Health & Fitness
Mansfield Mothers’ Club Inspired by Kristi Marsh Visit
Last week a group of local moms were told it's OK to start moving forward in ridding known harmful chemicals from their foods, cleaning products and household items.
By Theresa Freeman
Last week a group of local moms were told it’s OK to start moving forward in ridding known harmful chemicals from their foods, cleaning products and household items. It’s OK to start their path to cleaner, greener living with small steps.
Last Tuesday, Mansfield Mothers’ Club sponsored a talk by Kristi Marsh, author, public speaker, non-profit founder and an Easton neighbor of ours. Kristi, founder of Choose Wiser, an organization dedicated to educating people about the interaction between environmental toxins and their health, spoke about her own journey to living with fewer preservatives and synthetics and simple steps we all can take to do the same.
About 20 of us from Mansfield, North Attleboro, Easton and Norton gathered in the Mansfield Public Library, some motivated by their own health and the health of their families, some just wanting to learn more. Above all, Kristi encouraged the group to become more aware of the components in their foods, cleaning supplies and products.
She focused on cleaners during her talk and the need for “simpler ingredients.” She explained many “green” household products available at retail stores like Target and Whole Foods offer us a step in the right direction. They include Method, 7th Generation, Sun & Earth and Mrs. Meyers. To simplify even further, Kristi suggested making many common cleaning supplies at home. With components such as baking soda, vinegar, castile soap and vegetable glycerine bought in bulk and no need for large amounts of plastics, the endeavor ends up being cheaper and kinder to your home and you than store-bought goods.
Kristi walks the talk. She spent years researching recipes and methods of detoxifying how we smother, devour and immerse ourselves every day. She wryly explainedshe had time on her hands to do so because she had been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at age 36. As a mom to three young children Kristi started on her quest to eliminate harmful chemicals from her life and environment. She’s now a busy speaker and author of the one-year-old book “Little Changes: Tales of a Home Eco-Momics Pioneer.”
Kristi also shared info on her upcoming retreat, “Home Eco-Momics 101,” April 13 - 14, at the MIT Endicott House in Dedham. This one-of-a-kind “choice makeover” retreat, inspired by “Little Changes.” More information on Kristi and her retreat are available at http://www.choosewiser.com.
Watch Kristi’s talk in full airing soon on Mansfield Cable Access, channel 98 on Comcast. Check http://mansfieldcableaccess.org for daily schedules.
Interested in a book club discussion on “Little Changes”? Want to host a party to make some of Kristi’s cleaner recipes? Comment here or email the club!
Theresa Freeman is a member of The Mansfield Mothers' Club, a non-profit organization aimed at providing support for local parents. For more information visit http://mansfieldmothersclub.com, email mansfieldmothersclub@gmail.com or write to Mansfield Mothers' Club, P.O. Box 831, Mansfield, MA 02048.