Quill & Quire
Review
"If you're trying to go green, or have already gotten there, I guarantee that you'll find this book a very good, funny, educational and easy read. You'll be able to relate to it in many ways." (Canadian Living 20090323)
"STARRED: Harding's sense of humor and keenly observed account of social mores in the new ecology will keep modern parents, especially those with opinions on the green movement, tickled throughout." (Publishers Weekly 20090324)
"Harding is no stranger to confessional humour, and uses it to full effect when chronicling her earnest...efforts to green her extended family. Refreshingly funny, disarmingly honest, and mercifully free of apocalyptic horrors, Harding's tale will resonate with those who feel unequal to the task of buying organic milk, let along saving the planet." (Quill & Quire 20090327)
"This book welcomes a wide audience, not just mothers whose sons worry about man boobs. It is clever, alarmingly funny and informative in a way that will, I hope, make readers green with envy...Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs? is a hilarious account of trying -- and sometimes succeeding -- to build a green ethic and raise an environmentally conscious family without losing her sanity, or cleaning out her bank account." (Vancouver Sun 20090402)
"An informative, spirited account of an increasingly dispiriting subject: going green...Despite her lapses and concessions to comfort, Harding is to be commended for her efforts. Researching each issue, she considers all the ambiguities and the truths before judiciously and responsibly setting on her own compromises. Few of us can do more. And for those of us who have also fallen short of the ideal, this book is both reassuring and empowering." (Globe & Mail 20090407)
"A hilarious account of trying and sometimes succeeding to build a green ethic and raise an environmentally conscious family without losing her sanity of cleaning out her bank account." (The Province 20090421)
"The title of this book may not be a familiar refrain in your house, but the struggles it chronicles will be. A humour-filled, stream-of-consciousness account of Harding's efforts to become 'a deep-dark-green goddess,' it both delights and occasionally grates. The latter is where the book's real value lies. As Harding confronts her own values, habits and ideas, we're forced to look uncomfortably at our own." (Green Living Magazine 20090424)
"Robyn Harding's book is a hilarious journey through the trials and tribulations of going green in a modern world. The book touches on everything from litter-less lunches to worries over fostering eco-anxiety in children, plus a health dose of Harding's own anxiety over whether she is green enough to fit into her super-environmentally aware neighbourhood." (Treehugger.com 20090425)
"Robyn Harding didn't know what she was getting into when she launched her family on a go-green project...What ensued is revealed in this hilarious and candid book...Harding's personal angst is certainly the focus of this book, but somehow her wit and honesty shine brighter than her groans, making this a highly entertaining and delightfully engrossing read." (Waterloo Region Record 20090428)
"This catchy title draws you in, albeit with a smirk on your face, to one author's account of going green...Even though Ms. Harding admits to being overwhelmed and frustrated, she powers through many complex decisions, from choosing sustainable seafood to buying organic milk -- doing much of the research for you!" (Finding Solutions 20090621)
"Robyn Harding, author of Mom Will this Chicken...contends with 'a daughter who can't sleep for worrying about the polar bears and a son who fake barfs whenever a meal's not strictly organic'." (Earth Island Journal 20090623)
"Harding's take on raising green kids without losing her mind is a priceless look at the choices and compromises that every parent makes as he or she journeys towards a green lifestyle. And if nothing else, it will certainly give you a good eco-laugh!" (Mother Nature Network )
Book Description
A lighthearted look at one woman's struggle to raise a family, be kind to the planet, and maintain her sanity.
As Robyn Harding's family moves from Calgary to Australia to Vancouver -- settling in one of the world's greenest neighborhoods -- she tries valiantly to decrease the size of their carbon footprint. But will environmental guilt, confusion, and worry give her a nervous breakdown?
When ten-year-old son Ethan becomes aware of the hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides in food ("Will chicken give me man boobs?"), his mother commits to going organic. But can they afford it? To keep the family in organic milk, she'd have to sell a kidney! And what about eight-year-old daughter Tegan's obsession with the diminishing polar bear population?
Harding finds herself trying to make litterless lunches, green her home, and cut down on the commercialism of birthday parties and Christmas. But her new friend shuttles her three children and their musical instruments (including a cello) to their lessons via bike trailer. How is a mother supposed to live up to that?
With spirit and humor, Harding deals with these challenges while wondering how far her family has come, how far they are willing to go, and whether being green will send her to the loony bin.
(20090601)From the Publisher
Q&A with Robyn Harding, author of Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs
Q Your book talks about the guilt, confusion and stress associated with raising a family and being kind to the planet. What’s the upshot? Is it too much to ask parents to make the environment a priority while they’re juggling work, kids and family life?
A I think every family needs to determine their own level (or shade) of green. Some people might find it painless to be dark, forest green, while others will find it a struggle. We can’t beat ourselves up about it. What’s important is that we all do something to help stop climate change. Pick something easy! Living in [the Vancouver neighborhood of Kitsilano, it’s easy for me to walk everywhere, but I know that’s not always the case. I have a friend who drives her kids to school every day, but she’s a fanatic about paper products. Parents can choose to be green in ways that fit their family’s lifestyle… so they don’t end up having a nervous breakdown.
Q Your book deals with some all-encompassing environmental issues - organic food, transportation, consumption - all within the framework of raising a family. How did you weed through all the information that’s out there on these topics and decide what was best for your family AND the environment (and your sanity)?
A That’s one of the greatest challenges we face in “going green”: information overload. There are so many books and articles and news reports! And a lot of the information we get is spotty – or even conflicting. I found a great reference book that became my go-to guide when I was confused or overwhelmed: Ecoholic by Adria Vasil. It’s really comprehensive and easy to use. And when in doubt, you can always turn to davidsuzuki.org.
Q Your children have some pretty heavy concerns for 7- and 10-year-olds. How do you comfort them about these things that are just as scary for adults? Do you think kids have more to worry about these days than you did at that age?
A In my experience, the best way to comfort kids about the environment is to take action. Even the little green things we do go a long way to allaying their concerns. I don’t know if my reusable shopping bags or my com¬pact fluorescent light bulbs are really making a huge difference to the environment, but they show my kids that I care about the future of the planet, and that’s comforting to them. Do I think kids have more to worry about now? Not really. Maybe it was just me, but I found PLENTY to worry about when I was a kid: nuclear war, brain tumours, whale extinction… If you’ve got the worrying gene, you’ll find something, not matter what’s going in the world.
Q Up until now, you’ve been a writer of fiction. How does the writing process differ with nonfiction?
A With fiction, the plot can go anywhere your imagination takes it. Obviously, that’s not the case with nonfiction. There’s also the research aspect of it. You can’t just make stuff up! And the characters in this book are real people – family, friends, neighbors. I found it really hard to write about them. It’s a book of humour but I didn’t want to come off like I was mocking anyone. I think I managed to make fun of myself more than anyone else. But I’m still terrified someone’s going to egg my house.
Q As a full-time writer and a full-time mom, you must cherish your down time. What are your favorite (environmentally friendly) indulgences?
A My family and I love to ski. I know that technically, ski hills aren’t good for the environment, but I figure: They’re already there. We may as well use them. And I think any time you’re outdoors, appreciating the beauty of nature, you’re being good to the planet. We also love to hike. We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth so it’s great to get out there and enjoy it.
Q In the current economic climate, families are concerned about the cost of living. Organic food, in particular, can be expensive. Do you feed your family a strictly organic diet? Do you think it’s more expensive to be green?
A I’m what you’d call a “selective organic eater.” In my book, I talk about certain foods where it’s important and worth the extra money to buy organic, and other foods where it doesn’t really matter. It’s true that organic or “natural” products can be more expensive, but in other ways, being green and saving money go hand-in-hand. Driving less, unplugging appliances, flying less, buying reusable instead of disposable products are all great for the planet and the pocket book.
Q Birthdays and Christmas are huge events in children’s lives. By cutting down on the trimmings and trappings, do you worry that you’re destroying precious childhood memories?
A Maybe, but I’ll use the money I save on paper plates and lootbags to pay for their future therapy sessions.
Q If you could recommend one simple change families could make to become more green, what would it be?
A If I have to pick one thing, I’d say eat less meat. One hamburger patty creates as much green house gas emissions as driving almost ten kilometers in a car. And farting beef cattle emit more greenhouse gases than cars, trains and even planes! I know vegetarianism isn’t for everyone (my husband and son would probably kill me and eat me if I tried to force it on them) but it’s not that hard to go meatless a few times per week. I’ve got some tips for meatless meals in the book.
Q It takes about a year for a book to get published. Has anything changed in your “green” life (for better or worse) since you wrote the book?
A When I was immersed in the writing process I was hyper aware of all the green issues I was facing. It wasn’t a good feeling. I’ve mellowed out a little since then. I don’t think a conventional chicken breast is going to kill me and I don’t beat myself up if I forget to unplug the toaster. But in some ways, I’ve actually become greener. In the book, I write about my intense aversion to riding the bus after a particularly bad experience. Since then, I’ve ridden the bus… not, like, every day, but a few times. And I haven’t been on a plane since August 2008.
