About a year ago I started actively working on ways that our family could be a little bit greener. I loved the way my kids absorbed information about "keeping the earth clean" and protecting our natural resources, and I looked for ways to involve them in conversation and actions to that end. I focused first on things that I thought would be the easiest to change, and so I bought a few nylon reusable bags from the Container Store, and I slowly started training myself to use them. It was harder than I thought -- you know what they say about how long it takes to form a habit -- and it did take me a few weeks to find a system where I always had the bag with me and ready to carry something home. I would get so mad at myself when I forgot my bag and had to accept plastic from someone! I quickly realized that the key to forming this green habit was to keep one or two bags with me at all times. The nylon bag was perfect for this, because it was so light and compact, yet two bags could carry a full load of groceries.

The checkout process is always interesting. You have to tell the person helping you that you have your own bag, which disrupts their programmed way of helping you (except at Whole Foods where they encourage it). Some people are fantastic about it, and may even thank you for what you are doing. Others are put out, which is sort of funny. When my kids are shopping with me I really love saying, "We have our own bag. We're trying to be good to the earth." Then I don't feel so guilty about not yet having a hybrid car.

Somewhere along the way I started thinking about ways to involve other families, and the idea of creating a bag associated with our school, the Village Community School, came to life. I realized we could have a win-win project by selling a School GreenBag and having all the profits go to the school, as both a fund raiser and an awareness raiser for families. Another mom in our class very generously helped to make the bags and underwrite the project. I am always so impressed with the 'talent pool' of city parents, and infinitely grateful to all who have helped and advised with the GreenBag.

We hope that other schools and organizations feel inspired to join in with this project.

-Marion Howard