This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield Organic. 
The past few months I have been sharing about Stonyfield Organic’s StonyFIELDS Initiative to help spread the word about their new mission to make every field in America ORGANIC by stopping the use of harmful pesticides on playing fields. Stonyfield doesn’t just sell yogurt, they really care about your family and want to help raise a happy and healthy generation that is aware of the environment and provide ways to give back. This is a 3-year initiative to help 35 communities across the country convert outdoor fields and parks to organic, while also igniting a larger movement to ensure that all kids can play freely without the concern of potentially harmful chemicals. You can get involved too! One big movement is a great goal,and I also believe everyone individually doing simple things within their family can make a big impact as well. Here are 5 Simple Ways You Can Help The Environment and be a part of the StonyFIELDS movement too:
What You Eat Matters
In our house, we started talking about how what you eat matters. An easy example for our kids is Stonyfield Organic Kids yogurt multipacks, because the cups are made from plants! Their cups actually have a lower carbon footprint and are better for the environment. This is such a fun conversation because my kids love Stonyfield yogurt so much. While their plant-based packaging might be just a few years old, they aren’t new to organic yogurt. They’ve been mom’s trusted brand for 35 years!
Plant organic
Another great way you can make a difference is by starting an organic garden or converting your lawn to organic. This past spring, Brooke planted her first flower and she loved getting her hands dirty. We talked about how it was going to grow and how to take care of it. She loved learning about the process and watching it grow. Actually feeling the dirt with her hands was such a tangible way for her to understand it.
Recycle, recycle, recycle.
This might be the easiest way for you to make a difference. My kids love helping us recycle every day. It’s their job to put everything in a little bucket and then we take it to the outside recycle once it’s full. This is such a “simple” way you can start to make a difference today.
Covert Your Yard To Organic
Like I mentioned above, for most of us, the change begins in our own backyards. It is such a great way to start reducing pesticide use in your community. You can start in your yard by testing your soil. We recently did this at our new house we are building to see what was in our soil and check to ensure we were building our foundation properly. A soil test will tell you what’s going on in the soil and how you can correctly balance it. You can find testing services at very reasonable prices in most regions. You can also use natural, organic fertilizers and set your mowing height at 3 inches. In general, the ideal mowing height is 3 inches to achieve maximum health for your yard. Check out Stonyfield’s additional tips here, as they have collaborated with experts from across the country in order help us change our own back yards with tried and true tips.
Nominate Your Community
Stonyfield has started their 3 year initiative by selecting 10 communities for the StonyFIELDS #PlayFree Initiative which will help convert public fields and parks to organic grounds management, ensuring fields and community spaces are free from the use of toxic persistent pesticides and harmful chemicals. The first 10 cities are South Portland, ME, Costa Mesa, CA, Burbank, CA, Tustin, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Houston, TX, North Miami, FL, Hyattsville, MD, Portsmouth, NH, and Dover, NH.
Take a peek at this video starring Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation star, who takes a humorous look at bringing this serious issue to life.
On top of helping the 10 selected communities, Stonyfield will also be selecting 10 more communities to provide towns with $5,000 in cash to use towards the purchase of organic inputs and/or landscaping equipment needed for organic management, plus in-kind technical support and guidance from expert resources who will help the town convert their parks (valued at $10,000 – $20,000). Residents, town employees, or town elected officials can nominate their community to receive one of these donations. Interested in applying? Find more details here.
Additionally, a grassroots donation program has been established that is geared toward 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations looking to take their community organization to the next level even if their town elected officials aren’t quite ready to commit. A total of $50,000 will be given out to 501(c)(3) groups based on project proposals. Interested applicants can find details here.
Overall, we can all make a difference together! Over 26 million kids play on public grounds each year, most of which aren’t organic. Research shows that the pesticide exposure on these fields can adversely affect neurological, respiratory, immune, and endocrine systems in humans, even at low levels. We can all start small and make a big impact for the future of our children and our loved ones!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of StonyFIELDS Initiative.