Cragmama

May 06 2013

A lot of times I wonder if the only reason our family has remained as active and adventurous as we have is because we have just one child…Then I met Charmagne Cox. Her inspiring story leaves no question as to whether or not its possible to continue recreational pursuits with multiples…and by multiples I don’t just mean multiple children, I mean MULTIPLES. As in TRIPLETS. Let that sink in for a moment – 3 kids to carry in to the crag (in addition to all of your climbing gear), 3 kids to get down for a nap at the base of the cliff, and 3 sets of poopy diapers to hike out at the end of the day. But the Cox family not only made it work, they enjoyed it so much that 5 years later, they did it all again (but this time with just 1, not 3!) Here is the story of Charmagne’s climbing journey…

Charmagne working her current project, Body Wax (5.12b)

Name: Charmagne Cox
Age: 41
Crag-kiddos/Ages: Emily, Madison, and Chloe (10 year old triplets), and Hannah (4 years old)
Currently in: San Antonio, TX
Climbing for: 20 years and counting

Favorite Climbing Area: The Red River Gorge! My husband is from there, and we have a cabin on 175 acres there. It will most likely be where we move to after retiring from the military. (Hopefully in 4 years!)

Proudest Climbing Achievement: After being diagnosed with HELLP syndrome, and enduring 10 torturous weeks of bed rest followed by an emergency C-section that left me with a 4 inch hernia that required surgery, I was so weak that I literally could not squat down without falling over. Recovering from all of this was difficult and time-consuming – but although I haven’t climbed at the same level I climbed at pre-triplets, I have been able to work my way back up to solid 5.12 while raising 4 kids. I would not have been able to do this without my amazing husband, who is an even more amazing dad!

When did you first take the triplets climbing?
The triplets spent their first 7 weeks in the hospital due to being nearly 12 weeks premature, and we took them out climbing for the first time at 8 weeks.

How did you manage the logistics of 3 infants at the crag at once?
We have been very blessed with an enormous amount of help with the girls. One of my sisters lived with us for 9 months after the triplets came home from the hospital. She or one of the grandmothers (my mom, step-mom or mother-in-law) would come with us climbing. We also have wonderful friends who have children the same or similar ages who we share(d) kid duty with.

Charmagne’s crazy crew hiking out after a fun but dirty day at the Red River Gorge!

What age/phase was the most difficult to manage at the crag? Any good stories?
The most difficult time for us was 6 months until about 3 years – kids are mobile, but clumsy and can’t do long hikes. And mine were always into everything! I remember one time we hiked into Tyranny Wall at the Obed when the triplets were around 20 months. I had one in a backpack carrier with the food, one in a front carrier and my husband had all the gear and one girl on top of his pack. The trail had changed and we got lost…it was epic!!! By the time we got there I was so exhausted that I only did 2 routes before stopping to make sure I had the energy to hike out! We still laugh about that day. It would have been so tempting to quit but we knew if we did, starting back would be even harder.

What is your climbing life like now that your girls are older (and now that you have 4?)
Climbing still takes a lot more planning and work, but it is very manageable. We almost always climb with other families so our girls always have someone to play with and there is usually an adult on “kid duty”. Honestly, having three the same age makes some things easier- they always have someone to play with whereas my youngest doesn’t always.

Another thing that makes climbing very doable for us is that I home school our girls, although I must point out that climbing is not why we home school. But it does give us an enormous amount of flexibility for climbing trips. I spent 7 weeks at the Red this past fall, and just brought their schoolbooks with us! We have school year round, taking breaks when we need to or are on vacation. Additionally, if they are exhausted on Monday from being out all weekend, they are able to sleep in and still have more than enough time to complete their schoolwork.

Do your girls climb too? If so how do you balance finding routes suitable for the entire family in a climbing trip?
My big girls do climb some. Chloe has shown the most interest, but it comes and goes and is largely dependent on how much fun they are having playing in the woods, building fairy houses, swimming . . . We encourage them to climb but have never forced it. Balance on climbing trips has not been a problem so far but it could be in the future if their interest picks up, which I think is likely! Chloe is very strong and would make a great climber and Madison has no fear! If you combined them they would be unstoppable. Emily, is my little diva and I doubt would ever pursue climbing but who knows! Hannah, of course, is still very young, but she does climb in the gym and loves to swing.

One of the triplets cranking at the Red in 2010.

Since becoming a mom, has your attitude about risks in climbing changed at all?
ABSOLUTELY! I had never really struggled with my “head” too much before becoming a mom. After having the triplets, I was terrified on lead. I do not remember exactly how long it took to adjust (a few months) but it was definitely a struggle. I am still more cautious now but don’t struggle with fear while on lead. I also didn’t experience that same fear of leading after Hannah was born. I guess I went through it once and moved through it.

What is the most challenging aspect of family climbing trips?
Hmmmm, if we are not at our cabin, I would say the insane amount of laundry after coming home, especially after camping!

What is the most rewarding aspect of family climbing trips?
The most rewarding part of family climbing trips is experiencing new things with my girls. Climbing introduces us to new places, people, and cultures and is a wonderful hands-on learning tool. I believe most children will adjust to whatever their “normal” is. Climbing, and therefore travelling, is normal for us. In fact if we take time off, we all get grumpy and the girls will beg to go! I was raised in the outdoors and all of my siblings have their own outdoor passions: hiking, fishing, skiing, and surfing…I hope to instill the love of nature and exploration in my girls and encourage them to maintain healthy lifestyles.

If you could offer one piece of advice to other mama’s out there what would it be?
Enjoy your children when they are little! Don’t get caught up with thoughts of “I have to redpoint a certain grade,” or “I have to climb at the same level I did pre-kids.” I had started getting back into decent climbing shape when the triplets were around 4 or 5 and then was VERY surprised (shocked might be a better word) to find myself pregnant with Hannah. It has only been since Hannah was around 2.5 that I have been able to devote the time needed to climb hard. I don’t regret those years that I “gave up”. They are gone so quickly and you can never get them back. I will never regret the routes I didn’t send because of the time I spent with my children!

A beautiful, inspiring family!

Anything else you would like to add?
I love coming home and feeling that deep, core tired from “playing” outside. Many people relate climbing to being spiritual – a communion with nature- and it is definitely so for me. I can’t imagine climbing not being in my life. Climbing with kids was a forgone conclusion for us. We never considered the idea of stopping…

Kudos to Charmagne for not only keeping her recreational passions alive, but for making them a family affair! My guess is that if more families chose to live like the Cox’s, there would be a lot more kids outside enjoying nature on the weekends, and a lot fewer kids inside on the couch watching TV! Thanks to Charmagne for allowing me to tell her story. If you enjoyed it and found it inspiring, please leave some love in the comments section below!

Rocks For Research – An Inner Peaks Fundraiser

Climbing.

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May 02 2013

This past weekend I had an awesome opportunity to participate in Rocks for Research, a fundraiser event at Inner Peaks Climbing Center. In a matter of hours, we raised more than $10,000 dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)! As volunteer coordinator, I had the chance to work behind the scenes with an amazing crew of hard-working folks. I also got to represent Trango/Tenaya with a shoe demo, which is always fun (shout outs to Steve Lineberry and David Barbour for helping get shoes on stinky climber feet!). Most of Diabetes patients usually contact a viatical settlement broker to be able to pay for the expensive treatments.

Despite an emergency evacuation inside due to rain, the event was hopping from mid-afternoon until way past the crag-kiddos bedtime. Pro-climbers Sasha DiGiulian, Jimmy Webb and Matt Bosley (who has diabetes himself), taught clinics and showed previously unreleased footage during the slideshow presentation at the end of the evening. (And all three of them were amazingly down to earth and enjoyable to talk to!) Kurt Smith kept the psych high (as well as the silent auction bids!) throughout the event. Raffles, demos, food, Red Bull, and of course open climbing kept everyone entertained without a dull moment, if you need to find a great complement for your Diabetes Diet tristandining.com recommends blood sugar formula for blood sugar support

I could go on and on about the details of the event, but I thought the most fun way to recap such a crazy and chaotic good time would be through pictures (most of which were taken with a cell phone, so forgive the blur…)

You know, just chattin’ it up with Sasha DiGiulian before the party gets started…

In case you couldn’t tell, C was not so keen on standing still long enough for a family photo op with Sasha

Setting up outside before the rain chased us inside. Photo credit: Inner Peaks)

Even the mayor of Charlotte decided to pop in! (With a well-placed Tenaya and Trango tent in the background lol)

Even the mayor of Charlotte decided to pop in! (With a well-placed Trango/Tenaya booth behind him…) Photo dredit:; Inner Peaks

One of many clinics taught by pros Sasha, Matt, and Jimmy

Photo credit: Inner Peaks

Tenaya demo was a hit! And even Officer JD stopped by for a look!

Sasha climbing her namesake route – A.D.I.D.A.S (All Day I Dream About Sasha)

Photo credit: Audrey Burton

How Parents (and Other Busy People) Can Still Find Time to Train in the Climbing Gym

Training.

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Apr 29 2013

Everyone knows you can’t truly climb hard unless you take your shirt off.

I often get questions from other families regarding time management and climbing. How do you find time to train? How do you balance climbing time and family time? What are some quick and easy ways to squeeze in a climbing workout? While the answer obviously varies from family to family, the common theme usually involves a lot of efficiency and a little bit of creativity. Gone are the days when my hubby and I can meet each other at the gym after work and climb for hours on end until our fingers feel like their going to fall off. Nowadays we each have approximately one hour of time two days a week (and occasionally an extra day on the stray weekends we aren’t climbing outdoors). Since time is at a premium, it’s imperative that we get down to business right away and stay on task – otherwise the hour is up and all we’ve managed to do is climb 2 routes (in between getting water, shuffling pads around, and standing around talking). Here’s a handful of the ways we manage to keep our training on track with the limited time we have. Since it’s always good to keep your body guessing, we tend to rotate through each in cycles, depending on the season and what trips we’ve got coming up and/or projects we’re working on.

1. ROPED/BOULDERING CIRCUITS – This is the most organic option, for those of you who hate keeping up with a written training log. The concept is simple – just pick something specific to work on, do it, then rest for a bit before doing it again (and maybe even again and again.) For roped climbing, I wrote a while back about some specific intervals that could be done with 3 people (or just two if you don’t need an extra person on kid duty!) You can find that post here. If most of your training is done solo, roped climbing is out of the question (unless you are one of those rare people that don’t die of boredom after 5 minutes on an auto-belay). No big deal – the sky’s the limit with bouldering and interval training. Besides, I’ve found that I actually stay more focused and get more out of my workout time on the days I’m flying solo. Recently I tried to beef up my power endurance with a “5 in 5” interval. (I adapted it from a recent Climbing Magazine article). Basically I gave myself 5 minutes to climb 5 boulder problems that were challenging, but I thought I’d still have a fair shot at when tired (ie familiar problems devoid of tweaky moves). At the 5 minute mark I would stop and rest, regardless of whether I’d completed 5 problems or not. Another 5 minutes and I’d do another interval – 5 intervals (plus a solid warm-up) put me right at the 1 hour mark. I measured my progress by adding up the grades – so an interval with a V2, a V4, and three V3’s would be worth 15 points, as would an interval with 5 successful V3’s (unsuccessful attempts are worth zero points.) It might not sound like much, but 5 minutes leaves NO room for rests or mistakes, and I was shocked at how exhausting of a workout this was. But in 3 weeks time I was able to increase my “score” by 16 points!

Caution: Cragbaby at Work!

2. UP AND DOWN – The ability to reverse moves is a very valuable skill to have in your arsenal when pushing your limits on new routes outdoors. It’s also a great way to throw in as much pump as possible out of a 30 foot wall. Make it a point to down climb every route you can – and don’t hesitate to take multiple laps on the same route or routes that share the same rope – you’ll build some endurance and all the while saving time, since you’ll be eliminating the amount of times you and your partner spend in transition tying in and out of the rope.

3. HIT STRIPS/CAMPUS BOARD/HANGBOARD – All of these nifty little training inventions could easily have been invented with the busy family in mind. When done correctly, they provide a very quick but highly effective and specific workout. Do them incorrectly and you’re gonna get hurt. Don’t hop on any of these pieces of equipment without a thorough warm-up (ie more than a set or two of push-ups). Also, most experts recommend that this sort of higher level training only be attempted by climbers in the 5.10 and up arena. If that’s not you (yet 😉 ), you’re actually in a great place because that means you can still see plenty of gains from just plain old climbing! If that IS you, then you’ve got a whole arsenal of time-saving (albeit sometimes monotonous) equipment at your disposal. Choose any one of these torture devices and you are guaranteed an exhaustive workout in under an hour. HIT Strips are the least boring and MOST like actual climbing. I experimented with them this past summer in prep for a trip to Ten Sleep, and was pleasantly surprised at the results (more specifics here). I’m not a huge fan of the campus board (mostly just because I suck at it…), but I know a lot of folks that have benefited immensely from it. The hangboard and I became intimately close last year when I was stuck in an ankle boot, and since then, I like to intersperse a short cycle of hangboarding every 2 or 3 months or so. And if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you probably read my review of the DRCC v5.12 hangboard from earlier this week (if you didn’t, click here – there’s a discount code at the bottom of the post!)

Inner Peaks Training area

Although we used to meet at the gym at the same time and just alternate every 15 minutes or so for kid duty, we’ve found that C is in a better mood (and therefore everyone else is too) when there is less transition. So our current m.o involves Steve going to the gym directly after work, which gives C plenty of time to wake up from his nap at his own pace before we all rendezvous at the gym around 5:30. While it’s my turn to climb, C and his Daddy either hang out at the gym, socializing in between C’s “project burns,” or head home to play outside, depending on the day. Dinner is always leftovers on climbing nights, ensuring that we still have plenty of family time after dinner before it’s time for C to hit the hay. Our current strategy has been successful for the past 6 months or so, but my guess is that when C is older it’ll make sense to go back to the get-there-at-the-same-time-and-alternate-kid-duty schedule again.

That’s what’s been successful for our family of late, but I’m sure everyone else’s miles may vary. What strategies have (or have NOT) worked out for your family when it comes to workout/training days?

Interview: The Tale of Two Streakers…

Interviews.

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Apr 25 2013

Tom and Anne looking the part for a Day of the Dead 5K Race back in 2011

Throughout the 3 years or so that I’ve been writing on this blog, I’ve had a chance to interview some really cool people, most of whom have pretty inspiring stories. The neatest part for me however, is that very few of these interviews are with people that I didn’t already know beforehand, at least in some capacity or another, whether they be close friends or just acquaintances. Anne McLaughlin and tom Drewes are no exception. I first met them (collectively they are referred to as “the McDrewes”), on a chilly winter day at a local bouldering field many years ago. We found common ground immediately when we realized we both had a soft spot in our hearts for El Potrero Chico, and although we haven’t seen them since we’ve moved to Charlotte, we still keep track with each other’s adventures via facebook (oh the glories of the internet!)

One such adventure that Tom and Anne have undertaken together is the notion of “streaking.” Each of them has made a goal to run 1 mile each day (fully clothed…usually 😉 ). The concept is pretty simple, as there are really only two rules – they must run (no walking allowed), and it must be at least a mile. Other than that, it can be inside, outside, fast, slow, etc. I heard it through the grapevine that Tom and Anne had recently celebrated 2 years of daily running – that’s 730 days folks! Anyway, I thought their story might be a good one to include in the Running for Rock Climbers Series, and I was delighted when they indulged my interview request. Here’s what they had to say about their journey.

Anne “streaking” with Royal, one of her favorite running partners

How long had you guys been running before deciding to “streak”?
Anne: I hadn’t been running, that was the problem. I had zero motivation, was out of breath on approaches, and hated running even more than sitting at home doing nothing, thinking about how I should be exercising…I got the idea from an out of town colleague on a business trip.
Tom: I had run on and off since around 1990 — never too seriously but I think I managed to run a very slow 10 miles in my college years. When Anne told me about the streak I thought it would be a good spring board to keep motivated for continuing running as well as a way to support her interest in running.

Talk to me about logistics – JUST one mile everyday? Some days more? What’s your schedule like?
Anne: I’m not training for anything, and the casual nature of the streak is what most appeals to me. I don’t *have* to do anything except for the mile. If I feel like running longer, I do. If I don’t, I stop. The beauty of the streak is that I know I have to do that mile, and the first mile is always the hardest. If I knew I had to run four miles, I’d put it off and never start. I would dread it. But with just one mile it isn’t so hard to get started. Most of the time I feel like running longer once I’m into the mile, because the hardest part of running is getting your shoes on and out the door.
Tom: I was already running around 3 miles every other day when we started, so I would just accompany Anne for a mile and then run a bit more. On my former rest days, I would just do a mile.

You guys are pretty adventurous folk. How hard was it to squeeze your running in on climbing trips?
Anne: Not hard at all, actually. It’s only about a 10 minute commitment. We get up, run the mile, and are back before coffee is ready. Sometimes we’ll even save it for during the climbing day so we can run on a trail.
Tom: It’s really always worked out well. Besides usually getting to run someplace beautiful, it can be a nice way to stretch out a bit and wake up before jumping on a route at the crag.

Tom and Anne climbing together

What about “extenuating circumstances” – bad weather, illness, etc.?
Anne: Just run the mile. You’d be amazed at how running a mile clears your sinuses! Granted, I haven’t had the flu in two years, so check back with me after a major event like that. But I have run in blizzards, rain, sleet (pro-tip: wear a baseball cap!) and 100 degree temps. I’ve also run through twisted ankles, sickness, and on days when I was put under anesthesia for medical procedures.
Tom: One thing people always ask is whether you can “bank up” a run (run 2 miles one day and skip the next.) Nope!

What has been the hardest run of your streak?
Anne: Definitely at Red Rocks in September, 2011. After a cancelled flight and five hours of sleep in Minneapolis, we got to Vegas at about 10am and were hiking in to climb by noon. Finished the climb and had the usual descent shenannigans where it took us a while to get back to the car. By the time we checked in to the ranch where we were staying, their restaurant was going to close. So, instead of running, we ate a heavy meal…putting our run at about 11pm. Every step hurt my stomach – it was much more awful than bad weather or feeling ill!
Tom: There was one time I was stricken with a severe stomach ailment, passed out, and actually hit my head on the bathroom floor in the wee hours of the morning. I confirmed with a nurse on the phone the next day that I didn’t have any symptoms of head trauma and got out with nothing more than a gnarly goose egg. After a lot more rest and gentle fluid intake over the course of the day, I went for a very moderate mile run that evening.

What is the most rewarding part?
Anne: This is a really tough question. It doesn’t feel rewarding anymore, it just feels like part of my life! I do love wanting to voluntarily run more than the mile, or when my step feels light and I feel like I could go forever.
Tom: I’ve enjoyed watching Anne get excited about running…and I secretly enjoy the planning to fit it into days that seem like they will be logistically challenging.

What’s been the best run of your streak?
Anne: Ironically, also at Red Rocks! Thanks to being on eastern time, it was pretty easy to get up at 4am every day, do our run down the silent ranch road by moonlight, then get ready and be at the gate by 6am when it opened. There was a lot of wildlife out there, so we regularly got to watch burros trot down the trail in front of us during the run.
Tom: After the Hound Ears Bouldering Competition last year, still needing to do my mile, a friend joined me on a run down the road to the entrance gate — the buses full of hooting boulderers headed back to the campground just added to the ambiance.

Looks like Royal sometimes gets double running duty!

How long do you plan to keep your “streak” alive?
Anne: I guess I’ll stop when I fail. I still don’t consider myself a runner. I am just highly invested at this point. If I fail for a day and the streak is over, I’ll probably never run again. I’m kidding. Well, I’m only partially kidding. Maybe I’m not kidding. The longer the streak gets, the more important it is to me to keep going. Starting over at zero would feel terrible, so I’ll do anything to get that run done each day.
Tom: I guess I’m a streaker until I somehow miss a day. Then I’ll just be a streaker with a longer former streak and a shorter current streak.

What would you say to non-runners about why “streaking” is a good idea?
Anne: Here’s why the streak is awesome. There is no time limit.. if you start off running a 16 minute mile, who cares? As long as you’re running! Also, there is no other requirement beyond the mile. If you feel like just doing a mile and not a step more, that’s fine! But about a month in I am willing to bet you’ll feel so good at the end of that mile you’ll WANT to keep going.
Tom: Just listen to your body as you get started. Since the goal is to keep going for day after day, start easy and build up to more miles (if adding miles is another goal). Your body will definitely let you know when you can run more. Be patient if you are recovering from an injury. The beauty of the mile minimum is that with such a short distance you can adapt to almost any contingency while you’re less than 100%. I’m signed up for a half marathon in Atlanta this August and the training plan has overlaid quite nicely on the streak and on climbing!

What I love about Tom and Anne’s streak is the simplicity of it. It’s definitely illustrates the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of it’s parts. Looking at one day at a time, one mile might not seem that impressive – but running 759 days in a row (the current total as of today), is certainly something to be proud of! What running goals have you set for yourself this year – and would you ever consider going for a “streak”?

15 Simple Ways Your Family Can Go Greener…

Parenting.

1 Comment.

Apr 22 2013

In case you didn’t know it, today is EARTH DAY! Today (and on every April 22nd since 1970), there will be thousands of environmental awareness events going on in communities worldwide. Schools, libraries, workplaces, and parks will be buzzing with festivals, workshops, and eco-friendly activities geared towards promoting education about environmental issues. For our family, it’s a good reminder to reevaluate the efforts our family has (or has not) been making to protect the earth for the past year.

Why is the message of environmental stewardship important for families? On a personal, spiritual level, I believe that one of our jobs as functioning members of Creation is to be caretakers of the Earth. On a long-term, global level, I want to ensure that my son (along with the next generation), has the chance to explore and discover the same natural wonders that I’ve been blessed to recreate in. And on a somewhat selfish level, the eco-friendly choice is often the more wallet-friendly one as well.

But while our family is certainly nowhere close to environmental perfection, there are a few easy changes we’ve made over the years that have made an impact on our local community, on our wallet, and hopefully on our son’s world view. Most of them were/are pretty simple in both concept and practice…

Cloth diapers are fun!

1. Cloth Diapers: Well the old adage about cloth-bottomed babies potty training faster than their Huggies counterparts has NOT proven true in our family…but that’s a different post entirely. What HAS proven true for us however, is that cloth diapering (and wipes, and handkerchiefs…) is an easy and healthier alternative that has saved us thousands (!) of dollars. More on cloth diapering in this archived post.

2. Switch to CFL or LED Light Bulbs: Did you know that if every American household replaced just ONE light bulb with a more energy-efficient model, it would save enough energy to light 3 MILLION homes?!?

3. Turn Lights Off When You Leave the Room: This is an easy one to do, as well as to get your kids involved in. C LOVES climbing the diaper table to turn off the light in his room before we leave.

4. Recycle: For a lot of folks this is a no brainer chore that’s done on auto-pilot, but if you’ve got kiddos make sure to take the opportunity to explain WHY some “trash” goes in the green bucket versus the black one.

5. Composting: We just started this last fall (spurred on by leaf-raking season), and I have been amazed at how many items we are able to keep out of the landfill just by having a simple compost bin. Two bonuses – not only is it a good science experiment for C, but we’ll eventually have loads of nutrient rich goodness for our garden!

6. Grow Your Own: Speaking of the garden, grow one! Whether it’s veggies, fruit, herbs, or simply flowers, having a garden is a great lesson for kids in where food comes from.

7. Re-use: Whether its bags at the grocery store, food containers in a lunch box, or drinking vessels in a backpack, there are numerous household storage vessels that can be used over and over again.

8. Eco-commute: For distances closer than 3 miles, we always try to bike or walk when the weather is nice. (But as I said we’re far from perfect – on cold, rainy, or even rushed days we don’t hesitate to hop in the car!)

My little gardener.

9. Use the Library: This one is pretty subtle on the surface, but can turn into a big money-saver. Borrowing books from the library means your child has thousands more reading options without taking up any more space in your house. While you’re there, be sure to check out the free literacy activities offered for kiddos – there may actually be a lot your tax dollars are helping to pay, so you may as well partake!

10. Shower Less: Though it might seem out of the question for some , skipping a couple of showers per week may actually be HEALTHIER for your body – and it most certainly saves on water! Not convinced? Check these 5 reasons out.

11. Choose a Gas Efficient Vehicle: A few years ago we weren’t expecting to buy a hybrid car, but we got an offer we couldn’t refuse and have never regretted it. We save so much money on gas that we are hoping to be able to go hybrid for our next car as well!

12. Purge your Closet: Imagine how much more room you’d have in your closet if you got rid of stuff you never wear?!? At the start of each season make a Goodwill run – you’ll gain extra space as well as help out someone less fortunate.

13. Clean Green: We try to either buy (Charlie’s Laundry Soap, Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, etc) or make our own green cleaning options. For recipe ideas, click here.

14. Support Local Businesses: Buy local where you can, and not just for food. Local businesses generally have a much smaller carbon footprint than their corporate counterparts.

15. Teach (and Model) Respect for Nature: This is the underlying one that actually encompasses all the others. Tell (and show!) your child not only how to care for the earth, but also why it’s important. Take advantage of all those endless questions and use them for teachable moments.

For those of you that strive to “green up” your lifestyle more and more, are there any big ones that I’ve missed? Like I said our family is far from perfect so I’d love to hear more ideas and strategies for getting a little greener one step at a time.

“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN

Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

Fellow Cragmama Charmagne Cox: Inspiration Multiplied!

Rocks For Research – An Inner Peaks Fundraiser

How Parents (and Other Busy People) Can Still Find Time to Train in the Climbing Gym

Interview: The Tale of Two Streakers…

15 Simple Ways Your Family Can Go Greener…