It’s Not Scary to be Green

The term “home eco-momics” seems to say it all.   

Environmentally-friendly, geared towards moms, non-intimidating and clever.

That’s the formula mastered by Easton residents Kristi Marsh and Rachel Vidoni in their new book: “Little Changes: Tales of a Reluctant Home Eco-momics Pioneer.”

Published just last month, it’s a story about Marsh, who discovered she had breast cancer at the age of 36, and the small ways she changed her life to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

“I wanted to convey the message of environmental health, and flip it upside down so it was intriguing and easy to dig into,” she said

Marsh, who has a husband and three young children, suffered deeply during her illness.  She went through chemotherapy treatments, lost her hair, and had to have her ovaries removed.   But through it all, she remained positive, and she and her family managed to laugh. 

She also wanted to do everything possible to become and stay healthy, which meant reevaluating her environment.  Little by little, she read about toxins and attended environmental workshops.  She also sought advice from a slew of people, including neighbors and friends.

The information was sobering. She learned that the United States, and other highly industrialized nations, had higher rates of cancer than other countries. Potential toxins with large, multi-syllable names abounded in everyday products.  And while Europe has banned 1100 chemicals from personal care products, the U. S. has banned only nine.

Shocked by the revelation, she knew she couldn’t suddenly strip her entire household of its belongings, so she slowly purged the undesirables from her life.  She got rid of scented candles, and her beloved raspberry lipsticks. She replaced household cleaners with baking soda and vinegar.  And she discovered organic food products were a must – they provided no worries about pesticides and excluded any crop that had been genetically engineered.

Soon, she started conducting workshops to share her knowledge, and they were enthusiastically received.  She observed that people did not want to be terrified, when learning about the potential hazards in their homes.  So she told them her of own experiences, with humor, and provided a gentle nudge to get them thinking green.

Then, two important mentors – the founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and her step mother -- advised her to put it all in a book.  Not being a natural writer, she joined forces with a freelance writer, Rachel Vidoni, whom she had met during her children’s karate lessons.

“I remember leaving that conversation so excited, because it was the potential for a job writing a book.  I also loved that she had so many ideas, and was very creative- minded, like me,” Vidoni said.

The two women spent a year and a half collaborating on the book, and became good friends along the way.  They also joined forces with other Easton women, who also felt strongly about the topic.  Marsh’s neighbor, Karen Roche, started her own company of green cosmetics, called Be Green Bath and Body, which are sold through a website. Another friend, Tara Foxx, helped with the legal implications of investigating companies and writing about harmful products. 

An artist friend, Kathy Tempesto, did all the illustrations for the book, and Lisa Galas also helped with editing.  All women had the same connection – they were moms and they wanted to do something positive for themselves and their families.

“This is a mom driven phenomenon – and it’s really going to grow,” Marsh said.

Now, Marsh and Vidoni are busy publicizing the book through newsletters and blogs on Marsh’s website, www.choosewiser.com.  They also will be appearing at the this Thursday to speak about the book (at 6:30 p.m.).  Marsh says she’ll be reading a few excerpts, and will sell and sign copies as well.

The book is self-published, and it is available through the Choose Wiser website, Paperback Junction, and Amazon.com, in paperback and ebook form.   

Marsh will also be hitting the road this summer to help promote her book, and she’ll be spreading the word country-wide.  She’ll be speaking at a women’s conference at Purdue University this spring, then throughout the west coast.

The two have been so inspired by the book and the message that they’re already thinking of a sequel.  Though they don’t want to divulge its topic quite yet, there’s a good chance it will continue the eco-momics theme.

“This is just the beginning.  I am connected to what I’m supposed to doing, and Rachel is as well.  We both get it,” Marsh said.