Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs?

My Confused, Guilt-Ridden, and Stressful Struggle to Raise a Green Family

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.