Green Mama: The Guilt-Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Tracey Bianchi (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 9, 2010

Moms today are busier than ever. Taking care of the planet sounds like a great idea---but in the midst of taking care of your kids, it becomes just one more thing to feel guilty about not doing. Tracey Bianchi knows what it's like to live in the middle of suburbia with a to-do list too long to write down. In Green Mama, she brings green living within reach for every overtired, overstressed, and overwhelmed mom. Her practical suggestions help moms like you make environmentally wise choices at the grocery store, schoolyard, and kitchen table, while keeping an eye on the kids and the budget. With creative tips, tricks, and resources, she shares her stories of successes and failures in saving the planet and inspiring her kids to love God's world. Moms need a resource like Green Mama to remind them that green living is not another chore but an invitation to a creative partnership with God. As Bianchi enthusiastically tells you, green living is more than a trend---it is God's beautiful plan for the planet and for your life. This book and its contents are not authorized, endorsed, sponsored or approved by The Green Mama, LLC

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Writer and speaker Bianchi does what few evangelicals have the courage or social insight to accomplish, treading fearlessly into the minefields of discord between those Christians who go enthusiastically green in their habits and philosophical leanings, and those who do not. The author presents a compelling argument for prudently using (and not simply wasting) everything from water to electricity to foodstuffs. Bianchi shares her personal story of becoming a "green mama" with eloquence and gently calls others to do likewise, making small but significant choices as outward expression of faith, trust, and selflessness. The author also offers plenty of practical "Green Steps" and "Eco-Examen" questions in every chapter for daily application. Readers will not be guilt-tripped into accommodating Bianchi's ardent desire to save the planet, but will instead find themselves compelled to rethink their lifestyle with a more environmentally friendly eye. END

From Booklist

Bianchi artfully blends a Christian outlook with a quest to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. While unabashedly focused on saving the world as part of God’s plan, she realizes it will take a lot of practical choices to accomplish that goal. So while she does credit her faith for much of her determination, she also notes that combating global warming so that the onslaught of the Mountain Pine Beetle will be halted is a worthy achievement anyone can appreciate. Bianchi doesn’t make suggestions about specific products so much as point out the connections between our choices and some very dire ramifications. “It’s all hooked up,” she writes, and then draws a line from fewer scallops on her plate to the increase in predatory cownose rays that are booming due to the overfishing of sharks. Bianchi avers that convenience must not be the choice of those truly committed to their faith, family, and environment. Hip, funny, and earnest without being preachy, Bianchi is an environmentally focused author. Fox News fans, among many others, will easily embrace. --Colleen Mondor

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310320364
• ASIN: B0042P5IUG
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,491,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tracey Bianchi is the author of two books for women and mothers. "Mom Connection: Creating Vibrant Relationships in the Midst of Motherhood" and "Green Mama: The Guilt-Free Guide to Helping You and Your Children Save the Planet." She has a house full of chaos, a husband and young children, the perfect platform to share her musings on parenthood. Like most American parents she spends a ton of time shuttling children to activities and pretending that chicken nuggets and carrot sticks count as a balanced dinner.

Tracey's writing has appeared in a wide variety of publications ranging from blogs and articles in places like the Washington Post, Sojourners magazine and website, Christianity Today, Today's Christian Woman, MOPS International, Proverbs 31 and more. Outside of her own books she has contributed to several other titles along the way. She is a much sought after speaker who has taught seminars, classes, retreats and camps across the country. Tracey also serves as a member of the pastoral at Christ Church of Oak Brook

You can catch her musings at http://traceybianchi.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Green Mama (by) Tracey Bianchi April 19, 2010

By M_ Fitzgerald

Format:Paperback

Tracey Bianchi begins by admitting how far from green she was, leaving marinara and candy for the ants, broken branches, and toilet paper in her wake, a far cry from the Boy Scout motto of `leave no trace.` Tracey just as quickly tells how she became a green mama. Because she lives in a suburban area her book has a suburban flair; however many of her suggestions can be taken on by urban and rural households as well.
Tracey admits she owns a station wagon and only bikes for fun, her kids love fruit snacks with high fructose corn syrup and she highlights her hair. She is admittedly an average girl trying to make a difference in God's green earth.
It made me think, when Tracey stated that we are stealing from our children, and their children, when we drive gas-guzzling SUV's, and by taking more than our share of resources. I found myself highlighting ideas throughout the book; such as, on a hot summer day use a clean squirtable ketchup bottle to cool off with.
Tracey very eloquently reminds the reader that God created the world and would have us learn how to care for it. In order to help the reader become more eco-friendly Tracey has added what she calls "Green Steps" at the end of each chapter. These "Green Steps" are tips and ideas for your family to try. It's a way to decide what will work and what may not work for your family. I appreciate her honesty of what worked for her and what didn't.
Going green may seem like a difficult task, but as Tracey says, "Once you sniff out the scams and lock your loyalty into a few solid companies the green road is wide open, and getting what you need becomes easier...."
Throughout this book, Tracey does not attempt to make you feel guilty, for what you may or may not be doing, she is simply giving suggestions and states that you should do what works best for your family.
This book would be a good addition to the library of a family that is truly interested in becoming better stewards of this creation that God has given us.

*Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this book to review. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Greener Mama March 2, 2010

By Elizabeth E. Falco

Format:Paperback

I read the book as a mama that was feelin' like I was pretty green. Whether it was inpsiring me to make more thoughtful purchases of coffee and chocolate, plant my veggie garden already, or to get rid of my kids plastic sippie cups, this book helped add to the list of ways to be more green. It goes deeper though. THe author does an amazing job of connecting us back to the reasons WHY to be green. It reminds us of our connection to one another from Chicago to California to Zambia and Haiti. How our choices and purchases can make a difference to each other and in a very larger and more importance sense, to God. In the most fundamental way, this book reminds me of how being Green is serving humanity, bringing hope, and honoring God.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Parents Can Be "Green" June 2, 2010

By MasterAP

Format:Paperback

Want to have a guide to help you be guilt-free? You may want to check out Green Mama by Tracey Bianchi.

Each chapter is devoted to how you can help "go green" as a parent with children creating chaos in your home. Yes it is possible to be environmentally friendly and raise kids.

At the end of each chapter are resources and tips in how you can practically go green. Bianchi calls these Green Steps.

I must confess that I tended to skip past what she wrote in order to read the steps at the end of each chapter.

You'll learn how to start small by taking baby steps toward your new greeness, and how to select certain types of material used in clothing. Ever heard of stainless steel sippy cups?

I think the biggest obstacle for a parent to go green is the labor that it would take to make these changes. It's just so much easier to purchase stuff from Wal Mart or Sams.

I loved the resources that this book packs. If nothing else, it's a good place to start and begin doing your own research in what you can do.

This book was provided for review by Zondervan Publishing

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Green Mama April 12, 2010

By Lollipops

Format:Paperback

Going green is a popular topic now-a-days. We're inundated with suggests for electric cars, getting new heat pumps, water heaters, etc, and getting rid of our old appliances and buying new "greener" ones. But sometimes our financial situation just doesn't allow that. So how can you go green without going into debt?

Tracey Bianchi has written this book for busy moms who want to make wise choices for her family - and makes simple suggestions for going green. Simple things, like reusing scrap paper for your to-do-lists or recycling your cans and bottles. But there are also more complex suggestions if you are already doing the simple stuff.

Ms. Bianchi includes creative tips and spiritual inspiration to help you make wiser environmental choices in the community, office, or at home.

GREEN MAMA is filled with suggestions, most of which are common sense ones. But they are shared with real life stories, such as the time Ms. Bianchi went hiking with a real eco-friendly man as their guide, or stories about her children discussing why trees are important. And Ms. Bianchi recognizes that not everyone will be able to follow all the advice. Such as, I live in a rural area with no public transportation and am twenty miles from the nearest grocery store. I won't be riding the bus or biking any time soon. But the tips are there in case you are in a situation where you might be able to use it.

I already incorporate most of the ideas into our lifestyle, and with homeschooling, that might make it a bit easier, since the children are raised with it day in and day out. But still, even if you don't do anything right now, there are things to try, and simple suggestions included in each chapter, as well as questions to answer at the end, with plenty of room to answer them.... If you want to go green then GREEN MAMA is definitely a good place to start. Ms. Bianchi suggests borrowing a copy of this book so you don't waste resources, but I don't think the publisher would be behind that suggestion one-hundred percent. And since you might want to refer back to it occasionally, I suggest buying your own copy. Read more ›