth… Thanks for stopping by! — Lynn
Dear Organic Mania,
We were glad to see the friendliness of your site as well as the valuable advice and solutions you have for everyday decisions. For the upcoming Mother’s Day we thought your site may be interested in sharing in our efforts to promote awareness in our communities. The idea behind Changing the Present is to make charitable giving rewarding and transparent for its donors. The site features specific “gifts,” so you can choose exactly how your donation will make a difference. Perhaps this Mother’s Day you may refrain from buying the traditional gift or add onto it by opting to buy a unique donation in a friend’s name and sending a personalized card.
Here are some gift ideas for Mother’s Day:
• Educate an Orphan $10
• Nourish Creativity with the MacDowell Colony $10
• Reduce Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere $20
And feel free to visit our site at
http://www.changingthepresent.org
ChangingThePresent.org works alongside a talented group of Advisors, including leaders of 125 stellar nonprofits including: Teach for America, Amnesty International, Sierra Club, Sesame Workshop, United States Fund for UNICEF, and more. The organization is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and all donations made on the site are tax-deductible.
We hope to be of help and can be contacted by email:
spark@wellgoodllc.com.
Thank you,
Susan Park
I will bookmark your site for ideas on purchasing organic. You are so right…so much research! thanks for you work. I look forward to reading more…
Susan
I just wanted to share a great way we have stumbled upon to reuse those plastic bags that come in cold cereal boxes. My husband originally started saving them to use for when he epoxies boat parts that he wants to keep from sticking to certain other parts. Then he took what turned out to be a lengthy hiatus–from boatmaking, not saving those darn bags; they were everywhere & seemed to be multiplying!
Long story short, now we use them mostly in place of produce bags at the grocery store. I just keep about a dozen in my larger grocery bags in the back seat of the truck, so I don’t forget them at home. They are wonderfully durable and easy to clean & dry for reuse. If I’m packing a lunch, one or two bags & a binder clip & I’m good to go.
I haven’t tried this yet, but I am wondering if–once they get a few holes or have reached the end of their container life, they could be shredded (in the home shredder) & used for packing material…What do YOU all use them for?
suzanne.
Great site!! I’m so glad I found it. I just decided to start sharing ideas for greener healthier living myself and was thrilled to find a great site that does the same. A big Pollan and Bittman fan, my family is trying to eat local, organic, and fresh as much as possible. It’s not easy living this way, but sometimes I like the challenge, and feel there’s just, ‘opportunity’ to change the way we and others live.
[...] on some important “green” issues that are dear to our hearts. Our fearless leader Lynn, who helped form the group with gusto helped our community win the Shorty Awards. I only wish I [...]
Sharing with you so that you will share too. 3.5 Billion wire hangers end up in landfills each year. Big problem with a simple solution that will save money for consumers, businesses and at the same time help to save our Planet!!!
http://www.recyclehangerbags.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=31
Thanks for all you!
Dawn
Love your blog, found you through EWGs. So excited to read all your info. I’m putting your link on my blog so others can read you too.
Take care and keep up the good work!!!!