I recently recalled an old science project I had where I had to make our home "fire safe"- you know- boxes of baking soda, fire extinguishers, ladders outside second story windows. So when it came time for my 5th grader to turn in a science project, a flash of brillince- or laziness- struck me.

Little wonderkid could find ways to make our home green - in stages- 1) by not spending any money, 2) by spending a little money now but saving later, and 3) by pricing things like solar systems etc.

Thanks to Wonderkid, we now have new lightbulbs throughout the house, everyone has been taught to recycle, we have done away with purchased watter bottles since everyone refills a bpa free cup from a water purification system, and we use rags instead of paper towels.

Dad has said that he will take the funds saved by conserving electricity and gas and put it in the family vacation fun, kids can pick- so we now live in the dark. But it was a way to get them invested.

While I cannot get my daughter to use disposable menstrual products (nor myself actually), there are many things my family can do and is excited about doing to help the earth and our pocketbook.

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