by Tali Toland

Adopting natural living, or being “green,” doesn’t have to be difficult. It simply means making small choices each day that when compounded will make a big difference to the Earth.

Protecting the environment has been a lifelong quest for Laura Turner Seydel – her concerns about the Earth’s well-being began long before it was in style to be eco-friendly. It’s important “because it’s the future,” she says. “My parents helped me develop an awareness about the environment and passed down knowledge, and I want to do the same for my kids and their peers.”

To Seydel, the health of the environment is inextricably linked to the health of our children and families. In other words, you can’t have one without the other. “The pollution from man’s activities are making people sick and harming the planet,” says Seydel. “If we’re going to do well in the future, we have to watch what we’re doing now.”

That’s why her family has moved into a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) house called EcoManor. “We use the house, back yard and everything in it to turn people on to the idea that they can do something with their home to help the environment,” says Seydel. You can view a virtual tour of the home at www.ecomanor.com. Even their back yard is certified as a wildlife refuge.

But she’s practical about it – her three kids know why they’re doing what they’re doing, and Seydel says she’s often impressed by how much they’ve taken on the cause as their own. “I’ve always told them the truth about the environment and the future,” she says. “Not in a gloom and doom way, but with facts so they’d see why recycling, composting and saving energy are important.” Her son was one of three Georgia students and one of the only ninth-graders to attend the Powership Conference this year; at the conference kids discuss world issues and think of solutions. In general, Seydel says the whole family is great about turning off lights, taking short showers, wearing clothes more than once before washing, and the same with their towels and sheets.

The Seydels also compost their food waste. “The kids know it’s important to eat locally grown and organic foods,” she says. “We support local farmers. We eat a lot of bison, which is healthier meat. Every chance I get we are trying to teach the kids and protect them from artificial things and toxins.”

Another mom who is teaching her kids the importance of natural living is Mindy LaMarca. LaMarca, along with her husband and two kids, ages 12 and 8, recently moved to the sustainable community Serenbe in Palmetto – about 45 minutes south of the airport. Since their move from Buckhead, the family has gotten rid of one of their gas-guzzling SUVs, is more responsible with their electricity use, and eats organic and local foods about 75 percent of the time.

“Before we made this lifestyle change, I bought organic food and we recycled, but I didn’t know a lot about how the little things could really help,” says LaMarca. “And, the kids knew nothing.” Now the kids are learning how to grow organic fruits and vegetables. They enjoy getting involved. “It’s become almost a challenge for them,” noted LaMarca. “They notice ‘un-green’ things all the time and point them out.”

Even their horses get the organic treatment. “My daughter is a hunter jumper, and we run the stables here at Serenbe,” says LaMarca. “We use chrysanthemum oil instead of chemical insecticides in our fly spray system, and it works great.”

On an everyday basis, the family recycles, gets their produce from the Serenbe Farm CSA, and consolidates trips out of the house by more efficiently running errands (their remaining SUV runs on bio-diesel fuel). The LaMarcas also try to limit chemical cleaners, open windows instead of always running the AC, and are more careful about their consumption.

For Miriam Vincent, her eco-friendliness stems from a joy of life and a love of the Earth. “What we do around the house or at the grocery store or hiking – I’m always giving information to the kids and linking it to problems and ways we can help,” says the stay-at-home mom of two in Atlanta. She explains that writing smaller for homework will save trees. “I try to make it all joyful conversation, and not fact pushing.” She thinks it’s important to slow down and answer the questions kids have. “It’ll make them appreciate the world we live in more when they understand it.”

The family does community service for a love of others and the environment; they also recycle, eat local and organic foods, conserve water, and do things at home or as close to home as possible. “The kids know where the water jug is in the refrigerator, so they don’t have to keep the water running,” she adds. “They really learn by example what to do – they know where the recycling goes, and sometimes I’ll put something in the wrong bin and they’ll correct me.” Vincent and her tots also make toys out of objects they find around the house. “The kids are so creative, and it keeps us from creating more trash,” she says.

More than anything, being green comes down to a respect of life. Seydel, LaMarca and Vincent have joined the fight to help our children’s futures and benefit the Earth. “There is so much more time and money to focus on your family when you simplify and live naturally,” says Vincent. “Remember that we’re dependent on the Earth – plant things, educate yourself and your kids, do it together and have fun doing it.”