Mothering Earth: The Busy Family’s Guide to Saving the Planet

Zero-waste expert Rockwell has written this book to help families start to live more sustainably, which is the specialty of her organization, the Mothering Earth Project. Her focus here is on the small steps that can result in meaningful change. There aren’t many new ideas presented, but the book pulls lots of information together in a beneficial way. The book is divided into three parts: “Basics,” “Eco-Actionist Agenda,” and “Eco-Actionist Notebook.” The “Basics” section describes what a sustainable lifestyle is and isn’t and provides steps on how to get started, such as setting a daily goal and talking to friends and family about the changes being made. The “Eco-Actionist Agenda” lists the tools one needs to take action; there are worksheets, lists, and dos and don’ts throughout the book to guide readers. The “Eco-Actionist Notebook” outlines a 31-day eco-family challenge with a calendar of daily actions to try: tasks like buying nothing one day, doing a trash tally, and borrowing something instead of buying.