Jodi Green is a woman on a mission. Her family’s efforts to help make the planet a little greener have taken off — and people are taking notice, she said.

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Mom's garden helper picks the perfect one to share with his family. PHOTO: Suzan Ziegler / Custom Publications

Jodi and son check the garden for ripe watermelons. PHOTO: Suzan Ziegler / Custom Publications

Harvesting bounty from their garden is something Jodi, Brian and the boys can do together. PHOTO: Suzan Ziegler / Custom Publications

“We’re kind of loud about it. We live it,” said Jodi, Indianapolis, a married mother of three.

After the birth of her first child in 2004, she and her husband, Brian, began studying ways to save money while stepping up their commitment to recycling. By using cloth diapers to eliminate plastic waste and reusing everyday items, the Greens found opportunities to preserve funds and the environment at the same time.

“[We] found one way to eliminate waste and be wise with our money and the earth was to not contribute to the landfill with plastics and diapers that don’t decompose,” Jodi said.

This eventually led to the Greens to use cloth napkins and towels instead of paper products. They also grew a produce garden so they could save money and eat healthier. Brian has added a compost pile, which he regularly rotates and then uses as fertilizer. They even make their own cleaning supplies and reuse containers, which Jodi says is inexpensive. She knows the ingredients are organic, so she doesn’t worry that her children will ingest harmful chemicals.

The Greens don’t spend extra to stay natural all the time. In fact, they find that green living is cost-effective. For example, their research has shown that using extra water to wash cloth towels and diapers costs less than buying and throwing away paper and plastics.

“A lot of [our effort] comes from our faith that God has left us in charge of this planet and given it to us to take care of and tend to,” Brian said. “So being green is part of being a good steward of what we’ve been given.”

What about their kids?

“They just get it,” Jodi said. “They don’t know anything different. They’d probably think it was weird that somebody didn’t compost their [waste].”

And friends and neighbors?

“At first, everyone thought we were strange, but we’ve actually won over many of our friends. We’re persuasive and persistent,” she added.

The Greens are intent on spreading the word. Jodi even has a blog (www.granolamom4god.com) where she shares organic recipes, tips on making healthy foods and links to sites that promote a healthier, greener lifestyle.

“With the knowledge that I have, I can’t not do something,” she said. “I’m under the conviction that it’s my responsibility to be a good steward of what I’ve been given.”


3 easy steps for a greener lifestyle

1. Take baby steps. Don’t try to do it all at once. “Do one thing at a time, and once you’ve got that mastered add something else,” Green said.

2. Keep recycling bins nearby. When you can store recycled items within arm’s reach, the task isn’t as daunting. Eliminate the obstacles to easy recycling. This also keeps kids involved in helping out around the house.

3. Reduce your amount of throwaway garbage. Use cloth rags, napkins and diapers instead of disposable paper and plastic products. Reuse glass food-storage containers. Buy and reuse stainless-steel water bottles. Make your own garden fertilizer by composting food scraps, grass clippings and other debris that will break down and nourish the earth.

—By John Adams, for Custom Publications

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