ADVENTURES IN ECO-PARENTING

GREEN LIVING EXPERT LEAH KLEIN'S ECO-COOL WAYS TO GIVE BACK

The Big Thaw - Using Your Freezer Most Efficiently

GREEN GIVING

The winter holidays are long gone and the media has
quieted down about some of the major natural disasters
in the past few years, from devastation in New Orleans
and Haiti to the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Spring is a
time of renewal, as the flowers and trees continue to
bloom and the animals on the farm are having their babies. It is a great time to think about continuing to give to the causes and organizations that you want to support. It is a great time to give some green,whether you have time to give, stuff to give or greenbacks to give. Here are some eco-friendly organizations to get you started.

Giving Money Makes Cents

If you enjoy a walk in the woods or sitting under a shady tree to enjoy a picnic or some quiet family time, then you might consider donating to American Forests. Every dollar donated plants a tree. You can have the organization choose the spot that most needs forestation or you can allocate the money toward a specific American Forests project. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is another great organization to support. They offer conservation of land, trail maintenance and education.

If you have a soft spot for our feathered friends, then perhaps you are already a member of your local Audubon Society. Another option to help conserve native wild birds and their habitats is the American Bird Conservancy.

The Environmental Working Group is a team of engineers, policy experts, scientists, lawyers and computer programmers who study everything from health and toxins in the environment and consumer products to natural resources and energy sources. Donating to the Environmental Working Group will help them update Skin Deep, their cosmetic safety database; support the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act; fight for organic produce; get dangerous chemicals out of your food and water; and/or protect your favorite national parks from mining destruction.

Vacation: Give a Little, Live a Little

Hands Up Holidays sets up luxury family trips that include sightseeing and volunteering. They have family trips and are also able to set up custom vacation/volunteer opportunities.

The American Hiking Society offers short four-day trail work trips or longer 10-day trips from January to November. Volunteers work together to maintain trails and conserve some of the country's most remote places.

The Earthwatch Institute has its expeditions organized by continent, month or type of research. Projects include those centered around archaeology and paleontology, climate change, cultures, human/wildlife conflict, managing resources, ocean health, threatened animals and threatened habitats. If you search under keyword,you can narrow expeditions down to family-friendly volunteer opportunities by entering family.Then book your trip to help the Samburu people of Kenya identify medicinal plants or help protect Pacific gray whales by tracking them in their summer feeding grounds off the coast of Tofino, British Columbia.

For more voluntourism opportunities, travel writer Peter Greenberg has an extensive roundup of organizations that offer volunteer trips.

Donate Stuff

When it comes to donating stuff,get in touch with local eco-friendly organizations and see if you have what they need. It may be that you have access to an extra computer, want to donate tools or are happy to go out and shop for what they need. Some groups will have a wish list on their site. The Texas Campaign for the Environment has their list of items pictured with quantities needed right on their site.

Search for Good

Who knew you could support an organization just by searching online? Whether you are looking for a recipe for tonight's dinner, searching for the perfect rain boot for the kids or just trying to find a few extra coupons for this week's groceries, if you use Goodsearch, you will be supporting the organization of your choice. Goodsearch is powered by Yahoo!, and for every search, a penny goes to your charity of choice. On the eco-friendly front, you can find local organizations by state or choose from a list of categories that include global relief and the environment.

Leah Klein blogs at Foodie Family Eats. She likes to participate and volunteer locally at the Massachusetts Audubon Society with her children. She supports the World Wildlife Federation and donates money to the environment with her Blackstone Valley license plate, which supports the Environmental Trust.