fair trade clothing

A few weeks back I did an article on the importance of organic clothing, I should have mentioned the importance
"fair trade" plays in the garment industry. Many of the organic lines coincide with free trade but i never really understood what it was or it's importance until I started researching for my own boutique.

Fair Trade guarantees a minimum price for producers so they can earn a decent, living wage and break the cycle of exploitation and poverty. It has been defined by the four Fair Trade Organizations as "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers, especially in the South. Fair Trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising, and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade."
~make trade fair

The four organizations involved are known by their initials as FINE:

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) whose main responsibility is to collect data and ensure the audit of all Fairtrade-labelled products from the producer to the sales floor.

International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) is a global network of Fair Trade organizations that work to improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of the poor people in developing countries, and to change the unfair structures of international trade.

Network of European World shops (NEWS!) NEWS co-ordinates the co-operation between World Shops all over Western Europe.

and finally

European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) was established in 1987, and is an association of 12 Fair Trade importers in 9 European countries, they facilitate co-operation and co-ordination between their members in the areas of trading with suppliers in the south, advocacy and campaigns work, monitoring of fair trade and marketing fair trade products.

Now that I have covered the technicalities , I would love to tell you in plain speak why fair trade is important to all of us:

Fair price: farmers group receive a minimum price and an additional premium for certified organic products.


Fair labor conditions: workers enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited!


Direct trade: importers purchase from Fair Trade groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.


Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest revenues.


Community development: Fair Trade farmers and workers invest earnings in social and business development projects like scholarships, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.


Environmental sustainability: harmful chemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations

Check out the Fair Trade Association for some great information and check out Make Trade Fair and sign the petition that "represents the voices of millions of people around the world who are calling for decision makers to make trade fair."

Have a fabulous week!!!

a composting we shall go...

The weather on the east coast has gone from dismal to BEAUTIFUL in a matter of twenty four hours so the kids and I are off to our next outdoor, going green project...a COMPOST PILE!!!

Now although you are thinking, "Wow, what a GLAMOROUS task!" it really is a dirty job...HA!

When I was growing up we always had a compost pile in our yard and thought it quite strange when friends threw things into their regular trash like coffee grounds and banana peels. What were they thinking? Now that we have our own yard and some time to do things that involve our own kids I thought this would be a perfect way to teach them about recycling some of our own kitchen waste, being kind to our planet by re-using the materials we have put into the pile to feed our newly planted fruits, veggies, herbs (thank for the tips Suzi!) and flowers instead of processed poisons and maybe even throw in a little lesson to teach them (and my darling husband) about reducing waste.

My father still tends to his pile and I must say, his flowers are beautiful and they NEVER use chemicals in their beds, or yard for that matter. So i am taking some of the recipe from his wise ways as well as some research I have done online...the miracle that is the internet!!!

Take note mamas, I DO NOT have all the time in the world to work on this so I am paring it down to fit into our everyday lifestyle, as to not have it become a chore that gets forgotten because of the hassel.

The first step is to talk location: The best is a level, well-drained, area, if you a re in a warm area you will want to put it in a shady spot so the pile will not dry out too quickly. You will also want to keep it on dirt, not a patio or asphalt as to promote natural help from earthworms...they LOVE this stuff! Unless you are using a premade composter, a great option but I cannot see spending money on something I can do for free. Most important is to make the location accessible, will you really use it if you have to trek across the town to get to it?

After you have the perfect place picked, next you have to build a little "shelter" for it. From what I have read and what dear old dad tells me the ideal is a 3 sided box of sorts to make it easy to turn if you wish but also to take out the material when you want to use it. We are going with wood, we have a fireplace so we have tons of logs crying out for a home, and a bonus is that the logs will eventually become compost themselves...always thinking!

Time to start our pile!!! The two basic ingredients that make up compost are green garden debris (grass clippings or old plants and kitchen waste) and brown garden debris (dry leaves). Green ingredients are high in nitrogen, adding too many greens can make the pile smell bad and brown materials are high in carbon. Compost piles with a balance of one part green to two part brown materials break down fastest. The easiest way to create this balance is to add one layer of green material to the pile then top it with two layers of brown material, then mix them together. (I learned to add some finished compost or garden soil to help jump start the microbial activity in the pile.)

Now that we have the "mix" it is important to check the moisture level, with the right moisture level should feel like a damp, wrung-out sponge. Too much moisture can cause temperatures to fall within the pile (and make it smell). Too little moisture slows down the decomposition rate and keeps the pile from heating up. Check the moisture level once a week and adjust it if necessary by adding water to increase moisture or more browns to help dry the pile out.

The last step is to turn the pile once a week to move new additions from the outside of the pile in, this also keeps the pile from compacting, reducing airflow and slowing down decomposition.

Thats' it girls!!! You should have ready to use compost in about two months.

Remember though, NEVER add animal waste, meats, oils, dairy, diseased plants, weeds that have gone to seed, or plants treated with pesticides or herbicides to your compost.

memorial day sale!!!

get your red, white and blue on at pretty little pumpkins!!!

from now thru tues may 27, 2008 save 10% off EVERY purchase of $100.00 or more...including sale and clearance items!!!

just use code "may25" at the checkout

stop by and check out the hot new things and the fab sales!!!


prettylittlepumpkins.com

happy mama's day!

It's almost here! The LOVELIEST day of the year. No I am not talking about Christmas...I am talking about the the one day every year when daddy gets up with the pumpkins, throws together a special breakfast and everyone stays nice and quiet so mama can sleep in...until 8 or so!!!

What do you all do for the blessed occasion?

My family all gathers together for brunch made by all the boys at my parents home. FABULOUS!!! The boys cook, serve and clean up as well as chase kiddies while us girls sit around chatting...oh the joy!

As for the gifts we stay away from cut flowers, candy and even jewelry...not that those are not three of my favorite things, especially the jewelry, but i prefer to give things for a beautiful spring holiday that will grow and flourish as well as provide memories each year. Two years ago my mother in-law had a beautiful weeping cherry tree planted in my front yard for me...YES, I was getting one for that specific spot anyway ;)

So if you a lucky enought to have sunny weather this mother's day (we are not on the east coast) try these little tips for after your hike/ picnic that Suzi suggested:

Check into giving potted plants, a great alternative to taking the lives of innocent little flowers being cut down in their prime!!! A few weeks back I wrote an article on bringing plants into your home and workplace so I have re-listed some great ones here again:

Gerber daisy

Bamboo palm

Spider plant

Areca palm

Reed palm

Dwarf date palm

Boston fern

Janet Craig dracaena

English ivy

Australian sword fern

Peace Lily

Rubber plant

Weeping fig

I actually went to the florist yesterday and picked up nine, yes you read correctly we have mamas, grand-mamas, god-mamas & special aunts; in my opinion whether you gave birth or not, if you take care of a child in any capacity you deserve a mother's day gift, nine little peace lillies. I must say the lillies and the adorable pots I picked out for each one came to about $15.00 a piece. I was shocked that what I consider to be such a thoughtful, generous gift was so inexpensive.

Now my own little pumpkins are giving me a day outside, my FAVORITE. When the weather gets nice again, the kids and I are going back out to plant more "kid-friendly" plants. Baby #1 even made me some "coupons" good to be used for digging, weeding, raking leaves and such (he's 9 so of course he HAD to tell me early;) ) We have used up all of our planting area for this year so I went out and bought recycled, re-usable pots to make little container gardens for our patio. The girls love the LOUD flowers like marigolds and daisies so that's what we will get...LOT'S of color!

Whatever you give, receive or do for mothers day, just knowing a child makes you the luckiest, most blessed person "in the galaxy!" I thank my babies everyday for choosing me to be their mama, they always laugh, but really there wouldn't be a mother's day without those precious little devils.

Have a FABULOUS mama's day and week and hug every baby, whether 1 second or 100 years old extra tight!!!

my new toy

yay me!!!

every year for my FABULOUS birthday my in-laws give me money...yay them...so i can pick the perfect gift for myself. this year i took part of it and bought an AWESOME bike trailer. this may seem like a strange thing to by for my perfect present but consider this...



christmas 2006 my dear husband got me a great mountain bike so i could ride on the tow-path along the delaware canal, well a year and a half later the bike has sprouted cob webs and the tires have deflated!!! all because we have 3 little girls who cannot ride a bike for more than a house. not that that is a bad thing but they are to little to go any distance, so we are STUCK! we love, love, love the jog stroller but lets be honest some times you just want something different.

this puppy seats 2 (up to 100lbs) and handles like a dream (did i really say that?!?!?) we hooked it up to my bike today and babies 2 and 3 hopped in and away we went.

oh the freedom!!! of course daddy still needs to be around to keep an eye on one of the kids, but it was so nice to be able to get some exercise, and have 2 of the girls out in the fresh air!!!

it really was a pleasure to use and very simple, i never wanted one of those bike seats...they scare me and even more since two summers ago i was driving down the road and saw a woman with her bike on the ground and a toddler in the seat, i stopped because i was so worried about them and she had apparently lost control of the bike and crashed, thank god the little girl had a helmet on!

maybe if i ever get the chance i can pop up some hot little pics of me and my crew out for a cruise!!!

have a FABULOUS friday!!!