“Every day of the year, Earth Day Network grows environmental awareness around the world as a leading provider of civic engagement and environmental education. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, creating positive change in local, national and global policies. Your generous donation supports EDN’s work with22,000 organizations in 192 countries, as well as a domestic program involving 3,000 groups and over 100,000 educators.”

Franklin Goose choose the charity, Earth Day Network, to help raise money for their exemplary services. They are known leaders for trying to green schools and provide environmental education curricula. The Earth Day Network also works with federal, state, and local partners with environmental policies and they have global programs. They are aiming for a Billion Acts of Green before the 2012 Rio United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

Franklin Goose has teamed up with some of our amazing merchants and we have created a Earth Day gift basket, that as of right now, is worth $420! We are taking $5 donations for raffle tickets to win the basket at 6 p.m. EST 4/22/2011.

100% of the proceeds will go to the Earth Day Network.

Right now the basket has:

Pura 11 oz. bottle  $16

Rockin Green bag of detergent $14

Kozy KiddieKozy $25

RockPeaceLove tote $60

Natursutten paci and teether $40

Mutsy grow up booster $60

Silikids wideneck skins $14

Argington Pebbles Twin Duvet set $110

ImagiPLAY 2 Color Me Up Bunnies, 2 3 Chicks Puzzle $52

Little Twig Gentle Care Gift Set $39.99

More items will be added this week!

You can make a $5 donation at the store or you can purchase online. If you purchase online, be sure to select In Store Pickup so you are not charged the $5 shipping fee if you do not have anything else in your cart. We are keeping track of the donations in Apple Numbers and we will email you your raffle number. Every $5 donation will be counted as 1 entry. So if you purchase 5 donations totaling $25 that will be 5 separate entries.

At 6 p.m. on Earth Day 2011, we will choose a winner through random.org in the Richmond, VA store after our Earth Day Event.

After 6 p.m. EST 4/22/2011, you are not allowed to cancel your donation order.

We will notify the winner after 6 p.m. EST 4/22/2011.  If the winner does not respond, we will choose another winner 6 p.m. 4/25/2011. The winner can claim the prize in store or it will be mailed to the address used when purchasing. Good luck to all and thank you for supporting the Earth Day Network!!

PlanToys is one of my personal favorite toy companies. Not only do they use non-toxic materials, they truly believe in the 3 R’s. Their manufacturing factory is set up to reduce waste and save energy by using solar power and biomass technologies. They reuse materials- even the rubberwood trees.  And they have even introduced new ways to recycle paper and other materials.

If you aren’t familiar with PlanToys, all of their products are made with organic rubberwood from rubber trees that are no longer producing latex. They also use a non-toxic glue that is formaldehyde free; they use water-based dyes; and soy ink is used for all printed materials.

This month PlanToys is celebrating their 30th anniversary!!! In honor of Earth Day and their birthday, Franklin Goose has decorated all of our window’s with PlanToys displays.

We will also be having kids come to the store for a PlanToys arts and craft day at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the 21st. If there are leftovers, kids can do the kits on Earth Day at the store as well!! The PlanToys Earth Day kit includes coloring sheets, a PlanToys ruler, pencil, and pencil pouch!

PlanToys has lots to celebrate about! They just released a large line of new toys. Franklin Goose just got in the Memo N Matching Seasons Game, Animals Mix and Match, Fire Engine Accessory, Modern Train, and the Car Carrier Train! We also added some PlanToys classics like the Dancing Alligator and individual fruits and veggies.

I got to try the Memo N Matching Seasons Game and we love it!

You get 4 playing cards that have 4 picture squares printed on them relating to the season. You are given 16 wooden game pieces that match the pictures on the cards. You can turn the pieces upside down and flip them over to match your season. Up to 4 players can play and whoever fills out their card first, wins! It’s a great preschool game or quick game for older kids.

You can get the PlanToys Memo N Matching Game- Seasonal at Franklin Goose for $23. Perfect Earth Day or Easter gift! Hope to see you at the Richmond, VA Franklin Goose on Earth Day!!!

Thanks to PlanToys for sending me a Matching Game to review!

Did you make your Earth Day 2011 pledge yet? If you have, we have another fun resource for Earth Day actions- the EPA’s Pick 5 campaign. The EPA has created a list of environmental actions under the categories- water, air, land, energy, waste, and advocacy.  You go through each category and choose actions that you would like to accomplish and then you register your Pick 5 to show up on a map so you can see all of the actions going on around the world!

Don’t stop by just picking your 5! Have your kids join in on the fun. The EPA has a place for your kiddos to submit their artwork of their Pick 5 and it is published on the site plus their Facebook page! This is a great opportunity to talk to your children about helping keep the planet clean and how they can help. They can also learn more about each action that they plan to take.

The EPA has an excellent Kids page so they can play games and learn more about environment. It’s never too early to start teaching how to be eco-friendly so it becomes second nature for them. My daughter is 4 and is in charge of keeping all lights off in the house in rooms we aren’t in, turning off the tv when we leave a room, taking items to the recycling bin, picking up litter from the street, and this is from her mouth when I asked what she does to help the environment- “shopping at Franklin Goose so we don’t buy junk.”

If you make a pledge with the EPA’s Pick 5, copy and post below! We would love to see our readers actions.

Next Friday will be the 41st Earth Day celebration! This year’s Earth Day theme is A Billion Acts of Green. Earth Day Network has a goal to reach a billion pledges of green acts before the global Earth Summit in Rio in 2012!! As of today, they have over 80 million pledges! According to the site,  “ A Billion Acts of Green is the largest environmental service campaign in the world that inspires and rewards simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that further the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability.”

You can pledge your act of green in the following categories:

• Green Schools and Education
• Advocacy
• Energy
• Transportation
• Sustainable Development
• Conservation and Biodiversity
• Recycling & Waste Reduction
• Water

No matter what you pledge to do, however big or small, it counts that you are doing your part. Over the next 11 days, we will talk about pledges we have made, will be making, and share ideas with you so you can participate as well.

We would love to hear your pledges and see them in effect! Feel free to share by emailing info@franklingoose.com We will be issuing some acts of kindness to random participants!   Please make sure you let us know your pledge and attach a photo.

A month ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decided to allow unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. The Organic Trade Association says, “This means GE alfalfa can be planted without any federal requirements to prevent contamination of organic and non-GE crops. It also means that GE alfalfa does not have to be labeled, making it difficult for consumers to identify and avoid. This decision, to support big business at the expense of individual choice, sets a precedent for future deregulation of GE crops although genetic engineering has not been conclusively proven safe.”

This is a huge step in the wrong direction for many obvious reasons. I do not understand how our government can allow a company that manufactured 2,4,5 T, DDT, and Agent Orange to create GM seeds that will eventually be spread on every farm across America. Sadly, there are more GMO crops and salmon slated for approval and everyone (but the public) seems to be going along with it.

There are only a handful of independent organic farms/brands that haven’t sold out to larger companies. I try to buy locally as much as possible and I know my farmers and their practices. I decided to dig a little bit deeper into what our family supports when it comes to food and get to know some of their practices and connections. There are so many organic loopholes, that I wanted to feel confident we are eating healthy/non-tainted food. This is what I found out…

• Heinz acquired Hain Celestial Group. Hain Celestial Group acquired Earths Best, Arrowhead Mills, Hain Pure Foods, Hain Pure Snax, Rosetto, The Greek Gods, Spectrum Naturals, Spectrum Essentials, FreeBird, DeBole’s, Garden of Eatin, Health Valley, Casbah, Breadshop, Imagine/Rice Dream/Soy Dream, Celestial Seasonings, Westsoy, Westbrea, Bearitos, Little Bear, SunSpire, TofuTown, Walnut Acres, Millina’s Finest, Frutti di Bosco, ShariAnn’s, Mountain Sun, Terra Chips, MaraNatha, ALBA, Estee, Avalon Naturals, JASON Naturals, Batherapy, Footherapy, Orjene Organics, Queen Helene, Shaman Earthly Organics, and Zia Natural skincare.  (Some of these were listed on the OCA’s organic fraud sheet)

• General Mills acquired Cascadian Farm, LaraBar, and Muir Glen.

• M&M Mars acquired Seeds of Change.

• Kraft Foods acquired Boca Foods, Back to Nature, and just bought Green & Black’s from Cadbury. They also make a organic line under Kraft.

• Suiza Foods Corp owns Dean Foods. Dean Foods acquired White Wave, Silk, Horizon, and Alta Dena. (Dean Foods is known for PET dairy, Land O’ Lakes, and Schepps)

• Coca Cola acquired Odwalla and Honest Tea.

• Pepsi acquired Naked Juice and Tropicana Organic.

• Kellogg acquired BearNaked, Kashi, and Morningstar Farms.

• JM Smucker acquired R.W. Knudsen Family, Santa Cruz Organic, and After the Fall.

• Group Danone/Dannon owns 85% of Stonyfield Farm which is also Trader Joe’s yogurt. Stonyfield owns Brown Cow.

According to the Organic Consumers Association in 2006:
Organic and Natural Product Companies Associated with Monsanto

• Brand Name(s): Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen Owned By: Small Planet Foods Principle Stockholders: General Mills Significantly Owned By: Alcoa, Chevron, Disney, Dupont, ExxonMobil, General Electric, McDonalds, Monsanto, Nike, Pepsico, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Starbucks, Target, Texas Instruments

In  10 Things Monsanto Doesn’t Want You to Know, it is stated, “Tell the following companies to stop using and selling GMO Ingredients: Kellogg’s/Kashi • Coca-Cola Kraft/Nabisco • McDonald’s • Frito-Lay General Mills    •    Quaker Oats    •    Procter & Gamble Nestle • Safeway • CampbellSoup • Wal-Mart.”  As for a full list for companies that use GMO’s, I couldn’t find one. Which could mean we are all probably eating them in some shape or form.

I did find this list of independent farms/brands that haven’t sold out: Alvardo Street Bakery, Amy’s Kitchen, Applegate Farms, Bob’s Red Mill, Cedarlane, Cliffbar- Luna, Eden Foods, Equal Exchange, Frontier Natural Products- Simply Organic, Lundberg Family Farms, Nature’s Path- Lifestream, Organic Valley- Organic Prairie, Pacific Natural Foods, Sno Pac, Springfield Creamery- Nancy’s, Traditional Medicinals, Turtle Mountain- Purely Decedent and So Delicious, and Yogi Tea.

Phillip Howard, an assistant professor at Michigan State University says that, “Most remaining independent organic processors have resisted substantial buyout offers (typically 2 times annual sales).” He created a really awesome Organic Processing animation where you can see the takeovers. If you have some time, read through some of his other material. It’s really interesting to see how everything is linked.

I know I will be printing this list and keeping it with me when I go shopping.

You can also:

• Tell your local grocery store, restaurants, and food processors to label GMO foods and to offer certified organic
• Join the OCA  Millions Against Monsanto campaign
• Talk to your local politicians and ask them to support truth-in-labeling
• Get to know your local farmers and other places that you buy food. Find out what seeds they use!
• Buy certified organic from local co-ops, farmers markets, CSA’s, or health food stores

What are your thoughts on what is going on with our food?

Richmond, VA August 30, 2010- Franklin Goose is excited to announce the expansion of its eco-friendly baby and child web store to its new Carytown address. Franklin Goose sells quality toys, clothing, baby gear, bedding, furniture, nursery items, diapers, feeding supplies, and household products that surpass their eco-friendly safety promise.

Everything about the new Franklin Goose storefront is eco-friendly, even down to its CFL light bulbs and dual flow bath toilets. The Franklin Goose building was built in the early 1900s and was previously an art gallery. Pieces of the original building still remain, and those that Franklin Goose took down will be recycled through the Ace Recycling building construction debris company. All of the wall and floor paints used are no or low VOCs. Even the Franklin Goose displays are all reclaimed from the Richmond area. There are also plans to have a garden, a composting area, and a rain barrel. Franklin Goose takes the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) to the next level.

What makes Franklin Goose so unique is that they are more than just a store- they are a community. Franklin Goose started out by giving $5 credits for every product review its customers made in March. Almost 1 million dollars in store credit was issued, helping thousands of families afford cloth diapering and other organic luxuries they couldn’t purchase before. (The reviews for this promotion have been removed from our website and the promotion has been altered to issue 40% off coupons to the participants who had outstanding store credit. For more information please see the notes section of our Facebook page.)

Now, they have moved into our neighborhood and are ready to reach out to Richmond.

Franklin Goose will have ongoing group meetings in their upstairs Community Room. There will be diaper swaps, speakers, natural parenting classes, recycled art projects, and even talks given by eco-friendly merchants. Kozy Carrier will be talking about baby wearing on September 18. Franklin Goose would love to help assist any natural, organic, and eco-friendly parenting groups, so please stop by and say hello.

Franklin Goose offers more than just your average baby store. They have an online gift registry, which if you come into the store, they will help you set up and even email to your friends and family. They will have someone there who can assist you in making the right choices for your family’s needs. Whether your registry be for a new baby, birthday, or holiday shopping, Franklin Goose will make sure your needs are met.

You will also be able to call and schedule an appointment to discuss your natural choices for any age child, just like a personal shopper. If you are in a hurry, just had a baby, or have more than one child and it’s hard to shop, you can call ahead to place your order and a Franklin Goose employee will meet you curbside with your purchase.

The Franklin Goose grand opening is set for October 1. The staff THE  looks forward to meeting the community, so please stop by and introduce yourself prior to the opening. Or give a big HONK HONK when you pass by their 3401 W Cary address.

Please visit www.franklingoose.com to get a sneak peek of what is to come! If you need more information please email support@franklingoose.com

Gosling’s Favorites is now up and running!! You can get to it from the Franklin Goose homepage or by our blog. We are still looking for our next submission! Send us a photo and product review of your favorite FG dropping to be featured on the front page of FG! Please send all submissions to goslingsfavorites@franklingoose.com Please include your child’s first initial, city and state, and why you and your child love the item. Once we have chosen the review to feature, it will be on the front page of the site for two weeks as well as on the blog indefinitely. By submitting you agree to allow us to post the photo and the review- but we will not print the child’s name, only their first initial.

On June 9th, 2010 the Environmental Law Foundation filed Notices of Violation of the California Proposition 65 Toxics Right to Know law, alleging lead was found in children’s and baby foods. You can read more about what is being done and why lead would be in the foods at  http://www.envirolaw.org Below is a list of the brands and products that were tested:

Apple Juice

For the following products, one or more samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Beech Nut 100% Apple Juice
Earth’s Best Organics Apple Juice
First Street 100% Apple Cider from concentrate
First Street Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice
Full Circle Organic Apple Juice
Gerber 100% Juice Apple Juice
Great Value 100% No Sugar Added Apple Juice
Hansen’s Natural Apple Juice
Kroger 100% Juice Apple Juice
Langers Apple Juice 100% Juice
Minute Maid Juice Apple – 100% Apple Juice
Motts 100% Apple Juice
O Organics Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice Not From Concentrate
Old Orchard 100% Apple Juice
Parade 100% Juice Apple
Raley’s Premium 100% Apple Juice not from Concentrate
Safeway 100% Juice Apple Cider
Safeway 100% Juice Apple Juice
Stater Bros. 100% Juice Apple Juice
Sunny Select 100% Apple Juice
Trader Joe’s Certified Organic Apple Juice, pasteurized
Tree Top 100% Juice Apple Cider
Walgreens Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice
Walnut Grove Market 100% Apple Juice

For the following products, NO samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Great Value 100% Apple Juice not from concentrate
Harvest Day 100% Apple Juice from Concentrate
Kirkland Fresh Pressed Apple Juice Pasteurized
Martinelli’s Gold Medal Apple Juice 100% pure from US grown fresh apples
R.W. Knudsen Organic Apple Juice unfiltered
Raley’s Everyday 100% Apple Juice
Sunny Select 100% Unfiltered Apple Juice
Trader Joe’s Fresh Pressed Apple Juice all natural pasteurized, 100% juice
Tree Top 100% Apple Juice
Tree Top Three Apple Blend 100% Fresh Pressed Juice

Grape Juice

For the following products, one or more samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Juice Concord Grapes
First Street Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice
Gerber 100% Juice – White Grape Juice
Great Value 100% Grape Juice
Kedem Concord Grape Juice 100% pure grape juice
Kroger Grape Juice 100% Juice
Langers Grape Juice (Concord)
Langers Red Grape Juice
O Organics Organic Grape Juice from concentrate
R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice
R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Concord
Raley’s 100% Grape Juice
Safeway 100% Juice Grape Juice
Safeway Organic Grape Juice
Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice
Stater Bros. 100% Juice Grape Juice
Stater Bros. 100% Juice White Grape Juice
Sunny Select 100% Grape Juice
Trader Joe’s Concord Grape Juice made from fress pressed organic concord grapes
Tree Top 100% Juice, Grape
Valu Time Grape Drink from Concentrate
Walgreens Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice
Walnut Acres Organic Concord Grape
Walnut Grove Market Grape Juice
Welch’s 100% Grape Juice (from Welch’s Concord Grapes)
Welch’s 100% Red Grape Juice from Concentrate

For the following products, NO samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Old Orchard Healthy Balance Grape

Packaged Pears

For the following products, one or more samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Best Yet Bartlett Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup
Del Monte Diced Pears in Light Syrup
Del Monte Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup
Del Monte Pear Halves, Bartlett Pears in 100% real fruit juice from concentrate
Dole Pear Halves in Juice
First Street Diced Pears
First Street Sliced Bartlett
Full Circle Organic Bartlett Pear Slices
Gerber 3rd Foods Pears [Baby Food]
Great Value Bartlett Pear Halves in 100% Juice
Great Value Bartlett Sliced Pears in Heavy Syrup
Market Pantry Diced Pears in Light syrup
Maxx Value Pear Pieces in Light Syrup
Polar Pear Halves in light syrup
S&W Natural Style Pear Slices in Juice
S&W Sun Pears Premium
Safeway Lite Bartlett Pear Halves in Pear Juice
Safeway Pear Halves in Light Juice
Sunny Select Pear Halves in Pear Juice
Trader Joe’s Pear Halves in white grape juice
Truitt Brothers Pacific NorthWest Bartlett Pear Halves, in pear juice from concentrate
Valu Time Irregular Bartlett Pear Slices
Walnut Grove Market Natural Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

For the following products, NO samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Eating Right Kids Diced Pears Fruit Cups
Stater Bros. Diced Pears Snack Bowl

Packaged Peaches

For the following products, one or more samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Best Yet Yellow Cling Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup
Del Monte Freestone Peach Slices in 100 % Juice
Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in 100 % Juice
Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup
Dole Diced Peaches, Yellow Cling in light syrup
First Street Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup
Gerber 3rd Foods Peaches [Baby Food]
Golden Star Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup
Great Value Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches
Libby’s Yellow Cling Peach Slices No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)
Market Pantry Diced Peaches in light syrup
Polar Peach Slices
Raley’s Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in Heavy Syrup
S&W Natural Style Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Lightly Sweetened Juice
S&W Premium Peach Halves Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup
Safeway Diced Peaches in Light Syrup
Safeway Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Pear Juice
Simple Value Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup
Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Peach Halves
Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in heavy syrup
Sunny Select Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in Pear Juice
Trader Joe’s Yellow Cling Peach Halves in while grape juice
Valu Time Yellow Cling Peach Slices
Walnut Grove Market Natural Peaches Sliced Yellow Cling in Light Syrup

For the following products, NO samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Dole Diced Peaches, Cling in Light Syrup
Dole Diced Peaches, Freestone in Light Syrup
Dole Sliced Peaches
Eating Right Kids Diced Peaches in Extra Light Syrup
Stater Bros. Diced Peaches Snack Bowl

Fruit Cocktail

For the following products, one or more samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Best Yet Chunky Mixed Fruit in Pear Juice
Chef’s Review Fruit Cocktail
Del Monte 100% Juice Fruit Cocktail
Del Monte Chunky Mixed Fruit in 100 % Juice (peach, pear, grape, etc.)
Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peach, pear, grapes)
Del Monte Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added
Del Monte Lite Fruit Cocktail in Extra Light Syrup
Dole Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup
Eating Right Fruit Cocktail packed in Sucralose
Eating Right No Sugar Fruit Cocktail
First Street Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup
Golden Star Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup (peach, pineapple, pears)
Great Value No Sugar Added Fruit Cocktail
Kroger Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup
Kroger Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice
Kroger Value Fruit Mix (Peaches, pears, grapes)
Libby’s Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)
Market Pantry Mixed Fruit in light syrup
Maxx Value Fruit Mix in Light Syrup (peach, pear, grape)
Mrs. Brown’s Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peaches, pears, grapes)
Polar Mixed Fruit
Raley’s Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup
S&W Natural Style Fruit Cocktail in Lightly Sweetened Juice
Safeway Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup
Safeway Light Sugar Fruit Cocktail
Safeway Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice
Stater Bros. Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup
Sunny Select Fruit Cocktail in Juice

For the following products, NO samples exceeded the Prop 65 limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per serving:

Del Monte Mixed Fruit

Now that we are in full swing at Franklin Goose we have changed our shipping policy…

New $5 Flat Rate Shipping! That’s right, fill up your cart, go crazy, buy us out, and get UPS Ground shipping for only $5! (Heavy stuff over 25 lbs is a flat $40 rate.) So, how can you resist, right?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, this IS cool enough to tell your friends about.

Learn more about all of our shipping options.