New GreenGroup in Massachusetts. Is the next GreenGroup coming to a city near you?

We received an absolutely delightful email from Melissa in Massachusetts who with a tiny bit of help from us, started a GreenGroup in Massachusetts:

Just wanted to say a big thanks for the inspiration and information...we kicked off our neighborhood GreenGroup last night. We had a decent turnout and will probably even get a few more next time around (a few people who said they'd be coming had stuff come up and couldn't make it). And while we had a sort of outline of what we wanted to do to get the conversation going, we barely needed it. People couldn't wait to share their experiences and questions, and while we told people to expect the meeting to last about an hour, it went for closer to two without ever dragging at all! Ideas covered ranged from low-key (swapping books) to pretty big stuff (uniting to try to purchase organic lawn care service as a group for a better price).

We've started a Google group to share info online between meetings, and to my surprise, even though we kind of offered folks the option to push the date of the next meeting back til January because of the inevitable holiday insanity, everyone pretty much thought we should book a night and have as many people as can make it plan on coming. I think that might have felt like the biggest indicator of the success of the night!

Anyway, I'm sure you have dozens of e-mails from the people who've followed in your footsteps out your way and started offshoot Green Groups, but I had to say thanks again for your input and for motivating me to stop thinking about it and do it!

Truthfully, we have a ton of people who contact us about GreenGroups. Many of them are interested, but often confused. They fear it will be a major undertaking. They think they need to set up a big ol' blog site like we have. Not so! It's like a mom's group or a book club -- only you talk about sustainability. When you want. Where you want. It's simply about finding support and solidarity in the green movement, and focusing on the very local (i.e., neighborhood level). Do you see a GreenGroup in your future? It is probably the easiest thing we've done on our own green journey, and one of the most rewarding. If you are interested in setting up a GreenGroup in your neck of the woods, drop us an email and we'll help you get started!

Giving thanks for green goodness

EnviroMom is part of this fantastic group of green mom bloggers, and each month someone hosts a carnival about a specific topic and everyone blogs about it. (Well, actually this is the first month we EnviroMoms have gotten our act together to participate!) The theme of this month's carnival is our "favorite green things" hosted by Best of Mother Earth. Hmm. It's a toughy. I mean, there's so much good green stuff happening every day! I feel like every tiny baby step I take is a giant leap forward, and I embrace it. Right now I'm feelin' the love for these three:

1) Our GreenGroup! Renee and I formed this group of moms almost two years ago when we launched EnviroMom. We just wanted to be able to sit and talk and share our struggles and victories with like-minded moms from our community. We meet every month as a group, and often more than that at the grocery store or community center or soccer field. So I'm feelin' the love for Renee, Christy, Erin, Jen, Betty, Tracy and Darla! These women are my inspiration!

2) Michael Pollan! His books, The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, really opened my eyes and inspired me to change my thinking about food. His writing style is easy on the brain, yet it makes me feel smarter and better-equipped to tackle tough food choices. He's the one who got me thinking about 'whole foods' and inspired Renee and I to share a CSA subscription. Thanks, Michael. (And I totally plan on reading The Botany of Desire soon!)

3) My microfiber dusting cloths! I know. I KNOW. It's so lame. But really, these cloths represent the disposable lifestyle that I left behind not that long ago. Growing up we always used old t-shirts and socks for dusting. But in my adult years it was all about the Swiffer. Now I've come full circle, and I love my dusting cloths. Microfiber may not be a 'green' fabric, and they were probably manufactured in some distant land, but that's not the point. They are there when I need them, time and time again, and they do a darn good job on the dust.

Really, I could probably list hundreds of green things I love, but who has the time?

What are some of yours?

Another new GreenGroup forming: SW Portland/Raleigh Hills

Back to school time is good for forming GreenGroups. We've pleased to announce that the forming of a new group in outer SW Portland. They are meeting in the Raleigh Hills area, and the first meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7pm at the Valley Community Church, in the Fireside Room. The church is located at 8060 SW Brentwood. The group is not affiliated with the church, they are simply using it as a meeting space. Ana Forster is the group coordinator, so please email her if you'd like to attend or have any questions. I plan to attend the first meet, so I look forward to meeting Ana and maybe YOU there.

 

If this time/place doesn't work for you, we're happy to help you start a GreenGroup around your own schedule!

North Portland GreenGroup meeting, Sept. 3 (tomorrow!)

Alright! We've got more GreenGroups forming in the Portland metro area. Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 at 10am the North Portland GreenGroup will meet at Columbia Park. There is a picnic area near the Lombard side of the park -- that's the spot. Kids welcome to attend! Chelsea is coordinating this group, so if you want to drop her a line, her email is: chelpop [at] gmail [dot] com. Otherwise, just show up and meet some like-minded, green-minded moms!

Hillsboro GreenGroup meeting on Thursday, Aug 14

Our Hillsboro GreenGroup plans to meet this Thursday, August 14 at 3pm. New members are welcome. Please email if you're new and you'd like to attend. The meeting will be at a private residence:

929 NE Donelson Road, Hillsboro OR 97124.

Evolution of a GreenGroup

We started our SW Portland GreenGroup the same month that EnviroMom.com was born (March 2007). The forming of the group was fairly word-of-mouth. A few friends, Heather and myself, some interested moms who we met via the Southwest Watershed Resource Center. And it grew from there. We did some field trips to each others' houses to brainstorm "green" challenges and learn from one another. We met about every month for a while -- with the structure of the meetings being loosey-goosey at best, but always with lots to say and none of the pregnant pauses you might expect from a diverse group of people, many of whom had just met.

Then came requests to start GreenGroups in other parts of the Portland Metro area, as well as distant places: Memphis, Austin, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, even London! We've tried to seed these groups to the best of our ability, but admittedly, with limited success. No doubt, it's hard to find a place and time that works for a group of busy EnviroMoms and EnviroDads. It also takes someone to head it up, and believe me, I know it's hard to add one more thing to your plate. If there's any advice I have for someone who wants to form a GreenGroup, I'd say just go for it:

• Pick a date, time and public place -- family-friendly cafe or coffee shop, library, community center.
• Invite some green-minded friends.
• Limit it to about 8-12 people, for simpler scheduling and ease of discussion. Keep the focus as "local" as possible.
• Post a flier with the details at the meeting place, if possible.
• Post an online announcement via your local craigslist.org or similar site.
• Then see what happens... Most likely you will all learn some helpful things from one another. Share what you learn via a blog or set up a Yahoo Group to communicate outside of meetings.

I've loved our GreenGroup. We meet about once every other month now. Sadly, I'm the scheduler, and my scheduling of meetings is flaky at best. Our group has decided to add a bit more structure over the summer, by discussing the Northwest Earth Institute Menu for the Future discussion course. If you're not familiar with the NWEI, it's a national organization founded by Portlanders Dick and Jeanne Roy with a mission of "inspiring people to take responsibility for Earth." Any one of the NWEI's discussion courses would make a great starting place for a GreenGroup. It's inexpensive, the readings are thought-provoking and feature fantastic writers. The goal is not consensus, but to promote discussion. I love that.

Vancouver Green Group Meeting

The Vancouver Green Group is meeting this Friday!  If you're interested--please join us! 

When:  Friday, June 13th, 6:30 - 8:00

Where:  StitchCraft, 2110 Main Street Vancouver, WA

What to bring:  A topic for discussion or something you'd like to share with the group!

*Thanks to Nicholette for letting us meet at your new shop again!!

NoPo GreenGroup forming!

Hey North Portlanders! Chelsea is ready to get a GreenGroup off the ground. She already has some interested members, so if you'd like to come to a meeting, please send her an email: chelpop [at] gmail [dot] com. She works weekends, so she prefers meetings Monday through Thursday. Let her know your availability and hopefully we can get this group up and running!

I just returned from the SW GreenGroup meeting, and it was really motivational! For me, sitting around with other parents and talking about green lifestyle issues has had the most profound impact on my own lifestyle. Things I wouldn't typically have had the courage to do (food composting, Diva Cup, etc.) seem so much more do-able when you hear about other's solutions and have a support group to help you through the bigger changes. If you are looking for a group of like-minded parents to talk to about greening up your life, try a GreenGroup. And if you're in the NoPo area, definitely get in touch with Chelsea! 

GreenGroup meetings and other news

The Eastside GreenGroup will be meeting this Friday, April 11 at 10:30am at Urban Grind, 2214 NE Oregon. If you haven't attended one and would like to come on Friday, send Hope an email at tab2210 [at] comcast [dot] net. Urban Grind is a kid-friendly coffeehouse with ample playspace.

There's also an effort afoot to get an Inner Southeast GreenGroup off the ground. Angela has offered to coordinate a group and has proposed meetings on Wednesday or Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons. If you are interested, please email her at angela [at] bta4bikes [dot] org.

How about a North Portland GreenGroup? We've had an inquiry about getting one going -- is anyone interested in joining or coordinating one? When would you be able to meet? Coordinators merely send out email reminders about meetings -- they are not expected to lead or teach the group. What usually happens is that everyone brings a topic to discuss or an issue they need help with, and the group brainstorms and shares ideas. Coordinators also have the option of contributing to the EnviroMom blog so that everyone can learn from the GreenGroup discussion. Drop us an email if you're interested in a N. Portland group: enviromompdx [at] gmail [dot] com.

A Milwaukie GreenGroup is starting up, too. Let us know if you'd like to take part in that one or get another group started in a different part of the metro area. We love that so many people want to get involved in GreenGroups!

Vancouver Green Group Meeting

The Vancouver Green Group is meeting again!  Please join us! 

When:  Friday, April 11th at 6:30 pm

Where:  StitchCraft, 2110 Main Street in downtown Vancouver, WA

Bring a drink and come on in!

(Thanks to Nicholette, Vancouver Green Group Member for letting us use her new retail space to meet!)