Portland Green Parenting

Portland Green Parenting is hosting our first (annual?) FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL!
October 26th at the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island from about 1-6 pm.

Come have fun with us and enjoy an ol’ time square dance with caller Caroline Oakley and the Foghorn String Band in the Big Red Barn from 3-6 pm!!

Everyone is welcome to show up as early as they want since there will be lots of other fun things to enjoy at the farm from 9 am until 6 pm:
* animal barn FREE
* hay pyramid & hay maze FREE
* hayrides FREE
* cow train for $2.00 per person

But be sure to arrive before 2 pm to get your tickets for the Corn Maize (about a 45 minute activity from about 2-3 pm), after which we will have some games and face painting. We will roast corn and grill burgers from 3-5:30 pm right outside the barn.

At 6 pm the corn maize turns into a haunted “field of screams” that the older kids might like. We can get a discount to this activity if we have 15 or more people interested. Please contact me to let me know if you want to do the “field of screams.”

COST: $25/family (2 adults + their own kids) or $12.50/adult
Includes admission to the square dance, all you can eat corn, 2 bracelets to the corn maze (kids under 6 are free to the maze, kids over 6 are $4), games, face painting and a costume contest with cool prizes by Klean Kanteen, Oaks Park and more!!

Buy tickets thru our store.

We just got a new batch of Kozy Design’s 100% merino wool longies in! We love these things both for use as nighttime diaper covers and, now that our 2 year old is dry, as over pants in the winter. These guys retail for $34.99, but we are offering them for just $30. Please contact Rebecca@PortlandGreenParenting.com to ask about colors and sizes as we only have a few in stock.

The new and improved, and gorgeous as always, BECO soft structured carriers have been released! We have been fans of this company ever since we met Gabby, the owner of BECO, at our midwife’s office back in California. She started the company small, sewed the carriers herself, and has grown her company to international success. We are very proud to carry these awesome baby carriers.

The Butterfly 2 model has some new upgraded features:
• REMOVABLE INFANT INSERT
• REMOVABLE HEAD REST
• SECURITY INSIDE PANEL
• CONTOURED HOOD
We love these new features, which make the BECO even more comfortable and user friendly.

The BECO Baby Carrier’s main features include:
• use of designer fabrics, many prints to choose from
• baby carrier can be used with infants from 7-45 lbs, so parents needs only one baby carrier from infancy to toddler hood
• Beco Butterfly 2 fits comfortably users between 4′9” - 6′2″
• very easy to use with a minimal learning curve
• fast on and off (a matter of seconds)
• folds down very small for portability
• organic fabrics will be available as of October ‘08
• our retail packaging is made from recycled post consumer waste (paper) and is recyclable

MAIN FEATURES:
• FROM NEWBORN TO TODDLER
• FRONT AND BACK CARRY
• HIP SEAT
• COMFORTABLE AND STYLISH DESIGN
• 100% COTTON
• MACHINE WASHABLE
• DVD INSTRUCTIONS

We ship to all US states for $145 including shipping, or you may pick up from our location in Portland and receive a $6 credit towards anything else in our store.

Join us for a monthly, self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family.

The compassionate communication practiced in the group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing everyone’s needs and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children. For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart.

Kathy Marchant will lead an introductory NVC session for the group.

Facilitator: The group will be self-led, but coordinated by Mychelle Moritz and Rebecca Andersson
Description: Focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom.
Prerequisites: none, all levels of experience welcome.
Format and Structure: To be determined by the group. Children are welcome.
Meeting Day/Time: Last Sunday of each month from 2-4pm, future meeting times negotiable by group.
Location: Nurture, 1614 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211
Fees: $10 for the training, otherwise suggested donation of $5/group meeting
Group Maximum: 15 Members
Contact: Mychelle 971-344-7527 mychelle@nurturepdx.com

The 2009 Portland Chinook Book is now available, full of money saving coupons that you can use right away (check out page 180 for a coupon code for our own online store)!

Chinook Book is a one-of-a-kind resource — a coupon book, a directory, a source of ideas and inspiration. It’s your guide to living well and having fun in the Portland metro region. Save hundreds of dollars while exploring the community and supporting local, sustainable businesses. Over 400 valuable coupons make this our largest book yet. Businesses with coupons include grocery, dining, entertainment, travel, garden and home adding up to savings of over $3,000.

COST: $20 or save 20% when you join Portland Green Parenting!

We are so excited to attend the 3rd Annual Green Sprouts Organic Baby & Family Fest! Please come visit us at our booth!

Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Peninsula Park in Portland, OR from 10 am-5 pm.

Green Sprouts is a fun, festive and educational one-day event for the whole family that celebrates and promotes the nurturing of life through nature. From pregnancy to childhood, parents can learn about and explore eco-friendly, community-involved, natural, and healthy options to raising their families.

This should be a great event for the whole family. Here is a list of some of the topics covered:

Pregnancy & Childbirth Options
Acupuncture - Pre-Natal Yoga & Pilates
Homebirthing - Pre-Natal Massage
Doulas & Midwives - Waterbirthing

Health & Fitness
Postpartum Fitness - Family Fitness
Lactation - Organic & Vegan Foods
Naturopathic Pediatrics - Nutrition
Mercury Free Dentistry

Healthy Home
Non-toxic Nursery - Green Remodeling
Organic & Natural Gardening
Eco-Friendly Cleaning
Air/Water Purification

Clothing & Style
Eco-Clothing - Diaper Options
Healthy Toys - Bedding - Decor - Gifts

Education & Childcare
Eco-Friendly Childcare & Daycare
Holistic and “Green” Preschools - Financial Planning

Children’s Activities
Natural & Outdoor Recreation
Holistic and Educational Programs

This weekend a few families went camping at the beach at Cape Lookout. It was a perfect group tent site– set right on the beach, off to the side, away from the busy main loop of RVs, tents, yurts and cabins. The view of the vast ocean in front of us was beautiful, as was the forest behind us. The sun made a few appearances, but overall the weather was a little windy and a bit rainy… but that just gave us more reason to huddle around the cozy fire pit, grill yummy food, enjoy some tasty beverages, talk and laugh! The kids had a great time as well– playing in the sand, exploring the rocky beach, and just being outdoors in the fresh air all day long.
I hope we can do this again next summer!

Photo by Ellen.