{Special Interview} Wendy Gabriel
September 10, 2009 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under interview
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Wendy Gabriel is a Green Living freelance writer for the Examiner. Her popular blog, My Green Side, offers simple tips for green living. You can also find Wendy on The Christopher Gabriel Program every Wednesday where she discusses simple tips for green living and highlights a different green site each week. Listen in at approximately 1020am (CDT) at WDAY.com.
What prompted you to start My Green Side?
I was raised to be a good steward of our earth. That said I was still doing a lot of things that weren’t necessarily environmentally friendly. This all changed during my first pregnancy. I became obsessive about the effects of my actions upon my unborn child and leaving the planet a better place for her. I researched organic nutrition, holistic medicine, recycling, reducing, reusing and the impacts of environmental toxins and became more interested in the unintended consciences of my actions. For example, buying a bottle of water uses precious resources, it’s unhealthy for the environment and wastes money so simply drinking tap water is an easy way to do something good for the planet. As I learned more about environmental and health issues, I talked my husband’s, friends’ and family’s ears off with my new-found knowledge. I realized many people I came in contact with were confused about “green” issues. Many seemed to think it was something other people did and explaining how simple changes make a big difference seemed to strike a chord. After my second child was born, my husband encouraged me to start blogging. My blog, MyGreenSide.org, not only gives me a place to record the things I’m learning, but also gives me a creative outlet. I am a writer and artist who hopes to be a children’s books author/illustrator when I grow up.
You say you “were green long before it was cool to be green.” Tell us about that.
Actually it’s my parents that were green long before it was cool to be green. Back before there was a word for it they were composting, reducing, reusing and supporting quality local businesses. We always had an organic vegetable garden and fruit trees. We were taught to treat animals and nature with kindness and respect. We made the majority of our food rather than buying processed food. We cleaned with non-toxic cleaners; mainly homemade mixtures that always included vinegar. I sometimes think my parents are a little mystified that people are making such a fuss about “being green” because they believe it’s the only way to be.
